War Moon

Memories of the dead, warning for the living

Aristide takes Kira’s hand, kissing the back of it. He has an ivory suit and a night blue cape covering his left side. His dark blonde hair is adorned on one side by a chain of seven braids.

"My princess, the moon awaits you. Let us open the way for lost souls so that they can visit us," the boy recites without getting up.

"Let's start then, moon knight," she smiles, calming down a little.

Anastasia gives three slaps before several things descend from between the branches: baskets with candles, baskets with petals that look like the same fire, crystal skulls, and other baskets with raw meat.

The children carrying the petals began to walk first, throwing the petals to the ground, making the path appear to be on fire, illuminated by the fire of the petals. The skulls begin to glow and emit a slow, melodious song as they are touched by the moonlight entering through the leaves of the trees.

The children begin their march away into the forest. Anastasia pulls out of a chrome gold trunk a marble-like sphere the size of a melon and a glass jar with a silver liquid. Kira grabs the sphere and Aristide the jar before starting the walk between the trees, a slow and soft song is heard in the background accompanied by several voices at once.

The two children walk through the forest, The background songs become clearer and more coherent. They come to a small valley in the middle of the vegetable fortress.

A natural amphitheater is formed in the center, the whole pack and some guests occupy the stone seats wearing white clothes and painted faces in violet and blue tones. The smell of food and the steaming vapors that expel the small campfires at certain points, causing the petals to shine more intensely.

In the middle stands a hollow circular table, allowing you to see the beauty of a marble, gold and obsidian statue of a woman of supernatural elegance. The Goddess Dianica receives everyone for the ceremony of the First Moon of the Winter, one of the most important holidays for Russian lycans, after Samhain. This day allowed the connection with the goddess and that loved ones could visit them.

Kira feels nervous again, her godmother is no longer with her although she has Aristide nearby, her role there is only known by her and Anastasia, as is part of the tradition in the royal family. She starts walking again, heading towards the center, feeling the look of her pack on her until she reaches in front of the statue and puts the sphere in the hands of the sacred idol.

The other first-time children approached with their objects, putting each one on the table. Candles are lit in front of photos of ancient kings, queens and a small figure of a howling wolf.

Kira receives Aristide's vessel, it would be the last step to start everything. Arseni approaches them and lifts her in his arms to shoulder height, enough so that she can reach to surpass the statue a little.

Kira pours the liquid over the idol's head, while in the background the songs are heard again, being slow and steady. Silver rivers fall like circuits in the grooves of the statue, adorning it in more detail before falling at the foot of it.

As soon as it is finished falling, blue flames with a humanoid appearance and barely larger than an adult hand, shoots out of the ground, the forest, and even buildings in the distance. They laugh like children dancing between altars and people, leading to spiritual spheres, the souls of the dead.

"Let the festival begin!" declares Arseni loudly and enthusiastically

People scream in jubilation, as more souls keep appearing and reuniting with their families. Music runs through the place, coming out of light wooden instruments being played by some elves.

The group of children go with their families, while Kira stays with her father, laughing when one of the fatuous fires floats around her.

"Do you think Grandpa and Grandma will visit us tonight?" she asks as her mother and siblings join the main altar with Anastasia and the Beta's family.

"They're here, let's enjoy the festival." They smile as they join the dinner with the spirits still hanging around.

People laugh and joke, remembering the times with their loved ones, younger children wear handmade masks and dance to the rhythm of the music in front of the table of the royal family and the families who are most trusted to them.

Kira is next to Aristide, Sarka, two dark-skinned children, Naina's eldest children, half lycan, half lycaon: Cameron and Akadje.

"Do you think you'll see something tonight, Kira?" asks Akadje, wearing a suit similar to Aristide's, except his is cream-toned. He participated in the initial ritual.

"We all see something. Only, everyone don’t know how to interpret it," Sarka replies before putting in his mouth a little sweet bread, although one of the spirit fires takes it away laughing. "Hey, that's mine! Go get your own."

But the fatuous fire makes a trumpet sound where his mouth should be, before the small humanoid figure flies away with its prize.

"Those fires are annoying."

"They only come a few times a year, don't complain so much, Sarka," says Cameron, she has four braids on her lower ponytail. Akadje has six and Sarka has five.

"There is enough food for everyone and those who visit us, so calm down," Kira speaks, enjoying the meat that her father prepares.

Even though he is a king, Arseni enjoys having moments with his pack. They did very often meet to make great grills, including the lycaons who are part of the pack. It’s not only for the festivities, that they do meet; everyone participates and takes part in the preparations. Even if some do work in the event, they do also enjoy the moment; including other lower-level omegas.

Kira looks at her father discussing something amicably with his Zeta, Moroni and Syaorang. He is much loved and respected by those who follow him, although there are arguments or problems, the elite and the kings are in charge with a firm but fair hand.

When the party starts to calm down, some parents start to take their little ones to the palace, where communal rooms are ready for the minors. Leaving only adults and young people ten years and older.

"My family, my friends, my pack," Arseni speaks loudly, while some priestesses walk with several glass barrels, full of the sacred drink: The Mead of the Moon. "We have welcomed our ancestors, those who live in the heavens of our mother goddess. It is now time to allow ourselves to join her, to guide us or give us a sign of what awaits us." He approaches his queen who is next to their children, caressing each other's head before kissing Sonia. "This year is important, a new generation will take another step in this tradition and join us. My litter will begin its first ceremony this year."

The pack erupts in jubilation, not only those of the elite are there, but also those of the pack at the same age. The other senior children just smile, receiving the glasses with the drink from the priestesses, the last being the royal family. The smell of this drink is strong from the fermentation of some roots.

"For the moon goddess, let us receive her gifts tonight, let us connect with her," Sonia continues, lifting the cup up in the air before swallowing it in one go.

The quintuplets look at their drinks before doing the same, enduring the strong taste of that thing, although theirs is a minimal dose.

Kira immediately feels the effects, her eyesight begins to look distorted and full of colors that she has never seen, describing it as seeing the traces of heat and aura of the world around her. She walks slowly when perceiving an intense and strange smell, although very nice. Something she loves, a smell she remembers as new books, to the forest and chocolate. It's a very strange mix of smells but pleasant. Following her instinct she begins to walk away from the amphitheater, following the scent without realizing that everything around her begins to look foggy.

Nothing is seen around her anymore, she can only hear her own footsteps hitting the floor made of dirt. The smell persists and increases at every step, but now another one begins to appear, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth. Little by little her visual field begins to clear, blood stains cover the stones and snow, the trees are charred or split, bodies of all kinds are scattered on the ground without life. The air is charged with death and destruction, war cries are heard in the background, steel and fire colliding with each other.

Frightened, Kira runs in that direction, ignoring the delicious aroma. Something is wrong, very wrong. The landscape becomes more familiar, it is no longer the countryside but a large city covered with plants; in the background she recognizes her home, the castle of her father. She stops in her tracks before even reaching the stairs, her face turns pale like paper from what she sees at the base of the staircase.

A giant black wolf stands on the dying body of her father, while her mother and weak siblings are under his shadow. His red eyes shine from the flames that are in the garden, illuminating his scar and burns on the sides in his face. He looks in her direction, causing her heart to accelerate, unable to concentrate on anything other than those scarlet orbs, which are hypnotizing.

A sonic explosion bursts into the air, followed by a multicolored and bright light. A golden circle with runes and numbers, opening a portal to another site. She barely sees a few shadows of warriors coming out of this tunnel before her whole vision turns black.

Kira wakes up suddenly in her bed screaming, breathing heavily and her heart beating like a runaway horse. Her body and sheets are bathed in sweat

"Finally you wake up, princess Kira," says Ava, Kira's personal maid, looking relieved. "You had your parents worried." She helps Kira get out of bed to change the sheets and have the princess change her clothes.

"Why?" asks Kira, while she gets out of bed and starts taking off her pajamas.

"Miss, you have been unconscious for a week, your parents were very scared but the witch of the royal family, Agatha, said that you would be fine and come out of the trance in time," she says on the way to the dressing room, connected to the bedroom with sliding doors close to the window/bathroom.

The quintuplets already each have their own room, that are connected by the secret passages.

Ava returns in a special suit, resembling a blue Ninja kimono in shorts. They use it in training, but each suit is unique and is custom made for each individual, made by their teachers or relatives. She also takes out other more normal clothes.

"How do you feel?" Ava comes out of the dressing room with her clothes and boots. "Any dizziness?"

"No, I'm fine. Why was I unconscious for so long? " Kira frowns.

"Not sure, Agatha says that the drink reacts differently for everyone."

"I want to talk to her."

"Miss, you must take a bath first. I will go to find your parents and Agatha. I don't even know if you want to stay calm today or train as usual. "

"I'm training, I lost a week." Kira walks to the bathroom, taking off her underwear when she reaches the shower. It doesn’t take long for her to hear her maid leave the room.

She opens the faucet before entering and letting the water take away her sweat. She tries to remember the strange vision, that wolf - she cannot forget it - those eyes were etched into her mind. The only thing she doesn't understand is why she felt that strange smell, so pleasant and exciting.

She snorts as she unties the braids. She had hoped to at least find a clue as to who her soulmate would be. Not a bizarre encounter of war and blood, should she take it as a warning?

"I was expecting a quiet night at my first ceremony," she runs her hands through her hair. "To see who my knight in shining armor would be in the future," she growls softly with irony. "Like I'm going to need one."

"Speaking out loud again, honey?" her mother's voice resonates in her mind.

Kira takes a deep breath, she knows that her mother is already in her room with her father and Agatha for sure.

"Only in my thoughts, sometimes it helps to say it out loud," she responds the same way.

"Can you get out of the bathroom when you're done? We need to see that you are okay.”

"Give me a few minutes."

She finishes cleaning her body and hair before she comes out of the shower. Looking at her clothes while she dries, she would probably go to train afterwards. She puts on the two-piece suit and boots, grabs a brush before heading out to her room.

Sonia hugs her as soon as she comes out of the bathroom. Kira hugs her back as well.

"You had us very worried, cub," says Arseni, hugging her afterwards.

"I didn't do it on purpose, Dad," Kira half smiles while squeezing her father gently.

"I doubt it, princess," speaks this time the petite woman wearing a violet robe. "It's the gift that the goddess gave you," she says, while she approaches Kira. Agatha checks her, passing her hands that are covered by a reddish aura gently in front of Kira. "Your vision must be very strong or special for it to affect you for so long."

"I wouldn't call that special," Kira mutters somewhat down.

Agatha looks at her with suspicion and concern before speaking.

"What did you see?"

"I'm still not sure what happened, it's all so confusing and weird." Kira begins to narrate what happened to her that night, the wolf of four years ago, the sensations of war and the mysterious smell.

Arseni and Sonia look at each other worriedly, before looking at their friend Agatha, hoping she can give them an explanation.

The witch caresses her chin thoughtfully, which is seriously problematic. It is a vision of the future that is clear; but how literal they must interpret it and more importantly when it will happen, is a different question altogether.

"This sounds problematic. It remains in doubt whether it is really a vision or an interpretation of what this beast is capable of. Smell can signal your soulmate."

"But it smelled too much like blood, I couldn't see who or what it was," growls Kira.

"Maybe next year, princess, or when you can think clearly again. It will take time; but in the end it's all worth it, don't you think?" Agatha smiles trying to calm her down a little.

"Do you think that this vision might really happen, Agatha?" asks Arseni, tense and confused because of his daughter's experience.

"I can't say for sure, my Tsar, the goddess teaches us what awaits us or to whom we are destined, but they are never too clear. They can be interpreted in a thousand ways and it's hard to find the exact one." The witch looks at Kira again. "Did you see any hint of what era it would be?"

"My siblings look big, adult size at least," Kira replies somewhat thoughtfully. "Although the wolf is still huge."

"That gives us room to prepare, they won't reach adult size until they are sixteen when they reach full maturity," Sonia speaks with relief. "We will be able to be ready."

"Find information about the wolf, it is the most important thing if the vision was of the future." The witch has spoken again. "But don't rule out the possibility that it's something else"

"Then what do you suggest!" Arseni growls, starting to get angry.

Agatha is shrinked by the powerful domineering aura that Arseni reflects, it’s not for nothing that he is the king of the lycans. Sonia couldn't help but blush. Despite being alpha by blood, her partner's blood is older, it gave her an exciting feeling. Kira doesn't seem to be affected.

"Be ready, prepare for the worst, but also do not act impulsively. We still don't know exactly what the vision means," the witch looks at Kira, unable to move because of the pressure in the air. "I want you, princess, to start meditating and concentrating. I understand that your personal teacher has begun to teach you how to do it to understand the elements that your body handles."

"Yes, it's taking a while but it's patience and perseverance," Kira replies.

"Good advice from your teacher, I want you to use meditation to decipher what you saw. It will take a long time but any clue can help. Maybe then you can discover the smell you felt."

Kira nods, taking a deep breath. She sees her mother escorting the witch out of the room.

"Do not be late for your lessons, honey. We have a meeting after lunch, don't forget." Arseni caresses her head. "We will prepare, I promise you that that will not happen to us."

"It will be just a dream, just that."

At least that's what she is hoping.

Kira leaves her room shortly after her father, she has to get something for breakfast before her training. She would have to catch up on her classes as well, they would not accept her being unconscious as an excuse for missing class, even though her father is the king. She gets to the ground floor in a matter of minutes. It is almost twelve o'clock in the afternoon and most likely she would have a mid-morning snack.

A maid who is cleaning nearby opens the door for her, although she has already told her that there is no need.

She walks into the dining room. There are only a few children enjoying some chicken sandwiches and glasses with juice. Kira grabs a tray and approaches the table. She picks up two sandwiches, a bowl of fruit and a glass of juice.

"Kira!" Sergei says upon seeing her arriving. He is sitting at a table by the window with the other children.

She snorts, hesitates whether to go to them or not, but in the end she goes to him, knowing that the inevitable is coming. As she approaches she recognizes those accompanying his brother, among them are Aristide, Sarka, Cameron and Akadje.

"At last you come back to the world of the living, sleeper," says Cameron.

Before Kira can answer, Sergei runs to her and grabs her shoulders, shaking her.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were!?" scolds Sergei.

"I didn't do it on purpose!" she responds, feeling somewhat offended. "I could not have known beforehand that I was going to sleep that much!!"

"Come on, Sergei, leave her alone, she must be starving to death," says Donato, a boy with blond hair although in the roots they are black, brother of Aristide and best friend of Sergei. "Remember that the visions are different in each one and we have to keep training."

The two siblings separate and take their seats. Kira between Aristide and Akadje, Sergei next to Donato in front of her.

The group resumes its previous activity, enjoying the food and company.

"What did you see that night, Kira?" Sarka asks

"How handsome your future soulmate will be, so you want to stay asleep for a week," jokes Donato with a half smile. "Unless it was me who appeared in your dreams, you would have stayed longer."

"Don't give yourself so much importance, Donato, I just woke up, and I don't want to put up with your jokes." Kira rolls her eyes as she finishes her fruit plate. "I don't know exactly what happened in those dreams. They were too strange."

"Was it that strange to see who your mate would be?" Sarka asks giving her attention to Kira.

"I didn't see my mate, Sarka, I saw that wolf from four years ago and it's not my mate."

"So what did you see?"

Kira scratches her head, the vision is getting blurrier, at least she has written it in a notebook before leaving her room. She takes a bite of one of his sandwiches, avoiding talking about it for the time being.

"I don't want to talk about it, let alone here."

Sarka opens her mouth to give her an answer, when the doors open again.

Several people entered, each lying in a uniform and facial features from other countries. The children in the dining room begin to get up and address them.

"Back to training," Sergei snorts and gets up with Donato and two other children. "See you later, Kira, don't go back to sleep." He leaves with a laugh.

"Very funny, Sergei," she rolls her eyes as she continues to eat.

Akadje, Cameron, Aristide and Sarka remain with her.

"Ignore him, try to hide that he cares about you," Cameron says calmly. "Now, will you tell us what happened?"

"Do you think you will skip the class?" Says a woman when approaching them, wearing a suit similar to that of

"Hello, Astrid," Kira greets one of her father's Deltas and personal teacher.

"I'm glad you've already woken up, Kira, ready to get back to training?" Astrid smiles at her.

"See you later, Kira, in the hunting and coordination practices," Aristide says before leaving for the door, where there were four people still waiting for them.

Astrid waits standing next to her to finish eating.

"Your father already warned us of what happened to you, don't worry, maybe it was a mixed nightmare."

"I doubt it, but it's possible," Kira sighs. "Did it have to be this difficult for the goddess to show me who my mate is?"

"Remember that our goddess guides us and helps us in her own way, you just have to be patient." The woman stirs the girl's hair

"Astrid! Watch out for my braids," Kira growls, undoing her hairstyle and reassembling her seven braids.

The woman ended up helping her, getting her to finish her meal.

Kira leaves the dining room and the castle. The sun barely manages to warm the beginning of winter. Luckily the lycans have a higher temperature than others and their fur is thick, strong. The gardens have a thin layer of snow and the lagoon begins to show traces of ice.

Kira lives in one of the coldest countries on Earth, Russia, her family reigns the nation of lycans and werewolves on that side of the world, although it also included several other races.

Humans left the earth two centuries ago, when they decided that there is better life in the heavens, using their technological advancement to create cities among the clouds. They have called their home, Paradise, While the land below was called Gaia, the forbidden land. There are still sporadic visits by some students or professionals, to study them although they are limited by their government.

"Come on, time to run," says Astrid as she begins to jog and then run, thundering her bones and muscles before transforming into her wolf form, its fur is a cobalt gray.

Kira does the same thing by transforming almost into a blink, already reaching 4.3 feet tall, being within the parameters of a normal lycan, while a werewolf reaches a maximum size of 2.5-3 feet. Those of royal blood reach the largest size of all, 6-7 feet, his father being the highest in Asia.

When the two start running through the streets, families with young children are seen leaving schools. Some of them point to them as they pass.

Kira gets to go faster than Astrid, she is one of the fastest of the cubs of its age. Keeping a good pace.

"You know the routine," Astrid says through the bond as they enter the red square.

Kira growls in affirmation, speeding up the pace. She runs to one of the walls, pushing herself to jump on it, and continuing in a race that is called a free race. She enters a military complex, some soldiers of different races recognize her, but let her pass; no one dares to mess with King Lycan's cubs, neither with the first nor the second litter, although the second is still very small.

People get out of the way as she jumps on vehicles and structures, doing it all in a straight line. She transforms back into a human and begins to climb another route. She uses the railings of the stairs as an impulse, thanking the flexible and resistant capacity of the lycans. She feels her fingers slipping when she grabs the last railing, she can't look down, the heights make her nervous and she has to struggle with it.

"You can do it, Kira, a little more," Astrid encourages her from below. "Pull yourself up! Use your arms!"

Kira squeezes her hands and uses her strength to get up, without much success because the sweat on her hands causes her to slip and lose her grip, falling. The only thing she can do at that moment is to transform suddenly, cushioning the blow of the fall but that did not prevent her from the pain.

"Kira! Are you okay?" Astrid approaches her alarmed. It is the first time she has fallen at the height of 4 floors.

"Yes, only sore," she lets out a moan as she rolls to the side to straighten up and get back to four.

"Take it easy, Kira, don't rush."

"I'm fine," the girl shakes a little.

Astrid is still not very convinced. They leave the complex and head back to the streets of the city. The pace is slower but they follow a jog until they reach a grove, which was once a park, covered by a little snow.

"We'll start where we left off," Astrid says as she becomes human again.

"Discovering the strongest element we handle, is part of the inner power we have at birth," Kira recites, recalling her classes with her dad.

"Exactly." Astrid sits on the floor cross-legged and Kira imitates her. "There are three roads that run through our body, although only two of them are released from our formation: the lymphatic and circulatory. Among them is another, almost invincible, which is the one that transports the internal power to the whole body."

"But we only activate a part when we turn six, to fully access we need to find our element," Kira continues.

"In cases like this, how are dragons different from us?"

"Their power is contrary to ours. Since childhood they know their main element, but not its variants and they do not have a control of it."

"Exactly, ready to go?"

Kira nods before taking a long breath and closing her eyes. Beginning to control her breathing, being aware of every inhalation and exhalation, concentrating on every part of her body, reaching into the veins feeling the steady pulse, noticing the slight difference of the slight tapping of her power in the distance. She uses her concentration to find her center.

She has done it before. Hers is located in the spine in the middle of the neck, for each individual it is different and sometimes it is decisive to what type of element they handle, or with the power that is used. The column has a variant of uses, if it is creative.

She refocuses as best she can, reaching to brush her core of power. She feels it is warm and cold at the same time. She presses it, starting to force her power through the idle system, some must slow it down, others just by touching it; but she doesn't go into any, her energy seems to be stubborn, and she doesn't want to give in. That seems to be the same.

Kira growls almost losing concentration, pushing almost imagining that she hits it hard. Visualization and intention helped a lot in those cases.

"Don't lose concentration, Kira, frustration doesn't help you much." Kira hears her teacher's voice almost in the distance.

"It's easy for you to say! It doesn't want to obey!" she snorts and opens her eyes.

"Of course, things are not easy, especially if you hit it."

Kira growls again feeling her body rise in temperature, her eyes and hands burn, as if her skin is going to melt. The feeling increased with her anger and frustration. She hit the floor with both fists, causing the floor to be covered with blue flames, freezing the soil and plants.

Kira looks at her hands covered by flames amazed and alarmed.