Chapter 11

Sequoia’s POV

Sephora pounced at me and I jumped out of the way again. My bright orange fire burnt powerfully around me. I manipulated the flames to burn brighter, to discourage Sephora's madness.

What had come over her? Why was she fighting me.

I heard a snarl behind me and soon I was pinned to the ground. My flames dimmed and Sephora placed a paw on my face.

“Fight! Fight like you mean it!"

“Get off!"

I kicked her off and she slammed into the rock face of the cliff. I stood up, my eyes narrowed down on her and my breathing was frantic.

I wasn't going to fight her. I wasn't going to fight my own…

“Arrgghh!"

A bolder was hurled towards me. I was barely able to get out of the way when a sharp rock piece scratched my face.

“Ahh!"

I staggered, confused by the pain and the sight of my own blood stained the grey rock beneath my feet a lively scarlet.

I was petrified.

I…I was hurt. Sephora hurt me. She really did hurt me.

I looked up at her. The fury in her eyes was terrifying. In mere seconds she had turned my enemy, an enemy I couldn't bring myself to fight.

I felt weak in my knees, my head began to spin. I couldn't take it.

“Grrrrrrr!"

I heard a loud growl but I was too weak. I transformed back into my human form and fell to my knees.

I felt Sephora stop, her wolf towering above me and staring down at me. I could feel the hate in the weight of her glare and the hot breath that she breathed on me.

Hot tears streamed down my face. I couldn't do it.

“I won't. I won't fight you. I won't bring myself to hurt you, sister.”

The snarling became quiet and I felt the imposing aura weaken. Through my teary eyes, I saw feet in front of me but I dared not raise my head.

"You will not fight, Sequoia?”

I could hear the disappointment in Sephora's voice. My tears intensified.

"I won't bring myself to hurt you."

There was a silence and a sigh.

“Then you have doomed us all. Your lack of spirit shames me and our pack. Your inability paints me a failure and you in turn broke your promise not to hold back.”

Her voice was cold and distant. She walked past me and I heard a scratching near the edge of the cliff.

"Be back before it grows dark."

She disappeared and I was all alone, on my knees sobbing quietly. The cut on my cheek stung but not as much as the pain in my heart did.

My sister thought I had failed and there was no greater pain than that.

I was right. I wasn't ready to be the Suprema. Why would the Moon Goddess chose me? Why couldn't she have picked someone else?

I looked up at the sky. The sun was bright and the wind rippled through my hair.

There was no Moon. Would the Goddess even hear me?

“Why?! Why did you have to pick me?! Is this some kind of joke to you?! Did you do all this just to make a mockery of me?!"

Silence. Painful silence.

I fell and bowed my face on the cold stone floor. Something wet touched my forehead but I didn't care. Why should I?

My broken heart weighed heavily and as the breeze blew around me, exhaustion crept up on me and I soon closed me eyes.

Nothingness. Comforting nothingness.

******************************************************

I woke up from the biting cold. I looked up. The sun was lower in the sky.

Grrrr!

I grabbed my stomach in pain. I hadn't eaten all day.

“Nice to see that you're awake."

I looked to the side and sitting on the edge was a lady clad in black flowing clothes that swirled in the evening breeze.

“Mistress Kali!"

I fell on my knees and bowed my face to the ground.

She chuckled.

“No need for that."

She patted the spot next to her.

"Come. Sit. I brought you food. I hear that roasted chicken is your favorite.”

I was pleasantly surprised and startled but I sat next to her and she handed me the wrapped chicken.

It smelled divine. I felt myself drool and I ate big chunks hungrily.

"You know–”

She leaned closer to me slightly.

"–the Goddess hears you quite alright in your tiniest voice. You don't have to yell.”

I nearly choked and began to cough violently. My eyes watered and Mistress Kali passed me some water.

I gulped it down and room a deep breath.

"You heard…you heard that?"

She smiled.

“The wind hears all and carries our voices great distances. If you listen hard enough, even you might hear the things that it carries."

I set my chicken aside and gloom overshadowed me.

“So you know what happened between sister Sephora and I? Is that why you are here.”

“How about you enlighten me on that yourself.”

I took a deep breath and stared at the land that as laid before me from the clifftop. Where do I even start?

"She was training me for the ritual for the rites of the Suprema but she tried to get me to fight her.”

“And?”

I sighed and turned away.

“I couldn't. I can't bring myself to fight her. She's my sister. I respect and look up to her. I won't hurt her. She got angry though and walked away."

A tear slid down my face and into my mouth. The salty taste mixed with the chicken’s flavor wasn't so bad.

I felt a hand on my chest and I turned to see Mistress Kali looking at me.

“Your heart is full of love and trust. Beautiful qualities for a leader to have. But do you know why she asked you to do that? Why she is making you fight her without holding back?"

I shook my head. There was a reason?

“There comes a time in a leader's life that she must make tough decisions. Decisions that might involve sacrificing one person, a person you love, for the greater good of the pack. She wants to make sure that you are up to the task. She sees great potential in you and doesn't want you to fail.”

I closed my eyes and turned away.

“What if I do? What if I do fail?"

I felt her hand on my cheek and she raised my face upwards. My eyes met hers and I felt them bore into my soul.

“Your mind and will are your greatest powers. What you will with your heart will come into existence. Remember that.”

Grrrrr!

My stomach growled again and Kali laughed.

"You still seem very hungry. Eat up. You have had a long day.”

I smiled and reached for my chicken.

"Can you tell me…"

She was gone and the only thing left in her place was wisp of wind. I was never going to get used to her doing that.

I ate in silence but it wasn't so painful any more.