"...I don't go anymore," she replies.
So strange. She went all the time before, but now she doesn't go anymore. I wonder what was so special about that rock anyway. I think there was something written on it, but back then, I saw it as a wolf and couldn't read it. I wonder what I would be able to read if I went now. Why do humans carve words into rocks anyway...?
"Alright, enough talking," she says, suddenly standing up. "Let's resume training, you're getting better."
"Better than you, Luna?" I ask, a bit excited.
Luna glares back at me. She doesn't like when I act prideful, but it won't stop me. Wolves are prideful, after all, and just because I live with a human doesn't mean I'll stop being an Alpha. I like being strong. I am strong with magic.
As soon as we resume training, Luna forgets about being angry, and goes back to explaining things in words I can understand. She makes me draw magic circles and play with nature, water, or fire. I do everything she says effortlessly. She teaches me about Dark and Light Magic, although that is a bit unclear to me still. She explains how witches have to be careful about their emotions, but... to me, their emotions aren't the issue. Luna and the humans are just too riddled with all those emotions... The emotions control them already. I don't understand why she's so scared I'll be overwhelmed by mine, when I'm better than her at controlling my anger or my sadness.
"You don't understand," she says again. "Magic is powerful, especially your magic. Because I've created you, you were not made to handle magic in the first place. I am only able to because I am a powerful witch."
"I'm more powerful than you, though."
"No. Being more capable of manipulating the elements or magic doesn't make you more powerful, Luna. You have to understand the real nature of magic, how it flows through our emotions, and how it guides us."
"Are all witches like you, then?"
"...I'm not sure. I haven't met anyone else like me but my own mother. And she learned everything she knew from her mother before her, and our ancestors before that. We receive magic through our blood, and we have to be careful with our gift."
"I understand... So you're the only one who can make someone like me, then?"
"...Yes. But there are others like you, though. Not witches, but wolves that turn human. I was able to do so because you, like your mate, carry that blood in you. I only... awoke a very old, dormant power."
"Really?"
There are more changing wolves? I wonder where... I believe that if I had met one like us, I'd know. Would this be where my mate went, then? To look for more people able to change, like us? Indeed, I don't feel like a mere wolf anymore. Although I can change back, my human self will still be there, from now on. Its birth cannot be taken back, just like I can never really forget, even as I revert to being a wolf, what it is like to feel so many emotions.
"Do you know more changing wolves, then?" I ask.
"No... I have only heard about it, and found the rest in your blood. Let's just go back to training now,Mara."
"...What did you call me?"
"Luna. What else would I call you? Come on, focus."
No, I heard that other name, again... Mara. Who is Mara? It's odd... I feel like I've forgotten something very important, something I want to remember, but I can't. That name has been haunting me for days now. I hear it at random times, calling me, always calling me... Why would that name be in my head? I've never had a name before; I am a wolf. Still, it feels like... it's truly mine. So... how?
"Luna, focus!"
I growl, annoyed to have her irritated with me. So impatient. Even if she were an Alpha, I wouldn't allow her to disrespect me like this! I try to focus again, but I'm too distracted by the name haunting me, but that’s not the only thing.
I glance to the side while playing with the fire, and sure enough, it's there. This strange butterfly... It's always near, but for some unknown reason, Luna can't see it. She didn't trust me when I mentioned it. I don't think the butterfly minds her, either. It follows me all the time, even when I leave the cabin. I have no idea what that thing wants, or why Luna can't see it. It's just there, like an annoying little bug. I've tried chasing it, but it ignores me and flies away like any butterfly would, so I've decided to leave it alone.
Mara!
I ignore it again and focus on my magic. Luna will get mad at me if I am distracted; she's just impatient to have the two of us achieve what she wants. She said it is dangerous magic, so I ought to grow stronger, much stronger, or else this spell might kill us both. I have never understood why this spell would kill us, but I understand danger and death, so I just follow her orders, like a wolf following the lead.
"Almost there... We're almost there!"
The circle expands beneath us, but... I feel sick. Those menacing black marks are growing on my body, making me suffer more and more. It's painful! I let go, the circle disappearing, and me falling down on my knees.
"Almost!" grunts Luna, her black markings disappearing too. "We were almost there..."
"Why is it so... painful?" I ask, out of breath. "Why can't we just bring my mate back? This thing... Each time we grow it, it becomes so painful!"
"...He's just too far; we can't get him back yet with our current power. He's in... a place that's very hard to reach, Luna, but you and I, we are strong, we can get there… Come on, let's try again!"
