The Shaman

Adolphus stared for a moment and then started laughing, “You want to learn our ways?”, he asked again.

Aurora frowned but replied, “Yes. Teach me”.

“You’re too fragile, besides a human can never live like a werewolf. Every wolf in this pack goes through intense training. You can’t go through that so we deem you unfit and unworthy”.

“Where is your pack’s Shaman?”, She coolly asked suddenly.

He looked at her wondering what she was up to; she always managed to look and act unbothered about certain things. He wondered if she was truly unbothered about most things.

“A shaman?”, he asked again.

“Yes, the Gritta pack has one so I assume this pack should have one as well. I want to meet him or her”, she said with all the confidence she could muster.

“And what makes you think our shaman would want to see a human?”, he asked, his eyes boring into hers.

“Shamans show no discrimination or biased attitude”, she spoke firmly.

He chuckled again and it irked her. Did he think she was a joke or something? He looked at her again and saw her determined face, “Things are a little bit different in this land than in other packs. We absolutely abhor humans, that is why it may be hard for you to find acceptance”.

“Then why are you seated with me now”, she asked.

He paused as if he were thinking, “Probably because I like you, I like your confidence, and because you’re my friend’s mate till he says otherwise. You know what? Let’s eat first before we continue”. He then called for his servants to serve them. Even if their food was weird looking, Aurora had already made up her mind to not complain about the conditions here and how they lived their lives, she desperately wanted to blend in with them and show them she was capable.

While they were done eating, Adolphus led her out and was taking her to the Shaman when she met a pregnant woman by the way, and to her surprise, the woman stopped to greet her. She was the first person to greet her in this pack since she arrived!

“Greetings, future Luna”, the woman greeted. Even Adolphus was taken aback. The woman already accepted her as her future Luna.

“Greetings ma”, Aurora replied nervously, “Congratulations”, she added, staring at the woman’s belly.

The woman smiled and rubbed her belly which was opened. Aurora already knew them as people who always wore revealing dresses.

“I’m happy you came before I delivered. I will name my baby after you”, the woman said further shocking her and Adolphus. Before Aurora could find words, the woman had already started strolling away and Aurora couldn’t bring herself to stop the woman and ask her all the questions burning in her mind.

“Who is she?”, Aurora finally managed to ask him when she found her voice.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her before and I can swear that I know almost every woman here”, he said and added a wink.

Aurora rolled her eyes, he was always joking but she was in no mood for jokes. She couldn’t be right now. They continued walking towards the shaman’s house basking in their awkward silence when Aurora immediately remembered her sister.

“Please, I’d like to write a letter to my sister immediately after we get back so I need supplies”, Aurora said.

“Tell that to Lucian. I’m afraid I can’t help you with that”, he replied.

“Any why is that?”, She asked again.

“You’ll find out soon enough”, he said and then stopped in front of a wooden house. It looked old but simple and nice.

Aurora stopped behind him, “Is this the Shaman’s house?”

“Yes, and she’s a woman. Be careful what you say in her presence”, he warned.

Aurora was hardly bothered or scared and she began to walk towards the house with Adolphus trailing behind her wondering where the human got her courage from. Before she could knock, the door opened slowly. The person behind the door was a young-looking and beautiful woman. Aurora doubted she was the shaman.

“Greetings”, she greeted, mimicking the way she knew these people greeted, “I’m here for the Shaman”

The young woman smiled, “Come in human, I have been waiting for you for some years now”

The shocked and confused Aurora and Adolphus entered silently. The house had few things and little furniture, and the house was demarcated. She also had shelves filled with different jars. The house smelled like leaves, like nature.

The woman ushered them in and then turned to Adolphus, “Sit here, we will be going in”

“No, I can’t separate from her. If anything happens to her, Lucian will have my head”, he replied almost immediately, like he was waiting for her to ask for that.

She simply clicked her hands twice while muttering some things and Adolphus fell down flat. Aurora gasped as her heart picked up speed, “What just happened?”

“Calm down human, he’ll be fine. He needed some rest. I’m sure Lucian has been stressing him a great deal. Come in, let’s talk”, the woman said with her weird smile and walked into a room. Aurora silently followed her inside the room. She was really scared, especially after seeing the power the woman wielded. She sure was more powerful than the Shaman in the Gritta pack.

The woman sat down and pointed at a similar stool for Aurora to sit on. Aurora sat down quietly without complaining. Afraid that this woman may put her to sleep too, an everlasting one at that.

“Be at rest, I mean no harm”, she said and then paused and started staring at a jar in the room, “You have questions”

“You said you have been waiting for me. Have we met somewhere before?”, she asked.

“I don’t even know your name human, what is it?”, the shaman asked, ignoring her questions.

“Aurora. I don’t know yours too”, Aurora said, her boldness coming back to her.

“Sivina. I am Sivina and yes, I have always known you. The moon goddess has always told me about you. She said you will be someone strong and worthy…”, the shaman trailed.

Aurora’s heart sank, she knew she wasn’t strong and worthy, “Does it mean I’m not the one?”

“No dear, it only means you would work very hard to become that person the mood goddess said you would be. I see nobody beside Lucian other than you”

This gave Aurora little hope, then she said “What about the woman, his friend, Aliya?”

And immediately Aliya stormed into the house angrily and matched into the room where they were seated. Aurora stood up immediately.