The Beginning...
It wasn't meant to be like this. Things like this never happened to me.
Somehow, it was like this. I closed my eyes and slowly counted to ten. I wanted the ground to swallow me up. I wanted to be alone when I did finally will myself to open my eyes. I knew however that when forced myself back into reality I would have the whole pack staring at me.
I hadn't meant to do it. I hadn't meant to anything at all. Infact, I was minding my own business as I always was. I wasn't part of the main pack, instead I lived on the outskirts - figuratively and literally. It wasn't because I was unpopular or a 'loser' however I just wasn't interested in what everyone else my age were so preoccupied with doing- running and rutting.
It was until today that I probably was very happily overlooked. Most people would recognise my face, maybe even recall my name but most couldn't say that they had a conversation with me as I was often so busy with helping my father or mother with our farm that I didn't have time to mingle with everyone - thankfully.
I enjoyed the mundane tasks of caring for our live stock, sowing the fields and working with my hands. It kept my mind busy which is especially what I had needed recently. The long awaited ceremony had been looming over me and it had been approaching with such speed I was beginning to feel the dread.
Mother had told me what the ceremony had been like for her when she was my age. Every year it was held and those who were no longer in their teens were invited to join.
Invited to join, expected to be there.
Even with mothers telling daughters, fathers telling sons - none of us really knew what to expect or what to do. I had gone about my day like I always would, rising early and tending the animals. I then went on to enjoy my usual morning swim in the pond and then dried off by running.
I loved the pond at this time of the year. It had been a particularly warm summer morning and I had definitely needed the dip but once I had done a few laps I was more than ready for my morning run. I had shifted quickly as I was feeling the chill from the pond and was eager to feel the earth under my paws. I had relished feeling the dirt under my claws and the wind in my ears.
Now I desperately wanted to be there again. Running.
Instead I was at the ceremony surrounded by all our pack officials and no longer teens waiting for my to open my eyes and accept my fate.
I was no longer the girl who woke up early to tend the animals, to dip in the pond, to run around freely...instead I was now to be the Luna of the pack.
Shit.
