Hidden Within

Transend

As time goes on, I start to feel even more uneasiness creep in. Every noise makes me jump. Wind rustling through the leaves, owls hooting, frogs croaking, it all sounds foreign and scary to me.

Inside the basement was much quieter.

My aunt, however, has not made an appearance, which is a relief. I seriously doubt she would trek through the forrest to find me. This part of the lake I am at is nowhere near the visitors' area or camp grounds. I must have run further into the woods than I had originally thought and come out more towards the back. The lake is really big and it twists and turns all throughout the forrest so who knows where I could be.

As the hours pass by, my eyes start to get droopy but I feel too on edge to let my guard down. My body feels very strange, like tingles all over. The little hairs on my battered and bruised skin are standing up, which further intensifies the on edge feeling.

There's no way of telling when my birthday starts and for that matter what I am meant to do here at the lake. I am left with more questions than with answers.

The unsettling feeling still grows but my body is now starting to betray me, willing me to lay down. I guess there is only so much it can take. I wasn't even healed from all the injuries she inflicted on me over the last few weeks and then running a marathon on top of that. I could lay my head back a little, I suppose. My body becomes less and less tense as the need to sleep is becoming very hard to ignore.

I study the moon to try to keep me awake a little longer. It is high up above the lake now. I think to myself it must be some kind of super moon from its very impressive size tonight. For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to the moon. Every night through the little barred basement window, I would stare up at the moon, allowing its shine to comfort me.

I think more about the whole werewolf thing and think maybe it is some kind of metaphorical thing. It all just seems very ridiculous to me, too far-fetched. I did wonder if maybe this was some kind of sick game my aunt was playing with me, but I don't know what she would gain from me running away.

Perhaps another hour passes and my fatigue has won. I drift off into darkness, unaware of the danger I am in.

Jolting awake from the most terrifying noise I have ever heard. Wolves, and a lot of them. Scrambling to me feet, I start searching for the tallest tree I can find. Judging by how loud they are, I can guess they are maybe ten minute's away.

Circling the base of a large old oak tree right at the waters edge, I spot what I'm looking for, a small divet in the trunk that I fit my foot in and use to leverage my body up. I desparetly grab the higher branch when I hear them again. My blood runs cold. They are most certainly getting closer and my guess of ten minutes was very wrong. They are moving way too fast. Perhaps I have five minutes or three, I'm not sure.

Hastily sliding myself up the base of the branch I am on to reach another. I reach that one and then another and two more. I am up as high as I can go. The branch hangs far out over the lake but I stick to the fork in case I fall because I can't swim.

Breathing heavily and my heart pounding hard inside my chest, I see them. Four huge dirty brown wolves. They stop right at the base of the tree and I hold my breath, preying they won't see me. With their noses up in air sniffing, to my horror they look straight up at me. They knew exactly where I was.

They start growling and jumping at the base, long sharp yellow claws shredding bark from the base. They are massive, I don't think they are regular wolves. The smell coming from them stings my eyes it's so rank.

They can almost reach me when they jump but I can't go further up. The branches are too thin. My only option is to go out along the branch. I start to move when the biggest one out of the four makes contact. The sharp claw catches my foot and tears it open as the wolf falls back to the ground, landing perfectly on its legs. I let out a blood curdling scream when I saw the blood start squirting out profusely. Tears stream down my face, I continue to make my way along the branch. Now, when the wolves jump they are landing in water. This gives me a little more time because they have to swim back to the bank to jump again.

The water must be deep if they can't touch. This is all going very wrong. My aunt lured me here probably knowing this place is full rabid wolves. I am so stupid I cry.

One of the smaller wolves jumps, and its claws dig deeply into the branch causing the whole thing to shake violently. I lose my balance.

Game over, I am falling but just before my body plunges into the water, I hear the word MATE tear out of someone's mouth.

Water engulfs me but I don't struggle. I allow it to swallow me up. Drowning seems peaceful compared to the jaws of those wolves.

Once my lungs are completely screaming for air, I give in. Opening my mouth where the water pours in, filling my lungs. My vision fades and I feel warmth spread all over me. It was the most beautiful feeling I have ever felt. Maybe this is what a hug feels like?.

When I open my eyes, I am blinded by the bright sun. Sitting up to look around, I am in a field full of wild flowers. This has to be where people go when they die. It's so beautiful.

"Dalia, sweet child,"

I frown, I haven't heard that name in years. My eyes landed on the woman sitting to my right. She is breathtaking, long white hair trailing down her slender body but it's her eyes I find mismarizing. Silver just like the moon.

"Why are you frowning? You will get wrinkles." This beautiful woman smiles.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Celest, my dear, the moon goddess. I have been waiting for you! I have someone else who's very eager to meet you too." she says.

A big beautiful blue wolf comes barrelling towards us. I don't feel an ounce of fear though. The wolf has the same eyes as Celeste. Its yapping, and jumping around like a puppy makes me let out a giggle.

"Meet Yahni, your wolf. She's beautiful, isn't she." Celeste grins.

"Yahni is a blue moon wolf, one of a kind. Gifted and rare just like you, Dahlia." Celeste continues.

I interrupt her. "I am not gifted." I frown.

"You're frowning again, child! Now hush you are gifted, and you are chosen just like Yahni has been chosen. Together, you will save us all from what's to come." Celeste says.

"None of this makes sense. How can I be special or gifted? I am nothing but a damaged girl who barely even remembered I had a name until you said it!" I cry out, unaware of the tears coming down my face.

"Your name is Dalia, goddess of fate. Remember that! Don't ever forget! We are running out of time, so listen.

I am sorry you had to go through what you did, but it kept you hidden. Now you are of age and I have given you Yahni they will come for you. Don't let the evil win!" Celeste says with something fierce in her eyes.

My body starts to feel funny, tingles spreading all over me. I see Yahni in the corner of my eye, and she looks like she's about to burst with excitement.

I frown again. "I still don't understand? what do you mean?" I frantically ask her as my vision starts becoming fuzzy.

"I will visit you again, my child, but you will know when the time comes. Now go be who you are meant to be. Transcend into the power you hold." she says as my sight goes black.