The Moon Goddess' Chosen

342 Jane?! Fauna

Katie lay in the hospital bed, her chest falling and rising in a painfully even rhythm. The lack of irregularity in her breathing only proved her terrible state. This was just what the body was used to doing. If there was even an ounce of consciousness, she could have taken a deep breath at least once in a few minutes, but she didn’t.

Cole found he could stare at her for any amount of time he desired without ever turning away, almost like he’d lose her the moment he took his eyes off her. Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do. He’d already done his best and it was because of his efforts that her body was in the best form it could ever be. Even then, she still lay in front of him, healthy and unconscious.

Cole found himself missing her sapphire orbs more and more. The necklace he’d bought her on the day of the Founder’s festival had been placed back on her neck once the doctors were done stabilising her. The swirling blue colour within the blue jewel was compelling to look at but only slightly less than his mate’s eyes were.

The thought that she might be stuck that way or might even die after some time scared him to the core, but he kept hoping. The girl had asked for that much at least. The bond they shared revealed all her emotions in her last moments awake. Instead of worrying for her life, she’d been worried for everyone else she troubled with her weakened state.

The old woman walked up to the girl and placed her hand on the girl’s forehead. She then felt her forearms before taking a step back with a wistful expression. The woman felt tongue-tied for a moment, trying to discern what she was looking at, “I’ve never seen this before.”

“What is it?” Cole asked, his eyes beaming with the first emotion since the girl had collapsed. ‘A clue... anything is better than nothing at this point.’

“Her body is in perfect shape... more than that... If this girl could move...” the woman froze, shivering from her discovery, “It’s amazing. Honestly, what was she doing to have her body this fine-tuned and what does she eat?” the woman exclaimed.

Cole’s shoulders slumped and lost his hopeful expression, “You’re not being serious, are you?”

“I am... I thought she was weak when I saw her, but this is something else. She really is only being held back by the poor flow of divine energy in her body,” the woman observed.

.....

Cole’s eyes snapped open and lit up with curiosity. In a levelled tone, he asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, consider a system that handles divine energy is identical to our bodies. It’s also adjustable... which is why we are able to change our forms into werewolves and back. Knowing how ductile, one would never think such a thing could be damaged, but that’s not true. Under the right conditions... When a mortal fulfils these requirements and pushes past what their divine vessel should be capable of handling, it’s possible they can break it.

This, however, should be practically impossible. No one should be capable of pushing themselves beyond the limits set by divine energy, but... She broke whatever was inside her that helped her store divine energy and keep its flow manageable. Humans were never meant to have that kind of power, to begin with. Too much of it would rip our bodies to pieces,” the woman explained with a sombre tone at the end.

It was then that Cole realised what she was saying... or rather, it was then that everything started to make sense to him. The memory of Katie battling the Rogue King offered him the explanation he required. During that battle, the blue aura of divine energy had been leaking out of his mate. It was the only explanation he could have for it.

His wolf had felt that something was very wrong with Katie and at the time, he’d acted on pure instinct, stopping Katie before she continued to hurt herself. “Can you help her?”

“Hmmm, not in a way that you would expect. I’m no doctor and if I’m being honest, this can only be treated by the gods themselves. She will have to talk to them,” the woman responded, “Oh my, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Fauna... some people call me Jane, but I don’t go by that name anymore.”

“You call yourself Fauna and disregard the names you’ve been given,” Thorrin joked.

“Unfortunately, the name was a catalyst that brought on my numerous titles, but I would like to be called by that name, please. It fits perfectly with my role in this world,” she responded.

“Very well then, Fauna. What are you suggesting?” Cole regarded her with new hope. For the first time since Katie had started getting weaker, there was some semblance of a solution in sight.

“We can take her to any place the gods have ever touched the earth. That’s usually something they can do once in fifty years. During those fifty years, the planet heals from the power that altered its very structure during that time along with getting sealed completely from human interference,” the woman said to them.

“What do you mean ‘getting sealed’?” Cole asked her.

“It’s not a wonder that these places are unheard of. There is a reason they are hidden from the rest of the world. Many of those reasons are already showing themselves in society as it is,” the woman grumbled, “Humans let curiosity control them when they don’t know what’s good for them.”

By now, Thorrin and Cole had realised the woman’s thoughts were moving faster than the two of them could catch up. Her usually jovial eyes were now staring into space as a vast memory flashed within them. “Do you know a place here in Lycaon, don’t you?” Thorrin intervened.

“I knew a place in Sirius once, but the power there is almost spent. Other nexuses such as this have long been swallowed by nature. There is one other place that I know of, but no one is allowed to go there. Do any of you know of a place where the Moon Goddess could have set foot in the last hundred years? I know she appears to the royals, so I’m hoping you could help me answer that question,” the woman smiled widely.

Cole sighed and sank into the seat he’d occupied, trying to think as much as possible. Almost as soon as he’d started thinking, his eyes beamed with emotion as a vivid memory came to him, “I never thought I’d be going back there so soon.”

“Going back where?” Thorrin asked.

After a calm sombre silence, he replied.

“Brigadia.”