Shattered skies

A sanctuary shattered

The forest, a cathedral of ancient trees, hummed with a life of its own at night. Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, illuminating a tapestry of shadows that danced and shifted. The air, thick with the scent of damp earth and pine needles, was alive with the shadows alive with the sounds of the forest. The hooting of owls echoed through the trees, punctuated by the chirping of crickets and the soft rustle of unseen animals. The wind Whispered through the leaves, carrying with it the promise of a storm. Three moons – silver, blue, and a deep, haunting red – wove their light lavender magic through the trees. Leto, stretched out beneath an old willow, shared her senses with Anastasia, and they watched their pups play. Apollo and Artemis, their young bodies sleek and powerful, bounded through the shadows, their playful barks like wind chimes in the still night air. They were filled with a sense of deep contentment. This was their sanctuary, the world beyond its borders seeming a million miles away.

Then the wind be came restlessly, followed by a flash deep within the forest. A scream, raw and filled with terror, ripped through the quiet. It was like a stone dropped into a still pond, shattering the tranquility. Leto was on her feet in an instant, every muscle tensed, her gaze scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. Eerie shadows across the forest floor seemed to dim momentarily, as if startled by the sound.

A shiver ran down Anastasia's spine, the hairs on her arms rising. Trapped within Leto's mind, she felt the world tilt on its axis. Leto was like a force unleashed, a whirlwind of instinct and terror. The scream echoed in Anastasia's own memories, a chilling reminder of her own past: fleeing with the twins to this world. The taste of fear, the desperate struggle, the suffocating silence that followed – they all flashed before her eyes, a chilling premonition of what might happen.

Driven by an instinct she couldn't suppress, Leto exploded into motion, a silent predator navigating the undergrowth. The metallic scent of blood, a discordant note against the usual symphony of the night, finally reached them, mingling with the damp earth and the aroma of pine needles. The moon's pale silver cape draped the forest in a lilac lavender hue, casting an otherworldly glow on the scene. Dewdrops, shimmering like diamonds, clung to the leaves, reflecting the eerie light of the three moons.

Leto moved with calculated precision, each step silent and swift. The undergrowth seemed to part before her, revealing glimpses of the moonlit path. Her breathing quickened, each inhalation filled with the metallic scent of blood. Leto felt a primal urge to protect the source of the scream. The forest, usually a comforting embrace, now felt alive with a sense of foreboding, thick with anticipation.

Suddenly, they burst through a thicket of trees, the source of the scream coming into view. A small figure lay sprawled on the forest floor, their body twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood stained the emerald green moss, creating a macabre tableau in the moonlight.

Leto froze, her eyes fixed on the injured child. A low growl rumbled deep within her chest. For unknown reasons she felt a connection to the child. What hurt this child? Her eyes, usually filled with a predatory gleam, narrowed. Anastasia felt a surge of unease. This child, this stranger, posed a threat to their sanctuary. What if she was a spy, sent by her former mate, a creature of darkness placed to infiltrate their hidden world? The fear, cold and clammy, gripped her, a constant reminder of the fragility of their existence and the ever-present threat that lurked beyond the borders of their forest.

"We should leave her," Anastasia thought, her voice a whisper within their shared mind. "She could be a spy, sent to infiltrate our hidden world."

Leto, transfixed by the sight of the injured child, argued, "How can she be with him? She's injured and barely breathing. We can't just leave her here to die."

A fierce debate erupted within their shared mind. Anastasia, cautious and wary, argued for caution. Leto, driven by a primal instinct to protect this child, argued for compassion. The scent of blood seemed to amplify their emotions, their heartbeat a drumbeat against the backdrop of the eerie silence.

Before Anastasia could fully voice her concerns, a soft, ethereal glow began to emanate from the undergrowth. Apollo's and Artemis's eyes fixed on the injured girl. Their bodies began to glow with an otherworldly light.

Apollo, a magnificent creature with a coat of shimmering white fur with a black patch over his left eye, had a mischievous glint in his golden eyes, but moved with cautious grace, his ears perked, listening intently. Artemis, a creature of shadow moving with fierce grace, had fur the color of an endless black void, shifting between shades of blue-green and black with a white patch over her right eye. Her eyes, a haunting moonstone color, glittered with a wild, untamed energy, reflecting her human's own simmering anger.

They moved to the little girl with a grace that belied their young age, their movements guided by an unseen force. The air, heavy with tension, crackled with anticipation.

Anastasia tried to mindlink her children, Dino and Clayso, but they were unresponsive. Stunned, Anastasia watched as the glow intensified, encasing the girl in a shimmering cocoon. Dread, cold and clammy, gripped her. the glow intensified. The girl's wounds began to mend, her body slowly straightening. The sight of the child's body slowly repairing itself was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

To Deepen her dread and horror, in unison, Dino and Clayso, with their wolves, Apollo and Artemis, howled, their voices echoing through the forest. "Mate," they proclaimed, their voices filled with awe and wonder.

Anastasia felt a surge of panic. This was not what she had planned. She thought she had more time to prepare her pups. If their father discovered they had found their mate, he and his barbaric twin moon pack would come for them. She had to protect her twins, even if that meant keeping them away from their fated mate. Taking control, Anastasia shifted back to human, pushing Leto to the back of her mind, keeping control of their body.

"Kids, shift," she commanded, her voice firm, but it was lost in the cacophony of their howls.

"You can't do this to them," Leto growled, her voice a low rumble deep in Anastasia's mind. "This is the will of the gods. We have no say in it."

Anastasia, ignoring Leto's protests, pushed the thought to the furthest depths of her mind, blocking her wolf out this time. "They are my children. They are only twelve," she insisted, "and I will protect them even if I have to keep them away from their fated mate." Turning to her kids, using her command – a command that was absolute, they could not refuse, no one could – "You are to stay away from her. No one, and I mean nobody, is to know that she is your mate, not even her."

Dino, putting his hands in his sun-white blond hair, started to whimper. His summer green-blue eyes filled with tears of betrayal. Apollo howling in pain within him, he couldn't understand why their mother would do this to them. She knew how special mates were to their kind. Clayso, her black hair hanging in front of her stormy blue-green eyes as they blazed with anger, glared at Anastasia. Artemis, her wolf, snarled within Clayso's mind, her fur bristling. How dare she interfere with their destiny? Why is Leto allowing this? Artemis raged, her voice a low growl that echoed through Clayso's mind. "She is ours… We are bound to her." Clayso felt a surge of rage and fury that ignited deep within her. How could their mother deny them their destiny? This girl, this stranger, was their mate, bound to them by fate. The bond was undeniable, a powerful pull that tugged at their very souls. To deny it, to interfere with the will of the gods, was an act of betrayal that Clayso couldn't forgive. "You'll regret this, Mother," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous, the echo of Artemis's growl adding a chilling undertone.

Anastasia ignored her daughter's warning. A wave of uncertainty washed over her. What should she do about the girl? Leto's fear, her primal instincts, were now a heavy weight on Anastasia's shoulders. The scent of blood and the lingering echo of the scream seemed to amplify her own anxieties, creating a suffocating sense of dread.

Making a decision, "We will take her to Fraya, she will know how to handle this." Anastasia picked up the unconscious child and turned to head back to their pack. Silence descended, heavy and suffocating. Leto remained silent, her mind a storm of suppressed emotions and a lingering sense of unease. Anastasia, for the first time, felt a profound sense of loneliness, a chasm opening between her and her wolf. The forest, once a source of comfort, now felt alien and hostile.

As they walked behind their mother, happy that their mother was bringing the girl back to the pack but still upset about her command, Clayso, her gaze fixed on the ground, spotted something glinting in the moonlight. It was a small, worn-out stuffed wolf, lying abandoned beside the path. A wave of pity washed over her. This belonged to their mate.

"Dino," she whispered, nudging her brother with her elbow.

Dino, who had been walking a few paces ahead, turned and saw the stuffed wolf. A flicker of sympathy crossed his face. He knelt down, carefully picking up the worn toy.

"Poor thing," he murmured, his voice soft.

Clayso walked over and gently took the stuffed wolf from him. "Let's take it to her," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle.

Dino nodded, a small smile gracing his lips. As they continued walking, they carried the stuffed wolf with them, a small act of kindness amidst the growing tension