Howl Your Appellations

Nothing Left Unchanged

Lissana Mons



The trails are suddenly a bit different than I remember. Nothing like how my usual treks would go, in both full form and human form. There are new craters, new trees, new bushes, new cliffs and fallen trees that were more than a hundred years old. Almost everything’s renovated. It’s almost like the forest was turned over, flipped over its head like a table. It’s insane how one being can do this without even batting an eye. This is exactly the reason why they’re not allowed to have appellations; they’d simply be too stronger, maybe even stronger than our creators.

For the longest time I was inside the caves, so many things have changed so drastically. And as I check on myself too, I don’t think I’ve stayed unchanged. Too many things have happened, and I’m sure everyone else changed too. Even if it’s just a little bit. I’m sure it was all because of that night when everything turned to s**t. I wonder how Boen’s doing…based on Reese’s tone, she seems chipper enough and figured things out about the faes.

“Gahhh!!!”

Just thinking about how she survived and is still alive, now, doing what’s right makes me super happy that I saved her. Not that I ever considered regretting that I saved her. She turned me over, just like the forest right now, only I’m in a better state. I’m tingling just thinking about seeing her again. I have to hurry.

Luckily right now, there doesn’t seem to be any major activities coming from the faes and, surprisingly, from the Weres too. I made the rest of the pack keep watch just in case. The trails can easily change in just a few seconds so we have to be prepared.

The Weres are one thing to worry about because of a certain someone going berserk, even if it has been months. But ,again, surprisingly, I haven’t encountered a single hostile or docile Were. Everyone’s careful, on the tip of their toes right now. I wonder how my pack even managed to not get ambushed at The Train. I’m sure they’re blaming us for what happened to Prince. Boen’s my responsibility after all. I…really should have been more honest with her. I’m such an i***t.

I think I’m getting closer to where the Spring baths are, It’s hard to tell. Prince really did a number on most of the forest with his rampage. I want to apologize, I want to give him a hug.

The fae activity has suddenly decreased, at least in this path. It indicates either that Prince is nowhere near these parts, or, and that’s a big OR, he’s started to calm down and forgot most of what he encountered and did that night…. Unlikely.

The air’s still not the same as before, there’s still something lingering. The way the wind passes through my fur still feels abnormally colder. It sticks to the fuzz like a cold or fever.

But despite everything, I still feel really bad for the Prince. We had history, especially him and Nike; they got along so well and I loved watching them play. He’s a hundred years older than me, but the fae don’t age or mature like we do, and we stop being similar to human maturity when we turn into Weres…not that I can relate. Prince was just a boy when the humans betrayed his mother and his kind, his rage was understandable but not ever forgivable to those he committed several atrocities to, just like what the humans did to them. The Abalone forest, changed once again, as it does when a major tragedy befalls among its perennial walls. Sometimes it doesn’t even take fifty years, just the wrong circumstances and uncontrollable rage. I know this now, I just hope a lot of us do.

The regular trail towards Boen’s cliff’s blocked, the only familiar thing remaining is the river stream. It still flows the same way, not even Prince can change its course. Thankfully, there are many routes I can take so I can reach the high cliff now. I can’t believe it’s taking me so long to reach her. Nothing better be wrong with time too.

In any case, I don’t like it, but I’ll have to go that way. I’m sure the Weres I’ll encounter won’t mind. But I’ll initiate a fight if they take up too much of my time. I can already hear something coming from a distance. And I hope it’s not them. Imus should prepare himself.

“No more time to waste, Sana, let’s go.”

I passed the hidden clearing of the Deer Weres and not a lot of them seem to be staying in one place. It’s honestly not supposed to be this quiet. At times like this, I miss Shaen’s sharp quips. I haven’t thought about her for a while, I hope that Fox Were’s okay. I owe her a soak in the Spring Baths.

Past the criss-cross trees, not new: This, was supposed to be Krolo’s pack’s territory. Now It’s all bushes and stones, mounds of land on top of another like some earthquake transformed only that specific hideout. Everything’s ruined, not a spot of their already submerged hideaway, remains. Another pack, broken and scattered about. The poor souls would have to find a new pack to adopt them, or they’ll have to go back to the human world and live a new life there.

Bah! No one would ever choose to go back out there. That’s why we all cam here in the first place. It’s easier to deal with the problems here, out there, there’s too many things at once. I don’t know how they survive like that for more than half a century. I could never look at their bright lights properly. They’ll never be able to outshine Luna, light just naturally attracts to her, without question or protest.

“Is this…is this that… I see Boen’s weird tree!”

I’m finally just a few more steps there!…Imus isn’t in front of the tunnel, he went in? Does that mean the thick malice isn’t at full effect anymore? I really don’t want to go back to those caves again. I was lucky once, who knows if I’ll be lucky again the second time…I….

“Are you okay, Sana?”

“THE FUCKSHIT!!!?! REESE?!?!!! SINCE WHEN??????”

“Sana, we haven’t seen you in months. I haven’t seen you in months. I considered for a time that you might not ever come back. Do you think I’d just wait and follow your orders of “We gotta help” and stay behind? You must be a bigger blockhead than I thought, thicker, even. Do you understand?”

“I…I’m sorry. So the others are gonna catch up later too, huh?”

I can’t believe I already f****d up with one of my pack members, I just got back! I have to make it up to her somehow.

“Your poncho, it’s black. For medical supplies, right? Thank Luna.”

“Well at least you remember. You’re not gonna tell me to leave? To go back?”

“W-why would I?! Now that you’re here, I feel a lot more at ease. I should have just taken you and Mei with me if I thought things through. I rushed off, giving s**t instructions because…well it’s Boen so…”

“I…Sana…you have to tell me what happened to you when you were in the caves, okay? No time right now.”

“Right! And I need your help exactly!”

I didn’t consider this apprehension as trauma but, now that I know Reese is here, and the others are gonna catch up, I’m terrified of leaving them again. I don’t want to have anything to do with the curse fog ever again. I'm not going back to the caves!

“Sana? What’re you waiting for? How can I help? Is it the tunnel? Tell me.”

“Ah..y-yeah. My vision turns hazy when I look into the tunnel. Can you scout it for me? If it stinks of malice, I think I’ll take a while before I can….”

As pathetic as I am right now, asking for Reese’s help is the best option. And the fact that Imus isn’t here means that he’s beyond the tunnel. I’m sure, but I need reassurance.

“Sana.”

Huh? She’s already at the entrance. I’ve gotta get closer.

“Hey. Give me your hand. It’s gonna be okay. As far as I’m concerned, the tunnel’s safe. You can tell too, right?”

I’m too anxious to open my eyes but I can smell just fine despite that. It smells like lilies.

“Sana, keep you eyes closed. I’ll lead us to the other side. It’ll be quicker. Come on, Boen and Imus are waiting.”

“Okay.”

Before I knew it, water started gushing out my tear ducts. On top of me gripping Reese’s hand as tightly as I could, I could also hear my voice being a little b***h. I don’t cry loudly, but crying just naturally sounds a little bit embarrassing, especially if you’ve been holding it back.

I follow behind Reese like a shaking deer. She doesn’t comment on anything and keeps on walking. Her nibble feet knows exactly where the moss isn’t. I’m happy Reese came after me, it would have been harder if it was any other member of the pack.

“Sana. When I count to three you open your eyes, alright? I promise it’s safe. We’re almost out.”

“Alright. What choice do I have.”

“Ha! That’s my Alpha! Okay, here we go, 1…2…3!!”

Beyond the sound of Reese’s countdown, my tears falling to my shirt, and the sound of the wind on our faces, there was nothing. Only my sense of sight worked as I opened my eyes to the bright blinding light. At first I thought it was just because we were in the tunnel for a while, the light just surprised us, but there was more than just the light of the normal world.

Boen’s cabin is being engulfed by a searing white light. It’s so intense that it made me forget that were was a Moon and a Sun. The light was like a sword piercing the buried ground and reaching the endless sky. I’ve never encountered something like this, this close before.

This is the Queen’s Beacon. But I don’t understand how it can still be this powerful though at a smaller scale. It’s starting to die down. We got to find Boen.

“Reese! Wake up! We gotta get in there!”

“Sana…it’s so beautiful…like a million Appellations glowing at the same time…wow”

Tsk. She’s completely mesmerized. It’ll only be a matter of time before Prince comes. We have to prepare the circle.

“Come on, let’s go find Imus. He’s around here somewhere. A few Weres even got here before us. Damn we’re so late.”

All these Weres in their human and Full forms gathered here. I wonder if they also figured it out and wanted to help or they just felt the urge to come here. Even Zeke and his group are here, the Deers, Foxes, Cassowaries, some Boars and…my god even the Hawks sent one of theirs to check, this is not looking too good. They’re all looking at the Queen’s Beacon for the time being but...

Why am I the only one who isn’t hypnotized by the light? Am I really that special? I’ve got a few theories, but enough thinking for now. We have to find…......There!!!

“Imus!! Imus!! Imus!!”

In full form no less! Cradling all the parts under his fur! At least they’re safe!

“Imus! Hey, where’s Boen? She’s in there, isn’t she? What are you going to do? One of the hawks are here.”

“...”

Goddamit. The damn beacon’s distracting him. We have to form the circle now! He must’ve been protecting the shards because of the other Weres. I need to snap them out of it before Prince kills us all. Think Sana, think!

Luna….‘’GASP! That’s it!”

“Hey, Imus! Second in command. Your Alpha’s addressing you! Heed!”

Sorry Boen, but I’ll be borrowing your moon ring for a bit. It’s the only thing stronger than the Queen’s light.

“.…Whoa, Sana? Why do you have that?”

“Reese! Quick, I’m gonna wake Imus up, alright? Start forming the fae parts in a circle. The Queen needs to be in the middle. I’ve got to find Boen.”

“O-okay! Count on us!”

Hang tight Boen! Lissana’s coming to your rescue.