The moon Queen- wyrmhold Tales

The Awakening Path

Lona ran as fast as she could. Branches slapped her arms. Her feet hurt. Her lungs were burning.

But she didn’t stop. Behind her, the forest was alive with howls and heavy footsteps. The wolves were getting closer.

She could hear Kairo fighting. Loud growls. Snapping teeth. Angry yells.

But she didn’t look back.

“I have to keep going,” she told herself. “I have to survive.”

The moonlight lit a narrow path between the trees. Lona followed them. The wolf inside her was awake now.

“Left!” it cried. “Now right!”

She obeyed, trusting the voice.

Suddenly, the path ended.

A wide river blocked her way.

The water was dark and deep. There was no bridge. No boat.

And the wolves were behind her.

She turned. Four of them came out of the trees. Big, angry, and growling.

One of them shifted into a man. He had red eyes and a cruel smile.

“Well, well,” he said. “The little omega is trying to escape.”

Lona stepped back.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

He laughed. “You were born. That’s wrong enough.”

The others laughed too.

Lona looked at the water. It was cold. Fast.

But it was her only chance.

She took one deep breath and jumped.

The river pulled her under. The cold water hit her face like a slap. She kicked and pushed, fighting to stay above.

Her dress pulled her down. Her arms were weak.

“Don’t give up!” her wolf shouted.

She kept swimming.

Behind her, the wolves didn’t follow. They just watched.

“She’ll drown,” one of them said. “Let her go.”

But Lona didn’t drown.

She made it to the other side. Wet. Cold. But alive.

She lay on the grass, coughing and shaking.

“I’m still here,” she whispered.

And then, the world went dark.

Hours Later…

Lona opened her eyes slowly. She was under a warm blanket in a small wooden hut. A fire was burning.

She sat up fast. Where was she?

A soft voice spoke.

“Calm down. You’re safe now.”

A girl walked into the room. She had long black braids and bright eyes.

“My name is Asha,” she said kindly. “I found you by the river.”

Lona blinked. “You saved me?”

Asha nodded. “Yes, and I know who you are.”

Lona’s heart skipped. “You do?”

“Yes,” Asha said. “You are the Moon Queen’s heir.” They lost blood.”

Lona sat still. The words hit her again.

“I’m… a queen’s blood?”

Asha knelt beside her.

“They’ve been hunting you since the day you were born,” she said. But you were hidden. Until now.

Lona looked down. “I don’t feel like royalty. I feel broken.”

Asha held her hand. “Sometimes, the strongest wolves come from the deepest wounds.”

Then, someone knocked on the door.

Asha stood up quickly and sniffed the air.

Her eyes narrowed.

“They found us.”

Lona stood too. “What do we do?”

Asha opened a wooden chest. Inside was a small silver dagger.

“Now,” she said, handing the dagger to Lona, “you learn to fight.”

Lona stared at the silver dagger in her hand. It was small, but it felt heavy. Cold. Real.

She had never held a weapon before.

“I… I don’t know how to fight,” she said, her voice shaking.

Asha stood tall. “Then it’s time to learn.”

Outside, the knocking stopped.

Now it was quiet. Too quiet.

Lona’s heart pounded.

Asha grabbed a second dagger from the chest. “Listen carefully,” she said. “Silver hurts wolves.” It won’t kill them unless you strike deep. Aim for the heart or the neck.

Lona nodded slowly. “Okay…”

Asha moved to the window and peeked outside. “There were three of them. Maybe more hiding in the trees.”

“What do they want?” Lona asked, even though she already knew.

“You,” Asha said. “And your blood.”

Lona’s hands trembled.

Asha placed her hand gently over Lona’s. “You’re not alone anymore.”

A loud crash came from the back door.

“They’re coming in!” Asha shouted.

The wooden door flew open.

A big brown wolf charged inside, teeth bared.

Asha moved fast. She spun and slashed with her blade, cutting its side. The wolf yelped and rolled back.

“Stay behind me!” she shouted.

Lona stood frozen. She wanted to run, but her legs wouldn’t listen.

Another wolf leapt through the window.

Lona ducked just in time.

The wolf landed where she had been standing.

It turned toward her, growling.

Its eyes were full of hate.

Lona gripped the dagger tight.

“You can do this,” her wolf whispered.

The wolf lunged.

Lona screamed and swung the blade.

It scraped the wolf’s shoulder.

Not deep enough.

The wolf howled in pain and snapped at her again.

Lona backed to the wall. The wolf came closer.

Then she saw its neck.

She took a deep breath, lifted the dagger.

And stabbed it.

The silver sank deep.

The wolf yelped and fell to the ground.

Lona stared at the blood on her hands. Her whole body shook.

Asha ran over. “You did it!”

Lona couldn’t believe it.“I… I fought.”

Asha smiled. “You’re stronger than you know.”

But the fight wasn’t over.

Outside, more wolves howled.

Asha looked out the window. “We can’t stay here. We have to move. Now.”

Lona wiped her hands. “Where do we go?”

“There’s a village east of here,” Asha said. Witches live there. They protect people like you.“Witches?” Lona asked, eyes wide.

“Yes,” Asha said. “Good ones. They know about the Moon Queen. They can help unlock your powers.”

“My powers?” Lona was confused.

Asha nodded. “The royal blood carries magic. But yours is sealed. For now.”

Lona’s heart beat faster. “So I really do have something inside me?”

“You do,” Asha said. “But we must reach the witches before the Dark Howl Pack finds you.”

“Dark Howl Pack?” Lona repeated. “Who are they?”

Asha’s face turned serious.

“They are not like the Black Moon Pack. They are worse. Cruel. Bloodthirsty. And their Alpha… wants your power for himself.”

Lona looked at the trees outside. The night was deep and full of danger.

“Then we better run,” she said. Asha smiled again. “That’s the spirit.”

The two girls packed food, water, and herbs. They wrapped their weapons and covered their scent.

They ran into the night, with only the stars above them.

But far behind them, in the shadows, glowing red eyes watched.

And a deep voice growled. She would not escape again.

The forest was quiet now. Too quiet.

Lona and Asha moved quickly through the trees. Their feet barely touched the ground. They didn’t speak much. They didn’t need to.

Every sound made Lona jump. Every shadow looked like a wolf.

But Asha was calm. Her eyes scanned the woods, sharp and watchful.

“How far is the witches’ village?” Lona asked after a while.

“Still many miles,” Asha said. “But we’re getting close.”

The path grew narrower and darker. Tall trees blocked the moonlight.

“Stay close to me,” Asha said softly.

Suddenly, Lona stopped.

She heard something.

A soft whisper. Like a song.

“Lona…”

Her name.

She looked around. “Did you hear that?”

Asha shook her head. “Hear what?”

“The voice,” Lona said. “It said my name.”

Asha looked uneasy. “Don’t listen to the forest spirits. They try to confuse you.”

Lona nodded, but the whisper came again.

“Lona… come closer…”

She took a step off the path.

“Lona, no!” Asha grabbed her arm. “That’s not your wolf." That’s dark magic!”

Lona blinked. The voice stopped.

Asha pulled her back. “They’re trying to trick your mind. The witches said it might happen.”

Lona took a deep breath. Her hands were shaking again.

“Why me?” she whispered. “Why is everyone after me?”

Asha’s voice was firm. Because your blood holds power. The kind that can save or destroy many.

They continued walking. The forest thinned. The air changed. It felt warmer, lighter.

Then, far ahead, they saw small lights.

Lanterns.

And tall wooden poles with white ribbons.

“We’re here,” Asha said. “The border of the witch lands.”

Lona smiled. She had made it.

But just as they reached the edge of the trees, a scream echoed behind them.

A woman’s scream.

Lona turned.

Asha froze. “No… it’s a trap.”

Black wolves came out of the darkness.

Big ones.

They circled the girls. Growling. Snarling.

From between them, a man walked forward. He was tall, dressed in black. His hair was silver, and his eyes glowed red.

He smiled, slow and evil.

“Hello, little queen,” he said to Lona. “You’ve been running long enough.”

Asha stepped in front of her. “Stay back!”

The man laughed. “You think I fear you, forest rat?”

Lona looked at him. Her heart screamed with fear, but her wolf stirred.

“This is him,” her wolf said. “The Alpha of the Dark Howl Pack.”

Lona raised her dagger. Her hand didn’t shake this time.

“You won’t take me,” she said.

Alpha’s smile faded.

His eyes flashed.

“Then you’ll die fighting.”

He shifted fast into a huge black wolf. The others did too.

Lona stepped back. She was ready to run.

But just then, a new sound filled the air.

Drums.

The trees around them lit up with fireflies.

And from the other side of the border, tall figures in white cloaks stepped out.

The witches.

Their leader raised a staff made of bone and crystal.

Her voice echoed through the forest:

“Step back, beasts. The girl is under our protection now.”

The Dark Howl wolves growled but didn’t move forward.

They were powerful, but they feared the witches.

The Alpha stared at Lona one last time.

“This isn’t over,” he growled. “Your power will be mine.”

Then he and his wolves disappeared into the trees.

Lona collapsed to her knees.

The witch leader walked toward her.

“You have come far,” she said. “But your journey is just beginning.”

Lona looked up, her face pale.

“I want to know who I really am.”

The witch smiled.

“Then come, child. The Moonstone awaits