The clearing was a small circle of peace in the middle of the night. Fireflies rose like tiny stars pulling themselves from the earth, lighting the air with brief golden sparks. Loona followed Lyara to the center of that quiet space; the gray wolf lay down with elegance, and Loona sat beside her, hugging her knees.
"Can you see the night the way we do?" Lyara asked softly, her voice almost a purr.
Loona blinked a few times, taking in the dark outline of the forest—which, to her surprise, looked clear as if bathed in bright moonlight.
"I… don't know why. But yes, I can see everything in this darkness."
Lyara let out a small laugh.
"You look like a pup discovering the world."
She closed her eyes for a moment, relaxing against the soft ground. "We can stay here. I'm a bit tired."
"It is comfortable…" Loona said, running her hand through the grass, feeling every blade, every breeze as if her senses had multiplied.
Lyara opened one eye.
"Your senses are sharp. You'll stay sensitive like this until tomorrow, probably. You must also have a lot of questions."
Loona sighed.
"I do. Too many."
Lyara nodded slowly.
"I'll try to explain what I know."
She gazed up at the sky, as if organizing her thoughts. "Those wolves from before… the white one is Sant. My partner. Our alpha."
A small, proud smile touched her muzzle.
"The older brown one is Varrock. He could be an elder, but he's strong enough to keep serving as a warrior. He's wise, but… very blunt and acidic."
Loona tilted her head, curious.
"And the small one?"
"Inuho," Lyara replied, her voice warm. "He was the first warrior Sant ever named. He finished training not long ago. Sometimes he's cheerful to an absurd level."
She laughed. "But he can calm anyone down. And he already has a pup."
"Really?" Loona's eyes widened.
"Really. And even worse—" Lyara laughed harder "—it's with Ravik's daughter."
Loona couldn't help but grin.
"Is Ravik always like that?"
"Ravik is loyal. Very. But he's direct, impulsive, and quick-tempered. He means no harm. He's just… the strongest among us. And he wants to protect everyone."
Loona looked at the fireflies dancing in the air.
"And why… why did I come back? Why revive me of all people?"
Lyara took a deep breath.
"We don't know everything."
She adjusted herself, looking at Loona with sincerity. "What we do know is that Scar, Sant's father and our former alpha, used to tell stories about magic from the North. Magic from the Children of the Moon—wolves descended from Luno."
"So Sant is one of them," Loona concluded.
"Yes," Lyara confirmed. "But he doesn't control those powers very well. Bringing you back… was a miracle."
Loona ran a hand over her own head—and felt the new ears. They twitched on their own, then responded to her touch.
"Why me?" she murmured, still unfamiliar with her own body.
Lyara smiled gently.
"Because we rescued the daughter of a human who was an ally of Scar. But her father was taken by the Church. And the baby was too young… she wouldn't survive. We needed a human. Sant thought of you."
Loona opened her mouth to reply—but suddenly her eyes went wide.
"I CAN MOVE THEM!" she exclaimed, startled and excited.
Her ears shot up at once, reacting to her enthusiasm.
Lyara laughed, like a mother watching a child discover their own limbs.
"They're part of you now. As much as the uniqueness of your hair or the sight in your eyes."
Loona kept touching her ears, fascinated.
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, Sant and Inuho rummaged through the human bodies used in the ritual, searching for cloth.
"I don't know why Ravik is so impulsive," Inuho grumbled as he sniffed around.
"He probably hit his head when he was born," Sant replied, tearing off a usable piece of fabric.
They both laughed.
Inuho returned with something hanging from his mouth—a small leather pouch.
"Hey, Sant! These humans keep some little stones in here. Can I have them?" he asked, words muffled by the pouch.
"Sure, Inuho," Sant said, focused on his task. "Let's take these to the girls."
Back at the clearing, Loona finally asked:
"You know the Church is hunting you, right? Where will you go? The den… it was burned."
Lyara looked at her while Loona mindlessly played with her ears.
"We're going North. It's safer there. The Fire Archipelago."
Loona's eyes lit up. Her ears perked immediately.
"That's my dream! Can I go with you?"
Lyara let out a light, warm laugh.
"You're part of our pack now. Of course you can."
She laughed even more, placing a paw on her belly as if something tightened inside.
"Oh… you two never give me a break," she said, licking her own belly.
Loona straightened up, worried.
"Are you okay?"
Lyara smiled with a special glow.
"I'm fine. Just… expecting pups."
Loona's eyes shot open.
"Sant is the father??"
"Absolutely," Lyara replied, pride shining like moonlight.
The silence of the clearing was broken by light steps on the grass. Sant and Inuho emerged from the bushes, the moon silvering their fur as if blessing them. Sant dropped a handful of torn cloth at their feet, still stained.
"This is all we found," he growled softly, tired. "Nothing intact… but it should cover your body until we reach the next town."
Inuho, on the other hand, came bouncing like a pup who never learned to walk properly.
"Look! Look! Look what I found!" he announced, chest puffed up. He held the little leather pouch in his teeth. He shook his head, and silver stones spilled out onto the ground with a soft clatter.
Loona's eyes widened. "That… that's money, Inuho. Twenty-five silver coins. Loid currency."
"Money?" Inuho blinked, ears twisting in confusion.
Sant frowned, thoughtful. "Perfect. Then you can buy clothes in the next human village."
Inuho stared at the scattered coins like someone studying an unknown creature, unsure whether to run or lick it.
"These stones are important? You… trade them for food?"
Loona let out a heavy, almost sad sigh. "I wish it were that simple. But yes… humans trade these coins for food, clothes, tools…"
Inuho made an indignant face. "But just hunt! Hunt and eat! Why complicate it?"
He snorted, clearly frustrated with human logic. After a moment, his eyes brightened again.
"I'm going to sleep with Aemi and Ame!"
And he hopped away, completely ignoring Sant's warning:
"Be careful! Aemi is still an apprentice! Ravik will eat you alive if he sees you with her!"
But Inuho had already vanished into the bushes, leaving only the echo of his joy.
Loona tilted her head, curious.
"Who's Aemi?"
Sant let out a small sigh, as if he already foresaw the chaos.
"His mate. But… Ravik hates that Inuho bonded with her."
Loona frowned.
"Why? He doesn't like Inuho?"
Lyara chuckled softly, warmly.
"That's not it. Aemi is a young wolf, still an apprentice. Dark-brown fur, bright eyes, and a heart as gentle as a breeze. She's sweet, clever… and Ravik's daughter."
She arched her brows, as if that alone explained everything.
"And Ravik… well, he's the type of father who thinks no warrior is good enough for his little girl. And Inuho was the first to prove him right."
Sant turned to Loona, his gaze firm but not harsh. "You'll be very cold tonight. Without clothes, your human body can't hold heat. Use these fabrics until we reach the town. It's a three-day walk."
Lyara yawned, her tail tapping softly on the ground. "You can sleep with us. Our fur will warm you."
Sant looked at her, perplexed.
"Lyara…"
She narrowed her eyes, giving him that pleading look only she could do—the same one that had saved Inuho from scolding more times than she could count.
"Love… look at her. She looks like a lost pup."
Sant sighed. Gave in.
"Fine. But only for tonight."
Lyara smiled victoriously and whispered proudly to Loona:
"Female charm."
Loona improvised clothes using the torn fabric. She tied everything together with grass strings, creating something between a skirt and a short tunic—enough to cover her trembling body. It wasn't pretty, but it would keep her alive through the night.
They walked back to the wide clearing where the pack rested. White, brown, black fur—huge bodies curled together like one great, breathing creature. Varrock stood watch, sitting like a stone statue, his amber eyes reflecting the moon.
"Good night, everyone," Loona murmured shyly.
Varrock watched her for a moment. Then he simply dipped his head—silent respect, as fitting for an elder-warrior.
Sant lay beneath a wide old tree. Lyara settled beside him and pulled Loona in with her tail, tucking her between them. Their warmth felt like a small sun trapped beneath their skin. The rhythm of their deep breaths soothed the air.
Loona felt the world grow small.
She felt… protected.
She felt like she belonged—to a pack.
The last thing she sensed before sleep claimed her was Lyara's tail gently wrapping around her waist like a promise:
You are not alone.