I follow the parents as they keep walking casually.
We're surrounded by tall stones that overshadow us from the sun. Across this aggrandizement by my father are the pariahs of the werewolf race. The breed that everyone believes is the degenerated ones.
"I've been a moon priestess for years," Dandeline intervenes with the silence, "I never knew this place actually exist."
"Now you know," Lanasia agrees. "This is a highly confidential fact about werewolves. You'll have to file a pledge not to pervade it to anyone else."
"Of course. Half of your life was sacrificed because of this. But our real problem is Elibur. I hope my diversion works."
"What diversion?"
"Well," she shrugs her hands, "I bet they can see these stones the way we do. So, I made multiple smells similar to ours leading into different directions to confound them."
"As expected for a scholar."
I walk closer to her and whisper, "Dan, what do you mean?"
"Ugh, you're slow."
I get what she meant when I smell furs around us. I behold the spot immediately where I smell it. There's a white wolf sneaking in between the rocks. There are also white wolves on the other side and ahead of us. All of them are cautious. "We're here," Lanasia said. Then she spread her arms in front of the white werewolves. "Phatinni! It's me!"
When the white wolves recognize her, they cuddle with her also with Matheo. "Hey, it's been a long time!" he greeted. They're docile friendly wolves at a first impression.
And on the other hand, memories are distinctly coming into my mind. The laughter of children is resonating in my ears. Feelings of being carefree are growing in my chest.
Home.
This is where I belong. This is where I came from. Unconsciously, I dash ahead of them all to see what's waiting for me, passing through them without consent to follow the vivid vision of me running onto these grasses! The brightness of the place was almost blinding when I finally got out from the shadows of the stones. From the top of the cliff where I'm standing, I beheld the whole civilization of their gifted intelligence—a wide white palace.
In the midst of the vast grassland are the farms and flocks, mountains, lake, forest, and that wide palace that occupied almost every land I could see. I remember. I can no longer contain my overwhelming excitement! "Dan—!" The second I turned around, an aggressive white wolf attacked me, making both of us roll down the hill and tumble on the dandelion field.
Nevertheless, this unwelcoming wolf almost bites me but I clutch its fangs with my bare hands, keeping it distant from me. "I remember!" I exclaimed in joy. "This place is called Asfara! This is where I came from! I remember!" When the wolf is tamed because of my reaction, I hug it and spin around jubilantly whilst saying the same words all over again.
"W-Wait! Put me down, sir!"
Startled, I let the young woman go. "Oof, sorry," I said. I've never seen an attractive teenager like her; she's clothed with the same coat I have, cropped at the top that reveals her tiny waist and pure-white skin, the other side of her wavy white hair is tucked behind her ear and the other isn't, and she has golden eyes that werewolves rarely inherit. Not even her fleshy features became an imperfection.
But...
"Who are you!? How come you know this place!? You are an imprudent visitor."
"Oh, that? I'm sorry." I rub my nape. "I just got excited."
She put her hands on her waist. "Learn your manners! This place is not a park or wherever humans stroll!"
"I know. It's my home."
"Wha—?"
"Sherizzah! What's going on!?" The other white werewolves along with Lanasia arrived. They run down the hill and surround us in rush. "He's Lanasia's friend. Just like Matheo. We can trust him."
I look around me, seeing my own kind but not as unique as them. I'm the only pureblood here and I cannot expect anyone else who's the same as me. I remove my coat, hanging it with my arm to expose my appearance. Then all these werewolves were dumbfounded while staring at me, not even the peevish young woman could react.
I lift a hand and say, "Look, I'm not a ghost nor an intruder. I'm the same as everyone here. Without these people's help, I could never find this place." I credited Dandeline and others.
"The pureblood has arrived...?" Phatinni mumbles. "It was never a mistake to trust this priestess. I'm certain that the Alpha will love this news!"
"Not me," Lanasia disagreed. "It's my best friend, Dandeline, who led him here."
"Thank you." Phatinni bows her head in gratitude.
I proudly smile at her. And she waves her hand like a humble visitor. "Ahaha~ No problem. It's my duty as a priestess anyway."
"Pureblood," Phatinni approaches.
"My name is Hessuel."
"Right. It's a pleasure to meet you at this hour. Come with us. We'll take you to the Alpha of our pack." They shifted into their wolves and me after them. I was waiting for Dandeline to ride on my back but she refused this time. She said that I'm the special person today, so she rode to another white wolf who also offered her the service. Even Acro is with her. Does that count as a reason!?
Sherizzah leads the race going to the very city. And because we crossed the public road, other werewolves came along to figure out what was going on. And there are so many of them living here! Their livelihood must be the reason why this place remains amply. But they upheld on hiding here throughout those years. No matter how beautiful, their world seems so small.
We came within the boundaries of the wide castle, crossing the pillars and flat stairs until we arrived in an open space covered with giant trees. The pillars are standing circular, the floor is cemented, and there's a fountain in the middle. Some of the werewolves tarried with us in this open space including Sherizzah. Then Phatinni and the others left to call the Alpha.
This space is also an open pathway where everyone can cross freely. But at the moment, none dares. Most of the werewolves who tailed us remained sitting on the leveled stairs while waiting for what might happen next; whisperings, glances, and controlled sounds dominated the atmosphere. I walk closer to the fountain as I watch the flowing water out of the eyes of the werewolf statue on the pinnacle.
"Is it not your first time here?"
My heart slightly jumped in fear when I heard Sherizzah's voice beside me. "I remember I've been here when I was a child, I know not the exact day 'tho. 'Twas centuries ago."
"Amazing... I mean it's phenomenal to meet someone from the past. The Eldar's mind is unpredictable. Even this waters, he bestowed blessings on it to keep it sacred." She stretches forth her hand and cups the dropping water but it averts on its own from contact. Even when she tried to immerse her hands in the bottom pool, the water avoided her.
"Did you know the story behind this water? It's from the pond. The very first Luna of the whole race shed her tears from the death of her Alpha and pack, along with those bereaved, then the legend says it became a pond. Flowing waters of memories of afflictions. And to commemorate their sacrifices, they made this statue, together with the ancient Eldar, and blessed the land. I believe the majority knows about the story."
"As fiction."
"It's understandable to be altered as the year passes and the true meaning nor essence fade. But for me, those we've lost are still seeking peace while those who're left are seeking freedom. This is where we're safe, but this is where we're caged as well. The betrayal of black wolves has brought despair to all generations of white wolves. Then the Eldar... promised that he will send a pureblood after their extinction. And he will change the fate of the werewolf race."
"Fate?" I stretch my arm and cup my palm to catch the drops of the fountain. The water didn't avoid my contact—which may be a miracle for them. But I kept staring, having a sense of bitterness within my chest as I spoke silently. "Everyone, every child in this land, believes that white wolves are the victims. But if you hear anyone's perspective outside this land, black wolves are the victims, avenging their fallen pack became their purpose. Who is the real enemy then...? the ones who attacked first? the wrath engraved to the rising generation? Or maybe the contagious envy that crawled into someone's heart?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. But since I've heard the opposing sides, I believe that something must be done differently besides the same old solution to the same old problem." Nothing is different. They all feel the same. They are all victims. They will fight against each other bearing the corrupted minds and the strongest of the time shall remain. Dandeline is right. This loop must be cut.
"You had a life outside. I assume you believe in them more than my words. What I'm telling is genuine—"
"I know. I understand both sides. In fact, it takes a strong mind to change the fate of the whole race, right? How about you? Have you heard the other side? Because if you do, your understanding will be better than those who only hear themselves." Not even I know my father's thoughts. But I'm discovering it line upon line. He isn't by my side yet I felt he wants me to grow this way.
She clears her throat while looking at me like I'm a mob again, so I remove my hands from the water and wipe it with my coat. "Right... Sacred. By the way, are you a watchdog at the entrance?"
"What a rude question! I was guarding that place for today coincidentally!"
"Okay. Okay. Then what is your role? You act like a stringent mother wolf."
"I'm not yet a Luna, for now, I am the fated Luna."
"Whoa? What makes you fated?"
"I have both brain and beauty above all she-wolves. If my father dies, another Alpha will be elected and I will be the Luna."
I tilt my head. "But what if the Alpha rejects you?"
"I-It's punishable by the present Luna!"
"That's... really stringent." I shrug.
Later on, a loud cough echoed and broke the silence. It was Zaeramil who was impatiently waiting, rubbing his nose and murmuring, "Dogs..."
Sherizzah lifts her shirt up to make way for her kindled steps. "'Excuse me' is the right term, not 'dogs'."
"Whatever. I just wanna cough. That one feels relieving," he talked back as expected.
"How disrespectful."
"What? You haven't coughed your whole life?"
And then the next scenes are the two teenagers disputing; Zaeramil is holding Sherizzah's wrist to defend himself while Sherizzah is trying to step on Zaeramil's feet. She’s got brain and beauty but not behavior. The parents are busy talking with other wolves including Dandeline. No one dares to tame the fated Luna.
I was about to approach Dandeline when Phatinni called my name. She's with an old man and woman and other werewolves. The silence overcomes the crowd the moment they see the old man, his hair and skin are white just like the rest of us and he has a long beard. I'm taller than them. Phatinni introduced me to him as the pureblood.
"You have come," his voice is hoarse. "You resemble your father. It's good to finally meet you, son of Haiban." When the Alpha bows his head, all the other wolves bow down before my presence and I was confused. They made me feel like a saint. All the present white wolves were brought to acclamation after the Alpha declared feast. "Welcome back to your home."