It had began to get dark and I was beginning to think to myself whether or not I should try and find my way back to the mortal world and my house when Luna, who had been silent for quite some time, interrupted,
"There is no need to worry about that"

I glanced around and saw that the others were busy chatting amongst themselves, so I moved to the edge of the clearing, unnoticed.

I quietly whispered,
"Why not? If my parents think I've run away they'll never leave me alone again and I'll never get a chance to kill myself".

I could almost feel Luna pursing her lips at the last part of my speech,
"Time works differently in the World of Wolves. Whilst you are in here and alive, no time will pass in the mortal realm. If you choose to return, you shall go back only a few seconds after you entered."

I nodded to myself, no longer surprised by all of these crazy magical things and rules,
"Wait, you said that if I'm alive time will work this way. What happens if I'm dead?"

Luna sounded somewhat sad as she explained,
"Your body would be transported back to the mortal realm, left for someone to find you. Time will pass the same as the mortal realm".

Yea, that made sense.
I paused, suddenly realising something else,
"Wait. What do you mean if I choos-"

"Ebony" I heard Chase call me. I guilty glanced up to see the grey he-wolf trotting up to me, before asking with genuine concern,
"You okay?"

Unthinkingly, I answered with,
"Yea yea, I'm just tired".

He did not reply, but instead sat and tilted his head, silently gazing at me. It suddenly occurred to me that he had probably said the same lie a dozen times. When I did not elaborate, he sighed,
"Ebony. Please, you can trust me. Are you really okay? Truly?"

At his genuine concern I choked up and before I knew it tears were falling and I began to pour out everything that had been locked away for so long,
"No! I'm not okay! I'm so tired and confused and all of this stuff has been happening and I just feel so lonely and I'm a horrible person and I just want to die already".
I broke down, sobbing.
Chase comforted me with a crooning, word-less sounds, and I buried my face in his fur. When my sobs began to quieten, he softly spoke,
"Shh. It's okay Ebony. You're safe now. Just let the tears fall. You don't have to do this alone anymore".
The flood of relief that overwhelmed me at hearing these words after struggling by myself for so long cause a fresh batch of tears to flow.

We sat for a while, my face buried in his fur, and his head protectively resting above mine. I drew comfort from his warmth and silent strength, just soaking in his complete acceptance and understanding. At last I was calm and my tears had ceased to swirl.

After waiting a while, Chase gave me a gentle nudge,
"Come, I want to show you something".

I slowly got up and walked with him to the centre of the clearing. I felt the other wolve's gazes upon my pelt, but in them there was no scrutiny, only sympathy.

He turned to them,
"You guys ready?" When they all nodded, he continued,
"Good, let's go."

I nervously glanced at him,
"Where are we going?"

He gave me a crooked smile,
"We're going to Moon Rock."

"Moon Rock?" I heard my voice, hoarse from crying, ask.

Chase glanced at me,
"You'll see. I think you will like it".

He turned and led the way, all of us following behind, until we reached a place outside of the forest, a large, grey rock that reminded me a bit of Pride Rock from The Lion King. We scrambled up the rock until we were at the very top.

The beautiful sight that greeted me nearly took my breath away. Before me, large and luminescent, was the full moon, it's gentle glow flooding over us. In this unpolluted air, there were more stars in the sky than I had ever seen before, and I could see part of the Milky Way. It was so amazingly immense and indescribable. I gave a gasp and whispered,
"It's beautiful".

"It is, isn't it" I heard Chase murmur beside me, but I fancied that I could almost feel his watchful gaze on my pelt. "But that's not all. Have you ever howled before?"

I gave him a look,
"No. Goodness knows how many times I've wanted to just scream though".

He gave an amused, satisfied huff,
"Well that's the great thing about the World of Wolves. You can just howl your frustrations to the moon."
Chase gave a chuckle, "you never forget your first howl. Trust me, it's great".

I sat down and swivelled my ears uneasily, glancing at the others,
"I just... howl?" I moved closer to Chase and lowered my voice, "I-In front of e-everyone?"

In my worry, I had forgotten about the fact that wolves have better hearing than humans. Leah kindly spoke,
"It's okay Ebony. I was also nervous my first time howling in front of everyone too."

Liz interjected, her voice also sympathetic
"Yea, me too".

Max gave a goofy laugh,
"I can go first if you want me to Ebony".

Touched by their kind responses which were so unlike the ones I had experienced in the human world, I had to take a moment to keep back the threat of fresh tears. Then, I smiled at them,
"Thank you. All of you." Then, to Max,
"Yes, please. If you don't mind that is".

He winked and gave a silly little bow as well as a wolf could,
"Of course not m'lady."
Then he turned and stood, facing the moon, took a deep breath in and then exhaled, giving a long, rich, deep-throated howl that resonated all around us.

After waiting a few moments, Leah joined in, her howl a clear, sweet soprano.

Then Liz, her voice forming a well rounded howl somewhere between Max and Liz.

Chase's howl blended into the mixture, a smooth, thoughtful tenor.

Lastly, Hugo took a deep breath, then gave a low, deep, somber howl that became the backbone of the howls, so low that it was barely heard, yet I knew the howls would be incomplete without it.

They howled in no particular pitch nor melody, but their howls harmonized and intertwined into a beautiful, wordless song.
A song of suffering and joy, sadness and happiness.

I felt my heart well up, touched and moved by the beautiful song. I heard my inner voice softly whisper,
I want to be part of that.

Suddenly, with no signal that I could see, they stopped howling as one. Silence filled the air, with only their echo drifting away on the breeze.

I could only give a low exhale,
"Wow... that was... amazing".

Chase gave me another lopsided grin, earnestly wagging his tail,
"See? I told you that you wouldn't regret it", when I did not respond, still too stunned to speak, he gently nudged me,
"C'mon Ebony, give it a try".

I snapped out of my amazement and felt my old anxiety come flooding back,
"N-no, I just c-couldn't. It sounds so beautiful and all I will do is mess it up".

Liz drew besides me and nuzzled my neck, whispering words of strength into my ear, her voice filled with patience and love, no sense of scorn or annoyance at my weak, pathetic fear.
I turned to look at the others and I saw the same in their faces, faces which nodded or smiled encouraging. As I gazed at them, I felt something I hadn't felt for many, many years.

Acceptance.

I knew that, among them, I would never know judgment or pain or harsh words. Only love, kindness and understanding.

Luna softly spoke,
"Have faith and do not be scared."

At this realisation, I felt confidence flow into me.

I turned to look at the Moon, the beautiful Moon that seemed to illuminate my heart and drive the darkness away from me.

Through my mind flickered memories. Of all of my pain and anger and defeat. Every mean moment or word or thing that made me want to kill myself. All of it filled me until it was overflowing. Then, I took a deep breath and then...

... I howled.

I poured forth my pain and suffering to the night sky, the moon, the stars.
It felt as though fresh fire of freedom ran through my veins. As I sang my woes to the sky, I felt my pain and suffering fade. Yes, there was still darkness, but for the first time in forever since I could remember, I saw it. The light.

The precious light of my soul that had been smothered by the darkness which had consumed me for so long. The light of joy, peace, happiness. The light I had thought was forever lost to me.
I felt my tears flow out, but I continued to howl and howl to the sky, and it felt like time stood still.

It was so exhilarating. I felt like I was finally breaking free from my cage. The cage of darkness and pain and suffering and anxiety and hurt.

I was finally free.