The Vengeful Luna

Weasel

Maybe it was the darkness that surrounded the strange lake. Maybe it was the weeds that seemed to have made it their life's purpose to swallow up the whole lake, or maybe it was the moon's light that danced on the surface of the lake that made it so delightful to come near the lake and admire it more. Or maybe it was the strange smell that throned around. It smelled sweet and tangy, it smelled familiar and yet, nothing came to mind. I could not pinpoint it, i could not remember it. But I wanted to linger more around here.

It was not long after when I heard approaching footsteps. Something within me fidgeted to get away, to run and not look back. This was not a place to be in. It made me feel exposed and insecure.

Yet, from behind the tree line, not an enemy showed up. But Cassimir, followed closely by the red furred wolf. The wolf snarled at me and I knew it was scolding me for separating from the group. Cassimirs lips were stained red with fresh blood and his eyes were slightly feral. He scanned me with a hiss before deciding I was not going to be a danger.

My posture straightens too and I roll my eyes when the wolf gestures for me to move my ass and follow them. did they find anything? This thought gnaws at me as I hurry towards them.

Yet, before I can make it too close to them, Something incredibly fast cuts my way, and I feel sharp talons dig into my arm as it literally flies by and disappears into the safety of the forest, leaving behind a very distinctive stench of death and decay. I stop abruptly and almost stumbled over my own feet because of the harsh impact. My breath hitches in my chest and I turn my head, trying to follow the barely visible figure that attacked me. But i have nothing. Just a shadow of mixed colors and blurred lines before it vanishes into the forest.

Blood drips from my arm, and when I look down at the stinging wound, something within me goes feral.

"Elanor..." Cassimirs voice echoes empty in my head and I know he's going to try and stop me.

But this might be it. This might be the clue we needed. A vampire was here, out here, on the pack's lands, hunting and living freely. They were not supposed to be here. They were not supposed to be this close to the pack...

"We're trespassing, Elanor!" Cassimir yells and he cuts the distance between us with a few long and quick steps, grabbing my arm and tugging me along. "We are not supposed to be here! We are not supposed to hunt on these lands, we are not supposed to attack or even dare hurt~"

"Let go of me..." i mutter and my eyes cut from my wounds up to his face.

I stare blankly at him, my voice is cold and something within my gaze makes Cassimir narrow his eyes. He was not happy with me. I was not happy with him either. but he seems determined to drag my ass back home right now.

"We can come back in a few days and do all the digging you want." he speaks, low and more determined to make me understand. "If you leave now, if you track them down now, you'll not only have them as enemies, but a whole damn pack of wolves hunting you too. Finding Aeolian might not be enough to keep you alive if you run right now..." He speaks calm, clear and without a hint of hesitation. He was not willing to let go of me. He was not willing to let me risk my life out of stupid impatience.

and he was not wrong. I knew it. But I ached to avenge the injustice. To find my mate and make sure he was fine... my eyes trail in the direction of the vampire that attacked me and I can sense them still there. Watching. Waiting. They were alone, that was for sure. I could take them....

"You can't fight. You did not feed. You did not rest..." Cassimir insists and I feel as if he is reading my mind. bothersome. so f*****g bothersome...

But I listen to him. I listened because I was not going to die until I took revenge on Demetri. On Lilith... on the whole damn race if needed! So, I let him drag me along with them, back to the pack house, which felt like a bit too soon. The sun was not about to rise for at least one more hour, but Marina was not happy with letting me hunt anymore. It was my own stupidity that got me starving right now. Yet, as we make it back to our living quarters, Marina does come back with food, with stake and more stake. And I appreciate that.

As I sit down and eat in our small living room, silence weighs heavy on the three of us. Marina is sitting in one of the armchairs and Cassimir on the window sill, looking outside.

"We were not followed." he eventually spoke, and I looked up at him.

"I know... Our defense lines have grown stronger lately and no one can make it past them. Not even a skilled vampire like that..." her eyes drifted towards me and I looked down at my arm. It's healing slower than usual. Mainly because I'm not taking care of my body, but it's healing and that's all that matters right now.

"It's a bit worrisome..." Cassimir speaks. "If there were more-"

"It was alone." I mutter, my voice incredibly hoarse and dry.

Both of them turn their heads towards me and pause, waiting for a clarification.

"The thing... it was alone. There was no other but the one that attacked me. It lurked in the forest as we left... but did not have the guts to follow. If it were not alone, one would have followed. And besides... if it were not alone, they would have attacked all of us. Not just me. Yet, they felt I was invading their territory, since I've been lurking for a bit too long. " I pause my words and continue eating

"Right..." Marina mutters and looks at Cassimir for confirmation.

"Yet, a single vampire, alone in the woods, this close to wolf territory, is a bit sketchy." he speaks and he was not wrong.

"It was either put there for a reason, or it is completely lost and unsure of what to do. That's why it might have attacked. Because it felt unsafe. If it was safe, they would have simply stalked and reported..." I speak again and they both look at me as if I was speaking the words of God right now. My brow raises in confusion. "It's plain obvious!" I hiss and roll my eyes, but none dare to say more on the matter.

"Maybe it's someone worth investigating on..." Marina mutters and gets up.

"Maybe it could be an ally." I added with a half uninterested tone as I looked up at her. "Maybe they have a valid reason to be hiding from the others.. and maybe we can use that in our advantage.." the idea comes a bit too soon maybe, because they both look at me as if I were crazy.

and maybe I was desperate enough to ask for help anywhere I could think help could come from. We needed a plan. we needed someone from the inside. And maybe this was that someone we could use to do it.

"This has been the most you've talked about in the past months." Marina speaks and I realize she is right. I shrug though and continue eating. "Maybe this run was more successful than I hoped it would be." she adds with a smirk before getting up. "You should both rest. And we can plan things starting tomorrow."

Tomorrow... I feel drained and tired. the food is great but it does not make up for the lost energy. It does not make up for the lost meals and all the worries that have been circulating through my had lately. It truly does not. maybe some rest was due by now. and knowing we finally had the means of starting a plan was doing me great good.