Blood Moon

2 | Present

Trickling water from the rocks hit my bareback and the cool breeze caresses my skin.  The birds are awfully silent as I sing my lullaby. Dirt is washed from my hair and my cheeks blush from the sunlight. 

I've never liked this new life. I never wanted it. But this is what's given to us because of our cruelty. Though, moments like this make me appreciate what I've got left. 

I was deeply lost in my thoughts when I heard the shuffling of leaves. I turned around abruptly covering my naked body. Just when I thought I could bathe myself peacefully, a peeping tom shows up. 

"Hey! Come out and show yourself!" I shout. 

Nothing. 

I begin to walk slowly out of the waters and gather my clothes by the rocks. I quickly put them on, not taking my eyes off of my surroundings. 

"Come out or I'll have to draw my weapon!"  I bluffed.

Again, nothing. 

"You better--!" I was cut-off mid-sentence by Ciro, who deliberately startled me by jumping behind me. 

"Aaaaahhh!!" I let out a loud scream causing the birds to fly away. 

"Ciro! You scared me, you dimwit!" I scowled. 

"Hahaha! Oh, come on, Selene! You're still not used to my pranking!?"

"HA HA. Whatever. p*****t!"

"Wh--What?! Oh hell no! I would never!" he says, dramatically placing his hand over his mouth.

I rolled my eyes at him and proceeded to walk away. He followed me, bragging about how good he is with hunting for killing the most gigantic wild boar for our tribe's dinner. 

Ciro has been my friend for as long as I can remember. We always got each other's backs. We've always seen each other as partners - not in a romantic way but platonic. Although, sometimes, he does seem gallant - with his strong physique, tall stature, sun-kissed skin, wavy bronze hair, and almond brown eyes. 

"Selene? Selene? Selene!" Ciro shouts snapping his fingers in front of my face. 

"You're daydreaming again!" he continues. 

"Um no, just thinking about training." I lied. 

"Speaking of training, I'm hungry!" he says as he looks at the small group of people in front of us. 

They're gathering wood and making a bonfire. It's almost dinner so I head back to my small hut atop a Beech tree. The sunset is beautiful as always. I love how my house has a view of it. I changed into new clothes and went back down to join the others. 

We all sit in a circle, pass each of our wooden plates, shared the meal that Ciro was so boastful about and discussed our plans for the next day. Tonight it is peaceful, without any problems. We've gotten used to this kind of living, although I've never had the opportunity to experience technology or the world we had before this. 

Our little family is only a few, different people who survived the last ambush. The woods are enormous and it would be almost impossible for the Night covens to find us now.  The end times weren't how the old people thought but it happened. 

"Are you going to eat that?" asks Ciro. 

I gave him a piece without answering and he continues to consume his food like an animal. 

"You have always been such a pig, Ciro!" says Arlo, the boy with shoulder-length blonde hair, athletic built, blue eyes and gleaming smile. 

"Let me have some of that!" interjects Damon, the thin, tall boy who doesn't seem to gain any weight no matter the situation. 

"Boys huh?" says Vida, bumping her elbow on mine and laughs. She has always been so enchanting with her long auburn hair, emerald-colored eyes, and voluptuous body. Ever since we were little she was one of the most skillful hunters in our tribe and loved by all.

These are my friends who are all hunters.

While here I am, a pale, skinny girl with long, tangled black hair who blushes over everything. My skill? Hiding. That's what I'm best at. 

We finish up eating and prepare ourselves for the night. The night has always brought many surprises. And mother Maia always made sure we were safe. 

~

Mother Maia is our leader.  She took us all under her wing as young children and taught us how to survive. There is no exemption. All must learn how to navigate the woods, the cities, mountains, and swamps. We should practice how to catch animals for food and plant our own herbs. Everyone should be able to build their own house with the resources that we have around. And most importantly, we must know how to sense danger and kill the attacker successfully.

There are those who excelled in most of those skills like Vida who is the strongest with her wit and resourcefulness. She is able to deceive her attacker, disable them with her chokehold and kill them with her dagger.

Arlo and Damon who always go together complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Damon builds traps while Arlo lures the attacker to them by sprinting and dodging obstacles. Arlo's speed is unmatchable while Damon's intelligence is unattainable. 

And there's Ciro who is good at all of them. You can leave him wounded and alone and he'd still manage to get out, find food, build a hut and sleep peacefully. His main weapon is the bow and arrow whom he crafted himself as a kid. 

I am among the others who have just perfected the art of making medicine from herbs and healing the hunters in cases of attacks and failed forges. This is the main reason why I'm so excellent at hiding and mediocre at all the other skills. 

Other members of our tribe family are the twins Eloisa and Val, lovers Jermaine and Gus, the twins' parents and our 4 elders including mother Maia.

Our little family is tight-knit and no monster can tear us apart. We will fight at each other's expense and will prevail. The most vital lesson that mother Maia has taught us is to always have faith. 

~

Everybody is now ready to get through the night as the assigned watchers position themselves on their posts while the others get some rest. 

Every night is a long night, for the moon illuminates the dark giving way for Night covens to hunt openly.