Moonlight forgotten

Episode 3

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**The Girl in the Woods **

Like poison vapor, Varek's speech slithered through the cabin.

"Hello, Liana."

Without thinking, I moved in front of Kael's body.

His chest was rapidly rising and falling as he lay on the dusty floor, still unconscious. His skin was still burning. His wolf remained near the surface. It was over if Varek saw.

I elongated my back.

"What are you looking for?"

Then Varek entered the cabin. The same snarky grin. The same keen eyes. Fur, dark as midnight, lined his coat. He scuffed the wood floor with his boots.

He said, "I've been trying to find you."

I yelled, "No, you have been pursuing me."

He c****d his head and looked at Kael. "I also notice that you have a new acquaintance."

Slamming into my chest was my heart.

Don't recognize him, please. Please.

He knelt next to Kael's corpse. I didn't move, even though my fingers ached to take the blade out of my boot. Not quite yet.

"Such a poor child," Varek said. "It appears half-dead."

"To you, he is nothing," I blurted out. "I just assisted a traveler."

In an attempt to find something, Varek touched Kael's neck. A pulse? Change the energy? The reality?

I made my hands remain motionless.

Once more, Varek stood slowly and reflectively. "He has a familiar scent."

I was not blinking. "He is not a person."

Varek took a step forward. It's funny. You've spent months in hiding. Everyone believed you had fled. gave up. But here you are, caring for stray animals in the forest.

I didn't respond.

He said, "Liana, tell me what's so wonderful about *this* one."

I gave a shrug. He was gushing blood. I was helpful.

Now, like a wolf testing its prey, he circled me slowly.

"What if I told you that the Elders want you to return?"

I chuckled once, resentfully. "They can wait any longer."

He smiled. "We're not inquiring."

"I won't be going."

"You believe you have a choice?"

With a growl, I said, "I *do* choose." "I decided to go. I decided to live.

Varek's gaze grew strained. "You decided to turn on your pack."

I took a step forward. "No. You showed *him* deceit.

Varek froze for a heartbeat. Then he smiled again, even more cruelly.

“Who?” he whispered. "The deceased Alpha? The betrayer who disappeared in the flames? He is now ashes.

I didn't respond.

He bent in. "You still feel sad for him?"

I looked him square in the eyes. "Daily."

Varek shook his head and chuckled once again. "You remain just as broken as ever."

I inhaled. "And you're just as dangerous as ever."

He looked again at the motionless Kael. His body was burning from wolf fever, his lips were pale, and his respiration was shallow.

Kael, please don't wake up just yet. Not in this manner.

Varek took a step back toward the exit.

He said, "Keep your little stray." Don't run far, though. We'll be observing.

With a wink, he disappeared into the forest.

I held my breath till his aroma subsided.

I then fell to my knees next to Kael.

"You must awaken," I muttered. "You must move back before they notice you again."

His eyes fluttered open as he let out a quiet gasp. Inside them, gold continued to burn.

"Kael," I firmly said. It's alright. You're secure.

He looked at me. Perplexed. Crazy. Still torn between wolves and humans.

I touched his chest with my hand.

"Inhale," I muttered. "Pay attention to me."

Yes, he did.

The gold in his eyes dwindled slowly. His body eased up. He evened out his breathing.

He blinked. "What is happening to me, Lia?"

I gave a feeble smile. "You're recalling."

Touching his forehead, he reached up. "Everything hurts."

"I understand. But you're getting better.

He surveyed the cabin. "Who was present?"

I gave a nod. Indeed. Someone who poses a threat.

He tightened his jaw. "I have to keep you safe."

I answered, "You already are."

He groaned as he sat up. "What do you not tell me?"

I gave him a close look. "Do you think I'm trustworthy?"

"With my life."

"Then let's go before he returns."

We made quick progress. As we left the cabin and headed north on the wooded walk, I kept Kael steady. We continued till the moon rose, climbing steep slopes and crossing creeks.

Deep in the forest, we came to a little, hidden clearing.

The lunar circle.

Wild trees concealed the ancient stones that surrounding the area. No one was coming here any more. Not even the elderly.

It was holy.

secure.

Kael and I sat under the biggest stone.

He raised his gaze to the heavens.

In a whisper, he said, "The moon." "It seems... significant."

"It is," I said.

He shut his eyes. "I recall something. A voice. A name.

He gently opened his eyes and turned to face me.

"My name isn't Ash," I said.

I waited.

Softly, he murmured, "It's Kael."

My eyes welled up with tears. "Yes."

He remarked, "I don't remember everything." "But it feels like home with that name."

I gave a nod. "It *is* home."

He inhaled nervously. "Did we become more than just friends?"

I took a swallow. "Yes."

He lowered his voice. "Were we... partners?"

I didn't respond verbally. Grabbing his hand, I put it over my heart.

Then he felt the tug of the relationship. Warm. Actual.

His cheeks began to well up with tears.

"Liana," he murmured.

I gave a nod. "You recall."

His forehead pressed against mine as he pushed closer.

Then—*

Snap.

A splinter.

Too near.

Kael stiffened.

I pivoted.

At the circle's edge stood a girl. pale skin. White hair. Ice-like eyes.

She was no older than ten.

Her aroma, however, is older than the forest. older than time.

"Who are you?" I inquired.

The girl remained silent.

Kael stood and protected me.

The woman c****d her head. She remarked, "He remembers." "It's breaking the curse."

"What's the curse?" I inquired.

She grinned. "The invisible one."

Kael took a step forward. "What do you mean?"

He got no response from the girl. She gave me a look.

"He must make a decision," she stated. "Ahead of the red moon."

"What option?"

She retreated into the darkness.

"Hold on!" I made a call.

"Seek me out," she said. "Before he forgets once again."

Then she was gone.

Kael looked across at me. "What's going on?"

I gave a headshake. "I'm not sure."

However, I was aware of one thing.

It wasn't just a crash that caused his memory loss.

And now—

It was a fresh beginning.

Kalel gazed into the shadows where the girl had disappeared.

In a quiet voice, he declared, "She wasn't human."

"No," I muttered. "She wasn't."

I took a step forward and looked around the trees. No trail of fragrance. No pulse. Nothing except emptiness. She appeared—and then vanished, like dawn mist.

Kael gave his arms a rub. "Why would a young girl use such riddles in her speech? How could she know that my memory was returning?

I remarked, "She knew more than that." "She was aware of the red moon."

He clenched his jaw. Why is the moon red?

I raised my head. Above us, the sky was clear, with stars strewn about like glass. But the scarlet moon would rise too soon. Once every several years, it appeared. A magical night. And occasionally... a dangerous night.

I remarked, "That's when magic is strongest." "It can either destroy or heal."

Kael looked across at me. "I have to make a decision," she added. What option?

I said, "I don't know yet." "But if we don't figure it out, it sounds like something horrible is going to happen."

His gaze grew gloomy. "A curse."

I gave a nod. "And time is running out."

He pressed his hands together and sank himself back against the stone. "All of this is too much."

"I understand."

"None of this is ready for me."

"I understand."

But if there's something wrong with me, I want to repair it," he continued, glancing at me. I'm curious about who I am. What I lost. And... who we were.

My pulse quickened.

I said, "You don't have to hurry." "Together, we will discover the truth."

He looked at me tenderly, as if recalling a smile he had once given me.

Then I took a folded piece of fabric out of my bag. There was the plain stone pendant he had given me years ago, wrapped in silver thread. Since the night of the fire, I had concealed it.

I waited.

I said, "This was yours."

His fingers brushed mine as he took it slowly. "I feel like I own it."

Eyes averted, he flipped it over in his hand.

"I recall gripping this," he muttered. I found myself in a field. You were giggling. Flowers were present.

My eyes hurt with tears. "You handed it to me that evening."

He raised his head. "So, it's accurate."

I gave a nod. "Everything."

Pressing the pendant to his heart, he curled his hand around it. "Then I want it returned."

Despite the pain in my chest, I grinned.

"Then hold onto it."

The thick grass swayed as a breeze blew through the area. Everything was silent for a while.

Then—

Through the trees came a high-pitched scream.

Kael leaped up instantly.

"That was a kid!" he said.

My heart pounded. "The girl?"

Closer, another scream.

"There's no time to contemplate," I answered, getting up.

Kael didn't question my following.

We sprinted in the direction of the sound, hopping over twisted roots and diving beneath low branches. As the woods grew thicker, shadows began to dance all around us.

Only the moonlight illuminated the slender glade we arrived at.

The girl was there, huddled up against a fallen log.

She was shaking. Bleeding.

Kael rushed over to join her. "Are you alright?"

She opened her eyes. "It's too late, too late."

"What took place?" I crouched next to them and asked.

She grabbed Kael's arm and held it firmly. "He is aware."

"Who?" Kael inquired.

This person cursed you. He will arrive.

Kael gave me a look. "Is Varek here?"

Tears streaming down her face, she shook her head. "Worse."

Kael's face went white.

"Please tell us who," I pleaded.

The girl's ice-blue eyes were flaming as she gazed at me. It was your duty to save him. It was *supposed* that you would stop it.

I went cold. "What should I stop?"

She removed her hand off Kael's arm.

She had left.

Not breathing. No pulse.

“She’s not dead,” Kael muttered.

He was correct.

Once, like dust in the wind, her body shimmered and then disappeared.

We remained silent.

Next, Kael asked, "What was she saying? That I was meant to be saved by you?

I was unable to talk.

since I was aware.

Once, I had *failed*.

The fire. The treachery. The Elders' agreement.

I had decided to release him. to keep the pack intact.

And now it was all returning.

Kael took hold of my arm. "What are you not telling me, Liana?"

Slowly, I turned.

"She is correct," I remarked. "I erred. Long ago. One that I believed I could repair.

He gazed at me. "Tell me."

However, before I could say anything—

The darkness broke with a howl.

Not even close.

Not too far, though.

Not just any wail, either.

It was a sound Kael made.

Only the blood of Alphas could reverberate such sound.

He gave me a perplexed expression.

He said, "I didn't create that sound."

"No," I muttered. "You didn't."

Together, we turned toward the sound.

There was another Kael out there.

Or worse—

Something impersonating him.

---An further cry, just like Kael's, echoes across the night—unfeasible unless someone else has his face or blood.