[M] Blood Moon (cwlee & isabella1503)

[cwlee]

The following story is rated M for Mature contents including, but not limited to, Drug Uses, Excessive Languages, Violence, Blood/Gore, Sexual Content, etc. Reader discretion is advised.

Blood Moon

(cwlee & isabella1503)

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The entire forest gleamed with the dew of the morning light, enchanting the forest in a near blinding paradise. Day animals came to awaken following the thunderstorm the night prior, their soundly slumber disturbed by the thunderous claps. Among the valleys on the edge of the forest, the river flowed gently as a Half-Elf named, Ianelor, wandered about.

The Half-Elf was dressed in carefully woven fabric made of plants, likely of vines, green leaves decorating his outwear instead of shining jewelry. He knelt by the flowing stream as he came to take a sip of the water before immediately spitting it out in utter disgust.

"Poisoned!" the Half-Elf cried out wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Something had gone wrong as the water should not have been poisoned. Ianelor had scouted up and down the river hundreds of times, never mind the fact that the forest was under the protection of the druids. Regardless, poisoned water likely meant a larger threat upstream.

The Half-Elf's lips quivered as a spell escaped his tongue before his humanoid body began to morph. His face extended greatly until they turned into a snout as every hair on his body thickened and lengthened extremely until his entire body was completely brown fur. Entirely, the Half-Elf shapeshifted into that of a dire wolf, the only remainder of his true self being his emerald green eyes.

Upon transformation, Ianelor howled into the morning sky as he began to trot up the stream in search of the origin of the disease. Several wolves came to escort Ianelor, assuming the worst circumstances. However, how much could a pack of wolves do against something greater than the forest, Ianelor wondered.

The forest was ill, the druid sensed it. He picked up his pace as the river seemed unaware of its own illness. However, the further up the stream he traveled, he soon began to see deceased animals, poisoned from the water. The wolf druid growled in frustration as he kept heading on.

For about several more minutes as Ianelor traveled, the atmosphere felt to physically change, causing every hair on Ianelor's body to stand in alert. The serene feeling of the forest came to pass away as a darker, more sinister aura came to possess. He and his pack came to halt in their tracks as they perceived their surroundings. Everything looked calm, even the poisoned​ river itself, but Ianelor knew that the forest was somehow in danger.

[isabella1503]

Stumbling into the cool shade of the trees, Freya pushed her hood back and lent down just past the river and felt to her knees, breathing hard . It had been a good night of research but still not a clue what to do . She had to find something to help her.

The hood of her Cloak fell back, letting her pail hair tumble down around her. Her usual china pail skin was red and puffy . She looked down to her hands; they were just as puffy looking like little sausages about to split.

Taking the thin ritual dagger from her hair and slit both of her hands. Blood began to drip and pool on the ground beneath her. She murmurs a spell gathering the energy from her body. " I'm sorry," she apologized to the forest.

Her bloody hands went into the soil, casting her energy to earth, pushing the energy as far as it could go threw the soil, having no idea what effect she was having apon the forest and river but she knew it cpudent be the beat for them.

Slowly, her skin turned back to the light alabaster. The swelling went down, and she let out a sigh as the power left her, and she could think again. She leaned against the tree for a moment and stood to see how bad the damage was to the forest around her.

As she walked in the shade along the river, she saw the dead animals.and fish and rabits, but when she looked up, she saw wolves she paused . She saw their read eyes. " I mean no harm," she said, not wanting to fight, but she would if needed . Her hands were cut and bloodied . The light reflected off the water into her face, and she gasoed, covered her face, backing up more into the shadows

[cwlee]

In the distance, Ianelor spotted an Elf. She was alone and unprotected as she stood by the river. She seemingly seemed unaware of the poisoned water, and Ian quickly bolted towards her. Midmovement, Ian's body shapeshifted back into his humanoid self, his plant clothes reappearing on him as he did. His emerald eyes twinkled against the sun as his eyes came to meet the Elf stranger.

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you," Ianelor warned her. He inspected her up and down carefully. She seemed harmless, her elegant hair told most of the story, but he would not assume. Every creature can disguise themselves as innocent until proven otherwise. "You're a stranger to the forest. State your business, Elf," the Half-Elf barked authority at the Elf who seemed unaware of the Elf's capabilities.

He commanded the wolves to surround the woman. "I would choose your next words carefully, Elf, for they could be your last." The forest did not take kindly to strangers, because after all, it was always the outsiders that had driven the forest beyond recognition. Ianelor bore his fangs but would much prefer to choose peace over conflict.

The forest around them was luscious, the only sign of decay amongst the living creatures around the Elf. However, the Half-Elf seemed to not notice that it was actually her doing. If the Elf played her cards right, there was a possible chance she could get the Half-Elf to a healer. Druids were known for healing nature after all. That was if she could convince the wolf guardian of the forest. "Well, stranger?" He awaited for her answer.

[isabella1503]

When she saw the fang, Freya showed hers, " I don't take kindly to threats, wolf." she took a deep breath to calm herself. she was in there Forest after all " apologies; in all honesty, I was seeking the shade from the sun, " she said. As she took a step into the trees as the sun moved closer.

She looked at her hands and thought for a moment. They were healers after all; maybe she could trouble them for some help. " I mean no trouble, but ... I do hope that I can request some healing. I have an ailment, and I have yet to find anything that will help me. Prahaps with the skills you and your... family possess you could assist me ?" She asked.

She had no idea how she was to explain this, but prahaps they could start with her hands; they were full of soil and bleeding and this was not prime time to be feeding apon the fallen dear beside the stream. She should not be affected by the poison. But it would look odd if she fed after their warning. She hoped her words would provide enough slightly of hand she may have gotten herself some help

[cwlee]

Ianelor relaxed for a moment, his eyes showing sympathy. However, it could not be done. No outsider has ever stepped inside the enclave in hundreds of years. His father, the Archdruid, would not take to this too kindly. Bringing an outsider to their home could mean devastation, tipping the balance of the forest. But perhaps Ianelor helped her. What then? Ianelor pondered in the split moments the Elf spoke.

"You don't seem to be the one I'm looking for." The druid relaxed completely, signaling the wolves to retreat back into the forest, far away from the dark atmosphere. Upon closer look, the druid came to notice the wounds on the Elf's hands. They were rather fresh, but the Half-Elf did not think twice about it.

"Come," Ianelor decided, breaking the hundreds of year old tradition of keeping outsider away. "Tell me your name," he inquired, but it sounded a bit more like a command. Were she to answer, Ianelor did not tell her his own name to her just yet. She was entering into their territory and had somehow charmed the druid into leading her back into his home. But no, Ianelor wasn't charmed. To bring an outsider into the enclave... It was his choice and his choice alone.

"I can't imagine you're from anywhere around here," Ianelor commented as the two began to venture towards the enclave that was hidden deeper in the luscious forest. The animals here became lively again as the curse seemed to take lesser affect the further they got from the poisoned water. Despite it, Ianelor could not shake off the dark feeling looming over his shoulder. The feeling, it was eerily familiar, yet he could not figure out how it felt so nostalgic.

"Up that cliff. Grab those vines there," Ianelor ordered her as he watched her climb up the cliff, his arms crossed and eyes furrowed in curiosity.

[isabella1503]

Ferya nodded. " Thank you." she relaxed as the wolves moved from around her. She didn't feel like she was going to be torn apart. She wiped at her hands, getting the big peices of stick and dirt from them and winced as they wept blood little.

She followed the kind Druid, picking her steps carefully, seeing how the forest would thrive again. She had to do her best not to let it harm the forest again. " Oh. Rein, " she said, not wanting to Gove her first name, but she would respond to rein just the same." What is your name ? I don't want to be rude, " she said.

When they reached the vines, she looked at her hands and nodded, beginning to climb to the top blood remained on the vines, and she gasped in pain as they cut even deeper. She held them tight. " Sorry, give me a moment," her
hands stung and aked but she did her best . she said and stood up and " ok im ok " she siad

[cwlee]

Ianelor came to notice the blood on the vines left by the Elf who called herself Rein. It was at this moment when the druid figured the dark power was her doing, but he kept it to himself. Instead, Freya would begin to hear a spell being cast from underneath her. And as though the vines themselves were alive, she began to be lifted higher and higher up the cliff. Ianelor followed her very closely behind. He decided to ignore the question about his own identity. Their entire journey to the enclave was rather silent.

Before long, the two found themselves atop of the entire forest. Likely to the Elf’s disbelief, the cliff they climbed was in fact a giant tree, hundreds of times larger than the other ones. There, they would see a single guardian. It was a grizzly bear, but as they approached it shapeshifted itself into a humanoid form much like Ianelor had.

“Brother,” greeted Ianelor.

“Ianelor. You bring… an outsider. You know how your father feels about outsiders, Ian.”

”She’s injured, Astin.” Ianelor stood by her side at all times as he spoke to the suspicious guard.

“That does not mean you get to disrupt the balance of nature, Ian.”

”Open up, Astin. I’ll take the punishment.”

”She’s just an Elf, brother. What good or evil could she possibly possess for you to behave this way?”

”Just open the door, Astin,” Ianelor commanded and growled.

Astin the guardian of the enclave sighed. “Your funeral,” he said as he tapped the bottom of his staff onto ground. Soon after, the earth began to tremble as a hidden enclave began to make itself known, revealing a world invisible to the naked eye, the druids’ enclave. Animals of the forest greeted them as the two were allowed to venture into an even more dense forest, but seemingly, the paths were all lain perfectly out for them so they could not get lost.

[isabella1503]

Ferya gasped as the vines moved her up and up. As they got closer to the canapy of the trees, she pulled her hood up and pulled her cloke close to herself to protect herself from any sunlight. When they were on top of the trees, they looked even higher, seeing the huge tree, and was amazed.

" It's breathtaking," she said, seeing the beauty of the forest. She was quiet during their conversation, not to be rude. " I don't mean I get you in trouble, lanelor," she said as she stayed next to him the whole way.

She looked around and found it beautiful and organized. She remembered the church of her God, and it was chaos and gloom where this felt like peace and harmony. She was regretting her decision to become a vampire now as she missed the warmth now in part of this beauty." I should admit ... My name is Freya now. I know your name; it's only proper. You know mine, " she admitted.

[cwlee]

“Freya,” he repeated the name a few times. Her name flowed out of his tongue like water. “I’m Ianelor. As you probably heard from talking to my brother.” He guided them towards deeper into the enclave where they met the first person inside.

She was another druid, decorated in brighter flowers than Ianelor. “Mother Ilana,” Ianelor curtly bowed, encouraging Freya to do the same. The high ranking druid greeted them pleasantly, seemingly unbothered by the newcomer.

“A guest. Delightful,” the mother druid commented. Her presence was calming as though she was nature herself. Birds landed atop her as though she was a part of the brambles. “I sensed you already had a good reason for bringing her, Ianelor. I know better than to inquire your judgment, young wolf.” She nodded her head as she slowly paced by him and vanished into the woods.

”That was the mother of the enclave. She’s… nice,” he explained to the Elf. “Don’t get too comfortable here. I suspect my father would not take this too well.” Ianelor continued to lead her deeper into enclave where at this point, they had passed by many druids and animals alike staring at the newcomer in either estrangement or disgust. None seemed too pleased to see a new person in the enclave.

“Don’t mind them,” he tried to tell her before is pathway was blocked by a pair of dire wolves. They were shapeshifted druids, much like Ianelor, but they had grey fur covering most of their body, indicating their elderliness. He curtly bowed at them as the two wolves made way for him. As they did, they growled at the pale Elf.

Upon reaching the center of the enclave, an empty chamber awaited with a sole man in the middle, the Archdruid, Ianelor’s father. He was huge, likely two heads taller than Ianelor. He was more muscular and fierce, like an owlbear. Upon seeing his son, the druid stepped down from his podium which he stood and welcomed his son before quickly turning it into a scolding.

“Son, why have you brought her? She emits dark energy. Have you not sensed it, son?” There was worry in the great man’s voice as though the feeling of the dark energy was eerily familiar to something he witnesses once a month. “Rid of her now, son.”

”No, father. She needs our help. I wouldn’t have brought her here if we couldn’t.” the son druid tried to plead.

”You already know the last time we let somebody from the outside in, don’t you, son?” The archdruid inquired, suggesting back to the time when Ianelor’s mother was still alive. “Ianelor.”

“But father, this is what mother would want!”

There was a moment of silence as the archdruid and the son druid reflected on their thoughts. The archdruid shut his eyes as to hold back tears of his late human wife. “Have her go see the Healer.” He turned his back towards the pair, hoping they would be gone before he changed his mind.

“Thank you, father!” he shouted, bowing without a second thought. For the first time in his life, Ianelor felt excited about something other than nature.

[isabella1503]

Ferya nodded. " It's nice to meet you. Does it always feel so calm here?" She asked as she continued to follow him. When they met the first person , saw his bow, and did the same to be respectful.

She was in amazement of the mothers beauty. " it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for allowing me to your home. " she thanked her for allowing her here.

Continuing through the enclave, she nodded, understanding, " I'm not really welcome in many places," she admitted. She would be surprised to have lan if he hadn't figured it out that He was the cause of the dark energy.

Meeting the large man in the center of the room, she bowed again . She could feel he was the archdruid. He had power of nature to him . She remained quiet, not wanting to push her luck, considering what she was. She could see the emotion in the mention of his mother, making note not to ask.

Fery stood and thought for a moment, " lanelor, I.. You're taking a huge risk for me, and I should fully explain." She admitted . She felt ashamed like she had deceived him, " I'd it ok if I explain it to you and the healers at the same time," she asked " im not going to be a danger to anyone I just don't know what to do " she admited The fear in her voice told her how nervous she was about telling anyone