Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 1: Chosen New Bloods

(a/n: this part is edited.)

Artemis POV

Nakatayo ako sa harap ng full body mirror. Admiring the dress I am wearing a white off-shoulder lace top knee length dress.

It contrast my eye colors—gray and cerulean—the shade of my mother's. My waist length wavy black hair is braided on top of my head.

Piniringan muna kami bago kami pinababa ng garden. They planned it all along.

"Happy birthday Artemis!"

"Happy birthday Naia!"

"Happy birthday!"

My family greeted me, us, rather.

Nasa bahay kami nila Lolo.

The 6 hour drive almost made me dizzy. Maaga pa ay umalis na kami sa bahay.

Ginawang flower garden ang likod ancestral house, habang ang lupang sakop at hinati para sa greenhouse at vegetable plantation.

Pinalibutan ng paper lanterns at christmas lights ang buong garden.

The stars twinkled with the moon.

Ang malamyos na musika ay naririnig kasabay ng mga insecto.

Nilabas nila ang 2 layered cake.
18 candles for the both of us. Hinipan namin ang kandila pagkatapos kaming kantahan.

Flower crowns were then put on top of our heads.

Naia—my cousin—took a photo from her pink polaroid. The both of us in big smiles.

Pinaypay niya sa harap niya ang polaroid habang hinhintay lumabas ang picture.

Nakasuot ng itim na black tube dress.
Curled brown hair, light dancing in her black eyes. Contagious smile is plastered on her pink lips.

The ailver streaks of moonlight from the full moon illuminate the fish pond with candles.

Ang sinabi nilang barbeque party para sa amin ay isa palang debut party.

Dalawang pamilya lang ang kasama sa party—pamilya namin at pamilya ni Tito. Kasama sa celebration ang tatlong katiwala sa bahay.

Inihain na ng mga katiwala ang nalutong pagkain sa hapag.

Sabay-sabay kaming kumain at nagkwentuhan.

Maya-maya'y may inabot na maliit na kahon sa harap ko. Inabit ito ni Mama na nakangiti.

"Mommy ako wala?" nakangusong tanong ni Naia.

"Of course not. Hon?"

"Eto Darling"

Narinig kong sabi ni Tito. An unica hija—Naia Isabel Luna—gets what she wishes for. She shares her stuff with me kahit hindi ko sabihin. She has a soft spot for her family.

"Open it."

"Mmm!"

Speechless king tinignan sila. "Di ba po—"

Hinawakan ni Mama ang kamay ko.

"Regalo sa akin ni Mamang yan..."
Nangingilid ang luha niya "Bigay  sa kaniya ni Papang"

"Sana po kasama natin siya ngayon."

Malungkot kong tinignan sila.

Ganun din ang titig ni Tita Asther kay Tito.

"He's always with us."

Nakangiting sagot ni Tito.

"Hey birthday niyo ngayon! Let's party." sabat ni Kuya.

May binulong siya sa katiwala naming lalaki. Mabilis na sumunod ito sa kanya.

Naniningkit ang mga mata kong tinignan siya.

"What are you up to Kuya?"

"Oo nga."

"Wait for it. It's surprise..." kinindatan niya kami.

I rolled my eyes.

Projector at screen?

"Movie marathon?" si Naia

"Yup, movie marathon."

Sinaksak niya ang USB sa laptop na nilagay niya sa gilid ng projector.

Lumabas sa screen ang opening ng Universal studios.

Sumunod dito ang video ng batang babae.

Then it hit me.

"Ako ba yan?"

Nagmamaang-maangan niyang sagot. "Hindi ah."

The next video confirmed my suspicion. My eyes grow larger, heat my cheeks because of embarassment and

Me in a sunflower costume during my younger days. I hated that costume.
The green fitted cloth for the stem and the yellow petals for my face.

I wanted the lead role that time pero binigay sa iba ng teacher ko.

"Ang cute mo pala sa ganyan." kumikinang ang mata niyang nakatingin sa screen. "Hey—"

"You're cuter! hahahaha" sagot ni kuya.

She's wearing a muddy sun dress. Para siyang gumulong sa putikan. Namumula ang ilong at pisngi. Her white sandals is brown, thick with mud.

"Sinabi kasi sayong wag makipaghabulan."

Nahagip si Kuya sa screen. Muddy and dirty. Nakayuko at hindi makaharap sa screen.

"Hindi namin nagawa sa birthday mo yan!" nagpupuyos sa inis si Naia.

"Makakahanap din tayo ng mga picture niya. So embarassing mahihiya siyang lumabas" humalakhak kami pagkatapos ng palabas.

"As if you can" He smirked.

Sinenyasan kami ni Naia para tumayo. Oras na para magbago.

We expect a shining moon but instead a Lunar eclipse will pass above us. The moon became blood red.

I feel a tingling sensation inside me. My eyes change color deepening it's color. White fur grow out from my skin. My body changed. A furry tail grow behind me.

My surrounding became clearer. My senses heigtened. Eyes brighter, hearing sharper and I smell different senses at once.

The fish ponded reflected my image.

I became a wolf...

...my fur bathed in moonlight giving it a tinge of pink.

I noticed the grey wolf with gold eyes beside me.

Her fur has white streaks visible under the moonlight.

Bago pa matapos ang Lunar eclipse isang malakas na alulong ang pinakwalan namin galing sa lalamunan namin.

The sky welcomed us embracing our identities as her children, her descendant in a different form.

The first howl under the eclipse.

The first night of joining the Silver Knight pack.

The first shape shifting that we have.