SHADOWBOUND HEARTS

Selene's steps were heavy across the thick underbrush of the Shadow Forest, the weight of her pack's rejection almost a physical burden to her shoulders. Her mind raced with what had happened, trying to make some sense out of this swirl of feelings and confusion. Scorn by her pack, words spoken from Alpha Drake—all of them came back to her mind's ear, magnifying the sense of utter isolation. She had never felt so small, so insignificant. Her attempt to prove herself had ended in disaster, her dreams shattered when Alpha Drake had rejected her. He, the powerful leader of Eldergrove Pack, had just seen her as weak and unworthy of being his Luna—not to mention the sting of his words—fresh and sharp reminders of her shortfalls. As Selene proceeded deeper into the forest, a path grew less defined. The trees grew denser, their branches reaching out to one another, forming a continuous vault that let little of the moonlight through. The air was cool and damp, redolent with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. Every footstep felt like what remained of her world was slipping even farther away. "Why did I ever think I could fit in?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely above a rustle of leaves. "Why did I think that I could be more?" The need for headway offset the tiredness of her body, her feet already aching and her extremities feeling heavy from exhaustion. The magic and mystery that a forest held, functional like an escape and perhaps the place where she could have discovered something she had been long looking for, kept her moving. It made her go forward even though all her energy was almost spent in the thought of all the troubles running or of a new beginning. Suddenly, a figure strode forth from the shadows, and Selene's heart skipped a beat as she instinctively froze. He was tall, cloaked, with an almost regal, alien presence, and though his eyes glowed only faintly in the darkness, they seemed never to leave her face, their regard as steady as his movements were smooth. "I'm Eamon," the figure said, and his voice, somehow, was commanding in a way that cut through the forest's silence. "Selene, I've been waiting for you." Selene's breath hitched in her throat. She had heard of Eamon; the guardian of the Shadow Forest, the being whispered in legends that spoke of him, and the deep knowledge of magic—that made people wary. "How do you know my name?" she managed to get out, trembling. "The forest knows many things," Eamon intoned, and his voice was low and mysterious as he advanced a step. "It has whispered of your coming. You seek something that cannot be found in the world you left behind." Selene swallowed hard; her throat was dry. "I just want to prove myself, to be more than what they see me as." Eamon's eyes softened a fraction; his face was still grave. "It's true that the forest might grant you such power, but at an unbearable cost. Before you face the dangers this journey brings, prepare your mind for the trials." Selene's mind ran through a labyrinth of questions. "Trials? What sort of trials?" "The kind that will test every part of you," Eamon said. "The forest will reveal both your strengths and weaknesses, it will make you look into the deepest fears and desires within you. The weight of his words lit a small spark in Selene's heart, mingled with her anxiety. Now was the time to change her fate, perhaps to find something she was searching for. Her resolve stiffened, and she nodded. "I'm ready." Eamon nodded with approval. "Then follow me. Your journey begins now.". He turned and strode deeper into the forest, the cloak billowing behind him like some shadow. Selene followed; her heart pounded with anticipation and trepidation. The forest closed around them; trees and shadows formed mazes of darkness where she could hardly distinguish the path. The deeper in they walked, the more alive the forest seemed to grow. The journey through the forest was tiresome; the way was rough, with roots and rocks that made every step a challenge. Selene kept stumbling, quick to have her weariness catch up with her, but each time she fell, she mustered the strength to pull herself back up and continue on. Driven by hope, maybe this journey would hold the key to her turning back to human. They walked, and now and then Eamon spoke, murmuring; the murmur of his voice blended with sounds coming from the forest. He spoke of the forest's ancient power and of the magic that flowed through root and leaf, about Seekers in the past who had come with their own burdens, all finding their own ways to redemption or self-discovery. Selene listened and hung on for dear life to the stories, which are bound to be packed with life lessons and wisdom drawn upon by the dashing individuals he mentioned. They depicted a mysterious place yet full of potential where she finally might get what she wanted. At length it seemed to them that they broke into the clearing in the moonlight, a place of immeasurable power and ancient rituals: the Moonlit Clearing. The Moonlit Clearing was encircled by the massive overhanging trees, trees that were carved with the signs of old, and the symbols seemed to glow in the moonlight. In the middle rose an ancient stone altar upon which ancient carvings of utmost intricacy crisscrossed into each other. A raise of his hand stopped Eamon about to stand at the altar. "Here, you will start your journey. The forest will test you but also show the strengths that lie in you. Are you ready to face what lies ahead? Selene squared her shoulders in determination and took a deep breath. Beyond her, the clearing was beautiful yet intimidating—a final symbol of the challenge ahead. Her head nodded, her voice even while her heart raced. "I am ready." Eamon's eyes gleamed with approval. "Then let the trials begin." And with that, he drew back and left Selene standing alone in the clearing. The altar shone in the silver-white hue of the moonlight, and Selene took steady steps towards it with an expectant, thunderous heart. The trials were about to begin, and she would take them with all that she had. Now was the time to prove herself, to find her place in the world, to be all that she knew she could become. The night was as hush as death, except for the whispering of bushes and the cries of anonymous night creatures. Selene stood before the altar, and within her, a thousand emotions were colliding like wild gales of wind. She was fearful but excited, unsteady but hopeful. The forest looked dangerous and full of opportunity, and she was navigating a journey that put her to the test under unimaginable conditions. Selene briefly closed her eyes before the challenges lying ahead of her. There were so many trying instances in this journey, and yet it was what had gotten her to learn and find her way. She was ready to take on everything to establish who she was and to find the exact place in the world that was meant for her. The forest lay almost bated, as though it held its breath, waiting for the trials to commence. Selene's heart beat in rhythm with the forest, holding its first step toward the altar in anticipation of embracing whatever the night might bring.