Eerie silence loomed over the forest – the moon sleeping, the nocturnal creatures hiding. Even the usually lurking beasts knew that much and dared not disturb the massacre that was about to unfold.

The tense atmosphere encasing it foretold the storm approaching.

The timid rustling of leaves and the delicate notes of wind chimed to the silent whoosh of a shy breeze, gently tickling the tiny patches of skin left exposed, whispering its harmlessness peacefully.

Perhaps, an attempt to calm growing tension with its gentleness.

The polished metal gleamed under the reflection of the fire burning slowly on the edges of the box that carried glorious thieves as the carriage advanced through the forest.

The shabby, wooden carts, dragged by frail and starved bodies, brimmed with rare goods. The horsemen kept circling the exhausted peasants as they bit down on their pain, trying to calm the distressed, restless animals.

Such foolishness of them to ever consider passing through these woods and depart intact.

"Go." The gentle whisper was a firm command to the creature. Wings unfurled, it headed toward the big box. Its black body turned invisible before disappearing as suddenly as it appeared, blowing out the flickering flames.

Darkness, silence, tension.

Fear.

The air stilled before a horse shrieked which was soon followed by other distressed neighs. The guards frantically scurried to the carriage. After surrounding it, their eyes kept flitting around, looking for any possible danger before another high-pitched shriek resonated within the vacancy of the uninhabited forest.

A heartbeat.

Then, the attackers left their hiding spots and jumped at the enemy. 

Ashelia observed the fight unfold from behind the safety of the branches and leaves. Her warriors needed this.

An aggravated huff was emitted before she discarded her hiding spot to aid Alexander before he lost his life. After sending him to the carts alongside the other kids, she let her claws sink deep into the flesh of everyone that dared hurt her pack, anyone that was arrogant enough to take her one on one.

Her reputation preceded her. She was the enforcer, the vigilante, the savior. She was also the infamous outlaw, the thief, the menace to the rich, the rogues, the heartless.

Ashelia inhaled deeply. The smell of death was pungent, sickening, satisfying.

The beast inside her reveled in it.

Her ears strained, enjoying the wild heartbeats of the figures cowering inside of the luxury of their ride.

The door was flung open and thrown a good distance away. Shrill screams jarred her eardrums before her threatening growl rendered them speechless. "Out!"

A woman clambered out, towing her daughter behind, both tripping on their satin gowns. "Your husband?"

"Back at the castle," the mother squeaked out. Tears streamed down her flushed face as she clung to her daughter, both trembling. "He had some urgent business to tend to."

"Coward," Ashelia grunted before grabbing a hesitant horse and shoving it their way. "Relay this message to your beloved husband: one day, I'm going to have your head." After they climbed atop it, she slapped the animal into motion.

The guards were slaughtered mercilessly while the peasants huddled together, cowering by the carts. Her nose scrunched up as the pervasive stench of urine invaded her airways. Ashelia took slow, careful steps as she headed their way. She met their skeptic eyes with electric blues that stunned them into listening.

"We offer you two options. You can go back from where you came, or you can join us. We do promise to offer you protection and justice. No man, woman, or child shall be treated unfairly." Her voice boomed, carrying over the small clearing. "Lycan or human, we are all living beings. We will eradicate all the rogues and give you back your homes. Rest assured, we won't stop until every single one of them is reduced to nothing but ash."

With a final nod, she turned and left.

Her pack members loaded the goods on the remaining horses, and the ragged, country dwellers that were willing to escape the mistreatment of their masters idled behind, questioning their decisions.

The ones who refused to come along were handed some food before they dragged their carts back home accompanied by uninjured fighters to ensure their safety until their awaited destination.

"Efû." 

At her gentle call, the owl appeared out of nowhere in a faint, purple mist. He shook his feathers, paws protruded and his body grew until the gryphon settled on the ground, wings tucked at his sides. 

Mounting him, Ashelia patted his feathers lovingly; soft satisfied purrs filled her ears as everyone piled around her, taking their positions.

'Luck befalls you with my befitting presence, little one, for no horse will ever let you ride it.' His teasing prompted a playful jab to his side which evoked rich hoots from him.

"Quieten down, now, Efû, and lead the way. Everyone is rather exhausted after such exertion." Another light stroke to the fur beneath her fitting, stretch trousers, nudged him forward. Her head was tilted to the side as she glanced at the others around them. "Let's get moving."

Slowly, and as the shock wore off, the anxious newcomers scurried into motion and followed after her despite the reluctance evident across their pallid faces.

Time seemed to pass in a blur.

Ashelia still remembered the first and the last time she witnessed a blue moon occur. She was five. Her father had disappeared after nearly choking her mother to death.

Despite the bruises, the two still enjoyed the beautiful night.

"You were born on a night like this, my sweet child." her mother had such a melodic voice that could soothe the deepest of pains and heal the worst of scars. "With the moon so high up in the sky, no stars, and azure rays scattered over these vast lands."

Ashelia had stuffed all memories of her mother into the furthest corner of her mind. She didn't want to remember, couldn't handle the weight of such recollections - not when she felt betrayed.

Her mother hadn't reached out to her since the night she escaped. Ashelia still liked to believe that she was watching over her, just as she'd told her.

Every time she stared at the moon, she liked to imagine her mother instead, with her soft hums and soothing lullabies.

Silver rays caressed her skin as she enjoyed a stroll alongside Efû. She needed some peace and quiet away from the boisterous pack that wouldn't stop growing. Too many responsibilities, too much bloodshed, she had to sneak away to keep her sanity intact.

'A rabbit for your thoughts?'

Ashelia blinked back into focus. "Let's head to the lake."

An excited screech emanated from his beak before he clasped the back of her tunic and zoomed toward their favorite spot. She giggled, gripping his neck tightly.

The surface sparkled, glowing under the moonlight. 

Deciding to go for a swim early in the morning, the two of them lounged by the gigantic tree instead. Efû curled on the ground, allowing her to lay her head on his side. The gentle chime of the breeze lulled them to sleep and soon, their muscles loosened as soft snores slipped out.

The wind ruffled her hair and tickled his feathers. Goosebumps rose on her skin but neither moved, too relaxed to bother with the chill.

It was an abrupt crunch that disrupted their peace.

Their eyes flew open. Mauve swirled dangerously while blue flickered like hungry flames. Ashelia jumped to her feet, not bothering to be silent or careful. Someone was watching them from behind the treeline. She could sense it.

"Only cowards watch from the shadows," she called, squaring her shoulders and crouching down in a defensive stance.

A large wolf, darker than the night, with eyes bluer than the skies, waltzed out. She stilled as sparks were ignited all over her body, setting her soul ablaze. 

Sweat gathered atop her brows.

Efû rumbled beside her, his body curving around hers as he snarled.

The wolf tilted its head to the side before morphing into a man, tall, broad, and very rugged. Her heart stuttered as every part of her screamed in warning.

His hair was long, reaching past his shoulders, messy and tangled. Black and white were woven in his strands, proof of his age. His chest was scarred, and his leg was injured as he limped forward before halting when a growl rose from deep within her.

Their eyes connected and she was nearly knocked off her feet. So blue, so vivid, so...so intense that they dug a hole in her soul.

"Who are you and what is it that you seek?" Her voice was firm, booming in the open space despite the war raging within.

The man didn't budge, his stoic expression never wavered. He'd heard stories about her, the flame of justice, the savior of the weak, and the slayer of the rogues. She was younger than he expected and look too familiar but he couldn't place the resemblance.

His eyes were cold and lifeless as he stared at her. "You have no idea who I am, do you?"

"Neither do you," she growled, feeling her claws protrude and her canines stick out involuntarily. Her temperature increased drastically. With a groan, Ashelia collapsed to the ground.  

'Lia,' Efû nudged her. 'Lia!'

Her vision had blurred, and when she glanced at the man, there was nothing but emptiness - an emptiness that consumed her whole.

Perhaps, he was a figment of her imagination.

Word count: 1580.

Total word count: 30061.

Note:

This chapter brings us back to the prologue. Gosh darn it, it's a mess.

INFO:

Blue Moons occur once every two to three years.

(in this chapter, however, it is mentioned that the blue moon hasn't occurred ever since the day Ashelia was born up until this moment.)