Winx Club Fanfic: Child of the Moon

Chapter 3: Awakening

Dappled sunlight shone through the trees of the woods, creating mysterious shadows. Birdsong filled the air as the daw dawned, crisp and clear. A light breeze swept through the woods, rustling the leaves of the trees. It was all very serene.

Roxy could hear the birds. As clearly as though they were chirping directly into her ear. And she could definitely feel the heat of the early morning sun on her skin in a way she had never felt before. Her eyes flew open and the first thing she saw ahead of her was grass and soil. Slowly, she sat up, feeling a little stiff from the chill in the air. Surveying her surroundings, she tried to remember what had happened the previous night that had led her to end up in that place.

"The woods?" she muttered, confused, as she recognised the place. What was she doing in the woods?

She hurriedly got to her feet and brushed herself off. Her clothes, hands and hair were dirtied with earth. Upon standing up, she felt a little wobbly. Steadying herself against the trunk of a tree, she tried hard to remember what happened the previous night. A few images flashed in her mind, but none of them seem to make sense.

Instinctively, she took a deep breath. The scent of the soil, the leaves of the tree and even the stench of the woodland animals filled her senses. She was quite amazed. How had her sense of smell develop so much? And then she happened to glance down at the spot on her wrist where a scar used to be and then the events of the previous night came rushing back to her.

The moon. Running on all fours. Pleas, screams and yells. Silence. Liquid and solid. Back on all fours, and then the moon again. And then just tearing through the woods, feeding on unsuspecting animal victims.

For a moment, she was stunned. Then she broke down.

Burying her face in her hands and feeling the tears leak through the cracks between her fingers, Roxy was reminded of the time when she discovered she was a fairy. Or more like coerced into accepting that she was a fairy. Her life had been turned upside-down. She could not accept it at first. It just seemed so crazy. But this was crazier. It would seem that fate didn't want her to have a normal life at all. Not even as a fairy. Roxy didn't know how long she sobbed, but by the time she stopped, the birdsong had ended.

It was a little strange, Roxy thought. Why didn't the birds do anything? She was the fairy of animals, and usually when she felt upset, animals were there to comfort her. They shared a very emotional bond. Roxy looked up at several birds perched in a nearby tree. They were watching her. And as the fairy of animals, she could sense what they were feeling. Disgust.

Then she recalled. She had devoured several animals the previous night. They've lost their trust in her.

"It wasn't me..." she tried to speak. The birds flew away. She could only watch them go.

Drying her tears, the fairy of animals tried to come up with a plan. It was almost midday. There was no way she could go back to Alfea. First of all, she would be punished for breaking curfew, and then for staying out all night. That would probably earn her a whole month worth of detention. Her thoughts wandered over to the school, her lessons, her friends. They would probably be having Spellology. Her heart sank as she thought about it. Would she ever be able to go back? Would they accept her? Or would they shun her? Roxy didn't know much about the relationship between werewolves and fairies. Judging from their differences, it probably wasn't good.

Maybe she could go to Magix. Talk to someone about werewolves and see how they reacted. Or perhaps she could confide in someone and get some help. Find a cure. Find a way to prevent her from ever turning again. It seemed like the best plan, but she feared the local authorities would show up and march her back to Alfea, assuming she was playing truant. By then, she was sure someone at Alfea would've reported her disappearance to the headmistress. She could only imagine the Winx, all so worked up and worried, fearing for her safety. Would they try to contact her? Then a thought crossed her mind. Perhaps she could confide in the Winx. They were her closest friends after all. Perhaps they wouldn't shun her even if others did.

That reassured her, but it still didn't solve the main problem. How was she going to get out of the woods?

#

Another lesson of Winxology came to an end. Bloom felt satisfied as she watched the students file out of the classroom, talking nineteen to the dozen, all looking happy and excited. There were times when being a teacher was just plain stressful, but to see such happy smiles on the students' faces was worth it all.

"When's the next class, Bloom?" Flora asked, turning to her friend.

Bloom checked the timetable. "We have two periods free, and then a class with the first-years," the fairy responded. Flora broke into a smile.

"We can see Roxy again!" she enthused. She had taken quite a liking to the young fairy.

The six girls prepared to leave the then-empty classroom, but before they could, a young timid fairy entered, blocking their way. "I'm sorry," she began, looking up nervously at the senior fairies. "I come here with a message from the headmistress."

"Speak," Stella commanded, earning her a glare from Musa, Tecna and Aisha. Bloom placed a hand on her friend's shoulder before approaching the young student. "What is it?" she asked, in a gentler tone.

"The headmistress wants to see you in her office," the girl spoke. "I think it has something to do with your seventh member, the fairy of animals. I think her name is Roxy."

Bloom nodded. "Thank you," she said, before turning to the Winx as the fairy ran off. "Well, you heard her. We have to get down to the headmistress's office."

"What do you think happened to Roxy?" wondered Flora, worried, as they exited the classroom and brisk-walked to the office. "Headmistress Faragonda wouldn't call us all to her office if it wasn't something serious."

The six girls arrived outside the office and were ordered to enter after knocking. They filed in, one by one and sat opposite the headmistress at her desk. Faragonda had on a severe look. "Winx, have you seen Roxy?" she asked, before they could say anything.

The fairies exchanged glances. "Not since yesterday, why?" Musa responded. Then it dawned upon her. Her eyes widened. "She's not missing, is she?"

The headmistress stood up and walked over to the window behind the desk, overlooking Alfea's great courtyard. "I'm not so sure," she said. "A student came to report to me early this morning that Roxy left the school yesterday night, at around five to six in the evening, and didn't return at all the whole night. And she was not around this morning. Her bed has not been slept in, her clothes have not been touched, her books are still in place." At this point, the Winx were all stunned, shocked and worried. They merely stared at the headmistress, wide-eyed, hanging on to her every word. "We are very concerned," the headmistress went on, sliding back into her seat. "There have not been many cases in Magix, but we fear Roxy might have gotten involved in one of them. She's just a young, unaccomplished fairy after all."

"You mean..." Flora choked. "You mean to say that there is a possibility that Roxy might've been kidnapped?"

Faragonda's look became even more severe. "Perhaps," she said. "But you never know what could've happened. Far worse things could have befallen her. But do not worry, I have sent a note to the local authorities and they've circulated a picture of her, and almost everyone in Magix who is out of doors today will be searching for her."

I've decided to incorporate the wizards into this. Thanks for reading and please review!