Chapter 4: The Bud

Alina didn't have any time to check with Amelia what had happened but Caleb approached her right after Halea's Dad looked after Amelia.

"I will come to pick you up tomorrow to see my father, what time do you want to go?" Caleb asked

"Nine in the morning should be fine," I said. He looked at me as if wanting to say something but he just kept quiet. I am not sure if he sees the same vision I saw earlier or was it only me and Amelia. 

She recalled the visions she saw, it is as if her surroundings have changed and she is in front of a big cave and she stands taller than others and her hands are covered in fur. She realizes that she was in her Thalon form and as she looks around she can see four male companions and beside her, there is Halea dressed in a wood coloured fighting suit she looks like a Greek female fighter ready for battle.

And the next scene they are kneeling and their surrounding is so hot burning like a hot furnace and beside her is another Thalon wolf whose fur is like the darkness of the night.  He looks so gorgeous especially when the light bounces back from his midnight-blue fur and with us are three more wolves and in my vision, they have some abilities which we have used along the journey. And then everything went back to normal and next thing I know Caleb is asking me for help so I guided them to the Doctor’s clinic.

Caleb stayed there while the doctor tended to Amelia.

“So what is your relationship with Amelia?” I asked him.

“She belongs to my pack, she is the daughter of our tribe healer. And since my father is the tribe’s leader it is my responsibility to make sure of their welfare when he is away,” he said.

“You will be a good pack leader in the future,” I said. I truly agree that he would be a good Alpha, I know we are speaking in tongues of humans since we’re surrounded by them so I choose my words carefully. If he is the son of the current ruler I wonder if he is also a Lykan like me.

“Tonight is also your birthday, right? Are you the same age as Halea?

“Yes, I am born of the same day in the human calendar as Halea and we are of the same age,” 

“So, tomorrow is a big day for you,”

“Yes, after meeting your father I need to prepare for it,”

Just then Halea’s Dad came to our view and spoke to Caleb. “She’s just exhausted, she’s okay now. You can go check on her,” he said talking to Caleb.

Halea also came as well as their other friends. They all gather around her to check if she’s okay. After seeing all of them there I retreated for the night. 

Caleb checked on Amelia and asked if she’s okay. The rest of the gang was there checking on her so Caleb mind linked Matthew and Jason to prepare their ride so they could bring Amelia home with them once she felt better.

“Halea, I’m afraid we need to go home early and bring Amelia home with her parents,” Caleb told Halea. “I will come by tomorrow for Alina and I will see you again,” he said with a big smile. “Happy birthday again,”

“Thank you, Caleb, for coming, I will see you tomorrow then,”

Caleb's POV

I'm now in my bed and still chasing sleep to come. My mind has been occupied by the events that took place today. After Halea's party, I sent my friends home including Amelia. Her vision was helpful but it has taken so much energy from her. It's good that she's part wolf and she heals faster than the normal witch.

And with her vision, the night became more interesting, it somehow showed me one of the supposed female companions for the quest to the underworld, Alina, Halea's friend. There's something in her that I cannot fathom, I find her whole being to be a mystery. She has introduced herself as the only living descendant of the Thalons from the north which only means that she's like us and tomorrow would be a good time to find out the truth from her. She agreed to see me in the morning and meet my father. I offered to pick her up since she is new in town. She looks so much like Halea but tougher, her eyes seem so lonely even when she smiles.

He recalls Halea's remarks a few days ago, she did mention Alina who jokingly mentioned to be the bearer of the light.

Could Alina be the bearer of the light? He then recalled the vision from Amelia's premonition. He was holding Alina as they entered the cave to the underworld and the rest of the vision started to get confusing but one thing is clear Alina is there with him.

Caleb slept with Alina in his mind.

Not long Caleb just turned 16 like Alina and during his transformation, Amelia the daughter of their tribe Shaman had a premonition while healing him after he fainted. In her premonition it was told that ‘The guardian of the underworld must come home along with the flame and the bearer of the moonlight, he will be judged if he deserved to continue the task or to fully come home'. Thalons and Lobos (Lycans and werewolves) are guardians of the underworld and it is said that they were sent to earth to give balance to both humans and creatures of the night. They are tasked to protect both human and supernatural worlds. Now that their kind the Thalons are being outnumbered the quest was given to the Thalon prince to come home along with him is the chosen guardians, the flame and the bearer of the moonlight.

All of these runs in Caleb’s mind as well as the mystery behind Alina the newfound friend.

 Alina’s POV

Halea and I were already in bed when she asked me how I am doing. And so I told her I’m still awake and that I am doing well. I then asked her about her friend Amelia since I am curious as to what she is.

"By the way, your friend Amelia, the girl who fainted earlier, what is she like?" 

"Oh, it was the first time for me to see her like that, normally at school, she's very active. She has the same strength as her other friends. If I am not mistaken she is from the same tribe as Caleb but her mom was a faith healer just like Adrienne, they call it Babaylan,"

"Faith healer called Babaylan, isn't that more like a shaman or witch?"

"Sort of,"

"I see, that explains it,"

"Explain what?"

"Well before she fainted, her eyes glowed like she's having a vision. And for some reason, I can see her visions in my eyes,"

"Can you tell me about this vision?"

"Okay, but don't laugh,"

"Why would I laugh?"

"Well, it's not ordinary. You might think that I'm just making it up,"

"Believe me, I won't do that after all the things that are happening today. If you feel like your getting crazy then that makes the two of us,"

"Oh, why is that?"

"Tell me first the vision, then I'll tell you my story,"

"Well, I was with Amelia and Caleb, we were on our way back to the party when she suddenly tripped. I held her hands and so was Caleb and after holding her, her eyes suddenly glowed and a gust of wind embraced us. And there I saw in my own eyes some scenes, I saw myself and a few others including Caleb we were somewhat travelling and there we stood at a big cave and the whole place was so hot and covered with fire. And then there were other creatures being shown in a sort of journey. And then she just fainted and the vision was cut right after that,"

"Did Caleb also see the vision?"  

"I think so,"

"What did you feel afterwards,"

"I had goosebumps all over my body, but it was cut short when Caleb called for me to help him and Amelia. That's when I brought them to your Dad's clinic,"

"What do you think it means?"

"I don't know but Caleb said he will explain it to me tomorrow,"

"So you're meeting Caleb tomorrow?"

"Oh, yes. His father seems to know my great-great-grand-father. So I am meeting them tomorrow,"

"Oh, okay,"

"It's your turn, tell me what happened to you today?" I asked her

"Promise you won't laugh,"

" I promise," I said looking at her closely

"Remember my dreams, the one I told you," she said. 

Halea has been having this dream of being a warrior goddess and killing a dragon. In her dreams, the ones she told me it seems that she has been part of an ancient movie where she is the main character and this dragon is the villain. At least that’s what I get from it. So I asked if she is referring to that dream. "Yeah, is it still that one?"

"Yeah, but this time it's a bit creepy," she said

"Why is that?" I asked

"I can see things, that I haven't seen before,"

"Like what," I am getting curious at what she is saying but I also somehow believe that it can be true. What if she really is this goddess that she dreamed of.

"Spiritual things, And it is confirming that I am this Moon Goddess. According to the spirits I needed to take what used to be mine and complete some tasks for my transformation, "

I look deep in her eyes to see if she’s bluffing but there’s no hint of any laugh and I can see the sincerity in her words. 

So she asked me "Do you believe me?" 

I held her hands and told her what I think, "This is weird but I do believe you,"

She then asked me "Do you want to tell me something?"

"Like what?" I started to get goosebumps from the way she asked it's like I cannot escape the revelation that is taking place right now.

"About you?"

It’s happening fast so I asked, "Do you know what I am?"

She looked at me this time as if she’s looking inside of me, and she said "I can see it,"

"What do you mean you can see it?"

"I can see the silhouette of your other being, and it is beautiful. Its fur, it's shaped and how it is currently sleeping within you," she said. I am overwhelmed and I felt like I got caught. I know I did not tell her but God knows how much I wanted to tell her who I am, what I am. So I said it out loud.

"Oh, Halea, You have no idea how afraid I am to tell you. Afraid that you will not believe me," I said as I placed Halea's hands to my cheeks. And I asked her, "How are you seeing it,"

"You should not be afraid, I am here.” she said, “ I think that's also the reason why we are here together. When I woke up this morning everything started to change and it only confirms that I am what I was dreaming of. It's crazy but when I saw your silhouette this evening I remember our conversation. I know you wanted to tell me but you're just afraid,"

She’s seeing it. She knows what I am. I am glad to know that I can share this thing with her. I somehow felt assured that I can do everything as long as she’s with me. She’s like a sister from another mother. After losing my parents, aside from Juno, she’s the only person I trusted. Then I remembered Caleb and his pack.

"How about Caleb and his friends?"

"I saw their spirits too, but theirs are more vivid than yours. I've seen different kinds of creatures, the Thalons or those that walk on human feet and the Lobos', the four-legged ones," Halea said smiling.

I asked that question that’s lingering in my mind, "Are you not afraid of me?"

"Why should I? I am more afraid of what I have to do since in my dreams I need to kill a dragon," she said. I laughed at her dilemma and we ended up laughing at the thought of it. 

Luna jumps on the bed and rests in the middle of me and Halea. This cat has been with me ever since I can remember, normally a wolf doesn’t go along with cats but I am different for some reason and this cat loves me and I love her as well. I gave her to Halea since she needed a steady home and I know Halea needed her as well as if I am with her. I glide my hand in its fur and it closes its eyes and sleeps. 

Halea speaks, "this is our spirit guardian, Luna. She was the one who has explained everything to me," she said

I furrowed my eyebrow, "Luna is a spirit guardian?"

 "Yes," she said. For some reason, I believe her. Luna is our spirit guardian. She's been there keeping me warm and company when my parents were away.

Halea was now sleeping beside me and I am still anxious for some reason, I decided to take a deep breath and release it slowly so sleep can come. It was so silent, I could hear the chirping of the crickets outside the house and I found my peace. The sounds around me stopped and everything was dark, I suddenly felt like there's a drop of water that vibrated from my whole being and there it was a voice woke me up.

"Alina," the voice said it sounded like my mother calling me.

"No, I'm not your mother you silly," that's when I realized, "Are you my Thalon?"

"Yes, My name is Rose," she said. Her voice is so sophisticated yet sweet. "Hello Rose, I am Alina. I am glad to finally meet you," I said

I can see her in my mind just like how Halea describes it. 

"I am glad to be your Lykan, Alina. I did hear you and Halea spoke about me earlier. She has somehow woke me up from my slumber when I heard you both talked about me. I got excited to meet you and her," Rose said.

"I am excited to see how you look, how our Thalon form looks," I said.

"Me too," I am excited for tomorrow.