Chapter 3

Luna looked up at Kia in wonder. Kia shook her head, her long braid swinging.

"Despite those awful stories the Tribe tells, wolves are not evil creatures. They are the noblest of all the forest beasts. They are to be respected, not hated. To be feared, yes, but not to be shunned. The Tribe has it all wrong." Luna listened intently to Kia. To be respected, not hated. Those words rang in her head. Wasn't that what everyone wanted? It was what she wanted, that's for sure. Just some respect. Was it too much to ask?

                                                                                  ~☾~

Luna clutched her wolf blanket. She looked at all the other children. Ani motioned over, and Luna smiled. Ani held nothing but a pure white sheet as a blanket. Niko lay next to her, already asleep. Luna looked up at the slightly cloudy sky. Ani pointed to a cluster of stars.

"See that? It's called the Big Dipper." Luna looked at it and squinted. Huh. It did look like a big dipper. Luna pointed up and said,

"Look, Ani. That one's a wolf." Ani didn't even look at her. If Luna had mentioned wolves in the Taligo Tribe, she would be attacked.

"Yeah. That one's called Lupus." Luna stared up at Lupus. It was so pretty. Then, a cloud came and covered it up completely. Luna shivered, and pulled her blanket closer.

"Ani?" Luna whispered softly. No answer. Luna looked at her. She was asleep. Luna sighed. She snuggled into the blanket and fell sound asleep.