Can Yaman International Presents: Moonstone

Chapter 5: "Wild Side"

At the end of Chapter 4:  I arrived at a moonlit clearing and stopped. I turned my face up to the light of the moon and turned in a dizzying, sweeping circle with my arms spread out. I spun around and the clearing was transformed into a meadow. The dead of winter was suspended by spring. I had never felt so alive. My neck prickled in awareness. I halted in mid-spin and turned my head towards the shadows. There under the heavy canopy of the trees, an enormous wolf was watching me. Its golden eyes glowed through the murky depths of the forest. A burst of emotion expanded in my heart. An electric joy that almost felt like twisting agony blazed in my soul. A submerged memory struggled to surface and failed. I must be confusing my dreams with memories. It's you!

(Author's Note: Please read to the end of the chapter and leave your comments -- and don't forget to vote too. Thank you!)

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"Let her sleep for when she wakes, she will move mountains." W.S.

Sanem's POV:

I stood rooted the spot. Outwardly calm but inwardly my entire self was in upheaval. It felt like everything in my life had been leading up to this moment. I unconsciously moved towards the wolf where it remained watchful under the canopy of the trees. I took one step and then another. My vision dimmed and wavered. The wolf disappeared, and I was hit with a wave of exhaustion so immense that it dragged me under and everything went dark.

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I became aware of my cheek resting on a warm surface, soft as silk and hard as steel. I tried to move but my limbs refused to obey. In between dreams of a wolf, I overheard fractions of a discussion between Aunt Remide and Can. I strained to hear the words as I floated in and out of consciousness.

"All her vitals look good. She seems to be in a deep sleep. Put her down on the bed. You are smothering her."

"No." Came the emphatic answer accompanied by a deep growl.

"Set her down on the bed. Give her space. Boy, if you growl at me one more time, I will take a switch to your backside."

I wanted to tell them I was okay. Something told me I had expended too much energy. I hadn't known my limitations. Before I could form any words, I was dragged back into a deep slumber.

Sometime later hushed voices floated in from further away.

"Well, the woods now look like a botanical garden."

"Have you ever heard of this?" Can said.

"A chlorokinetic, perhaps? I've not heard of any manifestations in modern times. The accepted theory is that humans bred out their powers a long time ago. But maybe they didn't. Maybe they just learned to hide, like we were forced to do. I'll look into it. She may not have been aware of it until today but I doubt it. That sort of power doesn't stay hidden for long. You never noticed anything?"

I tried to keep track of the words. They seemed important but my brain refused to stay engaged.

"The moonstone reacts to her," Can said and then there was a significant silence.

What about the moonstone? I wanted to ask, but I couldn't shake this weariness.

"I've never seen anything like her," Can said after a while.

His voice sounded... proud. Maybe amazed was a better word. I must be dreaming. If he was talking about my oddities the reaction would be decidedly the opposite... Freak. Aberration. With that depressing thought, I went back under.

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I resurfaced gradually. It was quiet with nothing but the song of birds to break the silence. My eyes flickered open. Can was sitting beside the bed sleeping with his head turned the other way, one fist clutching my jacket. I stared down at the top of his head. My hand was tangled in his hair. I forced my fingers to let go but not before running them furtively through the thick strands. Oh, it was as soft as I dreamed it would be. I let out a tiny whimper of pleasure.