The Cursed Luna and Her Fated Mate

Chapter 4: The Escape

Celeste began to sob, folding the note carefully and placing it into the pocket of her jacket. She grabbed two of the duffle bags, Trevor strapped the other three around his body. They climbed together out of the bunker. Celeste needed to take control and direct the group if they were going to survive. She mind-linked Rhiannon.

“It’s safe to come out now. Gather everyone and meet us at the intersection of the main road and dirt road that heads toward the pack house. We need to leave. Do not let the pups see the pack house,” she said.

“Okay, we’ll be there soon,” Rhiannon said.

Celeste and Trevor carried the heavy duffle bags to the meet up point, arriving a few minutes before the rest of the pack. Once they arrived, Celeste instructed each of the older wolves to carry one duffle bag. She pulled a compass and map from her bag before directing her pack north.

“Where are we going?”, asked Ember, one of the pups.

“Yeah, where is mommy and daddy? I want to go play at the pack house!”, exclaimed Petey.

“We are going to go camping! Just you and the big kids, because you guys are big kids now too. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”, Celeste asked the young pups. This seemed to cheer them up. The group walked for a couple of miles before Seth mind-linked Celeste.

“Luna Celeste, where exactly are we going? What is the plan?”, he asked.

“Just Celeste. We must leave Earthfire territory, now. If the Blood Moon pack figures out that we are alive, we are dead wolves. If we trespass onto another pack’s grounds, they will capture and torture us. That just leaves…” Celeste trailed off.

“The rogue lands? But we’ve always been told it is so dangerous,” Seth answered.

“It’s the best shot we have. I don’t see any other choices for us. I’m sure the others are curious too, please spread the word. I have to focus,” responded Celeste.

After another mile or so, the pups were getting tired. The group came upon a small murky swamp, and Celeste led them toward it.

“Hey pups, what do you say we get rid of those school backpacks? You won’t be so tired if you aren’t carrying them,” said Celeste.

“But what about our homework, Celly?”, asked Ember.

“We don’t have to do homework anymore,” answered Celeste.

“If there is anything special in your backpack that you want to keep, take it out and set it on this big flat rock. Otherwise, just set them down and we’ll get rid of them,” said Celeste.

The kids dug through their packs, removing some toys, stuffed animals, a few pieces of clothing, and a few other special items. The older wolves went through their school bags as well, removing their important belongings. Rhiannon’s backpack was in the best shape, and everyone’s chosen items fit perfectly into her bag. The older wolves packed all of the remaining backpacks full of heavy rocks before throwing them into the swamp water and watching them sink to the bottom.

“I wish we could have burned them, but I don’t want to draw attention,” Celeste mind-linked to the other older wolves. All of them nodded, and Trevor grabbed the extra bag. Celeste continued leading the pack to the north, the pup’s energy renewed after shedding the extra weight and hearing that they didn’t have to do homework anymore. It’s a shame, Blood Moon offered a great education. Celeste knew she would have to find some way to teach the kids. Not a concern right now, she thought. They just needed to get to safety right now.

Celeste hurried the group along; the sun would set in just a couple more hours. Fortunately, the group quickly came upon the pack crest plastered along a chain-link fence, the sign that they had reached the end of their territory.

“Is that the rogue lands, Celly? Daddy said never to go here, its not where we live and its not safe,” said Charlie, the youngest of the pups at only five years old.

“Well, we have to make an exception. You are with the big kids, so you’re going to be safe,” Rhiannon responded, quickly. Celeste gave Rhiannon a smile of relief, she did not know how to answer that question but the response seemed to appease the pups. Celeste climbed the fence first, and Trevor carefully lifted each pup across the fence into rogue lands. Celeste took them and gently placed them down on the ground. Once the pups were over, the remaining wolves hopped the fence themselves.

Celeste carefully read the map. Only another mile away was a lake. The group needed fresh water, it seemed a good place to make camp, at least for now. She checked her map and compass before pointing the pack to the east. Before they knew it, the arrived at a beautiful, clear lake. Only a couple hundred feet away was a cave. Celeste mind-linked the older wolves.

“Rhiannon, Seth, get the pups to drink some water, distract them. Astrid and Trevor, we are going to go investigate that cave over there,” said Celeste. She removed some of the hunting weapons from the duffle bags and passed them out to wolves accompanying her.

“I don’t want to fight, but we might have to defend ourselves if it’s occupied by someone hostile,” said Celeste. The trio headed toward the cave. They smelled nothing. They entered and inspected the cave. It appeared that someone had lived here at some point, but they were long gone. No scent remained. The previous inhabitant left behind some lawn chairs and a pre-dug fire pit. The cave was quite large on the inside, with plenty of room for their tents.

“Wow, this is a great find, Celeste,” said Astrid. Celeste nodded, knowing that it was mostly luck which led them here.