Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 8: The Gift Unveiled

The pack members of the Silver Moon Pack had gathered in the central clearing, their voices filled the area with joyous vibes under the warm glow of the setting sun. Karina stood among them, a sense of contentment and pride filling her as she takes pleasure in the camaraderie of her new family. Weeks had already passed since her first hunt, and she had grown more confident in her role within the pack.

Laughter and stories of the members of the pack echoed through the air as the evening deepened. Maris, the storyteller that she is, entertained them with tales of past hunts and pack traditions. Karina listened with engrossed attention, her admiration for her fellow pack members growing with each passing day.

Suddenly, while the festivity of the night hugged everyone, a commotion broke out nearby. A young pack member who was playing with the other pups of the pack climbed a tree to show his abilities with his peers had fallen off and broke his ankle. Karina and the other pack members heard his cries in pain. One of his friends came running to Caius to inform them of the situation. Caius and Karina rushed to the scene and found the boy on the ground, clutching his ankle in pain. The others gathered around, offering words of concern and assistance.

Karina saw the state of the boy’s feet. Her instincts kicked in immediately. She moved towards the injured the young wolf and kneeled, her heart racing with a mix of determination and uncertainty as she inspects the boy’s ankle. She looked at the young wolf’s expression, she could tell he’s in so much pain and if no one intervenes, the boy might lose his feet.

Karina looked at Caius. She saw him ordering another member to get the pack’s healer. As she placed her hand on the broken ankle, she knew that they’re running out of time. His ankle was starting to turn purple.

Mavis tried to pull her away from the young wolf. “Don’t worry, Karina. The pack’s healer is on his way.”

Karina was pulled away from the scene. Her heart was pounding, her mind was filled with anxiety and worries for the injured young wolf.

The pack’s healer arrived a few moments later, on his hands were medical supplies he needed. He asked everyone to step back and order a male pack member to carry the injured wolf on the table. Karina anxiously watched as he assists the young wolf and gave him medicine to help alleviate the pain.

A female pack member walks towards the healer with, her eyes teary. “Is my son going to be, okay?”

The pack’s healer looked at Caius. Karina’s heart raced. She could already tell what the looks mean. “I’m terribly sorry, but I can’t do anything for now. Your son fractured his ankle.”

Karina’s eyes went to the worried mother of the young wolf. She knew she could do something to help them, but her hands were tied. She doesn’t want to expose her healing abilities yet, she’s still not ready.

“Children his age tends to bounce back and recover faster than us, adults. I already performed first aid to his ankle. Let’s just hope the bones heals on his own in no time.”

With weak hands, the young wolf reached out to his mother. He has a frown on his face with tears falling from his eyes, evidence that the numbing medicine the healer gave isn’t working. “I’m sorry, Ma.”

Karina shut her eyes tight as she bit her lower lip. Her mind was torn and at loss of what is the right thing to do in this situation. She felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

Caius offered him a reassuring smile, as if knowing what is bothering her. “He’s going to be okay. He’ll be climbing trees again in no time.”

Taking a deep breath, Karina made up her mind. She walked beside the injured wolf. The healer, Caius and Mavis gave her a puzzled look. “I can help.”

She placed her hand on the young wolf’s ankle and smiled at him. She needs to make sure she’s willing to face the consequences of her decision if she proceeds. Something twisted her heart when the young wolf smiled back at him, pain still visible in his eyes. That was the confirmation she needed for herself. No matter what happened, she’s doing it to save the injured wolf. Karina focused her thoughts, channeling the energy within her as she placed her hands gently on his ankle. A warm, soothing sensation spread through her fingertips, enveloping the injured area.

The pack members watched in stunned silence as Karina's healing power took effect. She was glowing with a warm and gentle air were flowing around her. The young wolf's pain began to subside, his strained expression easing into one of relief. Everyone looked at them as Karina gentle help the young wolf down the table. Slowly, he tested his ankle, gingerly putting weight on it without wincing.

"What happened? It feels better," he exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder as he looked up to Karina. "It doesn't hurt anymore!"

Karina smiled warmly and warily, her heart swelling with gratitude but at the same time with fear and anxiety. "I'm glad I could help."

Caius stepped forward, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Karina, no wolf in our pack has ever possessed such a gift. Where did this come from?"

Karina’s heart almost jumped off her chest. She hesitated, unsure how to explain her hidden ability. "I...I'm not sure, Caius. It's something that...just happened."

Caius nodded thoughtfully, his expression thoughtful, void of any judgement. "It's a remarkable gift, Karina. One that could prove invaluable to our pack."

The pack members murmured in agreement, their initial surprise giving way to admiration and respect. Karina's healing power was seen as a blessing. She sighed in relief, tears started to swell in her eyes. The response she received from the members of the Silver Moon Pack was the opposite when Crimson Claw Pack found out her healing abilities. She was instantly treated as a tool and a curse. The Crimson Claw Pack used her while out casting her in the pack she was born. The Silver Moon Pack was different. She was accepted and valued.

As the evening continued, Karina found herself surrounded by curious pack members, each eager to learn more about her abilities. She answered their questions as best she could, her humility and sincerity endearing her to them even more.

Maris approached with a warm smile. "Karina, that was incredible. I've never seen anything like it."

Karina blushed, touched by Maris's praise. "Thank you, Maris. I didn't know where I got it from, but it has been the only reason my former pack didn’t abandon me when I was a child."

"Maybe it's a rare gift from the Moon Goddess," Maris said, her eyes filled with admiration. "You have something special, Karina. We all knew it from the start. Remember, we will never abandon you,"

The pack members expressed their gratitude to Karina, their words and gestures of appreciation filling her with a sense of purpose. She was thankful for the gift she has. She found her place within the Silver Moon Pack, not just as a skilled warrior, but as a healer who could bring comfort and relief to her fellow pack members.

As the night deepened and the feast drew close to end, Karina reflected on the events of the evening. She had discovered a new aspect of herself, a gift that she once thought as a commodity for others became something that set her apart from the others. It will be her responsibility she promised herself that she will not take lightly, knowing that her healing abilities could make a difference in the lives of those around her.

With renewed determination, Karina vowed to hone her skills and embrace her role within the pack. She had found acceptance and belonging among the Silver Moon Pack, a community where her strengths were celebrated, and her abilities embraced.

As she settled into her cabin for the night, Karina had flashbacks of what she endured in the Crimson Claw Pack.

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Under the torturous heat from the sun, Karina was busy collecting herbs for the pack. Her visions were blurry as she felt her body slowly succumbing to exhaustion and hunger. A hand yanked her up, waking her mind and pulling her back from her reality.

“One of our warriors got injured during our patrols.”

Without any response from her, the male wolf dragged her back to their pack and brought her to the injured warrior.

“Hurry up and heal him!”

Karina looked at the injured warrior, she couldn’t even take a proper look at him because her vision kept turning black in split seconds. “I.. I can’t. I don’t have the strength.”

A heavy hand landed on her cheeks as her ears started ringing. The area that was slapped felt like burning and blood started flowing from her lips.

“That’s your only purpose in this pack, and now you’re refusing to fulfill your purpose. Do you want me to tell this to the Alpha? For sure the alpha won’t hesitate to cast you out of this pack.”

The mention of the Alpha brought fear through her entirety. Karina crawled to the injured warrior and healed him.

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Karina shook the memories away and reminded herself she had found a place where she belongs. She felt a deep sense of gratitude from the Silver Moon Pack. She had come a long way from the lonely, uncertain wolf who had fled her old pack. Here, among the Silver Moon Pack, she had found not just a new family, but a purpose that filled her with pride and fulfillment and she will do everything she can to protect it.