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968 Words
Halfway to the hospital, I mind linked the Luna.
Me:Hey, Luna.
Luna:Yes?
Me: Can you meet me at the hospital? I found an infant on the pack grounds who might need medical attention.
Luna: Is the baby from our pack, or did someone just leave the child in our territory?
Me: The baby doesn’t have our pack scent.
Luna: Okay, we will figure this out. I will be there soon.
She cut the link just as I entered the hospital doors. I saw Dr. Cortez first. His tall, wiry frame moved with precision through the bustling corridors, his expression a mix of concern and professional detachment.
“Hey Doc, a couple of the guys and I found this little one in the woods. Do you mind checking her out, just to make sure she is in good health?”
“Of course I can do that. Follow me, please,” he replied calmly.
I quickly followed him to a vacant room tucked away from the main thoroughfare. The hospital’s sterile scent hit me as we stepped inside. Dr. Cortez motioned towards a small bed, and I carefully placed the baby on it. She gripped my finger tightly, her eyes wide and curious, as if trying to understand the world around her in this unfamiliar place.
Dr. Cortez conducted a thorough examination, his experienced hands gentle yet efficient. As he worked, I couldn’t help but wonder about the child’s future. Would she find a loving family within our pack, or would fate lead her elsewhere?
When Dr. Cortez finished, I reluctantly pulled my hand away from the baby’s grasp. She immediately whimpered, her small form seeming to search for the comfort of touch once more.
“Seems like someone is attached to you already,” Dr. Cortez remarked, offering a faint smile.
I turned to see Luna Abi standing in the doorway, accompanied by her youngest son and a curious young warrior’s child. Her presence exuded a calm authority, a reassuring presence amidst the uncertainty that surrounded us.
The Luna approached silently, her gaze shifting between me and the infant. She was known for her wisdom and compassion, qualities that now shone through as she observed the scene before her.
Before Luna Abi could speak, a nurse entered the room, ready to assist Dr. Cortez. Together, they ensured the baby received the care she needed, their professionalism a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil swirling within me.
Once the nurse took charge, Luna Abi gestured for us to step outside. We found a quiet corner in the waiting area, away from the prying eyes of curious pack members and the lively chatter of children.
Neither of us spoke at first, the weight of the moment hanging between us like an unspoken bond. Luna Abi broke the silence with a soft, understanding tone.
“It’s okay to grieve the loss of the ones we love,” she began, her voice carrying a depth of empathy that resonated within me. “The amount of anger you feel is natural. After all, your entire world came crashing down in just one traumatizing night.”
I listened intently, absorbing her words as she continued with heartfelt wisdom.
“Sometimes the Goddess takes away from us, and it’s hard for us to comprehend why,” Luna Abi mused, her eyes briefly flickering towards the hospital room where the baby lay. “We find ourselves asking what we did to deserve the pain we feel, or knowing the feeling of having our hearts broken. I know you’ve asked yourself why you are being forced to live on without the ones you love most.”
Her words struck a chord within me, touching on the raw emotions I had been wrestling with since that fateful night. Luna Abi’s understanding gaze met mine, her expression filled with a blend of compassion and unwavering resolve.
“When you must ask yourself those questions, you did nothing wrong. When everyone you love is taken away from you, sometimes it means you have a purpose greater than you could ever imagine. And the pain you feel from losing those you love will be the fuel you need to fulfill your destiny.”
I sat silently, contemplating her words as they echoed in my mind. Luna Abi’s insights cut through my doubts and fears, offering a perspective that transcended my immediate grief.
“Luna, I…” I began, my voice trailing off as she raised a hand, gently silencing me. Her expression softened, her demeanor shifting back to that of the composed Luna I had always known.
“We all have a journey,” Luna Abi continued, her tone unwavering yet filled with warmth. “Some are harder than others to walk, but that doesn’t mean they are less important, simply different. Jordyn, your journey isn’t over; it’s just beginning. I know you are hurting, and if no one else understands the pain you are feeling, I do. That pup lying in the room by herself needs you, and you need her. She belongs here and to you. You two need each other. Don’t detour from your destined path.”
With those final words, Luna Abi stood, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before she turned to gather her son and the young warrior’s child. They departed, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the weight of Luna Abi’s guidance.
I remained seated for hours, the hospital’s ambient noises fading into the background as I reflected on our conversation. The ceiling above me became a canvas for my swirling thoughts, each one a brushstroke painting a picture of uncertainty and possibility.
As the hours passed, exhaustion began to weigh heavily on me. Despite my efforts to stay awake, fatigue eventually overtook me, pulling me into a deep sleep.
- Writer
