Shadow of the Moon

Estella My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted through the familiar woods, the leaves and brambles whipping past me. "Estella! Astra!" Lynx's high pitch was distant, a mere annoyance as I pushed myself harder. I spotted Astra ahead of me, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. I caught up to Astra’s side and shot her answering smile was just as fierce as we shifted. Our bodies melted away with a flash of warm gold as the large wolf-like form of the Haccu burst forth. I reveled in the surge of power, muscles coiling, limbs lengthening, and fingers twisting into powerful paws tipped with razor-sharp claws. Thick white fur sprouted across my skin, and a long, prehensile tail whipped out behind me. I pressed forward, impossibly faster, leaving Lynx far behind. I glanced over my shoulder, imagining Lynx whining to the trees about the unfairness of it all. My senses were heightened in this form, but the dense forest limited my vision. My paws were silent on the damp earth as I raced next to Astra, our white fur glowing in the moonlight. I loved this time of day, the forest a blur of greens and blues as we ran with the stealth of predators. I knew Astra and I were going to be in serious trouble when we inevitably made our way back to the manor house. Lynx was probably already racing back, her lip wobbling as she prepared to snitch on us to our parents. Our mothers inevitable wrath was already sending chills down my spine, as if I could feel her wrath from out here. Astra and I were alike in more ways than our shared gifts. We were identical twins, one soul split between two bodies. At least that’s what Aunt Ursa always claimed. Despite that fact, our mother still insisted on us bringing our little sister Lynx along everywhere. Lynx was the closest in age to us compared to our other siblings, but she was still two years younger than we were. It really wasn’t fair to us, plus Lynx didn’t have the same gifts and often fell far behind. We scaled a massive tree, our tails gripping the branches like extra limbs, and continued our pursuit through the moonlit canopy. Running amongst the treetops allowed for even faster movement and less chance of being caught. Today we had a very valid reason for ditching our shadow. Where Astra and I were going we couldn’t risk her either tattling the second we made it back or getting herself hurt. We were headed towards the shimmer – the magical border between the realms. Astra and I lived in Tenebris, the land of never ending forests. We lived in reverence to our moon goddess, Nyx. She was our patron goddess, we didn’t just worship her, but we owed everything to her. She provided us with the very land we live, protecting it with her magic. Tenebris was the land of the moon, not just because of our goddess, but because the sun never rose. Our days and nights were dictated by the rise and fall of the moon. Our people, the fae, lived alongside various other creatures of Nyx within the forests of Tenebris. Days like today were some of my favorites, the waning crescent moon barely illuminating the branches of the massive trees as we nimbly moved. We never worried about darkness; our eyes were attuned to the dim light and shadows. The forest floor was alive with various mosses and ferns that produced their own blueish-green glow, but up here in the trees, it was as if the moon touched the path as we raced in the silver light. On the other side of the shimmer lay Eloria, the harsh, unforgiving land of the never-setting sun. I'd never seen it, but stories from merchants and the occasional human painted a picture of a barren desert, baked by the relentless sun. It was said that the fae who called that wasteland home was just as unforgiving as their surroundings, all harsh personalities and darkened skin. The only proof of the passing days was when the sun kissed the horizon, never dipping below. The passing merchants said it was called dusk, and the sky would be alit with a mix of pinks and golds. I couldn't fathom such a thing – a sky ablaze with color instead of the cool, comforting darkness of Tenebris. The shimmer was the only barrier between our two worlds, and it had always been enough. No one dared cross it, except for humans who, unbound by the moon or sun, roamed freely. Humans tended to avoid Tenebris, the forest and its inhabitants being too wild for the mortals. Humans preferred the hot land of the sun. It was rumored that the King of Eloria, Phoenix Trevino, was human, or at least, half-human. His father was fae, but his mother was human. It was strange to think of a human bearing a fae child, even stranger to imagine one ruling an entire kingdom of fae, but then again, I have not met many humans. There was one particular rumor that had all of Tenebris frightened. Passing merchants began murmuring that the fae in Eloria were dwindling, their bloodlines being tainted and weakened by the increasing mortal blood. Those fae lines that remained true had strange magic, the strongest line was that of the Queen. Much like in Tenebris, the Elorian throne was passed not to the first born, but the one bearing the royal gift. The Queen was fae, her family line tracing back to the splitting of the sky, her gift was the mark of royalty. Queen Celeste was a powerhouse, one of the most powerful fae in any realm, she had the ability to burn cities down to the ground with a simple flick of her hand. Despite her power and birthright, she was bound by an arranged marriage to Phoenix nearly 50 years ago. She was mateless, and he, with his charming tongue, had somehow convinced the former King to allow their marriage. He then was able to seize majority control over Eloria. I wasn’t sure which was a bigger threat, the soft-spoken Queen with the power of the sun or the ruthless half-mortal King with Lightning in his veins. Since taking the throne, he had declared the fae of Tenebris enemies, claiming our King and Queen were threats to peace. It was absurd! The fae of Tenebris are peaceful. Our King and Queen had ruled for nearly 400 years, living alongside Eloria's rulers in harmony. The fae in Tenebris wasn’t without their own magics, but none as powerful as the King and Queen. I thought about the books and artwork in our father's study, depicting the fae of both worlds. We shared similar traits – pointed ears, elongated canines, and extended lifespans. But compared to humans, we were more primal, guided by instinct and fiercely territorial, especially when it came to land, family, and mates. Many humans referred to us as animals, especially my sister and me. Suddenly, snapping of branches and muffled curses caught my attention. I scented two females creeping through the undergrowth far below. With a low growl to Astra, we began our descent, shifting back into our human forms with a barely perceptible shimmer as we landed silently on the forest floor. Our clothes, protected by magic, remained perfectly intact. Astra and I neared the two females, holding our breaths as we stood cloaked in shadows a few paces behind them. "Do you think anyone will notice we're gone?" the first girl, Norma, squeaked, her voice laced with worry. "Of course not," the other, Azha, scoffed. "They're too busy fawning over that old witch." It was true. Usually, the Guards of Tenebris patrolled the grounds near the shimmer, led by our older brother, Cyrus. But tonight, we'd lucked out. Our Aunt Ursa was due to arrive, and our father had requested the guard be present for her arrival. Aunt Ursa was a fierce fae, our mother's older sister, with an affinity for fortune-telling and mind reading. Though I didn’t appreciate the tone Azha used to address my aunt. Ursa, our mother’s older sister, was a seer. She could see glimpses of the future and also read minds with one glance. She had some vision she wanted to share with our parents that couldn’t wait. Hence the sudden visit. Not that I was complaining. Aunt Ursa was one of my favorite people. The two girls, Azha and Norma, worked in our manor house as servants. They were the only ones close to our age, Norma being a year older and Azha a year younger. I wondered what they were doing here, sneaking around like this. "I feel like we are being watched," Norma said, clinging to Azha's arm. Norma was tall and lanky, her copper hair a fiery halo around her freckled face. Azha was a petite blonde with sharp green eyes and an even sharper tongue. I remembered overhearing them in the kitchens a few days ago, while Astra and I were sneaking some sweets. They were whispering about creatures that lived beyond the shimmer, in Eloria. "They say the creatures there are like nothing we've ever seen," Norma had breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "Small and scaly, with skin that shimmers like amethysts. They bask in the sunlight, completely unafraid." That's what sparked this whole adventure. The idea of creatures thriving in the harsh sunlight had captivated me, and I'd begged Astra to come with me to see them. "Don't be paranoid, Norma," Azha said, her viper's tongue as sharp as ever. "No one is stupid enough to be out here." “But Azha, we are out here,” Norma said, her eyes wide as she looked around. I caught sight of the wicked grin splitting Astra's face, and I knew that look. It meant trouble. We were directly behind them now, close enough to touch them. Astra took a deep breath and let out a low, menacing chuckle, loud enough for them to hear. The girls shrieked in unison, whirling around to face us. Azha's high-pitched squeal was music to my ears. I clapped a hand over my mouth, my shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Astra, ever the more composed of the two of us, simply arched an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of amusement and disapproval. "By the stars above! Astra, you nearly frightened me out of my skin!" Norma exclaimed, her hand fluttering to her chest. A nervous giggle escaped her lips, but it died abruptly as she caught sight of Azha's face. Azha's lips were pursed, her brow furrowed, and her green eyes narrowed into slits. Clearly, she didn't appreciate the prank. "What do you think you're doing here?" Azha hissed, her voice sharp as a viper's fang. "We didn't invite you! Now we have to be even more careful, thanks to you two." Her green eyes narrowed, and I felt a flush creep up my neck. I suddenly became acutely aware of my embroidered tunic, the fine fabric, a stark contrast to their rough-spun clothes. Feeling the sting of their gazes, I gripped Astras hand hard, a silent plea to turn back. My lips remained sealed as they always were around others. For the past few years, I had only spoken to Astra, letting her be the more dominant Twin. Astra brushed off my vice grip, her chin raised high, her vibrant purple eyes defiant as she spoke. "We don't need your permission," Astra declared, her voice ringing with authority that she perfected. "Come, Estella." She brushed past the other two, her every movement radiating confidence and determination. My heart pounded with a mixture of fear and excitement, but I had no choice but to follow.