Cherry
Once we were done making sure that all our elderly shifters and pups were on the buses to the contemporary shelter in the Lune Pack, Dylan and I got off to have a word with Bill.
“The coast is cleared now. We'll leave in five minutes,” he told us after finishing the call with his beta.
“Thanks a lot, Bill.” Dylan gave him a firm handshake.
“This won't be an easy battle, buddy. But once you win it, you'll rise way much stronger. It's Fenrys that you're up against with, after all.” Bill patted on Dylan's shoulder before leaving.
After seeing Bill off, I turned to gaze at the strongest warriors of Starsmoon lining up in the queue, couldn't fathom what was going on in their heads.
“Do you think they'll blame us for what's about to happen?” I asked Dylan through mind link.
"They won't, trust me. They don't love Starsmoon less than we do." Dylan gave an assuring smile to me and then to the warriors, when a captain shifter forwarded himself.
Dylan stared at the captain with pride as he bent his knees and crawled.
“We're in a middle of war with Fenrys, the Goddess of Evil. Some of us won't be able to survive it. If I'm one of the fallen shifters, I want you to feel no guilt, because I die defending our pack, with honor and integrity. Nuu-Chah will bless me with abundance in my next life.” With his eyes back up to us, the captain swore.
His words clenched at my hearts. These warriors had families. They had mates and pups too. If there was something I could do to avoid a bloody war, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
“No, I won't feel guity. Because none of you will lose your life in this battle, ever!” Dylan sounded solemn and confident.
“We've lost plenty of shifters in the great war against Bloodmoon Pack. I'm not letting that happen again.” He continued.
“You already come up with a plan, Dylan?” Bert asked in amazement. He looked much more relieved than seconds ago.
Nodding his head, Dylan took out an amulet from his pocket.
My eyebrow shot up the moment my eyes landed on this amulet. My mother used to show me its picture when I was about Fern's age. I had been amazed by its power after mom told me the story about it.
“Where did you get that, Dylan?" I hastened to ask. "It's supposed to be worshipped in Nuu-Chah's sacred temple.
“Remember I visited Nuu-Chah and asked her to deliver Chelsea the message that I'd reject her last time? She gave this amulet to me before sending me back. She said I may need it one day.” Dylan said while looking among the warriors. “I guess today is the day Nuu-Chah was referring to.”
Then he and the warriors gathered closer to discuss his battle plan.
“Cherry.” A soft whisper in a feminine voice danced in my ears from behind when I was watching them discussing aside.
I looked over my shoulder to see who it was. But I found nobody, but trees and their branches swaying to the cold breeze of the night.
“Cherry, my special shifter.” The voice was clearer this time.
“Nuu-Chah?” I asked with hesitation and then glanced back at Dylan and our warriors, only to see them stillimmersed in the battle discussion.
“Are we the only ones who could hear the Moon Goddess?” I asked my wolf, but got no response from her.
I'd never believed that one could see air, until now. It felt like I could see the direction where the cold breeze of the night was leading me. And my feet took off to follow it subconsciously.
I didn't snap back to reality until I fumbled through the steps of a temple. Agape, my eyes ransacked the place where I was standing.
When I finally saw Nuu-Chah's symbols etched on the pillars of the temple, I was assured that I was in a safe place.
“Nuu-Chah? You're the one who brought me here?” I asked uneasily, my voice echoing around the empty hall.
“I thought you wouldn't find your way here, my special wolf.” Nuu-Chah finally showed up before my eyes, greeting me with a smile as bright as the fullmoon that glowed in the dark sky.
In the corner of my eye, I saw another amulet in Nuu-Chah's hand. It looked like the other half of the one that Dylan showed me earlier.
“You've seen this coming, Nuu-Chah? That Lucy and Fenrys team up to wipe out the Starsmoon Pack?”
“Unfortunately I didn't. It's the amulets that tell me something's wrong. Dylan's amulet sensed Fenrys when you arrived at the bloody scene of slaughter that took place in the Whitemoon Pack. It sent an alarm to this half in my hand. I didn't expect my twin sister could make it out of the underworld ever.”
“Butt what's the good of her teaming up with Lucy? What does Fenrys want from us?" I found myself even more confused.
"This is not a simple battle between you and Lucy, my special wolf. Fenrys is declaring a war against me. Her goal is to kill me, and enslave all packs and shifters in this region instead." In a calm tone, Nuu-Chah told me about the grudge that her evil twin sister held against her.
"Will you join Dylan to fight against her?" I asked after getting all the willies.
"No. I won't."
"What?!" I was slack-jawed at Nuu-Chah's response.
"Relax, my little wolf. I'm not gonna join Dylan because I decide to confront Fenry all by myself. I won't allow her to take one more life of my shifters." Looking into distance, Nuu-Chah said determinedly.
"She'll get defeated, right?" I asked tentatively and expectantly, in hope of getting a positive answer.