Princess Luna

The moon was bleeding. At least, that was what Princess Luna thought as she stood alone on the highest balcony of the royal palace. A deep crimson halo surrounded the full moon, turning the night sky an unnatural shade of red. Clouds drifted slowly across its surface, but they never completely covered it. It was as though the moon itself refused to look away. Luna tightened her fingers around the stone railing. She had never seen anything like it. “Princess?” Luna turned. Her maid, Elira, stood several steps behind her, holding a silver shawl around her shoulders. “You should be inside,” Elira said softly. “The king ordered everyone to remain in the palace tonight.” Luna looked back toward the moon. “Why?” Elira hesitated. “That is what everyone is asking.” Luna frowned. Something was wrong. She could feel it. For as long as she could remember, Luna had experienced strange sensations whenever the moon was full. Sometimes she heard distant howls that no one else seemed to notice. Sometimes she dreamed of a vast forest she had never visited. And sometimes, just before waking, she heard a voice calling her name. Luna... Tonight, however, the voice was stronger. She could hear it clearly. Luna... come home. She closed her eyes. A sudden wave of warmth rushed through her body. Her heart began beating faster. “Princess?” Luna opened her eyes. For a brief moment, her vision changed. The palace disappeared. In its place stood an enormous forest beneath a silver moon. Ancient trees towered above her, their branches forming a dark canopy. Beyond them stood the ruins of a magnificent castle. At the entrance was a symbol carved into black stone: A crescent moon surrounded by a wolf's head. Then she saw them. Hundreds of glowing eyes watching from the forest. Luna gasped. The vision vanished. She stumbled backward. Elira caught her arm. “What happened?” “I... I don't know.” Before Elira could say anything else, a tremendous howl echoed across the kingdom. It was followed by another. Then another. Luna's blood ran cold. Those were not ordinary wolves. The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once. From the mountains. From the forests. From beneath the earth itself. Then the palace bells began ringing. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. Elira's face went pale. “The warning bells.” Luna stared toward the courtyard. Guards were running through the palace grounds. Servants rushed toward the interior halls. Torches appeared along the walls. “What is happening?” Luna asked. “I don't know.” A guard suddenly appeared at the balcony entrance. “Princess Luna!” He was breathing heavily. “Come with us. Immediately.” “Why?” “The king has ordered you to the throne room.” Luna looked at Elira. Something about the guard's expression frightened her. He looked terrified. --- The throne room was filled with armed soldiers. King Aldric stood at the far end of the chamber, his normally calm expression replaced by concern. Beside him stood Queen Seraphine. Luna entered. “Father?” The king immediately crossed the room. “Luna.” “What is happening?” The king looked toward the guards. “Leave us.” The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances before obeying. When the doors closed, Luna looked between her parents. “You're frightening me.” Her mother approached and gently touched her face. “I am sorry.” “For what?” The queen's eyes filled with tears. “For keeping the truth from you.” Luna froze. “What truth?” The king looked at his wife. It was a look Luna had never seen before. Fear. Not fear for himself. Fear for her. “There are things about your birth,” the king said slowly, “that you were never meant to know until you were old enough to protect yourself.” Luna's heart began pounding. “What are you talking about?” The queen took her hand. “You were not born in this kingdom.” Luna stared at her. “What?” “You were brought here when you were an infant.” Silence filled the chamber. Luna slowly pulled her hand away. “Why?” Her father closed his eyes. “Because your kingdom was destroyed.” “What kingdom?” Neither parent answered. “Father!” The king finally spoke. “Lunaris.” The name seemed to shake the room. Luna whispered it. “Lunaris...” “You are its princess.” She laughed nervously. “That isn't funny.” “We are not joking.” Her mother's voice trembled. “Lunaris was the kingdom of the Moonfang werewolves.” Luna's smile disappeared. Werewolves. The word sounded like something from an old legend. Creatures of the night. Half human. Half wolf. Hunters beneath the moon. “That isn't real.” “It is.” The king stepped closer. “And you are one of them.” Luna shook her head. “No.” “Luna—” “No!” She backed away. “You raised me here. You told me I was human.” “We told you what we needed you to believe.” Tears formed in Luna's eyes. “All these years... you lied to me?” “We were protecting you.” “From what?” A tremendous crash shook the palace. Everyone looked toward the doors. Then came a howl. Closer this time. Luna felt something inside her respond. Her heartbeat changed. Her fingers began trembling. Her vision blurred. And suddenly she could hear something she had never heard before. Hundreds of heartbeats. The guards outside. The servants in the corridors. Her parents. And something else. Something moving through the palace grounds. Fast. Very fast. Luna grabbed her chest. “What is happening to me?” Her mother rushed toward her. “The moon is calling you.” The palace doors exploded inward. Guards were thrown across the room. A shadow moved through the smoke. Luna stepped backward. A figure emerged. He was tall, dressed in dark armor, with silver markings across his shoulders. His black hair fell loosely around his face. But it was his eyes that captured Luna's attention. They glowed gold. He looked directly at her. For several seconds, neither of them moved. Then the stranger lowered his weapon. “Princess Luna.” His voice was deep and calm. Luna stared at him. “Who are you?” He walked forward. “My name is Kael.” The king immediately stepped between them. “You were told never to return.” Kael's eyes remained fixed on Luna. “I had no choice.” “Why?” Kael's expression darkened. “Because they found her.” Luna felt a chill run through her. “Who?” Kael finally looked toward the shattered doors. Outside, dozens of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness. “Those who destroyed Lunaris.” The queen covered her mouth. The king drew his sword. “Luna, get behind us.” But Luna couldn't move. One of the creatures outside stepped into the moonlight. It was enormous. Its body was covered in dark fur, and its eyes burned red. A werewolf. Luna stared at it. Something inside her awakened. Her pupils narrowed. Her fingernails lengthened slightly. She gasped. Kael noticed. “So it has begun.” “What has begun?” Luna whispered. “The awakening of the Moonfang.” The creature outside suddenly roared. The palace shook. Kael moved in front of Luna. “Stay behind me.” Luna stared at his back. “Why?” He glanced over his shoulder. “Because I swore an oath to protect you.” Their eyes met. For the first time, Luna felt something strange. Not fear. Not exactly. Something warmer. Something she couldn't explain. Then another howl echoed through the night. Kael drew his sword. “Your kingdom is calling you, Princess.” Luna looked toward the crimson moon. For the first time in her life, she understood the voice she had heard in her dreams. Come home. Her eyes began glowing silver. And somewhere deep within her soul, a wolf opened its eyes. The lost princess had awakened. And the forgotten kingdom of Lunaris was waiting.