Losing The Light Of The Moon

The Demonstration, Part II

Chapter 26: The Demonstration, Part II

NICHOLAS

After their initial intimidating display that left most of us in stunned silence, Auntie and her army readied themselves for the second wave of Soren’s wolves. Sending two large beams from her palms that separated into eight smaller ones, extending out evenly on either side of her, Auntie confidently stood at the base of the center platform waiting for the next round to begin. As the four brown and four grey wolves hesitatingly positioned themselves at the front, I found myself curious about the small green platforms Auntie had spaced out across the field, each of them at different heights.

I watched as Lorelei and Gavin jumped onto the center platform crouching down into their stances on the right side while Remi leapt up onto the side platform near them. Badru was on the other side of the center, with Beast and Umar on the platform to the left. Tink and Horacio remained on the ground with Auntie reared back and ready to pounce on either side of her.

“Tink and Horacio?” Carson humorously chortled, “Didn’t expect to see that so soon! Beastie-boy looking okay with it is even more surprising! Big difference from our last demonstration.”

“Looks like Auntie has worked all kinds of magic, especially on Tink!” Charlotte delightedly exclaimed.

“She is an excellent mediator,” Mother sweetly stated, “Always has been.”

“Yes, Aruna, she most certainly is,” Aunt Persephone thoughtfully breathed out, “One of her many talents.”

“It helps that she herself has such a forgiving heart,” Aunt Altalune curtly replied, “One of Tati’s qualities that has always amazed me.”

“As you well know, it is a quality that has amazed me as well, Alta,” Aunt Persephone kindly stated as I looked between the two women, neither of whom looked at one another during their exchange. Artem also eyed them both before wrapping his arms around Aunt Persephone’s waist.

My attention was diverted to the field as Soren’s warriors burst into action, two of them instantly charging towards Auntie—something she had obviously anticipated, while the others created a perimeter around them. Using her incredible force and speed, Lorelei jumped off the platform to begin swiftly leaping across Auntie’s platforms, building up speed as one of Auntie’s green beams enveloped her, swirling all around her hind quarters, expanding out as her pace quickened, taking the shape of a small tornado.

As the two grey wolves closed in, Auntie threw out a shield knocking them backwards while Tink and Horacio leapt up on two of her small platforms, immediately jumping up again just as Lorelei used her remarkable force and speed to dive underneath them.

Directing two of her streams of green to capture Lorelei’s wild trailing winds, Auntie created two more tornadoes that engulfed Tink and Horacio’s massive auburn and black wolves mid-leap, expanding all the way up their bodies, abruptly thrusting them and their mighty strength towards the two grey wolves.   There was no need for any magic in the front pawed attack that occurred directly after, as Tink and Horacio instantly sent them sailing out of the ring with hard direct hits to the chest.

“Whoa!” Zayn chuckled, “Any chance we can try that at the next practice with the Power of Three?”

“You will need quite a bit more training before you can handle a combined power maneuver of that magnitude, Zayn, dear,” Reina grinned, “But we will get you there!”

“Lorelei is magnificent, Madeline,” Persephone admiringly complimented, “I have enjoyed working with her immensely over the last week. She is incredibly focused and energetic. Your father would be very proud of both of his girls.”

“Thank you, Auntie P,” Madeline proudly stated, watching as Lorelei zeroed in on one of Soren’s wolves, soaring into the air off one of the green platforms. Barreling towards him thanks to her additional dose of power, Lorelei landed a hard head butt to the back of the distracted brown wolf’s head while wrapping her front paws around his neck, flipping him into the air and kicking him square in the middle of his underbelly, the swirling winds discharging from her hind feet, thrusting him hard out of the ring, as Madeline adoringly stated, “I am also very proud of my little sister!”

Jumping back up to stand beside Gavin, who shot her a proud smirk as she ascended the platform, Lorelei looked back out onto the field at the remaining five wolves, one of whom decided to take his turn at Auntie, bolting forward towards her, appearing a bit angry in his charge and obviously Badru’s target...

Rearing back to take a dangerously high leap off the platform, Badru plummeted straight down—causing several of the girls to gasp in response with the loudest being Luminara—just as Auntie purposefully threw her arm out, sending a large round flat green surface towards him that Badru landed upon with perfection. It all happened so fast that the brown wolf was left completely unaware as Auntie simultaneously—with an aggressive thrust forward—launched Badru off the disc, his massive black wolf using the overpowering force from it to snatch the brown wolf up—both of his paws wrapping around the wolf’s mid-section—while spinning completely around to authoritatively toss the warrior so far out of the ring he ended up not far from our group high up on the hill.

“Oh, my word!” Luminara hoarsely breathed out, watching as the ousted wolf attempted to stand on his four wobbly legs, shaking his head in bewilderment as he realized how far he was from where he began. Gazing back out in wonderment at Badru, who was snarling with a wide grin spreading across his muzzle, a smile full of pride widened across hers as she watched him dash back towards his position in the back.

They were now down to four—two and two of grey and brown—and Auntie’s army swiftly went into motion. Gavin, Lorelei, and Remi targeted the grey wolves standing side by side just in front of them, leaping into combat as three of Auntie’s platforms started to move in conjunction with them, rising high in the air. 

“Oh, here goes my Remi!” Zayden excitedly breathed out as Jade nervously mumbled under her breath, clinging to Zayn, “Watch your control, Remi-girl.”  Zayn immediately chuckled, “No worries, Red, that trio has got this!”

I couldn’t stop myself from cheering on Gavin, eagerly murmuring, “Show them how it’s done, Brother.” Madeline grinned as she hugged me from the side.

Lorelei and Remi utilized Gavin’s back to catapult themselves up, performing a crisscross flip to land on the higher platforms as Gavin’s hind legs hit their mark on the lower one, vaulting all of them further up in the air, the green surfaces enfolding around them as they descended on their victims.  Gavin made the first strike, his glowing front paws heftily pounding both muzzles, knocking the wolves several feet backwards, opening them up for Remi and Lorelei to make their overpowering brightly lit rear pawed strike against the fully exposed chests, forcing the warriors’ exit from the ring as they were sent flying off the field and up the hill with no hope of defending themselves or retaliation as they tumbled back down.

“That’s my girl!” Zayden shouted out, “Wow, I can’t believe the power behind those hits! Perfect control!”

“Perfectly timed execution,” I thoughtfully breathed out, “They are quite the trio.”

In the meantime, the newly formed four horsemen decided to go into action as Tink and Horacio charged towards two of Auntie’s other platforms, leaping off them just as Auntie caught them with her forceful green beams. Beast and Umar were right behind them as Auntie’s powers captured them as well, accelerating their attack.  

Seeing the four oversized wolves coming directly after them, the two wolves attempted to disperse from one another to avoid the impending attack. Auntie quickly shifted her beams, sending the four higher in the air just as Horacio and Umar reactively slung Tink and Beast hard to the side towards their target. 

“Whoa! Talk about a power move,” Carson slowly drawled out, “Umar and Horacio barely had to flex their muscles!”

“That was quite impressive!” Jace quietly exclaimed, “To have only worked together a short time, Nicholas, their instinctive reactions with one another were flawless!”

“Completely flawless,” I impressively stated, “and incredibly powerful.”

We were all caught by surprise at that moment—Soren’s warriors included—when Badru and Gavin came out of nowhere to assist, each of them landing hard shots to the two young wolves’ shoulders, forcing them right into the correct positions for the planned hit.

In perfect sync, Umar and Beast hit just under each of the wolves chins forcing them into the air just as Horacio and Tink came from underneath them to slam into their chests, the overwhelming hits sending the wolves airborne before they rolled uncontrollably out of the ring right past Soren—who couldn’t hide his impressed and satisfied grin—neither could the four enormous wolves who were bumping their shoulders playfully against one another in a victorious show their new united front.

“That was awesome!” Carson animatedly shouted out, hugging and shaking Charlotte so hard in his excitement that she fell into a fit of giggles.

“I think that just proved we need the new four horsemen involved in our integration, Nicholas,” Alastor thought out loud as I nodded in agreement, left speechless by what we just witnessed.

Auntie flashed her army of eight a bright smile as they surrounded her, enthusiastically clapping before reaching down and cupping each of their muzzles, excitedly praising them as Soren readied his final group. 

“Well, so far I’m just incredibly impressed,” I cautiously stated, looking over at Lorenzo, “Any ideas on Auntie’s finale?”

“Only that it is a finale, Nicholas,” Lorenzo knowingly replied, “And as Madeline can attest to, one usually saves the best for last.”

“While Lorenzo seems to be enjoying taunting you, my young protégé,” Mahan calmly stated, “I can tell you that Tatiana wouldn’t reveal any specifics to any of us, but Soren did tell her to shake things up.”

“Which may mean Auntie is going to do a little groundwork and knock them off balance this round,” Raven calmly reasoned, “Especially as I see she is now bringing everyone, including herself, to the top of the center platform.”

“Nicely done, Raven!” Persephone admirably exclaimed, “Very intuitive in anticipating a witch’s next move.”

“So, Auntie is planning on shaking the ground a little?” I ambiguously asked.

“Nicholas, my mother is little,” Jace cautiously warned, “But we have seen her in action...if she gave you a warning beforehand—”

“Seems you are intuitive as well, Jace, and have quickly come to know your mother very well,” Priscilla lightly laughed, looking over at Aunt Altalune, who joined in.

“All will be well in the end, Nicholas, I assure you,” Aunt Persephone soothingly stated.

“Yes, do not worry, dear,” Aunt Reina kindly concurred, giggling afterwards, “Just enjoy the finale—and try not to panic!”

I nervously looked back out onto the field as Soren nodded at Auntie, who immediately flashed another wide smile as she demandingly whisked her arms out to the side, expelling her powers towards the rear of the field. Ripples formed like water in the back, quickly pushing forward forming a rolling tide of green aura that covered the entire field as Soren’s warriors tensely took their place at the front as Auntie brought her illuminated hands out in front of her.

As they waited for Soren’s signal, the cobras made a surprise return in front of Auntie’s platform, ten of them vividly whipping up out of the sea of green to menacingly sway their oversized hoods back and forth as their long, forked tongues taunted the wide-eyed warriors. Soren and Auntie’s intense gazes were locked on one another as her army crouched down low, four wolves on each side of her. 

Following a slight nod from Soren, Auntie’s small hands calculatedly motioned downward as one by one in synchronous succession, the cobras fiendishly dove into the ground, sending a ferocious quake throughout the ring. The moment following is when I finally understood Auntie’s warning—the moment my jaw dropped as my breath completely stilled in my chest...

After Soren ordered their charge, a powerful explosion of her aura sent a massive shower of glittering green dust all over Auntie and her army as the ground below rocked dangerously before suddenly detonating beneath the Howling Wind wolves. Mounds of grass, dirt, and stone rocketed into the air—as did Soren’s warriors—resulting in a devastating eruption across the entire field. Somehow—and I have no idea how with the force that leveled my field—Auntie managed to keep it contained, ensuring no one on the outside was hit by any of the flying debris. The only effect felt by the spectators was a light rumbling on the ground. 

At that moment, Auntie extended her arms out to the side again, sending two solid beams of light emanating from her palms wrapping around her army as they made their final charge in a coincided powerful leap from the platform. Just the sight of them and their eight fierce concentrated muzzles was enough to intimidate to the most formidable opponent—enough that even I felt intimidated for a moment. 

Their designated targets were helplessly flailing high in the air as Auntie vigorously threw her arms forward sending all her warriors forcibly into their opponents’ chest, each of them landing perfect front pawed chest shots before immediately rounding out for a second hit from their hind legs for good measure. Following the cataclysmic strikes, all of Soren’s warriors were officially sent sailing out of the ring, falling hard onto the ground—unquestionably ousted from competition. 

After her army finished their annihilation of Soren’s men, Auntie flipped each one of them up to land once more on the platform beside her, shifting them into their overjoyed human forms, all of them beaming proudly beside her.

I, on the other hand, was left stunned by the sight of my destroyed training field—Auntie’s reference of despair was a bit of an understatement—and I was trying to remind myself of her promise. But all I could see were the remains of complete and utter devastation...

Running his hand along his bearded chin, Jace stared wide-eyed at the aftermath, reluctantly exhaling out, “Mother did say all would be well in the end.” 

“Uh, Jace...it is the end,” Carson chuckled out, “Although Auntie’s eyes are still lit up, but I’m a little more worried about Nicholas’ eyes currently.”

“Stop egging them on, Carson,” Madeline chuckled, squeezing my side, “Auntie did warn you, my Alpha, which means she intends on fixing it.”

Constance worriedly bit her lip, wrapping her arms around Jace to calm him, softly urging, “Madeline is right. Just breathe, Jace.”

“Patience,” Aunt Persephone softly laughed out as Aunt Reina giggled under her breath.

“Yes, while initially it is a bit alarming,” Priscilla airily said, “I have full confidence Tati will make your field good as new.”

“Mother, no offense, but you and father been having way too much fun with all this,” Alastor lightly chastised, “Quite wicked yourselves, if I’m truthful!” Lorenzo and Priscilla looked at one another with wide playful grins in response.

Swallowing hard, I brought my staggered gaze up to meet with Auntie’s eyes, which were still glowing a beautiful deep green. I could see her giggling before she winked at me, extending another rippling wave of magic that flowed from the back towards the front of my field. As it slowly moved forward, all the scattered dirt began to churn and flatten itself firmly back in place as a lush green grass sprouted up to cover the top until it reached the very front of the field, her magic dissipating into the air once she had finished repairing the extreme damage she had done.

“See, all is well!” Constance astonishingly exclaimed, tightening her arms around Jace, “Feel better now?”

Jace let out a long sigh of relief, dropping his head in his hands, “Oh, thank you, Mother!” 

“Wow!” Madeline softly laughed out, patting my arm, “I don’t think our field has ever looked better! It is the prettiest shade of green, don’t you think?”

“I would have to agree with you, Madeline,” Lorenzo devilishly grinned, “In fact, Nicholas, I believe Tati has even fixed your divets!”

“Honestly, I’m more impressed with the fact that you have two singular witches of that caliber at Crescent Moon,” Priscilla kindly stated, looking over at Raven, “I have no doubt with your continued training that you will be just as spectacular, Raven.”

“I would have to agree, not to mention the combined powers of the Power of Three and Loa at your disposal,” Aunt Altalune appreciatively stated, “Perhaps the integrated army will be a good thing for us all.”

“Indeed, Alta,” Mahan serenely breathed out, “After what we have seen today, I think The Council may want to have a meeting to discuss an expansion of the integrated army, to be led by Nicholas and Alastor, of course.”

“Really?” Alastor and I questioned in unison, looking at one another afterwards with stunned expressions.

“After what we have all just seen, I can’t believe you two are shocked or asking that question! Not to mention as The Council Leader, Nicholas, you should already be making an argument for it!” Soren’s voice boomed out as he walked up the hill with a beaming Auntie on his arm, “But if you require my opinion, of course we need to discuss this further and as soon as possible in my mind.  I also think Auntie’s army needs to remain intact as a specialized team, including Umar! What a beautiful sight those four were!” 

“I agree with my fellow Council members,” Lorenzo authoritatively concurred, “Perhaps we should all gather in the morning, including you, Alastor.”

Leaning down to kiss Auntie on the cheek, Soren boasted, “Yes, yes! Brilliantly done, Tati! Simply brilliant! Harsh lesson just as I wanted! You have all those boys down there anxiously asking Umar what they will have to do to take part in something of this nature! I believe Mattias will not be the only one to focus more on what needs to be done at Howling Winds!”