The Prophesied Luna (completed)

Blood is thicker than water

Kayla’s POV

            The past few days have been nothing short of amazing. We marvelled together at the cascading waters down a waterfall and the tiny rainbow above it. We counted the number of stars in the night sky together, and might even have caught one or two shooting stars depending on if you asked Finn or Mirakel. We went horse riding on one of the trails where trained horses with guides were available, and Mirakel was so excited that he was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. We managed to witness the sun climbing up to take its place in the heavens at least once as a family and were completely in awe of the majestic picture before our eyes. We were now on the last day of our trip and tomorrow we’d be heading home so that I had a full day to rest before starting my three week shift with no break. The thought of the next three weeks ahead was daunting but seeing the improvements that Mirakel was making in the past week made me glad that we decided to do this. 

            “It’s colder up north, here, I brought you a warmer jacket,” Finn said as he handed me one of my old jackets that must have still been at our house. “All of your things are still there, in case you need anything,” he hesitated before saying softly, while he helped Mirakel with putting on a pair of waterproof overalls. “Thanks,” I mumbled awkwardly, remembering the times when I had lashed out at Finn when he offered to bring me something of mine from our house. The truth was that I was afraid of stepping into that house or seeing my things from the past. I can’t forget the rush of memories as I stared at the clothes that Leyton had brought over for me from that house. Every memory reminded me of everything that I had lost and what could have been. I knew dwelling on the past wouldn’t get me anywhere and I’d been doing better with looking ahead but that didn’t mean that I was ready to confront the past each and every time I was triggered. 

            “Papa, what we doing today?” Mirakel asked curiously as we exited the car park and headed towards the forest. “We’re hiking, Buddy, and today we’ll see rivers and lakes. Maybe we could fish if there are rental services,” Hearing that maybe fishing was in the plans today Mirakel became excited again and I smiled, grateful for how easily contented our pup was. We were at a huge lake with crystal clear waters when we encountered unexpected company. 

            “What do you want,” I said through gritted teeth, careful to control my temper in front of my pup, as I glared at the two people in front of us. “We mean no harm, Kayla. We were in the vicinity and picked up your scent, that’s all,” Aldrnari said gently with her hands held up. I didn’t believe a single word she said and suddenly a thought flashed across my mind and I eyed Finn accusingly. 

            I swear this has nothing to do with me, Kay. I don’t even have their contacts.

            Forcing myself to calm down and not wanting to ruin the last day of our trip for our pup, I pushed aside all of my suspicions and decided to give Finn the benefit of the doubt. We were having such a wonderful time together. It wouldn’t make sense for him to risk ruining this by inviting my half-sister and Thiago to meet us on the last day of our trip. “Come here, Baby,” I said gently to Mirakel before picking him up and turning to leave in the other direction. “Kayla, wait! I know you may hate us, but don’t you think you should learn more about yourself, at least for the sake of your pup?” Aldrnari’s words struck a raw nerve and this time, I could no longer hold myself back. I gave Mirakel to Finn and mind-linked him to bring Mirakel out of earshot before walking up to Aldrnari.

            “You have no right to tell me what is best for my pup! Don’t forget that you’re the reason that I lost three whole years with him! You are the reason that we were separated the moment he was born. You are the reason that he grew up an orphan despite having parents who were alive and loved him!” Once my pup was out of earshot, I completely lost control and yelled at the two people who had caused me so much pain. “I know nothing that I say would ever make this right again but I want you to know that I’m sorry, Kayla, and I regret everything that I did that might have helped Jake. My intentions were never to harm you but that doesn’t justify anything that I’d done. I just hope that you’d hear Nari out. Regardless of what had happened, she is your blood,” Thiago said softly before turning to leave, and only when he had started talking did I notice that he seemed paler than usual. 

            “His health has been suffering since he lost his canines. It’s a side effect from his wolf blaming him and rejecting him,” Aldrnari explained and I flinched, knowing that she had somehow read my thoughts without my permission but not sure how. “How are you doing this?” I asked her, gesturing between the both of us. “Are you reading my thoughts?” 

            “No,” Aldrnari chuckled,”I can’t read your thoughts. The only witch who can do that is the High Priestess but even then, Granny can’t do that as and when she wants to. It takes too much energy. But we’re blood sisters, Kayla. All magical creatures are part of the balance and as witches, we feel the balance as if it were a part of us. If a powerful magical creature is born or dies, we feel the surge or decline in energy in the balance. We can sense other witches’ powers and emotions through the balance if we’re next to them because all witches descended from the First Witch. And that is why we’re all sisters but you and I, we are blood sisters, Kayla. I can feel your emotions clearly and strongly, helping me to guess what you’re thinking about.” 

            I frowned at her explanation and to say I wasn’t curious would be a lie but at the same time I didn’t want to have anything to do with the people who separated me from my pup. “Don’t accidentally bump into me again, Aldrnari. Family is not defined by blood alone.” I said coldy and turned around to leave. 

            “No, it isn’t and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry Kayla. I did what I thought was right at that point in time and what I could afford to do given the limited amount of power I have. And yes, you’re right, I should have helped you, I should have protected you and risked everything for you not only because you’re my sister but because it’d have been the right thing to do and I’d give anything to have a second chance to go back in time and made different decisions but this is life. We can’t change the past and if you’d give me a chance, I’ll prove to you that a future with me and Granny in it is worth it,” Aldrnari pleaded with me. “Mum chose you, Kayla. She chose you over me. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain.” 

            Tears trickled down my face as I thought of my birth mother’s death in childbirth and how her death was likely an attempt to use the last of her life force to mask my real identity, to protect me until I was old enough to protect myself. But I continued walking away, refusing to stop or turn back. I couldn’t let Aldrnari use my birth mother against me like this. I didn’t want to have anything to do with them, not after they had turned their back on us. My vision was blurry from crying and I didn’t realize where I was walking until I bumped into something hard. Before I could react, a pair of arms held me and another pair of arms hugged my leg. 

            “Shh, it’s ok, we’re here.” Finn’s soothing voice broke the last defense I had erected around my heart and I let out all of my pain from my family’s betrayal, from the hole that they had left in my heart, an emptiness that I wasn’t aware of until they came along. “We’re your family, Kay, and we’re here for you.” Finn whispered and Mirakel chimed in as well. “Mama, we love you! Don’t cry, Mama.” After some time, I finally calmed down and the tears stopped but I felt embarrassed brawling like this in front of Finn and my pup. I sat down on a rock and searched my backpack for a washcloth to clean my face but Finn was quicker and handed me a damp washcloth. I took it gratefully and pressed the cool washcloth against my face, when suddenly a pair of warm lips planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Mama,” Mirakel whispered as he gave me a side hug and that was enough to convince me to forget that regrettable episode earlier. 

Aldrnari’s POV

            “Give her some time, Nari,” Thiago said gently as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “What if she never forgives us,” I whispered forlornly, “what if this time she needs me and I can’t be there for her again?”

            The thought of the new threat on the horizon made me feel sick to the stomach and the thought of Kayla not being ready to protect herself is killing me. I had already failed my sister once when she needed me. This time, no matter what came our way, I was determined to protect my sister and her pup but how was I supposed to do that when she wouldn’t even let me near them? It has been four moons and Granny still hasn’t been able to recover the sunstone at the old Council’s grounds. She was sure that it still had to be there, hidden somewhere amongst Councilman Jestin’s belongings or in the Council’s vault but even after the stock taking of all Council belongings was finished, no sunstone was found. It was as if it had vanished into thin air. I knew how powerful the sunstone could be in the wrong hands. After all, it was what that murderer had used to find and capture me but what worried me even more was what Granny said about the sunstone and its sister stone, the moonstone. 

            If anyone had told me about the moonstone a few moons ago, I would have laughed in their face for believing in tales for children. Like the sunstone, the moonstone was the stuff of legends and I didn’t believe that they existed until Granny warned me of energy being released by the sunstone and soon after, I was captured by the owner of the sunstone. If the sunstone existed then there was no doubt in my mind that the moonstone was also real and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much power they held if they were used together. Even Granny wasn’t sure since no one in the history of time had possessed both stones at the same time but we were both certain that if the stones fell into the wrong hands, one of the first targets would be any threats against the power held by both stones. And without a doubt, if anyone would be able to counter the power of the stones, it would be Kayla. 

            “There’s nothing more that we could do than to take it one step at a time. Let’s head back home, Nari. Tomorrow is a new day.” Thiago tried to reassure me as I prayed to the Moon Goddess that she’d give us a new day, a fresh start.