The Girl in the Woods

Chapter 12

Days passed and Prince Darvyn became busy when King Weston commanded him to investigate what had happened in Lakeside Village. He became busy doing his task as a Prince that he missed to fulfill his promise to Suranne to meet her at their meeting place. The King commanded him not just to investigate the mysterious individual, but also to lead their armies for training in case what happened would lead to a war between Kingdoms. They knew how strong their armies are, but they cannot deny the fact that the armies of the South are well-trained and known to their world. Armies of the South are strong because the leaders of the armies during the reign of the previous King are still there, and with the power of the evil queen, they're much stronger. Prince Darvyn knows they're not as strong as them but he believes that no evil will reign up to the end. Good shall prevail.

Suranne, on the other hand, tried to come to the place where she always meets with the prince but days became a week and he didn't show up. She felt sad and decided to stay in the woods. Helga and the knights noticed her sadness but they believe that it was because the full moon was coming and he started to feel it. They don't have any idea but they know about her identity because the King had told them before. Frio and Helga are those servants that the King trusted the most with his daughter's identity.

“Let's keep her on our watch tonight. Whatever happens, we must be ready,” Frio said to the other knights and Helga while they are looking at Suranne who is sitting on a piece of a log, her chin resting on her palms while looking blankly in vain. They noticed several days ago that she seemed different and always wanted to be alone.

“What we need to do is continue to protect her. Her energy and ardour will be more intense and we might not be able to control her. She will find her race and we don't know yet what will happen next,” Helga said and sighed.

They didn't regret raising her, but they will feel sad if ever she decides to join her race. Whatever her decisions in the future, they will respect it. It's their loyalty to King Hodus that they treated her like their own. They are still hopeful that someday she will be the key to get the Kingdom back to its place, a progressive and puissant Kingdom of all the Kingdom in their realm.

Dusk came as the sun ended its reign. The clouds slowly faded away as the moon took its throne in the open skies. It emits a strong bloody hue that awoke the lust within the wildlings that lurk in the forest, including a ferocious beast that was stirring inside a hollow, warm hearth.

The wind chanted a hasty melody as the leaves on the shipshape meadow leaped and flew upon the open field.

Suranne was hugging herself from the sudden rush of warmth all over her body, assuming she would have an intense fever. She got out of her bed and went outside of their hut, but her feelings seem to get intense, and don't know how to make comfort for herself. She looked up at the moon that seemed to look at her. Her feet stride voluntarily towards the hill like they have their own lives that they were able to control her. She reached the hill and sat on the rock where she and her friend Gwyndolyn always spent their time together. The wind crashing trees and the triangular-shaped stony cliff could send a soothing feeling, yet it did not make anything better. She didn't know this would happen to her as the moon ruled the land—she strode towards the cliff, yet on her way, her knees buckled as her teeth clashed together. Fears empowered her instantly because she had no idea what was happening to her. Fur started growing on her smooth skin. She closed her eyes, and the bone-crushing shifting commenced.

Suranne locked her eyes whilst the fangs grew long over her lower lip. Events from the past all came rushing into her mind like a flashback of the series of events from the past. She doesn't understand how she can visualize it yet she is still a baby at that time or not even born yet. Approximately, how the kingdom fell at the hands of a bogus queen who committed vile treason and countless merciless killings— about how the king was slain at the hands of traitors and servants who failed to do their duty as the protectors of the realm. Whilst she visualized all those past events, she thought about the real power to protect the people. As soon as she achieved the formidable, untamable, and fearsome physique of an extraordinary dire wolf— her rage grows then lets out a huge blast of wind around her. The trees swayed and the leaves fell from the branches, scattering on the slightly damp soil.

Her eyes were as blue as the ocean, fangs sharper than any swords or spears, longer than death's scythe— her fur; a color of silver and white altogether. The moon's beam made it seem like she's gleaming as if she's a mythical beast that came from everyone's dream and nightmare. In all four, she went to the nearest stream and took a brief inspection of herself, and growled in delight and confidence. Proud of this new accomplishment, she glanced at the moon, then her growl turned to a deafening howl that woke the residents in the nearby villages and disturbed their unfortunate sleep.

Some of the residents went outside their homes whilst the mothers stayed inside to guard their children, worries etched on their unsettled expressions.

“You heard a howl, lad?”

“Aye, this one's probably the work of sorcerers and wargs.”

“It's fearsome!”

“We should guard our wives and children. I fear we have awakened the gods because of our wicked rulers!”

“Tone down your voice, boy. You do not want them to cut your tongue.”

Different comments and complaints were heard all over the kingdom and it had reached the vile queen of Zurn as well, but she didn't care about the complaints of the people. She is more concerned about the howling that echoed in the whole kingdom. It is strange for her, but she brushed off her thoughts that she only knows. She shakes her head.

“It can't be. They're all gone a long time ago.” She speaks in her thoughts.

When the guards assured the people that the problem would be taken care of, the residents were told to be calm as well. They went back to their homes, but they reluctantly obeyed.

Back to the woods, Suranne in her wolf form walks without direction. She let her wolf self bring her to the direction where her feet are heading to. She still cannot believe it had happened to her. It's not clear to her why the mother fairy and the knights are protecting her. She fully understood that they cared for her, but what she didn't understand was how come she has this kind of identity. She doesn't have any idea where to find her peers, f there is. With her ability for a night vision and guide of the moon, she keeps walking heading to the depth of the woods. She walked past different animals who she thought were also disturbed from their sleep because of her screams and howls. She continued walking until she heard a series of howling and growls. She walks fast to where it came from. Joyful that she thought she is not alone of her kind, she is delighted and excited to see them. A few more distances, she reached a cave. She stands at the mouth of the cave waiting for someone to come but no one appears. She slowly walked inside as she felt the ambiance was inviting. There, she found a pack of wolves that seemed to be waiting for her. She saw a silver furred wolf looking at her.

“I'm Montana, the woman Alpha of this pack; Forest Moon pack and we are expecting you to come,” Suranne was amazed because she can receive the message through her thoughts. She howls to express her gratitude.

“Come to me,” Montana invited her beside her. The rest of the pack were just watching them but a familiar smell penetrated her nose. She looked around and saw a grey wolf staring at her.

“I'm the guy who saved you from the men that are chasing you several weeks ago,” the grey wolf sent his message to her. She was surprised and leaped to the side of Montana. She snuggled herself to her. She couldn't understand but she was overwhelmed that she found them. As she snuggled to her, she felt that she found her mother. The feeling is suffocating that she wanted to scream. As she thought of it, she howled, expressing how happy she was.

Montana howled in response to her and she explained to her how she ended up in her form. Suranne then found out that Montana is her mother. Montana told her that she was in a secret relationship with the King before he got married to Vixra. Their relationship is hidden because of the conflict between humans and werewolves. Montana didn't accept the offer of the King for them to get married because she doesn't want to ruin the King's reputation. He is known to be a good King and marrying her is not a good option. People will condemn him for marrying a human who was shifting as a wolf during the full moon. Wolves were considered a beast by every human in their realm. When they found out that she was pregnant, they agreed to give the child to the King because she thought that the King could protect her and they aren't sure how long their pack will exist because people are hunting them wherever they go.

“Oh, mother!” Suranne in her wolf form cried, her tears flowing while she howled, continuing snuggling, rubbing her side to Montana. She doesn't know how to express her guilt for her mother. How difficult it was for them to keep hiding from humans. It's nothing different from her life being isolated in the woods inside that barrier spell. She knows how difficult it was.

“I'm so sorry, my daughter.” Montana howls as she feels guilty about her daughter's experience in life after they live in the woods.

Suranne also found out that Gareth Straus, the guy who saves her from Prince Darvyn's people, was commanded by Montana to protect her whenever she is out of the woods. They are just waiting for her to reach the age of eighteen so they can tell her who she was. It might be difficult for her to understand if they told her everything earlier in her age because they cannot prove her true identity.

That night, Suranne meets the rest of the pack. She found out that her mother, Montana, was the woman Alpha who led their pack since her grandfather chose to be a lone wolf and travel alone. She also met the family of her Uncle Damien and they're happy to meet her. And lastly, she meets Gareth, oblivious that she was imprinted by him since the day he found her. She also meets Elora Lowe, the daughter of the other family in the pack. She couldn't understand but she had an indescribable feeling about the woman or it is because she just met her that is why she felt that way. She brushed it off. She doesn't like the thought of it. Besides, she doesn't like them to know what she's thinking. She now knows that they can communicate through their minds and she doesn't want them to read her mind with those nonsense thoughts.