C8 Distress

The next afternoon, as soon as the sun cast a golden hue over Mysus' cozy chamber, she picked up her blades and headed for her brother's quarters. She had spent countless hours during the night devising a foolproof plan hoping to outsmart her mother and steal the necklace from her without leaving a trace. She had intended to carry through the entire idea of stealing the necklace, but she was afraid she would be caught, so she decided to engage others so she wouldn't go down alone. when she was convinced that the plan would go through, she donned her blade with her heart pounding with excitement, she would stop by Lance's quarters and make him come along with them. She pushed through her door and the sun shone mildly on her face and she knew to take that for a good omen.

In the heart of the dense forest where the sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, stood Lance's house. She detested going into the forest but since it was a matter of urgency, she had to let down her ego. She followed a rough narrow part lined with moss-covered stones led to the heavy iron door. The door's surface weathered by countless seasons was etched with intricates depicting indiscernible figures.

As the door creaked open, the faint scent of burning incense mingled with the unmistakable fragrance of parchment.

"Lance," she called into the emptiness but got no response.

The entrance gave way to a modest foyer where weapons of all kinds adorned the walls. Spears, arrows, and swords whispered tales of past conflicts, their gleaming surfaces hinting at the skill of Lance.

Stepping further into the house revealed a spacious training hall bathed in a soft filtered light that seeped through narrow windows.

"Lance?". This time she was greeted by indistinguishable chattering from a distance, turned out Lance was not alone, and if fact was with a woman Mysus couldn't recognize. The moment she spotted them, a sizzling irritation trotted down her back, she couldn't say what feeling she got from watching the both of them so close together but she shrugged the feeling away...he was no more than a commoner anyway, she thought.

She got up close to them and cleared her throat loud enough for them to hear.

Lance upon seeing her immediately adjusted his sitting position.

"You...your Highness, I didn't know you were coming," Mysus' presence caught him off his stride, When he realized she was standing while he was still sitting, he promptly stood up and dismissed the female he was with.

"She's just one of my friends, can I get you a seat, your Highness?"

"I don't really care and I didn't come here for the sentiment, you're coming with me on a quest," she said hastily.

"A quest?, this is a bit impromptu, and I...",

she cut him short, "You dare to question my orders?"

"No no, your Majesty," he bowed

"I'll go get my weapons," he turned to leave when she gripped his arm. The pressure she applied made him wonder if she wasn't more lethal than her mother, the Alpha.

"We don't have time for that, Bilel awaits us." She loosened her grip and led him through the door.

"His Majesty?" He raised his brow in awe.

Her blank look gave him all the answers he needed, he shut the door behind him tightly and followed after her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So you mean we'll have to make do with that," Bilel bellowed.

"You can't possibly be serious about this, Mysus. Mother's sacred chamber is off limit, look, it's in the name 'sacred'." He quoted with his fingers.

"I know it sounds insane but Lance is the only one that can get through the guards during the habit without anyone tracing the absence of the necklace back to us,"

"That's the most absurd thing I've heard from you yet,"

"Bilel listen..."

"No, I'm beginning to feel that there's more to this than there is,"

"There's nothing more, we are doing it for Mother's sake."

"By risking Lance's life?." He turned to Lance, "Don't you have anything to say?"

"My allegiance lies within the royal household, your Highness". Lance breathed. It was true that he was among the pack's warriors so his allegiance was pledged to the royalties only.

"Fine then," Bilel swung his hands in defeat

"When do we embark on this 'quest'?" He asked Mysus.

"Now."

The habit was the only night, the necklace was to come off the Alpha's neck and be inspected by the elders to check if there was no misuse of power. It had been very easy for the trio to pass the palace guards without awakening any suspicions.

While The siblings had hidden behind a boulder, Lance walked up to the guard that was stationed at the entrance of the secret chamber and dismissed.

"I'll watch instead, you leave," he had said to the guard.

The guard had no reason to be skeptical so he shrugged and left indifferent. When Lance was sure the guard was out of sight he signaled to his accomplices that the coast was clear.

Lance stood watch at the guard while they carefully rummaged through her closet, looking for the hidden drawer where the necklace was kept. After a few tense moments, Mysus' keen eyes spotted the eerie drawer that stood out. With trembling hands, they opened it to reveal the radiant emerald necklace resting on a velvet cushion.

Grinning ear to ear, the siblings stole the necklace and exchanged a triumphant high-five. They knew they had to act swiftly to avoid detection, so they decided to take their getaway outdoors. Mysus had ordered that Lance build a hidden fort deep in the woods where the item would be kept, a perfect place to celebrate their victory.

Running through the dense forest, the emerald necklace safely tucked away in Mysus' breast pocket, they felt a mix of exhilaration and fear. Their heartbeats synchronized with their synchronized steps, pumping adrenaline through their veins. They reveled in the thrill of their audacious act, oblivious to the potential consequences.

As they reached their secret hideout, they collapsed on the leafy ground, gasping for breath. Mysus reached into her pocket to unveil the prized possession, but to her horror, the necklace was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through her body as she frantically searched every corner of the fort, but it was clear—the emerald necklace had vanished.

"Mysus, what's wrong," fear and guilt had overwhelmed him

"It was right here when I placed my hand in my pocket, now I can't..." Her voice trailed off as tears began to form in her eyes.

"You can't what?!".

"Darn!! I knew I should have talked you out of this." Bilel tugged at his thick lush hair as he fidgeted around the fort. Lance stood dumbfounded, he would be in greater trouble than them if the Alpha met the necklace's absence.

He knew he had to retrieve the necklace, it was the kingdom's most prized possession. It was the necklace's protection that waded off countless attacks from their adversaries, the vampires, and if the necklace ever went missing, the kingdom was open to multiple assaults. Lance knew war at this moment would be disastrous for the young werewolves who hadn't learned to shift yet. He raced back through the woods, retracing their steps, scanning the forest floor for any sign of the lost treasure. Each passing second felt like an eternity as he desperately searched for the emerald necklace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It began subtly, with a cloud of sadness settling over my soul. The things that once brought me joy now felt dull and lifeless. My laughter was fading, and my spirit was growing weary as the day went by. I knew it was more than just the doctor's diagnosis that made me feel trapped in a world where even the simplest tasks seemed impossible, something more was growing deep inside of me and I couldn't detect the source.

Day after day, I found myself retreating into the solitude of my room, seeking solace in the embrace of darkness. My thoughts became a storm of negativity, tearing away at my self-esteem and drowning me in a sea of doubt. The weight of my emotions seemed insurmountable.

Aunt Veke had noticed the change in me despite the effort I put in to mask my emotions and it made her grow increasingly worried. I often heard her murmuring amidst sobs whenever I happen to pass her room, She tried to offer support and words of encouragement, but her words often fell on deaf ears. Gehal thought they needed to find help for me, the doctor had said that surgery was the only solution to my predicament which held a fifty-fifty chance of survival, I had not given my consent to be operated on because I wasn't ready to risk Aunt Veke's expenses, life wasn't worth living anymore but I wasn't ready to lose it yet, the quirks growing inside of me still kept the momentum and they kept me back from hurting myself.

Painting hardly bore me any more pleasure than it used to. My enthusiasm for my enjoyable pursuits was steadily fading, I needed to clear my thoughts and hadn't been outside in a while, so I figured a walk through the woods would be really beneficial.

As the saying goes, nature was the purest portal to internal peace, and at this turning point in my life, peace of mind was the one thing I desperately craved to explore.

The towering trees in the forest stood like ancient guardians, their trunks adorned with moss and lichen, and their branches reaching out in a majestic display of natural architecture. Shafts of golden light filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled glow upon the forest floor. The air was alive with the sweet scent of wildflowers, their delicate petals unfolding to greet the day. Butterflies, their wings painted in a kaleidoscope of hues, flitted from one blossom to another, a whimsical ballet in the early morning breeze.

As I ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, a chorus of birdsong enveloped me, a symphony of melodies that filled the air with their enchanting harmony. Robins trilled their cheerful tunes from the lower branches, while woodpeckers tapped a rhythmic beat upon the trunks. Somewhere in the distance, the haunting call of a loon echoed across a hidden pond, adding a touch of wild mystery to the symphony of nature. The forest floor was a carpet of fallen leaves and pine needles, creating a soft, cushioned path beneath my feet. I could hear the faint rustle of small creatures scurrying about, their presence hidden amidst the undergrowth. Ferns unfurled their delicate fronds in shaded pockets, providing a glimpse of prehistoric times frozen in green splendor.

Sunlight filtered through the occasional gap in the canopy, casting ephemeral beams of brilliance that illuminated patches of wild mushrooms and toadstools, their colors ranging from earthy browns to vibrant reds and oranges. Moss-covered stones and fallen logs served as nature's own sculpture garden, inviting exploration and contemplation.

The forest was a sanctuary, a haven of tranquility and raw beauty. It was a place where the marvels of the natural world intertwined, where time seemed to slow and the worries of the outside world faded away. In this enchanting tapestry of sights, sounds, and scents, the forest beckoned, inviting all who dared to explore its untamed wonders. I felt my nerves soothe as the calm breeze danced upon my skin.

I was beginning to feel lost in the peace when an unusual luminous light that emanated from the forest struck my face. Although the radiation from the light came close to making me blind, my curiosity had harnessed the greater part of me and I persisted in my exploration to discern what the mighty light was.

The light got wider and wider with every step I took, I stopped in my tracks for fear that I might be hallucinating, and when I thought that the light was going to explode, the light disappeared without a trace, and a small shiny object fell from it into a heap of leaves that lay beneath.