The pack members don't seem to hold any fear. It could have something to do with the fluffy pup running in figure eights around my feet or my rank could have been released. On one hand I don't mind, for it keeps others from being too nervous around us, but on the other hand I don't enjoy the rank. It isn't something I want to be known as.

Zaeril guides Everett and I to the High Healer, while Fawl disappear. Apparently they don't have an alpha, however their high healer is from a high ranking family. I don't quite understand it, and it blows my mind that it is possible, but who am I to question it.

The center of the pack is a well worn area, the snowy ground all packed down from the constant stream of shifters. The cold air blows around scents, mixing them with other things I've never smelt before. It mildly puzzles us, however with it being a healing pack and all I shouldn't be surprised if they have secrets.

As I look around, I notice we are approaching a large shelter. It's built with big stone blocks, and some kind of moss is growing in the cracks.

The whole thing is raised on two layers of these stones, and a long plank rests on it at an angle. Zaeril walks up it, and I pick up Everett before following. 'Behave Everett. Please do not bounce around or go wandering off.'

He wags his tail, and tucks his head under my chin. 'Okie, Red!'

'Thank you.' I look down at the bundle of fur, and shift him slightly. Following the male into the shelter, I am pleasantly surprised.

The inside is warm with no drafts. There are a few small windows with actual glass. Not many packs choose glass for it is either too hard to make, too expensive to get or too hard to keep warm. There are a ton of plants everywhere, and braided rugs on the floor. Most of the furniture is elegantly carved wood, with detailed engravings.

I must have looked starstruck for Zaeril nods in agreement. "It's a beautiful place. The pack spares no expenses on comfort of patients. The pack members in general choose a less extravagant living style though."

The place is giant, for I see stairs leading to what must be an upstairs. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a downstairs either. The herbal, plant-like smell is all over, and the crackling of fires seem to be everywhere.

As Zaeril goes up to a hanging deer skin, before he even gets to a voice calls, "Come in."

The pelt is cut in half and he parts it, holding on end and offers me entrance. I murmur a thanks and step into the well lit room with Everett.

There is a male shifter sitting on a bench at a small rectangular table. There are plants hanging from the ceiling and lining the walls. On both sides a plant hangs, acting like a room separator. A giant tapestry is between them, embroidered with a full moon and two wolves facing each other. Both wolves have one paw forwards, bowing to each other. Underneath there is a text that reads: K'été qio've roqua loster uta aventus, healing shouldn't be forgotten within a journey.

"S'vela." I bend my neck to show acknowledgment of his power on the land. If one forgets it could been seen as a challenge to leadership—it is not taken lightly. Pups may have a harsher consequence, however it is ingrained into us before we shift, before our instincts tell us it is the proper thing to do.

"S'vela kanae. I am Healer Akana. What are you here for Luna Redaliya?" His brown eyes dig into me.

"Can I bring Everett into one of those rooms?" I motion towards the two side doors. As much as I want Everett in sight, he doesn't need to hear this. My wolf whines at the thought of leaving him there, but this would hurt him more.

"Of course."

"Everett, go on. We will only be a few moment." And through the mindlink I add in, 'Please be careful.'

'Can I stay?' His claws cling onto my dress as I try and set him down.

'Everett, listen to me and go. I won't leave without you. If you need me just link me and ask.' I move his paws and set him down. Lily starts to keep close tabs as he trots into the room head down, and tail drooping.

Turning towards the High Healer I start the short version, knowing there will be questions. "I am here for two things actually. The first is for Everett; the pup I sent into the other room. He shifted very recently on our way here and at his age he shouldn't be shifting. The second reason, the main reason why we were headed here is I would like to see if your pack can help me with a problem I have."

"I feel like this is going to be a long story. Take a seat, Luna Redaliya." He motions towards the bench in front of me.

I slide onto it. "What would you like to know?"

"Let's tackle it one at a time. How about we start with the main reason why you came, and then we can move onto the pup."

A feeling of dread settles into the pit of my stomach. My hands twitch nervously as I take a deep breath preparing myself mentally for what is to come. Lily tries to sooth me, but there is something more. I can feel my muscles relaxing, and I realize that Healer Akana must be the source. Focusing on him—which is rather hard with his scent almost completely blending in with the room—I find his dominance has diminished and a sense of calm seems to be radiating off of him.

"What is your problem?"

I bit my lip, eyes cast downward. My breaths are shaky and my thoughts seem to drift away, all muddled. Pulling my thoughts together, I try and formulate a coherent answer. "I am... cursed."

Healer Akana pauses, drumming his fingers on the table. He raises an eyebrow but motions for me to elaborate. I swallow thickly, my mouth feeling dry, and tension in my body returning. My eyes flit around, before settling on the plants in the background. "Cursed to, well... die.

"There must be more. We will all die, eventually. Who cursed you?" He puts his elbows on the table, clasping them together.

Cursed. Not many shifters can claim to be cursed, and for it to be true. Not many shifters can curse others either. It is said that one has to bargain with Lua Lupa, giving her something in return.

"To die at the hands of my own family. The Moon herself threw this upon me." I whisper the words. The room becomes silent as he takes in what I'm telling him.

"The Moon blessed you, and then cursed you?" He sounds perplexed and I can't blame him. I've had this conversation with myself multiple times. Why would I be born—as they say—blessed, only to be cursed again. Gifted with a burden, given something I don't know what to do with.

"Yes." Resentment laces my voice, as the feelings of despair and anxiety fill the pit in my stomach and wrap around every single bone.

"Luna Redaliya, we will see what we can to help. We are all children of the moon here."

"Thank you." I sigh, starting to slouch, but my back instantly straightens; straight as a board. Even when my mind is at a lost, the etiquette never leaves. The rules are always there, always present, and never changing.

"How about we talk about that pup of yours." Healer Akana prompts gently, his soothing voice making the worries move to the back of my mind. Right as I begin to speak, a scraping and scratching comes closer and closer. Looking down I see Everett bounding across the stone, over the rug, and brushing up against my legs.

"Everett," I reproach him softly. "I told you to stay there."

'It was tooooo long!' He whines, putting one paw over his muzzle. 'Sorryz Red.'

Picking him up I set him on the bench beside me. He puts his paws on the table, standing on his hind legs to see Healer Akana. He tilts his head and grins lopsidedly.

"Right on time." Looking up, somehow it's easier to talk when I'm looking out for someone else. "We were travelling here when we ran into a spirit bear. We must have gotten too close to it or something, for it attacked us. Everett must have shifted out of fear."

"It isn't unheard of for children to shift out of concern or fear, however the emotions must be very strong. Strong enough to trigger his wolf, awakening it early. How old is he?" Healer Akana looks at Everett, trying to calculate the possibilities.

"A loose fifty, fifty-six moon cycles maybe. I found him with no pack or family around, not even an old scent trail. My wolf wouldn't let me leave him, so I took him with me." It seems a lifetime ago, when Everett wasn't with me. I'm glad I didn't leave him. The best decision in my life.

The healer's eyes shoot up. "That's dangerous. Yes, we must take a look at him very soon. There could be... repercussions."

Everett barks, his tail waving happily. His eyes are bright amber; Crylle. Crylle seems to be pushing forward more than usual. I move his head over, tilting it up to look me in the eyes. The faded green in the background shows me Everett is there, but not fully.

"We should get your pup shifted for the night. I will set up a healer to find you tomorrow to look him over." His eyes fog over as he relays the message to some pack mate. "Ask him to shift."

"Crylle. Please let Everett come forward."

Crylle sits, tilting his head to the side. The green starts to overcome the honey colour, but then the green takes over again. Crylle whimpers, holding my gaze. Lily flashes, warning Crylle to back down. He looks away, but moments later meets my gaze again.

"Use your wolf, Luna Redaliya. Pups can be stubborn. Wolves who have shifted early, sometimes their wolves can be contrary."

'Crylle, let Everett come forward.' I push some power behind my words. "Shift."

I can see the battle between the two. The command slowly sinks in, what was once fur becomes skin, what was claws becomes nails, and I can see him taking the form of a boy. Swinging my bag over I dig out his clothing, unfurling them I help him into them.

His hands shake as he crawls into my lap, wrapping his arms around my neck. His heart is pounding against my chest, and I rub his back.

"I've called someone to show you to your room."

"Thank you." I nod and gathering my things. "We are very grateful for all you have to offer."

Not long after a she-wolf by the name of Healer Gryta. We follow her up a set of stairs, and are shown to a room, she hands me a folded package. Thanking her, we are left alone. I set Everett down on the bed across from the door, it is pushed into the corner.

"Everett, want to open the package?" I set it down on the bed beside him. He pulls at the strong holding it in place. Turning it over, I help him unfold the cloth. Inside I find a nightdress, and a set of nightwear for Everett.

"Put on?" Everett asks, pointing at the bundle. I hand them to him, I watch as he starts to change. Looking at Everett I grin, and kneel down to roll up the sleeves and the pant legs.

"Go get into the bed while I put this stuff away in the chest, okay?" I turn to the chest that is at the end of the bed. Taking out the cloaks I toss them onto the stool near the dresser. "Would you like some water before we sleep?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Everett claps, cheering, and kicks his legs as they dangle.

"Okay, calm down, Ev. There are other shifter in the house." Taking out the bowl from the bag, I take up Everett in the other arm. Opening our door, I follow the scent down the hall. My feet pad along the cold stone, my shoes still in the room.

Lily helps me find the exit. Walking out to the tree line I find a path of untouched snow. Scooping it up into the bowl, I bring it back to the room. It melts by the time I settle Everett back on the bed.

Holding it to his lips I let him sip it, and once he is done I finish it off. Flattening the cloth that wrapped our nightclothes, I place it over the bed as an extra layer. Tucking Everett in, I shed the stiff dress, and Lily surges forwards. My bones creak in protest, but give way to the shift. I jump up onto the bed beside Everett, resting my head on my paws.

I feel sore all over, my body is not happy with the constant shifting back and forth. My paw pads ache and my muscles protest. Shifting this often is rare for me. I never used to shift more than a few times a day—if at all—and shifting is only easy if you do it a lot.

Turning onto my side, I stretch my legs out, sprawling over the bed. Caging Everett so he is between the wall and me, I can hear his breathing become slower. Poor pup, he must be exhausted. I can't blame him see as is newly shifted, almost drowned, and ran in circles most of the way here. It's amazing he didn't completely collapse before this.

Lily lets out a huff, settling down herself. She lets me know she'll watch over us while we sleep. Closing my eyes, I find the balance. The lightness embraces me and I find myself in the mindscape, the place where Lily resides. I've heard from others it looks like a mountain, and others it's a river. But to me it's a giant meadow, with soft grasses, bright blooming flowers, and trees encase the area. It is neither dark nor light, it just is.

The border is still fully intact, I always test it just to be sure. It is what splits Lily's thoughts, intentions, her overall being from mine. The healers at the Vera pack taught me to check it once in a while, if I say in the mindscape for long periods of time.

I go up to Lily and throw my arms around her. She stands up, placing her head on my shoulder.

"I'm scared for tomorrow. What if there is something wrong with Everett." Running my hands through her soft pelt, I feel her whining in understanding. The aura she sends are reassuring. She cannot speak, but words aren't needed to convey the feelings we share. She knows what I want, what I need without me telling her. Lily is very intuitive, instinct based, though she doesn't understand a lot of what the shifters do while in their skin. I filter most of it for her, she peers into my thoughts and memories to form an understanding.

I lie down in the grass, a melancholy calmness taking over. The serenity of the place is addicting and I feel like I could stay here forever. Lily puts her head on my stomach as she joins me in resting.

The sensation of dropping fills me.

I'm dumped into a sea of ice cold water. Splashing and kicking, the waves crash down. Gasping for air, I try and stay afloat. Looking around I try and scout out my location. A giant boat is rocking in the waves, the salty water runs down my throat as I scream. There seem to be shifters on the boat, and they are yelling. The lanterns on the deck swing, some of them going out with the winds.

This isn't me.

I take a deep breath and I'm floating. Observing. The visions sometimes do that, though I can still taste the salt.

I watch the boat rock precariously from side to side. The thundering clouds boom and the lightning cracks across the sky. The winds whisper harshly, but I can't make out the words. The importance of the vision is unknown to me, however I can't get out of it. I have to watch. Shifters are going under and not surfacing, though some manage to reach the boats swaying rope ladders. A few make it up, but more often than not the boat tips, throwing them off.

A flash of lightning strikes the mast, illuminating the sail. The name of the boat is the Antyme, path. The fire flares with the winds only to go out with the next crashing wave. It sizzles, fighting to stay alive. The shifters on the boat are running around, securing boxes, and holding onto the sides for dear life.

I blink and it's gone. Lily looks up as I sit up, leaning back to rest on my hands. My breathing is uneven, as I watch Lily tilt her head trying to process the memories; I can sense her confusion.

In the past other Lupaena Lua share their 'gifts' with their wolves, however mine seems to affect only me and not Lily. I should be glad that she doesn't have to live through the visions. She doesn't deserve it by any means. If only she wasn't subjected to my curse as well. It was my complete choice, my hands that are stained, but she has to live with my decision.

"I don't know Lilathea." I scratch behind her ears, her full name having a foreign feeling to it. "I think it's time for me to leave this sanctuary, and sleep. I'm not sure how much time has passed."

~~~

Hello! First of all, if you are here, thank you so much for reading! I love hearing all the comments and ideas. I'm trying to encourage more activity--especially from the silent readers--but I tend to be fairly bad at remembering to add questions at the end of my chapters.

In any event, today I'll inquire about your thoughts are on the length of the chapters and what you think of the characters  so far :)