A dancer amongst wolves

Chapter One: To whom it may concern

My name is Ayana Bright, I am a woman trapped between two worlds, the world of magic and that of regular mortals. I come from a long lineage of First Nation men and women who were descendants of wolves, bears, foxes. eagles, and many other forms.

My father, an artist, was one of our tribes leaders and healer like all the men and women in our family tree before him.

It was said that our people had lost the magic to turn into the creatures we each came from, once colonization began and the white man took the spirit from our men and women corrupting the origin of it.

But somewhere along the path, the line that divided the magical and the normal faded into oblivion, and in 2024 when I was seven years old, everyone learned that creatures like werewolves, vampires, shape shifters, fairies, elves, giants, witches, and even warlocks were real, and dominated almost all political, economic and technological structures.

Unlike the stories we had heard from ancient times, most of these creatures meant regular mortals no deathly harm, since they themselves were like us in their limited life although in an extended form when compared to mere mortals.

Some of them even depended on humans for their sustenance, like vampires who had been the ones to adapt the most throughout existence to maintain their secret.

They weren't as evil as we thought. 

They did however have the will to govern and rule over all, and it was clear by the threads they had woven across the ages connecting them to every source of need for normal human life.

The world divided, pro magic and against it, until an agreement was reached and a new government was formed, and by the time I turned twenty three, my fondest memories were those shared at school, college and during down time with my magical friends. 

For they were outsiders just like I was.

I didn't fear magic growing up, for my father made sure that I knew that I myself came from it, and that I was part of a much bigger picture, a balance for those like what I would be.

There was a part of me that thought it was just wishful thinking on his behalf, but I know bette now.

I am a hybrid, fox and wolf, the first female of my kind in a long time, as far as I know.

And I know this now because it was this ancient power that saved my life two years ago.

My life changed completely, I couldn't decide back then wether it was good or bad, but I know the guilt hasn't left me even now.

It was my father's birthday and I decided to surprise him at the reservation. 

He looked worn down and tired but the moment he noticed my presence it was like a light filled him. We talked about silly things, I remember how excited  he was that I had just gotten my first big investment to develop an original dance piece from my boss and the club.

It was based on the story he used to tell me as a child, about my great great great great great grandmother, Honiahaka, the daughter of the chief of our tribe and the only woman in our tribe to manifest the wolf spirit in herself after great loss and despair.

I don't know why exactly, but we made the choice to go out that night.

It was after my dad got a mysterious phone call. I remember it was raining cats and dogs and I warned my father that we should stay home, but he insisted that there was something he wanted to show me deep in the forest.

We had been hiking for 8 miles getting soaking wet when I had enough and stopped to complain and berate my father.

I reminded him how this was like when I was a child and my mother had left because my little brother had died. How he would take me on these adventures that for the best of me I still couldn't figure out their purpose.