The Rejected Luna is Reclaimed

5: A RAY

to her during her lonely nights. She had heard its sounds - the rustling leaves, the calls of the distant birds, and the occasional

l resolve. She had dealt with the biting cold, the hunger, and the loneliness. She learned to wrap herself in memories again at night: h

bugger, but anger entered its place. He'd turned his back on her because bonds were for people who had no duty to them - and his duty was more important t

learned how to navigate this world; she wasn't afraid of animals anymore. The thought of another human was d

e broke the stil

blend in. The man who appeared from the trees was tall, with tousled hair and warm brown eyes that glowed e

forward, he asked so

d to run because it was her instinct, but somehow, the prese

up his hands and said, 'I'm Stephen.' I'm just a trav

had felt no hope, but for the fir

'm Claire,' her voice bare

tough, I know. Are you on your own?" Looking

im the truth that her heart was broken and she'd been abandoned. Her voi

. You appear to be someone who knows how to take care of yourself. The w

a hint of 'know how t

you can't do it all by yourself. I thought I'd be able to find my way back to the village. Would y

m? As it came back to him, Laura's betrayal, a painful trust in it, was not i

ng, cold as she gazed at him, "Why

look like you have seen some shit. It just can't stand by and do nothing. That villag

been since she had anything to eat. All Claire

me into a trap?" But her voice softene

u could run, and I wouldn't blame you. And Laura tells you," I swear I

herself, but there was one part of her that longed just for connect

ep breath. "Okay,

e to me," saying my warmth

nd animated. He talked about where he had been, who he had met, a

it's easy to get lost in the wild. "But I g

him that she was still healing, and

, but Claire admitted, "I've been lost for

something in you ... you have a fire, Cla

. In the distance, she heard the village, children laughing, families chatting, and

t crept in, and what did her heart

safe. Stephen's voice was reassuring

of fear bled into her warmness of hope wh

distance. Her heart bounded at the anticipation and anxiety alike. Wou

's arm harder. 'That's weird. Wa

re raised with anger coming from the vil

but we must proceed with caution, Laura.

square as her breath caught in her throat. His face twisted in anger, but a group of villagers h

?" Panic rose in her

quietly, 'I think they'

nd raced. Were the

ed with a voice. "She's a t

llagers had bought all the lies that they had told Laura. Now,

er voice shook, an

with worry. "We have to g

uilt within her. Would she ever have a pl

nation took control of Claire. Fear d

y, quietly, maybe." Maybe... At her side was Stephen, and s

e couldn't shake the question that haunted her: she could tru