The Shadow wears white

Chapter One :The Moon’s First Warning

There was darkness in the clouds, making all the trees shake. The wind blew fiercely, lifting dust and leaves high into the air. The stronger the wind blew, the more trees lost their branches. The moon vanished behind the clouds, plunging the forest into complete darkness; even the stars were hard to see. Strange sounds echoed through the silent forest as branches clashed against each other. A cold wind brushed my skin, sending shivers through my body. Everything around me seemed strange. I had never seen anything like this in my life. The darkness frightened me, weighing me down as if something dangerous was about to happen. The deeper I gazed into the forest, the more fearful I became. It felt as if someone or something was watching me from the shadows. At that moment, I knew something was off. It was a night that nobody dared to be outside. Even the bravest warrior would hesitate before entering a forest like this. I stood alone among the trees, feeling afraid and unsure how I got there. My eyes darted from one tree to another, searching for something familiar, but everything appeared foreign and odd. I turned around again, trying to remember how I arrived, but nothing came to mind. I tried to think harder about this place or anything recognizable, but nothing was clear. My mind was completely blank, leaving me in suspense. Where am I? I whispered to myself, confused. My voice was nearly swallowed by the wind. Yet, there was no answer. Only the sound of moving branches and the cold wind rushing through the forest. I could hear my heartbeat pounding quickly within me. Then, in my state of confusion, I heard footsteps in the forest, slow and soft, as if someone was carefully approaching. A young woman in a long white gown that flowed with the wind walked out of the darkness. At first, I could see only her shadow. As she neared, the wind gently lifted the edge of her gown, revealing a veil that covered her face, hiding nearly all of it. There was something peaceful about her, but something also felt off. Her shadow looked different from her figure. She stood a few steps away from me without speaking. The wind continued to blow, but she remained still, as if she were part of the darkness. She slowly extended her hand toward me and said, "come". Her voice was calm and gentle, almost comforting, making me feel a bit at ease. Yet, I remained scared because nothing good seemed to dwell in a whirlwind forest. At that moment, my wolf stirred inside me, not in anger but in fear, as I slowly moved toward her, hoping to recognize who she was. With each step, my heartbeat quickened. I wanted to see her face, to know if I could recognize her. Before I could grasp what was happening, I heard a cold whisper echo through the forest. “Not everything dressed in white is pure.” The words resonated in the silent forest, causing me to stop. My heart raced faster than before as I searched for the source of the voice. I looked back at the woman, checking if she had vanished into the shadows, but she was still there, her hands outstretched toward me. Suddenly, another figure appeared from behind the trees, lying motionless on the ground. Unlike the first woman, her dress was torn and ragged, as if she had been running for a long time. Her hair blew wildly across her face in the strong wind, making it hard for me to recognize her. She looked weak and helpless. Slowly, she stretched out her trembling hand, pleading for help. My wolf became restless, pacing inside me. It wanted to run to her and stand in front of her to protect her from whatever had harmed her. A strange pain settled deep in my chest. I couldn’t understand it. I had never seen this woman before, so why was my wolf reacting this way? I frowned in confusion, glancing from the wounded woman to the figure in white. The woman in white slowly raised her hand. I couldn't take my eyes off her as she reached for the edge of her veil. The wind intensified, making her white dress dance around her. I sensed that once I saw her face, everything would finally make sense. She told me to choose calmly. My heart was drawn to her, but my wolf urged me toward the helpless woman lying in darkness. I looked back and forth between the two women, completely confused. The woman in white seemed harmless and calm, while the other appeared weak and desperate. I felt my heart pull toward the woman in white, but my wolf insisted I save the one in darkness. I didn't know whom to trust. The woman in white reached for her veil again. My breath caught, and my body went still. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. My heart raced as I waited to finally see the face hidden beneath the veil. Just as she was about to lift it, I heard a voice call, “Aden!” My eyes shot open. I sat up in bed, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, my feet shaking. My chest rose and fell as I struggled to catch my breath. It pounded as if I had just escaped danger. I looked around my room, trying to regain my composure. Everything was quiet, as if nothing had happened. The nightmare faded. I slowly turned toward the window, still recovering. I rubbed my eyes twice. The morning sun streamed into my room, but the uneasy feeling inside me refused to go away. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and let out a deep breath. It was the same dream again.