Gravity is pulling Mona as swift as a bullet, and her fall did not even stop the river's raging flow. She was engulfed by the cold water and down she goes. She held her breath as long as she can but her efforts to go up were futile. The river's current was dragging her helplessly along. She's being pulled to the bottom then will bob a second later. She'll inhale and down underwater again for another minute or more. It was not long until someone grabbed her. Thanks goodness! But the amount of water she gulped is making her dizzy, add the freezing waters and the current, her head's starting to spin.
"Where is she? Where is my Mona?" old Josephine asked as she met the men charging to the packhouse. She turned to Bill. Her eyes worried yet hopeful. None of the men looked at her straight in the eye.
"Alpha? Bill?! Where is she!" she demanded.
"She fell. To the Moon River." Bill whispered. He dare not look at Josephine's wrinkled face. Guilt was all over his face.
Upon hearing Bill's answer, her knees turned to jelly she can't stand still. Bill supported her to one of the chairs. She felt her lungs has stopped functioning. She can't believe it! Falling to moon river is as good as dying! She held Bill's hand up in front of her and looked hysterically as if searching for evidence. It was gone. The silver trail of thread caused by the unbreakable vow was gone. She reached for the Alpha's hand as well. It was definitely gone, not a trace! Only the death of whom the promise was made will break it. Do it mean that Mona did not survive the fall?? Is she really gone?? Josephine started to wail.
Mona opened her eyes wide. She thought she's dead but she's not. In all fairness, she's feeling well as in the best she had ever in all of her eight years.
Her head had some kind of minty leaves, same as her arm. She remembered being bitten by a rogue on her arm but there is not a wound in sight, only fresh scars. She sat up. Good gracious, she does not feel any pain. She removed the leaves on her body and placed it carefully on the bedside table next to her.
The room she's in is very simple and airy. The windows were wide open as the curtains made of shell danced in the wind creating a musical chime. Beside her was a wooden bedside table with a vase of fresh flowers and a small basin filled with water and leaves. An old mahogany cabinet was opposite her and also a large blurry, almost dusty mirror with intricate wooden carvings, she can slightly see her face on it. The room is filled with the smell of chamomile and lavender, calming her senses.
"I see you're awake... " a musical voice said. She turned her head automatically to its source. A very beautiful woman carrying a tray came in the room. Her very long, straight, black hair reaches to her hips. She's wearing a long dress in pale yellow with a blue string tied in a ribbon on her narrow waist. She's short and slim, but it did not change the fact that she is very pretty. She has a light, happy yet mysterious aura in her. For Mona, she is the most beautiful lady she had seen so far, almost enchanting. She smiled at her showing her pearly white perfect teeth, her eyelashes were long that complements her slightly almond-shaped purple eyes.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she sits beside her bed and put the tray on the table.
"I'm feeling good, thank you." she said timidly.
"That's great." she said happily. "Here, have some porridge." she took the bowl of porridge and started stirring it.
"Thank you." she accepts it and starts blowing on its contents. The lady is still looking at her and she suddenly felt insecure and lowered her head.
"You are very pretty." she softly said. She blushed. Not once in her life had she received such compliment.
"Thank you" she said shyly. "Who are you?" she dare asked the mysterious lady.
She smiled widely, "I am Karen Sage" she held her hand to offer a handshake.
"I --- I'm Mona. Mona Mayfield." she shakes her soft hand.
"I know." she replied. "Nice meeting you, Mona."
She looked at her with a start. How did she know her name? Understanding her startled look she just nodded and smiled.
"I saw a nametag in your clothes when I washed it." she explained. She looked at herself, she's wearing a loose white dress that reaches her ankles.
"Say, Miss Sage, how did you found me?" she asked warily.
"I did not found you. You came to me."
It has been a week since Mona was gone. Old Josephine is still in disbelief. Her body has turned weak because of the shock and grief. She was staying temporarily in the pack house and was settled in a small room because of her condition. Bill seeing her state promised to go down river to search for Mona in the hope that she's still alive somewhere.
"I know she's still alive. She's out there, beyond the woods. She can't die. She's one tough girl..." she whispered to herself as she approched the window.
"She's tougher than you think... " replied Lou, her wolf.
"You believe me, Lou?" she asked.
"Of course, Jo. And I believe in Mona too. I believe in the great things that ought are for her..." Lou replied before going back to sleep.
"That's it! I must head back home. I must prepare dinner for her. Mona might be home soon. She will be home. I will wait for her..." Lou's reply lifted her spirits. She packed her belongings and went out of the little room. She head to the Alpha's office to thank him for his generosity of keeping her even just for awhile. The door was slightly ajar and she was about to knock on the door when she heard two people arguing.
"What else bothers you? The bond has been broken. Sometimes William, you have to put a little faith in me." It was the Luna speaking.
"But it doesn't feel right Miranda." The Alpha said anxiously
"Look at me, William..." she commanded. "I just put an end to the vow that binds you and your bloodline to that cursed girl! Since you were there to rescue and supposedly protect her, the chain of vow did not act up. You did not break the vow because you were there to take her back. Understood? It was not you who pushed her to the cliff, it was that filthy rogue! You did not cause her death! " she explained. Her voice filled with irritation.
Josephine cannot believe her ears. But the Luna is clearly speaking. She may be old but her hearing is still perfect. It means, Luna Miranda plotted to kill Mona! That poor girl!
"I came to you? What do you mean, Miss Sage?" Mona inquired. Karen stood up and moved to the dining room where she placed Mona's tray on the table. She followed her. A large china cabinet attracted Mona. Inside were bottles and jars in various shapes and sizes, filled with colored liquids. There were leaves, flowers, butterfly wings and beetles too.
Karen busied herself in the sink.
"And what exactly are you?" Mona added hesitantly.
Karen laughed musically. "You are such a curious and sharp kid, Mona. But don't worry, I won't harm you.I don't harm children " she turned back and busied herself again in the sink. She's washing a jar. Mona's heart pounded as she spoke.
"Then what are you? " Mona repeated. Ignoring her thundering heart.
"If I tell you, would you believe me?" she said, still her back to her.
"How dare you!!! Of all people! You?" Josephine shouted at the pack leaders, the Luna and Alpha.
"Alpha William, you swore that day that you will do everything in your power to protect her! But you allowed your wife to kill her?? And you Luna, you are a traitor! You harmed an innocent girl!!" Josephine was enraged and with that she transformed and attacked the Luna. Both of them were shocked as Josephine charged Miranda. She tackled her and slashed her chest. She is vicious and dangerous. Miranda screamed in pain touching her chest now oozing with blood. The guards came in and captured Josephine. However, she fought them all. Tossing each guard aside, growling "You killed her!!" She's gone wild to kill Miranda. It was havoc in the Alpha's office until a sedative was injected to Josephine's spine that paralyzed her for a moment. Still, Josephine's eyes were wild with rage.
"I believe you. I promise, I wont run..." Mona even raised her hand as if pledging.
"I'm just an ordinary human, Mona"
"But you don't smell like a human to me..."
" Really? What do I smell like?" Karen asked, her eyes twinkling.
"I don't know. You're.... different.. "
"For the humans, they call me a quack, sometimes a witch. " she shrugs. "For your kind, they call me an enchantress, a hermitress, a seer..." she said a-matter-of-factly.
"But which are you?"
"All of it. A seer, witch, enchantress...whatever they want me to be I can become. I am a being with extraordinary abilities, Mona." she looked intently in her eyes. She approched her and hold both of her arms as she lowered herself so that her eyes were at the level with hers.
"Someone is waiting for you, worried and wanting you to return soon" she said. Remembering what happened, Mona shakes her head.
"I don't want to return. No one wants me there. For all I know, maybe they think I'm dead and are celebrating."
"I understand how you feel, but it won't last... " she said, now removing strands of loose hair on her face.
"It won't last or I'll get used to it?"
"Listen Mona, you have been through so much. But brace yourself because there are more difficult trials ahead. It will break you but you have to be strong. It will be painful but only through pain, you will be stronger and wiser. You will make mistakes but it's okay. Because through mistakes you will learn precious lessons. You will overcome everything inorder to fulfill your destiny. Don't be afraid. You are special and blessed by the moon. You are bound for greatness..." Mona was mesmerized as she listened to her.
"Are you , by any chance, the Moon Goddess??" she said in a whisper, her voice excited, her eyes rounder than ever.
Karen laughed. "No, no, my dear. I am just a mortal called Karen Sage, the Healer in Oakwood Groove."