Though Ayla sensed the change, she could not explain it. She noticed the lingering gazes, the repeated faces in places she frequented, and the sudden restrictions placed around her movements. Doors that once stood open were now guarded, and paths she had taken freely were subtly blocked. Still, no one spoke to her directly, and no reason was given. At first, she thought it was just the order from the Moon Goddess to protect everyone but she didn't know it was something more.
Ayla continued her days under an unseen restraint, never knowing how closely her life was being measured and controlled by those who held power in the village.
It had always been tradition that by the age of eighteen, a werewolf would have wolfed out, proving their strength and place among their kind. Any werewolf who failed to do so was considered weak, incomplete, or cursed. What Ayla did not know was that everything had begun days earlier.
When the moon binds itself to blood, the world will burn. At midnight, The Moon Goddess woke up to a loud whisper as though there was a flame. "What's happening?" she thought as she stood up from the bamboo mat she lay on. For centuries, no one had ever questioned the Moon Goddess's power or her ability to see beyond time and was feared for her visions and unmatched power. She sat upright on her mat with her legs crossed and her hands held away from each other, then closed her eyes as though she was about to pray. Suddenly she sensed a presence around her and fell unconscious instantly.
It took 2 days before she regained consciousness. She woke up to a young lady and some other people gathered around her. They were also moon worshippers. The commotion was so much as finally the moon goddess was awake. She opened her eyes weakly and was stunned with the number of people around her. From their faces, one would realize that this has never happened before. She got up with the help of one of the moon worshippers and took a deep breath. The young girl, being her first and only child, commanded everyone to leave except some of the elders.
She remained silent and stared at them while they waited for her explanation.Then she started, "The fall which is about to come is enormous. The witches, the wolves, and the nightbloods will rise into a war of blood. A war so violent that none will escape it."
Gasps filled the room.
They were all confused and scared of what to do. Then she continued, "there's one way to stop it". Eyes widened as hope flickered across their faces, "we will have to sacrifice one of our female virgin wolves to the vampires".
Everyone was speechless before the oldest spoke "since that is all we can do, then we shall do it".
Still, no one objected. Before any other person could speak up. Melissa, the daughter then said "She will be chosen from the most wretched and non-reputable family," she said. "So no war will rise from her death."
With that they concluded.
The following day,The elders gathered in secret, seated in a wide circle as silence pressed heavily on them. Each of them searched their minds for another solution, anything other than sacrificing one of their own to their rivals. Yet no answer came. The villagers knew about the impending war but only the moon goddess and few elders knew how to stop it.
With no other option left, they decided to search for families who were not well known, those with no reputation or standing in the village. Families whose loss would not cause an uproar. Weeks passed as they searched tirelessly, but no suitable candidate was found.
Meanwhile, the signs of an approaching war had already begun to appear. Strange things began to happen. Wolves became reckless and patrolled at night. The full moon usually appeared once a month, but now it appeared three times within the same month, making it difficult to control the bloodshed among their kind. Still, the elders came up empty-handed.
They searched for even longer, desperation creeping into their hearts, until they finally came across a poor family of two children, a girl and her younger brother.
This village had been feared for many years, as countless stories were told about the powerful heiress, Vanya, who had once lived among them. Vanya had sacrificed herself to stop a war much like the one threatening them now. She was born poor and wretched but was the only one to stand up against the frequent murders that occurred during her time.
She was known for her immense power and unwavering bravery, and she died defending the village from destruction.
Since her death, Vanya had been worshipped by everyone, elders and villagers alike. Legends claimed that even the moon goddess herself honored Vanya's sacrifice. Her name was spoken with reverence, her story passed down through generations as both a warning and a source of hope. Parents and guardians used her story as a means of motivation and encouragement to their children and also a means of warning.
After a long and careful period of observation, the elders finally came to a decision. Among all the families in the village, only one met every requirement of the selection process. They turned their attention to a small, overlooked household that had long existed on the edges of the village. Within that family, their eldest daughter, Ayla, stood out, not because of strength or reputation, but because of her quiet presence and unremarkable life. Now, this family was the only one that fit the requirements: no reputation, no influence, and no high rank within the village.
From then on, Ayla became the center of their watchful eyes. Elders and guards alike were assigned to keep track of her movements, blending into the crowds and observing from a distance. She was followed through narrow paths, watched during her daily chores, and silently noted whenever she stepped beyond the familiar grounds of her home. Care was taken to ensure she never wandered too far or spoke to anyone who might draw attention to her.