Wolf's Bane

Eyesi in the dark

Ariella froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The eyes were closer now and she could see the faint outline of a wolf's face. She heard stories of werewolves but she couldn't believe what she saw, but she never thought she'd encounter one.

As she stood there, Ariella watched as the wolf took a step closer.

“Who are you, and what do you want from me?”. Ariella asked.

With a growling voice from the wolf, *you don't know me but I know you”, you need to be careful.

“Why?”, Ariella asked.

“Not everything you think is the way it is”, the wolf said.

Now you will forget that you saw me here today, forget everything you saw here, the wolf compelled Ariella.

Ariella!!! “Where are you?” her father asked.

Ariella returned to the house, her face scrunched in confusion, “goodnight, Dad,” she murmured.

Ariella covered her eye from the morning sunlight, “good morning Ariella”, her dad opened the windows

“G, Go…Good morning, Dad”, Ariella said, her voice laced with playful sarcasm. “Thanks for ruining my sleep. I was just having a good dream and you ruined it”

Her dad chuckled and smiled, “Sorry, daughter, but someone's got to keep you grounded in reality.”

Ariella reluctantly stood up from her bed.

“Look, daughter, I regret my tone yesterday evening, and I apologize for my harsh words last night - I was simply concerned about your safety.”

I understand; I'm sorry for the way I responded. Ariella gently went to hold her father's hands, but I'm grown now, and I have to start making my decisions, either good or bad.

Ariella's Dad's eyes misted over as he sighed, You look just like her you know.

“Who, Dad?” Ariella asked.

“You look just like your mom”, Ariella's father said

With a quivering lip, Ariella’s father confessed, “Every day without her feels like an eternity”, his eyes welling up in tears.

“Dad, stop, you're breaking my heart,” Ariella said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Her death was just too mysterious,” Ariella's father said

“Yes I know, as painful as it is, it's in the past, let's leave it there, Ariella said.

Later in the day, Ariella explored through the crowded market, as she made her way through the crowded stalls, her senses heightened by the sounds and smells that surrounded her.

“Ariella, Ariella!!”, a lady called.

Just as she was about to turn a corner, Ariella heard a familiar voice calling out to her.

“Ariella! Oh my goodness, it's been ages!”

Ariella turned to see her childhood friend, running towards her with a big smile on her face.

“When did you come back to this town?” Ariella asked.

Just a few weeks ago, my dad persuaded me to return to Moonland; she chuckled and smiled.

“I've missed you so much*, Ariella said; you just left me here in Moonland with no other friend, giving a soft laugh.

“So tell me, do you have a man now?” Ariella's friend asked.

Ariella gave a face of disappointment, “No, no, I don't. My Mr. Handsome and I will cross paths someday”.

As they chatted, Ariella and her friend wandered to a nearby store; on getting to the store, Ariella bumped Into a tall, brooding figure.

“Oh, I'm so sorry!” Ariella exclaimed, as the stranger's eye locked onto hers.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here, if it isn't the man of mystery himself,” Ariella teases, raising an eyebrow.

Kael chuckles, “Oooh well, look who is trying to get under my skin. Always a pleasure to be referred to as a man of mystery, but I think you'll find that I'm more open book than you think.”

Before she knew it, they had been talking for over an hour, and Kael was inviting her to visit his workshop.

“I'm a blacksmith,” he explained as they walked down through the street

“So what do you make?”, Ariella asked.

“I make all sorts of things - tools, weapons, even occasionally piecess of jewelry.”

“Jewelry huh,” Ariella exclaimed.

Ariella's eyes opened with interest as they approached the workshop. Inside, she saw all sorts of fascinating things - beautiful jewelries, shining as bright as the sun, glowing hot metal, strange tools, and half-finished projects that seemed to defy explanation.

As they worked through the workshop, Kael showcased his various projects, and Ariella was captivated by his explanations; Ariella found herself sensing that she had stumbled upon a hidden world.

You didn't tell me you make beautiful things like this, Ariella said.

“Well that's why I go by the name Mystery Man,” Kael laughs

Just as they were reaching the back of the workshop, a young apprentice named Tessa looked up from her and raised her eyebrow.

“Kael, who is your new friend?” Tessa asked, eyeing Ariella with curiosity.

Kael smiled and gestured to Ariella, “This is Ariella. We met yesterday, in the woods of all places.”

Tessa's eyes grew wide with astonishment.

“Ariella? The apothecary's daughter?”

Ariella nodded, feeling a shiver of discomfort. How did Tessa know her? She thought.

Kael's eye narrowed slightly as if he was trying to read Tessa’s expression. “Yes, she's the one. You two know each other?” Kael asked.

Tessa shook her head, looking away. “N, No…. just making conversation.”

But Ariella had a feeling that there was more to Tessa's question than what she was saying.

She wondered if Tessa was trying to find out something without asking directly. Ariella's curiosity was sparked, and she couldn't help but think that Kael and Tessa might be keeping a secret.

As Ariella and Kael kept talking, Ariella found herself feeling more and more relaxed in Kael's company. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but there was something special about him, she felt like she could tell him anything and he would listen and understand, Kael had a gentle and kind way about him that made her start feel could trust him

As they talked, Ariella felt like she was getting to know Kael better and better, and she liked what she saw.

“There's something special about you, I just can't figure it out, and your eyes, they are so bright and have a golden eyeball,” I feel like I have seen those eyes somewhere before; I can't just remember.

As the day went by, Ariella knew that she had to go back home; she said her goodbyes to Kael and Tessa, promising to visit them soon.

As she got back to the market, Ariella couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had met someone new, someone who understands her in ways few others don't.

Ariella walked through the front door of her house, dropping the loads she brought from the market on a table; with a sigh of relief, Ariella made her way to the living room, where she noticed her father was with one of the council members of the town.

They were speaking in a very low tone, but Ariella could hear some of their conversations.

“..... werewolves are back in town,” the council member said.

“I don't believe that; we drove all the werewolves away from this town,” Ariella's father said.

I know, but recently, there have been traces of werewolves in this town.

The council member leaned in, his voice in an extremely low tone. “It's true, alright; a house was raided just last night; the family was lucky to escape, but their properties were damaged.

Ariella couldn't believe what she just heard.

Werewolves? Back in town? She had heard about werewolves that used to roam around the town, but she knew they would return.

Her father and the council member continued to discuss plans to keep the town safe from werewolves.

“......we need to get enough wolfsbane to town, we have to make sure we have a steady supply of wolf's bane to weaken the werewolves and make them retreat from this town.”

Ariella's father agreed and accepted, his experience determined, “ I'll make sure to stock up on wolf's bane, we'll do everything in our power to protect our town.”

As the conversation ended, Ariella's father noticed Ariella, “Ariella, come join us.” Patting the couch beside him.

Ariella paused, uncertain whether to insert herself into the discussion, but her father's supportive expression put her mind at ease, and she took a seat next to him

The council member stood up, nodding at Ariella.

“It's good to see you, Ariella. I'm sure your father has told you about the……. Situation in town.”