Hetalian Protectors

Lost and Found

I grinned and called out, "I can't believe I've been woken up! Oh what ever shall I do?!" I know I was being a little over-sarcastic, but come on. I had to play just a little.

*****

Luna's POV: The woods had always been a place of safety for me. They had always felt like a part of me, and I guess they were if you thought about it. This was where my wolf-pack ran free and were I could look at the beauty of my country. I always felt pride when I looked at my people. My founders had done a wonderful job setting up everything, and I had enjoyed watching it flourish over the last thousand years.

I was still lonely though.

I had noticed it not long after Ashen died. It was a constant companion, staying with me through every war, conflict, and peaceful time. It was like someone had taken a knife and plunged it through my heart, twisting it every once in a while. The girl's had always been there for me, but it was a different type of loneliness, one that ate away at my consciousness while I slept, and in the daylight hours while I was alone or in a meeting.

The feeling of wind crossed across my face, bringing me out of my mind. The day was nice, the sun shining through the leaves and casting their shadows across the plant strewn path. Several flowers spouted here and there, each one in their own set clusters. Violets, Lilies, Roses. They were blooming perfectly in the warmth of the month, each one's petals vibrant and alive with color. I let my gaze travel up to the pieces of sky visible every now and then through the branches. The sky was clear again today, barely a cloud to be seen.

Feet carrying me gently along, not a sound reverberated as I walked, my footsteps not making a sound. I closed my eyes and the peacefulness of the moment fell over me. My heart was heavy but when I was strolling along like this I could almost forget about it.

A howl made me freeze. Turning around, I spotted a familiar pelt through the undergrowth. A small smile spread across my face as Adamaris pranced onto the path. Her black and brown fur shone in the early morning light, the single white spot surrounding her right eye sticking out sharply against the rest of her fur. She rubbed her head against my waist, twirling her tail around my legs. "Hey girl. Were you worried about me?"

I reached down and stroked her fur, the feeling soft and comforting. I moved my gaze up as more of the wolves moved into my view. Now that I was listening I could hear the rest of the pack running about in the forest.I giggled as they all circled me, each silent and staring expectantly up at me. I looked around confused. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Adamaris whined and barked at me, her golden eyes glowing with concern. I felt my smile slip to a sad grin. Bending over, I put my face into her pelt, breathing in the scent of pine, grass, and the slightest whiff of lemons. It was her dog shampoo, or I guess her wolf shampoo. It was a soothing aroma, reminding me of all the times I had slept in the wolves den. That was the only place for me to go when no one else was around to cheer me up.

Adamaris licked my face, making me giggle. The other wolves closed in, joining her. "I'm okay everyone! Really!"

Leaning back I sat on the ground, continuing to pet Adamaris as Enzo trotted up, laying down beside me. Enzo was white with grey spots, his eyes a pale blue. Adamaris bent over and licked his face. Enzo was her mate and they got along extremely well. They were adorable together.

The wolves laid around me, as close as they could possible get without laying on top of me or one another. Adamaris eventually placed her head on my lap and satisfied herself with putting her head to my hand, my fingers trailing through her soft fur. It almost felt like silk and it made my emotions quell. Before I even knew what I was doing I was talking.

"You know, it's been such a long time since I've seen them, and now that they're living with me I can't even be normal about it. I'm always so awkward and I tend to put distance between us. There was once a time where the words would come naturally, but now..." I sighed, a scowling face flashing in my mind's eye. A small smirk crossed my face.

"I was glad he hadn't changed much since the Mansion. He's still the same person as he was back when I first met him. It's just a shame that I've changed so much. It's a pity he- no they can't remember anything. Anyone." My head leaned back and a feeling of overwhelming heartbreak washed over me. I felt my face twist and I closed my eyes, a single tear leaking out and trailing down my face. My breath caught in a wracking cough or sob, I couldn't really tell the difference.

A gentle poke to the side made me jerk back to attention, my head swiveling down to look back at Adamaris. Her eyes seemed to say, Everything's going to be alright. You have us! I laughed and buried my face in her neck.

"You're such a good doggy, you know that?" She gave a rather indignant bark and I giggled harder, my sides beginning to hurt. A distant voice in the back of my mind seemed to say that I was being quite bipolar at the moment, but I didn't care. I was just being a hormonal teenager. A two-thousand year old teenager, but still a teenager.

I got to my feet, the pack rising as I did. I looked around, wiping the remaining unshed tears from my eyes. "Lets go for a run! I bet I can beat all of you to the cliffs!" Together we ran off into the trees, unaware of the lone figure left behind, standing just a few feet away from the spot where I had been sitting.

*****

Romano's POV: I had followed Luna as she left the house, trailing behind even though I had decided to ask her some questions. I had determined it was time for her to tell us some things. Yet, as we traveled, I never caught up, the aura surrounding her preventing me from getting any closer. Something about her seemed off all of a sudden, like their was some sort of screen keeping me from seeing something important, but I couldn't get past it.

I had followed her for about ten minutes before I noticed the wolves. They were slinking through the underbrush without a care in the world, even though they scared the shit out of me at first. I think they were doing it on purpose because as I jumped into the air a bark sounded, distinctively sounding amused. Gritting my teeth to keep from yelling out, I watched as they ran past me and cuddled up to Luna's form.

A foreign emotion welled up in my chest and I took a deep breath to prevent myself from running over and trying to separate them, knowing I might lose a limb in the process. There's no reason to be upset, I told myself, Why're you getting so upset?  Luna looked up and I smiled unconsciously as she started talking to the wolves around her.

"You know, it's been such a long time since I've seen them, and now that they're living with me I can't even be normal about it. I'm always so awkward and I tend to put distance between us. There was once a time where the words would come naturally, but now..." As she trailed off I sat there, perplexed. Had we known Luna before that day back in the World Conference Room? I tried to remember but nothing came to mind except for a small tugging feeling. It was like something was at the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't grasp it.

I pulled myself back to the present as her voice continued, realizing I had missed part of her 'conversation'. Luna's words made me freeze, my blood turning to ice in my veins, "I was glad he hadn't changed much since the Mansion."

My mind dropped away immediately, images of a ghostly smile consumed by fire running through my head. 'Mansion' reverberated through my mind, going round and round till I couldn't even pay attention any longer, even as she stood and ran off, leaving me alone in the steadily darkening forest.

Fear crashed down over me, uncertainty joining it. Just what was going on?

Who are you Luna?