SWNOVELS Chapter The End of an Era
Calliope sat at the desk in her study. It was quiet; the only light source was a candle beside her. She was writing, filling up pages of a book with the histories of her life. It was not the first book, nor the second or third. She was on her eleventh book. She started this over two hundred years ago, after Caleb’s passing. It gave her something to do, a never-ending purpose.
She looked up when the door to her study opened. In walked her current companion, a young girl named Mila. She was the 19th companion, the 18th descendant of Riley. Calliope sighed as she thought of her old friend.
“What is it, my Grand Luna?” Mila questioned as she lit more candles throughout the room.
“I’m just lost in my thoughts,” she replied as she watched the girl.
“You’re probably lost because you’re in the dark,” Mila tsked. “How can you see having only one candle lit?”
“Why light candles across the room when I only need to illuminate my desk?” Calliope countered.
“I suppose you have a point,” Mila shrugged as she approached the desk. She looked down at the book, reading the most recent entry. “Did you get to Darian being named the Great Alpha?”
“I did, finally,” Calliope replied with a satisfied sigh. “I feel like I am not far from catching up to the present.”
“Don’t speak too quickly; there is always something that happens. Why, like at this very moment, the Great Luna is currently in labor.” Mila remarked as she put her hands behind her back. She looked down at Calliope with a sly grin.
“Steph is in labor, and you are just now telling me!?” Calliope growled as she stood quickly from her chair.
“Her water broke mere minutes ago,” the girl stated as she took Calliope’s arm. “You shall not miss a thing.”
Calliope scowled as she leaned against her companion. Mila helped to guide her out to the corridor. After turning 500, Calliope had found it difficult to move the joints in her legs. Her knees and hips had gotten stiff with her aging body. But she was too proud to use a cane and rarely asked for assistance. Instead, she would shift into Giizis, who was not troubled with the same aging pains.
Calliope could see Darian sitting on the floor with his companions as they went down the corridor. She stopped in front of the group, smiling down at them.
“Care to join me on the floor?” Darian joked as he looked up at Calliope.
“It’s more fun to be in the birthing room,” she replied with a chuckle.
“How many births have you attended?” He questioned curiously.
“Oh, I lost count after the first dozen or so,” Calliope shrugged. “But there is something breathtaking about it. You watch as the woman struggles, as she fights to bring this little being into the world. And then those first cries, the first sounds of life, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”
“Well, I can tell you that it gives me relief knowing that you shall be there for Steph,” Darian said. “If they cannot allow me to be present, then I am happy to know that you shall stand by her side.”
Calliope gave Darian a nod of her head as she continued to walk into the birthing room. Steph was leaning against the bed, her companion rubbing her lower back. It would be hours before she would begin to push and still hours later that a little girl would be delivered. But the entire time, Calliope was by the Great Luna’s side, giving her words of encouragement.
Once the baby was delivered and cleaned, Darian was allowed into the room. He walked in to see Steph holding the crying baby. The little girl had strong lungs, which in turn meant she had a loud cry. It overwhelmed the new mother, who still suffered from the pains of her labor. Darian took the babe, doing his best to soothe her. But it was useless; the baby continued to squall, upsetting Steph even further.
Finally, Calliope stepped forward, holding out her arms. Once she held the baby, she pulled her close to her chest. Almost instantly, the baby began to quiet down. Her cries turned to whimpers and then to soft coos. Calliope sighed with relief as she gently rocked the baby. She looked down at the bundle in her arms, noticing the child staring at her. There were many children who were her descendants, and after hundreds of years, this was the first child with the same bright blue eyes as her.
“There you are,” Calliope whispered as she smiled.
She knew, without having to feel the girl’s wolf spirit. Those were the eyes of a leader, the eyes of someone who would be strong and powerful. They were the eyes of the Goddess. This little girl would be the next Great Luna. She was the first female Great to be born into the Royal Moon pack since Gianna, Theo’s mother. But Calliope would say nothing. She would wait and let the girl reveal her wolf on her own.
After a minute of holding the baby and staring into her eyes, she tried to hand her back to Steph. But the Great Luna only shook her head.
“We would like for you to whisper her name,” Steph said as she smiled weakly up at the Grand Luna.
“The father typically does that,” Calliope protested.
“No, even I insist,” Darian added. “We would be honored if you told the baby her name. It is not every day that a 543-year-old wolf walks this Earth.”
“Fine,” Calliope relented as she looked back down at the baby. “What did you want to name her?”
“Calista.”
“Calista,” Calliope repeated as she leaned closer to the baby’s ear. “You are Calista—daughter of the Great Alpha and Great Luna. You shall be a powerful wolf, one who shall lead and protect all those under her. You shall do amazing things, full of wonder and awe. All shall know of your name, for you are Calista.”
Calliope laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was the middle of the night, but she found it challenging to fall asleep. Part of her feared going to sleep, for she did not know if she would awaken. Occasionally, she would go outside and shift into Giizis in order to rest. Her mortal body would not perish while in her wolf form.
Then suddenly, she began to hear crying. She sat up in bed, listening to the cries of a little girl. But the sound was not coming from the room or even the hall. The sound was not one she had heard with her ears. She was hearing the cries in her mind. Someone was crying over mind link. Someone? It took only a few seconds for Calliope to realize it was Calista.
She stood from her bed, grabbing the cane that was nearby. She walked slowly down the corridor of the third floor. She stopped in front of Calista’s door. She could still hear the crying in her mind, but she saw no one nearby. She wondered if the girl was crying just to her, or if perhaps her wolf was trying to call out to her.
She opened the door, looking into the dimly lit room. She could see Calista was curled up in a ball, crying in her sleep. As Calliope approached, she could see the girl’s hands trembling. She was having a nightmare. She was probably unaware she was mind-linking with Calliope.
But as Calliope stood there, looking down at the crying child, she could feel it. She could feel a wolf spirit trying to awaken. There was a hint of an aura that she could feel. It was a surprise that at eight years old, her wolf was starting to peek through, that a gift was beginning to surface. Eli and Darian were teenagers when they came into their gifts. It was almost worrisome because she was so young.
Calliope reached over, gently brushing back the girl’s golden hair. She rubbed her arm, trying to gently wake her from the nightmare. After a minute, Calista finally sat up, gasping for air.
“There you are,” Calliope whispered.
“Here I am,” the girl replied after catching her breath.
“Were you having a nightmare, little one?” Calliope questioned as she smoothed out Calista’s hair.
“I was,” the girl nodded as she looked down at her hands. “But now I cannot remember what it was about.”
“It is for the best that you do not remember nightmares. They would plague your mind when you are awake if you did.”
“Did I wake you, Grand Luna?” Calista inquired as she looked back up at Calliope. She looked at the bright blue eyes that stared at her. She felt something pull her to Calliope suddenly. But she did not understand what it was she was feeling. She was still too young, her connection to her wolf still weak.
“Not at all, little one,” Calliope smiled. “I was awake when I heard you crying. Why don’t you lay back down and go back to sleep?”
“Can I join you?” The girl questioned. “I don’t want to have another nightmare.”
“Just for tonight,” Calliope nodded as she held her hand out to Calista.
The girl took Calliope’s hand with both of hers. She walked with the Grand Luna into the corridor. Calliope could not help but wonder about Calista’s gift. Mind linking this early could be a few different gifts. But, part of her wondered if she had Theo’s gift: the ability to mind link anyone anywhere. It had been 463 years since his death, and no one ever had the same gifts as him. Calliope wondered if perhaps this little girl, who shared the same eyes as the Goddess, would have one of his gifts.
Calliope helped the girl into her bed, tucking her in a side that had sat empty for over two hundred years. Calliope then climbed into her side, laying down on her back. Calista moved closer to Calliope, curling up into her arms and snuggling against her Great-Grandmother. Both of them relaxed, comforted by one another’s presence. It lulled them both into a deep, peaceful sleep.
A young woman walked down a well-worn path through the woods. She walked until she spotted the Great Hill, sitting by itself amongst the forest. At the top of the hill was a large, white wolf. She laid there, seemingly asleep. The woman smiled as she approached the wolf.
“There you are,” she stated gently. The wolf lifted its head, her glowing white eyes staring at her.
Here I am, Calliope mind linked the familiar words to the woman.
Standing in front of Giizis was Calista. She was now a grown woman, one with a mate and a little child. Calliope looked at her features, searching for any change, but there was none. Calista’s hair was still golden in color, and her eyes were still bright blue. She had not aged since Calliope last saw her.
“I wondered how long it would take you to return,” Calista commented as she sat on the ground, leaning her back against Giizis.
How long was I gone? Calliope inquired curiously.
“Eight months and eleven days,” Calista answered as she sighed. She had worried over Calliope, worried over her well-being.
I’m sorry, Calliope whispered. I went out to the Eastern territories. I did not realize it had been that long.
“Don’t apologize. I knew where you were,” Calista replied with a shrug. “I had the Alphas and Lunas in the area keep me apprised of your whereabouts. I know you went to where Caleb was born. I know you spent much time in the desert, just sitting.”
I miss him, Calliope murmured as a tear slipped down her cheek. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.
“Then why are you still here? Why have you spent the last twenty years as Giizis, prolonging your death? No one should ever be shifted for this long. It is not natural!”
Do not speak like you understand! Calliope snapped angrily. Her aura was rising, and Giizis was growling. But Calista was not like any other wolf. She would not bend to Calliope, she would not be pushed away by her aura.
“I understand more than you think,” Calista argued. She turned around, looking into Giizis’ glowing eyes.
No, you don’t! You don’t understand how much it hurts knowing that the moment I die, I truly do not perish, but Giizis does. She shall cease to exist! The one thing that has been a constant in my life shall be gone forever. How do you expect me to let her go so easily?!
“Losing Giizis will hurt,” Calista agreed calmly. “But there are others who are waiting on you. You have a destiny after this.”
What do you know of my destiny? Calliope questioned in a bitter tone.
“I have been meditating a lot these last few months. I see a man, but at the same time, I don’t. He is shrouded by fog, but I know he is there. He talks to me, and I talk to him. We talk about you, of your destiny, and your past.”
Caleb?
“I don’t know,” Calista answered honestly. “But he calls you little wolf.”
Theo… Calliope sighed. He comes to you, talks to you? What does he say about my destiny?
“He urged me to persuade you to let go. That it was time, that your true mate has waited long enough.”
Calliope bit her lip as it began to quiver. She missed Caleb, but she was scared. She was afraid of losing Giizis, of what it would feel like not to have her anymore.
“You won’t be alone,” Calista insisted, pulling Calliope from her thoughts. “I shall be by your side the whole time.”
What if I am not ready?
“You are ready; you have been for a long time. But you chose to stave off death. It is alright to give up, to let nature take its course. Death is natural. And though Giizis shall be no more, you have had 642 years with her. But, Grand Luna… did you know that today is the 300th anniversary of the passing of Caleb?”
Is it?
“It is,” Calista nodded as she gave a gentle smile. “Would you like to come inside?”
Actually, I’d like to stay out here, Calliope stated.
“Grand Luna, you can’t keep fighting it,” Calista scowled.
No, I’m not. Calliope replied softly.
Calliope sat within the mind of her wolf, holding back the sobs that were threatening to escape her. She knew it was time. And if Theo was visiting Calista, she knew what it meant. She had prolonged her life longer than she should have. And she knew if she stayed within Giizis, she would continue on living. But Calista was right; no one should be shifted in their wolf form this long. No one should have lived as long as Calliope has lived. And then, it broke her heart knowing that Caleb had been waiting 300 years for her. Especially when she could have gone to him sooner, were it not for her fear.
Shift, please, Calliope whispered to Giizis.
The wolf whined as she laid her head down on the ground. She let out a deep exhale and then shifted. Calista gasped as she stood, reaching to catch Calliope before she fell. In Calista’s arms was a thin, frail old woman. She hardly recognized her. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she gently laid Calliope onto the soft grass. Calliope gave a weak smile. If she was to die, she wanted to do so on the Great Hill. Though it was not a full moon, she did not care.
“There you are,” Calista whispered as she touched Calliope’s cheek.
Calliope opened her mouth, but no words came out. She did not have the energy to speak, nor the strength to move. Her body was stiff, and it pained her every time she breathed. But she did her best to relax on the ground as she looked at the sky above. The sun was setting, but it would be a few hours before she could get a glimpse of the moon.
As Calliope lay there, people began to arrive quickly. Her final companion was the first to appear, kneeling on the ground beside her. Then others gathered around her, to the point that the crowd went down the hill and into the woods. Every single member of the Royal Moon pack rushed to be there for her death. And many other wolves from other packs rushed to be by her side, including those from the Blood Stone pack. The Alphas and Lunas that, for over 600 years, had been sworn allies to her.
For hours, she lay on the grass. Though she could not speak, she was mind-linking with those around her. And then she looked into the sky. She could see a sliver of the moon peeking through the clouds above. But as she looked, her heart began to feel heavy. She kept thinking of Giizis, of losing her forever.
After mind-linking her last goodbyes, Calliope closed her eyes, gathering what little energy she had. She concentrated on Giizis, on seeing her wolf one last time. Even if the moment was brief, she wanted to be there. To be with Giizis in the end. With a shaky exhale, Calliope could feel herself falling. She bit her lip, worried for a moment that this was it, that she was dying. But then she felt herself landing in the snow.
Calliope opened her eyes, gasping, when she saw Giizis standing before her. She stood to her feet quickly, embracing her wolf. She gripped her fur tightly as she cried into Giizis.
I’m going to miss you, Calliope sobbed. You have done so much for me, for my family, for my people.
Giizis whimpered as she rested against Calliope. It was not just Calliope who fought death, who dared to go against it. Giizis, too, did not want her time to end. For thousands of years, she existed. She had done so much with the Goddess, but she accomplished so much more with Calliope. Though she could not speak, she was aware of what was to happen. Giizis knew at any moment, she would close her eyes, and that would be it. There would be nothing more for her.
Calliope whispered apologies to her wolf, as if it were her fault for her inevitable death. As if she had a say in her destiny. Calliope looked up at her wolf and saw the darkness closing in on her vision. Little by little, Giizis was fading away, turning to dust that flew in the wind. Calliope’s grip tightened, though she knew it was futile. This was it, the end of everything. Her mortal body was dying.
Calliope slowly sank to her knees as Giizis finally disappeared from her sight. All that she could see was the familiar snowy landscape. She sat there, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. But then there was a pain that started within her stomach. She hunched over, gripping her abdomen. Calliope cried out as her body began to change, began to shift for the final time. But this was different than normal shifting; the pain was intense and never-ending.
Calliope collapsed on the ground, begging the emptiness around her for help. But there was no one; there was nothing around her. After what seemed like an eternity, Calliope finally began to glow. Her bones began to break, began to reshape. She was finally transforming into the large, white wolf.
After her transformation, she laid there, unwilling to move. Unwilling? No. Calliope did not know how to move. She had never controlled her wolf form before. Giizis was her legs, the force behind every movement. And now that she was gone, Calliope was still.
She suddenly jolted upright when she felt something push against her. She looked up at the wolf that stood next to her. The wolf was large, with a solid black face and legs, while the rest of the body was gray, white, and black speckled.
Cali… Caleb said over mind link.
Caleb! She gasped as she stood on her legs.
But her legs trembled. Everything about moving her wolf was unfamiliar to her. Walking on four legs and all the senses that only Giizis felt was overwhelming. Caleb rested his head under her neck, helping to support her.
I’m so sorry, she cried as her wolf whimpered and leaned into him. I’m so sorry you waited so long.
I’m fine, it’s fine, Caleb chuckled. What is a few hundred years alone when we shall spend the rest of eternity together? So, no more tears; you are here now, and we are together again. Forever.
Author’s Note: It’s done 😭! Somehow, these 15 chapters have been the hardest ever to write (Though I feel like the last chapter was lacking for me. I think I am just emotionally drained). There was some happiness and, most definitely, some tears. But all good stories need an ending, and even though there was death, I hope you see this as a happy ending. I know I do. It rounded out Calliope’s story nicely, so now, we have a complete beginning and end between the three books.
There is a chance I might return, should the inspiration ever come to me. But, it won't be with Calliope. If I return, it will be to explore other parts of the world of the Greats. For example, I am playing around with the idea of doing a prequel that centers around how Greats came about (basically telling the story of the Goddess with her first lov.
But for now, I will concentrate on “The King of Kings” series. I have three more books in the works for it, so I will be busy busy for a while!
As always, thank you guys for reading my work! I appreciate it all! Every reaction, comment, review, or read makes my day! You guys are awesome!
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