Sephora's POV
I walked outside and the moon was bright and it's glow bathed the entire land. The sisters were all ready. Artemisia walked up to me from behind and handed me the white veil that I was meant to put on. I smiled and took it from her and covered my long flowing brown hair. We couldn't proceed, however, without Kali.I didn't have to wait too long as she soon appeared. The moon light made her look even more mysterious as her black mist intertwined with the moon's bluish glow."Sephora, are you ready?"I nodded. Could I 'not be ready'?"Yes Mistress Kali."There was nothing left to do. Kali gave me a flaming torch and I walked infront of the procession. As we took a step, I would light the torches that the sisters had set up that led all the way to the waters of the Lunaria.As I lighted each torch, the path grew brighter and brighter and the sky was set alight with the moon's glow and fire. I was filled with anxiety and excitement. I couldn't wait to meet the new Suprema. Half way through the journey, Kali began to chant. Her voice pierced the night and the birds stopped their songs to listen to her eerie yet melodic singing.She sang in ancient Lycan and the sisters that knew the language joined in. Their voices filled the air and I continued to light the torches the entire way. The Lunaria was quite far and the walk was slow and steady. Artemisia walked quietly by my side avoiding eye contact with me. I could feel her heavy heart yet, this was what had to be done.After a while, Kali's voice grew even louder and soon, I could hear the rushing sound of the waters of the Lunaria. We were nearly there. The sisiters and Kali chanted even louder and I grew even more nervous and excited. Soon, the stream came into full view. The moon's light reflected off the waters perfectly, better than any mirror could. It was nature at it's peak of perfection. The sisters stopped and Kali walked up to the front. Her voice was loud and commanding, yet cool and still mysterious."Sisters! The Moon Goddess consecrates this ceremony for today, from these waters, we shall welcome a new member of the pack and the future Suprema."All was silent. She looked at me; her eyes had a frighthtening blue glow. The spirit of the waters of the Lunaria had taken over her. Such was the the power of the shaman, Mistress Kali."Sephora, step forward."I took an anxious step forward and looked into Kali's flaming blue eyes."Suprema Serphora, Wolf of the burning flame, the Goddess asks you to shed your light."I closed my eyes and soon I could feel the heat of my flame fan around me. I opened my eyes and Kali's face was bathed in a blue and orange glow. One from the moon and one from my fiery light.My white veril burnt away and the breeze carried the ashes into the waters and they floated on top and burnt blue with light."The Goddess has acknowledged the transfer of the mantle of leadership. Sephora my dear, step forward and grace the waters of the Lunaria. They call to you."I walked slowly into the calm stream and was soon waist deep. I stood still for a while and put my hands slowly into the water and held the pose. The sisters were as silent as a grave yard. All eyes were on me. I couldn't hear a sound, not even a breath. I closed my eyes and focused my mind and slowly, I could feel my hands getting heavier and heavier as if something was gently being put into them.My flame continued to glow bright, the waters not quenching them and soon, I heard Kali's voice in the distance."Raise your hands Sephora. It has been done."I lifted my hands slowly out of the water and I was carrying the most beautiful baby that I had ever seen. I looked at her chest and saw the mark of the Suprema just above her breast. I looked at my arm and found out that the mark had left me. I was no longer the Suprema. This baby was.I turned to the sisters and as soon as they saw the baby in my hands, they all let out a howl that pierced the night. Kali smiled and gestured to me to step out of the waters of the Lunaria. It had been done. I smiled at Kali as I cradled the baby in my hands. I let out a howl as well and soon, all was silent around me. Artemisia let out a sad smile. My days to be with her had already started to count down.Suddenly there was a gasp as someone walked forward. It was a little pup. We had left the little ones at home but some how this one had managed to follow us. She walked up to me holding a single moon flower and Kali didn't stop her. She smiled as the little one walked up to me and I bent down to receive the gift.I looked at the girl's face and found out that it was Niylah, our wolf that was given to us on the last full moon. I took the flower from her and she smiled at the baby.I stood up and faced the sisters and one came forward to pick Niylah up.Kali spoke to me."The child is your to train for the next eighteen years. It is befitting that you name her. The Lunaria was silent about her name."I looked at the sisters as they all waited for me to say her name."Sisters, I have waited for this child to be born. Her name was given to me on the howls of the winds. Welcome our newest sister. I name her–Sequoia."Sequoia's POV I crept around the pack house with Niylah following me quietly behind. The house was quiet and Sephora was not around. Niylah was nervous and she tried to stop me. She was always such a sticker for the rules. Everyone thought her to be the most disciplined wolf of our time."Sequoia, we need to stop this. We might get caught."I hushed her and continued to creap around. I knew that sister Sephora was hiding something from me. I was seventeen and she had been really sneaky and secretive. She was always hiding stuff and talking in whispers to sister Artemisia. I hated Artemisia. She had this cruel look in her eyes and she was always very hard on me, especially when we trained. Having her take the fighting lesson was like living a nightmare. I was never good enough for her.Suddenly, Niylah grabbed my arm."Sequoia stop this!" she said in a tense whisper. "Sephora will catch us sneaking around and you know how mad she will be."I sighed and looked back at Niylah. She was
Sequoia's POVWe walked out of the pack house into the warm sun. I carried the spears and was significantly slower than Sephora. Her strides were long and prideful and I scurried to her side."Sister Sephora, where are we going?"She said nothing to me and simply took one of the spears from my hands and we pressed on. As we walked, the other sisters stared at us and I could decifer sneaky whispers. They were always whispering behind my back. I never really paid attention but now, I knew something was wrong.We disappeared into the forest and the greenery took over. The flowers here bloomed with elegance and beauty. The red and purple swayed in the wind like candles in the windy night. We passed a stream and I stopped briefly to look at the little fish swim against the current. It looked so magical though I had been in here many..."Sequoia, you are behind. Come."Sephora called me and I walked up to catch her. Soon we reached a clearing and she set the tip of her spear into the groun
Sephora's POVThe walk was quiet and I could feel Sequoia's eyes on me. I was deeply troubled but I did not look at her, instead, I turned my attention to the flowers in the field. They were beautiful, blazing with colour, just like Sequoia's fire, like 'my' fire. We continued to walk to the pack house and there was still a silence between us and yet in the silence, I could still hear the many questions of Sequoia's heart. There was still so much to tell her but she couldn't know about them yet.As we approached, Artemisia walked up to us and by her side was Niylah. She looked quite tired but happy all the same."I take it that you two had a nice day."Niylah was itching to say so much but Artemisia restrained her."It was good," said Artemisia flatly. I smiled at Artemisia."You need to lighten up, sister. How about we all go and eat together?"We walked inside and found the table already set. I was surprised because I had not asked anyone to set the meal yet. Artemisia turned to m
Sequoia's POV"Niylah! Wait up! Stop! Your Suprema commands you!" I ran after her, panting, but she was quick, dodging through the trees and soon she disappeared into the dark. The mokk wasn't bright enough to see where she went and instead it casted eerie shadows on everything that it's light touched. I stopped on a rock to rest. I knew she was around here somewhere, watching me, waiting for me to be off guard so that she could pounce on me, like she always did.I had a bright idea and immediately shifted into my wolf, my bright orange and red flames filled the clearing I was in with light. The shadows were pushed back andy light burnt bright into the night, rivaling that of the moon's.I heard a twig snap and I turned sharply around but there was no one. Suddenly I felt a presence but I was too slow to get out of the way. Niylah emerged from he hiding place and had pounced on me, pinning me to the ground. She too was in her wolf form. Her eyes were a deep blue, her white coat patte
Sequoia's POVI looked at Mistress Kali stunned. Niylah looked at me and shrugged. There was nothing else to do. We sat beside Kali and watched the petals. They just sat there, no movement at all.Kali closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The gentle breeze began to pick up and suddenly, the petals moved with the current. We all watched and soon Kali urged us to stand up and follow the petals as they flowed down the stream.The petals danced, swirling and criss-crossing each other elegantly but never touching. It was beautiful, mesmerizing. Niylah smiled at me as we watched the petals flow down with grace.The winds soon began to pick up and something blew across my cheek. It was a split second and then I saw it: a blue petal. It floated down into the stream and danced next to mine and Niylah's. It was an intricate dance but soon Niylah's petal got left behind and mine was left dancing with the blue petal. It continued for a while until it reached the rapids of the river. The curre
Sephora's POV I stood on the ledge of the cliff and watched the pack. The night sky was an inky black and moon was a crescent. In a few days, it would be a full moon. A new lunar month and a new child to be born in to the pack."The land is beautiful, Suprema Sephora."I was startled and looked behind me. A lady walked up behind me, half hidden by the dark but soon the light of the moon revealed her face. It was Kali. I relaxed and resumed my gazing. It was getting lonely and I would really appreciate her company.We stood silently side by side and took in the magnificent view was as the light of the crescent moon bathed the lands below."Your heart is heavy."I looked at her. How did she know? Was it that obvious?"Yes Kali," said I with a sigh. I couldn't lie to her. It would never work anyway."Your reign as Suprema might soon end in a few days. But then again, your successor might been born on another full moon."I looked at the shining crescent moon. The winds did not lie."No K
Sephora's POV I walked outside and into the glorious sun. I walked among my people and soon, the kids were swarming all over me. They pounced on me and I fell down playfully. They were simply a delight."Suprema Sephora, look what I can do."The young girl shifted into her wolf and closed her eyes. A pebble on the ground began to levitate and I picked it from mid air."Wonderful little one. If you keep practicing, you shall be a powerful wolf."The little girl shifted back and the others around playfully swarmed on her."You are such a show off."I got off the ground and left the little ones to their game. My wolf pack was a magical one. We had all been born from the waters of the Lunaria stream under the essence of the full moon. As we were bestowed with their wolf, we were each given a unique element to possess. The little child had definitely been given the gift of the earth.We were also well trained in hand to hand combat and I could see some older wolves training. I stopped to
Sephora's POVFour days came sooner than I thought. The entire pack was buzzing with activity. The sisiters no longer called me the Suprema and the little ones did the same. Today was finally the day. The new Suprema was going to be born. Her birth would mark my death and the end of my journey in this world. It was my duty to train her and after, I would pass away by her hand when she caeme of age. That was how the change of power worked in Mystic Shadow. No one could question it.Artemisia stood close by my side all day. I could feel her worry. Though it woud take another eighteen years for me to get my successor ready, time seemed to move faster when one knew that her days were numbered.Torch stands were erected as they would guide the path to the waters of the mystical stream. Fire was the elemnt of the Suprema alone. No one else had her element.The day seemed to move too slowy for me. I sat on my little cliff looking at the sky and watching my sisters prepare for the child. Arte