Fated To The Darkmoon Priestess

"Hump! Hyah!"

Zuri surged like a blur of wind . He leapt off the edge of a massive cliff, his body stretching in the air like a soaring bird. With the finesse of a forest cat, he landed on the other side. He did not slow down, he kept a thundering pace and dashed ahead , his heart beating with the steady pulse of a war drum.

The sun was already sinking behind the peaks of the misty mountains, the sky now shades of purple and gold.

Zuri didn't mind the sunset. With a big smile on his face, he slid between sharp rocks and twisted through thick trees, moving with the strength of ten Norse warriors, and the speed of a young gazelle, his muscles never growing tired.

"Try to keep up, Yuna!"

Zuri shouted. His voice bounced off the stone walls of the canyon. He laughed, a bright and happy sound, as he surged forward into the fading light.

Far behind him, a young woman struggled to move.

Yuna.

Her legs were shaking like leaves in a storm.

She wasn't running anymore; she was barely walking.

"Wait up! I think I’m done here!" Yuna screamed.

She tried to make her voice loud, but she was out of breath. Her face was red, and her lungs felt like they were on fire, she leaned heavily on her wooden staff.

"Can’t hear you! I’ve got no brakes!"

Zuri’s voice came from far away, fading into the trees.

Yuna stopped. She put her palms on her knees and gasped for air.

"That boy," she hissed, half-angry and half-amused. "It's so unfair. He’s faster than a cheetah and never gets tired."

She looked around, the shadows were growing long. The woods were not safe after dark, evil spirits and hungry beasts woke up when the sun went to sleep.

To her left, a giant green shrub stood in her path. It was covered in sharp thorns and small, sleeping flowers.

" A Thorn-Guard"

Yuna looked at the plant, then she looked at the mountain she still had to climb. She sighed.

"Hello green friend, will you help me out? Just this time, please?" she whispered to the shrub. The plant just stood, motionless, like it was deliberately ignoring her.

She stared at the leaves. She made her eyes soft and kind. "The world is alive, and everything has a spirit, even the thorns." Yuna muttered her Order's motto quietly

Slowly, the plant began to pulse with a faint, heartbeat-like glow.

"It’s working,"

Yuna whispered excitedly. She closed her eyes to concentrate. She pictured the shrub opening a door for her, just like she had been taught in the temple. She breathed in cold mountain air, and exhaled her magic.

Suddenly, the bush lit up with a bright, yellowish-green light. It made a low humming sound, like a thousand, distance bees.

"Yes!" Yuna cheered. She held her staff high. "To the Crystal Caves, please."

The center of the shrub pulled apart, folding inward like a curtain of silk. A swirling portal of light appeared in the middle of the stem. Yuna giggled. She didn't waste a second, she jumped into the light. Behind her, the bush snapped shut instantly, and the forest went quiet again.

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On the other side of the mountain, Zuri arrived at the Crystal Caves. He didn't even break a sweat, he stopped at the entrance and gasped.

The cave was an ancient wonder. Giant pillars of white quartz rose from the floor, pointing toward the sky like frozen lightning. The walls were clear and smooth, reflecting the purple sky outside, his eyes shimmering with joy.

He inhaled slowly, his eyes closed, then exhaled with satisfaction. Dreamland. He had imagined coming here ever since he was little. He would stare at the Cave from the horizon with wonder, as he and his father sailed across the Minos river.

The air was cool, and the pressure felt just right. It was like it carried something sweet with it, laced with romance, a nice spot to spend with your beloved.

"Yuna"

He muttered, smiling. Then he stopped, his eyes popping open instantly.

Yuna.

The name flashed across his mind again. Where was she? Zuri stopped. He turned around, the smile slid off his face.

"Yuna?"

The cave was empty. Only the sound of the wind whistling through the rocks answered him. He had been so excited with the thrill that he had forgotten she was a human. He had left her miles behind in the dark wilderness.

His heart started to race—not from running, but from fear.

"Yuna!" he screamed. "Yuna, where are you?"

He closed his eyes and tried to use his senses. He tilted his head, trying to hear her heartbeat or smell her sweet, flowery scent. But the wind was too strong. He felt a cold shiver of panic. Was she alright? Had something gotten to her?

"Tada!"

A soft, warm hand grabbed his shoulder from behind.

Zuri spun around instantly. It was Yuna. She was standing there with a giant, cheeky smile on her face, she wasn't even tired anymore.

Zuri’s heart melted, the fear turned into a rush of heat. He stepped forward, grabbed her arms, and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. Yuna dropped her staff and hugged him back. For a long moment, the world halted for them. There was only the mountains and the heat of their breath.

"I did it, Zuri!" she laughed when they finally pulled apart.

"Don't scare me like that!"

Zuri cried. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. " By Odin's blade, I almost had a panic attack, i thought I lost you."

"Just listen to me!"

Yuna teased, though she was smiling. "You’re going to yank off my antlers off! Anyway, it’s your fault for leaving me behind to play with the mountains." She poked his chest with a finger.

"I'm so sorry, Yuna. I got carried away,"

Zuri said softly. He rested his forehead against hers. "You don't know what this place means to me. It's a dream."

Yuna sighed and patted his hair. "Your apology is accepted, you're lucky you're cute."

Zuri grinned, his white teeth flashing in the twilight. "But wait... how did you get here so fast?"

"I told you! The plant compulsion spell. I really did it. You should've seen how the Thorn-Guard obeyed and opened a path for me."

Zuri’s eyes widened.

"You mean you actually did it? The high-level magic?"

Yuna nodded proudly.

"That's awesome! You’re a genius, Yuna! This calls for a celebration!"

He picked her up by the waist and spun her around. Their laughter echoed off the crystal walls, filling the cave with life and energy.

As they played, the night finally arrived. The full moon rose over the horizon, big and silver.

When the moonlight hit the crystals, the entire cave began to glow. It looked like they were standing inside a diamond.

They stood together at the edge of the cave, looking out at the world. Zuri stood behind her, caressing her golden-brown hair.

"It’s beautiful, isn't it?" Zuri whispered.

"Mhmm" Yuna said. Her voice was quiet now.

"Just as beautiful as you," Zuri said. "I wish we could spend every night here, just us, away from the tribes and the Keep."

Yuna’s happy expression faded. She pulled away from his arms, turned around backing him, and gripped her staff tightly.

"You know we can't, Zuri."

"We shouldn't let the elders decide our lives," Zuri said, walking toward her. "We are the shapers of our own fate."

"Look at us!"

Yuna turned around, her eyes filling with tears. "I am a Priestess apprentice, I am supposed to be pure and holy. And you... you are a shape-shifter, my people call you cursed. We are supposed to be enemies."

Zuri sighed. He reached out and took her hand.

"Cursed? To me it's a gift. If this curse gives me the strength to protect you, Yuna, i would die protecting you with it."

"But your people... they'd want you to marry a wolf-bride, not a human Selkaharin who talks to bushes," she sobbed. "Zuri... I love you, i really do, but it seems like the world is against us."

She looked up at him. Her deep sea-blue eyes caught the light of the crystals. She looked like a goddess from the old stories, but her heart was breaking.

"Don't let it get away!"

A loud, hurried voice shattered the silence. It came from the woods around the cave.

"Over here! It went over that corner!" another voice shouted.

Zuri’s ears twitched, his body went stiff. He recognized those voices just awfully well. And he knew it spelled trouble.

"Crap," Zuri whispered.