Silver Lake

I can’t decide if I want to wear shorts or pants today. It’s officially the time of year where the morning is freezing and the afternoon is satan weather. I’m putting on pants when I hear a soft knock on the door. “Come in.” “Good morning sweetie. Happiest birthday today!” My mom comes in and hugs me. She’s got a bulky box in her hand that I’m eyeing suspiciously. “Thank you mom. I don’t think that box is animal safe. There’s no holes for breathing.” I’m an animal lover and I always ask for more for every birthday or holiday. Sometimes I get them. My mom eyes the corner of my room where captain Spaulding is sleeping. He is my precious sugar glider. “You just got a critter for Christmas. I think you’re good for awhile. This box is for you to wear tonight at your birthday ceremony.” “Firstly I hate dresses so bringing a “critter” as you call it would of smoothed it over.” I open the box to a red spaghetti strap knee length dress. It has glitter on the top and the bottom poofs out in layers. It’s not awful but I do really prefer pants. “Oh stop it. Today is a very special day and I know you’re excited to find out which gift you will receive.” Silver lake is special. The lake has pebbles across the bottom that are all a shiny silver color. On our 20th birthday we go and have a ceremony where the alpha leads us into the lake. The only explanation the alpha has is that it’s purely moon goddess magic. She gives us a special power that turns our eyes a different color. Green is for strength and stamina. Those that were gifted this usually become warriors. Purple is foresight. They are our seers and we trust them when they tell us something is going to happen. Blue is the ability to call the elements. It’s pretty cool watching them, especially if their changing up the weather. They go into various jobs here. Brown is growing plants. They deal with our food or pack members gardens. Red is rare. They can control your mind. Tell you to do something and you’ll just do it. We have 3 with this. The alpha and the beta. The alpha’s son has one red and one green eye. Black is even more rare. We have one elder with this. She can heal. Sadly we don’t use her unless absolutely necessary because she’s getting up in her years at 250. Her mate passed recently and it has effected her greatly. There’s also yellow. They control air mostly and lift things or people with it. They can fly themselves around too. We don’t have any with yellow. The red lake pack has a lot still but they’re getting old and with their lake no longer allowing gifts it’s hard to say if this will stay. Nobody knows why silver lake has remained when the others have dried up and we’re no longer gifted powers. The alphas of the other packs came here to see if they could perform the ceremony with their members in our lake but it didn’t work. “I actually like it. Thank you mom. I’m really nervous for today actually. Alpha really wants another healer and I don’t want to disappoint him. So much pressure is on Brian and I with our ceremonies. He wants me to get black and Brian to get red tomorrow.” My mom has yellow eyes and grows our crops. My father is the beta and has red. Brian is my twin sibling. Our birthdays are technically separate days with being born just before midnight and after but we’ll both have our ceremony late tonight. Devon has 2 more years. “Nonsense! He’ll be happy no matter what you get. We’re still very appreciative the moon goddess allows us to be gifted. Now finish getting ready and come down for breakfast. After your classes I expect you to come home and get ready for the ceremony. “ “Yes mother.” My mom is about to leave my room when she turns around and sighs. “Oh yeah, your father is outside with your birthday present from him and your brothers.” “What?! Really? Ok I’ll be down in seconds!” It’s an animal I know it is! My brothers are pretty good at convincing our dad to do anything. I brush my teeth and throw on my black converse. I grab Brian’s present I saved for quick and race down the stairs.