Lucian ❤️

Once a lone wolf cast from his home pack, Lucian roamed as he pleased, he enjoyed this freedom, although he did miss the companionship of fellow lupines, as is to be expected from such a special creature.

It was one fateful evening, he wandered into some new territory, the ground smelled different as he padded along, tail swishing and tongue lolling about in the heat of the summer night.

That's when he saw it, a glowing glimmer running amongst the trees and jungle vines, speeding along.

Lucian was intrigued, albeit slightly nervous, as he took off after the strange sight, he ran further and further, pushing himself to keep sight of the luminescent creature ahead of him.

As he went, the leaves started to change, beginning to also glow and shimmer, the world took on a blue sheen, and Lucian slowed to a trot..

Where was he? This was somewhere strange, somewhere definitely new.. but not frightening.

Then he heard the voice behind him, sweet as a summer sunset but with an edge as sharp as a badgers claws, "You were following me, why?"

Lucian turned around, ears quivering at the sound of the she-wolfs voice.

Before him stood one of the most stunning sights he had ever laid his eyes upon..

A wolf with a pelt dark as a stormy ocean night, flicked and highlighted with fur as bright and sheen as fresh river ice in the frigid winter and white spot he's and patches that were as white and crisp as that untouchable snow on the mountain tops. Her entire body seemed to glow slightly. Her eyes green with something... more.. behind them.

"I-- well, I--, I just--", Lucian stuttered.

"Ah, I see. A loaner eh? You'll want to talk to Moonshine then, she's our leader."

And with that the she-wolf began to trod forward, tail swaying proudly side to side, before pausing briefly to swing her head around and added "I'm Branwyn by the way, next in line as the head of the pack."

Lucian followed Branwyn until they reached a rocky outcrop, she slinked along as if she was floating and he felt himself thinking quite fondly of his new company.

They continued on until they reached an archway created from the natural stone itself, under which sat an aging, but nonetheless beautiful she-wolf. Her fur a mixture of purpley-pink, yellows, black and white.

"I saw you coming up," she said calmly, "I see everything from this vantage point. What is your name and from where do you come?"

He found his voice at long last, "My name? It's Lucian, and well, I come from the plains. I wouldn't really call those lands my home any longer, as I was cast out from my pack during a harsh winter when food was scarce."

He braced himself for her response, as surely a wolf that was cast out when times were so lean will be seen as nothing but a burden. He readies himself for her rejection.

"You're free to remain within our lands," she looked at him, her shining blue eyes seeming to be looking directly into his soul, "or, if you so desire, you could join our family, our breeding male recently left to the great beyond. You'd be an invaluable asset to the pack."

Lucian was stunned, he took a moment to compose his shock before stammering the word "Why??"

Moonshine looked slyly at the young wolf "The moon has chosen you. We reside in a strange and magical part of the jungle, where the lunar cycles rule us. And sometimes, sometimes the moon herself chooses those that deserve a new start. Look into the water." With that she dipped her paw into the pool she was resting beside.

Lucian walked up to the pool, tentatively, and gazed down at his reflection. Staring back at him was a wolf he didn't recognize, a beautiful wolf with fur the colour of the blue moon, covered in hues of pink and purples, with chilling ice blue flecks and shining crystal tips. His eyes shining the same impressive hues.

"But-- but how?!?"

"Young one, sometimes the moon just chooses..."