The Tasks of the Moon Goddess

Chapter 2

Author's note: The picture is the Moon Goddess.

That night I was dreaming about dinner with my family when something strange happened. "Wake up," said a distant voice. I was instantly transported to an old forest. The trees looked gnarly and twisted. The ground was muddy and mossy. The air smelled so fresh and good yet there was a hint of something else. What is that? Cedarwood and peppermint? How odd?

"Wake up, Joyana."

Who's there," I asked, looking all around.

In the distance I could see a wolf walking towards me. It was huge, all white with an ethereal glow. As it advanced, I could clearly see that it towered over me.

Hello, Joyana," said the wolf. This wolf was strange. Not only because of its great height, but also because of how it spoke. I've never seen a wolf speak, only mindlink "I am your Moon Goddess. You may call me Selene."

"Moon Goddess? What do you want with me?" I asked, confused and a little frightened.

"That's a very good question. I know that you are seeking out your King and I have a special request for you," Selene said, turning her large eyes upon me. "As you may know, mates have been out of existence for two hundred years. The time has come to bring them back."

"Mates? Destined mates?" I asked.

"Yes. I made one for you. He's waiting for you at your next destination," Selene grinned.

"But how? Why?" I asked. I couldn't believe what she was saying. A destined mate for me? Those haven't existed in so long I doubt there's even literature about them.

"Two hundred years ago the mating system was deteriorating creating abuses far beyond my tolerance. Instead of balance, mates were connecting based on their worst personality traits. That's when I decided to create something new. I have finally perfected a mating system to replace the old one and ask that you be one of my test subjects."

"What do I have to do?" I asked, curiosity taking over my better judgement.

"It's simple. You only have to find your mate," she said. "That's all I need you to do."

"How exactly am I to accomplish that?" I asked, knowing nothing about mates.

Selene sat down. "All you need to do is trust your instincts and follow the signs. Your wolf knows her mate so she will be forbidden to help you. While you can accept help from people, I would strongly suggest you keep this to yourself. You'd be surprised at the number of people who would love to see you fail. This is your mission if you choose to accept it."

"What happens if I fail to find my mate?" I asked.

"In the event that you fail, I will need to revise my system. This may take a year, it may take another 200 years. You don't need to worry about that. If you succeed, the system will commence and wolves all around your region will begin to find their mates."

"Well Selene, this sounds like an excellent opportunity, but I am unsure if I am a good enough test subject," I said, wringing my hands.

"I do know. I created you. Trust in yourself," she said, winking at me. "Oh and wake up."

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