The Chronicles of Moon

Wolves

The wolf runs to the same clearing Bella brought cookies to Helios in and stops in the middle, raising its massive head and howling up into the night sky. Kiara and Farrell are compelled to do the same, some unseen primal force seems to guide the wolves.

“Nice that you all could join me like this.” Selene smiles warmly at them. Kiara tilts her head expectantly, waiting for the goddess to give them some kind of clue or order something to tell them what they are doing here or what happens next.

“Well, you wanted to see me, didn’t you?” Selene replies like it is obvious. Kiara blows air out of her nose, not bothering to hide her frustration.

Yes, we did, but I thought you could tell me what weapon I need to kill a god. Kiara huffs, not expecting the goddess to hear her.

“Isn’t it obvious? Kenna is the weapon. She is what you didn’t have last time, and her power of the sun and the moon should be enough to overpower Eos this time.” Selene startles Kiara with her reply.

But she is just a child. Kiara whines, concerned.

“No, Bella is a child, but Kenna is not.”

Where do we even find Eos?

“Oh, you don’t need to worry. She is on her way to find you three herself. She seems to want to end you before you can cause her any more problems. The wolves are already starting to lose trust in her. Just by your existence. She is quite angry about it as well.” Selene looks to be almost pleased, but there is sadness in her eyes as well. “I don’t want to hurt my sister even now, but I can’t let her keep doing this. I only wish she would stop this silly rivalry.”

“You and me both.” Helios joins her in the clearing looking at the three wolves, his gaze lingering on that of Kenna a bit longer. “Bella won’t remember any of this, but you will. Please keep her safe for me.”

The massive red wolf lowers its head to him, replying gently. I will do what I can.

“We must go if Eos sees us here; she will only run away again.” Selene sighs, but she strokes Kiara’s fur before she and Helios leave the clearing.

Am I the only one that found that unhelpful? Kiara huffs to Moon.

Nope, I didn’t find it that helpful, either. Moon sighs back. She keeps thinking about her past life and remembering everything they had tried to do. They need to face Eos herself, but will she really show up in the clearing? Moon doubts that she will be alone.

They don’t have to wait long to learn the answer. The air fills with howls. Maddox, Caleb, Jamie, and several more wolves Farrell recognizes come rushing out of the trees. Kiara prepares to meet them head-on. What she is unprepared for is the rush of wolves that come from behind them in the form of Chris, Johnny, Jess, and Ben. Even Zach was among them, plus several more. Farrell takes the lead and is the first to meet his brother and father. Even more wolves from Twin Falls and Big Springs pack came charging into the woods, ready to defend Colin and Moon even now.

The show of support is noticed by Moon and Colin. More and more wolves flood the clearing. Alpha David and several of his pack are even among them, and Colin wonders how he knew to be here early. Did Chris call him, or was it just a hunch? Colin doesn’t have long to ponder the early arrival of David and his pack as he smashes his body into Caleb. Farrell only wants to focus on crushing Caleb’s skull in his jaws.

Farrell has the upper hand on Caleb. Colin and Farrell have always been stronger and better fighters than him, but Maddox isn’t about to sit back and let Farrell kill Caleb. Maddox charges in, catching Farrell off guard. He has Farrell’s leg locked in his jaws, shaking and pulling him off, Caleb.

When Chris sees the uneven fight between them, he rushes to help. It doesn’t take Chris long to have Maddox off Colin. Chris has the aging wolf around the throat, refusing to let go, his teeth sinking deeper and deeper. With Colin free, he continues the assault on his brother, ignoring the snap and final yip Maddox gives out. He was never a match for Chris. Few are, for that matter.

With his father removed from the equation, Caleb rethinks his decision to attack, but he can’t flee. Wolves have circled around him and Colin, apparently waiting to see the two fight one last time. Farrell actually snickers as he prowls closer to Caleb, who is trying his best to hide his fear, but he truly is terrified. He has always been afraid of his brother, knowing that he can’t beat him.

He does the only thing he can think of to possibly save himself. He shifts, standing in the clearing naked, surrounded by angry wolves.

“Don’t you want to know where Callie is? Don’t you want to know what happened that night? I am the only one that knows if you kill me, it dies with me, and you won’t find her.” Caleb yells, fist clenched by his side. He’s shaking, standing there covered in blood and filth, but his words have made the advancing Farrell stop dead in his tracks and lift his head.

Callie. He whispers, eyes slowly widening. All the sound of the fight around him has vanished. Everything going still around him. The only thing he can see is his younger brother and the sound of Callie’s name ringing in his ears.

***

Kiara and Kenna fight their way through the onslaught of wolves. They can see her hiding behind the attacking wolves. Eos is here watching, waiting for Kiara to be overwhelmed and weakened, but it isn’t happening. The ground around Kenna is beginning to burn, and wolves flee from her, their feet burning if they get too close. The few that tried to lock their teeth on her ended up scorching their mouths, and when she bit into them, they burst into flames.

Kiara and Kenna have a clear path; when Kiara howls, wolves fall in behind them, advancing on the goddess. Kiara’s fur glows brightly like the full moon, and the ground shakes under her as she charges the goddess. Kenna keeps pace, and they flank the goddess. Eos looks like she wants to run but finds herself trapped by a shimmering barrier.

Did we do that? Kiara asks Moon.

I think we did. I remembered we could, and I just gave it a try. I’m glad it worked. Moon replies, a bit shocked that she could trap the goddess in this bubble with them.

Kiara advances on the goddess, but when she gets too close, Eos hits her with magic of her own, throwing her into the barrier wall. Kenna decides to try, and when the goddess attempts to throw her back, the great wolf digs her claws into the ground, making fire erupt from the ground hitting the goddess and knocking her down.

Kiara is back on her feet and charging Eos while she is disoriented, slamming into her and sending her flying into the side of the barrier now.

We may win this time. Kiara sounds hopeful, and when she and Kenna lunge at Eos, trying to sink fangs into flesh, Eos knocks them back again. Breathing hard, clearly hurt and tired, they continue trying to get the upper hand on each other, both sides making little progress. Eos is being bombarded with hallucinations of wolves jumping at her further disorienting her. Another fun trick Moon remembered she and Kiara could do.

“Why won’t you just die this time?” Eos screams angrily and breathing heavily.

“You need to stop this now, sister, before you lose your life. You can’t hope to win this time, can you?” Selene says, standing with Helios.

Moon isn’t sure if it’s seeing them together or sheer exhaustion, but Eos looks at them, falling to her knees, breathing heavily hanging her head.

***

“Tell me where she is, and I may let you live a while longer,” Colin says once he shifts and faces his brother. Caleb smirks knowing he hit a nerve and might have a way to live a while longer.