New Moon

Lunetta sits on a rock staring up at the now fading moon. Tomorrow is the new moon, and when there is a new moon she transforms. Laying her head on her arms she sighs. Fenris knows nothing about this, should she tell him? No, but maybe apologize for her outburst. Sensitive about feeling like a beast of the sea she had lashed out at Fenris the morning before. Lifting her head Lunetta starred down at her tail. The scaled body seemed to glow in the star light, hues of blue and purple with small specs of white. Although it does not always look this way. Tomorrow night on the darkest night, her tail would lose all shine and color. Instead it would turn emerald green with ghastly menacing stripes running through the body and fluke, making her appear more deadly. Lunetta's pastel hair would change to the darkest black like that of the deepest depths of the ocean. Painfully her nails would harden and sharpen creating dangerous claws. The thought of the transformation gave her a chill, it was not a comfortable process. The sun was beginning to rise so Lunetta went ashore to spend the day with Fenris.

Later that day Just before sunset Lunetta and Fenris walked through the woods holding hands in silence, her eyes glued to the forest floor. Fenris stops and wraps his arms around her. "What's going to happen tonight" he whispers. Lunetta's heart feels as though it stops, she really hoped this would not come up, it was her own fault for worrying him. Backing out of his embrace she turns away ashamed to meet his gaze. "what happens "he says again. Lunetta looks off in the distance and in a hushed voice replies "I don't want to talk about this". Fenris reaches out to touch her, but lunetta runs to the shore. As she runs, she begins to remove her clothing, her skin burning as though its about to split open. The transformation has begun. Heart pounding, she reaches the shore. Falling to the ground she screams in agony as the sun is vanishing from sight. Fenris reaches the shore, only to stop in his tracks watching as Lunetta writhes in pain. Slowly starting from the roots flowing down to the ends, Lunetta's hair darkens. Griping her wrists trying to combat the pain, she gasps as her nails sharpen into claws. Grasping her amulet her human legs begin melding into each other forming a tail but not like the usual night sky. The ghastly siren tail appears, the sun has set, and the sky goes dark. Fenris slowly walks over to the now still Lunetta. What did he just watch, it was something from the books that the seer showed him? Kneeling beside her, he studies Lunetta's body. Fenris had never seen this form of her up so close before, in fact he never saw her transform like that either. The nights he had seen her were smooth transitions, graceful even. This transformation seemed to almost kill her. As he reaches out to touch the now raven hair, lunetta flips to her side to face him hissing. Fenris jumps back taken aback by her response but something was different. Lunetta stared at him like a wolf stares at its prey before it pounces. Suddenly, she lunges towards him swiping her newly formed claws at him. Barely dodging he rolls to the side and yells "Lunetta! It's me!". Staring into the night sky she lets out a scream of agony and retreats into the ocean vanishing into the waves. Fenris didn't understand what happened all he knew, was that that he needed to find her.

Rushing back to his village Fenris headed to the docks. It was forbidden to sail at night, but he needed to do this. Sneaking to the fishing boats, Fenris procures a small ship that one could easily man alone. With no moon and the waters calm, Fenris sails off into the night. Navigating his way to the private fjord where they would meet, his eyes scoured the waters hoping for signs of Lunetta. Hours pass and no sign of her is to be seen. Fenris exhausted starts to wonder if shell never be seen again. Rubbing his hand on his neck and up through his hair he sighs exasperated. The boat sails further out to sea and Fenris sees a rock formation in the distance. To avoid collision, he begins to steer the boat in another direction, but then hears something very faint. Quickly he leans over the edge listening intently. In the distance by the rocks he can hear a soothing yet haunting females singing voice. Fenris's head began to feel foggy in response to the kulning. "No!" he yells grabbing his ears, he needed to focus, all that mattered was finding Lunetta. It was too late, he found himself steering the boat towards the rocks. The voice grew louder and louder drawing him in. Inside his mind Fenris knew this was wrong, struggling inside himself he comes up with an idea to try and break this spell. Fenris forces himself to reach for his dagger. Ever so slowly his hand reaches his blade, the cool feel of steel sending chills up is spine. Grabbing the hilt, he finds the strength the raise the blade and plunges it into his stomach trying his best to avoid vital spots. Blood pools into his hands and on the floor of the boat, the pain releasing him from the haze. Looking out into the darkness, Fenris sees something jump off the rocks and hears a splash in the water. With the loss of blood and pain from the self-inflicted wound Fenris falls to the floor of the boat staring up at the sky. All is silent, the boat jostles lightly on the waves. Closing his eyes Fenris wonders if this is the end for him, what a stupid thing to do to impale himself. Suddenly he hears a splash in the water, causing him to painfully rise from the floor to look over the edge. Beneath the surface is the transformed lunetta watching from below. Slowly she breaches the water and begins to sing to him again reaching out to him. This time though Fenris was prepared for her. Reaching out to her, gritting his teeth through the pain he pulls her from the depths and into the boat. The siren lets out a shriek and lashes out at him. To avoid the hit Fenris falls back onto the floor of the boat. The siren begins the crawl near him, her hands making their way to his throat. Fenris turns to stare out at the horizon, he did not want to see her this way. "Lunetta please! Wake up!" he yells eyes clenched shut. Everything stood still, Fenris held his breath waiting for the attack, but nothing came. Slowly opening his eyes, he sees the sun beginning to rise and a silhouette of a maiden in the distance watching them. Turning his head, he sees the now passed out curled up Lunetta laying on the floor of the boat. Did the rise of the sun return her to normal? Struggling through the pain and loss of blood, Fenris pulls Lunetta gingerly up to his chest and holds her close stroking her hair. All of her normal features melting back to into place. Fenris had never seen Lunetta in this form up close. It was beautiful, and he was thrilled to have her back. Gently Lunetta raises her head and looks around stunned to find herself in Fenris's arms in a boat. Looking down she sees his wound and her eyes flood with tears. " I told you to stay away" she cries "I didn't want to lose you" he chuckles, wincing in pain. Lunetta sits back and clears her throat. "what are you doing?" he asks concerned. "I'm going to heal you" she smiles and reaches her hands into the ocean water pulling up a handful. Gently she pours the water on the wound and begins to sing. The song was different than the siren song, it was filled with warmth and love.

"Ocean deep and blue

Flowing proud and true

Give life as you go

And wash our woes away"

Within minutes the wound begins to close, and lunetta stops singing. "I'm trusting you to keep my secret" she says smiling at Fenris. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you more, I was afraid you would fear me" Fenris reaches out and cups her cheek, then pulls her into and embrace. "I will never fear you, stay by my side and ill stay by yours. Thank Sol for the sun." Lunetta tilts her head to the side "how did you know?" he laughs "it's obvious since I only see you when the suns up. Also…. I saw someone as the sun was rising... friend of yours? Lunetta quickly investigates the distance "Solyra" she whispers clutching her hands to her heart. "who is that that" he asks looking at her quizzically. "My sister" she says a tear running down her check. Fenris grabs her chin and kisses her deeply. They hold the kiss for a moment and then decide to sail for shore. It was a long night, and both needed some much-needed rest.