The Chronicles of Moon

Who to Trust

Moon stands there a long time just staring at the moon, a smile stretching across her face. She would like nothing more than to shift and really feel what it’s like to run as a wolf, but she knows now isn’t the time for that.

Oh, come on, why can’t we? Kiara begs, her tail wagging in anticipation.

You know why we need to get back to the packhouse. It isn’t safe here, and David is probably here by now. Also, Colin is still recovering from being shot; we need to get back. Moon replies slightly frustrated. She would love to be as carefree as she used to be, but now she has so many things to care about.

I hate that you are right. When do you think our memories will come back? I hope it’s soon. I can’t remember anything before I started waking up just after your last birthday. Kiara shakes her head, hoping somehow doing so will make her remember something.

I don’t know, but I would like to remember talking to a goddess every night. Moon smiles a little brighter. She really is a daughter of the moon.

“Are you okay?” Colin asks, rubbing her arm with the back of his fingers, sending shivers through her.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Kiara and I were just wondering when we would get our blocked memories back.” she replies, still looking at the up at the moon. “We should get back. David is probably here by now.

Colin leans in, surprising her with a delightfully warm kiss. He’s warm and gentle with her as he kisses her lips, making her rethink the idea of going back at all.

“I love you, Moon, in case you didn’t know that.” Colin whispers when he parts from her lips.

“I love you. I’m glad you are with me for this.” She utters softly. He leans his forehead on hers a moment.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than by your side.” He kisses her again, knowing they must go back and face what is coming. Both secretly wishing to steal a few more precious moments before facing the world again.

“You ready to go back?” Colin asks, rubbing her arms and looking into her eyes. She nods, giving him a small smile.

Talking to David is not something either of them really want to do, but right now, they need his help.

***

It took a better part of an hour to get David up to speed. He had already sent wolves out to patrol the moment they arrived. Moon was shocked to see how willing to help he was when he first arrived, but after an hour of talking to him and a few fuming outbursts from him, she isn’t so sure he will continue to help them.

“You know, I can’t say that I hadn’t noticed how bad things have been getting, and I am far from blameless in all of this. I have done my share of ending lives and packs I felt threatened my position. I can also see our numbers falling rapidly now.” David exhales heavily, shaking his head. “Not everyone will like the idea of returning to the way things were so long ago. They won’t want a ruler. They like being in control of their own packs. I know I do. I don’t want someone ordering me around.”

“Maybe we don’t have to give up having our own packs, but the fighting needs to stop,” Moon says slowly.

“How?” David turns to her, looking hopeful but skeptical all at the same time.

“Well, I don’t want to rule over everything and make every decision. I don’t think we need to be one big pack or anything. But we do need to set up some sort of council where everyone has a voice and feels like we are working together more than we have been. It has always been every pack for themselves, and that is what needs to change.”

“A council.” David is thoughtful and quiet for a moment. “Well, that would be better than you telling us what we should be doing and joining us all back together in a literal sense. A council sounds interesting.” David is clearly weighing his options.

“Well, we are getting ahead of ourselves a bit. We still have a problem of Caleb and a jealous goddess out to end us.” Colin interjects.

“You are right. You know I never did like him; even when we were young pups, he was always jealous of you.” David raises an eyebrow at Colin.

Colin has to stop his mouth from falling open. “What, no, he just hates me.”

“No, that boy was jealous. Your mother and sister adored you and would have done anything for you. Caleb wanted them to love only him. He would go crying to his dad, and then you would get in trouble for something stupid.” David informs him. Colin blinks a few times trying to think if that is true.

“You were better at everything, too. A better fighter, faster, smarter, and stronger, trust me, Colin. Caleb was and probably still is nothing but jealous of you.” David pats Colin on the shoulder. “Well, you can count me in on whatever this is. I’m not about to go against the moon Goddess and her white wolf.” David winks at Moon now. “I really didn’t like that you lied to my face, but I understand why you did. Her secret needs to come out now, and we need to find out who is on our side, but for tonight my men are patrolling, and I think you should come back to my pack to rest.”

“Oh well, I was hoping that we could just go home,” Moon says, looking up at Colin.

“You two need some rest.” Chris now sounds like a worried parent. “Why don’t we just bunk here for the rest of the night and leave early in the morning?”

“We have traders to weed out back home too. We need a plan of action to draw them out.” Colin’s stone face and clenched jaw now betray his anxiety. Not knowing who to trust in his own pack is not something he ever thought he would have to worry about.

“Well, I still need to be introduced as Luna. That might be just the thing to make the traders try and act faster.” Moon suggests stifling a yawn. But her remark does have everyone thinking, could they use a ceremony as bait?