Rose Wolf Petals

Void

    Evelyn's POV

Warmth engulfs me. A warmth far from the burning of the flames. I feel safe curled up in the darkness. I open my eyes and see only darkness. My body floating weightlessly in a void. I look down at my body and I can see myself.

I’m not glowing but my skin is bright, my russet hair seems almost iridescent, and the green silk pajamas 

that I’m wearing feel light on my frame.

‘I’m not scared... why am I not scared? Aren’t  people usually afraid in these situations?’ I ask myself.

‘We aren’t afraid because we have each other,’ a young female voice answers my thoughts. This voice came from within me and out side of me. Echoing everywhere. It’s owner must not me much older then me.

‘Turn around Evelyn,’ the voice came more from behind me this time.

I drifted around and came face to face with a radiant Russet colored wolf with glowing rose gold eyes. She was so small for a wolf but the same size as me.

‘Hi,’ she says.

Hi back,” I reply, “are you my wolf?” My reply sounded strange in the sense that is wasn’t just coming from me but also from her only in a softer voice.

‘We are...our connection is hard to explain, but we already know that,’ she stated loudly and I stated softly. Confusion running with curiosity down what felt like a rabbit hole that I wasn’t about to follow down yet.

“What is your name.” I asked, with the same phenomenon of the echoing, but my voice louder then her whisper.

‘Give us one,’ we said, her voice overtaking mine this time.

“Don’t wolves already have names?” I questioned curiously, her gestures mirroring me in a wolf like way as we inspected each other. Her fur looked so soft and her eyes excite as we danced around each other in the void.

‘We don’t know if we have a name already. We don’t know it,’ she responded. ‘Give us a name!’

“Rose!” We said in unison. I could feel energy reverberate through us and a strong invisible cord binding us together. It wasn’t uncomfortable, rather it was solidifying and strengthening. We both exhaled deeply feeling a sense of refreshed and a-livened with this connection.

‘We have a guest requesting to come here,’ Rose said. I could feel an energy pushing gently and then pulling back. This repeated a few more times.

“Who is it?” I ask.

‘We don’t know,’ Rose responded. She could sense that the whole “we” thing was making me uncomfortable and confused. ‘Sorry,’ she added looking at me apologetically. 

“They don’t seem to be a threat,” I stated moving beside her in case I was wrong. I felt empowered with her beside me and she felt the same.

‘We are a force to be reckoned with,’ she assured me. 

“I know we are,” I stated with confidence and strength as I let the void soften and welcome the person in slowly.

A woman with jet black heir pulled back into a tight bun came into view. She looked to be in her elder years with an air wisdom and strength radiating off of her.

She stopped a few yards away from Rose and I. He had a shocked and cautious look, but not fearful, almost as if she didn't know what to expect and how she would be greeted.

"Hello, I'm Elder Josephine. You  must be Evelyn," she said, "Is this your wolf?" Questioning as she moved closer to us. Curiosity getting the better of her.

"Yes, her name is Rose," I replied. Josephine paused when she heard two voices simultaneously speak from the both of us. My voice being the loudest over Rose's.

'Rose is their a way to stop the voice mimic thing?' I thought to Rose.

'We can try... but,' she thought back. 'Our bond is.'

'Different,' I cut Rose off, 'I know that but it kind a is.... for lack of a better word when hearing it out loud...Creepy.'

Elder Josephine interrupted our thought conversation. "Your bond is extremely unique... I've never seen anything like your before."  She smiled. "My special ability allows me to see other's inner wolves and their bods with their hosts. In all my years you are my first Rose Wolf... funny your name is Rose." 

"We picked it," Rose said proudly as her voice spoke louder then my casual one. Pride in her swelled and radiated into me.

Josephine chuckled, "you are also a new wolf. Your energy is bright and new."

"What do you mean?" We asked in unison.

"Your wolf hasn't had any previous hosts. It explains, somewhat, why your is more unique then expected. Some wolves have been born again in others. My wolf, Miki, was a Luna of a strong pack centuries ago during a waring time History and a warrior of another just a few generations ago. Most don't remember their previous lives but they can feel some of the bonds of the past. This can be seen clearly though mate bonds. But I digress. You have a new soul... If I may say its refreshing even if your birth was chaos..." she trailed off at the end.

"We know," tears loosely fall as I remembered my reality. I curl up once again filled with excruciating pain. I feel rose wrapping around me, sharing my pain. Suddenly two arms wrap around us lovingly, reminding me of mother. Cooing to us as we cried.

"I am so sorry my dear. No one should have had to go through what you have been though. You are so strong. Its okay to let it out," Josephine spoke as she wept with us.

"Mommy! Daddy! Why?" We creamed out, our cries echoing in the darkness of the void bouncing of invisible walls. It felt like centuries as I listed off my family, my friends, and my pack members. The pain was immense and crippling as I remembered their faces, their smiles, and their lives. But as I remembered them it reminded me of their fight with the rouges. Their compassionate words and love for one another. The loving embrace my parents died in... their last words, "we love you," as they died.

"They can't be gone... this has to be a bad dream... I wish this was just a nightmare..." I wailed into the void.

Josephine kept hold of us. Embracing us and our pain. Tears streaming down her face. "I wish it was a just a nightmare to my dear... Oh how I wish with you.."

We stayed like this for a while. All of us morning together. "We must remember their love... Remember their light and live in the light to pass it on," Josephine whimpered, kissing us on our heads. We touched forehead together feeling the comfort. "You won't be alone," I wont allow that.

"Thank you," Rose and I said in unison.

"We must wake up my dear. Its going to be hard, but you have support," Josephine continued and looked deep into our eyes. We held the intense gaze that was reassuring and strengthening us. I could feel Rose meld with me. I could feel her within my heart. Sharing all of my emotions of pain and anguish, but also all of my strength and determination to live.

I could see Josephine was slightly taken aback by what just happened but she didn't break eye contact. She was straightening herself as well. I could see pride in her eyes as she looked at me.

"We are ready," Rose and I said in unison, this time both of our voices come from me. They were deep and resonating out in to the voice. I could feel the void shift and contort as Josephine and I left there floating.

Then we blinked. When I opened my eyes I saw a light wood shiplap ceiling.  As I took in more of my surrounding. From the window to the left of me, shining bright warm light that exhilarated my skin and entranced my eyes as I watch tiny dust particles dance in the light. I could feel the warm comforter that was soft. The bed side table was neat and tidy with white and beige lamp and matching clock.

Next to the end table sat another woman looking at me empathizing and loving eyes. Her soft chocolate hair framed around her beautiful amber eyes. She was much younger the Josephine and closer to what my mother's age group. She was wearing a beautiful button up with shirt with the top three buttons open and some denim jeans.

I sit up and she rushes to help me, looking at me like I might break any second with any movement. I turn to the other side and see Elder Josephine still holding my small hand in hers. She looked the exact same as she did in the void.

'Rose?' I thought, scared I wouldn't hear her.

"Yes, I am here and I will always be.. see I can use the singular tense...' she said lightly. 'Its weird,' we both thought together. I giggle internally. I guess I got use to it a little.

I brought my attention back forward. "I'm Alive," I said out loud. Taking in a deep breath tilting my head back. Filling my lungs with clean, soft air while taking in the light that shown through the window. I felt dead, or rather emotionless for that moment. Just existing, purely existing in that moment.