Warriors of Blue moon

Two days later.

Walking into the Palace court room, I tried to stay composed, I’ve never seen it before, of course I’d never had a reason to be here! It was a rather large and warm room, well especially warm compared to the cell I was in. It was all cream walls and wooden fixtures, to my left and my right are green and gold chairs in rows where people from our town were sitting, most of them were my friends and family and towards the front I could see Zara and her family… all of them looking at me with disgrace for just even walking in their presence.. I glanced at Zara to see her biting her lip to keep herself from smirking... and anger heated my stomach! the bitch! I was told to stand to the left of the room by the guard behind me who escorted me in.

My hands were shaking as I tried to hide it, keeping them linked together behind my back my legs were trembling and my heart was beating uncontrollably. I tried to stay calm as Layton walked in from one of the doors opposite the rest of us. He didn’t even look at me not even slightly, he just looked straight ahead into the crowd behind me..

I parted my lips to breath in and out slowly as I felt hot in my black fitted suit my mum has rushed out to buy for me. here we go... fuck! I chimed in my own head in preparation

Layton’s voice was soft as he addressed the room ”We have discussed and given thought to the crime made against you Lelanna May Vanderwood. As you know, any attacks made against our own must be dealt with severe punishment and must be dealt with accordingly”

My stomach began to clench tighter with each word he spoke

“Miss Vanderwood, we do not and will not ever tolerate such aggressive behaviour in our city on our fellow people, your attack on Zara Maven with clear intention of causing bodily harm has left her in pain and in fear for her own life and I cannot allow any of my people to feel frightened within our city walls. We have taken into consideration that your attack did not end the life of Zara or left her with any permanent physical damage and this being your first offense, due to all this your punishment will not be death”.

Sighs of relief fell across the courtroom with thankful whispers from the people behind me.. and I heard a faint weep coming from my mother. I turn my attention back to Layton to hear my sentence...

“Lelanna”.. he spoke with a deep sigh ”I hereby announce that you are to be BANISHED from our pack and our city and must live as rouge in the forest and cannot return for two years”

“NOO!” I heard my mum welp with tears swarming in her eyes, my dad stood next to her stunned, his mouth wiped open as he had one arm over her trying to comfort her as gasps and shocked whispers filled the room..

“You have approximately two hours to say your goodbyes and pack anything you wish to take. Two of the guards will then escort you in our provided transport to the forest boarders”.

No,no,no,no,no,no....this can’t be happening. did he really just say that..I’m..I’m fucking banished?!NO! I yelled in my head, my vision went hazed over and cold sweats ran through my body, I couldn’t even hear anyone anymore as I fell into shock. I rapidly blinked to pull myself back into the room as my mum and dads arms fell on me, draped over my shoulders protectively while their sobs became louder in my ear and my heart sunk further, they ushered me out of the room with Sam close behind us.

As soon as we got in the house, everyone suddenly darted in different directions in search of things to pack for me, even Lily and Daisy were frantically following my dad into the kitchen. I trodded up to my room unable to fully comprehend what was happening right now… It felt almost like a dream. Mum pulled out a big rucksack from my wardrobe and started to shove clothes inside it and I slowly copied, wondering what the hell I pack to last two years!

Daisy and Lilly were gathering food from the kitchen with dad as Sam was gathering some of his daggers and a sword “Get your armour on” he commanded as he picked it out and handed it to me when suddenly an idea hit me like a brick wall I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and phoned Heath, I listened to it ring in anticipation, he was my only hope… If he could quickly tell me where his pack was I could head there and he’d most likely send someone to meet me with transport and take me there, but soon the ringing stopped and went to voicemail, I ended the call and tried again. I grabbed all my armour and got dressed in the bathroom, the entire time leaving my phone on loudspeaker next to me as I tried again and again “just answer pleeeeasee” I begged as I stared at the phone, willing and praying for him to answer!

I didn’t give up, even as I finished packing, even as I looked around my room one last time, I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t seem real, that I wouldn’t see my bed, my clothes, I wouldn’t wake up here for two years…just like that, my life had changed.

The knock at the door startled us all, my dad gulped as he opened the door, Gabel and Drake were stood in the doorway… I guess they’re the guards that would be escorting me.

Gabel’s eyes frowned with sadness as he hesitated to speak ”Lelanna… I’m… I’m sorry my dear but we have to take you now"

“Can we take her in our car?” my dad asked Gabel.

Gabel nodded ”Ok.. but we’ll need to follow in our car we need to be the ones to see her off across the border so we can report back to Layton”.

“This isn’t right Gabel” my dad’s voice shook with anger

Gabel sighed “I’m sorry, I wish I had more influence, but I don’t”

My dad looked to me as tears pricked his eyes, he took my hand and led me out of the house, as soon as we stepped out I stopped in my tracks shocked at what was before me… my girls were the first ones I could see standing in my front garden, they all surrounded me hugging me tightly, crying hysterically and all I could do was hold them as I did my best to take in their smells and the comfort of their love knowing that I’d miss them more than I could even fathom, after all they were all a part of me and they’ve been there for me since we were kids, they knew me and we’d been together through the good and bad.

Gable coughed signalling that it was time for me to go, I tried to move out of the girls tight grip as they were unwilling to let go of me as tears soaked their faces, turning them blotchy and red. I took one last look at them all and slowly moved toward my front gate where so many people stood all with sad expressions on their faces. all my old training group were here, I saw Liam who’s Jaw was clenching, he quickly moved over to me and pulled me into a tight hug, he pulled back and held my face in his hands as he gave me a kiss on my forehead “I can’t believe this is happening, stay strong Lelanna” he whispered and I gave him a weak smile.

I walked toward the car looking at everyone, so many people had come to support me, even people that I had only met once, even Nathan was there shaking his head with a sorrowful look on his face mouthing the words ”be strong" I smiled and nodded back at him. I looked to where my friends still stood, crying harder as they huddled together, looking at me. I sighed heavily and finally got into the car.

The whole journey was filled with sobs from my mum and constant sniffling from my dad from the front as Sam sat to my right and my sisters to my left. All three of them held my hands as we drove closer to the border. Gable flashed his lights behind us for us to pull over… we were here, this was it!

As everyone started to exit the car, I took one more look at my phone, but still nothing from Heath. Sam grabbed my bag as we walked together to the edge of the forest, my mum and dad clinging onto my arms as they cried. We got to the tree line and they all clamored in for a big family cuddle and I saw tears starting to fall from Sam’s eyes and my sisters little cries broke my heart, but for some reason my own tears didn’t come, I remained emotionless.

We broke the cuddle and I looked at my parents to say goodbye ”mum, dad, I..I am so sorry”

“No don’t be sorry” my dad said firmly ”we know she’s lying most of the town knows she’s lying Lil’s, we know you didn’t do it and we’ll prove it, we’ll bring you back home”.

I wrapped my arms around their shoulders and pulled them into me.. ”thank you, for being so wonderful, the most amazing, loving, supportive parents anyone could ever dream of”. I then looked down to my sisters and crouched to their height, taking their hands in mine ”ahh my girls, be good but be strong, if anyone ever pushes you, you push right back! you have strong loyal blood in you, train hard and look after one another”. they told me they loved me through their cries and held onto me for one last hug.

Lastly as I stood and faced Sam, he grabbed my arms and pulled me in giving me a tight cuddle and I could feel his heart beating hard against my own. ”Oh Lil’s I’m going to miss you everyday, I’m going to miss all our laughs and having you to talk to”.

I nodded into his chest “I’m going to miss you too… SO much, I love you Sam”

His voice cracked “I love you too Lil’s…please make it back safely to us”

"Lelanna”...Gabel spoke softly “it’s time”

“ok” I gulped as I slowly let go of Sam and my parents reached out to hold my hands one more time.

I quickly took in the warmth and love in their faces, and I slowly turned away as Gabel walked with me ”Lelanna...Oh my special warrior”. We stopped as he put a hand on my cheek looking at me with tears in his eyes ”Lelanna from the first day you started your training I knew you were going to be one of the special’s, just like your dad."

I looked up at him with a faint smile ”I was so lucky to have you as my teacher, you helped me to be my best”

"Oh no Lelanna there’s still so much in you that needs to shine, and I know this because you remind me of me and your dad when we were young, I see the strength in you. We have legends in our pack, and I know, I just know that you will become a legend too, generations will speak of you in years to come just as we do of our ancestors”

“Just as they do of you and dad?” I grinned

He smiled “You are definitely your father’s daughter… I know and many of us know you didn’t hurt Zara, she might have won for now, but I know you’ll prove you won’t go down that easy”

"I can’t even begin to explain how much I’ll miss all of you all this is just so...”

“unfair?.. yes Lelanna we all believe so”

I was actually going to say surreal but it’s good to know the town were on my side, including Gabel whom I’d always respected ever since I was little.

He gave me a reassuring nod and I knew I had to go, I finally had to leave them all behind. I started to walk through the trees as I took a deep breath, I turned to look at all my family one more time as my mum fell to her knees crying heavily as my dad tried to hold her. I continued to step further into the forest until the trees eventually blocked them from my view, but I could still hear her cries. I gulped and kept moving into the vast forest as shadows cast all over the ground and the tree trunks as the moon peaked through the clouds as the sun was beginning to fade and the sky was growing ever dimmer.