The Cursed Luna and Her Fated Mate

Chapter 9: Arya

Arya ran through the forest, taking in the sights and smells of her new home. She drank from the clear lake; it tasted fresher and cooler than when Celeste had tasted it. The scents of the forest were stronger; the rich scent of pine, the cool smell of the fall night air, and the comforting scent of wet leaves on the forest floor invigorated her senses. She climbed to the top of a nearby mountain above the trees and howled at the full moon. Her silvery white fur glistening in the soft pale moonlight.

She heard the sound of other rogues howling in the distance. She thought about joining them for a run, but was worried about issues with the rogues on her first shift. Instead, she quietly explored the forest, making note of food sources, places to hide, and a general lay of the land. After a few hours of exploring, Arya’s stomach began to growl.

Arya sensed motion a few hundred feet away and focused on the scent; a small rabbit, perfect for her first hunt. She quietly stalked her prey, pouncing when she was close… and missing. The rabbit ran away, disappearing into the forest floor. Arya focused again, this time sensing a wild pig another several hundred feet away. She stalked her prey again, this time with more patience. When she struck again, she was successful. She quickly and wildly consumed her prey.

“So, if you’ve been watching and waiting, always by my side up until now, you must know about everything. The pack, the curse, my life…” Celeste trailed off.

“Our life, Celeste. We are one together,” Arya replied.

“Right. Sorry, this will take some getting used to,” Celeste replied.

“Yes, I was with you through everything. I wished so much that I could guide you, help you, comfort you. You are strong, Celeste. I am so happy that we finally met,” Arya replied.

“So, you know everything we’re going to have to go through together. It will be a difficult journey, I can already sense it. You’ll be with me though, right?”, Celeste asked.

“It will be difficult, but you are going to be successful - WE are going to be successful. Wolves just know things sometimes, and this I know to be true,” replied Arya. She looked up at the sky; the night was ending and a hint of light was starting to appear on the eastern horizon.

“It’s been a wonderful first shift, Celeste. It’s time to shift back now. You’ll notice it’s much less uncomfortable this time. Let’s head back to where you first shifted,” said Arya, calmly.

She trotted back to the clearing, looking back up at the light of the full moon one last time.

“You’ll be able to communicate with me whenever you want now, Celeste, and I will come to you in your dreams if you would like. Just picture this clearing, you will find me there,” said Arya.

Celeste started to shift back, this time pleasantly surprised to only feel some mild discomfort. She stood up after fully shifting back, dressed herself, and walked hurriedly back to the cave. The pack was still asleep. Celeste quickly readied herself for bed and slipped into her sleeping bag. Exhausted, she fell asleep right away.

She dreamed of the clearing, and as promised Arya appeared.

“Missed me already, Celeste?”, Arya asked, coyly.

“Honestly? Yeah,” replied Celeste with a laugh.

Celeste sat down on the soft grass of the clearing, Arya cuddled up next to her. Celeste knew when she shifted that Arya was a large, strong she wolf, but now sitting next to her she was even more impressed by her size and strength. Celeste gently scratched Arya’s ears, and Arya leaned into it and grunted.

“I knew I chose right when I picked you,” Arya moaned, eyes rolling back. Celeste laughed and gently petted Arya’s back.

“Why did you chose me? Certainly there are more powerful packs, with you being such a magnificent wolf-“ Celeste started.

“I didn’t choose you for your pack. I chose you because I could see in the stars that you would be a great leader of the people. I knew that you would need a powerful wolf,” Arya replied.

“A great leader of the people? I am struggling to lead a small group of children,” Celeste replied, shaking her head and laughing.

“You are nowhere close to reaching your destiny, Celeste. I cannot tell you your fate, but you are destined for greatness. Remember that as you carve your path. Every difficulty you face is a part of that path,” Arya replied. Celeste nodded.

“I want to break the curse as soon as possible. I want our pack to have some chance of survival long term before we find a permanent home. When should we depart?”, asked Celeste.

“My advice? Stay with the pack until the spring. The winter will be hard; food will be difficult to find. Without your help, I doubt that the winter will pass without casualties. Stay, earn money how you can. Stock up on canned foods, leave plenty of cash behind. The older wolves are all great, they will guard the little ones while you are away. You have set them up well already. We just have to give them all the resources we can,” replied Arya.

Celeste desperately wanted to leave right away, but she knew Arya was right. She rested her head on Arya’s back and took a deep breath.

“If I meet my mate before the curse is broken, will he become cursed as well?”, asked Celeste. Arya sighed deeply and shook her head.

“I don’t know, Celeste. Maybe, since the moment that you meet a bond is formed. I would guess not unless you mark them, but it is a risk. I don’t know exactly who your mate is, Celeste, but I have some idea. I can’t imagine them coming out to rogue lands. We will find them as soon as we can once the curse is broken,” Arya replied.

Celeste cuddled deeper into Arya’s warm, thick fur. She rested her eyes and quickly went back to sleep.