The Awakening of the Moon Goddess: Embracing Destiny and Defying Fate

The pink water in our pack holds magic that only unicorns can absorb, and when foals reach a certain age, drinking the water helps their powers manifest. Genesis told me about overseeing this event and the treaty she made with the first Alpha of Harvest Moon to protect the unicorns during this time. It's probably why Alpha Artemis took his family and me out for the picnic and campout tonight.

Little does anyone know that a small stream flows from the lake into a hidden valley where Genesis and the unicorns live, and into a small pool that mixes with regular water from the river, which Genesis calls a moon pool. I've often watched the foals play and run around the pink water, mesmerized by the shimmer of magic in the air, each drop twinkling like diamonds. To say, I'm excited to see this at the pure pink lake instead of the small moon pool. It is an understatement.

With a nod from Cosmo and a hug from Luna Everleigh, the five of us set off towards the lake, Eloise and I chasing each other around the trees, giggling. Alpha Artemis reminds us to stay in sight and takes away Cosmo's game, forcing him to play tag with us. I avoid Cosmo as much as I can, chasing Eloise until she stops abruptly, causing me to crash into her.

"Maddie, I see the water! It's so pink," my friend squeals in excitement, causing me to cup my hands over my ears and wince. But in front of us, just peeking past the trees, is the lake. With a call of 'Last one there is a Crescent,' the three of us race to the water's edge and happily spend the day splashing each other, eating the delicious picnic packed by Luna Everleigh herself. It's a day free from the fear of my parents and filled with pure happiness.

As the day turns into night, Eloise and I huddle under a tree, our sleeping bags blending into the background, hiding us while we wait for the full moon to reach its peak and the unicorns to come out.

"A few more minutes," I jump as Cosmo's voice surprises me. He rolls out his sleeping bag, sits beside me, wraps his arm around my shoulder, and grins. I blush and nod before looking out to the lake, my eyes blurry with the need for sleep as I manage to catch a glimpse of the creatures I love to watch so much, beginning to come out and frolic in the water...

Madison, wake up... please, my love...

A soft voice flutters through my ears, and I yawn, looking around the night, my dream of watching over the forest and some blurred faces now gone. Dizzy, I gaze at the still pink lake and the eerie silence of the forest causing goosebumps to form. Soft snores from my left and right make me aware that Cosmo and Eloise are still fast asleep, but the Alpha and Luna are missing. That's when I hear it.

Growls and howls come from everywhere, and my first thought is to wake up Cosmo. I shake the sleeping boy awake as the growls and howls get closer, fear closing in on me. What if they were Crescent?

"What is it, Maddie?" He asks as he swats me away.

"Wolves, and lots of them," I whisper, sobbing with fear, watching him bolt up and silently slip out of his sleeping bag while motioning to Eloise. I quickly shook my friend awake.

"I smell blood," my friend says as she rubs her eyes, and she's right. The copper tang hangs in the air, and we both look in fear, knowing to whom exactly this scent belongs.

"Where is she?" A scream echoes through the lake, and all three of us freeze.

"I don't know who you're talking about," the Luna is crying. She never cries, her answer filled with fear, fear she has never shown any of us.

"The Future Moon Goddess. Your wolves took her from her as a newborn," the voice rings again, and a loud smack rips through the air.

"I don't know anything about this," Luna Everleigh wails. Cosmo and Eloise are frozen in their spots, but I slowly crawl forward. I see wolves in both human and wolf form standing around the lake, but I can't see Luna Everleigh or Alpha Artemis. However, I have a feeling this night will not end well.

"I do not believe that you know nothing about the kidnapping of the Moon Goddess' pup stolen the night of her birth. We have searched everywhere, and the only pack whose wolves gained a new pup that same night is this one. For your insolence in this incident, you will die just like your husband." A cold voice shakes the trees as the sounds of something tearing and the Luna's screams fill the air. All is silent except for a thud of something or someone falling to the ground. The strange wolves leave the lake, but Cosmo, Eloise, and I are too terrified to leave our hiding spot. The Alpha's children are curled up by the tree, sobbing, while silent tears fall from my face. I know what that tearing sound means; I heard it while my father slaughtered Crescent in front of Finn and me.

The day passes until the sun is setting when wolves from the pack come, calling out our names and looking for us. My parents are the first to find our hiding spot.

"Thank goodness you're alright, Cosmo and Eloise," my parents coo over the Alpha pups, and I stand in the background, everyone fussing over Cosmo and Eloise but forgetting about me. They block the sight of the lake from the sibling pair, but I see everything.

The lake is dyed red in spots where the bodies of wolves with the scent from last night lay, the ground holding small puddles, but not of the lake water. What hurts the most is seeing the Alpha and Luna both missing their heads and both dead just at the edge where the water slowly laps at their fallen forms.