Chapter 6 Half of the Answers
“Klishei, my dear, did you know that you were born under a crimson-colored moon?”
The little Klishei was not paying attention. She was busy balancing stones on top of each other.
Her father, who had just arrived with fresh wood, chuckled at his wife. “Come on. All she is doing in the city is studying despite her young age. Spare her the science lessons when we are here.”
“But honey, this is not just simply science. It’s about her identity.” Her mother approached the little Klishei once again. She smiled at her daughter who was having trouble balancing the stones.
“Klishei, let me show you a trick.” That got her attention.
“A magic trick?” Klishei’s eyes sparkled.
“Well, close enough. Do this.” Her mom made a triangle with her thumb and index fingers. “When you are feeling tired, point this to the moon and close your eyes. They say it’s the secret language of our language to the heavens and then relief will come.”
Her mom showed her hands like it was a cool thing, attempting to entice her to practice it with her and encouraging her to follow.
The little Klishei pouted. “It’s not a magic trick.” She turned away from her mother and worked on another pile of stones. Her mom sighed but still smiled, as if knowing that the best she could do was watch over her for now. Her husband approached and put his arm over his wife, comforting her.
Suddenly, there were howls all around them. The scenery changed. The golden leaves reflecting the orange rays of the setting sun was replaced by barren trees in a foggy dark place.
The child was gone and it was the grown-up Klishei being surrounded by Daevar’s wolves. This time, she was alone. The wolves lunged at her which made her wake up screaming.
Her hands went to her neck. Thankfully, it was intact but wet with sweat and tears.
The door opened. Yeseus saw that she was panting hard and her neckline was drenched.
“I thought I heard you screaming,” he said. He grabbed a pitcher nearby and poured her a cup of water. He also helped her drink, seeing that her hands were trembling.
“Sorry, I was having a nightmare.” Klishei drank all of the water in one go. “Strange. Why do I feel like it was real?”.
Yeseus drew the curtains of her room and opened her window, letting in fresh air. The sun was already up. Its brightness helped improve her scared body. She was not in that gloomy forest. She was here in front of Yeseus. She was fine and alive.
“By the way, Yeseus, where are we?”
When they arrived here last night through the flying truck and a portal in the sky, everything was dark. They just escorted her here in this room and she slept immediately.
“This is our hideout. We are still in Efarlise but in a remote area. Don’t worry, we’re safe here.”
Klishei thought about their encounter last night. Daevar, her admirer who professed his love immediately after transferring to her school, had an ulterior motive of taking her away. “So the legend of the werewolves is true. What a weird world.”
“You will be surprised by the secrets your world is hiding.” Yeseus sat beside her in her bed. He pressed the back of his palm at her forehead. “You’re a bit warm. Stay here. I will get your breakfast.”
Yeseus helped her rest her back on the bedframe before he went out. Klishei looked around. It was obvious that she was in Yeseus’ room. Although a little bit smaller than her room back at her house, it was tidy and not cramped.
The wide and tall windows revealed the blue skies and dark green mountains. Beneath the window was a long wooden table, freshly varnished, and beautifully chiseled with wavy sides.
On one side of the room, a shelf was stacked with books of different colors and size that were carefully arranged according to size. Beside the shelf was a drawer. Meanwhile, the other wall was full of objects she did not recognize. Some of them looked like ancient artifacts. Others were machines.
When Yeseus came back with a tray, he saw her staring at his collections.
“Here, eat first.” He put the warm bowl in her hand with a pair of chopsticks. “Then you can start questioning me.”
Klishei took the chopsticks and ate the strips of fried pork first. With all that happened last night, her body gave in to hunger.
“Maybe you can start by making an introduction,” she said as she sipped the soup. "Aside from the fact that you are a werewolf."
“Very well.” Yeseus took a chair and sat beside her bed. “My full name is Yeseus Garashi, a fact that I don’t fake or hide, no matter where I go or what I do. You come from the Atcha Tribe, a group of people who worship wolves as their deities. I trust that you have knowledge about us?"
Klishei shook her head as she gobbled her food. Her hunger took over. "I was born in the city. From time to time, my parents would bring me to the countryside but even then, they never let me out during the nights that they go to the mountains to do their rituals with the other tribes. Back then, I did not understand. It was only years later that I realized they were protecting me from those heated tribal wars."
She pushed the bad memories back. She did not want to cry while eating. She cleared her throat. "When they were still alive, they would occassionally mention something about their culture but they never really emphasized on it. After their death, I never went back and a decade had already passed. So I really don't know much."
"What are these Alphas, by the way? Daevar mentioned that you are one. Is that true?"
Yeseus nodded. "An Alpha is a leader of the pack, chosen through grit and glory and only the strongest will qualify. My pack once dominated the Northern continent. But to be accurate, I am now a packless Alpha. I don't have any people to lead. And the last werewolves, Davear and his companions, are my not my people. As you have seen, they are my enemies."
Klishei munched on the last piece of meat. "Okay, okay. Now how about we go to the part on why did you suddenly appear and what is your connection with me?"
He handed her another glass of water before answering. "You are someone special to the werewolves, to me in particular. I have the responsibility of protecting you because of your identity. Actually, before anything else, you should be asking who you are. That will answer half of your questions."
“Me?” Klishei pointed to herself.
"Yes." Yeseus inched closer to her. “The moment you were born under the crimson moon, your fate was sealed. The Phoenix Bride, the goddess of fertility is inside you, Klishei. That’s why you are being targeted.”