☽ Chapter 2 - The Thief of the Night ☾

?Chapter 2 - The Thief of the Night?

Eighteen years ago… The Harvest Moon’s emits a soft, orange glow over the land, bathing the forest and surrounding meadow in an ethereal light. The soft breeze carries the scent of fall on the wind towards where two wolves sit in waiting, hidden amongst the tall grass and wildflowers that cling to life before the winter frost can hit. As the Harvest Moon slowly climbs to its apex, a mirage slowly appears on a crystal clear lake in the shape of a crescent moon. This mirage will soon be a lush green forest only visible during two events. The first is the ascension of the new Moon Goddess, who will take the place of the current one once she is old enough. The second is the birth of the Moon Goddess’ pup. The latter is only if the Moon Goddess has met her Mate after becoming the next Goddess, and is a rare occurrence, happening only once in a blue moon. Today is the latter event. The current Moon Goddess is due to give birth to her child after many years and hoping and waiting from the wolves she watches over. This is also the day for the two wolves to strike. The Goddess took their daughter from them just after the two heard their child’s one and only cry. Took away their hope of raising her with their only son and having the perfect family. Tonight they plan to take her newly born child as revenge and make her face the suffering they have gone through as well. The time soon comes for the wolves hidden in the shadows to strike as the lush forest comes to life. With only a twenty-minute time limit from the moment the forest materializes to the moment the full moon begins its descent, the two wolves spring from their hiding spot, their paws thundering against the hard dirt. The guards are sure to patrol the forest while the Goddess gives birth, forcing the two thieves to take as much caution as possible while they slink like shadows along the trees and underbrush of the forest, the orange moon providing enough light to see but also enough shadows for them to hide in. Their snouts are to the wind, sniffing the air to avoid any wolf who may block the way to their goal—the centre where the weak Goddess will lay after childbirth. “The Goddess’ mate is on his way to retrieve the pup.” The thieves freeze, their heartbeats picking up, as they catch low voices conversing. If the Goddess’ mate arrives earlier than expected, their plan will be foiled. “We have orders to take the Future Goddess to him outside the forest before this forest vanishes.” The voice continues. The two guards continue to converse, planning when to bring the new born pup to her father. The thieves wait as patiently as they can until the guards move on and silence resumes. With the coast clear, they continue moving from shadow to shadow until the soft wails of an infant reach their ears. They have finally reached their destination. Slinking out of the shadows, the two wolves bare their teeth at the woman sprawled across a bed of moss, her white hair fanned out behind her and her complexion waning from the hardship of childbirth. Beside the weak woman— the Moon Goddess —is a wooden stump carved into a bassinet where the sound of wailing comes from. A child with white hair and prismatic eyes protests her birth and the cold she is facing outside of her mother’s womb. The future Moon Goddess is just within their reach. Suddenly, a twig snaps, alerting the resting women to the thieves’ presence, but no one - not even a single guard - is there to stop them. “Please, leave.” She whispers weakly, her hand reaching towards the pup who has now settled down. The larger of the wolves growls menacingly, stopping the weak Goddess from moving in fear of her newborn being harmed. The smaller of the two wolves steps forward, her eyes trained on the newborn. The girl lays there so innocently, swaddled in a black wool blanket with small curly wisps of her white hair peeking out of the fabric. The smaller wolf knows she has come here to kill the infant pup, but instead of closing her sharp teeth around the little one’s neck and ending her life as the two had planned weeks before, the smaller wolf picks up the blanketed bundle and gingerly carries the pup away. Confused, her partner follows suit and they scamper away. The heartbroken wails of the Moon Goddess follow their retreat and the guards are quickly ordered to find Baby Geminie.