Wolf Moon- Chapter 2: Ceremonies

Chapter 2: Ceremonies

The forest was quiet as leaves crackled under horse hooves. A small doe hung limp from the prince’s saddle as two large bucks hung over the knight’s.

“A doe and two bucks,” Cedric commented as Trygg yawned. “Not a bad haul.”

“Yea, expectably after you scared three herds away.” Cedric grew red with embarrassment. “Are we done? I’m hun-” Try stopped short suddenly.

“Try? What’s-” Try shushed him and looked around.

“Ced, do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“Pipes,” Try whispered. “And drums, and flutes and fiddles and-” He stopped short again. The knight dismounted his horse, listening closely.

“T-”

“Shh…” Through the gloom of the darkening forest, music floated on the wind. It was soft and slow, the drums keeping the beat. And a voice, a female voice, sang once again through the darkness, singing to the tune that Try listened to as if he was a deaf man, hearing for the first time.

Suddenly, the music stopped. The drum silenced and the song ended.

“No!” Try whispered harshly. “Keep playing.” He ran into the dense wood.

“Try!” Cedric left his horse and ran after his friend. Branches whipped at the prince’s face as he tried to keep his friend in sight.

Try ran through the underbrush toward the place he had heard the voice. It was suddenly the most important thing to him to see the face of the woman who sang the tune that touched his heart and memories.

The forest opened suddenly to a clearing. Not expecting this, Try nearly crashed into a man with a large, decorated axe over his back.

Try quietly stepped back into the forest. He watched a man with a long spear stand up on a dais, straight backed, almost like a ridged board. It reminded Try of his knighting and how the caller stood like that before introducing their majesties.

Cedric finally caught up with the young, more agile knight, panting and sweating heavily. He too watched the spearman.

“All kneel before the Lady Wolf!” the spearman said, in a loud, clear voice. Cedric made a face of disgust as the group of people kneeled in unison. A woman, wearing a white cloak stood from where she was singing. The hood of the cloak covered her eyes and the garment brushed along the ground, stirring the leaves into a circular motion. When she reached the small platform, she raised her left hand. At her waist, Try noticed a sword. The design and decoration made his eye grow wide. He looked at the woman, transfixed now.

“Raise my people,” the Lady Wolf said. Her voice was a whisper but it was heard and obeyed. “Tonight is a night of expectance and trust and loyalty. Tonight we welcome a new pack member.” The people let out cheers of joy. The man that Try almost ran into swung his axe off his back and actually howled. The woman smiled in his direction.

A young girl with light brown hair, wearing a grey dress decorated with small gold insets walked slowly in front of a woman with tanned skin and dark red hair, who was wearing nothing at all. Cedric made a sound of disgust but couldn’t hide the tinge in his cheeks.

The red hair woman stood in front of the Lady Wolf, her head high and tall.

“Hannah Williams, who brought you to this pack?”

“The Great Wolf Lord, milady,” Hannah answered.

“Where is the Great Wolf Lord tonight?”

“Searching for other souls in need of his guidance, milady.”

“Are you being held here against your will?”

“No, milady.”

“What keeps you here?”

“The need for true acceptance, milady.”

“How is your master?”

“I have no master but leaders, milady.”

“Who is your leader?”

“The alpha, milady.”

“Who is your alpha?”

“I stand before my alpha, milady.” The Lady Wolf smiled at Hannah.

“Hannah, six year ago, you came to me, begging to be accepted. You promised to work hard and obey the Great Wolf Lord and me.” The woman smiled gently. “And now you stand before me in nothing but our skin you were given, in the skin you worked in. You worked hard to gain acceptance into the pack. You have done it.” Hannah smiled brightly. “Kneel before your alpha.” Hannah did so, with a smile on her face.

The Lady Wolf nodded to the smaller girl who draped a cloak over Hannah’s shoulders. It was brightest blue and shown in the patched moonlight. Beaded patterns of leaves and vines decorated the hems and hood. Hannah touched the cloak in wonder and smiled.

“I have given you a gift,” the Lady Wolf. “Use it as you will and may it remind you are surrounded by friends. Now raise and,” the Lady Wolf laughed, “cover yourself properly.” The other laughed before howling and clapping as Hannah stood with happy tears falling down her face. The Lady Wolf lowered her hood and Try and Cedric let out a gasp.

“Esarosa?”

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Ok, this is chapter 2. Hope you enjoyed and i hope to put up chapter 3 soon. ^^