noun ~ a thick cloud of tiny water droplets near the earth's surface that obscures visibility

NOVA

A sharp gasp evaded me as a vision struck me. Looking around, my eyes were wide as I tried to see through the fog. I was in a dark forest; the stars blurring and shifting in the sky above me. I went to take a step but stumbled, the damp atmosphere causing my lungs to constrict. My breath puffed out in front of me, my arms wrapping around my body as a chill seeped into my bones.

"Hello?" I called.

Nobody answered, and I hissed as I traipsed my way through the dense trees. It was rocky and uneven, and I had to guide myself along the tree branches to find my way around without falling. My teeth were chattering, fingers turning white with cold as I walked through this damn forest in only a t-shirt and leggings.

Could my vision not prepare me better? Give me a coat next time?

I huffed as I came to a small clearing, looking up at the sky to gauge where I was. The sight of a full moon startled me. The moment I saw it through the fog, a sharp cry echoed through the trees. Dread settled in my stomach, pooling with unease at the terrifying noise.

"Help me!"

It was... Calida?

My blood ran cold at the sound of a snarl.

She was in trouble.

Without thinking, I ran. The once uneven ground seemed to smooth out, and I ran as though I was gliding on ice. I followed the sound of growling and panicked cries. Calida's cries turned from terror to pain, sobs escaping her with the smell of her tears. I stumbled to a stop, panic lacing my heart.

"Calida!" I called, hoping that this vision was one where I was physically present.

"Nova! Charlie! Please!" She sobbed before something cut her voice off.

The snarl returned, as did the scent of blood. I changed my direction, finding the position had moved further to the left. This time when I ran, the twigs and roots of trees stood in my way. It slowed me down, tripping me over until my hands became bloodied with pain. My knees were muddy, clothes soaked in the damp, frosty mud.

My blood boiled, the cold no longer eating at my skin as I ran. My wolf was growling, fur sprouting on my skin as the fresh scent of pain and blood met my nose.

What's going on? I gasped.

Celimene paced, wanting to shift. 'I am unsure.'

Suddenly, Calida's cries vanished, and an eery quiet echoed around the forest. My pace slowed, breath ragged as I came to the source of the blood. There, beneath a large willow tree, were fresh patches of blood. Calida's clothes lay ragged, smeared with blood and the scent of fear. There was a large mound of dirt and matted hair and horror settled into my bones.

Sticks cracked from behind the tree, and I looked up with bated breath. Through the dark, dense fog of the trees, a wolf emerged. It was deep brown, with a greyish white underbelly. Its front paws were as grey as its underbelly, but its back two were the same dark brown. It growled as it emerged, claws curving into the damp soil beneath it. Blood coated its claws and jowls and I swallowed harshly as its dark eyes wandered.

It lowered its head, growling toward the other side of the clearing. Another deeper growl sounded, one with more authority, and I turned just in time to see a brown wolf come from behind another tree. I instantly recognised this wolf. Its fur was a rich chocolate, ears tipped with a dark brown, so dark it was near-black in this low-lighting.

The moon shone above us as the two wolves stared at each other. Dread pooled in my stomach, my eyes darting between the two of them. Charlie's fur was clean of blood, whereas the strange wolf was covered in it.

It stepped over the remains of what looked like Calida, digging its claws into the dirt and kicking it over her blood-soaked clothes. I swallowed harshly, unsure what on earth was going on.

The strange wolf had its head bent, sniffing and growling at Charlie's wolf. Charlie rose his head, baring his teeth at it in return. There was another snap of twigs, followed by heavy pants of breath. Then there, from the trees, came my wolf.

I stared, wide-eyed, at myself. I was coated in blood; my paws, my legs, my muzzle, and even the back of my neck were dripping with it. My wolf came from opposite me, slowing its pace as it came into the clearing between the two wolves. Charlie's wolf lowered its head at my growl, submitting, rather unhappily, to my demand of control.

The strange wolf, however, bared its teeth and snapped its jaws at me. Its tail flicked angrily, hackles up, head lowered as it took a threatening step closer. My wolf rose her head, snarling with blood coated teeth as it tried to dominate. She stepped in front of Charlie, so she was facing the strange wolf's head on.

I swallowed down the fear. The fog coming down from the sky hindered my vision. I could see the large puffs of air from the three beasts, hear their racing hearts and angry breaths as they fought for control.

The strange wolf lowered itself, and before I could react further, it launched across the clearing. But just as my wolf's jaws collided with its shoulder, the vision swirled.

I gasped as the world fell away from me, only to land back on earth. I blinked, trying to clear the fog that had somehow wound its way into my mind here. My eyes burned, hands shaking as I came back to reality.

I first saw Calida, only a mere foot away from me, as she retracted her hand. Her eyebrows furrowed, looking down at her fingers with confusion. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry as I looked at her.

She was alive.

She was right here.

It was only a vision.

"Nova?" Phoenix called. "Nova, you're shaking. What happened?"

I could feel myself shivering, still bitter from the cold, as though it had followed me here. My fingers felt as numb as my heavy tongue, and I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

"I-I'm okay." I breathed.

Shaking my head, I focused my attention on Freddy. He was writhing against me, his mouth seeking comfort through my t-shirt. Annabelle had cried in unison, the two of them so intertwined that it made everything a double task.

"I'm going to go feed them." I mumbled. "It will only take ten minutes."

I noticed how everyone was staring at me with concern. I went to stand beside Charlie for my daughter, but he was already standing and shaking his head at me.

"I'll bring her for you."

I clenched my jaw, biting back the possessiveness that wanted to rip her from his arms. Instead, I forced a smile and turned to leave the room. The hairs on my neck stood on end. Charlie's footsteps followed behind me and I was aware of the various eyes on my back as I walked up the stairs. I led him to my room, and he shut the door softly behind me as he entered.

"Nice room." He mused, looking out at the large windows.

"Thanks." I sighed, sliding into the gigantic bed.

I reached for Annabelle with a small smiled. He passed me to her carefully before sitting on the edge of the bed. I was halfway in lifting my shirt when I noticed he wasn't going anywhere. I frowned, hesitating in my next moves.

"I just wanted to talk to you alone for a moment. I can leave if you want..." He muttered, looking down.

My jaw tensed, but I recognised the strange behaviour. His shoulders sagged, and I could see the intense look in his eyes. It reminded me of the time he came to me in the cosy room when I was pregnant.

"It's okay... I've just never..." I swallowed. "Turn around."

His soft chuckle met my ears, and I paused once more before lifting my shirt and situating the ever-hungry infants. A sharp hiss left my lips at the contact, still sore from the new experience, and I did my best to breathe through it.

"What's wrong Charlie? You followed me into my bedroom." I exhaled.

He shrugged, and I stared at the back of his head with confusion when I received no response. My mind link suddenly caught my attention and I let my mate into my mind with ease. I felt him probe my mind, searching my surroundings.

'Everything okay?' Phoenix wondered.

Charlie is acting strange. He seems... sad.

Phoenix hummed. 'He is on my bed.'

He is on our bed. I smirked. But something isn't right.

Phoenix sighed. 'See if you can get it out of him. He talks to you more than anyone.'

I agreed softly, cutting the link off so he couldn't distract me anymore. I left our bond open, though, allowing him to come and go as he pleased. He remained attuned to me, just basically on mute.

"Right. You said you wanted to talk. So... talk." I deadpanned.

"Do you think I will ever be a father?"

I blinked, once, twice, thrice... My eyes crinkled with confusion, my lips parting as I tried to make sense of what was just asked. It was so random, so abrupt, that I needed a good five minutes to understand that he just asked me about his parentage.

"Charlie... I... I don't..."

He sighed, falling onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. His head rested against my ankle, hair falling across his forehead before he squeezed his eyes shut. His hand moved to pinch between his eyes, a loud grumbling sigh leaving his throat.

"I don't know either." He muttered. "I wondered if you had seen anything about my future. You know, when you touched Calida, you had that weird gasping vision look."

"I did have a vision, but I don't... What makes you think you will never be a father?" I wondered.

He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Our relationship is no closer. She has almost distanced herself more since her diagnosis."

"What happened after I made you talk to her?"

"We had a moment." He shrugged. "But then she went back to being reserved."

"What do you think changed?" I probed, ignoring the sudden tiny hands that grabbed at the collar of my shirt. "How did you grow close just for her to distance herself?"

His temple rippled as his jaw tightened. "We spoke about what she wanted, and her feelings... She thought she had offended you, but it turns out she was just insecure in her status here. So I told her straight. I told her she didn't have to live like a puppet anymore, and if she truly felt like she didn't belong, then she should find somewhere she will."

"So you told her that and she was... happy?"

"No..." He shook his head. "I told her I adored her, and would stick by her choice no matter what she chose because she had her own life. I cannot control her, Nova, I cannot force myself on her. She is a human. Wolves may have raised her, but she has never truly lived a life of her own."

My heart warmed at his words, tears brimming in my eyes. Charlie truly was sensitive, and I knew if I was Calida, I would cry at his admissions. I mean, I already was.

"Did you tell her you loved her?"

"No." He laughed.

"Do you love her?"

"Of course I do... She is my mate!" He scoffed. "But..."

"But?" My eyes widened.

He groaned. "I barely know her, Nova. She doesn't let me touch her, she doesn't let me in... I have tried and I don't know what else to do."

"Just keep being you." I told him. "Don't change yourself for someone, Charlie. Calida may just need time to process. You admitted something that is obviously big to her because she reacted in a good way. Maybe she is thinking it over."

"It's killing me, Nova." He whined. "I just want her. Not even to mate her, I just want to hold her, to sleep beside her at night. My wolf craves her, cries for her, and there is nothing we can do. I don't want to spook her."

I sniffed, forcing back the tears. His head reared then, rolling backward, so he was staring at me upside down. I let out a noise of complaint, but he ignored me, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Are you crying?" He frowned.

"Maybe!" I cleared my throat. "I am allowed to cry."

"Okay, okay..." He chuckled. "I didn't realise I upset you."

"It's just... post-natal hormones." I sighed. "I cry, I get angry, I get sleepy..."

"I get it, I get it." He smirked, looking away. "You're doing great, Nova. But..."

"But?" I scowled, again.

"You need a shower."

"I wash myself!" I scoffed.

"Sure your body is clean, but when is the last time you did your hair?" He scolded me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, jutting my chin out in defiance. "The day after I gave birth..."

"That was nearly a week ago. Have you even brushed it?"

"Charlie!" I complained.

"Hey now, don't go making those noises before Phoenix gets the wrong idea." He warned me, sitting up.

I couldn't help but laugh, but it only resulted in confusing the twins awake. I settled myself down, my body shaking softly with light giggles.

"I will leave you to it." Charlie rose from the bed. "I don't want to disturb their nap. Plus, I need to work on a good nickname for them."

"Not you too." I protested.

He grinned, shooting me a wink before disappearing out of my bedroom. I sighed, settling back into the pillows. The moment I was alone, my mind raced with the images of my vision. I had seen so much in a matter of one second earth-side.

Calida appeared dead.

Charlie's wolf.

Celimene covered in blood.

What did it mean?

Question of the Day:
You've been sick for a few days and finally you have an appetite, what's the first food you want to eat?