Once Upon A Time (13 page)

As I walked
with Garad, and listened to her explanation of the tea blends and
how they worked I can't help but smile. They all wanted me to feel
better.

Taking the
thermos, I look at them, I was curious as to how they would taste.
"Yeah, I have some .... tendencies to not sleep well. But really is
nothing too bad ... I will be going to bed soon, so I'll take a cup
now." I smiled and opened it, using the lid as cup, I served some
of the tea, tasting it I soon felt the flavours of the herbs
exploding in my mouth. "Mmm, this one is perfect. " I commented,
drinking more of it. It was strong yet subtle taste.

"I am going to
head out to bed now, I still need to shower." I chuckled and walked
to the door. Turning to her I walked to her again, and gave her a
gentle hug, then walked away, saying goodnight to Owain by giving
him a kiss on the cheek and going up the stairs. A few minutes
later, I was ready to retire for the night. I could feel the tea
working, making me yawn here and there.

By the time I
laid in bed, my eyelids felt heavy and soon I was falling
asleep.

The Winter
Solstice ceremony was ready to start. Looking into the mirror one
time I smoothed the skirt of the white silky dress I used for this
particular ceremony for centuries. Placing on the necklace I
received when I was just a youngling myself from my own sire, the
bright blue stone still shining brightly, I had a soft but sad
smile on my lips in his memory.

Walking to the
nursery to collect the twins, I could see the anxious looks of all
the younglings as well as the adults of the Pack. This is a special
time of year for the Pack. We show our gratitude to our Goddess for
all the good that has happened for the year.

Each of the
young females take a baby and headed down the stairs case to meet
with the others. I gathered the box full of gifts for the
younglings, knowing all the adults who have been given their own
gift at a young age will be wearing their necklaces for the
ceremony. The time was drawing near. The excitement is thick in the
air

Walking to the
front of the pack I awaited my mate to join me, his eyes are the
Cŵn Annwn red, as are all of the pack as he calls forth our
Goddess.

Evening, and
the Hall is in darkness, in preparation for our Solstice ritual.
Candles stand in floor sconces, unlit until the appropriate time.
Carrying the box of gifts for the younglings, the darkness is no
impediment to me or to any other Cŵn Annwn. However, the candles
are as much for their symbolism as to provide illumination on
proceedings. Gradually, the Hall fills with the members of the
Pack, from the youngest, my own twin pups, to the eldest in the
Pack. In the dim light, the simple garments worn by the Cŵn Annwn
are dim shapes: a simple button-less shirt and leather trousers is
the preferred choice for the males, and for the females, a variety
of light, shift style dresses, the length dependent on their age
and preference.

Placing the
box of gifts on the floor, I turned to Aaleahya, standing before
the Pack, waiting for me. My eyes are glowing red, as from within
me, I called to the Goddess, inviting her to witness our pledge to
her service. There is a sudden breeze through the room, as the call
is answered, and a murmur of sound from the Pack, from the children
to the adults as eyes are raised, and like so many bright LED
lights, each member of the Pack is joined in the bond that makes us
Cŵn Annwn

"Welcome, one
and all. Our Goddess is with us, witness as we celebrate the return
of the Light to the world, with the promise of life to come.
Tonight, our Pack are blessed particularly to welcome three new
members, in the Mate of our Beta, Bran. Alix, I bid you welcome, in
the name of our Goddess and in the name of your Pack. And, we
welcome Matyas and Liszka to our number."

Taking
Aaleahya's hands in mine, we began our simple ritual. Meeting my
Mate's eyes, I raise my voice in an eerie howl, which though soft,
is audible by all present. The howl is echoed by the Pack, as we
join together in the unique song that is part of our heritage.

Smiling at my
Mate, a slight pressure on her hands gives her the signal, as the
darkness within me joins with the light within her, and the candles
around the room burst into flame, bathing the room in both light
and warmth.

"With the Turn
of the Wheel, we welcome the rebirth of the Light, with the promise
of light and life, of the warmth of Spring and Summer. We welcome
those who are new to our Pack, and the promise that they bring with
them. We welcome Alix Gosselin, mated to Bran Cadwgan. We welcome
Matyas Daciana-Negrescu and Liszka Daciana-Negrescu to our number
also."

Feeling the
Goddess with us my mate took my hand in his, our eyes meeting as
the light with in me passes to him, the candles lighting on their
own with the power in us. Gavril raises his head and howls softly
as it is echoed within each member of the Pack. I joined in feeling
grateful for our Pack and our twins which are indeed a blessing and
gift from the our Goddess. My love cites what we are welcoming and
for what we give gratitude, mentioning the Pack and welcoming the
new additions: the mate of one of our Betas, Bran and his soul mate
Alix and then our own lovely children.

When he had
finished we reached for the boxes of gifts that we are going to
bestow on the younglings. I picked up the first necklace with a
dark blue stone, placing around the neck of young man, telling him
that it will help fight the darkness with in him until he could
find his light in his soul mate. The young male bowed before me
thanking me and his Goddess. I continued to the next young male,
performing the same ritual as Gavril does the same for the young
females.

As Aaleahya
awarded the ritual gift to each of the male Pack younglings, I did
the same. The pendant which I give to the female younglings is the
same but with a bright blue moonstone, symbolising the light that
is their gift to bring to their future Mates.

"May this
token remind you of your Pack, and the precious gift which you hold
within you. May you fulfil your service to our Goddess with joy,
and never have cause to regret what might have been."

Each female
responds clearly that she will serve the Goddess and Pack with joy.
Some might call it a ritual response, but we are Cŵn Annwn. We are
what we are through the gift of the Goddess. Duty? No. We do what
has been requested of us, and we do it with a clear conscience and
heart.

And here I
thought I would sleep all night with the tea. But I was wrong, the
night crept in and suddenly I was jumping, startled by two things,
the nightmare and a murmur coming from the hall.

I was in my
pyjamas, so I wrapped a robe around me, and padded my way to the
hall, the murmur was clearer now. As I approached the balcony, I
heard Gavril speak, and call themselves a Pack....a pack of what?
The sudden light from the candles caught their eyes … I gasped …
their red eyes?

I smoothed the
simple white shift over my body and look into the mirror to don the
gifts from years past. “Another year full of joy and loss as is the
way of all things.” I smiled at the promise of life that Liszka and
Matyas bring to our pack and the new love some have found. No
matter what the Gosselins bring, we will face it as one and be the
stronger for it. I stop my musings and brush my hair, leaving it
down and natural for the ritual.

We were all
assembled as our Alpha Gavril begins the ceremony. The surge of
power was immediate and I felt more. There is no other way to
describe it but the word ‘more’. The energy and completeness
vibrated through me and the others to commune as one with the
Goddess and each other. The candles light and the call comes from
within to howl to the sky, humming from our very souls to a sound
as old as time.

The time for
the blessings and gifts has come, Gavril and Aaleahya bestow their
gifts and blessings then Owain and I stepped forward for the honor
of blessing Liszka and Matyas. I walked gently to Matyas and place
the necklace on his tiny body and softly speak. “May the goddess
guide your steps young Matyas. May you always know the love of Pack
and family.” My finger lightly traces his cheek as I smile and step
back into position. I pause in concern when I noticed Owain’s
strained expression. I was confused by this and see his eyes dart
around but never meeting mine. I will have to ask him about it
later.

What is this
.... am I dreaming .... but I was woken by the nightmare. Or is
this a dream within a dream? As I look to them all, I see Owain
look up, almost as if he knew I was there. I gasped, his eyes lit
red. I took a step back. and then found myself rushing in my
bedroom.

In my room I
drank more tea and then laid back on the bed. It wasn't long until
I was closing my eyes again. This time, instead of my mind being
played by the nightmare that always haunted me, it was plagued by
the memory of what I saw. Why did Owain have red eyes?

Waking up the
morning of Bran's first Challenge, the euphoria of the Solstice
Ritual was tempered with the knowledge that Merida had seen us, had
seen my eyes in their natural Cŵn Annwn red, and had probably heard
Gavril talking about the renewal of Pack bonds. She may even have
heard the song of the Cŵn Annwn. I could not be certain.

This little
human, my little human, may or may not be my true Mate, but she was
someone who meant more to me than any other female I had
encountered in the decades of my life. I wanted there to be no
secrets between us, but at the same time, there had to be. She was
human. To even try to explain to her the world into which she had
stumbled would mean taking a huge risk, not just to me, but, more
importantly, to the Pack. As Pack Beta, it was a risk that I could
not take, no matter how much I wanted to talk with her, to tell her
about us.

As I came down
to the breakfast room, Merida was there already, sitting in the
seat next to my own usual place. Had she realised it, her place at
my side was being accepted, given that no one had commented where
she sat. Her usual plate of fruit, and her cup of coffee before
her, but she toyed with her food, her mind seeming elsewhere.

"Merida? Did
you sleep well?" She smiled at me, but it lacked her usual sparkle,
and I regretted again that I could not tell my little human what
she had seen, what she had truly seen.

"Bad dreams,
again." She explained her tired look. "Are you ready to leave?" She
asked, noting that I was dressed already.

"Yes. We will
need to be off, as I am providing some of the support for Bran on
the cross-country ski section. I thought I could take you to the
finish at the Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center. There is a
wide range of wildlife which should mean you can take some decent
photographs." I offered her my hand. "I will ask Eira to put
together a food pack for you, given the massive breakfast you have
just consumed." I stroked the side of her face gently. "Come, the
sooner we hit the road, the better."

I was still
not sure what to make of what I thought I had seen at the house,
but for now, those concerns could wait. We had travelled in a
convoy of several 4x4 vehicles to the start of the biathlon course.
I had heard words like “Challenge” mentioned, where you could hear
the capital letter. Was this really just a sports contest, because
everyone, including Owain seemed tense, almost as if they were
expecting trouble.

While they are
talking I start to take some pictures with my camera. Walking
further away from the group, and when I realized it, all I could
hear is the voices far away, almost murmurs along with my steps on
the snowy ground. I considered, for a moment, if I should go back,
but then I wonder what could happen, I mean all I heard are my
steps, the worst that can happen was me slipping on a rock and
falling. That thought makes me chuckle and then I continued to take
shots.

As I make
mental jokes about me being so nervous, my thoughts stopped when I
caught the subtle growl of a beast, it automatically made me
swallow hard, my eyes glancing around and that's when I realised
the sound was coming from behind me, which makes me wonder if I
should turn or just start running. But of course I decided to turn
instead of running for my life. And that's when my eyes fall upon
two wolves, with big paws, yellow eyes, and huge canines. One
staring at one and the other pacing. It didn't take long before
they both darted forward, I yelled and ran the opposite direction.
But there was no way I would outrun them.

I don’t think
I will forget what happened next. After a few minutes, short ones,
I feel something hit my back, I lose balance and start falling when
a sudden pain shoots through my back, one of the wolves had clawed
at my back. While on the ground, I turn, the pain was bad. As I lay
there, one jumps at me, biting me on my right thigh. I scream loud,
fear and pain laced together. Trying to move away was hard,
especially while being in pain, cold, and scared, I glance around
and spot a log, which I could use as weapon, not far from me, yet
not too close, either way I try to move and get it, but as soon as
I look away from them they jump at me again, one sinking it's teeth
in my side on the rib area and the other on my shoulder. Another
scream escapes me. My heart pounds in my chest, my has shake due to
cold and pain. I feel and know I am loosing blood. I can also feel
the skin and muscle ripping by the force of their jaws, such tug at
me as if I was a rag doll.