The Moon Festival
1409 Words
The first light of dawn spread across Moonridge Pack.
Seraphina was already awake.
She tied her hair into a loose braid, picked up her basket, and stepped outside. The morning air was cool, and tiny drops of dew covered the grass.
The village looked unusually busy.
People carried wooden tables into the square.
Children hung silver ribbons between the houses.
Several women arranged baskets of flowers along the main road.
Seraphina smiled.
She had almost forgotten.
Today was the Moon Festival.
It was Moonridge's oldest tradition, held every year to thank the Moon Goddess for protecting the pack.
As a child, it had been her favorite day.
She still loved it, even if things had changed.
"Good morning!"
Elena waved from across the square, struggling to carry a box almost as big as she was.
Seraphina hurried over.
"Let me help."
"I was going to ask five minutes ago."
They both laughed as Seraphina took one side of the box.
"What did your mother put in here?" she asked.
"Stones?"
Elena grinned.
"No. Lanterns."
"They're made of glass."
"She told me not to break a single one."
"And if you do?"
"I'll be washing dishes for a month."
Seraphina laughed.
"Then we'd better be careful."
Together, they carried the box to the center of the square.
Several children ran over immediately.
"Can we help?"
"Of course," Seraphina said.
She knelt beside them and carefully handed each child a lantern.
"One at a time."
"Don't run."
"And hold them with both hands."
The children nodded seriously.
"We will!"
Within seconds...
They were running.
Elena sighed dramatically.
"So much for listening."
Seraphina couldn't stop laughing.
"They tried."
"I'll give them that."
By midmorning, the village looked completely different.
Silver ribbons fluttered gently in the breeze.
Wildflowers decorated every doorway.
Long wooden tables filled the square, ready for the evening feast.
Music drifted through the air as musicians practiced nearby.
Even the people who usually argued seemed happier today.
"This is beautiful," Seraphina said softly.
"It is," Elena agreed.
"For one day every year, everyone remembers how to smile."
Just then, Selene appeared carrying a basket of herbs.
"There you two are."
"We finished hanging the lanterns," Elena said proudly.
"I can see that."
Selene smiled before turning to Seraphina.
"I have another job for you."
"What is it?"
"We're almost out of Moon Blossom tea."
"The festival guests will ask for it all evening."
Seraphina nodded.
"I'll prepare some."
"It's in the back room."
"I'll start now."
As she walked toward the infirmary, Elena called after her.
"Don't work too hard!"
"I'll try!"
"You always say that."
"And you always worry."
"Someone has to."
Seraphina smiled as she disappeared inside.
The familiar scent of herbs welcomed her once again.
She carefully measured dried Moon Blossoms into a large clay pot before adding fresh mint leaves.
Selene watched from nearby.
"You've become faster."
"I've had a good teacher."
"You've had a patient one."
Seraphina laughed.
"I think both are true."
Selene stirred another pot while speaking.
"When I was your age, I couldn't tell lavender from rosemary."
"You?"
"I burned my first batch of medicine."
Seraphina looked at her in surprise.
"I don't believe that."
"It's true."
"My teacher refused to let me near herbs for a week."
The two women laughed together.
For a little while...
There were no whispers about missing wolves.
No cruel comments from villagers.
No strange mysteries waiting in the forest.
Just warm tea.
Gentle laughter.
And the quiet comfort of home.
Outside the infirmary window, the sounds of the festival continued to grow louder.
No one noticed the large black wolf standing silently among the distant pine trees.
Hidden by the shadows...
It watched the village for only a moment.
Then it quietly turned and disappeared deeper into the forest.
By late afternoon, the entire village had gathered in the square.
The long wooden tables were filled with food.
There were roasted vegetables, fresh bread, grilled fish from the river, sweet berry pies, and large pots of hot stew. Children ran from table to table, laughing as they played games, while the older villagers sat together, sharing stories from years gone by.
Seraphina carried a tray of warm Moon Blossom tea from one table to another.
"Careful, it's still hot," she reminded an elderly couple.
"Thank you, dear," the old woman said with a smile. "Your tea is always the best."
Seraphina laughed softly.
"I think Aunt Selene deserves most of the credit."
The old man shook his head.
"She taught you well, but your kindness is what keeps people coming back."
His words made Seraphina smile.
"Thank you."
As she walked away, Elena appeared beside her with two small honey cakes in her hands.
"I've been looking for you."
"Were you helping your mother?"
Elena grinned.
"I was."
She handed one of the cakes to Seraphina.
"And I definitely didn't steal these."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't?"
"Fine."
Elena sighed dramatically.
"I borrowed them."
The two girls burst into laughter.
"If your mother asks," Elena whispered, "you've never seen me before."
"I don't think that'll work."
"It was worth trying."
They found an empty bench beneath a large oak tree and sat together.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
They simply watched the festival.
A group of children danced in circles while musicians played cheerful tunes.
Nearby, several young warriors competed in an archery contest.
Every time someone hit the center of the target, the crowd clapped and cheered.
"It feels nice," Elena said quietly.
"What does?"
"This."
She looked around the square.
"When everyone forgets about arguments for a little while."
Seraphina nodded.
"I wish every day could be like this."
"So do I."
Elena looked at her friend for a moment before smiling.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask."
"Have you ever liked someone?"
Seraphina nearly choked on her honey cake.
"What?"
Elena laughed.
"I knew you'd react like that."
"I've never even thought about it."
"Really?"
Seraphina nodded.
"I've been too busy helping Aunt Selene."
"And avoiding Kieran."
Seraphina smiled.
"I wasn't avoiding him."
"You definitely were."
Before Seraphina could answer, Kieran walked past with two of his friends.
He noticed the girls sitting together and confidently brushed a hand through his hair.
"Enjoying the festival?"
"We were," Elena replied.
Kieran frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means we were enjoying it until you interrupted."
The boys behind him struggled not to laugh.
Kieran cleared his throat.
"I only came to say that I won the archery contest."
Elena looked toward the practice field.
"I thought Liam won."
"He did."
Kieran admitted.
"But I came second."
Elena smiled sweetly.
"Congratulations."
He brightened.
"Really?"
"Second place is still an achievement."
His smile slowly faded as he realized she was teasing him.
The boys behind him burst into laughter.
Kieran groaned.
"You two are impossible."
He walked away, pretending not to hear his friends laughing at him.
Seraphina couldn't stop smiling.
"You shouldn't tease him so much."
"He makes it too easy."
The festival continued as the sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains.
One by one, the glass lanterns hanging across the village were lit.
Their soft silver light filled the square, making the entire village glow beneath the evening sky.
The children clapped excitedly.
"They're beautiful!"
Selene walked over carrying another tray of tea.
She looked around the village with a satisfied smile.
"It turned out well."
"It always does," Seraphina said.
Selene nodded.
"The Moon Festival reminds us that even after the darkest nights, light always returns."
Seraphina looked up at the full moon shining above the village.
For a moment...
Everything felt peaceful.
Far beyond the edge of the forest, hidden among the tall pine trees, a pair of crimson eyes quietly watched the glowing lanterns.
The black wolf stood completely still.
It watched the villagers laughing together.
It watched the children playing.
Finally...
Its gaze rested on Seraphina.
She was smiling as she helped an elderly woman carry a basket.
The wolf remained there for only a few seconds before silently turning away.
Without making a sound, it disappeared into the darkness of the northern forest.
Unaware that she had been watched, Seraphina looked toward the forest for a brief moment.
A gentle breeze brushed against her face.
She smiled to herself.
"What a beautiful night."
Then she turned back to the festival, never noticing the single black paw print left at the edge of the woods.
- Writer
