Chapter Twenty Eight: Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

Jackia's Point Of View

The River has a long-cherished history in our clan. We always sat down with our parents when we were much younger to listen to them tell us stories of how the river came to be.

Everyone believes the river holds a lot of magic in it.

As a member of the clan for thousands of years now, I do not have any experience with the magic in the river, but I still kept on going there, notwithstanding throughout those years, because I found my solitary here.

It enables me to think, get stress off my mind, and renew my strength, and then my wolf walks freely in the woods before I return home.

But today was different.

It was for a different reason. I wanted to see the moon goddess, but I didn't know how to summon her presence before me. I didn't know what exactly I was doing. I got to the large rock that was situated close to the river, and I sat on it as I looked around. The world was silent and shallow, and the birds would fly past making their happy sound as I sat down there.

"Are you sure this will work? Just sitting here and there expecting some sort of miracle to happen?," my wolf asked me at that moment. I knew I couldn't avoid her probing questions, since she has been prancing inside me.

"I do not know. Let's just wait and see.".

I replied to her as we all waited, and then suddenly we both heard some movements in the woods; someone must have followed me. "Did someone follow us down?" My wolf was already on the edge, ready to attack whoever was stalking us.

"Hello, who is there?" I called out to whoever was hiding behind a tree. I did not see anyone, neither did any response come from whomever it was: "Probably it was some animal running by.".

I told my wolf, who calmed down a little but was careful enough and vigilant, but then the noise came, like, The person or thing was trying to get away from where it was hiding without making a noise.

But it didn't work, as I could hear them clearly.

I wasn't afraid of whatever it was, as I could take it down. Without being taken off guard, I walked slowly to where I heard the initial noise:

"Hello, whoever it is, come out now, or you wouldn't like what I would do to you if I found you.".

I said in a loud voice, trying to get the person to come out of their hiding place, as I walked slowly.

"I am a trained warrior, if you must know, so please, I beg you to come out now or lose your life.". I said it sternly.

But the person refused to come, and I was once again distracted by a noise coming from the other side of the woods. As I looked back, the person who was hiding seized that opportunity to run away from me, which I was totally disappointed about.

I walked back towards the rock and stayed down this time around, knowing fully well that I was alone. I closed my eyes, not knowing what I was going to do.

I saw a bright light traveling through the waves towards my eyes. I just hope I do not go blind from this. I didn't get the chance to get used to the light when my name was called by the moon goddess.

"My dear Jackia, you called onto me; to what do I owe your presence?"

She asked me.

"I want to know what happened to the poor girl in the woods, and why you refused to do anything when you knew who the impostor was among us?" She looked at me and smiled.

"Why do you think I should respond to that?".She asked me

"Because I have the right to know, your response to that will determine whether I will continue the competition and then become the next Luna of this kingdom, which I feel is just a waste of my time".

I said, looking at her this time around, I wasn't scared of her, nor was I scared of losing the game; I was just overwhelmed by everything that was happening.

"It's safe to allow time to unfold some mysteries, Jackia. Don't be too much in a haste" she said pleasantly

"At the expense of the safety of your people?".

I asked angrily, as I did not just believe what I heard coming from her:

"Hmmmn, my people and kingdom are safe, are in great hands, and will also be in great hands if you win and become the next Luna." She said, but I laughed at her, looking around to see that we were on the rock.

"Well, since you are the moon goddess, why can't you make me win?" She looked at me and said, I created your destiny; but I do not control your choices".

I turned around to her, "Don't you think it is so unfair to take an innocent life like this? And nothing has been done to the murderer?. Because we need to wait for time to unfold the terrible person? How more ridiculous can that be?".

I also turned around this time to see her as she looked at me and smiled. When the time comes, you will understand, but for how I understand your anger, what's done is done."

"Really ?, What's done is done? to the detriment of her family's emotions.?"

I asked her, but she seemed to be uneasy.

"Since you've decided to remain quiet, I will take matters into my own hands and make sure the person apologises for everything she does because the whole family is in sorrow. She took what doesn't belong to her.".

I left her presence, and then I found myself back in the woods. I walked back to the palace angrily, and my wolf refused to speak to me during the course of the journey. I know she was pissed by the moon goddess proclaiming we can't do anything about it except to find the culprit ourselves and make sure she gets kicked out of the competition, as far as I know. I would win this not for the whole kingdom but for the innocent blood that was shed.