When The Moon Hits Your Eyes

Chapter 4

Still at breakfast, Elowyn heard the loud whispers of Nicolai and Bea's banter. Bea was mostly throwing jokes, but it seemed he really wanted to stay which warmed her heart inside. She smiled at his remarks about how the pack was so generous and the endless compliments to Elowyn. Her attention was caught by a gentle hand on her forearm.
"They're going to be talking for a long time. Can we go for a walk or something? I have some questions." Isla invites her, laughing at the boys.
"Of course." She cleaned up her plate and put it away with Isla following behind.
"We're going for a walk," Isla informed, but the boys were still talking to each other.
"Okay!" They said intensely as they continued.
Elowyn explained to her sister what was going on as well, and soon left. She led Isla out the front door, hearing the sounds of birds chirping. Their songs were so beautiful.
They walked along a dirt path through the forest. The two spoke a little as they made their way until they came upon a rushing creek, Pinevale Creek. Eloywn didn't go to the creek a lot, but she did occasionally.
"So, I have a question." Isla began as she moved by the creek. She dug her feet in the mud. "The Grand Moon Festival is a place where we can be ourselves, right? Well, how do know no one will bother us? How will people not find us?"
Elowyn inhaled, thinking for a moment. "Well, Nazir has gone to great lengths to protect us, especially for the Grand Moon Festival. Lengths long enough to make a deal with a witch." Deals with a witch was a very risky thing to do as there have been tales of werewolves and witches that have gone to war. She sat down on the ground watching Isla dig in the dirt. "The Festival has been around since the beginning of our pack. So, when the House of Bleddyn, our founders, wanted to do this, they made a deal with a witch. To protect us from harm on the day of the Festival."
Isla nodded. She stopped kicking the dirt and looked at her. "Do you know this witch?" After she asked, she looked away then back the dirt.
"I believe her name was Theodora. And no, I haven't met her, but Nazir and Moira go to her every evening after the Festival to thank her." The stream rushes quietly perfectly balanced by the birds' songs. Elowyn loved the sound.
"I wish my pack had that." She sighs whimsically.
"What happened to you guys? Bea told me, but he had a hard time. But, as I told him, you don't have to." Curiously, Elowyn asks her.
"The Pack of Boyet was peaceful. Everyone was living great." Her lips curled into a smile, supposedly thinking of a good memory. "Especially when Bea came. I was so excited when I found out we got to adopt him. He was just a ball of sunshine."
"You must really love him. I think everyone does, though. He's a likable person." The two shared a laugh.
Isla became quiet for a moment but continued to speak. "As the years went on, it was time I had to rule the pack. I came from a long line of Boyets, and then it was my turn. At the time I didn't want to. But, when we began preparing, my parents began fighting over me. Whether if I should take the opportunity to rule or not. My father said I shouldn't because it wasn't what I desired while my mother insisted I do. This fight went on for days and the pack couldn't function-- they argued over everything. Without proper function, we were attacked by werewolf hunters a year and a half ago. Ever since they've been hunting the Boyet house..."
Silence had overcome the sounds. The birds stopped, the water calmed. It was so quiet.
Elowyn noticed Isla looking away. She was sniffling and wiping her face. "Hey, it's okay." She stood up and walked over to Isla. "I'll make sure those hunters, or whatever, won't find you."
"It's not that I'm afraid to be found! I feel horrible because I was the reason the Pack of Boyet didn't survive." Her voice sounded tense as she looked up. Tears welled up in her eyes, then streaming down her face.
Elowyn was shocked for a moment. But, she walked over her to comfort her. "Nothing was your fault. It was only the unfortunate timing."
"Even if the hunters came when my parents weren't, we could've beaten them. But we didn't and it's because our pack was weak because of me! I'm a mess up. I should've taken the rank and gone with it!" Isla backed away, her feet splashing in the water.
"Isla, I haven't known you for long, but I don't think anything was your fault. You're not a mess up. If anything you're perfect, seriously, you're beautiful." Isla laughed and blushed, making Elowyn smile.
After their exchanges, Elowyn walked with Isla back to the cabin. It was for sure the two felt they had become friends.