Stellaluna

Blessings

Evangeline

“Specimen seventy-two: northern region gamma female, blessed at eighteen years old during first shift.

Blessing: extreme regeneration- ability to heal instantly from any wound.

Specimen seventy-three: western region omega male, blessed at twenty five years old* after his mate was killed in front of him. Soon thereafter, decimating the offending clan.

*exact ability unknown

Specimen seventy-three -”

Ughhhh I can’t read anymore! I complained tossing the small black book that Selene had given me. I lay against the cool stone that framed the small lake we had come upon to rest. It had been a week and a half since we started our journey and when Amaris needed to rest, we shifted and I studied the book looking for answers.

Rest with me then, Amaris chuckled before yawning inside my mind. I sighed and leaned over, skimming my fingers along the surface of the still water. Soon my fingers started to glow a faint pale violet wherever the water touched.

Water was interesting. It had been around longer than any living creature. It was almost alive itself, carrying the memories of all that had touched it, swam in its depths, and that had cried into its surface.

I lay my head on my arm as the visions started, fully submerging my hand. At first it was flashes of light along my peripheral vision, then shadows dancing over the ripples my movement had created. Last came the ghosts. Spectral entities, see through, as if not fully in this world. I watched as they swam in the lake, a lovely couple, before taking what I knew to be their first kiss. An older woman filling a bucket of the freshly melted water straight from the mountain, a small boy in tow, chastising him in a language I didn’t know, yet fully understood, as he fell into the water soaking his clothes. A woman crying, staring into its mirrored surface, lamenting the death of her child, tears falling and adding her sorrow into the rich, dark depths of the silent void. So many lives over so many lifetimes. All captured forever in this small, lonely lake. Forgotten by the people who no longer depended on it. Forgotten by history and time.

Evangeline! I jumped, removing my hand from the noticeably much colder water, and the visions disappeared. I looked around and noticed it had gotten dark, the moon nowhere to be found.

Sorry! I lost track of time, I said standing up and stretching.

You have to be careful. I was calling for you and you didn’t wake up. I sighed. This was why I needed answers. I needed to understand my powers. That’s why I was trying to research other blessed wolves. I could feel something inside me growing, and it scared me. New powers were coming up more frequently since I first shifted, and I was struggling to contain them. The only person that knew was Selene. Hopefully this witch would be able to help us.

Are you ready Amaris?

Always! She chirped.

I smiled and quickly undressed, packing my clothes and book into the duffel bag for Amaris to carry. I took one last look at the lake and shifted. It was becoming easier and faster every time.

Phew that wasn’t bad at all! Amaris stretched her legs and did a test run, running in a fast circle, her tail wagging.

I laughed inside our mind,

Amaris I swear, it’s like you get the zoomies every time we shift

I can’t help it! I hate being stuck up there! She barked a laugh and chased her tail. I rolled my eyes, still giggling at her adorable antics. I sat back and gave her control, only looking out of our eyes. I could still feel whatever she did but it was quite odd as I knew it was not me actually doing it. Which must be how Amaris felt all the time. I’m glad she has this time now, to be out and run as much as she wants. In the first few years it is like this. As time goes on it is said that we will be nearly one all the time. Out souls need time to bond. I feel bad that she is normally cooped up but thankful as it gets easier.

Leaning back I zoned out thinking. I heard that some wolves could block their host out, completely taking over the body and not allowing them to see anything. It was not uncommon, but it was still awful to think about. I couldn’t imagine what a wolf or what the host did to cause such discord within themselves. The Goddess intended our wolf counterparts be exactly that, a soul mate. Thankfully I had a good relationship with Amaris. And it was getting better the more we shifted and built our trust.

She stopped and sniffed the air, nose pointed to the sky, before taking off at a full sprint. I felt her adrenaline spike, and smelled a familiar scent, growing stronger the closer we got. This was no rabbit. Amaris slowed down, and I saw it was a mountain lion. It had not detected us yet, and Amaris slowly crept closer.

You certainly like a challenge don’t you? I asked her chuckling. I knew it stood no chance against a werewolf. Very little did.

Oh it’s no challenge at all. I just feel bad killing something that can’t fight back. I like a bit of spirit in my food, she thought.

I could understand that. I never stole from the poor back in the day, only from the cruel and the obviously rich. I was kind of proud to see my wolf had priorities. I leaned a bit forward in our minds, feeling every one of our muscles tense and we positioned ourself, smelling the dew coating the trees, grass, and our pacing target. It was as if time slowed and I could hear every step he took, from the moment his heavy paw pressed against the blades of grass and his claws digging into the soil slightly, his heart constricting and releasing, pumping life giving blood through his veins, and his ears flick back as he sensed danger, trying to locate the source. Together we stalked forward, enjoying every second of the hunt, before launching at him lightning fast, our razor sharp teeth quickly sinking into the soft flesh of his neck, entirely ignoring the protective layer of fur. With one swift shake, it was over before the beast had a chance realize his fate. The feeling of his blood, still flowing as his heart had yet to realize that it’s job was no longer needed, rushing into our mouths was amazingly intimate-an addictive, powerful feeling. And suddenly we saw his whole life flash before our eyes. From birth, growing and hunting, until now. It only took seconds before it was gone.

An emerging power? Amaris asked, while tearing into the warm meat, now steaming in the cold mountain air.

I think so. But why? What does it mean? I mused

I’m sure the Goddess will reveal all, in time.

I hummed my agreement, pushing my troubles to the back of my mind as we enjoyed our kill.

After we had our fill, we thanked the Goddess for her bounty and the beast for his sacrifice, and trotted off, following a small river through the forest, that would soon take us between and over the mountain. We stopped briefly, for a drink and to wash the blood off of us and continued.

Amaris, do you remember anything before me? Were you born that night or have you always been? I asked,

I do not remember anything before coming to you, I only know that I felt like I was waiting for a long time to meet you.

How interesting. I knew my general age but I still did not know when or if I would ever meet you. I honestly thought they made a mistake, and that I was a witch or something.

We definitely smell of a werewolf, but even I know it is different. Though I don’t know how you smelled before I came, it could have changed.

I never thought about that! I’ll have to ask Sarge next time I talk to him. I wonder how they are doing

Selene has probably murdered him by now, she giggled. I had to agree. Sarge always knew just how to push her buttons. We both laughed, imagining Selene making Sarge beat himself up while she sipped from a cup of tea. We both missed them.

I sat back in my mind, and let Amaris take full control, closing myself off to rest. When I awoke, judging by the position of the sun in the sky, it was around noon. I leaned forward and felt the sun in our fur, and felt the crisp coldness of snow beneath our paws. I gasped,

Amaris! Snow!

She laughed in my head, her tail wagging now,

About time you woke up sleepy head! I’ve been plowing through it for a few hours now.

I looked around, marveling at the perfect mounds of soft looking snow. With the sun shining it looked like we were surrounded in a forest of glittering diamonds.

May I? I asked. Amaris giggled and stepped back a bit allowing me control.

Fully in control of our body I skidded to a stop, dropped my duffel bag, that Amaris had been carrying and looked around. I immediately took a playful stance and bounded around in the snow, jumping into a large pile of fluff, and seeing everything turn white. We laughed gleefully, and tunneled through the snow bank. I glanced at my paws and saw I nearly blended in, with my silvery white fur. It shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting a bit of gold and I stopped in awe, and walked to the frozen stream. I admired myself on its sparkling reflection, and noticed that it was not fully frozen, as small fish swam downwards under the icy surface. This place was amazing.

I think I could get used to living here, I told her, leaning back once more.

It does seem like we belong doesn’t it. This is such a peaceful place, it looks untouched, serene. Maybe once everything is over we can come back here. I thought of the small sad lake that we passed and smiled.

I like that idea. This seems like a great place to concentrate on learning about our powers.

We continued for a few more hours, Amaris insisting she could last a while more, before we found a trail, the first sign of civilization.

I think this is it. Go on and rest Amaris. You need to be at your full strength once we arrive. She agreed, and we shifted back into my human form. I shivered and clothed myself quickly. Though the elements did not affect me as much as normal humans, standing naked in the middle of a snowy mountain was still not ideal. I didn’t have to dress in full snow gear but I preferred to be clothed. I dressed in close-fitting black clothing and shoes. Silent and easy to move in. I had a knife hidden in one boot, a large one strapped on my thigh over my pants, and another on my bicep for quick access. I slung the duffel bag over my back, the strap across my chest, and started down the trail, the letter for the witch in my pocket. The sun quickly went down, hidden behind the mountains. I walked carefully down the path, following the faint scent of werewolves. With neither sun nor moonlight, I was grateful for my werewolf abilities. There was less snow as I traveled down the trail, towards a faint light in the distance. It was miles away, but I could detect it thanks to my sensitive night vision.

I looked around as I neared the settlement. It seemed it was a hidden oasis of sorts, an encampment surrounded by mountains. Though still cool, it was much warmer here, the snow nearly all gone, leaving a lush dense forest. A sound fortress. I thought, as I approached a clearing. I could hear people talking in the distance, hear the sound of animals running and breathing. This is it. The Western Kingdom. A beautiful crescent moon began to rise over the mountains in front of me, as I stepped into the unfamiliar territory.