To The MOON GODDESS!

CHAPTER 9

"He would leave after the Finder's eve." Were Ansel's father's words after everybody had left from Ansel's place.

"That is too soon, father!" Quade complained but just one look from Alpha Mateo made him shut up.

"Make sure all the preparations are done," Mateo paused and hummed in thought, "for both the days." With that the Alpha went away probably towards his office.

'Why so early? Do you want to runaway so badly Ansel?' Quade bitterly thought. He had still not come around the idea of Ansel leaving.

Quade was lost in his thoughts when something crashed into his legs and he almost lost his balance. Quade looked down with irritation but as soon as his eyes landed on the one who had crashed into him, that went away.

"Where are you running off to?" He asked crouching down in front of the younger members of the pack who were hardly 5 or maybe 6. Though, as soon as their eyes landed on the big and intimidating Quade, they flinched in their places, but the soft smile of Quade's face was enough for them to relax.

"We were going to grandma Gaia!" one of the smaller wolves boomed to which Quade raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What work do you have with her of all people?" He asked, "you lot hardly ever talk to her."

The kids started looking between themselves and whispering, "You don't know?" One of them asked as if it was the most obvious knowledge that everyone should have.

Quade just laughed and decided to play along.

"Oh! I don't know!" Quade sang making a face that made them all laugh.

It was then, that a child, who was probably the youngest amongst them, came forward and tugged at Quade's sleeves. The older soon to be Alpha smiled and bent down even more, so that the kid could tell what he wanted to.

"We are going to go and see the goddess!" the younger one whispered very slowly as if this was the biggest secret and held the potential to destroy the world and Quade still pretended to go along,

"Oohh! The goddess!" Quade stretched like he finally understood them and they all started smiling ear to ear. Their eyes shone with happiness and the older one couldn't help but smile.

"So, we are going now!" they declared, "Will you come with us?"

One of them asked again hoping, so Quade couldn't refuse and went along with them as one of their comrades.

.....

The mismatched gang of few younger ones and Quade were soon in front of Elder Gaia's house and noticed that they were not the only ones. Almost all the kids were gathered there waiting for her to come outside. The surroundings were filled with excited chatter and innocent laughter.

But, as soon as she arrived, everybody went silent.

Gaia was the eldest of the Redcoat pack. She had seen and heard things others hadn't; she had been through a time when most of the pack members were not there; she had knowledge and wisdom that none possessed.

Slowly, with one step at a time, she moved towards the big tree in front of her house. Her back bent, her hands shaking along with her walking stick, but her smile remained there, just like always.

Her eyes that shone with kindness, was what made people come to her whenever they wanted an advice.

Soon, everybody was seated all around her.