The Half Breed Luna

9. Pournami Ceremony

IRAH POV

It has been two days since I last saw him. I really missed him. I couldn't believe that I missed a person who I have known for less than a week.

I also didn't like the fact that the last time I saw him I had been angry at him and he had also walked away in anger.

"Was he still angry at me??.. 

Will he talk with some other girl in his anger.?? 

Will he not talk with me anymore?? " A lot of absurd thoughts were running on my mind.

In college, classes were going on as normal. I had made some friends with whom I hung out. But Tina was the person I connected really well with. We were always together and inseparable.

The academics were really hectic. I had to read all day. 

As soon as the classes got over, myself and Tina rushed to the canteen, ate whatever food they gave there without any complaints and went to the hostel to study. This had become a routine.

"I could live like this. This was ok for me" I thought to myself. Unlike many people I liked to have a routine in my day to day life. It gave me a sense of comfort.

It came as a surprise for me when they announced that the "Fresher's day" party was going to take place in the college.

"Did we really have time for that in between our busy schedules." I wondered

But it was a pleasant surprise as I thought it was a chance for me to showcase my talent. I really liked to dance and used to take part in all the events during my school days. Everyone at kasukabe town thought that I was a great dancer and I really liked the attention I received when I was dancing. But more importantly dancing put me in a trance and it gave me joy. It was the only time I blurred out the rest of the world and just let it all out, not caring about anything or anyone.

The function was a couple of weeks from now and I was sitting in class thinking how to enroll myself in the dancing events.

"Are you gonna do something for the fresher's day?? " Tina nudged me and asked.

"I don't know. What about you?? "

"Everyone told me that the function is just an excuse for the seniors to bully the juniors on a stage. The professors also won't mind the bullying on that day it seems!! " Tina said to me.

"Oh… ok! " I didn't want to take part in the function now. But then I remembered that I had a special someone in my life now and it felt reassuring that he would take care of everything for me.

"Yes.. I am gonna dance on fresher's day!!"

ARES POV

We reached the island!

We got to work the next day. No one stayed on the island these days except very few elder wolves and some other young wolves who were given the duty of guarding the sacred island and the divine lake.

My work was simple.

I had to supervise the arrangements that were being made for the ceremony. 

Decorations were to be done around the lake and food had to be prepared for all the pack members.

The different packs usually came from different parts of the land. Some members stayed only on the Pournami night while some others stayed for two days and we had to plan accordingly.

I was just mad at my father. This was no work for me. I was angry that he had made me come to this wretched place to do some petty work.

I came to the sacred pond to oversee the arrangements going on there. Only simple decorations had to be done.

The slightly raised platforms where the alphas stood at the start of the ceremony had to be decorated with flowers. The flowers typically used were the Lupine flowers which were found in abundance in the island.

I looked at the pond with a new found respect and awe. I wanted to witness the true glory of the ceremony similar to what uncle Martin had told.

"Would everything go back to normal if I could convince Alpha Leo Mark to come back to the island and take part in the ceremony. "

Now that I knew Indu was alive I could easily trace Alpha Leo Mark as well.

I surveyed the pond.

The water was crystal clear and it was very deep. There didn't seem to be any fauna in the pond. I wanted to enter the pond and go for a swim to explore and see if I could find the rock which emerged from the pond. 

But I knew it was sacrilege and the alphas would really be mad if they got to know what I had done. I controlled my curiosity and went back to my pack's territory.

The Star island didn't have any technology like the outside world. It was completely similar to a primitive civilization.

The White claw pack territory had shelters made of bamboo. It didn't matter mostly as the members usually roamed in their wolf form on the island.

The young wolves mainly came to the island nowadays to find mates and to have a good time.

The party after the ceremony got over was wild. It had everything. The nights were usually filled with howls.

I usually didn't change into my wolf form.

How can I hold a beer bottle if I was in my wolf form.

I would rather be like this.

As I came into the White claw territory I could see that Ryan was already having a wild time. He was dancing with a group of boys and girls and as soon as he saw me he called me over winking and signalling towards the girls.

I shook my head, took a bottle of whiskey and went towards the beach. I could see Ryan and one of the girls change into their wolf form and run towards the jungle which separated our territory from the Dark Wood packs territory.

"The jungle is gonna be filled with howls for the next thirty minutes. I need to go somewhere else!!! " I thought, shaking my head as I saw the two of them acting in a wild manner.

I preferred my own company. I never liked crowds. I had found a place on the beach where no one ever came. It was a cave below a cliff facing the ocean. It was only accessible after swimming for a fair amount of time. The cave did not belong in the White claw territory but I was sure that no one else on the island knew about the cave and no one would come there.

It was the place I always went to whenever I needed some privacy on the island.

I reached the cave, sat on a rock and started drinking, gazing at the sunset.

"It's beautiful… I have to bring Indu to this place. "

POURNAMI CEREMONY

ARES POV

It was the day of the ceremony. All the members had arrived on the island. Everyone was having a good time and catching up with their friends.

It was evening time and the ceremony was about to start. The alphas needed to be present at the sacred pond and they had to enter the pond when the first light from the moon touched the water in the pond.

Before going to the pond, as tradition the alphas would address the gathering first.

A stage was set up for the alphas to be on.

I looked around the gathering, it was very noisy. Everyone was present as small groups either talking , dancing, some were playing games.

A group of young werewolves in their wolf form were having some kind of fighting contest and there was a huge crowd surrounding it.

At a distance, I saw the four alphas approaching. They were dressed in royal clothes with each alpha having the symbol of the pack designed in their clothes.

I signalled to Ryan who immediately ran and jumped towards a rock. Halfway during the jump he transformed into his wolf form and landed on the rock. He gave a loud howl signalling all the pack members to maintain silence.

Immediately the whole gathering fell silent and everyone focused on the Alphas in rapt attention.

The alphas came on to the stage and looked at the gathering which was dead silent and looking intently at them.

It was my father Alpha Geraldine who came forward to give this speech.

"My brothers and sisters, it warms my heart to see all of you gathered here for this ceremony.

But it also grieves us, to see that the number of wolves attending this sacred ceremony has been decreasing steadily.

I remind you all, that we are all children of the moon and we must stay together at all costs. It is what gives us power.

It has been eighteen years, since the shadow pack left us and we have been dealing with the setback. It has taken us eighteen years to compensate for that.

We are on the brink of an important period in our history, my friends. All the four alphas under the guidance of the Great Hakan have unanimously decided to expand our empire and we have our eyes set on another city.

Now for more important things, Brothers and sisters I tell you this with utmost sincerity and from my heart. The four packs of the island are different from each other. We all differ in how we talk, what we eat or don't, how fast and strong we are. My friends I ask you this, please drop this separation, these walls which keep us apart. Let's march forward in unity and I will promise you this, when we stand united we have the power to control the whole world.!!"

With this all the four alphas held each other's arms and raised their arms as claps, cheers, whistles and howls erupted from the gathering.

"Thank you!! We will meet you after the Pournami ceremony"

The alphas turned and headed towards the pond.

My father turned to me and said " You should come and witness the ceremony today Ares. It's also the wish of the Hakan"

I didn't want to. I would rather stay back and drink. But I knew  that I didn't have any other Choice. If the Hakan wanted my presence I had to be there.

The five of us along with few old wolves reached the sacred pond and saw that the Hakan was already standing in the middle of the pond.

He was standing with his hands together and the palms touching.

He saw us and smiled.

"It's nice of you to come, young wolf" He said to me and I could only nod my head.

 "How was he standing in the pond, I had seen that it was really deep!! "

"Alphas, the silver moon will shine on us in 5 mins please take your positions". "Ares you can stand by the rock and observe. " Said one of the old tribe.

The alphas discarded their dress and stood at the edge of the star shaped pond. They closed their eyes as if they were meditating and waited silently.

I could sense that there was a sense of power in the air. 

It felt as though it was being emitted from the lake. It made the hairs on my body stand up and I wanted to transform into my wolf form. 

The pond was drawing me and I had to control myself with great effort. I wanted to transform and jump into the pond.

I could see that it had the same effect on the alphas. I could see their hairs standing as though electricity was coursing through their body

I could see Alpha Theoden midway through his transformation. He was getting larger and claws were coming out of his hands and feet and that's the time I noticed he is missing one claw in his right hand!!

The full moon shone down on the crystal clear lake and it seemed to set it ablaze. As soon as the 'Mother of the sky' who watched over every beating heart shone with all its might, the Alphas entered the lake and transformed fully. The transformation happened with a blinding white light which surrounded each one of them.

I was watching everything in wonder. Each alpha was surrounded by a blinding aura and the lake seemed as if it was set ablaze in white flame. The Hakan was standing in the centre of the lake seemingly taking in all the aura of the lake. His eyes had turned white and he was in immense concentration.

The aura from the alphas started going towards the center of the lake to where the Hakan was standing. The alphas looked up at the sky and started howling in unison. It was a shrill piercing sound and as soon as the alphas let out the howl, I could hear the other wolves back at the gathering letting out howls.

The night was filled with howls and I could sense the moon getting brighter as though being energized by the wolves howls.

The howls from the alphas lasted longer than the previous ceremonies this time and it only got louder. The aura emitting from the alphas and the lake was no longer going towards the centre of the lake, but towards the empty corner of the star shaped lake where the Alpha of Shadow pack was supposed to stand.

I could see the look of confusion on the Hakan's face. He looked at the Alphas but the alphas seemed to be in a trance and were continuing their shrill howls.

Suddenly, from the Shadow pack end of the lake jumped out a large black light in the shape of a wolf. It was one of the largest I had ever seen.

The wolf looked up towards the moon and let out a howl. It was so loud that it overshadowed the howls of the alphas. The Hakan was now looking with a genuine look of shock in his face And I knew that this was not a normal occurrence.

All the old wolves standing near was murmuring among themselves!

I could hear the wolves at the gathering all howling in unison. This had never happened before.

The noise in the island was deafening.

The large mystical wolf then jumped from the Shadow pack end of the lake to the opposite end. It jumped above the head of the Hakan who stumbled backward and fell. I saw the wolf run towards the beach and started to follow it. I changed into my wolf form and ran behind the mystical animal. I couldn't catch up. It was too fast for me and it ran with such swiftness that it seemed as though it was floating.

It reached the end of the beach and didn't stop and ran on the water.

I stopped and watched in wonder as the large mystical animal ran on the water.

It was headed towards the direction of Onai city!!

“What is it?”

IRAH POV

The night was beautiful. Bathed in the light of the sun, the moon looked even more beautiful than the stars.

I was walking in the forest gazing at the magnificent moon. I was surrounded by large trees.

"Where is Tina??" I wondered. She was always with me and not having her by my side made me a little anxious.

Suddenly I heard a noise coming from behind. I turned and saw that someone was walking towards me. I could only see the outline as the person was a fair distance away from me.

I tried straining my eyes to see who it was but I couldn't see the person. It couldn't have been Tina as the outline of the person looked huge.

"Ares is that you?? " I shouted.

I could see that the person had gathered pace and was coming towards me faster now. The outline became bigger as it came closer.

As the outline came towards me I started to sense the wolf pendant was getting warmer. I was scared now.

"Who is it??? What's your name?? I asked in a slightly trembling voice.

The person had now started running towards me. The pendant became so warm that it started burning my skin.

I was really scared now.

The pendant suddenly raised from my neck and started flying towards the approaching person as the chain of the pendant broke.

The person caught the chain  in one hand as he came running towards me. He was nearing me. I could see him a bit clearly now. He was very large and had a tattoo on his chest. He was moving unusually quickly.

I turned and began to run. I didn't know where I was. It is completely dark and all I could see was full of large trees.

"Which direction is the hostel!!? " I thought frantically as I was running.

I had no idea where I was and I was running in some random direction. I took a quick glance to see that the person had come nearer now. There was a menacing smile on his face. I tried to run faster but it seemed as though I was running in circles and the unknown person gained on me easily.

Then suddenly, I saw a large jet black colored wolf emerge from the shadows behind the large trees. It was the largest animal I had ever seen and it stood about a hundred metres ahead and it looked as though it was getting bigger as I approached it. The animal was majestic, with jet black fur which covered its whole body except at the neck region where it had  crescent shaped white fur. It was sitting and waiting with its eyes fixed on me.

I had no other choice but to run in the direction of the animal as I felt more scared of the stranger behind me.

I sensed that I was no longer being chased.

I stopped and turned around to see that the stranger had stopped looking at the large wolf. His smile had vanished and he was glaring at me as he called out..

"Irah…. Irah…..!!! "

I started to scream.

"Irah wake up!! What's wrong?? "

I opened my eyes to see Tina looking over me with worry in her large eyes.

"It was just a dream" I let out a big sigh of relief. I drank the glass of water Tina gave me and looked out the window.

I saw the wondrous full moon gracing the sky, as if she had some bright idea and illuminated the earth with all its might!!