MOON'S SHADOW

The Revelation

Dark gray stormy clouds loomed over the dark forest. Little snippets of the setting sun appeared and disappeared behind the clouds. Smells of blood and death lingered heavily in the air. The usual sounds of birds and animals were instead replaced by deep painful mourns of loved ones grieving for their families. A few bodies littered the little hiding space of the Greywolf pack, as most bodies had been left behind in the Shadowclaw territory, with no time to escape with them. Lumina stood aside and watched as the pack members picked, washed and clothed the bodies in preparation for burial. She observed as they dug graves for the dead warriors. It was a terrible sight. She felt lonely and overcome by burden and grief. A heavy feeling of guilt spread over her nerves, her heart sank deep when she thought of Rhea's betrayal. She had trusted and put faith in her. She was no less a traitor to her own pack.

In putting her trust in Rhea, she had betrayed her pack, her father, and Carden. She didn't dare think of him. Was he alive or had he succumbed to his injuries? She didn't want to know. All of it was a lie. Her kindness to Rhea had been taken for granted, but she was used and dumped aside like an old rag. The more she thought of it the more her heart pained. A soft rustling stirred her out of her reverie, the sweet scent of pine wood filling the air softly. To her, it was not comforting, it was a terrible reminder of the loss of the people she knew. People she loved, and how they celebrated their bond. She felt nauseated and trapped. Her legs moved of her own accord away from death and despair. She walked towards one place she knew she could let herself break down. A place she had not visited for quite some time.

The path was well lit, with fireflies that danced gracefully in front of her. It was one of the reasons why her mother had chosen the resting place. She wanted the fireflies to light her way to the Netherlands. As she approached her mother's tomb, the scent of wild lilies and lavender spread in the cool air, somehow the tight knot on her chest eased a bit, as she traced her fingers on the headstone with her mother's name on it. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as her feet limply gave way to the soft grass. She sobbed softly, as the fond memories of her and her mother filled her mind. Her beautiful gentle smile, her soft hair cascading down her back.

Lumina could not hold back the tears that rapidly streamed down her cheeks. Her hair brushed against the headstone as she lowered her head. She lay her head on the cool headstone.

“Mama. Why did you have to leave me? I miss you terribly.” Her voice was broken, her eyes blinded with hot tears.

“I have made a huge mistake, mum. It might cost the whole pack… Oh mother, I thought I was ready. I've led the pack right to their deaths.” All the pain she had been holding in her heart, all the burdens, she let them loose in front of her mother's tomb. Her chest heaved quickly, and her shoulders slumped as she sobbed with abandonment.

She sensed someone approaching. Soft footsteps crunched softly, as the wild flowers made way for Lumina's father. She heard him, but she did not have the courage, let alone the strength to turn around and look at him. She helplessly let her tears run free.

“Pup.” Her father's gentle voice was carried to her ears by the gentle breeze. Lumina gathered all her strength and turned around to face her father. Her eyes lifted slowly to look into her father's eyes. His face was grim, and his posture was slumped. Deep lines were etched on his face, and another expression was also present. Lumina's heart raced in pain and guilt.

“Pup. I know, it feels like you have failed, and the world is ending right now.” He sat down next to his daughter and let her head rest on his shoulder. “In life, there are times you will feel like you can't go on. When you are on your knees and nothing seems like it's working. But that's when you stand up. That's when you move and face the world.” Elias continued in a soft, determined tone.

“I don't understand. I can't comprehend why she would betray us like that father.” Lumina asked between sobs. “Just why?”

Elias took a long heavy sigh. And kept silent. He did not know how to break the truth to his beloved daughter. How would he tell her? He sighed once again. “Pup, there is something you need to know.” His voice was low, barely above a whisper.

“What are you talking about dad?” Lumina's features were distorted with curiosity. She faced her father with a stern expression. Elias felt his body cringe under the sharp stare of his daughter.

“Rhea and I have known each other long before you were born. She was to be my wife.” Elias blurted out, his eyes downcast.

“What?” Lumina's eyes bulged out in shock. Her mouth opened, but she couldn't speak at all.

“What are you talking about dad?” She inquired curiously.

“Your mother and Rhea were very good friends. I met your mother through their friendship. Rhea was my betrothed.” Elias explained, his voice drowned in shame and guilt.

“Dad. How did you end up with mum when you were with Rhea?” Lumina asked, dreading the answer to that question. “Don't tell me that's what I'm thinking..”

“Yes, my daughter. Things were not going so well with Rhea. We fought more than I can count, our relationship was on and off. We never officially ended things, but the relationship was not growing either. I grew closer with Erica, and we grew fond of one another. What started out as friendship blossomed into true love. We did not plan it, and that is not how we wanted Rhea to find out. We were arguing one night and I just told her I wanted things to finally end. She was furious and angry. That night they had a heated argument with your mother and their friendship ended.” Elias spoke openly, his eyes misted with unshed tears as he spoke of things that took place ages again.

“Oh dad. You broke her heart.” Lumina sympathized, holding her father's hands into hers. “But still what she has done..it's not right.”

“We tried to make it up to her, your mother and I. We reached out several times and apologized to her severely, but it seems she never really let it out of her heart. When you were just born, your mother reached out to her again, and they had a long talk. We thought she had let it go. Put everything behind her, as she said. Then she disappeared, and we never heard from her again until she reappeared again.” Elias went on explaining in great detail, his face had aged overnight.

“But why didn't you tell me, dad? You could have told me dad.” Lumina's voice was full of hurt and betrayal.

“I could have. But I felt it was the past, and it needed to remain there. There was a need to bring it up again. I did not know it would come back to haunt me, my dear. Forgive me Lumina. The pack's ruin is not at all your fault, it is mine, and I shall help you solve it.” Elias spoke remorsefully, squeezing his daughter's hands.

“So she used me. To get back at you and mum. All this time I thought we were close.” Lumina stood up and ran her slim fingers through her hair. “This is unbelievable. All for revenge. Because you and mum hurt her, stabbed her in the back.”

“I know how you must feel,” Elias said, standing up. He approached Lumina tentatively.

“Actually, you don't, dad. I'm hurt and confused. I don't know whether to pity Rhea or hate her guts, for holding a grudge for so long, or if she loved you to the extent of doing all this. I'm angry that you stood by and watched everything unfold without doing anything to solve it.” Lumina's voice rose in disappointment. Her tone was low.

“I'm sorry, my daughter.” Elias said grimly, his face downcast.

“How do I proceed now? How do I go against someone who felt so wronged? We will make things right. We have to make things right.” Even as she repeated the words over and over in her mind, she did not quite know what she had to do to make things right. Rhea's wounds were wounds that ran deep, her heart was full of scars and pain.

“You can count on me,” Elias said, standing beside his daughter.

“I'm sorry dad. It is not your fault. It happened years ago. Whatever choices Rhea made, she made them of her own accord. You had nothing to do with it. The most important thing is to create a new path, and help Rhea see the light.” Lumina's voice was laced with determination and hope. Now that she knew the cause of her pain and betrayal she had a way of solving the problem. Among the dark looming night, she saw a flicker of hope and light at the end of the tunnel.