Within The Pages

Round 2.2 The Descendants

A story written for "Gloves Up| A Multi-Genre Smackdown Contest", Round 2.2 (September 2022). Genre: Werewolf (Must include 2 pictures and 2 quotes).

Story Word Count: 2445

The ambiance was tight. A sickening silence enshrouded the ground of the holiest lands of the Moon. The grandest shrine of the moon ever known among her descendants stood tall and majestic, basking in the sheer divine light of crepuscular darkness. However, the patches of coccineous hues carving out her grandeur screamed otherwise.

"Luna, everything's under control. For now. " Beta Lilah remarked, gazing at the impassive woman seated in front of her, lost in her thoughts.

For now.

The word echoed out in her head, tormenting her soul and shredding her apart. Her gaze remained locked on the lifeless figure sleeping blissfully on the freezing floor. Prominent gashes and bruises, darkening their shades on the flesh and blending in a way she deemed exquisite on his body.

Her Alpha.

She spoke out in a chilling tone, clenching her eyelids shut. "Start preparing. We're short on time. "

"Are you sure about this, Luna? Think again." Her beta voiced her worries.

Luna rose up, her gaze straying away from her beloved, "War is a war. They want one. And we'll give one. " Pure contempt oozed out of her tone. So much maliciousness that, for a fraction of a second, it even compelled Lilah to re-think her next words.

She calmly began, "They're the descendants of Canopus, and we? We're just mere werewolves. Just lost our honorable Alpha. Short on supplies and with hundreds of injured wolves. How're we going to make out? The healers are dejected by their response. " Her voice cracked as she recalled the bloodshed their souls endured.

Luna held her shoulders, gazing straight into her eyes with the utmost determination and ferocity. "Lilah, this is the time. Show your loyalty to your pack. To your Alpha. His death won't go in vain. They tried to kill us, but they failed. And my dear Lilah," she smiled. A very beautiful nefarious smile. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

She lowered her hands, facing the enchanting moon, peering through her goddess. "And the rest is in her hands."

###

The sun rose in the half-built, half-carved giant cluster of gigantic rocks surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. All creating a mind-bending, rose colored natural maze trailing along the sandstone cliffs. Amidst the carved columns trailed the rose-golden steps, gleaming with golden hues under a ray of sunlight that struck right on them.

In the middle of the breathtaking palace, Luna, along with her Beta, Gamma, Delta, and pack warriors, stood vigilant and somberly awaiting the unforeseen peril. "They're here!" The sound of sprinting shortly followed. A blast from a violent storm surfaced in their vision. The dried, sandy earth clouded their view.

They are indeed here.

Luna stood before her people. She remained silent. Just stared at them, with a blazing fire and fury to burn her enemies down. "Shift!"

And so they obeyed. Bones cracked. Ligaments stretched. Flesh morphed. Full furry body replaced the baby hairs. Feet modified into clawed paws. Normal eyes changed into brilliant balls of fire. And those who were standing on two legs shifted to quadrupeds.