Fire Moon by Miss CrazyPlantLady (books for 6 year olds to read themselves txt) 📕

one night, before the nightmares threatened me, I woke to an explosion.

My ears rung from the noise, I felt my body jerk in reaction, and my hands automatically reached for Alice.

Her eyes were saucers as she reached me, "What was that?"

I tried to remain calm as I shook my head, "I don't know."

We scrambled out of the bed, reaching for clothes as Quinn stumbled in, with half of her face black with ash. Her blonde hair littered with rubble, and her eyes red with panic as she entered, "They're here."

The words rattled me like it was the explosion itself.

My hand gripped Alice's arm as I swallowed the fear down my throat, "Where?"

Quinn looked quickly down the hall before gesturing for us to follow her, "They went around, behind us and came through the river" her voice shook as she led us down the stairs, "They're in the trees."

The house was as loud as I've ever heard it, wolves shifting, running and shouting. Pack members I've never seen before, they were running into each other in there scurry.

The noise was deafening.

"Where's Bain?" my mouth asked, while I was wanting to ask about Alex.

Urith came running to us, his voice harsh, "Bain and Sawyer need us at the trees' hairline."

"No, you're staying here with Maisie and Alice" Quinn was quick to respond, shouting over the tsunami of sound coming from the rest of Sawyer's pack.

"I'm not staying here" Alice and Urith both protested.

"Yes, you are" I turned to Alice, "Please, I need you safe."

Alice's face was shocked at my response, "I can help you."

My head shook instantly, "I know you can" my hand reached up to her small face, "We need you to protect Maisie."

"Please, Urie" Quinn begged, her own hands on his.

Urith didn't like it, but he would do anything Quinn asked, and his hands reached up to grab both of her biceps, "Come back to me" he demanded before kissing her.

I watched him turn to me, gripping my shoulder, "Stay alive, E."

Quinn grabbed my wrist as Urith then took Alice back up the stairs, my heart fell into my stomach watching them. Alice turned to look at me one last time before they turned a corner.

Quinn continued dragging me through the parade of wolves.

The kitchen was gone.

A large uneven hole stood in its place, this side of the house was merely holding to its foundations, and threatening to take the whole house with its fall.

In the distance, right before the edge of the trees, stood four large wolves, and I didn't need to see them clearly to know who they were.

I've never felt the relief I felt when I saw the particular large dark wolf, stalking the trees like they were to attack at any second.

I didn't need to see him clearly to know it was Alex. 

The trees were sick with enemies. I sensed the presence of Kier's wolves the second I reached the others, their stench was dripping from the trees, and the branches drooped away from their deceptive auras.

"You shouldn't be here, E" Miles said breathlessly as she ran up behind us.

I shook my head, "I'm the one he wants" Alex growled in response, "You're all here because of me."

"There's an open field up ahead, we need to claim it to have the advantage" Sawyer's voice reverberated in my head.

He showed me the open field in my mind. An odd shaped flat field, rimmed with trees and freckled with chamomile and forget-me-nots. We would have the advantage, but we needed to move now.

I nodded to the Soothsayer, "Let's move."

"Get back inside!" it was August, his face red with rage as his eyes burned into mine, "You don't belong out here, pup."

The nickname stung as his offensive words slapped me in the face.

My glare was deadly, "I will fight with them, I was trained for this—"

"You are a Changeling, with a fire power that sometimes works" he cut me off and stood in my face, "They will kill you instantly."

Bain gripped my arm, his eyes asking for permission.

I nodded, "Let's go."

"No one is moving anywhere" my body jerked at August's words, his tone was authoritative and demanding. Deeper than I've ever heard it.

Instinctively, I halted but it was the Oracle who kept moving, his head angled back to look August in his eyes, and a soft growl left his mouth. Bain's dark eyes met mine before going into a full run, and I felt August's rage swirl around us, but I paid no attention as I forced my legs to move.

Stepping into the forest was like stepping into a battlefield.

Sound dissipated, light was obstructed from the canopy, and casted dancing shadows as the wind blew all sound away.

Wolves were running past me at full speed, the trees rustled from their haste, and I felt Alex's wolf brush against me as he ran past.

The trees shook with the wind. Leaves crunching under the weight of this army. There was too many things happening around me, I could barely focus on the Oracle's wolf.

Or anyone's wolf.

It was Alex who rushed to me as we entered the clearing.

He was in human form, his hand hot against my skin, and emerald eyes wild.

I felt a sigh leave my lips, "What, are you going to tell me it's too dangerous?"

His mouth lifted into a small smirk, "No, I know you well enough to know that you're the most dangerous thing on this battlefield," his hand still gripped my arm as his voice dropped into a more serious tone, "but stay with Sam, and be smart."

Sam wasn't in wolf form. His auburn hair was glowing in the light that made through the canopy.

His blade at his side as he watched the other members of the Soothsayer's pack prepare themselves.

Alex squeezed my arm to regain my attention, our eyes met, and he squeezed my arm again before leaving us.

Sam nudged me with a grin, "Can't wait to tell them that they chose the wrong pack to mess with."

I laughed at his choice of signs, as we went further into the field.

There was a small part of me that feared seeing Kier again.

My captor. The one who said he'd feast on my body. The one who imprisoned children so he could drink their blood, but there was an even louder part of me that was scared to face my father.

To see him in this new light. To see him as what he is. A monster. A traitor.

I made a silent vow to make sure I was the one who killed him.

We advanced on the west side, their dark forms begun to filter out of the trees, and their presence didn't faze the pack.

Instead, their growls got louder, surrounding us like fog, and it was only then did Kier dare to step out. He wasn't in wolf form as he stepped out, his whole pack remained in their wild forms, and I was surprised that he remained the same wicked self. He looked exactly the same as the last time I saw him, sick with greed and power.

His yellow snake eyes met mine instantly, a small smirk slipped onto his foul face, and he raised a hand to wave, "Ah, you found my prisoner" he mused to the Soothsayer, before turning his attention to Alex, "and my dog."

Sawyer's wolf growled a response, and I leaned into Sam to whisper, "What did he say?"

Sam's frown was harsh on his face as his fingers told Sawyer had accepted Alex into his pack, warning Kier of the law, and he can't harm Alex.

My own confusion grew at this new information. The Soothsayer would never another Alpha in his pack, he wouldn't share the power with someone else, and from Sam's own reaction, he thought the same thing.

Kier didn't like this. Kier's face was blank, but I watched his jaw clench.

Kier's wicked gaze fell upon me then, greed flaring in his eyes, and he shrugged, "I only want the Blaze."

Then it all happened at once, a tsunami of wolves bleeding out of the trees, all sides flooded us, but Sam held my arm to steady me. His mouth close to my ear as he readied his sword, "Remind me after this, we need to talk about August."

His words rattled through me as his odd voice was louder than the roar of wolves surrounding us. Panic made a home in my chest.

I drew my own blade, trying to figure what he meant. He couldn't know about what Alex and I done. The Soothsayer swore to keep our secret.

I swung at the wolf charging me as my brain rattled through possibilities in my head. I tried to think of past scenes where I could've been looking at Alex too long, or him touching me too long, or something.

It was Kier who snapped me out of my trance as he slaughtered towards me, swiping at intercepting wolves, and his vile grin only stretched as he neared me.

His blade was as twisted as he was, slick with the blood of my fighters, and he pointed it at me, "I did miss you, Changeling."

I hit his blade with my own, smacking it out of my face, "Funny, I didn't miss you."

He casually returned a swing, smirking as I blocked it, "My pack are very excited of your return, they were very hungry after you killed those children."

I fought the urge to shutter.

His slimy teeth were bone-white as he smiled, and in the crowd of wolves, I could see Alex fighting towards us. His wolf tearing through our enemies, and on the left, the Oracle was charging at us with rage burning in his dark eyes.

Kier didn't care about anyone but me, "Shame about your little failed mating bond," our swords were clashing, the noise piercing my ears as his words rattled my mind, "Shame about your mother as well."

All of the air left my lungs as I urged myself to not react, "What about my mother?" I asked, trying to sound as causal as I could. I was silently begging for Bain or Alex to hurry up.

Kier was pleased with my interest in his game, "Oh, I'm afraid that I had to ask your father to so his loyalty to me, and killing your mother was enough."

I didn't believe him.

There's no way my father would kill his mate.

No one could kill their mate.

I didn't believe him.

The Oracle roared as he tackled Kier to the flower-covered forest floor, Bain had him pinned, and Kier's laugh was a sick song. His smile turned feral as he looked up at the Oracle, "Before you rip my throat open, you might want to check on your little family you left at home."

My body jerked instantly, "Quinn!" I shouted into the fight. Her light wolf was covered in the blood of Kier's wolves as she didn't even hesitate to race towards Sawyer's house, and I grabbed the Oracle's arm, "Read his mind Bain, is he lying?" my words came out as rushed demand.

Kier laughed at this, "He can't read my mind, you fool," he shifted underneath the weight of Bain's wolf, "My mind is a fortress."

I ignored Kier, and urged the Oracle, "Bain?"

His dark eyes met mine before he shook his head, growling down at Kier, and I felt the panic rise in my chest. Alice and Urith were there. Maisie was there.

"Hey, where is that mate of yours?" Kier laughed as if it was his own personal joke, looking behind us.

My head turned to see Sam fighting with his blade, sweat and blood drenching his orange hair. No sign of August. Sam smiled when he noticed us watching him, and I held up my hand to wave at him before I saw August heading towards us. He was further back than Sam. His wolf was clean of blood, he didn't look like he was fighting any of the wolves.

He was getting closer, and a heavy feeling sat in my stomach as I watched him go to pass Sam.

Without a warning, as those artist's palette eyes held mine, August reached for Sam,