Everett pauses in his storytelling, Crylle keeping a sharp eye on Ev'ring to see if it ever became too much. "Have you ever heard the term Lupaena Lua?" The words, even now are strange on his tongue. When he was a pup he was oblivious to most of the troubles his guardian was facing; she always appeared strong before him. Only in the letter, he received from Frayler when he was old enough to understand did he truly understand. The stories his parents—Iket and Litae—told him what they knew, but it wasn't much.

Little Ev'ring shook his head, his curious eyes watching and observing all; no wolf, he would be a force when he did shifter. "It means Red was blessed by Lua Lupa."

"She had a curse?" Ev'ring points out, recalling what he heard previously.

"Yes, she did. In a way, she had two curses. Her gift from Lua Lupa caused her much pain. She ended up, as she put it 'staining her hands' and for that, she was cursed by Lua Lupa." Everett shakes his leg, still unsure about how much to disclose.

"She hurt someone."

Everett nods, "She did Ev'ring, she hurt someone dear to her. And in turn, she was hurt."

"They should forgive her, not hurt. Mumma says that if someone teases me, I shouldn't do it back." Ev'ring crosses his arms, staring at his mother. "She says it isn't good... isn't good manners."

"Your Mother is right in your circumstances, but Red's was very unique. You don't have to worry about it." She hurt and was hurt in turn. It was how Lua Lupa compensated, though as unfair as it seemed no one could change it, she worked in ways no one could completely understand. Lua Lupa took and gave, keeping the balance. Everett had pondered over the issue on many sleepless nights, rereading Red's letter so every word would be ingrained within his mind.

Little Ev tugs on his grandfather's shirt, his young but sharp mind at work. "You call Red, guardian. She no Mumma?"

Everett smiles softly, patting the young pup on the hair, and ruffling his hair. Crylle seemed to perk his ears up as he did as a pup despite the many moons he had walked the earth. "How about I tell you how I got with Red." This tale was one he only remembered later on, when memories slowly returned moon cycles later. Bits and pieces, fragments slowly repairing themselves with the help of his ruminating.

"Yes! Tell, tell!"

"Red left me a letter for when I was older. She trusted my cousin Frayler to deliver it to me when I was old enough." Everett stops as the glint in Little Ev's eyes tell of another question to come.

"Why didn't Great Grandpawww and Great Grandmaw get the letter?" Little Ev points out.

"I don't know for sure, but from what Frayler told me was that she and Redaliya spend more time together. Red trusted her more than your grandparents with the letter. She knew that they adored me, and even though they promised to tell me stories of her, she was still a bit scared they wouldn't give me the letter." Everett had thought of this and it seemed reasonable. He remembered liking Iket and Litae, however, it was clear even to his newly-shifted self that there was tension between Red and the mated pair.

Enze stands up, seeing the afternoon starting to wane and having already heard these tales, "I'm going to get the stew warming up."

"Do you need help?" Ansley offers, already straightening her dress to get up.

"Stay and listen, love, I've got it."

Everett watches his pup leave but soon starts again on the tale. "Well, in the letter she wrote, she told me that she had found me near the Vera pack in Lua Ither'ryve land. Do you know what that is Ev'ring?" He shook his head, so Everett explained. "It's a land that is a treasure that shifters tend to use for burial sites. The land has to be left untouched long enough so that moonlight can shine down on the earth, and somehow it accumulates and sets in."

"We has that! My teacher Tria says that is it part of our territory that we don't go on without permission." Little Ev holds his head high, proud that he knew that.

"Yes, those lands are hard to come by, so we must be careful with them." A feeling of great melancholy, mixed with happiness blossomed in his chest at seeing his grandpup so joyful. Yet even after all these years, he wished he could have spoken to Red when he knew more. "Well, Red found me and decided that she couldn't just leave a pup alone and she took me with her."

"What about before that? Has to be somethin' before that."

Everett chuckles, this pup didn't miss a beat. "It took me a long time to remember, and for all I know it is a false memory, but I can tell you what I think happened." When the pup nods enthusiastically Everett pauses, debating on how to word this—Ev'ring no matter how bright is still a young pup. "Well, I think the pack I was born into was on the run, trying to get away from something or someone. I remember a loud growl, and when I was older it reminded me of a situation I had with Red when we encountered a spirit bear. I suppose the bear must have attacked the pack I was born into."

Little Ev has wide eyes as he has only ever heard of these creatures. Bears tended to stay away from the scent markers of the pack, unwilling to challenge so many wolves, for packs are protective of their future generations.

"My thought is that the pack scattered and that many had young children that couldn't shift and were probably untrained in fighting or tracking. I probably hit my head or was dropped and then blacked out, for I don't remember much. Only growls and the sudden panic that washed over the pack. My guess is that my mother thought I was dead from my lifeless form and placed me in an area where the moon has been concentrated on the land, and then ran with the pack, hoping to get away." It wasn't hard to put together. After recalling his forced shift it just sparked a memory of another roar and the pounding of paws on the ground. Shouts in the background and then a sense of unaware-awareness of shifters dropping things and then being picked up.

"Why leave you? No take you with and get healed?" Little Ev moves so he is leaning against the side of the chair while his legs are across Evertt's lap. His grandfather's blonde hair is thick and messy, reaching up to feel his own it's also been upturned.

That was the question, though Everett wasn't exactly unhappy for it brought him to Red and then Litae and Iket. "They probably didn't have a Healer, Ev'ring. But I am happy, for if they didn't leave me, who knows where I would be today. And now I have a lovely family, and a very smart grandpup sitting right beside me."

Little Ev grins up at his grandfather, his eyes sparkling with an intelligence that seemed to be special to him.

***

The winds are blowing, my hair as I settle down on a fallen log. The log is slightly damp from the light rain the previous night. Rubbing my fingers along the soft mosses it reminds me that everything is blooming now that the cold spells are over; the snow is almost gone from the grounds with only a few piles here and there. These times where the ground is ever so muddy, I am glad for the new way of travel—through the trees. It has been a bit since I was taught, however, practicing every day really does help.

Picking at the red berries to eat, they are sweet on my tongue. Mixing it with the dry, tough taste of dried rabbit it works well.

Getting up I make my way onto the cleared area. The patches where the sun hits directly are warm and dry. Laying down, my bag within an arm's reach, I soak up the light. The past days have been damp and rainy while the nights are not much better.

In my silence the birds chip and squirrels chatter, running on branches and building their nests. The sky is clear and blue, if I could stay here I would be content. Yet the tug within me pulls me away from this peace, no it will not let me rest until it seems me to the end.

The very end.

Drifting off my curse is at work once again. The forest is dimly light, a slow fog rolling in. I know it is just a dream for I am only observing and the fact that there is no clearing. A form comes through, the face is blurry, however, this male is carrying a body; a young boy. He takes out a knife, I want to move back however I am rooted in place. I want to shout, to scream at the shifter to not, but I cannot.

Cutting into the boy who looks no older than Everett and emptying his insides out, I gag. It's bloody, so bloody and a mix of who knows what else. The horrific site doesn't end, for he dumps the boy's body all disembowelled and bleeding into the pile of entrails. The bones protruding are fragmented, broken in awkward angles, and the heart is attached to the body but dropped onto the earth. The dark dirt coats it all, giving it an even more grimy and defiled look.

The male wipes the knife on the dying grass, and as he leaves I am pulled after.

"Survivors?" the gruff voice is demanding and cold.

"Found the boy's older sister. She's a healer, newly shifter. Slammed her head into the floor, won't be waking up for a while. Want me to slit her throat too, Alpha?"

The Alpha shakes his head. "A Healer you say. Good thing we got her or else she might have gone to those stupid healing packs for protection. Make sure she doesn't remember a thing about her past. I want her mated to my son when she is old enough. Kill all other survivors."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Alpha?"

"Do not question my orders," he snarls, eyes flashing—his wolf only seems partially there.

"Yes, whatever you say, Alpha." The male wanders off, weaving around dead bodies; males, females, pups, no one was to be spared—save for this young female. Like the boy, these bodies seem to be desecrated, yet not spilt over the earth. "What would you like done with the bodies?"

The Alpha flicks his hand carelessly, "Dump them outside the territory, make sure that the Alpha and Beta pair are strung up in the trees just outside the border. I want my neighbours to know my warning. We wouldn't want to soil my new lands. Let the neighbouring packs deal with them if they must, but don't make it easy."

A drop, something cold.

A thick rope is tied around the neck of what I assume is the Alpha and Beta pair's wolves. I cannot tell the colour of their coat, for their pelts are shredded and covered in a red-brownish thick liquid. The new Alpha pulls out a knife and slices the wolves open, spilling the insides everywhere. Not caring if it splashes on himself he mutilates each one so by the end it looks more like something that vaguely resembles a ball of fur. Throwing the rope over a tree branch they haul the bodies up in different trees one by one, the entrails dangling from the forms. They sway as they are left there until someone or something comes to get them.

Another drop, it splashed my face and trickles down my nose.

Blinking it try and see where it is coming from. The scene dissolves as my eyes slowly peel back to reveal a blue sky. Small droplets trickle down, the sun still shining bright with its welcoming rays. Sitting up and leaning on to hands I watch as a rainbow forms, the multicoloured phenomenon spreading beautifully across the sky.

The rain brings out the forests smells, letting the flowers' aroma mingle with the trees and earth. It's a perfect balance of earthiness and the fragrances of the local plants. Lily basks in the weather, enjoying this rare site before us. If one cannot enjoy the sound of rain, the scents of the forest, the promises of the sunrise or sunset, then maybe it is time to pause. Pause and just listen.

I forget about my curse, just staring into the sky while taking deep breaths. A heartfelt sorrow seems to find its way into my thoughts as I admire nature's allure. A dreamlike state takes me away as I remember the happy times of my childhood. When Nya'dein would grab my hand and drag me around to see all the blooming flowers. She would take my hand and have me touch the petals to show soft they were while spouting facts that she had gathered. We had such fun running around and at times we would see other pups, though our parents tended to keep us home. Only when the sun was setting or hunger poked at us we would head back.

The rain starts to fall harder, swirling wisps making their way into the area and obscuring the sun. I tear my eyes away, the vibrant colours fade into light grey clouds. Standing up with a sigh, bag slung over my shoulder I brush off any dirt that may be lingering. Heading into the forest, I move along as silently as I can.

The Canee pack should be a few days travel, depending on how much ground I could cover. Times like this I am glad most Solus took to other areas or stayed around the Ne'mains; it made it easier to avoid them.

Scaling a tree, I decide to keep practicing. It is very likely that I'd have to stop by one of those camps, and I'd rather be adept at this form of locomotion before then. The bark is damp, and the hem of my dress is muddy and ruined, but it matters not. Patting my pockets out of habit, I touch the flint and steel, making sure my only access to fire is still present.

Is it even a good idea to go and see Everett? Would it be too hard? What will Iket and Litae say... but when have I ever needed their permission. A voice in my mind whispers, reminding me Everett isn't mine. I gave that up when I put him into their care. He isn't mine and that hurts. He isn't mine to keep, but I will always hold him in my heart. The little pup somehow managed to get both me and Lily ensnared. I would go to the end of the world to protect him, and that's why I must leave him. To stay would be to hurt him more than leaving, but I would keep my promise. A promise I wouldn't be able to make again.

I'm not sure if the days leading up to my visit with Everett would drag on far too long or be over way too soon. With each branch I set my eyes on, with each jump I take, with each tree I successfully land in it brings me closer to my inkaer, and closer to my last breath.

The winds whistle as it brushes past I swear I can hear a melodic voice. A voice so soft that the edge of harshness seems all but fake. "One can make a difference. One can change it all. One will be born to lead." It drones on, always faint but never gone. "I care more than the living can know. Balance is what I keep. Remember that little wolf. Remember what you did and know. A life for a life."

I want to go faster, to leave the wind behind, but that isn't possible. It is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "Haven't I done enough?" No, and I know. Maybe my delusions are finally here or my imagination really did get carried away. Perhaps my family was always right and I needed to stop daydreaming, but here I am.

"A life for a life, little wolf. A lupaena lua should know that better than other luae lupaes." How I hated hearing those words. If I could be a luae lupaes—a child of the moon—like all other shifters and not a lupaena lua—a moon born—how things would have been different.

"That pup would never have come into your life." The coaxing words resonate as I realize the truth in the statement. The conflict of thoughts and emotions are bombarding. "Accept it little wolf." I let a growl slip, Lily surprisingly is silent throughout. "Balance." My wolf, why I didn't feel it before? A feeling of heaviness adds onto me as I take each step. Feeling her now feels like we are a few paces apart. Instead of touching her and standing side by side we are now standing apart.

"Balance." The words get even quiet and now I'm not even sure if they are even there. "Rest with the moon and dance among the stars. Balance is what I keep."

"What if I don't want to rest with the moon and dance among the stars!" The streak of defiance hits me hard. One tear trickles down my face, but I don't let anymore fall. This time my tone is despondent, "What if I just want to live..."

"Balance. Consequence. Equilibrium."

"You give me a blessing only to curse me! You give me visions only for me to be unable to interfere! You give me my Everett only to force me to give him away! You only leave me with questions and give me no answers! Why can't I just live?" And with an ever more defeated tone, I repeat the question, "Why... Why can't I just live."

This whole day has been too much, everything piling with realizations that I am walking towards my doom. From the start, I knew my time was slipping away, but now the courage I had when I was running is now fleeing from me. Looking death in the face is daunting, but walking towards it just misery. Knowing that you are leaving those you care about, not knowing where the next path leads, yet on you walk, alone.

"Balance. Consequence. Equilibrium."