Realm of the Rogues

Chapter I

I gasp under the weight of him on top of me. His hands are twisted around my neck, slowly squeezing the life out of me. A strained tear runs down my cheek as I try to scream for help. My vision encloses, as I come to the acceptance of my imminent death. But then without warning the pressure is released, as I make out the silhouette of the man flying across the room and a tall and ghostly-looking creature beside me.

"Wake up!" The sound is coming muffled in through the closed door and barely reaches my ears under the thick duvet and many blankets. I shake my head, already having forgotten my dream. I often suffer from night terrors, so I usually forget them rather than keep thinking about them. But still, a slight cold feeling engulfs my heart, but I know it will pass within the hour.

"WAKE UP, RIGHT NOW!" This time the sound is so loud, that there is no mistaking it for a dream - and on top of that a loud crash and then shatter quickly follows. I spring up from my bed, still with the remnants of the long sleep in my eyes. I look around panicked and see - not to my big surprise - my best friend Louise crawling around on the floor, trying to pick up the shattered glass from the vase, that she undoubtedly must have knocked off the shelf storming in here.

"Sorry Athena for destroying your vase, but, well, you know, it was me who bought it for you in the first place, so it's really not that big of a..." Louise begins, but I cut her off.

"Louise, please, just tell me why you were in such a rush to wake me?" - Even though it really feels more like an assault,  I add as an afterthought. I stretch my slender body and rub my eyes, still trying to gain consciousness.

"Well, if you hadn't noticed, you've slept for eleven hours, and the ceremony begins in two, so I would advise you to get going!" And by that, she turns on her heel and proceeds to march down the hall yelling to someone "Don't worry! Sleeping Beauty finally decided to wake!"

However, I have no time to listen to her leave. How could I have slept in like that? And then on this special day? I frantically search for the clothes that I had laid out yesterday and storm into the bathroom. I just barely manage to squeeze in a quick shower, before I rip on the green velour dress I had decided on. 

As I'm finishing up, I steal a quick look in the mirror, catching my dark green, almost brown eyes for a second, and thank the Gods I did, because I had forgotten all about my makeup and hair. I decide that mascara is all that I have time for, and when that is done, I quickly throw up my hair in a bun, which turns out more messy than intended, but I have no time to fix it.

The reason I'm so pressed is because today is the day when the moon will turn into a Super Blood Moon! Since it only happens once every couple of years, and our pack is called the Blood Moon Pack, this rare event has greater significance to us than Christmas has to Humans. Or at least that's what I've heard, I've never interacted with a human before...

I leave my room to meet up with Louise, who I spot in the doorway to the big double front doors while frantically waving me over. I jog over to her and almost fall right on my tail as I catch a glimpse of the preparations for tonight's big ceremony.

I look up into the sky while holding on to Louise for support, admiring the large stone sculpture made in honour of the Wolf in the Moon. He is quite the legend here; we believe him to be our ancestor and controller of the eclipses and full moons. I have been told by my great great grandmother, that they in her time used to sing to him on every full moon since this is when he looked down upon them and greeted them. They had to stop, however, since the Humans became scared and tried to chase and kill them while mocking their beautiful songs by calling them howls. Stupid Humans... They wouldn't be able to recognize a clean tone, even if it was played right at them.