Moonlight Saga: Lost Throne ~ Chapter 4.1 - No Going Home

Word Count: 1924

During the trek back, Fang thought about how best to explain his ‘condition’ to the princess. Everyone reacted differently when he told the tale. Some would react with pity, while others in anger. Given Re’ana’s current disposition, it would more likely be the later.

Seeing the warm glow of the fire Fang released another sigh and entered the cavern. There sat Re’ana glaring at him with a fridged gaze. Her arms crossed over her chest and seething in a dejected manner. Fang rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at the fire. “Any chance I can convince you that it was all just a dream?”

“Do you think this is some kind of joke?!” Re’ana screeched. Her cheeks gaining a slight rosy tint from the anger that threatened to boil over.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Fang sat down and set his sword to the side.

“What are you?” Re’ana demanded. “Some kind of demon sent to prey on the innocent?”

“I wish,” Fang replied. “At least then I would know what I was.” Getting himself comfortable, Fang began telling Re’ana his story. “I was born on a moonless night when the constellation Lupinous was in the sky. When my mother gave birth to me, my family was overjoyed. However, when the sun rose the next day, their joy turned to terror. In place of their son, who they laid in his crib the night before, was a wolf cub crying for milk. My father wanted to kill me, believing me to be a devil, as you do. But my mother dissuaded him and continued to raise me. When I was four, my mother became very ill and passed away. My father couldn’t bring himself to kill me as he wanted to. I reminded him too much of his late wife. So he banished me to the wilderness, where I learned how to survive with the help of the wolves and my teacher.”

Re’ana felt her anger subduing as she listened to Fang’s story. She remained quiet for a long time. The first time she had ever been at a loss for words. “So,” she said as the crickets began chirping, “how does it work?” What kind of a question is that? she screamed at herself.

“Imagine every muscle in your body burning like you were on fire and your bones slowly rearranging themselves within your body. Imagine not having any control over your own body when it starts happening. When the sun sets, I am human. When the sun rises, I am a wolf.”

“That happens to you every night?” she asked in shock. Fang only nodded. She could still hear his pain-filled screams, as he had slowly morphed back into being human, echoing in her head. “Is it always so…painful?”

“Not normally that much. It always hurts, but if I try to fight the change it hurts even more.”

She looked down into the fire, trying to imagine what it would feel like for her own body to change from within as Fang described. The very thought sent a shiver down her spine. “Does my father know?” she asked casually.

“Yeah. One of the few I willingly told.” He prodded the fire with a branch, stoking it for more warmth. “After I saved him from an ogre during some boar hunt, I led him back to the wall. As a sign of appreciation, he offered me a place as one of his personal guards. I refused at first; but, your father was insistent.” Fang chuckled and thought back to their conversation in the tavern. “He said he would pay any price for a swordsman with my experience. Your father’s kind nature won me over. I accepted his offer and told him of my curse. I was surprised he took it so well.”

“So…raised by wolves,” Re’ana said after a quiet moment. “At least that explains your manners.” A grin spread over Fang’s features and lay back on the cool ground. “Doesn’t seem like you would do much. Awake all day as a wolf and sleep all night as a man. How can you be a useful guard? Besides as a guard dog.”

“Guard dog, huh? Couldn’t think of anything more clever?” Fang said rebounding Re’ana’s sarcasm back on her. “I actually don’t sleep more than an hour at night with periodic naps during the day. Wolf sleeping habits.”

“So the past few nights when you promptly fell asleep you were what? Faking?” she mocked.

“Yep. Didn’t want to listen to your complaints all night long.”

Re’ana released an angered gruff as she displayed her frustration in the way she sat slightly turned away from him. She gave a hidden glance to see if he was reacting to her irritated displays. The grin spread over his face only fueled her anger more. I wish I could slap that wolfish grin right off his face, she thought before silently berating herself for her accidental pun. She felt completely out of her element. Not just being in the wild, but the fact her usual methods of manipulation weren’t working. Her only weapon of defense was useless outside the castle. Her experiences at the village and with the bandits showed her that. She pulled her knees to her chest and stared off into space. “I hope my parents are okay,” she said softly in idle wonder.

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Fang said, genuinely trying to ease her mind.

“Do you think they’re worried about me?” She turned her gaze to Fang and saw the gentle look in his eyes. They made her feel safe.

“Your parents are good people. Good people always worry about their children.” Fang sighed as sat up more. “Tomorrow I will take you back to the wall. It will be nightfall by the time we get there so I will be able to change and walk you in without drawing any attention.”

Re'ana laid down with a sigh as she tried to get comfortable on the hard stone. She felt a little better that Fang had never actually left her. And she guessed that she could understand why he tried to keep it a secret. Had he said that he was some sort of cursed shape-shifter unable to live life as a regular human, she would have thought he was crazy and rode as far away as she could on Aria. But she still didn't like how Fang completely disregarded her royal position. Everyone else may not know who she is, but Fang was completely aware of it. She let out a long yawn, too tired to continue thinking about how much she disliked Fang for his blatant disregard for her position.

Fang looked at her as he heard her breathing slow down. Pinching the bridge of his nose he shook his head. He didn't agree to be a baby sitter for this prissy princess. The only thing keeping him around at that very moment was his respect for her father. If it hadn't been for that, he would have left days ago. The princess needed a lesson in how the world really worked, and in two short days she had had gotten a good taste of it. Though none of it seemed to stick, Fang thought.

The night wore on and Fang kept an ear out for danger. A breaking twig made Fang step out of the cave into the dark forest. His eyes trying to adjust to the darkness that blinded him. He could slowly see pairs of eyes watching him from the breaks in the trees. They flickered in and out like jewels from the shifting light of the fire. Fang kept completely still and stared right back into those eyes. One by one they turned away, seemingly deterred by Fang's presence.

Turning back to the cave, Fang noticed the same thing that he had been seeing every night that they were out here. While Re'ana was asleep, and she wasn't paying to much attention to how people were disrespecting her or complaining about how she was being forced to live, she looked like a frightened young girl huddled up close to the fire. The only time that she was completely honest and true about how she really felt. Fang could remember feeling the same way when he was driven away from his home so long ago. The fact that he had made it as far as he had was a miracle in itself.

Re'ana awoke in the middle of the night. Her hazy eyes glancing around the dimly lit cave until they fell on Fang, still sitting at the fire, watching the forest. “At least you're here this time,” Re'ana muttered as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“If you will recall, I never actually left you, Princess. You just didn't recognize me,” Fang retorted.

Re'ana growled in frustration. Her patience was worn thin as it was with waking up before dawn. “Did you at least manage to get something to eat?” she asked in a huff. “I didn't have dinner.”

“Where did you put those berries that you picked?”

Re'ana looked at him in surprise, before remembering that he had been there when she picked them. He had saved her life again at that time. Who knows how many of those berries would have been enough to kill her. Fang could have gotten rid of her so easily and yet he kept her safe. That's his job, she thought. He has to make sure that I stay safe. Grabbing a handful of the berries she popped them into her mouth one at a time to take the edge off of her hunger. “It will take a full day to return to the wall?”

“From here, yes,” Fang replied quickly.

“That is going to be a very long and quiet walk.” Re'ana rested her chin in her hand as she stared into the fire.

Gods willing, Fang thought to himself. Now that she knew that he had been the wolf the whole time, she probably wouldn't stop her complaints of how long it would take to get back.

“Can I ask you something, gua...Fang?” Fang looked to her with a small sigh. “During the storm, why did you let me pet your fur after avoiding me all that time?”

Fang stared into her eyes. He saw the same thing there that he had seen during that storm – sincerity. “Because, in that moment, you were being genuine,” Fang answered gently. His usually stiff tone with her softening. “You weren't being a princess. You were being a young woman that was frightened and looking for a simple comfort that wouldn't make her feel so scared. Something that you would normally have if you hadn't been attacked.”

Re'ana nodded as she looked down to the fire once more. Could it really be that simple? she asked herself. Have I been getting it wrong all this time? Could I really have a friend? Lost in thought, Re'ana didn't notice the gentle glow of the coming dawn. Fang stood up and placed his sword against the side of the cave.

“I'll be back once the sun has risen. Wait for me here.” Fang left without another word. Re'ana watched him for a long time before he faded into the brush and foliage. Her gaze returned to the fire, mesmerized by the dancing shapes that fluttered about.