MOONLIT BONDS: THE CURSE OF RAVENA

“Her eyes–” Lunara gasped. Lost in the glow of newly-born Ravena. “I know. It's the brightest gold I've seen.” Christine chuckled. “Humans will know.” she said eventually with a breath of realization. “You give your kind too much credit than they are worth. Humans are not that smart.” Lunara scoffed, stealing a glance at her friend. “You're probably right” Christine confessed. “Could you watch her for me? I've got to use the bathroom real quick. It's been in and out of that place ever since… Her.” She nodded in the direction of her child as she made a gentle effort to get up from the bed Lunara had delivered her of young Ravena.. “Careful. Do you hurt anywhere?” Lunara asked. “No. Not at all. Just a slight ache in my back…” she confirmed as she patted her back before standing by the slightly opened door of her room. “Nope. It's just too much time on that bed.” She exited. Lunara’s eyes lingered on the door as she imagined why and how Christine couldn't feel any pain or ache after her first child. It had already been an easy delivery which bothered Lunara but she imagined hybrid births should be effortless. She returned to the newborn and stroked the tiny strands of hair on her head as she drowned in her eyes again. “It probably hasn't kicked in. You are a special one, I just can tell. You eased all the pain she should have felt” Tears gathered in Lunara’s eyes as she continued to caress the child’s hair. “We are going to explore the forests together. I'll show you Early Diners. In fact, your first meal there would be the first meal I had there too. Your father and mother and me. I'll show you to Silver Claws—” She was interrupted by Christine clearing her throat. She wondered how she could not have heard the door open. Lunara blinked her tears away and gave the smiling child a quick frown before she turned to Christine. “She isn't supposed to be smiling this early” Lunara followed suit and cleared her throat to avoid her concerned voice cracking as she reported to Christine. “Lu…” Christine set a warning tone. “Don't do that. She's new. She's just a baby.” “Yes. Yes, but all of these signs—” Lunara held Christine’s shoulder tight and pointed at the child with concern coating her features. “What signs? Huh?” Christine angrily removed her friend’s hand from her shoulder and glanced at her child. “What signs? I don't want you clouding my Ravana’s head with all of your psychic seeing.” Christine yelled. “I. Am. A. Goddess. Queen.” Lunara said through her teeth. “I lead a werewolf pack” She said with a cooler disposition.. “I need you to leave now. I can't deal with this right now. Please Lunara. Please” Christine said looking down at Ravena. Lunara took a last glance at young Ravena before Reaching for the door. “It’s a beautiful name. Ravena” she whispered before she stormed out. Just as Lunara stepped outside, Christine felt a strange cold breeze, and all the hair on the back of her neck rose. It was almost as if she had been watched and whatever it was that was watching her had gotten more courage now that she was alone, or at least the only logical person in the room. She began to hear strange growls. They sounded familiar and she had only believed that Lunara hadn't left for Silver Claws but lurked around her house instead so she paid little attention to it. As the growls intensified, the shadows outside the window seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Christine felt a surge of dread wash over her, and she instinctively moved to shield Ravena, cradling her close. Suddenly, the door burst open, splintering against the wall as rogue wolves surged into the room. Their eyes glowed with a feral hunger, and the air was thick with the scent of danger. Christine stepped in front of Ravena, her maternal instincts kicking in fiercely. “Get back!” Christine shouted, her voice steady despite the chaos. “I won’t let you hurt her!” But the wolves were relentless. They lunged forward, their snarls echoing in the confined space. Lunara heard in horror from afar as Christine fought valiantly, her movements graceful yet desperate. She was no match for the sheer number of attackers. In a flurry of fur and teeth, Christine was overwhelmed, her cries mingling with the growls of the wolves. Lunara’s heart shattered as she realised the inevitable. Her best friend was going to be attacked by rogue wolves and she could do nothing. “Christine!” she screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the chaos. She ran towards the house. With a final, anguished grunt, Christine fell, the rogue wolves retreating momentarily, leaving her lifeless body sprawled on the floor. The room fell silent, save for Lunara’s ragged breaths and the soft whimper of Ravena in her arms. In that moment, Lunara felt a surge of determination. She knew she had to protect the newborn at all costs. The wolves might have taken Christine, but they wouldn’t take Ravena. “We’ve got to run, little one,” she whispered to Ravena, her voice trembling but resolute. “I will keep you safe.” With the rogue wolves still lurking outside, Lunara dashed toward the back door with Ravena in her arms, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to escape into the depths of the forest towards Silver Claws, where the shadows would shield them, and the full moon would guide their path. As she stepped into the night, the cool air wrapped around her, and she felt the weight of her loss. But she couldn’t dwell on it now. The forest awaited, and with it, the promise of survival and the unknown journey ahead. “Lunara?” Christine's voice broke through Lunara’s thoughts. “Are you talking to her already? You know she can’t understand you yet.” Lunara chuckled softly, wiping away the tears that had threatened to spill over. “Maybe not, but she can feel the love. It’s important for her to know she’s cherished.” Christine smiled, squatting to Lunara’s level, her eyes glimmering with warmth. “You have a way with words, Lunara. I can see the bond already forming.” “Of course,” Lunara replied, her voice filled with affection as she continued to stroke Ravena’s hair. “She’s going to be special. Just like her mother.” Christine’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of concern creeping into her features. “You think so? With everything that’s happening… I just want her to have a chance at a normal life.” “Are you crazy? Of course I believe you're special. Would he have found you otherwise? Would you have birthed this charm?” she looked at her hands where sleeping Ravena lay “ ‘Normal life’ you say…” Lunara scoffed lightly. “In this world? We’ll give her the strength she needs. Together, we’ll show her how to navigate it all.” “Together,” Christine echoed, her voice stronger now. “I like the sound of that.” They shared a moment of understanding, just before Christine wilted with the midnight cold breeze. The weight of the circumstances momentarily lifted as Lunara focused on the life that she promised Christine for Ravena.