Page 32 of Wolf Proclaimed

Days morphed into one another, each dawn carrying the weight of an unseen disturbance. I couldn't pinpoint it initially. The abnormalities seemed like mere quirks of nature. Yet, as they increased, I found it harder to dismiss the discrepancies.

Our territory, a testament to the power of the natural cycle, started to show signs of imbalance. In the thick of summer, some trees bore verdant leaves, while others, disturbingly, stood bare.

A cherry tree flaunted full bloom among them as if spring was still reigning. The birds were in a flurry of re-nesting activity, even while they fed their fledglings, and the furry creatures were sprouting fresh winter coats, much to their discomfort in the summer heat.

Mira found me one afternoon, engrossed in my observations. A deer passed by, its winter coat thickening, and panted from the overwhelming heat. Mira stroked its fur, oblivious to my concern.

"Bastian," she said, her voice light and playful, "you've been squinting at the trees and animals for days. What's got your brow furrowed?"

"It's not right, Mira," I replied, keeping my eyes on the deer, "Don't you see it? The trees, the animals... It's as if they're caught between seasons."

Mira paused, her gaze traveling over the landscape. After a moment, she shook her head, a bemused smile on her face. "I think you've been drinking too much mead with Dmitri and Theon, love."

"I'm serious, Mira," I urged, but she just chuckled, her eyes sparkling.

"I see the trees flourishing, the animals thriving," she said, her laughter fading, replaced by a sincere expression. "Maybe you need to take a break, Bastian."

Her dismissal felt oddly similar to our conversation about the lights. Despite her words, my gut nudged me in a different direction. The land whispered a tale of disruption, and I was certain magic was at its core. I didn't know yet how deeply Mira was entwined with it.

After our confrontation, I decided to take a different approach. I couldn't keep stalking Mira like a suspicious predator but couldn't ignore the strange happenings.

Turning to my trusted allies, Theon and Dmitri, seemed the best course of action. The evening air was crisp and clean as we convened in the familiar warmth of the tavern. The heavy door closed behind me, locking out the breezy evening, but my concerns followed me inside.

As my confession spilled out, the tavern's cozy interior provided little comfort. A heavy silence lingered in the air, only interrupted by the occasional clink of tankards from nearby patrons. The flickering light from the hearth painted Dmitri's and Theon's faces with an ominous glow, shadows dancing on their hardened features. My heart pounded as I watched them digest my revelations.

Finally, Theon broke the silence. "You know, Bastian," he said slowly, a pensive frown creasing his forehead, "I've noticed something off too."

He rubbed his beard thoughtfully, his eyes drifting into the distance as if trying to pull memories out of the ether. "It's when we shift, become wolves, and run with the moon. Something in the forest... it's not right."

Dmitri nodded in agreement, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with a somber intensity I rarely saw. "Yeah," he chimed in, "It's the river. It's usually teeming with fish swimming upstream this time of year. They fight against the current, their tails thrashing in the water as they make their way upstream to feed on the smaller fish."

"But," he paused, casting me a serious glance, "they're swimming downstream. I've never seen anything like it before."

I felt a chill run down my spine, the unease growing. Their corroboration of my fears meant this was real, that I wasn't just imagining things.

"What do you think it means?" I asked, leaning forward on the worn wooden table, my eyes flicking between them.

Theon and Dmitri exchanged a glance before Theon responded. "Well, in our wolf forms, we're closer to nature, more attuned to its rhythms. If we're sensing that something's off, it probably is."

His gaze turned inward, "And if you're right about this being connected to Mira..." his voice trailed off, the unspoken implications hanging heavy in the air.

"Then we have to find out what's happening," Dmitri completed Theon's sentence, his determination mirrored in his gaze.

"And we'll do it together, Bastian," Theon said, reaching across the table to clap a hand on my shoulder, "We'll figure this out."

Their reassurances fortified my resolve, and their loyalty strengthened my confidence.

A few weeks passed, and life in the pack became oddly peaceful. Every morning, I woke to Mira's soft humming as she prepared for her day, her voice like a soothing balm to my troubled thoughts. Her days were filled with teaching basket weaving to the women of our pack and helping the young girls gather vibrant wildflowers to sell for a little extra coin. Her actions breathed life into our community, her gentle smile brightening every face she met.

It was late one afternoon, as the sun descended behind the distant mountain range, that I found her in the meadow. Her figure was haloed by the warm glow of the setting sun, her hands deftly picking through the wildflowers, a soft tune floating around her.

"Having fun?" I asked, approaching her.

She turned, a radiant smile lighting her face, "Oh, Bastian! I didn't hear you coming."

She looked genuinely happy, her eyes sparkling with an inner light that made my heart ache affectionately.

"I've missed this," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes meeting mine. "The flowers, the sunshine, teaching the women and helping the girls… it feels good."

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