original

Marked By The Moon

章節 1: A Memorable Day

While the sun peeked through the foliage, I found myself standing at the edge of our pack's domain, relishing in the splendour of the dawning day. The pack was alive with a flurry of activity, everyone hustling to complete their respective tasks.

My father, Alpha Jack Morrison, was issuing out commands to the hunters, while my mother, Beta Janet Morrison, was busy looking after the younger pups. Meanwhile, my brother Kaden was having a grand old time playing tag with his pals, their joyous giggles echoing throughout the woods.

I leisurely observed the mundane sights and sounds of our daily ritual, and something caught my attention, causing me to pivot around to face the source. A rustle of branches, a fleeting glimpse of fur. I immediately snapped into alertness, ready for anything.

Could it be a trespasser? A cunning wolf on the prowl, looking to stir up some mischief?

In the blink of an eye, a figure emerged from the underbrush, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was Alpha Peter, hailing from "The Edge Nightwalkers", a cherished friend of our own. He closed in with a smile stretched across his face, greeting me with the warmth of an old companion.

"Top of the morning, Mabel," his voice boomed, deep and resonant.

"How fares your pack?"

I answered that we were thriving and that our pack was robust and in good health. We engaged in a lively conversation, exchanging updates on pack developments before he bade me goodbye and vanished into the woods.

As I made my way back to our den, an uneasy sensation crept over me. The atmosphere was electric, and I sensed the gaze of the forest upon me. I picked up my pace, my intuition alerting me that peril was lurking nearby.

Despite my worries, I tried to focus on my family and our close bond. As a pack, we did everything together, from patrolling the borders to spending time just enjoying each other's company. But as I watched them, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease brewing in my gut.

Suddenly, my father's voice called out to me, "Mabel, come over here," jolting me out of my thoughts.

I trotted over to him, hoping for a distraction from my worries.

"Today, I want you to hunt with Kaden and the others while I and your mother prepare for our visitors from the eastern part of Portcona Islands," he said, his tone serious.

My heart sank at the thought of visitors. We hadn't had any outsiders in our territory for years, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. But my father's words pulled me back to reality.

"I've observed that you're getting better every day, and I want to see how far you've come," he said, pride evident in his voice.

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I prepared to prove myself to my family. With a quick nod of my head, I eagerly turned to my brother, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Let's go show 'em what we're made of, sis," Kaden said, his shoulder knocking into mine.

We darted into the forest, our noses working overtime to sniff out any potential prey. The thrill of the chase coursed through our bodies as we sprinted through the undergrowth.

As we bounded through the wilderness, I couldn't help but be captivated by the beauty of our surroundings. The trees towered above us, their leaves filtering the sunlight and casting a dappled glow across the forest floor. The air was cool and crisp, and the sounds of nature surrounded us, from the rustling of leaves to the chirping of birds.

But our peaceful run was suddenly interrupted by a loud, guttural growl that rumbled through the trees. We skidded to a halt, our muscles tensing in preparation for whatever was coming our way.

Kaden's nose twitched as he whispered, "Do you smell that? There's a deer up ahead."

We moved stealthily, inching our way closer to the unsuspecting prey. The deer was magnificent, with a muscular body and antlers that glinted in the sunlight. We were so close, I could practically taste the thrill of the chase.

But just as we were about to spring into action, a sudden rustling in the trees made us freeze. My heart pounding in my chest, I turned to see a group of strangers approaching us. They were all dressed in black and carried weapons that looked completely unfamiliar to us.

Something about their demeanour felt sinister, and my instincts told me that we were in grave danger.

Kaden and I exchanged a nervous glance, and I could see the fear in his eyes. We would have to tread carefully if we wanted to make it out of this situation alive.

"I don't know, but we need to get out of here," Kaden growled, his eyes darting back and forth as he tried to assess the situation.

Suddenly, one of the strangers lunged at us with a sharp blade, narrowly missing Kaden's tail. We dodged and weaved through the trees, trying to evade them, but they were hot on our heels.

"Keep going, we're almost there," Kaden panted, urging me on.

But just as we thought we were in the clear, a group of strangers appeared in front of us, blocking our path. We skidded to a stop, trapped between them and the ones chasing us from behind.

"What do we do?" Kaden cried, looking at me for guidance.

"We fight," I said, determination in my voice.

We didn't recognize these strangers or their motives, but we knew that we had to stand up and protect our loved ones.

"Stick by my side, Kaden," I commanded, trying to sound confident.

"We'll defend them together."

"I'm right beside you, Mabel," Kaden replied, his eyes filled with determination.

"We won't let any harm come to our family."

We were almost to our den when we heard a piercing scream. Our parents were battling to save the Portcona Islands visitors who had only been with us for a short time.

The sounds of agony and panic in their voices only steeled our resolve to defend our family and visitors even more fiercely.

We rushed into the clearing, our hearts pounded with fear and anticipation. The scene before us was one of utter chaos, with strangers attacking our family from all sides. Our father was engaged in a brutal battle with a towering giant, his muscles rippling with each blow.

Meanwhile, our mother was desperately fending off two attackers, her face a mask of grim determination.

"Kaden, go help, Mom!" I shouted, my voice barely audible over the sounds of clashing steel and snarling beasts.

My brother nodded, his eyes blazing with the same fierce determination that burned within me. We split up, each running towards our respective parents. I could feel my heart racing as I closed in on my father's opponent, his massive fists pounding the ground with each step.

But as I drew near, something strange happened. The giant suddenly stopped fighting, his eyes widening in surprise. He turned to me and grinned, revealing a mouth full of jagged teeth.

"Well, well, well," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

"Looks like we've got ourselves some fresh meat."

With that, he lunged at me, his hands outstretched and claws gleaming in the moonlight. I barely had time to react, dodging and weaving as he swung his massive arms at me.

Meanwhile, Kaden had reached our mother, and the two of them were fighting side-by-side, their weapons flashing

Despite my valiant efforts, the strangers proved to be too powerful, too well-coordinated, and too resolute. They overpowered me, and I found myself in a desperate struggle for survival. My head was pounding, and blood was flowing freely from my nose and skull.

I looked on in horror, I saw my family and all our Portcona Islands visitors being mercilessly slaughtered before my very eyes. The pain was unbearable, and I was consumed by grief and anger.

At that moment, I was overwhelmed by a sense of numbness and insanity. But despite my overwhelming emotions, I knew that I had to escape for my own sake. With a heavy heart and tears streaming down my face, I fled into the night, my mind consumed by the memories of the brutal attack that had claimed the lives of everyone I loved.

I trudged through the dense forest, my mind was plagued with traumatic memories of the events that led me here. The screams of my family and the strangers still echoed in my head, tormenting me with their haunting cries. The feeling of helplessness lingered, reminding me of the loved ones I had lost.

My tears flowed freely, and my heart weighed heavy with grief. Despite the overwhelming emotions, I knew that I had to keep moving forward to survive and seek justice for their untimely deaths.

Suddenly, the rustling of leaves nearby caught my attention, and I instinctively reached for the knife strapped to my waist. My fear was palpable, and my anticipation grew as I braced myself for whatever was about to emerge from the bushes.

"Is anyone there?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.