The sun was shining bright this early spring afternoon. The golden rays were warming Cieri's back. The trees around her swayed as the breeze whispered through the forest. Scents of pine and wood swirled around her. But also the scent of prey.

An unfortunate rabbit hopped out of it's burrow. It sniffed around for a minute, unaware of the wolf waiting in the undergrowth. The rabbit began eating on the leaves of a nearby bush.

Cieri smiled inwardly to herself. She stalked forward, careful not to make a sound. She moved forward with practiced ease as the rabbit remained unaware of the predator stalking it. Cieri crouched lower to the ground, her belly fur nearly touching the ground beneath her. 

In one quick, fluid motion, Cieri darted forward and pinned the rabbit down with her front paws. All it took was a bite to the neck to kill it. Cieri licked her lips and shook out her fur, satisfaction and pride coursing through her. 

She picked up the dead rabbit and started running in the direction of The Den. She set a fast pace, sprinting through the trees, feeling the wind run through her ash grey fur, leaping over rocks and fallen trees. It was times like these, when she got to run free in the safety of the forest she had known her whole life, that made her glad she was a werewolf. 

As she neared the treeline of the forest, she slowed to a stop. She set the rabbit down beside a tree and sniffed around the base of the tree. She soon found a basket, woven with sticks and fern leaves, filled with various clothing. Using her teeth, she pulled out a shirt and some pants before replacing the basket to where she had found it. 

Cieri closed her eyes and imagined a young, teenage girl with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She imagined the girl with pale skin, and a kind smile. Soon, Cieri felt her bones shift and her fur replace itself with skin. Cieri opened her eyes and quickly dressed her naked body with the clothes she had pulled out before she shifted.

Once she was finished, she picked up the rabbit from beside the tree and made her way into the clearing. The Den was a large cave at the base of a mountain. The mountain stretched high into the sky, and more mountains surrounded it, which created the valley Cieri called home. She had learned to call these mountains home, but according to her father, the alpha, everyone else in the world knew them as Wolf Tear Mountains. 

Cieri walked into the mouth of The Den and immediately saw a giant bomb-fire in the middle of the cavern. A pot sat above the fire, hovering over it with the use of sticks. A tall man in his mid twenties with short brown hair and brown eyes stood over the pot, stirring it and watching as it began to boil. 

"Hey Stan! I got your main ingredient!" Cieri shouted to the man, holding up her rabbit as she did so. Stan looked up and smiled from ear to ear before running over to Cieri and greeting her with a warm hug.

"It's about time, Ri, I was getting worried we would have to have veggie stew like last year!" He teased as Cieri laughed at the nickname he had given her. It was spring, which meant that it was breeding season. The pack had a tradition that for every new pup that arrived in spring, a stew would be made to represent all of the people in the pack who would love and support the new pup. It was one of the most valued ceremonies the pack had.

Cieri went to the corner of the cave used for cooking preparation. She skinned and cut up the rabbit as she had done many times before. Once she had sliced the meat into strips, she put them on spits and left them for Stan to cook. Stan was easily the best cook of the pack. He made almost every meal the pack ate and it was always beyond delicious.

He was also Cieri's best friend. They all but grew up together, aside from the fact that he was six years older than her at twenty-two years old. The age difference never seemed to bother them.

An hour or so passed and the stew was finished. Everyone in the pack had gathered around the fire in a giant circle. Alpha Max stood in the middle holding a newborn baby boy, and beside him two proud parents. 

"Excuse me, everyone, may I have your attention?" Alpha Max began, the room went immediately silent. "Thank you, today we are gathered here to celebrate the birth of a pup! Cade and Karen have brought this beautiful baby boy into this world. Who will he become? That's up to him to discover. But it is our job as the only werewolf pack left to make sure that he is supported through all of the hardships life throws him! That is our duty to each other and our responsibility to our species! May this little pup live long and safely. Now let's welcome little Arden into the world properly, yes?" A loud roar of agreement came from the circle as people began to stand and congratulate the couple and coo at the baby.

The stew was soon passed out and the night went on. People laughing and dancing around the fire, people eating, talking, some even singing as people danced. Cieri looked around and smiled to herself as she soaked in the moment. 

But, pretty soon the celebration ended, sending everyone to their respective sleeping places for the night. Cieri said goodnight and made her way to an indention in the wall where she curled up, using a deer hide as her blanket and her arm as a pillow. She rolled onto her side and snuggled into her deer hide. She was almost instantaneously lulled into the comfort of sleep.

-----

Cieri opened her eyes to find that she was standing in the middle of a meadow. The tall grass was dancing to the song of the slight breeze that blew through. The sound of rushing water brought the stream that flowed through the center of the meadow to her attention. A willow tree stood tall and proud. It's very presence sending waves of ancient wisdom and authority.

Under the draping vines of the ancient tree, leaned against the base of the tree, was a woman. She had black hair, dark as the night with no stars, and pale, pale skin. She was wearing a white dress that hugged her top half and flowed down her body, stopping just above her ankles. She was barefoot, her toes playing with the rich soil around the willow tree.

Cieri rounded the tree to stare at the strange woman. "Um, Hello? Who are you?" Cieri asked.

"I am the Moon Goddess." The woman said, not shifting her gaze from the flowing stream.

Cieri opened and closed her mouth like a fish. She couldn't bring herself to move much less speak. Cieri snapped out of her daze and fell to the floor, kneeling before the great creator of her very species. Of every species, according to Cieri's father.

"Rise, my child of the moon. We are here to speak as friends." The Moon Goddess said smoothly as she rose from her spot under the tree.

Cieri looked up at the woman to find piercing blue eyes staring back at her.

The Moon Goddess began to walk towards the small river that was more like a stream. As she passed Cieri's kneeling figure, Cieri felt the Moon Goddess' delicate fingers brush her shoulder blade, silently encouraging her to follow. Cieri slowly rose to her feet and cautiously followed the Moon Goddess.

Cieri noticed that the Moon Goddess seemed to float through the tall grass that blanketed the meadow. Her gait was steady and elegant as she glided through the swaying grass, stopping only when she reached the stream. Cieri tried desperately to copy her elegant gait hoping to impress the single being who created her entire world, but found herself tripping over imaginary roots and almost falling countless times.

When Cieri finally managed to get to the edge of the stream, she bent down to get a drink of water, hoping the clear refreshing liquid would quench her thirst and satisfy her sudden dry mouth. Cieri reached out her hand to the stream, but stopped almost instantly. Fish swam along the bottom. She didn't understand why, but the changing colors of the stream enchanted her attention. The beautiful blues of passing fish danced with the varying browns of pebbles beneath them to the tune of a song they made all on their own.

The Moon Goddess' melodic voice abruptly broke Cieri's enchantment on the beautiful stream. "We don't have much time, so I will speak quickly." She said, stress laced her voice. Cieri looked at the Moon Goddess in confusion for a moment. "Wait a second, I thought only pack elders got dreams from the Moon Goddess. I most certainly am not an elder, so why am I here?" Cieri asked, gesturing to the gorgeous meadow around them.

"I need you to go on a mission." The Moon Goddess answered, staring into Cieri's eyes, as if she was searching her soul for her reaction before Cieri reacted. Cieri's eyes widened. "Me? Why me?"

"Because it has to be. The elders wouldn't listen to me when I told them. They insisted you were a mere hunter. A provider for the pack, nothing more." The Moon Goddess started.

"They aren't wrong!" Cieri said breathily.

"But I know different, my child." The Moon Goddess continued, ignoring Cieri's interruption.

"You are a strong, young wolf. You are the daughter of the alpha male and female. You know how to hunt, and you spend almost all of your time in the woods, honing your skills in tracking and survival. You're a natural born leader. I need you for this." The Moon Goddess stepped forward and clutched Cieri's hand with both of her own.

She was desperate, that much was obvious. Cieri could see it in the way she stared at her, begging and hoping. Cieri broke eye contact first, unable to handle the sudden burst of emotion in the Moon Goddess' eyes. She stepped away from her.

"I-I just don't know. I've never been outside of the woods near The Den. I've always have just hunted, I've never had any ambition to lead my pack! Are you sure these things you say are true? Because I'm not." Cieri said, fidgeting with her hands as she began pacing.

"Yes, my child, I'm sure. But, since you are so weary, let me explain the mission before you decide, yes?" The Moon Goddess asked.

Cieri looked at her for a moment. The Moon Goddess' arm was stretched toward the stream and a welcoming smile on her face. Was she even allowed the choice? Was is it allowed to deny a direct request from the one being in Cieri's known world who created her very species?

Still fidgeting, Cieri followed the Moon Goddess' outstretched arm to the beautiful stream.

The Moon Goddess bent over the stream and dipped her index finger into the clear water, creating a ripple that stopped the flowing water. Cieri gasped. Soon, the Moon Goddess' finger emitted this weird, silk-like white light that branched around, spreading wherever it could before the Moon Goddess pulled her finger out of the now glowing river. 

"Now go, my child of the moon, and see." Cieri heard the Moon Goddess' melodic whisper before her consciousness was dragged into the unknown. She was floating, suspended into nothingness. She floated there, staring into black and just existing until she was dragged down and landed softly on her feet. The scenery had changed.

Surrounding her were tall, dark trees. They were taller than any tree that she had known to exist. Above her was a dense and heavy canopy, with leaves so close together that a crack between them where the sun shown through was a rarity. Pine needles and dead leaves covered the rich soil underfoot.  Around her were cabins made from the wood of the trees around her. Several of them all in two lines with a space down the middle, like a specific pathway lined by homesteads and shops. There was a huge pen outlined with wooden fencing. Inside, Cieri could make out the antlers of deer. There had to have been hundreds of them, grazing closer to the edge of the fence. The yells and shouts of people herding the deer could be heard from afar. 

Kids played around in a pit that looked hand dug near the edge of the cluster of cabins. They looked odd to Cieri. Werewolves all looked different in some aspects such as hair and eye color. It depended on genetics. Cieri, for example, had inherited her mother's long, flowing, golden hair and her father's sapphire blue eyes. She also inherited her father's ash grey fur when she let the beast in her take over.

But these children, they were different. They all had the same shade of dark hickory, with dark brownish red hair and brown eyes. They all also had pointed ears. Cieri could only stare and wonder what they were.

"Wood elves." Said a voice beside her. For the first time, Cieri noticed the Moon Goddess was beside her. "This is their camp for the season. They move with the herd's natural migration needs." She said. "This is their spring camp. They should've just finished moving in for the season since it's still early spring." The Moon Goddess began walking into the bustle of their.. camp?

"Wait, where are you going?" Cieri asked, running to catch up to the Moon Goddess' fast pace.

"We are looking for a specific wood elf. He is the first of four companions you will need to find and lead for this mission." She replied, not slowing her pace. Even now, nearly running, she seemed to float across the fallen needles and leaves. Cieri could hardly hear the crunch of leaves underfoot as they walked.

The Moon Goddess went to a specific hut, like she had been here a million times. She went straight through the hut and out to the back where there were a ton of grown wood elves fighting each other. "Why are they fighting, what's wrong?" Cieri asked, worry obvious in her voice as she looked for a way to possibly break the fight up.

The Moon Goddess laughed. Cieri looked at her confused. "They aren't fighting, they're training. Ya know, practicing for battle?" The Moon Goddess explained.

This didn't help Cieri's confusion. "Why would they battle?" she asked. All of her 16 years of life, there had been no battles to be had. Naturally, there were the couples who quarreled every once in a while but they always resolved it fairly quickly. There were just no conflicts. The werewolves stuck to their territory and everyone else stayed away and that's just how things were.

"Because unlike werewolves, there are many thousands in the wood elf population. Some break off and leave their Clan. They try to survive on their own but they can't with out the deer population the Wood Elf Clan cares for. So they try to steal them from The Clan. These here are warriors who train to protect the herd while they graze in the wild." The Moon Goddess answered Cieri's questions easily. It made Cieri realize how little she knew about anything outside of the valley she called home.

She turned her attention back to the warriors that were training. One warrior in particular caught her eye. He had the same dark hard and skin as everyone else, but his eyes were different. His eyes were a bright emerald green that seemed to shine at the thought of a new challenge as three warriors surrounded him. 

He smirked and spun both the weapons he had in either of his hands. They were wooden poles that Cieri assumed were some kind of weapon. She also noticed the bow on his back. She had been experienced with a bow and arrow before her first shift. That's how she hunted before she had met the beast inside of her. Her first shift was when she was 14 years old. Until that point, however, a bow was her preferred weapon.

The wood elf warrior swung his weapons and crouched into a battle stance. One weapon in front, his foot behind for balance, the other weapon to his side and his other foot was in front in case he needed to move quickly. 

The three warriors made a semi-circle in front of him as he smirked and watched them intently, emerald eyes shining with excitement. 

The warrior furthest to the left lunged first, swiping with his single wooden stick at the wood elf's legs. He jumped and kicked the guy who lunged in the face, twisting in the air to deliver a powerful back kick that sent him flying. The dual wielding warrior landed on his feet. "Who's next, boys?" The cocky smirk never leaving his face.

The other two warriors grunted and the charged him, swinging their weapons with fury and frustration. The dual wielding warrior stepped forward and began blocking with his own two sticks. He miraculously match the two warriors blow for blow. Neither one managed a hit on him, but he scored a few on them. It happened so fast, Cieri was amazed she saw it at all. 

The dual wielding warrior began an intricate dance with his weapons, he would spin, block, attack, and repeat. She was enchanted by his fluid elegance while he was fighting. The guy in the middle warrior went first. A blow to his stomach knocking him off of his feet and rendering him helpless. The warrior on the very right went last. A simple swing to his legs and a point to his forehead with the weapon was all it took.

"Boom, I win again, boys!" The dual wielder shouted as he stood over the last fallen warrior to the others.

"That's Adorellon Vanorin, the best warrior and also the least appreciated in his clan. He is your first companion." The Moon Goddess said, gesturing to the dual wielder who was panting through his cocky smirk. 

"Why is he unappreciated! He just took out three warriors! Obviously he is a good fighter!" Cieri exclaimed. She didn't understand how someone so skilled could be unappreciated. 

"See his eyes? He's a half breed. Half wood elf, half high elf. He's considered a disgrace in both Clans. You'll need to find him before you know who the other companions are. Go North East through the pass and you'll find him." The Moon Goddess explained quickly. "I'll be in touch, my child of the moon. Please, be safe. Journey well." Her voice was but a whisper now. 

Cieri noticed the Moon Goddess as disappearing, fading away into the trees behind her. 

"Wait I never agreed!" Cieri exclaimed. She knew it was pointless. If she didn't do it because her Moon Goddess asked her to, she'd be doing it because her moral conscious knew better than to deny someone in need. Her mind flashed back to the desperation in the Moon Goddess' eyes. She was going on this mission, even if she knew little to nothing about it.

-----

She woke up in her den with a gasp, covered in cold sweat. She didn't waste a beat before jumping up and running into her father's den. They had somethings to talk about.