Whispers of the crescent moon

In a dark eerie forest under a full moon a lady was running panting, falling and picking herself up again she doesn't know what's pursuing her “Run lyanna run” a voice whispered.A man's face,silver eyes piercing on her haunting her like a ghost

Her heart is racing but she doesn't know why. This place…they feel familiar and yet she's certain she has never been here before . The name lyanna lingers at her thoughts but slips away before she could grasp it .

she jumped up from her sleep

Sweats dripped down her forehead as she clung to her knees panting. “it's just a dream” she whispered, relieving herself.

“Blood…betrayal…a man with silver eyes

…Who are you?” Aria whispers to herself,her voice trembling why do I feel like I know you?" She clung onto the silver crescent necklace on her neck, the only thing that feels familiar but the meaning eludes her.

She stood up freshen up and went into town to go about her daily routine selling trinkets and jewelry. She feels drawn to the outskirts where the forest begins. She doesn't know why but a strange feeling she can't explain keeps pulling her closer to the forest.

“Aria” a strange but familiar voice called out snapping her out of her trans. She turn to see max approaching with a teasing grin

“Whoa you looked like you've seen a ghost there” his cockney accent dripping with sarcasm. “Whatchu staring at the forest for,yuuno it's forbidden right?”

“Morning to you too max,I haven't seen a ghost,I just feel this sudden urge to go there” aria replied pointing towards the outskirts. She walks to her stand max follows

Noise could be heard singing in the air with various traders calling out to customers, smokes lingering in the air, beggars,gamblers, jugglers going about their entertainment, scents of alcohol filling the air mix with the fresh scent of freshly baked bread.

“Hey yunno you're not supposed to go there,rumor has it there are  bad stuff out there”

“Morning Alberta” she greeted a woman in her thirties selling bread and dairy products with a smile.

“Haven't you got anything to help Alberta with this morning max” her British accent coming out stronger signaling to Alberta's stand with her head

“Well not really, we've set up for a long time hey,I'm just looking out for you”

“ Max!!” A sharp cockney voice called out

“Would you let the young lady be and come help sell some bread”

“I'm coming mother” he fumed his face and grumble

Aria smiled “Thank you max I'm fine I'll just love to sell my piece and go home,go help you mother” signaling to him to go.

She set up her stall,sold some few pieces and decide to head home

“Yuuno you will need protection when you finally want to go into the forest” Max said, his hand cupped to his face, placing his elbow on Aria's table for support. She looks at him and just smiles,he also smiles showing his small set of white teeth with the freckles on his face.

“Let me know when you see one”

“What!! See one what”

“Someone who could protect me when I want to go to the forest” she said keeping a straight face

“I'm here,I can protect you! I'll be your knight in a shining armour” he boasted

Aria laughed and rubbed his blonde hair. He was annoyed and  took Aria's hand out of his hair.

“I'm not joking” he replied firmly “you can't go into the forest alone, they're some bad things there,bad things happen to people that go there,I can't let you go alone” he barked with a straight face.

“Alright,I've heard you she said pulling his cheek I'll think about it” she said trying not to laugh.

“Yuuno old Joe?” The drunkard,rumor has it he went to the forest and never came back,when he did;he came back with one arm”

“Max!!” Aria said in a hushed tone signaling to him to keep his voice down. He pushed her hand away

“I'm not joking, they're dangerous animal there,if you think I'll let you go there alone,I swear on my mother's life i won't”

“Alright! I won't go there, just keep quiet” she said and rolled her eyes in defeat.

“Run along I'll like to pack up and head home, I've some things I'll like to get done”

“You're going already!”

“Hm hm” nod her head in approval

“I'm coming,I don't trust you going home”

He ran towards his mother's stall,she watched him run,shaking her head as she smiled. Max, a young boy in his teen years,had loved him just like a family after his mom saved her from the village bully when she first got to town,accepted her till she was able to get something done and stand on her feet. She's supposed to protect him not the other way round,he's just a young boy. She was cut short of her thought when an old woman dressed in a cloak with a face she could barely see grabbed her by the wrist. Her body turned cold,heartbeat racing and her voice stuck in her throat

“Hey lady,do you sell this?” Her voice hushed and terrifying

“Ehm..ye.. yes! only this few pieces left” as she managed to get her words out. She leaned forward trying to get a glimpse of the woman's face.The old woman with a swift grabbed her neck,fear gripped her as she felt time had stopped.

She sank her teeth into her neck till it bled. Her eyes wide open like it was about to leave their socket.

Whispers “the moon never forgets…the moon gives. the moon takes” her voice like a chanting ritual.

Aria scream tore through the air as the ground rose to meet her.

She woke up surrounded by people, holding her neck while trying to sit up

“Gently” Alberta said, trying to help her get up. “Get her some water,will ya? Facing her youngest son—Hugh. “Why don’t you sling your hook and mind your own beeswax?” facing the crowd who came to watch aria whispering as she woke up. They all left murmuring and mumbling.

Hugh handed Aria the water. “ What happened?” She asked as she sipped the water

“I should be asking you Ri—a name she calls her. You shouted and  next thing you on the floor”

“Me!!? I was… “are you okay?” Max cut get short hugging her from behind,I was so worried”

“I'm fine maxy” tapping his hand on her neck assuring him

“Let Ri talk,what do you say happened?”

“Well,I don't really know” rubbing her head trying to remember. A face shines as she remembers something. “Yes yes yes”

“What is it? Spit it out Ri”

“I was packing,then an old woman grabbed my hands,I really couldn't see her face,but it was really white,her nose was pointed and had a mole by the side”

Alberta and her kids looked at each other with a confused face.

“Do you know her?”  she asked looking for answer on their faces

“Well,she asked to buy trinkets and I showed her the few pieces left.I was trying to look at her face,she grabbed me by the neck and bit me. She said some words but I couldn't hear or understand It next thing I found myself here surrounded by the villagers”

“Well you screamed which attracted everybody we got to you and saw that you fainted,i asked Gerald to help carry you.”

“So you didn't see anyone at my stall when you came? She couldn't have gone that far! She's too old to run or swiftwalk” she said in confusion. She lied down as she thinks about it

“Ri well,from your description there's nobody like that in the village” Alberta said in a hushed tone

She rushed back up

“What do you mean? She doesn't exist?? I don't think you know everyone in the village,I saw her she was real”

“Well you said you couldn't see her face” max chipped in “what if you were just tired or hallucinating?”

She scoffed “hallucinating! No max I'm not she bit me.” She raised her neck trying to show them the bite mark

“See, here look at the bite mark”

“Nothing is there” max said

“What! What do you mean nothing is there” she tried checking herself but was surprised to find no mark

“Ri,it okay” She checked again and again

“I swear the bite mark was there,it bled and she even sucked it” she replied with her already tears filled eyes

“There's nothing there Aria” Hugh said “maybe you're just tired and need to rest”

“No…Hugh yunno what? maybe you're right” she sniffed trying to get down from where she lay down.

“I'll help you get home,” Max said, helping her get down.

“No it's fine,I'll be fine help your mum sell the rest of the market.”

“No I think she'll be fine without me,I get help you get home and come back”

“Let him go with you Ri,I can manage” Alberta chipped in with concern in her voice

“Don't bother,I'll be fine”

Max handed her her basket filled with her stuff

“Here I helped you packed”

“Thank you, you really are my knight in shining armour” she said as she took it from him holding his cheek. His cheeks reddened and eyes shone as he smiled.

“Stay safe,I'll come check you later” he said as she headed home

She looked back at him and nodded. Different faces were all on her as she walked home ,whispers as she passed by but she could care less. She did a quick scan of the market as she was going trying to see if she could get sight of the woman but to no avail. She checked her neck again but no mark could be found

“Maybe I'm indeed hallucinating”.she thought.

As she dragged her feet home,her eyes caught the forest and felt an inexplicable pull towards it. She tried to nudge it off.

“No.. I've had enough for today! No more drama”

But her words seem to be against her, “it can't be that bad? Can it?” She questioned herself

“I'll just take a quick scan,it will be quick, nobody will notice I was here.” She resolved as she moved towards the forest her crescent necklace glows faintly.

*BLOODFANG TERRITORY

Alpha Kael was staring at the window staring into the forest, restless.

“This emptiness…why does it feel like you're waiting for me?” he thought, rubbing his hand on his dark brown hair.

He places his hand on the window resting his head, staring deep into the forest.

“Who are you? And why does it feel like I know you? I see you everywhere,why are you in my head??” He screamed punching the wall. Hunter—his beta rushed in

“Kael are you okay” he asked and he hurried towards him

He looked at him and looked away

“You have to calm down,the pack is restless you can't be seen like this it will raise more questions”

He walked away from him back to the window

“I don't care, anyone who's brave enough should question my authority”

“Nobody can ques…” Keal signal to him to keep quiet

A branch snapped was heard

“What was that? Should I send the warriors out for patrol” Hunter asked as he moved closer to the window to him

“No no” Keal replied quickly “ she's here I can feel it. Do not call anybody” he warned him sternly

“Alpha there's no one there,it might be a tra..” he didn't finish his sentence Kael slammed the door

“The council must not hear of this even the pack, that our alpha is going mad” he exhaled

“Alpha wait” he yelled as he ran to meet him

Aria heard a twig snapped,fear gripped her as sweat gathered on her forehead.

“No no no” she ran as fast as her leg could carry her. Fortunately she had not gone deep into the forest she was able to get out fast.

She was breathing heavily and panting as she got out of the forest. Trying to catch her breath

“Men that was close,I don't want to end up like old joe” she said and laughed

“ Time to go home”

Kael ran to the forest but was disappointed to see bear—one of his trusted pack members. Eating steak

“Ooh alpha why are you running? Are we under attack” he said trying to stand on his feet

“No bear” signal his hand for him to sit

“Alpha” hunter screamed as he catches up with him

“Ooh hey bear,it's you!”

“Yes hunter, is there any problem?Why did the alpha run out and you also? Is there something wrong?”

“No no bear, nothing” he said trying to maintain his composure

“Did you see anyone here bear” Kael voice broke,his voice sharp and dominating

“No no one,I've been here all morning nobody came here”

“Are you sure!” He looked sternly into his eyes

“Yes Alpha 100% nobody was here well excluding you and Hunter who recently arrived,nobody was here” he replied hurriedly

“We heard a branch snapped and thought someone was trespassing” hunter said easing the tension filled air

“That must've been me” he said smiling as he raised up his steak on a stick

Kael moved away from them going towards the forest.

“Who are you??” He asked, talking to the air. His voice raw with longing A question that has been on his lips for eternity. His sharp senses scanned the forest, the scent of something —or—someone lingering in the air. Frustration clawed at him,his primal emotions kicked in and he threw his head back and howled.

Aria heard the howl, looked back at the forest freighted she took to her heels.

“You were here I know it,you haunt me till I know your scent even without knowing you” he whispered in dissatisfaction