The Nymph of Black Forest

Waking from a sound sleep, at the first warning howl..Edina and I sprung from the bedroom window, rolling from the three story leap. I met Derek at the back gardens, and within seconds, we were engaged in battle. Realizing the Ospreys were spread far and wide, delivering my message..explained how the rogues reached our borders. What isn’t explained is how they knew we were without our eyes in the sky.

By the time the rogues were either dead..or subdued, the sun was cresting the horizon. I sent Derek to clean up and sleep a couple hours.. while I helped pile and burn bodies. I had our five guards, taken to the morgue and families notified. We had five prisoners. And when time for execution came..I promised the families of our fallen their right for retribution!

Tonight, we will set the funeral pyres..and celebrate the lives of our brave warriors. Then we feast in their honor. It is the way of the wolf. We mourn..then we celebrate…then we retaliate! It is our circle of life. To know that is to understand it. I am holding back my anger, as best as I can. The earth feels the disturbance in my soul. The skies feel my turmoil. Clouds are gathering on the mountain. The winds are building. I excuse myself from the pack…knowing I need to center myself. Micah finds me and climbs into my hair, as I flit to the top of a sycamore. I lean back against her trunk, as her branches close me in…the trees hum a peaceful soliloquy…soothing my heart.

I dozed off and on for an hour..grateful to nature for recentering my mind and body. When I made it into the dining hall, Adele squeezed my hand..asking if I was alright. I nodded. Everyone turned their eyes to me, and Derek pulled me into his lap. I looked at our people “I must apologize to any of you I may have alarmed this morning. I had to refocus and I left you to a task I should have been able to help you complete. The problem was my anger. I knew I was losing control so I had to take time to calm myself. Please know, I will never allow my temper to harm any one of you. And know, your safety and wellbeing is always my priority. I am angry. We will find and stop this threat..to our lives..our way of life..our very survival! I just wanted you to know I am sorry, for nearly losing control!”

There was silence for several minutes..while Derek kept me hugged tight, wrapped in his arms..then a young warrior stood, in the back of the room “Luna! We stand with you, in your righteous anger! We support you..we are ready to defend our home..our way of life, against any and all foe! We are…all of us.. angry, too. And if we were capable of doing what you and Alpha can..we wouldn’t apologize for it! And know..we know..you would never bring us harm! We stand beside you.. And we couldn’t have asked for a better Luna!” I felt tears building when our warriors all stood..slamming their right fists over their hearts and chanted “Luna..Luna..” over and over again. These are my people! This is my pack! This is My Home!

Derek whispers “Our people love you. The Goddesses definitely got this one right! I love you so much. I am so very proud of you. But I’m also jealous! These fuckers never chant for me!” And he had done what he had set out to do! He made me giggle. Once again, my world was immediately righted on its axis!

After breakfast I said “I want to talk to that Donna again. Anita, as well.. While I believe Anita is only guilty of placing bugs in the conference room..she may know something..without realizing she knows it. Donna lied to us.. repeatedly. Either she told the rogues about our osprey friends and they have been watching our borders.. or she has a spy buddy..who is still passing information. It is too much of a coincidence that, within hours of the osprey family leaving with my message, we are breached..from an entirely different direction of that rogue camp. It is time to ferret out the traitors.”

Derek tells Shawn “I want more security.. order forty more cameras.. we will map out where their placement should be. There are to be listening devices placed throughout the pack house..even the kitchens. In any dead spots, where cameras alone will not be sufficient. Install them with only our most trusted people. Sadie.. do you know of any other tech savvy members that can help you set up a security room..can help you observe video and sound surveillance? Monty.. that intake office we usually use for transfer requests… is it large enough to make our security hub? To hold enough monitors for the 60 cameras in operation? I want it manned 24/7. Our creatures are an effective way of watching..but even they can’t be everywhere! I apologize for the delay in this added security. I am guilty of underestimating the actual threat this bastard poses to our home!”

Everyone scattered to set about accomplishing the added tasks that have been pressed upon them, today. Derek, Edward and I went to his office, and waited for Tom to bring Donna up from the cells. Derek asks “please don’t kill her until you have examined Nancy? Tom told me last night, she is struggling with the stress of this..and her pregnancy is in danger” I smiled and told him, I would be right back.. as I rushed to get a mixture of Luna’s fern and Moonflower tea. That will be all she needs to strengthen her pup, and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Tom walked in with Donna, Nancy behind him.. just as I returned with the tea packets. Handing them to Nancy, I told her “Drink a cup of this tea…every night, at bedtime. It will calm your nerves and strengthen your princess. All will be well.” She smiled through her tears..leaning into Tom, she whispers “We are having a girl? A little girl, Tom!” He nods..rubbing her belly “Daddy’s princess!” It was such an ‘awww’ moment, I barely refrained from uttering it!

I sat…directly in front of Donna…staring into her defiant face “Nancy.. I would really appreciate it, if you could drink a cup of your tea..there is a teapot with hot water on the tray. I am going to try and maintain my temper, but I need you to be able to stay calm..as I am barely holding on to it by a thread.” And she immediately went over to prepare it telling me “We lost five men last night. Two very young men.. Men, Tom trained into warriors. If this happened, as a direct result of her treason… then I hope she dies a slow, painful death!” I hadn’t removed my eyes from Donna’s face…she gasped, and her eyes widened..and I watched as the realization of the traitorous deeds she has committed registered. And I smiled “Now..you’re getting it! Living on borrowed time is exhausting, isn’t it!?”

Derek tells her “This is your last chance. You will tell us everything you have ever written in your little messages to the enemy! We need to know what they know. What you shared..it is too late to get out ahead of it..but it isn’t too late to counter it..change their information..” And this bitch just sits in the chair..not responding.