Queen LydiaUnwelcome and motive-driven, humans force their way into my kingdom and my home and capture my darling husband, King Pyrus. He is a hydrokinetic sprite, a creature among many, with the ability to manipulate water.Crouching down on an imperial rug on the ground, in a designated safe room behind a false wall, I quietly hide with our violet-eyed, eight-month-old-daughter, Princess Maia. This room is connected to an underground tunnel that leads me away from the castle.Looking up in the direction of the moon and the stars, I know my husband’s life will not end well. In spite of this, I pray to the Moon Goddess that no harm should come to him, and I shed tears for him, our marriage and beautiful life together as I quietly flee through the hidden passage toward the forest border. I run as fast as possible, using all my energy while holding Maia.Leaves and branches whip my face and tear my dress as I hastily rush past them.Panic rises in my ch
Mysteria, the magical world of supernatural’s, a realm with the tallest mountains, luscious forests, and precipitous waterfalls. From werewolves and witches to orcs, this enchanted land is the birthplace of imagination. The mystical beings were all made by many different Deities, including those of Selene, Cerridwen, Ogrun, and Valkrim. They fashioned new life forms in their own image to coexist in the realm of Mysteria.After many years of peaceful coexistence, the witches accidentally opened a portal to another world inhabited by many animals and people called humans. Although they resembled each other, humans lacked magical or shapeshifting abilities.Over time, the witches travelled in secret between realms, but some never returned to Mysteria. Witches had been caught casting spells. Out of fear of becoming cursed, the humans bound and burnt them at the stake.The vampires, werewolves, fae and mages were amongst those who eventually discovered the witches opening the portal. Intri
Maia: 6 years oldI wake up and yawn, stretching my arms high above my head. I’m sitting in a large hollow tree trunk. I have no idea why I’m here or how I got here. I feel soft moss under my feet and crawl out from the tree. Animals and critters in the forest gather around and approach me. They gently nuzzle their noses against my legs, and when I sit down on the grass, they curl up on my lap. There are rabbits, foxes, squirrels, deer, elk, birds, and mice. They follow me around and do not leave my side. I feel safe and loved in this forest, and I want to live here forever. The forest is my home, my safe place, my everything.I play a game of hide and seek with my new friend, a fox I name Ember. I introduce myself to him. ‘I’m Maia,’ I tell him. Ember nudges my head playfully with his and then runs in circles. He leaps at me and falls on my chest, and as we both roll backwards, we notice the entrance to a cave hidden by a curtain of vines. In awe at
MaiaThe following day I climb a tree near my cave and watch a woman holding a wicker basket. She kneels on the ground, plucks a few mushrooms from the soil and puts them in her basket. There goes my dinner. The woman, unaware of my presence, wanders off, and my stomach rumbles. I'm so hungry.I reluctantly follow the woman, knowing I need food. After a few hours, we reach the edge of the forest, and I watch the woman, with her basket, walk through a grassy field toward a small hill. I freeze at the forest's edge, admiring the clear blue sky, the grassy field, and the small hill ahead.‘I've never left the forest before. I need to know where they’re taking all my food,’ I tell Ember.Taking a deep breath, I step into the field of grass and exhale. I had been nervously holding my breath.‘Okay, that wasn't so bad,’ I tell Ember. Ember steps forward. ‘No, Ember. You must stay here. If anything goes wrong, I don't want anything bad happening to
I lean against a stone wall to catch my breath and wait for my stomach to settle. Then, composed once more, I notice a group of children playing a game, laughing raucously and enjoying themselves immensely.‘Hello. Miss?’ A young woman with a posh accent says. She has long dark-brown hair and brown eyes. She appears to be in her mid-twenties, and two young girls hold her hand.‘Hello,’ I nervously reply, saying hello to another human for the first time in my life. It’s odd yet liberating. I shade my face with my velvet hood, so she does not see my violet eyes.‘Is everything okay?’ She asks. I nod.‘Yes, I'm fine, thank you.’ I say.The woman tilts her head to the side, frowning.‘I'm sorry. It's just that you’re not wearing any boots, and it's not very ladylike or customary for a young lady to be barefoot in the street,’ she says. I look down at my feet, and boots were not something I thought about when I stole the clothes from the stall. I’ve seen the forest visitors wearing boots b
Alpha King Damon Women in all shapes and sizes, wearing all sorts of colours, gush and gape at me and run their fingers along with my vest as we dance at a ball held in my honour. Their behaviour would be socially unacceptable anywhere else.Damn you, Eric! I know you have told these she-wolves I might have to choose my own mate, get them off of me before I release my wolf and start ripping their heads off! I tell my Gamma Eric via mind-link.Sorry Alpha. You might have to consider it. If the rumours are true and King Fenris attacks Moon Crest Valley, you’re stronger with a mate and Luna. Eric mind-links back.Not if she isn’t my true fated mate, now get them away from me, Eric, before it’s your head I rip off.‘Ladies, ladies. Let the Alpha King compose himself. Being surrounded by your beauty is overwhelming for him. Let me escort you all to the drink table, where you can tell me your progress with Alpha King Damon.’ Eric says as he winks at me and ushers the she-wolves away. I cro
Beta TroyThe forest is the most serene, harmonious place I have ever seen. Trudging through thickets and bramble, I hear leaves and twigs crunch under my boots. The forest has a sense of magic about her. She truly is enchanting.Halfway through the forest, I hear the sound of trickling water. Feeling quite thirsty after such a long trek, I follow the sound and eventually find a stunning waterfall. I hold my flask underneath the stream for a while to fill it before having a drink.In the distance, someone with a very melodic voice sings a very beautiful song.I make my way toward West Wallow in human form and arrive a few hours later. Had I been in my wolf form, I would have arrived sooner, but going undetected by the humans when war could be approaching, is extremely crucial.I wander around the market in Wellmore and buy some of the juiciest fruit I have ever had. The King’s soldiers stop at stalls with carts and place half the contents on t
In Wellmore, the villagers are angry and on edge. They’re complaining about a tax hike and a food shortage, having cleared the forest of food. The market stalls are only half-laden with edible goods, from which I steal some apples and a loaf of bread. I sit down on a bench, and eat an apple, storing the loaf of bread in the hessian bag I kept from my first visit. Standing on Vivian’s doorstep, I knock on the side window and wait patiently for her to come to the door. ‘Maia! I'm so glad you’ve come to visit us. Come in,’ she says, smiling and standing aside so that I may go in.‘You’ve come at the right time. I’ve just boiled a pot of tea,’ Vivian smiles.‘Oh. That sounds lovely. What is tea?’ I ask her, and she pauses.‘Have you always been homeless and alone?’ She asks, pulling out a chair for me to sit in.‘No. I live with my friend Ember,’ Vivian places a warm drink on the table in front of me.‘This is a cup of tea. Be careful. Sip it slowly. Don’t burn yourself,’ Vivian caution
MaiaDamon stands up and faces everyone.‘Let this be a lesson to us all, we must not fear each other, and we must embrace and accept each other's differences. Do this, and we can live together in happiness,’ Everyone cheers.Hugo approaches.‘I hear you’re looking to hire a nanny?’ Hugo asks. Damon and I both look at each other and burst into laughter.‘Hugo, I think we have a position more suitable to your liking that needs filling at the castle?’ I say.‘Oh, what position would that be?’ Hugo asks with keen interest.‘I'm looking for a knight, but he must be the best and most loyal knight I could ever ask for. So, what do you say, Sir Hugo?’ I smile at him.Sir Hugo looks at me with the greatest respect and kneels before me. ‘It would bring me the utmost honour to serve you, my Queen Maia, and you Alpha King Damon if you would have me?’Damon smiles and nods in approval.Hugo walks away proudly.The Orc children run up to Hugo and playfull
MaiaI run towards all the children and tap a little orc boy on the shoulder.‘Tag, you’re it,’ I giggle and runoff.He chases me, laughing.‘I'm going to get you,’ he yells.Ember comes running up to me, leaps onto my chest, and knocks me to the ground. I playfully grab him and lift him into the air above me.‘Ember, I think everything is going to be okay now,’ I smile.Sparkles begin to swirl around Ember. He is suddenly too heavy to hold. Different colour swirls engulf him, then two arms appear, then two legs and long red hair. Ember falls flat onto me as my arms can’t hold his weight anymore. Our foreheads bump together on impact.The girl before me is very pretty and around my age with beautiful long hair like mine, but in a lovely shade of red. Her skin is fair, with cute freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes are green, and she has a cute little nose.‘Maia!’ She yells in excitement and wraps her arms around me.‘Ember, is that you
MaiaMy body trembles. I can't lose Damon. I can’t let King Fenris kill him! Flame begins to erupt from the ground beneath my feet, and everyone steps back in fear. The ground shakes vigorously as the harsh wind blows dust, debris and leaves around. The sound of thunder roars in the sky, and lightning whips through the clouds. My breathing becomes heavy, and the elements become stronger and more ferocious with each passing moment.I’m now engulfed in a ball of flame, wind, water and debris, and it’s only growing bigger.I try to calm my emotions to tame my powers, but I have lost all control of the elements. I know everyone here is now in danger of being killed.‘Run,’ I yell to the warriors and soldiers.‘What is she doing?’ King Fenris yells as he steps back, still holding the knife to Damon's throat.‘Everyone needs to move now, or you will be killed. I think she is losing control of her powers,’ Hugo shouts to everyone. Hugo helps an inj
‘Maia, the war is about to begin. The army is waiting for your order to march forward into battle,’ Troy says.I nod and run ahead. I am now in front of the army of warriors. They wait for my command.‘My people,’ I yell.They all immediately kneel.‘As your Luna and Queen, I stand here today to fight by your side, free our Alpha and our King, and free everyone from the wrath of King Fenris!’The warriors and villagers all cheer and roar. They begin to thump their chests with their fists in a beat of war. It’s the same beat I heard in the dream I had.I turn and start running towards the forest. I raise my right arm and create a ball of flame.‘Charge!’ I yell. They run into the forest following my lead, still beating their chests in rhythm.We are in the forest, and I can see the army of soldiers charging toward us. The wolf warriors shift into their wolves. They are huge, at least three to four times the size of a regular wolf. They lunge at the soldiers, some yelp in pain as spea
Alpha King DamonWe pass through Wellmore and can see the army up ahead. King Fenris and his army set up camp outside the forest.‘King Fenris looks angry about something,’ Hugo says.‘I wonder what has happened? It won't be long until nightfall, we can watch them from here, and as soon as it’s dark enough, we can move closer and find Maia,’ I say.Hugo nods.‘I will go into the camp first. Hopefully, they haven’t noticed that I haven’t been around,’ Hugo says.We sit and wait until nightfall.‘Alright, Alpha, I'm going in. If you don't see my signal within the hour, then you can suspect something is wrong. Otherwise, if you get my signal, you know it's clear to sneak in,’‘Hugo,’‘Yes, alpha?’‘Thank you for helping me save Maia,’Hugo smiles,‘Whatever you say, Alpha,’Hugo walks towards the camp.It has almost been an hour since I saw Hugo.‘Come on, Hugo, what's going on?’ I say out loud to myself.Finally, I see Hugo’s signal. I quickl
MaiaIt’s early morning. King Fenris unchains me from the chair and waits for me to stand up. After a moment, he realises I have no intention of moving.‘Maia, get up now.’ He yells. I keep my head down. My cheek still hurts. All I want is to be in Damon’s arms.King Fenris takes my arm and drags me from the tent to his horse. Despite my best efforts, my emotions cause my elemental power to go into defence mode, causing my wrists to burn. As King Fenris releases me to the ground, I sob in agony.Looking up, I see thousands of soldiers giving me a look of pity. Only a few of them smirk. Tears begin to roll down my face.‘Is this what you all want? You all have the power to stop this,’ I yell. King Fenris knocks me out to stop me from convincing his men to stand up to him.Upon waking, I realise I am in King Fenris's arms. We are mounted on his horse.‘My love, nice of you to join me,’ he says. I look around to see where we are.‘Have we
Alpha King DamonI am running towards Shadowguard village. I know Hugo is following me, but I ignore him. I want to bite his head off for kidnapping Maia. If he didn't take Maia in the first place, she would be safe by my side.We arrive at the village. I need rest to regain my strength. King Fenris and his army would have left here this morning. He is possibly near Wellmore now.Eric mind-links me. He informs me of all the new pups that have been born, and the she-wolves are well but are all concerned about not seeing their mates again.Tell them there is hope that we will win this war and reunite them with their loved ones soon. We have humans from West Wallow on our side who are also willing to fight this battle, declare Princess Maia queen, and dethrone King Fenris. I mind-link.I may be able to assist Maia in claiming the throne, Alpha. After conducting some studies on elemental sprites, I discovered something intriguing this morning in a li
Sir HugoI want to kill King Fenris with my bare hands. He has Maia back in the iron cuffs that I regret putting her in when I had kidnapped her. I’m going to help free you, Maia. You are very brave and will make one hell of a Queen.I discreetly pull the reigns back, turn my horse, and head behind the army. I remain there until the soldiers and King Fenris are out of sight. I approach the villagers and tell them I have a plan that can help the princess, but I can’t do it without their help. A few hundred villagers follow my orders. I send a hundred of them to Hackle Spire Village and another hundred to Limestone village. The rest follow me to Shadowguard village and spread the word of what has transpired and that we should choose Princess Maia to be our Queen and put an end to King Fenris. I inform them the werewolves are not cruel and that the rumours are all lies, revealing King Fenris made him and other knights and soldiers spread the lie
I walk away towards what used to be a vegetable garden and kneel. Then, digging holes with my hands, I plant the seeds a few meters apart, place my hands on the ground, and concentrate.Everyone is silent, watching on in curiosity until the ground beneath them starts to shake and rumble.Everyone is panicking except the little girl standing next to me, watching the apple seeds sprout and grow into large apple trees. Hundreds of apples form on all the branches. I stand up to admire the trees and turn to see thousands of people staring at me, amazed. They shout their gratitude towards me and pluck the fruit from the tree devouring the fruit while other villagers approach me with different seeds. I continue planting and growing the seeds into ripe fruit and vegetables until I feel faint. I realise I need rest to regain my power back.King Fenris approaches me.‘My love? What is the meaning of all this?’ He asks.I speak as loud as I can for them to all hear what I say.‘King Fenris, the