Healing Hearts

C H A P T E R | 34

Alpha Joey didn't know exactly Luna Hannah was, but he promised to send her Marley's way. The two said their goodbyes, even ending in an awkward hug before Marley left to go to Layla and Joey to the training grounds.

"You're a healing wolf!" A small girl giggled, running up to Marley after she was rolling around in the grass. Marley noticed how she was walking past a play ground to get the hospital, and she smiled at the scene of kids in front of her.

Marley nodded her head, still feeling self conscious about breaking her law. She glanced around, spotting a couple of adults watching a group of young pups on swings and miniature zip line.

The little girl smiled up at Marley, "My mommy said you've been blessed by the Moon Goddess!" She waved her hands into the sky, smiling as she started to jump around Marley's legs. "Is that true?"

"In a way, yes," Marley answered before she squatted down to pup's level.

The girl laughed, "What was she like?"

Marley smiled, giggling softly as she enjoyed the little girl's presence, "You can't describe a Goddess, but she's very breathtaking - at least, her statues are."

"I was just coming to see you," Layla smiled, grinning from ear to ear as she watched Marley with one of the pups of the pack. Her heart fluttered at Marley speaking with a young child. She wondered what Marley wanted for her future - after the world ended and everything calmed down.

What was in store for them after their story was over?

Marley turned around, a wide smile taking over her lips. "I was on my way to the Pack Hospital," Marley whispered, taking one more glance at the child before moving towards her mate.

"Really?" Layla laughed, kissing Marley's nose, "It looked like you would rather play in the park with the pups."

The little girl clapped her hands, "Really! You're here to play with us?" She didn't wait for an answer before she grabbed the healing wolf's hand. She pulled Marley towards the playground, screaming, "Look! She came to play with me!"

Layla chuckled as Marley looked back, her face red with the attention she was receiving. Everyone's eyes were on her - mothers watched her carefully, fathers stopped their talks, and the kids cheered with delight at having a new friend.

*•*•*•*•*

"Then, She looked at the injured wolf, who trusted someone she shouldn't. The Moon Goddess smiled softly, Her eyes seeing more than what was physically possible for mortals," Marley spoke, her eyes staring at the moon, which peaking through the clouds during the day.

A small boy leaned forward, along with the other children and their parents, "What did She see, Miss Marley?"

Marley smiled, "She saw the light, the good even in the dark." The wolf chuckled, "The Moon Goddess saw the wolf's soul running around with the wind, even when her body couldn't follow."

The parents nodded their heads, never hearing this particular story about their Goddess. The Healing Moon Pack was the closets pack to the Moon Goddess, and when they went into hiding, they took more than just their powers - they took Her stories.

"It was too late to save the wolf, for death already had the poor creature in his grasp. The wolf's body no longer belong to her, and She would weep later for her daughter. However, before death pulled the wolf away, She grabbed the light and soul." Marley reached into the air, pretending to do it herself. She remembered watching the Elder's tell her this story when she was five, where the teenager would dance and the pack would rejoice with their wisdom and stories being past down to the next generation, to their future Alpha.

"She had a feeling that the world would need more of her daughter, even if she was gone. Day was coming again, and her time in the mortal world, the last time She could physically adventure in our world, was coming to an end. She was retreating to Her home when She past over a group praying to the moon, praying for Her, praying for Her daughter to be safe in the night."

"Why did the Moon Goddess have to go away forever?" The little girl who came up to her whispered, tears in her eyes. "Why did she leave us?"

Marley smiled softly, "She didn't leave us." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, "Just because She isn't here physically doesn't mean She left us. We just can't see the world the way She can, and if we could, we would be able to see Her standing before us, showing us the light through Her own soul."

All at once, kids started to talk over each other - either arguing over something they didn't know or asking questions for Marley.

Layla finally come around from where the parents were standing to sit next to her mate in the grass. She see came closer to the ground, the pups fell silent. The Head Doctor smiled, "How about we let Marley finish her story?"

"She turned to the groups, blessing them to be the light when the candle gets blown out, when the sun passes the horizon. The light shined down upon them, and with each breath they took, they inhaled a token on the Moon Goddess' appreciation."

"However," a new voice echoed, and Marley looked to see Luna Hannah and Gabby moving towards them - no doubt hearing Marley's story. "Even with using Her daughter's light and soul, She lost of piece of Her own soul. With the strength of Her children She grows stronger, but with the weakness of humanity, She gets sick."

Marley watched as Luna Hannah came to sit on the other side, with Gabby flopping to the ground beside Layla.

"Which is why," Marley finished, "we took the oath and path we needed to. The Goddess trusted us from the very beginning, and we obey Her ever command to the best of our abilities. We are the stars to Her moon."

---- A U T H O R N O T E | 35 ----

Aww, it look like Marley is good with kids - who would have thought.

I hoped you guys enjoyed the Thanksgiving bonus I added. I'm not exactly done with those ones yet, so hopefully more will be on its way. I will try to add some fluff to those bonuses stories, but I'm not exactly the best at writing those - I'll give it a shot for you guys though!

QQ (#41): Are you guys liking the Moon Goddess' stories and the background of werewolves and Marley's and her pack's power?