Stellaluna

Strings

I called my pack to regroup. We spread ourselves out in a half circle, forming a deadly barrier to corral the raiders. Sebastian's team cut them off from the back, making quick work of the ones focused on us. We could do this! I thought. But my optimism was short lived as howls and cries of pain permeated the air.

Lightning flashed, flooding the area with bright white light. I saw my men, my family, struggling to stand. Struggling to stay alive as the onslaught continued. A few had shifted back into their human forms, unable to withstand the assault to their wolf bodies. Through the pouring rain, I saw yet another wave of raiders flow through the valley, surrounding Sebastian and his people.

Time slowed, and I saw my men fall, one by one until I realized. We stood no chance. They were not here to capture, as they had been doing. They were here to destroy.

I roared, and met a raider head on. He lunged for my throat and I side stepped, catching his as he flew by. I raced toward Sebastian, my men following suit. We would close ranks and do as much damage as we could. I grabbed one of mine, just nineteen years old, and flung him behind me, giving his injured body a chance to escape.

I was so close. I saw Sebastian's large wolf shake a smaller one off his back, but another took his place. They must think he's the alpha, I realized, watching as they piled on him. With my eyes trained on him, I didn't see the small gray wolf that appeared before me, ramming into me and rolling away, for another one to take its place. I felt teeth tear at me, ripping a chunk away from my side. I hit the ground, and saw Sebastian do the same.

I looked up at the weeping sky, dark clouds racing across, and a waning crescent moon looked mournfully back at me.

This is it, isn't it, Ember? I asked, watching as a large raider drew back, opening his bloody, gaping maw to finally end me.

He whined inside my mind, and together we closed our eyes against the sharp teeth coming our way.

I saw a bright light from behind my eyelids before it faded back to black. The world fell quiet around me. The cries of rage and agony, the pain of my fallen brethren all disappeared.

This isn't so bad, I thought, before slipping into darkness.

——————————————————————

Evangeline

I paced back and forth behind the waterfall's tall silver door. Children huddled with their mothers, the stronger up front ready to defend if.. if they fail..

I stopped in front of Hypatia and Selene, both just watching me silently.

"Are we really just to sit here doing nothing? They could use our help!" I was frustrated, impatient, and just restless.

"You know we cannot risk you being discovered." Hypatia said impassively

I looked at the few women crying in the corner of the room. Their mates had died, they told me later, which had just made me all the more anxious. I just knew if I was there I could help.

Alyssa came to try and comfort me. But the moment she reached me she gasped and doubled over. She reached out and grabbed my arm and I instantly felt her pain. Flynn. He was hurt. Several other women cried out at the same time. Alyssa looked up at me in panic

"Evangeline... please.." she gasped. Hypatia stood but I was too fast. The door opened and I ran through, looking back to see Selene.

"Go save them, Donovan would be proud of you. But please come back for us." I nodded, and with a wave of her hand the door closed behind me. I faced the waterfall and sprinted, diving off the small cliff into the flowing water. Lightning flashed across the sky as I fell, lighting the delicate droplets of water around me. The mist swirled, and whispered in my ears.

Go. The voices whispered. Hurry.

I shifted midair, instincts taking over and ran, my steps solid on the water in the air, carrying me over the lake until I hit the ground. The rain falling didn't hit me, instead stopping in it's tracks mid air. Amaris was at the forefront with me, and we were one. One mind, one body, with one goal. We raced across the compound, passing the now empty castle.

Faster. The water sighed, faster!

We pushed our body harder than we ever had before, and sped towards the battle looming in the distance. We have to get there in time. The moon peeked through the clouds to shine down on us, lending us her strength. We broke through the clearing and our hearts broke at the sight before us. So many bodies littered the ground. And our people were being overrun. I saw Ryder laying on the ground, a wolf about to attack, Thomas surrounded by five raiders, and Sebastian under a pile of them. The voices of the water swirled around me, and I felt all the power I'd been accumulating start to rise.

You know what to do... they encouraged.

I felt it all building up, and just like before, I surrendered myself. We leaped over the mass of frozen fighters and I let go, feeling the magic explode outward in a flare of light. Time slowed to a stop, once more, but this time I was holding living souls, and had a time limit.

I raced to Ryder, and threw the raider off him and into a tree, his broken body afloat in the air. Together, we ran through their ranks, swiftly and painlessly ending their lives. I got the ones around Thomas, and made my way towards Sebastian snd his group, where they were the most concentrated. Time started slipping, as they began to slowly move once more. We hurried, snapping necks and tossing raiders as we went.

I finally reached him and pulled the wolf who had nearly closed his jaws around Sebastians neck, and threw him away. Right now all I could do was deflect them. Everything was speeding up.

I stood over him and his friends, as time gave way. As the horde of raiders focused their attention on me, I released a howl, and with it my control. I let my aura pour forth, spilling out like water and bringing each adversary to their knees. I turned and faced my friends, most now shifted into their human forms, and they too dropped under the weight of my power.

"Adeline?" Sebastian whispered, his whole group had also shifted and looked at me confused.

But he fell, his wounds too great. I could feel his life slipping away. No! I looked around and saw so many others with deadly injuries. The rain, still floating in the air, followed an unspoken command, and covered each comrade. I watched as their wounds began to close and smiled.

No more would die tonight. I mind-linked those still standing,

"It is over. Quickly, grab your injured and get them help." They immediately ran to follow my order. I approached the raiders left, about ten men.

"Shift!" I commanded, and they swiftly obeyed.

The rain had turned into a fine mist, whether by my meddling or not I didn't know. But with the moonlight shining through, I saw their auras, and a red string of light of sorts attached to most of them.

"Who among you were forced to pledge yourselves to the Southern King?" I asked them. Eight stepped forward and bowed. They were the ones with the strings attached.

"Explain"

"My village was overrun and we were forced to pledge ourselves.."

"They took my city and offered us protection from the war.."

"He said we just needed to pledge ourselves and we could go home.."

Their stories were all the same. The same as Sarge. They had lost time, couldn't remember how they got here, or why they had come.

"Do you wish to serve the Southern King?"

"No, Goddess!" They answered.

I felt the strange power in my chest again, and breathed out on the strangers. I watched as my breath moved over them, swirling the mist in delicate patterns, and the cords withdrew back into the men, bringing with them the most beautiful light I'd ever seen. They gasped and fell to the ground. They were free.

I walked to the other two men. Both large and mean looking, whereas the others had just been ordinary people. These were warriors, the real raiders.

"Do you serve the Southern King?"

They nodded, any other answer would have to be forced from them.

"Do you know what he is searching for?"

"He's looking for you." One laughed.

I turned away and shifted, the mist quickly covering my body by materializing a pale blue off the shoulder flowing dress, with high slits on both sides of my hips. Ryders men, as well as Sebastian's staring at me and following close behind as I turned back to the two raiders.

"Do you know what he's done? Do you freely follow someone who enslaves innocent people?"

"Our King is going to soon take his place as ruler of these lands. He takes what is rightfully ours!" The leader boasted proudly.

"Your king will die, just as you will. Alone, with not a single friend at his side." Ryders men took them away when I signaled and I explained to Thomas who came up to me about the eight who were brainwashed. He took them back to the castle.

"Evangeline!"

I turned to see Sebastian limping his way towards me.

"Hey, you shouldn't be running around right now," I told him, wearily watching him approach.

"It's... healing already. Evangeline.." he stopped in front of me. A slight breeze ruffled his dark brown hair, sending a faint scent my way. I leaned forward, trying to figure it out, and stopped myself. Amaris was trying within my head too.

"Evangeline, thank you." He said looking down

"What?" I asked surprised. I don't know what I expected but this was not it.

"Thank you," he repeated, "For saving me, a-and my people." He added quickly. "I know I've been horrible to you, and I am truly sorry. I could not afford to risk my mission by... getting too close with anyone here." He said carefully

"You were the ones that warned Ryder." I nodded, slowly understanding. They had not just been visitors here, but undercover. Searching for answers just like us.

"Yes. I just.." he hesitated. "Thank you." He turned to leave.

"I wouldn't gave let you die, no matter how big of an a**hole you were." I called out to him. He turned back and smiled at me, making my heart skip a beat. It was the first genuine smile I'd ever seen on his face, and it broke the usual cold, hard expression he usually wore. I smiled back softly, without even realizing it.

Evangeline! To the library! I heard Selene's worried voice sound in my mind and hurried over.

"Are you guys okay? Are you injured?" I yelled, sliding through the library doors.

"No dearie, are you?" Selene asked, rushing to examine me. But she stopped short, her eyes wide. "Evangeline.. you are different. This power coming off of you.." I patted her arm gently, and walked over to Sarge. I could see a string similar to the others glowing above him too. His was frayed however, the thread loose as two powerful magics struggled against each other. I cupped my hand, willing the same power as before to build, and I smiled as my hand started glowing a faint purple. I blew the magic over Sarge, and watched as the string that pulled on his soul began to disintegrate before snapping and the beautiful light of his spirit shined briefly before it fell back.

"What was that?"

"What have you done?" Selene and Hypatia demanded. But their questions were soon answered.

Sarge opened his eyes and slowly sat up, a smile playing on his lips.