Chapter Eight

Sequoia's POV

"Niylah! Wait up! Stop! Your Suprema commands you!"

I ran after her, panting, but she was quick, dodging through the trees and soon she disappeared into the dark. The mokk wasn't bright enough to see where she went and instead it casted eerie shadows on everything that it's light touched. I stopped on a rock to rest. I knew she was around here somewhere, watching me, waiting for me to be off guard so that she could pounce on me, like she always did.

I had a bright idea and immediately shifted into my wolf, my bright orange and red flames filled the clearing I was in with light. The shadows were pushed back andy light burnt bright into the night, rivaling that of the moon's.

I heard a twig snap and I turned sharply around but there was no one. Suddenly I felt a presence but I was too slow to get out of the way. Niylah emerged from he hiding place and had pounced on me, pinning me to the ground. She too was in her wolf form. Her eyes were a deep blue, her white coat pattered with blue swirling markings, resembling the swirling waters of the Lunaria.

I pushed her off gently and got up from the ground. I shifted back into my wolf form as did she and she was on the floor lauging.

"Alright, alright. You win. Don't get too ahead of yourself."

I sat on a rock and looked up at the moon. I was troubled. Sephora's wolf still bothered me.

Niylah came to sit beside me and we she nudged me in the shoulder. I smiled.

"Sister Artemisia taught you well. She never liked me. Always had a thing for you."

"Don't think that. She just thinks your sloppy and a bad student."

I rolled my eyes. Niylah could be unsavory sometimes.

"Thanks for putting it out ever so gently. You are a great friend, " I said sarcastically.

Niylah giggled.

"I'm only joking. She's tough on everyone, even me. Don't let it beat you up."

"I'm not worried about her."

I continued to look up at the moon. It's glow was hypnotizing. Once it was full, it would mark five months till I became 18, till I became of age.

"I saw sister Sephora's wolf today."

Niylah looked at me with wide eyes. The glee and curiosity was evident

"What did it look like?–"

I could sense the bubbling excitement in her voice.

"–Majestic? Grand? What element was it?"

"Plain."

My voice was flat. Niylah looked at me stunned. Didn't she hear what I said?

"Excuse me?"

I sighed. I guess she didn't hear me.

"It was brown. Beautiful and majestic, yes, but plain. There was no element."

I stood up and walked deep into the forest and I could hear Niylah walking beside me.

"She asked me to fight her but I couldn't. It didn't seem fair. I could have hurt her, burnt her."

"You made the right choice sister."

"I asked her what happened to her wolf and she said that she sacrificed it and she doesn't regret it."

I stopped infront of a large red flower. The petals were closed tightly. I ran my finger in the tight petals and they flayed open, releasing it's beautiful scent.

"I suggest that you do not let Sephora's past bother you. She is wise. She knows why she did what she did. What you owe her now is to prepare for the rites of the Suprema. She is counting on you."

"Wiser words have never been spoken."

We turned around sharply and saw Mistress Kali standing behind us. She walked like a ghost. I wondered I her feet ever touched the ground. We fell to our kness but she raised us up gently.

"No need for that. We are all sisters. And yes Sequoia. My feet do touch the ground."

I was speechless. She could read minds too. She smiled at me and patted my hair. She looked different. Still as elusive as always but there was no mist this time. She was in a different dress and was holding a basket. She walked past us and up to the flower in front of us.

"Ahhh, I see you have found the Forest Fire Flower. It's scent is wonderful and it's petals are good for fortune telling. I have been searching for it for a while now. Thank you, both of you."

She picked the entire flower and stuffed it in her basket. She walked on and I decided to follow her. Niylah grabbed my arm and pulled me back but I was insistent. I wanted to see where Mistress Kali was going.

I pulled free of her grasp and ran after Kali into the night. I could soon hear Niylah running behind me. Kali had only left us for a few moments yet she was so far ahead. Suddenly I stopped in my tracks and I stopped Niylah from bumping into me. Kali was infront and we were infront of–I gasped– the Lunaria!

The waters shimmered in the light of the moon and it's gentle rumbling could be heard. Kali turned to Niylah and I.

"I'm glad you two could join me."

She pulled out the flower and took two petals and handed them to Niylah and I.

"Both of you should mark it with your element."

I looked at my leaf and set it ablaze just a bit to scorch a corner while Niylah used the water to carve the edges of hers.

"Good. Now the both of you should drop it into the water. Together."

I looked at Niylah confused but we both walked up to the stream and dropped it in. The water was rushing but the petals just sat there like nothing was happening.

"Now what?" I asked Kali. I was rather unimpressed at the petals that just sat there like there was no wind or water current acting on them.

She smiled to me and sat on the ground, crossing her legs.

"Now, dear Sequoia, we sit and watch."