The Rise of Lunar's Light (The Story Before Mateless)

Tim’s Pov:

“Where is Gretchen?” the Girl demanded, catching my attention. “Goddess,” I bowed, only then taking notice of the small girl in her arms. My confusion took over at the sight of the Girl holding a small child.

“Gretchen! Where is she?” the Girl snapped, freeing me of my thoughts. “She is still trying to evacuate the last of the tribe before we leap to our new home,” I informed the Goddess.

The Girl darted off with the small child still in her arms. Something compelled me to follow them. I couldn’t shake the feeling this was a moment to witness, something unexpected. “Gretchen,” the Girl snapped.

“Hold her for a moment. I must discuss this with my counterpart,” the Girl ordered as she plunged the child into Gretchen’s arms before vanishing.

I tried not to laugh at the dumbstruck expression on Gretchen’s face as she gazed from me to the child. “Do you know what this is about, Elder?” Gretchen asked.

“No, I don’t. I just followed because I have a feeling something unforeseen is about to happen.” I shrugged. The expression of total annoyance on her face alone was worth it.

The small girl motioned for me to come closer to her. I leaned in as the child grabbed my face. “I am unexpected. The Goddesses did not expect my powers,” she whispered.

I pulled back, astonished. I studied the little girl’s face. Her eyes glowed like the Goddesses. I gaped at her. Gretchen’s eyes were on me, begging for my attention.

“She is the child of my servant. Her mother is one because she was born with no powers. Until now, we thought this child would be without powers as well,” Gretchen whispered.

“Gretchen, give the child to me,” the Woman commanded. “Of course, Goddess,” Gretchen dutifully replied, handing the small girl over.

“Finish getting our people out of here. We do not have long before the wolves win,” the Woman stated. Gretchen nodded, gathering another group for transport. The task drained her considerably.

“Timothy, I think you should follow us. Time to learn a little more about our plans,” the Woman stated, holding the small child’s hand. “Goddess, are we going to see Mathis and Celeste?” the child asked.

“Celeste? no, we risk too much bringing her here now. Mathis, yes, we have a very important message for him,” the Girl smiled at the child before looking at my mother.

I stop dead. I never uttered the brat’s name in front of anyone. “How? How does this little one know the name of the Alpha’s brat?” I stammered.

“You will find little Amethyst is full of surprises,” the Girl exclaimed. “Not that Mathis, silly! Celeste’s Mathis,” Amethyst giggled.

“Hurry Timothy, we haven’t much time,” mother scolded. Amethyst’s words raised many questions, but I said nothing more as the sounds of fighting filled the air.

“Amethyst, stay with Timothy,” mother ordered. The child instinctively grabbed my hand.

“There is a good place to hide,” she whispered. We walked over to where she pointed out and crouched down. I pulled the small child on to my lap, in order to protect her if needed.

To my surprise, we could see all without being seen. I ruffled Amethyst’s hair, earning a dirty look from her.

Guinevere broke away from the battle. The wolves were not far behind. She ran straight into the Girl, who was unimpressed by her actions.

Although I couldn’t make out the words which were being exchanged. But I expected they were not the warmest ever spoken. After this, Guinevere ran towards the battle, killing many wolves. “Mathis is about to show up,” Amethyst whispered.

Off in the distance, a bright light flashed, leaving a young man who appeared to be a young Alpha behind. He was on the scrawny side, and I believed he was yet to turn 18. Mother approached him and she appeared to be angry.

My heart ached as Guinevere fell from a hard blow to her chest. To my utter amazement, she grabbed hold of the boy, causing him to fall to his knees. She pulled her face close to his and yelled something at him. Although her voice trailed on the wind, I couldn’t make out the words.

“That’s Mathis,” Amethyst explained, excitement danced in her eyes. My attention turned back to the boy as he ran away. The expression of terror on his face was clear, even from this distance.

He glanced in all directions. His chest heaving heavily from whatever vision that my mother was showing him. She grabbed on to his shoulders, shaking him violently. “I do so swear,” he cried out in panic before he and my mother vanished into her realm.

“Mathis is a second son too,” Amethyst smiled as if she knew something I didn’t. I studied her carefully. “You seem to know an awful lot for someone so small,” I stated. My voice sounded more annoyed than I meant to.

Her eyes met mine. The wisdom they held hidden behind so few years was surprising. “I see lots of things all the time,” she shrugged. I tried not to scream as a hand grabbed my shoulder, almost knocking me over.

“Time to leave this place,” the Girl commanded. Amethyst jumped off my lap and ran to the Girl, taking her by the hand. We rush back to the encampment; dozens of people remained.

Gretchen was still desperately trying to portal people out of the area. Her efforts were taking their toll on her. To my surprise, her face appeared to have sunken in. With each jump, she was taking fewer people.

The Girl stopped dead, shocked by how many remained. She and I both accepted it was only a matter of moments before the wolves ventured this way, to make sure that all the amazons were dead. Amethyst broke the hold the Girl had on her, racing to Gretchen’s side.

“You need to stand up,” Amethyst ordered. “I, I can’t. I am so tired,” Gretchen replied. Her voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper. The poor woman appeared as if she was giving up. I pulled Gretchen up on instinct.

Amethyst smiled as she took Gretchen’s hand. “Now close your eyes. Think of where you are supposed to be taking everyone,” Amethyst demanded. Gretchen shot the Girl a confused yet pleading expression. “Do as Amethyst asks,” the Girl snapped.

With a deep sigh, Gretchen did what she was told. Her face showing just how unconvinced she was. “Raise your free arm, picture the land that is all around you. Every scent, every sound, and every blade of grass,” Amethyst instructed.

Gretchen focused on the things Amethyst instructed her on as the wind picked up. Amethyst’s eyes turned silver. A small orb of light took form just beyond the reach of Gretchen’s hand. With every breath that Gretchen took, the light grew, until a vast valley and a dense forest took shape through what appeared to be a large water puddle after a heavy rain.

The Girl stared hard at Amethyst with intrigue. Amethyst smiled at the Goddesses knowingly. “Keep doing what you are doing, Gretchen,” mother’s voice came from behind.

“Start ushering the remaining members of the tribe through the opening Amethyst and Gretchen made,” the Woman’s voice echoed in my mind.

Without hesitation, I motioned for people to go through what appeared to be a reflection in a pond. Most glanced at the Goddesses for comfort. My mother smiled and nodded to quell any doubts that they had.

The tribe’s remaining members flocked through the puddle. In less than a minute, all that remained were the Goddesses, Gretchen, Amethyst and myself. Something grabbed Amethyst’s attention. Her already silver eyes flashed even brighter. It etched the expression of determination deep into her small face.

Amethyst raised her small hand as a gust of wind pulsated from her fingers. I watched in amazement as the wind wrapped itself around everything in the encampment. Each item lifted into the air for the winds to examine before it replaced some items, while others burst into Luna moths.

In one swift motion, Amethyst swept her hand across the now emptied encampment. With a flick of her wrist, she hurdled away any scent that remained.

With speed that made me blink, she threw her hand back to what remained of our home. Another puddle seemed to surround us just as wolves from Silverlight poured out of the dense brush.

“It’s best if no one says a word.” My mother’s voice filled my mind. We watched in horror as the warriors pilfered through what remained of our home. Looking for evidence of whatever it was they were after.

“Alpha, there is no one left. You did it. You ended the Amazons.” One warrior shouted with glee. I stared, unable to breathe, as the bratty Alpha walked over to the puddle which concealed us.