The Outcast

The Moon Rises

"NOOOOOO!!!!!" Mona cried as the rogue snapped Josephine's neck and tossed her aside. Her neck is bursting with very red blood, and a large chunk of flesh is gone; she can see Josephine's bloody throat.  The rogue laughed rabidly for his successful kill.  

Mona is filled with a different kind of fury, grief, and resentment. She felt herself burning within,  her bones cracking.  She fell on all fours,  panting,  in unbearable pain all over her body. One last time, she looked at the rogue, still laughing maniacally. 

"You'll pay for this!! You'll PAAAAYYYY!!!" Mona furiously screamed.

"Let's make them pay..." said a voice in her head. With that spoken,  Mona shifted into a magnificent, slender, snow-white wolf, its purple eyes mad with fury; everyone in the vicinity was awestruck.  It moved swiftly that even their wolf eyes weren't able to follow its every movement.  There is a swift wind passing through, tearing and ripping limb after limb after limb.  Every rogue in sight was either torn or ripped, and blood seemed to suspend in the air. It was a horrific sight. After all the attackers were dead,  it left out a spine-tingling howl with the bright moon in her background. 

Then it walked gingerly to Josephine's side, and it nudged the dying Josephine with its slender snout.  Josephine's grey eyes were transfixed on the beast's purple eyes beside her, with blood on her mouth. In an instant,  everything went still, and it seemed that they were the only ones around.  They are transported to a place where flowers were in full bloom, butterflies flutter here and there, and the breeze was sweet and calming. They are back in their bodies, but they are glowing with pale yellow light. The setting sun was behind them. Josephine's back, and her wolf, Lou, is facing the setting sun.

"Nan!!" Mona called. Josephine faced her and opened her arms. Mona instantly ran for it. Josephine patted Mona's head. 

"Mona, my dear, I have to go..." she said lightly. Savoring the warmth of the girl she cared for and loved until her twilight years.

"No... no... no,  Nan,  don't go, please. Don't leave me alone..." Mona cried, clinging to Josephine. She hugged her tighter. 

"You are magnificent, Sweetheart.  I told you..." Josephine said in a motherly tone. "Magnificent, truly exquisite..." she added proudly. "Now, I am more than ready to leave you. You've got a strong wolf to protect you, and Troy, he won't ever leave your side. I'll go in peace, I wouldn't worry anymore." Josephine looks at Mona lovingly, gently wiping the girl's tears.

"Nan, please... Don't leave me." Mona touched the old woman's face, as if memorizing each part of her. Somehow, Josephine's face looks peaceful and content.  She smiled at Mona and looked her in the eyes.

"I'm sorry I have to leave you so soon, Sweetheart.  But from now on,  you'll have to face every day without me, and it's okay.  I will never abandon you, for here in your heart,  I will stay." Josephine wiped Mona's tears.  

"Don't cry now.  Remember,  I love you," she cajoled as she removed loose hairs on Mona's face. 

"I don't know if I can take it. You're everything that I have, Nan..." Mona is sobbing now. She just can't say goodbye just yet. It doesn't have to be this way. She hoped that Josephine would stay longer; she would trade anything to have more of her time, but she knew everything ended here. And this is their final goodbye.  

"Yes, you will be okay.  You are brave and strong,  and you will definitely be okay.  It will be difficult at first, but you'll get by..." Oh, Goddess, Josephine thought. Who had said that saying goodbye would be this painful? Looking at the helpless girl she cared for and nurtured for years, it truly breaks her heart.

"I can't... " Mona refused at the thought. "Nan, please..." she pleaded. 

"But you have to let me go. My story ends here, I cannot step any further," she choked with her tears and sadness for their eventual parting.