Moon flower

The cool night air hit my skin as I stepped out into the darkness. The pale, silver light of the moon providing the only illumination to the midnight world around me. Not that I needed much light to see by, the eyes of my inner wolf were perfectly suited to night vision and I was still able to pick out fine details in the darkness. At 24 I still had not found my mate and I was starting to give up hope. Perhaps the moon mother had not blessed me with one. I had watched as slowly all my childhood friends had found their true mates and although of course I was happy for them, with each year that passed I lost a little more hope that I would ever look into the eyes that were meant only for me. I felt as if I was stuck in a hole with no way of climbing out, with each passing season, each pack gathering or party the hole would seem a little deeper, hoping for an outstretched hand but none ever came. The gentle night breeze picked up a tendril of my long auburn hair and pulled it across my face. It gently tickled my cheek, as if I was being caressed by the wind herself. Taking a deep breath I stepped from the doorway and into the grass. It’s cool blades felt good on the pads of my bare feet and the nighttime dew brought a refreshing chill up my spine. I hadn’t been able to sleep for some reason. I had laid in bed for hours as the moon steadily rose in the sky, and cast it’s silver toned light across the floor of my small bedroom. My house wasn’t large, just a sitting room, kitchen with my bathroom and bedroom upstairs. It wasn’t particularly well kept, not run down by any means but the wallpaper peeled in places and when it stormed the roof leaked. It wasn’t much but what it was, was mine. When I had turned 18 and moved out of the pack house the Alpha had gifted my my own personal sanctuary. Most wolves lived within the pack house until they found their mates, but I had asked to move to this little cabin on the edge of the pack land, and he graciously consented. Part of me thought it was because he had grown to care for me since the death of my parents. I had moved into the pack house at the age of 4 after they had both passed, and was raised by the pack collectively. My Alpha, Alpha Rikard had been kind to me, always ensuring I had all I needed to complete my education and gain training in the trades that were useful to the pack. I had tried my hand at practically everything. I had trained with the warriors, but it became quickly apparent that I was not gifted with ether the strength or speed required to become a fighter. I had helped out in the pack clinic, and although I was intelligent enough to keep up, my clumsy nature never allowed me to do more than knock sterile tools from trays and bump into the doctors and nurses as they worked. The same had happened working in the kitchen, and the head chef had shooed me out when I had knocked the third pan from the stove. It seemed that there was only one thing I was good at. I had always loved plants and the forest seemed to thrive under my care. I would walk the land, listening to the trees as the wind whispered through their long and winding branches. I would encourage the plants we needed and used in food and medicine to grow freely, while discouraging those that were dangerous from growing. I knew what trees were harbouring disease or sickness just by looking at them. I could tell you where the closest patch of cornflowers were, what trees held birds nests and how many newts currently called the lake on our land home. The forest called to me. It always had. I was drawn to it in every waking hour, and my dreams were often coloured with many shades of green. But my pride and joy, my proudest achievement was hidden deep within the depths of the wood. In my secret glade, I grew the moon flowers. Their beautiful sweet fragrance would fill the midnight air when they were in bloom, and I could spend hours just sitting there basking with them in the moon light. The beauty and fragility of the moon flower was what I loved most about them. For each flower, only bloomed once, for one night, and then it was gone. It was here I found myself drawn to when I couldn’t sleep. The cool air whipping around me, wrapping me in its embrace like an invisible shield against the dark. The wind was picking up as I grew closer to the clearing, with the smell of thunder in the air and the looming threat of rain to fall. I wouldn’t have minded if it did. So far it had been a warm summer, and both the dry, thirsty soil and myself would be grateful when the storm reached us. As I the trees thinned and I could see the clearing in front of me, I was over come with a feeling. Like lightning dancing over my skin.The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I couldn’t shake the feeling that came over me. I wasn’t uneasy but all my senses were heightened, like they were when I was in my wolf form. I scanned the glade from the tree line, not wanting to step out into the open and reveal myself to whatever it was I could sense. The wind was blowing from behind me so I couldn’t detect any scents that would come from in front of me. My eyes darted back and forth, trying to seek out any unfamiliar shapes or movements, but I saw nothing but trees and bushes. The wind changed direction and I was suddenly hit with the intoxicating smell of rain. This was far different than any I had ever smelt before, with the smell of rain came also the scent of pine needles and soil, wildflowers and honey. It was the most incredible thing I had ever experienced in my life. My body relaxed as the scent washed over me, causing electricity to spark over my skin and tingle it’s way up my spine. Then it was gone. Replaced by the usual familiar smells of the forest. It had happened so fast I could barely hold onto the thought of it. Like trying to remember a dream after you wake, with each second passing the memory of it becoming fainter until you could hardly remember it at all. What was that? The electric feeling that had enveloped me was now gone, being replaced by a tugging feeling in my chest, loss. Without stepping foot in my clearing I turned and began to walk home. I couldn’t shake the feeling now washing over me like waves on rocks. That I was missing something, something that my body knew but my mind didn’t. I couldn’t place my finger on what this nagging, gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach was. Like I was being tugged by an invisible rope, it’s coils and knots seated deep within me. With one last look back at my secret refuge, I picked up my pace and returned home. I should try and get some sleep, it was a big day for the pack tomorrow. We had guests visiting from another pack and there was a lot to do. High above, the clouds covered the glowing moon and the rain began to fall.