SHINING
The howling woke her up; it mesmerized her, and terrified her. Her father was sleeping beside her, protecting her however unlikely it was that she would be in danger. Her mother was out there, there was no doubt in her mind. She looked up at the full moon. It light shone across the village, going as far as it could reach. A simple light, yet very important. However, it was dreadful for her. Whenever the full moon shone, it reminded her that one day, she may not be affected by its power. That she may not be accepted. That she was going to be left out forever from what she knew herself to be.
That she was in fact, what everyone saw her as, not what she felt.
-- Morning came within hours, and a small kiss on the cheek woke her up again, as she saw her mother, and returned to a slumber. Just sunrise.
--
She went about her day, doing the chores that were set out for her, so she could get another story from her mother. It was her favourite time of day, listening to her mother tell stories of her clan. The clan that had clawed through tough times; that had reached a land that they could call their own. The (werewolf) clan. This time, she was excited to hear about the clan’s worst kept secret. It was a story that every child was told, especially the females of the clan. The amount of joy she received, to be a part of this passage, to learn, and to be accepted as a part of the clan. There were many who were opposed to her. Too many to count. They did not see her as worthy of hearing the stories.
No, it would be a hard journey for her, but she was determined, of course. Determination, however, is met with resistance. And to have determination, means to have doubts. She had many doubts. She believed the words of those who did not wish for her to continue on the path she was taking. The words were sometimes kind, sometimes gentle. But too often, they were harsh; they left an imprint on her that she knew would not be erased.
They could not be erased, as long as she lived.
The swift turn of her mood slowed down the progress of her work. She looked at the list of tasks left to complete, and sighed deeply.
A quick break was what she needed. She headed to the bathroom to wash her face. A quick slash on the face and a deep soak of her head in cool water, and then she dried herself off.
A surge of energy shot through her immediately as the coolness calmed her nerves. Her short hair bounced as she went back to work quickly, her long legs taking strides towards her next chore.
--
“NAME,” Her mother called out as she entered the house, slowly moving towards the kitchen to grab a snack.
Quick steps turned into a sprint as NAME reached her mother and jumped, her mother catching her perfectly. “Yes, mother?”
“How did your chores go today? Did you father come check up on you?” Her mother was eating a yellowish fruit.
“I finished everything! Father didn’t have to come and check up on me, I was perfectly fine by myself,” NAME spoke quickly, eager to get to the story that she had been longing to hear ever since she had turned 11.
“You’re more responsible than any other child I’ve ever seen, even those older than you. I’m proud of you, NAME.”
“Yeah! I’ve been trying really hard!” NAME closer her hands around each other and beamed up at her mother.
“I’ll take you out with me in a few days again. This time you’ll be able to remember the trip, now that you’ve grown,” Her mother placed her on the bed beside her own, and went to change into more comfortable clothes.
“I look forward to it. All I’ve seen is father working at the marketplace. I want to go out hunting with you, I want to be a part of that one day,” NAME imagined these events as if they were happening at the moment.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to if you continue as you are doing. You’ll make the entire clan proud,” Her mother was always trying to be supportive, when others refused to give her the same.
“I’ll make you most proud of all!” NAME slowly let her head rest on her bed.
“Are you ready for the story I’m about to tell you?” Her mother was on the bed beside her now.
“Yes!” NAME threw her arms up, and then dropped them to both sides before picking herself and laying her head on her mother’s lap.
“Remember, this story is only to be told in the privacy of your own home. Don’t tell any of your friends what I say here,” NAME nodded in affirmation to the conditions set out for her, “I’ll begin with our warriors.”
