Her

Chapter 18

The crisp winters blanket had fallen once more over the ground as we moved along. I was convinced it did nothing but snow since I hadn't seen the blue sky once in the weeks of staying here. The sky always seemed to be filled with downy little flakes drifting down or the dark ominous roll of blackened clouds. Perhaps that was just the color of the sky here though, a thundering gray that had permanently made an overcast stain.

The mystic had been leading me for over twenty minutes, deep into the pine wood. Thankfully and yet surprisingly, the dress she'd given me as well as the cloak and boots kept me warm and dry. Though my fingers were somewhat cold, I just tucked them into the little pockets sewn in the inside of the cloak and they were warm and the cold momentarily forgotten about for a few moments till I had to steady myself and take them out. I'd almost hit my head on several tree branches as we walked along so a quickly darted hand in front of my face was necessarily needed relatively often. There was a little path that we walked on but it seemed as ancient as the gods themselves, windy and narrow, clearly abandoned and forgotten it seemed. The branches draped over and a few well sized rocks had lodged themselves into the middle of the hard earth packed trail.

It wasn't long till I heard voices and the faint, drifting smell of a fire came to my nose. I could see shapes, flickering to and fro between the pine needles and the shrubbery that was caked in icy layering as if nature herself had dawned her finery for the occasion. I glanced over to the wheat haired mystic, hoping for an explanation if not a sort of introductory perhaps even a run down of what I was supposed to do as we neared what could easily be identified as a oval shaped clearing.

Instead, she gave me a slightly impatient look. "Well? Go on." She nudged me forward. "You'll find Lux easy enough and I have other things to do to prepare. I've taken you this far."

I spluttered, "What? I can't... I can't just wander in. I'm not even supposed to be here." I whispered, my eyes widening for a minute as realization sunk in. Everyone was going to stare and it was certain that everyone would know who I was once they smelled me. Lux would find me and I'd most likely would be booted from the ceremony and left to find my own way back to the lodge without anyone to guide me.

The woman gave a huff, mumbling something under her breath and she gave me another nudge this time it was harder. I stumbled again, this time at the edge of the clearing. I flushed for a moment, some had taken noticed, glancing towards me and mumbling to themselves before going on with their conversations.

I went to glare at the mystic, swiveling my head back but only found nothing but empty space. She had already slipped away. I set my jaw, I'd have to talk to her later if she bothered to show at all for the festival.

More and more people were beginning to take notice. The earlier ripples of groups had alerted others and my appearance was easy to pick out in the crowd. Everyone was dressed elaborately compared to what they normally wore but I was dressed even more elaborately so compared to them. I stuck out like a sore thumb even still in the pack despite almost looking similar to them.

"Cyra?"

I turned my head once more, recognizing the voice. I'd know that voice anywhere and something stirred in my chest as it always did when I heard it. I swallowed, prepared for Lux to kick me out. For her to stare me down. My mind though fluttered to the kiss on my cheek that had been planted on my face earlier, the warmth that fluttered through me. I wondered for a brief moment if it was true. What their Gods has decreed, what the mystic for spoke of.

She was wearing something completely opposite of my outfit, we almost mirrored each other in fact. It was the first detail I noticed as her tall, strong frame cut through the easily parting crowd. While the warrior women who wore pants and furs had exchanged their gear for more slim fitting dresses or furred tops, Lux had traded her gear for an even more elaborate outfit.

Instead of the typical side elk fur trimmed cape that was typically worn, she wore a golden threaded cape, the fabric dark as coal, trimmed with the glossy black fur of a bear. Her hair was pulled back and looked freshly washed, the elaborate braids she wore now had golden rings darting through her platinum hair. A plain white cloth tunic was worn underneath that and a dark leather chest plate over that. Matching leather braces on her wrists adorned her arms and her pants were tucked into a pair of knee length boots that matched the leather as well.

She strode forward, gently grabbing at my hands with furrowed brows. "Cyra? What're you doing here?" She questioned, eyes flickering over me for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Where did you get this?" Her fingers gripped at the sleeve of my dress.

"The mystic." I simply replied, tugging back my arm. The memory of my discovery was still fresh in my mind despite everything at the moment. I wasn't so willing and ready to forget.

"She ga-" She was speaking when suddenly Saskia showed. All smiles and grins.

"Oh! You look beautiful." Saskia said, smiling as she almost went to touch me and hesitated as if worrying about messing up the outfit. She settled for delicately touching a curl instead. "Look at you," she breathed, "It's like your a proper Luna."

Lux cut back in, jaw set. "Exactly. She does and she isn't." She said, all softness and confusion of earlier dispelled by Saskia's approach. "It's not right nor proper. She's dressed like she's actually someone." Her nose curled and yet despite her harsh words, the action just didn't look... Natural on her features. It looked forced. "She shouldn't be here."

My throat tightened for a moment, biting my cheek. She was right. I shouldn't be here. I should be at the lodge, sulking in a room as I wondered where everyone was. I turned my head for a moment, refusing to let her see how she twisted my emotions like taffy. It was so hard, she was so cold or strangely warm. It was like she couldn't make up her mind. It was like she was two different people at times. Holding me at one time and then pushing me away.

"Then you should've left me back home." I said, glancing towards her as I narrowed my eye. "You should've taken someone else. Not me." I said, brows furrowed with anger. I took a step forwards. "You should've left me with my brother."

Her face changed, morphing as she looked down towards me. Her eyes narrowed for a moment. "It doesn't matter what I should do, what matters is what I choose. I chose you and I'll choose what happens to you." She snapped. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Saskia backing away. People were staring. Her hand came and gripped mine, her fingers were like iron, firm and strong.

"And I choose where you get to go. What ceremonies you attend, not the mystic and certainly not the gods!" Her voice raised.

And that's when it happened.

Hey! So sorry about the delayed update! Hopefully this weekend will make up for that because I'm hopefully going to be posting a few more chapters these next few days! Also I wanted your opinion on something! I'm thinking about doing a bonus chapter explaining the the North Sea's pack gods! Or would you prefer to find out later in the story? Or a separate book? Let me know and don't forget to vote and comment! Thank you so much for reading my writing!