ELEVEN YEARS BEFORE.
Elara's POV
The lands of GrimFangs had no sun, but there was one whose brightness rivalled the rays of the sun, Elara Fenton. At least I would like to think so. Truth is, I had never actually seen the sun, and the closest I have to seeing it is the exaggerated yellow lines drawn in the books of our history.
Like the one I am reading right now. I am sitting on a mat in my father's study, a row of shelves and a couch by the side, directly opposite a wall made of clay, it was the quietest part of our house, and my sanctuary. I had knitted a mat and carved out my corner between the row of shelves, marking my territory in my palace of books.
I am sitting with my ankles crossed underneath me, my chest bowed forward, my nose buried in the pages of a book heavier than my eight-year-old arms could carry. The pages were chipped at the edges, parchment turning grey from age, the cover was black as ink, the edges upturned and tearing away.
"The rays of the sun burn bright, but the moon whispers calmness, and its rays soothe even the hottest heart."
A smile blossomed on my lips, and I raised my head to look out the window. The moon was hanging low, a glowing ball of silver, its rays splitting through the bars of the window, holding small particles within.
I love the moon, all day all year, the moon always hangs low, shining on our world, sometimes it's full and round, sometimes it's cut in half, sometimes it's curved, and it's called a crescent, Sometimes it's red, and the books call it the blood moon. Although all my life I had only seen the full moon, all the others were in the book.
"Elara? You there sweetheart?" My father's voice cut through my reverie, tearing my gaze from the moon.
"Yes, father ", I shouted from my corner, refocusing my gaze back to my book.
His footsteps resounded in the stillness of the study. He was probably coming from his couch; they were closer now, and then his boots appeared in front of my book, brown leather glistening in the moonlight.
I raise my head slowly to look at him, a sheepish smile spreading across my lips. My father had always been a grim man, grim meaning he doesn't smile often and always has a serious expression on his face. I had heard whispers that he he scary, but he is not to me.
I find a usual fond smile on his face, and his eyes seem to shine every time he looks at me.
"Ho ho, what have we here, I see a shelf thief." He says, as he strokes his beard slowly.
I only stared at him, still sheepish, and my hands clutched my legs. Without warning, he hoists me up in the air and twirls me around..
I let out the laughter I was holding in, and his hands are tickling me, making me laugh even harder.
He places me down after a while, and side by side, my head barely reaches his waist. He bends till he is at my eye level and places his hands on my shoulder.
"What were you reading in here?" He says, shaking my shoulders a little.
I smile, excited to share what I have found in the pages of my book.
"The sun is bright and yellow, but I think it burns," I say, tapping my chin as I give the last words a thought..
"Is it now?" Father says, strokes his beard again.
I shrug and continue
"The moon is so cool! The rays can soothe the hottest heart, and they give GrimFangs cool powers! We have the coolest powers, and we are the best wolves, ever " I say, jumping on my feet, happy to be part of the clan.
Father's eyes shine again, and it made his eyes have small white stars in them. He had big brown eyes. He pats my head and ruffles, I fold into his palm and smile as he rubs my head.
"Seems like our shelf thief learnt a lot " He says, smiling.
"Hmm hmm." I nod.
"Also, I can't wait till I grow tall, then I'm going to hug the moon and I'm going to whisper into its ears" I ducked down and leaned to his ear, covering my mouth with my hand
" and I'm going to say, "thank you for giving GrimFangs such a cool power." " I say and pulled back.
Father burst into loud laughter, shaking me with his bouts.
"Why are you laughing so hard?" I say, folding my arms across my chest and my lips forming an angry pout.
"Sorry princess."
"Hmmph!" I turn my head to the side and remove his hand from my head.
"You really think our powers are cool?" His voice is serious.
I turn my head to face him so fast that my neck twinges. Was he really asking that?
"Of course!" I practically yell in his face.
"I can't wait till my first howl. I'm going to howl all day and all night." I say, clapping my hands together, and my eyes shut,
And I can really see the image with vivid clarity. Me, my head thrown back like I had seen the older wolves do, my mouth hanging wide open, as the howl leaves my throat, and then the aftermath, which is my favourite--
"Princess?" Father's voice brought me back.
I find myself, in the position I had imagined, head thrown back, mouth open, and I suddenly feel shy.
Father's fond smile finds me.
"You really can't wait huh?" He said, his hand is back on my head and patting it again.
I shook my head.
"Well, I think you are going to be really cool."
I flashed a smile, as bright as the moon.
"I think so too."
He laughs and hoists me in his arms again, balancing me in his arms, and we walk out of his study, as he tells me what's for dinner.