Chapter 5 The Forgotten Prophecy
951 Words
The entire village gathered around Elder Osric.
The smoke from the battle still lingered in the air, and healers moved among the wounded, but every eye was fixed on the ancient scroll in the elder's trembling hands.
Even King Kael remained silent.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely steady. "I'm not an ordinary wolf?"
Elder Osric took a slow breath.
"This scroll has been hidden for generations. It was passed from one elder to the next with one command."
He looked at me.
"Reveal it only when the mark returns."
A chill crept over my skin.
"The mark?"
He pointed to the symbol drawn at the top of the scroll.
It was identical to the glowing crest that had appeared beneath my feet in the stone circle.
"I've seen it," I whispered.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"You've... seen it?" Father asked.
I nodded.
"The night before the festival. The stones glowed, and I heard a woman's voice."
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"What did the voice say?"
I swallowed.
"It called me... the child of Moon and Blood."
Silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Elder Osric carefully unrolled the rest of the scroll.
The parchment was old, its edges darkened with age, but the ink remained clear.
He began to read.
"When the Silver Moon bleeds beneath the heavens, the forgotten daughter shall awaken.
She shall walk among wolves without knowing her crown.
The Lycan King shall find his mate where none would dare to look.
Together they shall either unite the kingdoms...
Or watch them fall into eternal darkness."
The elder lowered the scroll.
"The prophecy has begun."
Whispers erupted throughout the village.
"It can't be."
"A prophecy?"
"She's the forgotten daughter?"
I looked from one face to another.
"I don't understand any of this."
"Neither do we," Elder Osric admitted.
"But someone has been waiting for your awakening."
Kael stepped forward.
"Who knew about this prophecy?"
The elder hesitated.
"My predecessor."
"And?"
"He died before he could tell me everything."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"So we're missing the most important part."
"I fear we are."
General Ronan folded his arms.
"That explains the rogue attack."
Kael nodded.
"They weren't trying to destroy the village."
"They were trying to capture Luna."
The realization settled over everyone like a heavy fog.
Father stepped beside me.
"I don't care what any prophecy says."
He looked directly at Kael.
"She's still my daughter."
Kael met his gaze.
"I have no intention of taking that from you."
Mother wiped tears from her eyes.
"Will she be safe with you?"
The King answered without hesitation.
"I will protect her with my life."
Something about the certainty in his voice eased a small part of my fear.
Yet questions crowded my mind.
Who was I?
Why had I been hidden?
Why had no one told me the truth?
Before anyone could speak again, a horse galloped into the village.
The rider wore the black armor of the Lycan Kingdom.
He dismounted hurriedly and knelt before Kael.
"Your Majesty."
Kael frowned.
"You were ordered to remain at the border."
The messenger lowered his head.
"I bring urgent news."
"Speak."
"The Northern Watchtower has fallen."
Ronan's face darkened.
"What?"
"The attackers used dark magic."
Kael's expression became unreadable.
"The casualties?"
"Many."
"And the attackers?"
"They left only one message."
The messenger hesitated.
Kael's voice hardened.
"What message?"
The soldier looked toward me.
"They said..."
He swallowed.
"...'Return the Moon Child, or every kingdom will burn.'"
The village erupted into frightened murmurs.
My legs felt weak.
The Moon Child.
They meant me.
Kael turned to Ronan.
"We leave immediately."
Ronan nodded.
"The army is ready."
Kael looked at Father, Mother, and Ethan.
"I know this is difficult."
Father sighed heavily.
"I've known this day would come."
I turned to him in surprise.
"What?"
He looked at me with sadness in his eyes.
"The night we found you..."
My heart stopped.
"You found me?"
Mother closed her eyes.
"I think it's time you knew."
Father nodded slowly.
"You weren't born into our family."
The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
"I... was adopted?"
He gently took my hands.
"Twenty-one years ago, during a violent storm, I found a basket at the edge of the Moon River."
His voice shook with emotion.
"You were inside."
"You were only a baby."
Mother smiled through her tears.
"You were wrapped in a silver blanket embroidered with the same symbol that's on the prophecy."
I could barely breathe.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"We wanted you to have a normal life."
Father looked away.
"We thought whoever left you was gone forever."
He was wrong.
As I struggled to process everything, Kael reached into the inside of his cloak.
He withdrew a small silver pendant.
An intricate crescent moon was carved into its surface.
He held it toward me.
"I believe this belongs to you."
My eyes widened.
"I've seen that before."
Father gasped.
"Mira..."
Mother rushed inside the cottage.
Moments later, she returned carrying a small wooden box.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside...
Lay the other half of the pendant.
The broken edges fit together perfectly.
The moment Kael joined the two pieces—
A brilliant silver light burst from the pendant.
A wave of energy swept across the village.
The wind howled.
The ancient symbol appeared beneath my feet once more.
Then, for the first time in my life...
A distant wolf's howl echoed inside my mind.
Not from the forest.
From within me.
I clutched my chest as warmth spread through my entire body.
My eyes flashed silver for a heartbeat.
Kael stared at me in stunned silence.
"My wolf..." I whispered.
"...She's awake."
- Writer
