Hunted Memories

14- Moon Pool

Aerial lifted Hala in his arms and raced towards the healer's wing with Kathy hot on his heels. The wolves were forgotten as they kept running to the healer. When they Got to Cynthia's room, Kathy opened the door without knocking. Aerial placed Hala on the bed and sent a guard to go get the healer. Kathy sat beside her mother and held her cold hand. 

Hala was alive but barely breathing. The black veins kept traveling down her face. Kathy feared for her mother's life. She had never seen anything like that and was worried about losing her mother. 

“Father, will she be alright?” she whispered still staring at Hala's face. 

“Yes, ” Aerial replied but Kathy could feel how scared he was. 

“I’ve informed your brother to end the training and meet with the wolves. He will join us after the meeting.”

Cynthia came in and examined Hala. She looked at the veins and Hala's eyes.

“Do not worry for she will be fine. The person who did this perhaps wanted to issue a warning because the spell is a weak one. I will prepare a potion to cleanse her system and rid her body of the black magic. She will wake up after a few days, ” Cynthia explained after her examination causing relief to immediately wash over Kathy and Aerial. 

They watched as Cynthia crushed several plants then mixed them. Aerial tilted Hala's head back a little and Cynthia poured the light mixture into her mouth. Cynthia then left to get other ingredients. 

“Something is coming.” A shaky voice said from behind them. 

Kathy turned to see a creepy old lady. Her hair was white as snow with an extremely pale face. She walked with the aid of a cane and wore a long flowing white robe. Her eyes were pure white and Kathy wondered if she was blind. 

“Acting Oracle, ” Aerial greeted with nothing but respect in his tone but the acting Oracle didn't pay him any mind. She kept her white eyes on Kathy. 

“Beware, Luna Princess, for the one you know will become unknown. The enemy has been let in and evil has befallen the land, ” the Oracle continued, scaring Kathy who listened with undivided attention. 

So that was the Oracle. Kathy thought she looked like a regular old lady except for her white eyes which looked creepy. 

The white moon disappeared as soon as the oracle finished talking. Aerial looked up at the red moon from the window that was left standing alone, casting a red glow over the land. 

“This is bad. This is extremely bad, ” he said shaking his head. 

“What is, father?” Kathy asked, finally taking her eyes off the Oracle. 

“The old moon is gone. Tomorrow a new moon will arise.”

The red moon glowed on his face, his blue eyes staring down at Hala with worry. Waves of apprehension poured off him and Kathy could sense it so greatly that it choked her. What could be so bad about a moon disappearing? 

Kathy still didn't understand the problem. 

“How is that bad, father?” she asked again. 

“The Luna Queen performs the ceremony of the new moon. If she doesn't, Lunae will be cursed to a season of famine. Plants would cease to grow and the animals would be barren. Women would not bear children for that season. And worse of all, there would be darkness because the red moon alone would be able to light up Lunae, ” the Oracle explained and Kathy was stunned. All those could happen because of her and Lunae would be doomed. 

“It is all my fault, ” she whispered sadly, still holding her mother's hand. 

“No, it is not, Precious. It is not your fault that someone is out to get you, ” Aerial said sternly.