December 23

Fletcher

"Alright. Orichalcos formation," I barked. Everyone positioned themselves. Firepaw and Starlight ran to the back on the sides, and Nightpelt and Artemis positioned themselves on the sides lower from the deer. This time, we would take back a big one. Artemis grinned.

"Ready to show Daddy how good I can hunt?" She accepted my nod before running to her position through the bushes. I lowered my body, ready to pounce as the deer perked up.

It froze.

I howled, giving the cue. At once, the four wolves on the sides sprinted at our prey, not striking, but cornering it. As it bucked and ran, the four howled, and Creed and I charged from either side. I tackled it to the ground while Creed dodged the antlers and hooves and dove for the jugular. The deer fell with less struggle.

"Great job, Fletcher," Creed complimented. "You've become stronger over the past five years. Perhaps it's time you..." A thought flooded my mind as I heard a haunting howl and saw myself as a creature with long, furry arms and a body that looked half human. A Lycanthrope.

"No..."

"Fletcher?" I saw Creed and Artemis looking at me with worry.

"Are you okay?" The adult she-wolf approached.

"I-I'm fine. I just need some air."

"Take all the time you need, lad. We'll be at the cliff." Creed walked towards the rock formation the wolves called home, and I sighed, wondering what the vision meant.
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I padded to the edge of the forest, ready to shift back and put my clothes back on. Snow crunched behind me, and I turned to find Artemis.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. I can't stay," I replied.

"Why not?"

"I've been having visions as of late. I see myself as a wolfman, and I fear becoming one myself."

"Fletcher, we've watched for moons, and we've seen no sign. You're not--"

"I don't want to hurt you!" I barked. She flinched and immediately came close, placing a glowing stone with a crescent moon on it in front of my paws.

"At least take the Moonstone. It'll help you." She rubbed against me, and I returned the gesture. "I wanted to, you know."

"Wanted to what?"

"To try to become human. If I did, then I could be with you." Artemis blushed.

"Artemis... You're Creed's eldest daughter. The pack needs you." I saw tears prick her eyes, and fought back my own. "Don't give me that look. You know I hate when you cry." I placed a paw around her shoulder and hugged her. I pulled away before taking the Moonstone and walking to the bush, saying goodbye to my family in the forest.
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"Fletcher?" Hikaru noticed me as I walked into town. "What's wrong?" I tugged at my blue hoodie and faked a smile. She wouldn't understand. Especially not the fact that I'm a Freeshifter Werewolf. "You can tell me." She entwined my fingers in hers, and I flinched, heat rushing to my face. "Aren't you cold?" I shook my head silently. "Fletcher, I've never seen you so down. What is i--"

"It's nothing," I bluntly interrupted her. "And what about the Christmas Festival? Are preparations complete?"

"Yeah. It's opening tonight. Wanna come?"

"Sure." I shrugged, thinking that it should at least take my mind off of my visions.

"Great! Meet you at 6:00? That's when they sell lamb chops and beef."

"Sure." My mouth started watering from the thought. Hikaru smiled.

"Great! See you then!" She let go of my hand and left for the grounds after a quick hug. I took out my phone, put my earbuds in, and chose a random song from my playlist: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. I walked towards home. My mom had moved out a month ago to be with her new boyfriend, so I was taking care of both my seven-year-old sister and myself. I took my keys out and unlocked the apartment door.

"Dawn, I'm home!" I was greeted by a hug from my little sister, her brown pigtails bouncing on the sides of her head. Her brown eyes wide with excitement, she pulled me to the kitchen. She wore her blue sweater and green skirt, and she had dried paint all over her hands. She picked a paper up and showed me a painting of a large wolf, a neatly painted imp on the wolf, and a little girl hugging the wolf. "You painted this?"

"Yep!" Dawn nodded. "This is our family. You're the wolf, and Miss Hikaru is Midna!" Though not even Dawn knew my secret, she was in the ball park. I blushed. "Big brother? What's wrong? Don't you like Miss Hikaru?"

"S-she's just a friend. Anyway, you've been reading way too much Twilight Princess fanfiction." I ruffled her hair. "But I love it." I took out the Moonstone and noticed something. Something unusual in the light. I tied my silver hair into a ponytail since it was to my shoulders, and I turned back to Dawn as she pulled on my hoodie.

"Big brother? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Hey, Dawn, how about we go to the Christmas Festival tonight? Besides, your friends will be there." My little sister's eyes lit up, and she nodded.

"Yes! Let's go soon!"

"How about at 5:45?" I suggested, deciding that I should be early. Dawn nodded excitedly. "Okay. In that case, dress warmly. We're going soon." She nodded and sprinted to her room. But something was wrong. I felt it in my gut. Or was it indigestion? I didn't know.
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Emilio

I sat in my bed, tired from training. My pale skin was shielded from the sunlight by the Sunstone's power, but I felt the warmth still. The mattress reminded me of Mother's warm touch, causing tears to rise, but I refused to cry. I had promised not to be weak. Not to show sorrow. Not to falter until Mother and Father were avenged. I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I replied, being greeted by the calm face of Master Seamus. His shaven head reflected some of the sunlight, and his gray eyes met my red ones.

"Something wrong, lad?" he asked.

"Not much. Just thinking of that day."

"Ah, yes. Five years ago, you were a wee lad of ten, looking for a temple. Then I found you and I led you here."

"Didn't I help you? As I recall, you were hungry and ready to eat an entire deer. And I caught one."

"Ah, yes! Of course. Now, tell me. Every day for five years, you've been training almost endlessly with barely any rest other than sleep. Why do you strain yourself like this?"

"Ryu the Hunter, that's why. I thought I was strong enough to fight him, but I was wrong, and he killed my parents." My fists tightened to the point where my claws may puncture my skin if any more pressure is used. "I'm training for next time. So I'm not weak." Seamus shook his head with a kind smile.

"No. You are weakening."

"Weakening? How?"

"You are always tense. Always filled with hate. That is the death of many a warrior. Relax. Let it all out. Then start with moderated training."

"Let it out? Let myself cry?"

"Yes. Whatever you need to do."

"No, Master. I refuse to falter until my parents are avenged." I got up. "I'm going into town. The Christmas Festival should help blow off some steam."

"Very well. Return soon."
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Fletcher

6:00

I watched Dawn run off to meet her friends, money in hand to play games later on. I saw Hikaru in the crowd, wearing something similar to five years ago. She wore a blue dress with a green coat, leggings, and snow boots. I smelled the meat, the succulent aroma striking my nostrils at full force. I felt something from my mouth and blushed as I found myself drooling. Hikaru smiled and laughed.

"It's okay. Your drooling won't ruin the date." She covered her mouth, eyes wide and face bright crimson.

"What date?" I asked. She looked around frantically before picking up a fruit.

"Fletcher, over here!"

"A fruit? What of it?"

"It's a date?" Hikaru's face was redder. I stifled a laugh before just letting it out. She started laughing too. We both did for a minute before she smiled. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I'm just glad I'm here with you." I blushed. "Wanna get some food?"

"Sounds good." She followed me and my nose to the meat stand where we bought lamb chops and some beef ribs. I ate my pieces of lamb pretty quickly, wolf instincts slightly kicking in. "You really like meat, huh?" I nodded.

"Yeah, but I gotta save some room for hot cocoa and funnel cake, right?" One thing in common between me and Hikaru? We both love funnel cake and how chocolate during Christmas. Then, I smelled something else and saw a vampire nearby. I identified him by his pale skin and cape. It was as if that guy was cosplaying 24/7. Almost immediately, I felt a pain unlike my shifting pains, but also similar. "Hikaru... take Dawn and run!"

"No way" She shook her head. "I can help." She took out a bright crystal that shone like the stars. "I was told last Christmas that this Stardust can heal. Maybe I can--" I felt my fingers become claws and my teeth sharpen.

"No! Go now!" I howled the last word before feeling my mind slip.
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I opened my eyes to discover a female spirit in front of me, pale-white wearing a brighter white dress and with an aura of benevolence. I looked around to see a swirling Violet void, and I saw under my feet a stone platform.

"Child, are you okay?" she asked. I nodded, and she smiled. "I am Selene."

"The Goddess of the Moon?" I knew of her connection to vampires and the legends.

"Yes, but I mean well despite my... reputation. I wish for humans, werewolves, vampires, and the spirits to all coexist in peace, and now three of the Sacred Stones have been found. I just hope the fourth was not taken by an evil one."

"Hm? What do you mean?" I asked, even more baffled than before.

"Go to the Eclipse Temple on the morning of the 24th and see the man from this night. He shall explain everything."

"Okay. But who--" I began to fade. "I guess I'm gonna wake up soon."

"You knew this was a dream?" Selene asked, eyes wide in interest.

"Yeah."

"Then I shall leave your waking thought to be good luck."