Through the forest, where the earth kisses the trees and the moon caresses the water, there you will find me...
Life was good, innocent and bright - my eyes glistening with life, my heart full of endless joy. I had supportive parents who adopted me when I was a baby as they couldn't conceive children of their own. I had a normal childhood with friends, good grades and a boatload of ambition. But something was amiss. I always laughed when I was surrounded by my closest family and friends, yet in the shadows when I found myself alone with my thoughts something felt out of place, yet I could never put my finger on it. I brushed it off as normal for people my age - being worried about getting accepted into colleges, having the perfect partner or maybe even my origin, my biological parents.
The night before my eighteenth birthday I laid in my bed looking at the raindrops tracing pictures on my window when my mother, Rebecca, entered my room. In her hands she held a wooden box - the box was old and raw, but had this energy attached to it that drew me in with a magnetic force.
"Isla, can I talk to you for a moment?" Rebecca asked. The rest of the house was quiet, only the storm outside could be heard.
"Yes Mom, of course you can. Is something the matter?" I asked as she seemed quite uncomfortable as if not knowing how to approach me. Usually my mom and I were open with each other about everything, we barely even had any arguments. I couldn't understand her intentions with her being that awkward.
"No, Isla, not really. I just can't believe that you are turning eighteen tomorrow," she explained sitting on the edge of my bed.
"The empty nest syndrome is kicking in rather early don't you think? I haven't even moved out yet," I joked trying to lift the mood even though I knew this wasn't an easy topic for my parents. My mother lifted the corner of her mouth - a mere attempt of a smile. The mood wasn't lifted, but rather got heavier with each ticking second.
I changed the topic. "What the box about?" I asked, the box now screaming at me from across the bed.
"The thing is, long ago I made a promise. A promise to your biological mother," Rebecca said lightly tracing the box.
"One night, much like this one, your father and I heard a desperate knock on the door. It was your mother with you wrapped in a soft wooly blanket and a box, this box, placed next to her feet. She cried hysterically begging us to take you in. Of course we couldn't refuse as at that time we had just gotten the news that I was unable to bare children, you were indeed a blessing brought to us. However, she made me promise that specifically a night before your eighteenth birthday I should give this to you and told me that with this you will be reunited again. That you should find her and when you do, she'll explain everything," Rebecca said, tears falling from her eyes dripping onto the box, as if my mom was afraid of losing me.
I instantly felt a wave of anger flooding me. Why would she give me up just so I could find her again? Was I too much of a burden for her as a baby and now that I was older wanted me again?
"No, how could you and her expect this of me? I am not some toy being thrown away just to be played with again once the time is right!" I exclaimed lifting my voice.
"Please, Isla, you have to do this. The truth is I don't think your mother wanted to give you up," Rebecca stated.
"Yeah, but why didn't she at least check in now and again? If she really wanted me she would have made it a priority to come and see me," I cried feeling mixed emotions - melancholy and anger. My heart was broken to the point where I could feel it become heavy, swelling, pushing up the tears that formed in my eyes and bulged in my throat.
"Just. Open it," my mother asked softly, patiently. She placed the box on the bed and left understanding that I needed alone time to process.
I shuffled over to the box and out of nowhere threw it across the room. This was very out of character for me. Suddenly I overheard my mom telling my dad that she had kept her promise to the woman, my dad on the other hand, sounded like he disagreed with her giving me the box, saying that he told her I would react this way and that they would lose me to her.
I glanced over to where the box laid in pieces looking like a shipwreck. Lightning struck and reflected a shimmer of green coming from underneath one of the broken wooden leftovers. I went over and saw a golden necklace with a rustic emerald pendant. A note shuffled as I picked up the necklace, it read:
"My sweet girl, I hope this letter finds you well. Know that I wouldn't have given you up if I had a choice, but I wanted you to have a normal childhood away from all this mess. Once you turn eighteen come find me, the pendant will light your way. The changes may seem strange to you at first, but you will... We will figure it out together. P.S. You should leave the people I had given you to as before the sun leaves the earth you might put them in danger! Love you always your mother, Gina."
"Put them in danger?" I didn't understand what she meant, but the following day, on my birthday, it all made sense. I couldn't sleep much, my pillow still damp from my tears as I woke. I packed a backpack and decided to find Gina - I was scared, wanted answers and Rebecca made a promise in essence for me to fulfill. I didn't want to let her down. I got dressed in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. I gently hung the necklace around my neck. To my surprise, it started to produce a faint glow.
I climbed out my window and headed to the forest - The emerald shone brighter as I got closer to the tree line probably indicating the right path. I walked through the forest's density ever following the emerald gleam. The forest got darker as if nightfall swallowed the earth, however my watch indicated otherwise - it was still midday. The darker the forest became, the more intense the emerald shone. Something in me found this darkness to be familiar, relaxing even. Eventually I reached a humungous tree - the tree had fallen over probably from a storm, laying on it side. As I stood next to it taking in its magnitude and brilliance, the pendant got scorching hot. I ripped it off my neck, throwing it to the ground. I gently rubbed my neck where the pendent left its warm fingerprints. I sat on the ground wondering where this peculiar piece would lead me, and then heard something. It sounded like something out of a movie, glistening, pulsating. I looked up and realized the sound came from the pendant. As I looked at the necklace I noticed sigils or runes carved in a circular shape in the wood of the tree glowing green in rhythm to the pulsating sound.
In the middle of these runes, a hole was prominent which was shaped like the pendant. Every instinct in me told me to place the emerald pendant in the hole. I was conflicted as I knew once I was going to go forth with this journey there was no going back, and worst of all not returning to the happiness I once knew, but I couldn't put my loved ones in danger. I took a deep breath and entered the pendant in the middle of the runes. Suddenly a huge door opened in the tree trunk. "So realistic," I thought rolling my eyes, but I entered the shadows of the unknown.
I walked within the trunk until light was visible, and what I saw on the other side was breathtaking...
There were cabins made of raw wood, a lake reflecting the sun's yellowish hue, wildflowers bopping their heads to the wind that swept through them, patches of grass growing from the earth's soil, leftover logs from where campfires were lit, lines spun from wooden columns with fish hanging like chandeliers - their scales gleaming the sky's blue.
As I took it all in, people started emerging from the cabins, looking at me in awe. Where was I? What was this place?
Then, a woman with brown hair, wild and curly walked over to me. She wore a long washed-out grey gown, with rips and tears. She hugged me tighter than anyone ever has.
"You are finally here, you made it my sweet girl!" she said in excitement.
"I'm Gina, your birthmother," she introduced herself.
I glanced at her with a loss for words. Her beauty was astounding - she had almost clear blue greyish eyes, like mine, radiating a compassion and a sense wilderness which couldn't be explained.
"How.. How do you know I am your daughter," I asked her with a stutter, feeling a bit intimidated.
"I will never forget those eyes, my dear. O, and your natural smell, it's something a mother never forgets," she said with the world's love twinkling in her eyes.
"Why did you give me up? Why am I suddenly a danger to my adoptive parents?... Where were you?," I burst out with all these questions, sobbing frantically, confused.
"My sweet baby, I had to give you up. The rogues invaded almost killing half of our pack, I didn't want you to get hurt or end up losing you. I never left you, I watched you from the trees' shadows, grow into this beautiful young woman you have become. Furthermore, everything else will be revealed tonight."
Her words rung true. When the moon rose portraying its silver essence from beyond the lake, I changed. I changed into a wolf, so did the rest of the village - everyone howling, singing the song of the celestial wonder.
I was a werewolf...
I now knew why I was a danger to my parents, my friends, and all that I knew. I knew I needed guidance and training to live this now unpredictable life. After a few months I went back each night watching my parents, feeling an unconditional love, just as I felt in my new home. I wrote them a letter stating that I was fine and lived happily with my birthmother and father (who was the alpha of the pack).
One night my adoptive parents sat outside reading the letter when I overheard Rebecca asking my dad where would they find me again.
I then softly whispered. "Through the forest, where the earth kisses the trees, and the moon caresses the water, there, you will find me."
