Sapphire’s Second Chance

The Moon Goddess

The light grew brighter and brighter obscuring her vision completely. All she could see was light. It bathed her in warmth and love. She felt at peace.

Then slowly the light became less bright and she began to see the outlines of clearing and to hear a conversation between a man and a woman, although she couldn’t see anyone. They seemed to be arguing, slowly the voices became more distinct.

“And how do you think this situation can be changed?” asked the male voice.

“ I think we just need to give them another chance, they will not make the same mistakes again.” replied the female voice.

“What basis do you have for that belief? The situation could hardly be worse. If we give them another chance, who’s to say things will get any better? Anyway, you know the rules, we don’t give second chances.”

“We can change the rules. This is important Sol, how else can we fix this? They are my creatures and they have so much potential, let them show you.”

“We already gave them a chance you know…”

“Wait, I think they are here….”

The voices tailed off and she stepped forward towards them, further into the clearing. She had never seen such a beautiful place, the trees were like the roof of a cathedral, their branches arching incredibly high above her head against a backdrop of a starlight midnight blue sky. A sweet smelling breeze whispered through the air. There was a faint chirrup of insects. The night was lit by large amber glowing lanterns that appeared to float gently in the air.

As she stepped forward into the clearing she became aware of something besides her, pressing closer to her leg. She looked down. It was a large wolf. The wolf looked up at her and she was captivated by its beautiful sapphire eyes set in its elegant head. Its fur was black, tipped with midnight blue. Its gait was regal and there was something, oh so familiar, about it. She stopped and looked down at it, their gaze meeting. “Starlight” she gasped “Is it really you?” . She knelt down and stretched out her arms and the wolf nuzzled into her. “Oh Sapphire” said the wolf, “I have missed you so, why did you never let me free?”

“I’m so sorry..” she began, then collapsed into tears, she couldn’t talk, she just clutched her wolf to her, her heart feeling as if it were breaking. The memories of years and years of sadness, sorrow and regret overwhelmed her.

She wept and wept. Starlight wept with her, silent tears glistening in and falling from her beautiful sapphire eyes. Then, her sobs slowly quietened as she felt as if she was being watched. She looked up.

There were two glowing figures, they appeared to be a man and a woman. The light that came from them made their features indistinct but they gave a clear sense of kindness and strength. Instinctively, she trusted them.

The female figure stretched out her arms “welcome my children”. At this, Starlight bounded up to her and sat at her feet. Sapphire approached more hesitantly. “Where are we? Who are you? Why am I here?”

The woman laughed gently. “So many questions my child. You are in between life and death at the moment. Not many get to pause here but I called you to me. Your life did not go well, your gifts were wasted. Sometimes that happens, life is often full of useless regrets. However, the loss of your potential was a loss not just for you, but for your pack, for the Western Kingdom and for the world we have created. Here…” she paused and suddenly in between her hands there appeared a large globe, with dark colors swirling over the surface. Sapphire stepped closer.

“This is your world. If you look closely at any spot the mists will part to show you what is happening there. The world is dark because it is full of sorrow and hate. There are many wars and my children are sad. This is not the world we created, which was full of peace and love. It is a world changed by greed and by rejection of love, just as you and Darin rejected the chance of true love in order to be together. Just as you rejected the love of your wolf when you allowed Darin to bind you with that silver bracelet. Love and hope have given way to sadness and fear. Too much has passed for it to easily change now but if we unwind the past a little there are a couple of moments where the future could have been changed, where the destiny of the world could change. Have a look child.”

Sapphire looked down at the world, and found that as her gaze settled on one spot she was drawn down, down into the world, through the swirling mists, pulled down through clouds, down to the trees beneath under which she saw blood stained snow and dark bodies, with a battle raging around them. She closes her eyes, the scene disappeared and once again she was looking at the swirling mists which drew her down again, this time to burning buildings and crying children. She closed her eyes again and carefully looked up at the glowing woman.

“Who are you?” Why are you showing me this?” asked Sapphire. The woman laughed, “My child, have you not realized ? On your world you call me the Moon Goddess. I am showing you this because one of the points that could change this future lies in your hands. You are special, Starlight is special. Together there is much you can do, if you want, if you can be brave and choose love, not fear. The journey will not always be easy but we have looked, and I think that if you change how you approach life maybe this world could be transformed. Don’t let your wolf be bound ..”

The man interrupted “what my sister is saying is that she thinks we should give you another chance to live your life again, we can’t send you back to the beginning and change everything but we can send you back to the point where you can change things for the better if you choose to do so. Or you can choose not to do so, you can pass to Elysium and rest. This is a decision you have to make together.”

Starlight looked at Sapphire and said “I won’t go back to be locked up. I can’t live like that again. What happens if we don’t go?””

The woman looked thoughtful “we can’t ask you to go back if you don’t want to, it is a hard task. If you don’t go back we have to find some others of my children to seek to try and change things, but the task is now much harder. You have the best chance, but that does not mean others cannot succeed, if you do go, you will go with my blessing which will make you both stronger, but that is all I can do.”

“Here” she continued “there are other things you should know before you go. Let me show you part of your life that you will not have seen.” She clicked her fingers and pointed to an empty space in the clearing and moving images appeared. As they watched Starlight and Sapphire realised that they were watching events from their life.

The images showed Sapphire’s father speaking to Darin and his father. Their voices suddenly sounded in the clearing. “Look after her Darin, she could be a strong partner for you, treat her more as an Alpha than a Luna, she has the loyalty of our entire pack” said Sapphire’s father. “Of course” said Darin’s father. Darin stared impassively. The images rippled, now there was just Darin and his father. “What was all that nonsense about treating her as an Alpha?” said Darin “we just need their pack, once I get her under control, I’ll get the rest of them under control and then we can try and take the rest of the Western Kingdom. No one will dare stand against me”

“Quiet” said his father “no one need to hear this now, whatever your ambitions go quietly, they are a very different pack to ours.”

Darin laughed “fear is stronger than love Father, and they will fear me.”

The images ripped again. A wolf Sapphire recognized as having helped her give birth to her children appeared. She was looking ahead with a bundle in her arms. “A beautiful daughter Alpha, she is perfect like her mother.” Hands took the bundle away, they were travelling through the packhouse, put into the woods, it was a long walk, there was the river. The bundle was placed next to the river, there was a cry and whoever it was turned away and went back..

“Our pup” Starlight and Sapphire… their voices breaking.

“I am sorry my daughters” said the woman, “you had to know, if you go back this is what you will have to deal with. There was nothing wrong with any of your daughters other than they were not kept safe. You will have much to deal with, but I know that you are strong enough together to do it. You just need to listen to each other, to love one another and to be brave. What do you want to do?”

Starlight and Sapphire sat together for a moment, tears in their eyes. “What if we fail again?” asked Sapphire.

“We will not send you back again, this will be your only chance. You just need to decide if you want it.”

Sapphire thought back over her life, to all the sadness, to all the heartache, pain and now the betrayal. Was she strong enough to do it again? Could she do it differently? Could she really change her life and that of the pack?

Without thinking she began to speak “I can’t do that ever again.” Her tears flowed freely again.