Finding Aeryn

Prolouge

Pain and darkness surround me.

"Where is my daughter?!"

That voice is so loud. Who is the man yelling? Why is he yelling?

"Aeryn!"

I feel myself drift further from the voice calling out.

"No no no! Aeryn, my baby..."

Darkness surrounds me as the voice calls for Aeryn to fight. I'm not sure who it is but I feel drawn to it. They seem so worried and I'm not sure why. Who is Aeryn?

"Take her to the healers immediately!"

"Aeryn! Please! Wake up!"

Cold. I feel so cold. So weak. I can see nothing around me. The pain that was once blistering throughout my body is no more than a tingling ache now.

"I am so tired." A raspy voice sighs out, sputtering a cough afterward.

Was that my voice? I indeed moved my lips, but the voice felt foreign to me. Do I really sound like that? It doesn't matter, my body is achy. I am tired. I think I'll just close my eyes for a minute.

As my eyes flutter shut, the pain returns and blisters through my entire body. It doesn't matter now, I am too tired to fight.

"Alaric, do something!"

"Aeryn!"

"Aeryn, no!

Warm. I feel so warm. Lavender and warmth entrance me. So nice.

“Aeryn. . .”

“Aeryn. . . Wake up.”

As if my body was commanded, my eyes jolt open and almost immediately close out of instinct. It is so bright here. I open my eyes again and through my squinted eyes, I begin to make out objects around me. I see... flowers? So many beautiful flowers painted in greens, blues, yellows, and most predominately, purple. I move my focus away from the mesmerizing fields and focus on the illuminating trees surrounding me. Moss has intricately weaved its way up to the branches that tower high over where I am lying. As I examine the tree closer, I notice butterflies have taken a spot close to me. I reach out my hand to welcome a beautiful blue butterfly with a black lining and white dots around its wings.

"Aeryn."

I whip my head to the feminine voice behind me. An enchantingly elegant woman stands beside a tree with tiny white flowers with yellow centers poking out of its roots. She is wearing a floor-length white dress that hugs her body in a very favorable way. The dress has a flattering neckpiece that stretches from her jawline to her shoulders then interlaces with the bodice. From the hips down, the dress hangs straight down with the fabric flaring out along the forest floor at the end. Silver lining accentuates the whole bodice and neck, blending in as it makes its way down to the end of the fabric. Her porcelain skin compliments her incredibly bright green eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. A true picture of beauty. The woman has a sweet and warm energy flowing from her, welcoming me, it seems.

The woman begins to speak again.

"Aer-"

"Who is Aeryn?" I interrupt without thinking.

The woman has a stunned look for just a moment before it turns into an angelic giggle. As her laughter quiets, she seems to realize something which concerns her. Her brows furrow and she steps away from the tree, slowly walking forward.

"You don't remember?" She asks.

I think as hard as I can. Trying to remember anything from before I woke up. After a few minutes, my forehead creases, and I let out a sigh.

"I can't remember anything. All I know is I woke up here. Where is... here?" I ask curiously, looking around again.

The woman takes a seat on a large root from the tree beside me. I examine her features curiously as she invites me closer to her.

"Your name is Aeryn Neveah Caddell. I have watched over you for a very long time, my dear. You are a very bright and loving young lady. We are in my garden, which isn't in your world. I had hoped you would remember the events that had taken place. It's very important for your future." Her finger presses against her lips as if she's thinking.

I am very confused. How does this random lady know my future? I know nothing about myself, yet she knows everything? Something is really weird.

"My future?"

"Yes, my dear." She responds, still in thought.

"I apologize if this seems rude, but how would you know anything about me? I've never seen you before."

"My child, I apologize for the confusion. I have known you since the day you were born." She responds as her finger is placed back into her lap.

"So... you're my mother?"

Laughter escapes from her lips again as confusion envelops me.

"No, my child. I am what your people call the Moon Goddess. But you can call me Elara."

"Elara... that name suits you and your beauty." I compliment.

"Thank you, my child. We don't have much time left here, however, I would like to give you a gift."

My mind is in a war over whether I should trust this stranger. Moon goddess? What even is that? I have so many questions. She hasn't seemed threatening and hasn't tried to hurt me. So why not? All of this is strange already.

"Alright."

She moves closer to me as soon as I respond. My heart races and she seems to notice, even though I'm not sure how she can.

"May I place my hand on the side of your head, my child?" She waits eagerly for my response.

"O-okay." I hesitantly move closer, so she won’t have to reach as far.

Elara places her hand on the left side of my head. A faint blue glow erupts around us as her eyes turn completely white. I slightly turn my head to watch the glowing light as little yellow lights, almost like fireflies, begin to intertwine with the blue glowing waves. Just like that, the wondrous colors had disappeared and Elara's eyes returned to the stunning green.

"Within time, all of your memories will begin to take their place back in your mind. Be strong, my dear. I have given you a portion of me so that, in time, we can meet again. Use my abilities for good, young one. Trust your intuition and your wolf. You will understand everything you are meant to do soon. Our time here is coming to an end."

Did she just say wolf? I've officially lost it.

"I have so many questions, why can't I stay?" My head suddenly feels fuzzy.

"You will do well, Aeryn. Believe in yourself. Until next time."

Immediately as she finished her statement, the fuzziness turned into pounding. My hands shot to my head as I howled in pain. I take a look at Elara one last time, she is holding a sympathetic frown, then everything goes black.