The Cloak Of Moonlight

Ch. 7: Awakening

       It had been two weeks since the party, Lovetta had sat tirelessly by Mazicanes’ side for the first week. The day of the Alphas’ speech, Mazicanes’ fever had rose dangerously. Lovetta and Ella had to load the girl into the cart and set her in the river to cool her. Ivan arrived with the herbs just in time. Mazicane still hasn’t woken, but she’s stable. Lovetta and Ella continue taking turns feeding her broths and teas to keep her nutrition and blood cells up, the wounds are starting to heal and the infection has subsided.

       Between the Tracker and the investigator they had determined that the culprit was indeed Cathwulf. Whom had fled into the forest, they tracked her scent for miles but lost it days later when the river widened. The Alpha insisted she would return and had kept a patrol up around the border of their village.

       Quist was unusually broody since he was formally rejected and Ella had turned him in. She told the Alpha he had asked her to mix and tweak an elixir commonly used to help a wolf forget the pain of rejection for Mazicane. All because he wanted to protect Cathwulf. Being the Alphas’ twin, and not directly proven to be involved, he got off easy and was moved out of the manor. He was told if he dared interfere with an investigation again he would be branded a traitor with silver and banished. The pack was torn in opinion, some believing he should of went to trial, others understanding and agreeing with the decision.

        Ariam staid by Mazicanes’ side, sleeping in the waiting room. That is until Lovetta gave him a cot beside Mazicane. He abandoned his duties as Guardian and the Alpha pitched in temporarily to train the recruits, somewhat annoyed. Ariam ate, slept, and prayed by her side. Rutha and Ranulf came by daily for a status update and would bring Ariam a meal from the manor when they did. Life continued on this way until Mazicane grunted and opened her eyes a total of three weeks later.

“Ariam?” She coughed weakly. “Am I late for training?”

       “Yes, it’s me! Are you okay? Do you need anything? Can you tell me what happened? Do you know where you are?” He bombarded her with questions but her eyes fluttered and she fell back into darkness.

       Maze awoke early the next morning and sat up blinking her eyes. Her head pounding fiercely This isn’t my room. She thought studying her surroundings, her eyes fell on the cot next to hers. Ariam? What’s he doing here? She swung her legs off the bed, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach she yelped waking him.

       “Whoa there, you need to lay back and rest.” Lovetta said walking through the door. Ariam was now sitting up yawning and rubbing his eyes.

       “What happened to me?” Maze murmured laying back in the bed holding her stomach.

       “You were attacked the night of the party by Cathwulf, do you remember anything?” Lovetta asked.

       “No, I remember walking home when the hunt started and I remember...” eyes, pools of gold, and the most majestic wolf staring at me with it’s head c****d to the side, it’s ears perked forward. “A wolf.” Mazicane struggled with the words closing her eyes “How long have I been here?” She asked swallowing, her throat was swollen and sore.

       “Almost a month” Lovetta answered. Sensing her discomfort Ariam handed her a glass of water and she drank it down ravishingly.

       He smiled at her warmly. “I’m so glad you’re awake, you had me worried.”

       “You, the big bad wolf of war, worried?” She smirked at him.

       “Only you could manage that feat.” He smirked back at her, even with her hair a mess and eyes puffy, she was beautiful. She was the strongest cub he had even seen and this amazed, terrified and excited him all at once. He could feel the joy Practically bubbling out of Fenrir.

       “Ariam, We need to let her rest. Her body is still recovering.”

       “Yes healer” he said packing up his things.

       Has he been here the whole time? Mazicane wondered watching him, she noticed he had dark circles around his eyes as he turned to face her. 

       “Mazicane I will bring you dinner tonight, and I will stop by the kitchen to let them know to bring you breakfast and lunch. Oh, expect a visit from Ranulf and Rutha, they’ve been coming by daily to check on you.” He smiled warmly pausing at the door, He hesitated once to say something but changed his mind, shook his head and left.

       “Lie back and let me change those bandages.” Lovetta said, tenderly lifting her shirt. Fresh blood had cracked and seeped through the scabs from her straining to stand. Maze looked down and watched amazed as Lovetta gently padded and washed the wounds. Pink scar tissue stretched around the scabs, and every touch brought searing hot pain to the surface.

       “How am I alive?” Maze gasped eyes wide and mortified.

       “Sheer power of will, the grace of the Goddess and of course a bit of my own skill.” Lovetta said, placing a thick salve over the cuts and re wrapping her with fresh linen. “Now listen Mazicane, you didn’t injure anything vital, just a couple of broken ribs and a punctured lung that I patched up. You don’t have a wolf, and so you don’t have the pleasure of instant healing. Theses are going to be some rough scars to match your memories.”

       Maze frowned her flawless skin would have angry pink scars etched from shoulder to hip for the rest of her life “I’m never going to find my mate now.” she pouted sighing and tipping her head back.

       “Oh, Mazicane, darling, I believe you already have.” Lovetta smiled at her while leaving the room. An Omega entered bringing her a tray full of food. Eggs, bacon, pancakes and biscuits and a freshly squeezed pitcher of Orange juice with a cup beside it.

       I wonder what she meant by that Maze thought devouring every bite, eyes closed drinking in the sensation of food. She drank every ounce of orange juice and fell quickly back to sleep.

       -In her sleep she dreams.-

       Winds twisted her hair and played with her dress as she stared into the darkness of the meadow. Those eyes, she remembered them from before. Before the night of the m******e. Before the night of the feast, she remembered them from a time of her pup years… but when? A storm was brewing, she could smell it. and the water was raging somewhere close, for she could hear it crashing against rock. The winds became more fierce and frightening they howled at her demandingly. Icy cold rain began to fall covering her body, making her breath visible.

       “What do you want?” She screamed at the top of her lungs but the wind tore at her voice drowning it within its’ own.

       “A hero, a savior of worlds.” she heard, but not from any particular direction. The words flowed and trailed around her. They sounded sad and alone, she could feel the power of desperation embedded within them

       “It’s not me! It can’t be!” She yelled , but again only silence graced her lips. Wet hair flying behind her and winds strong enough to force her to stumble replied.

       “If not you, then who?”

       She awoke heart racing, clutching her chest. Most dreams fade after eyes open but this one stuck to her with panic. She got a strong sensation that she was more then she thought she was. The spirit was right, if not her then who? What could it possibly want, more importantly how could she help it? Maze grabs a glass of water that was waiting for her on the table beside her bed. She gulped it down noticing there was also a brush sitting there as well. There she sat, brushing her hair and wiping the sleep that had built around her eyes, when there was a knock on the door.

       “Yes come in.” she called, smoothing out the sheets and positing her body in a more upright position.

       “Hello Mazicane how are you feeling?” the Alpha asked entering, the Luna following close behind.

       “I just had the strangest dream, but for all that’s to be considered, I’m doing much better then yesterday.” She smiled at them.

       “That’s good to hear because we need you in the games next year! Don’t forget about our deal.” He smiled back at her cheerfully winking.

       “Yes Alpha I haven’t and I won’t." She replied. They sat next to her bed in two chairs that Lovetta must have replaced with the cot when Ariam left.

        Ranulf went over the events that had transpired since her slumber started weeks before. Rutha sat nodding, occasionally adding a comment here and there. Once he was finished catching her up on the details he stood to leave.

       “I’ll catch up with you in a second darling” Rutha said lovingly.

       “Okay Luna.” He smiled down at her and gently kissed her cheek before leaving.

       “Mazicane.” Rutha said smiling warmly, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear .

       “Yes Luna?” Maze said bowing her head to her gracefully.

       “Ranulf has told me what you plan to do. I think it’s really brave of you and I respect you for it..”

              “Thank You Luna.” She said respectfully, eyes cast down.

       “Every warrior needs a blade marked just for them. I have called in a favor to a friend. An elvish hermit that lives just on the other the edge of the forest.”

       “An Elf?” Maze asked curiously, finally looking up at her.

       “Yes, he is said to be the one who forged the fabled sword Excalibur.” Ruth said matching her gaze.

       “Luna, you didn’t have to…” Maze started to say.

       “Hush now child, yes I did, and when I spoke of your name he was dying to meet you.” Rutha said softly with dancing, knowing eyes.

       “He is a good friend and has worked many blades for both this pack and my fathers. When you are fit to travel take Rainstorm, the horse Ranulf promised you. Ride to the river, follow it until it swells and where it branches into two. Then you must stand between the two streams and call his name ‘Torsos’ three times.” Rutha continued with a tone of seriousness “The blade takes a long while to forge so you must leave  as soon as you’re able, I cannot stress this enough. You must show him the same respect you show the Alpha or myself, for he is old and powerful. You must also promise to never use this blade against our pack or against an ally thereof, it will not be permitted in the games. Do you understand?”

       “Yes Luna, I understand and I promise.” Maze replied gazing up at Rutha with wonder and awe, as she stood to leave. Little did she know that the wolves of the Alpha and Luna were working in unison to push her towards something greater. She had no idea that the Goddess had bigger plans for her then BronzeClaw or tracking her family's hunters. The winds of fate where churning, twisting, pulling manipulating her to their wills. They were far from done with her, for she was just Awakening.