MOONLIT HEART: A LUNA'S REBIRTH

Hazel's gaze rested on the sight before her, her eyes tracing the environment of the moonlit forest. The slivery light casts an earthly glow on the trees, their branches swaying to the rhythm of the wind.

Hazel's thoughts were far removed from the serenity of the beauty that was placed before her.

"What's wrong with me," Hazel whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over her own heartbeat.

"Why can't I transform into a wolf?" She pondered.

"Is there something wrong with me or is this a curse from the moon goddess?" She pondered.

"Have I done something wrong that had incurred the wrath of the moon goddess?" She plunged into deeper thoughts.

She turned away from the window and began to pace all over the room, her footsteps echoing in the stone walls.

Her eyes fell upon the large ornate mirror that hanged in the fireplace and she felt an overwhelming urge to confront the reflection that stared back at her.

"Hazel, you are over 800 years old," she said, her voice firm but had a little bit of desperation in it.

"You have witnessed how empires rise and fall, witnessed the evolution of the werewolf race, witnessed the transformation of wolves. And yet, here you are, still alone. Still waiting."

Hazel reflection stared back at her, her eyes emanating deep sadness. She stretched forth her hand and touched the glass, a frown settled on her face as she felt the disconnection between her and her reflection.

"I've tried everything," she continued, frustration could be seen on her face. "I have attended every festival, gathering, and walked in the street under the full moon".

"I have done literally everything that would bring me closer to transforming into a wolf but nothing worked. It had never worked."

Hazel thoughts drifted back to the moon festivals as she looked at the wolf who had transformed with longing in her eyes, wandering in the forest and associating with other wolves.

Hoping within herself that the moon goddess would notice her and bestow upon her the ability to transform into a wolf but it was not yielding any results.

She remembered the way the moonlight had filtered through the trees casting shadows on the ground below. Sighing as she remembered the way the wind had rustled through the leaves, whispering secrets in her ears.

"I remember the strange feelings I had," Hazel's voice dropped to a whisper, sadness could be felt from her voice.

"I feel so lonely, alone, like I am the only wolf in the wolf race, searching for something that seems to be always out of reach".

Hazel's eyes filled with tears as she thought back to all the times that she had come close to giving up. All the times that she had felt like she just couldn't keep going.

"But I did." She said, her voice firm. "I kept going. I kept searching. Because deep down, I know that my wolf is within me, waiting for its manifestation".

Hazel reflection stared back at her, her eyes filled with deep longing. She reached out to touch the glass, a look of gratitude could be seen in her as she sensed the connection between them.

"I just wish I knew what I was doing wrong" Hazel pondered

"Have I committed mistakes in the past that have hindered my transformation?"

"Is it something I haven't done? Or is my luck that bad?" A confused expression could be seen on her face as she wondered what was wrong.

The room fell silent, the only sound that could be heard was the silent crackling of the fire. Hazel's reflection continued to stare back at her, her eyes filled with deep sorrow.

And Hazel knew that she could not give up, not yet, not ever.

"Why is it so hard for me," Hazel pondered, her expression was sorrowful.

"Why can't I transform into a wolf and be happy?"

"Is that too much of a request?" She plunged into deeper thought.

The fire ignited, the flames dancing across the hearth. Hazel knew that she would keep searching, keep hoping until the day that she finally found the one that is being destined to be by her side.

Hazel's thoughts drifted back to her childhood. Tears ran down her cheeks as she remembered the way her parents treated her when they realized that she had not yet transformed into a wolf.

She shuddered as she remembered the look of disappointment on their faces, the way they had turned away from her.

FLASHBACK

"You're not like us Hazel," Her mother said, her voice cold and detached.

"You will never be able to shift which will hinder you from running the affairs of the pack smoothly,"

"You're different" She ended on this note.

Hazel turned to look at her father, eagerly waiting for her father's response.

Hazel's father nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

"We are sorry Hazel, we never planned this for you," He said.

Hazel's heart had broken that day, shattered into a million pieces. She had felt that she was no longer a part of the family, no longer part of a pack.

BACK TO REALITY

As she grew older, Hazel had struggled to terms with her identity, she had always felt like an outcast, like she didn't belong.. And now she stood alone in her room, she couldn't help but pondered if she would ever find a place in the pack.

With a newfound resolve, Hazel turned away from the mirror and walked over to the window. She pushed it open, feeling the cool breeze rushing in.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and allowing the scent of the forest washing over her.

"I'll transform," She said, her voice carried away by the wind.

"The transformation would cause a huge leap, and nothing will remain the same again"

The forest seemed to whisper back to her, its trees swaying gently in the breeze. Hazel knew that she was not alone, she knew that her wolf was deep within her eagerly waiting for the time of its manifestation.

Hazel was determined to unlock its potential, no matter how long it took.