Shattered skies

the Whispering willows stand guard

Each step back towards the den felt like dragging a stone uphill. The forest, once a haven, now clawed at her. Shadows stretched, mimicking the unease coiling in her gut. Behind her, the pups restlessly shuffled, their wolf spirits mirroring her own unease. Anastasia cradled the injured girl, her body limp and lifeless in Anastasia's arms. The girl's scent, a strange mixture of wildflowers and a faint metallic scent, clung to Anastasia's senses, a constant, poignant reminder of the choices she had made.

Reaching the edge of the clearing where the pack clinic nestled amongst the ancient oaks, Anastasia halted. "Go home," she commanded, her voice firm, though a tremor laced through it. "I'll be back soon."

Dino and Clayso exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting a mixture of anger and sadness. They hesitated, their wolf spirits reluctant to leave their mate and obey. With a low growl, they turned and slipped back into the shadows, their youthful exuberance replaced by a somber silence.

Anastasia continued towards the clinic, the weight of the injured girl and the burden of her decision pressing down on her. Reaching the entrance, she presented the girl to Fraya, their resident healer and her trusted friend.

"Fraya," Anastasia began, her voice trembling slightly, "I found her… injured, near the edge of the forest. I don't know who she is or what happened to her."

She proceeded to recount the events of the night, from the chilling scream to the pups' unexpected claim over the girl. She detailed her fears, her anxieties, and the agonizing decision she had made.

Fraya, her eyes pools of ancient forest wisdom, listened intently. Fraya's breath hitched. The girl's delicate features, the pale skin, even the way she lay so still—it all eerily mirrored Astrid's, stirring a profound sense of grief within her. A wave of sorrow washed over Fraya, so intense it stole her breath away. The familiar scent of blood, though not human, brought back a flood of memories: Astrid's scent after a rough hunt , the warmth of her fur against her cheek, the sound of her playful barks echoing through a feld. Tears welled up in Fraya's eyes, blurring her version. She gently laid yhe girl on a bed, her hands trembling. Griff threatened to consume her. Causing tears to form in her eyes. Her red hair framing her face, she held the girl gently, a tremor running through her.

Even Eir, Fraya's wolf spirit, stirred within her, a sense of longing and recognition washing over her.

As they spoke, the girl began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, wide with confusion. "Whe… where am I?" she whispered, her voice weak and raspy.

Fraya, her heart pounding in her chest, gently stroked the girl's hair. "You're safe now," she soothed, her voice soft and reassuring. "You're in the care of the Whispering Willows pack."

The girl's eyes widened in confusion. She groaned softly and tried to sit up. Fraya gently pushed her back down. "Easy," Fraya cautioned, "you've been hurt. Try to rest."

Studying the girl, Freya gently inquired, "What is your name?"

Looking at Fraya with confusion, she whispered, "I… I don't know. I can't remember anything."

As the little girl started to panic, a magical wind began to blow around her. Feeling the shift of energy, Fraya and Anastasia exchanged a worried glance. Fraya, doing the only thing she could think of, pulled the little girl into a loving embrace. Taking out a syringe she always carried for emergencies, Fraya plunged it into the girl's arm. Feeling the warmth of Freya and the effects of the unknown medicine, the little girl's energy depleted, and she fell back asleep.

Watching the girl in Fraya's arms, terror gripped Anastasia. "Who and What was this girl? And how could she keep her away from her pups?" Anastasia asked Fraya, "what should we do with her? If she's this dangerous, we can't keep her in the pack."

Eir paced anxiously within her, mirroring Fraya's own unease. She said calmly, "I can watch her for a week here in the clinic. If her behavior becomes unpredictable or poses a danger, I can administer the sedative if necessary. If her memories still haven't returned by the end of the week… I would like to take her in… please consider it, Ana."

Confused as to why Freya would make this request, Anastasia weighed the pros and cons. Leto, her wolf, stirred with a flicker of hope, moving for the first time since she commanded her pups to stay away from the little girl. "Let's see what happens," Anastasia replied to Fraya.

Meanwhile, Dino and Calyso were walking back to the pack house, their minds heavy with worry for their mate. Calyso, still clutching the worn stuffed wolf, felt a pang of guilt. It was Artemis, however, who finally broke the silence. "'We can't let anything happen to her,' she growled, her voice low and urgent in Calyso's mind. 'Mother can't keep us from our mate.'"

Calyso felt a shiver run down her spine, mirroring Artemis's unease. "'You're right but how? She used her command on us,'" she agreed, her voice thick with emotion. Artemis pacing back and forth in her mind, "'there is a way but this will require using our alpha blood.'" Clayso listened intently to her wolf. She contacted her brother, through the mindlink not wanting anyone to overhear them. "Dino," she said through the mindlink, not wanting to risk anyone overhearing, "I've been thinking and talking with Artemis, and I think I have a way around the command of our mother. I don't like how she has been acting or the way she see looks at her. It was wrong, and it was wrong to keep us away from our mate."

Catching Dino and his wolf Apollo's attention, she continued, "It's not going to be easy, but we don't feel right leaving her unprotected. I'm sure you and Apollo agree."

Dino nodded, waiting for her to continue. "Okay, so Artemis and I think it's time to pick our betas, gammas, deltas, maybe even find a couple of trustworthy Omegas. With us both being alpha blood, we can each pick our own team. That gives us roughly 6 to 8 people helping us protect her," she said silently handing him the stuffed wolf. Holding it, a flicker of determination crossed his eyes. "'Let's start scouting tonight,'" he said determinedly, Apollo mirroring his energy, saying, "'We need to find the strongest, most loyal shifters in the pack. We need to build a team that can protect our mate with their lives. And if our mother tries to interfere…'" Apollo let the threat hang unspoken in the air, both understanding the unspoken challenge. Handing Calyso the stuffed toy again, they continued their journey.

Calyso felt a surge of gratitude for her brother and a deep sense of responsibility. They were not just siblings; they were a pack, bound by a fierce loyalty to their mate and to each other. They would find a way to protect her, even from a distance, even from their own mother if necessary.

As they walked, the image of the injured girl, the blood around her body, haunted them. Calyso squeezed the stuffed wolf, its soft fur a meager comfort against the chilling fear that gripped her. They would not let this happen again. They would protect their mate, and they would do it together, even if it meant defying their mother.