The Twelfth Moon || ✔️

34. Preparations

A few more days had passed. My daily training had resumed, and I had done one more shift at the Puny Bell in the meantime.

I tried to keep Beckett and Dexter away from my thoughts, but the harder I tried not to think of them, the more they danced around in my head. Which was a setback for my general mood, because I tried very hard not to think of them.

Tonight would be the Wolf Moon, I thought to myself while I was seated alone at the dining table. I hadn't seen Lotta very often, but I'd had dinner or lunch with her occasionally. I'd heard people talk about the festivities that were happening tonight. The biggest event would be a bonfire at the beach nearby. I didn't even know there was a beach close to Rahas.

I'd only heard of this bonfire from passing wolves. All the clients of The Puny Bell or other humans I'd walked by were also talking of festivities, but none had mentioned the bonfire. Which made me guess that the bonfire would be a wolf-only event. Which also meant I couldn't go.

Since all the wolves still had immense troubles sitting at the same table as me, it was only a logical derivation that they would not want me at the bonfire.

If the joys of Aranyasvan's night were as intense in Rahas as they were in Spitta, I was also sure I didn't want to be close to it. Our Moon's effect on us would be stronger tonight, amplifying all our senses. Which also meant it would be more forgivable if one would lose control and do things the pack normally wouldn't accept.

In Spitta, I'd learned to fear the nights our Moon shone brightest. Agni's Moon, Sariranyasa's Moon and Aranyasvan's Moon were the worst of them all. Agni honored Fire Moon, which meant that any true Fire Moon wolf could do anything they wanted. That night, they could act like gods. Sariranyasa's Moon was mostly a night to celebrate their hatred of me. And Aranyasvan's Moon served to honor all the wolves. But since the pack hated me, honoring me was out of the question.

I'd spent most of those festive nights alone in my house, staring at our Moon through one of the few little windows, or one of the many holes in the roof. The pack wolves were never able to get to me there, not without risking the humans from discovering our secret. That was the only boundary that could not be broken. I'd worship our Moon in my own way, and I supposed tonight would be no different.

That was, until Lotta slammed her plate full of food next to me and joined me for dinner. "Good evening," she chanted. Her enthusiastic tone subtly expelled all the negative thoughts I experienced. I found it nearly impossible not to feel happy, even just in the slightest, when Lotta was around.

"Hello," I answered her greeting. I tried matching her eager tone, but found my energy lacking. Lotta didn't seem to mind or notice, though.

"So, tonight's your first honoring night in Rahas," she said as she munched on her chicken wing. The spices on her meat burned in my eyes, and I was flabbergasted at how she seemed to eat it without steam coming out of every opening in her face.

"It is," I said. "It's my first lunar cycle away from Fire Moon."

"Oh yeah, that's true as well," she answered, still stuffing herself with that too spicy meat. "How did I not even think of that? That only gives us more reason to celebrate."

"I was thinking of maybe heading into town," I explained. "Tonight would be my turn to buy your drinks."

She raised her eyebrow. "Nonsense. I'm taking you to the bonfire."

I shook my head. "I don't think that would be the greatest idea."

"Why not?" She asked. She seemed genuinely curious about my explanation for this.