Shattered skies

The girl without a name

p.o.v. of the little girl

A chilling image flashed through my mind: a man, his face contorted in rage, hurling me away from him, screaming, "Abomination!" Then, falling, a blinding light, the searing pain, and then… nothing. My eyelids fluttered open, disoriented. The room swam into focus. Shadows danced in the flickering light, casting long, eerie figures on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of unfamiliar herbs and a strange, metallic tang that made her stomach churn.

Disoriented, I thought, "Where am I?"

"Easy," a voice, soft and soothing, cautioned. "Don't try to move."

I blinked, trying to focus. A woman with kind forest green eyes and a gentle smile hovered over me, her face etched with concern. "Where… where am I?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.

"You're safe," she soothed, her voice like the rustling of leaves in a summer breeze. "You're in the care of the Whispering Willows pack."

The Whispering Willows pack? The words echoed in my mind, unfamiliar and meaningless. I tried to remember anything—a name, a face, a home—but my mind was a blank canvas. It felt like someone was deliberately erasing the past, leaving me adrift in a sea of oblivion. A sense of dread, cold and suffocating, washed over me. What did the future hold? Would I ever get my memories back?

I touched my arm, wincing at the sting of the bandage. A memory flickered, a fleeting image of the syringe, the cold sting of the needle piercing my skin. I shuddered, a wave of nausea washing over me.

The woman, sensing my distress, gently stroked my hair. "Everything is fine, little one," she soothed, her voice a comforting presence in the otherwise silent room. "You're safe here."

Safe? The word sounded foreign but warm. I clung to the word, a lifeline in the swirling sea of confusion. But the fear remained, a constant, gnawing presence in the depths of my soul. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the terrifying unknowns.

Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over me. A tingling like a thousand tiny sparks dancing across my skin. I felt a pull, a yearning for something… or someone. It was a fleeting sensation, gone as quickly as it came, leaving me with a lingering sense of longing and a profound sense of unease.

Who am I? What was happening to me? And why did I feel this strange, inexplicable pull? The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and terrifying. Was this a dream? A nightmare? Or was this reality?

"Are you hungry, little one?" the woman asked. At the mention of food, a flicker of hope, and a touch of excitement, sparked within me. My stomach rumbled in agreement.

The woman's eyes lit up. "Good. Let's start you off with something light. It's noon now, so some broth and bread." She helped me sit up in a comfortable position before leaving the room.

As she left, I found myself pondering her words. "Little one." It was a simple term, but it held a strange comfort. It felt… familiar.

"What would you like to be called?" she asked upon her return, placing a bowl of steaming broth and a slice of bread on the small table beside me.

Her question made me pause. Confused, I tilted my head, trying to decipher her meaning.

She chuckled. "I figured since you can't remember your name, we could give you one. Instead of calling you 'the girl' or using pet names."

Honestly, I hadn't even considered it. Who was I, indeed?

I looked at her, searching for guidance. She smiled gently. "Perhaps… Daisy? It reminds me of wildflowers, symbolizing hope and new beginnings."

The name, simple and delicate, sounded nice, but it didn't feel right. Shaking my head no, she suggested another, "How about Eira?" Shaking my head no again, she looked off to a desk with a picture of a girl. The girl in the picture had the same red hair as the woman. The woman paused, lost in thought, then looked back at me. "How about… Astrid?"

"Astrid," I whispered, testing the sound on my tongue. It felt right, the sound of the name brought a loving warmth to my soul.

"Astrid," she repeated, a smile gracing her lips. "I love it," I said, looking back at her.

And for the first time since I woke up, I felt a glimmer of hope. A little sense of belonging. Perhaps, in this strange new world, I could begin to build my life. Hopefully, this woman could be there for me in the future. Perhaps she can help me find a way to remember who I truly was.

A sudden realization hit me. "What do I call you?"

She laughed warmly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I… my sweet, sweet girl, am Fraya."

The rest of the day went by in a blur of laughter and questions. Suddenly it was time for dinner.

Mean while in the pack dining hall.

The aroma of roasted boar filled the air of the pack house dining hall, a welcome respite from the crisp summer air. Yet, the usual jovial atmosphere was subdued. Anastasia sat at the head of the long table, her gaze fixed on her plate, picking at the roasted vegetables. To the left of her, Dino and Clayso sat side-by-side, their faces mirroring their mother's concern.

Leto, sensing Anastasia's distress, felt a pang of sympathy. Her human had been grappling with her decision to command the kids to stay away from their mate. The incident earlier with the girl had shaken the pack, an unsettling unease lingering in the air. Unaware that the energy earlier emanated from the girl herself, the pack hadn't even seen the new arrival yet.

"Mother," Dino finally broke the silence, his voice a low murmur. "Why are you doing this to us?"

Anastasia looked up, her gaze meeting Dino's. "She poses a threat, and until I can have better control over the situation, you will stay away from her… both of you."

"How can she be dangerous?" Clayso clenched her jaw, her eyes flashed with anger. "You can't keep us from her forever." Clayso growled under her breath.

"I have my reasons," Anastasia stated firmly. "Just know whatever I do, I do to protect both of you." Anastasia stated firmly, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

Anastasia sighed, the weight of her decision pressing down on her like a physical burden. The image of her pups, their faces etched with disappointment and betrayal, flashed before her eyes. She had never wanted to hurt them, but their safety and the safety of the pack. A wave of guilt washed over her, threatening to drown her in despair.

"I've spoken to Fraya. She believes the girl is harmless. For now… if things go well, I was thinking of letting Fraya take care of her. She even asked me herself if she could." Anastasia still curious as to why her friend would be acting this way towards the little girl.

Dino and Clayso exchanged a hopeful glance. They knew their mother's concerns were valid, yet they couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the hall. Warrior burst through the entrance, his face grim, his eyes filled with a sense of urgency. He paused a moment, his gaze sweeping across the room before landing on Anastasia.

"Anastasia," he began, his voice grave, "we have a situation."