Pure Moonlight (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose so. Take care of Arys while I'm gone." Luna murmured softly as she picked up her small pack and gave him a smile. "I'm sure she'll be nervous until I get back. She'll need someone here to make her believe that the world isn't ending."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll make sure she's alright. With the way the mistress adores her too, she'll be okay."

Orin led Luna down to the dock where the crew was loading up supplies, and she was lucky enough to be among some past patients who'd hurt themselves in the shipyard so they were welcoming. Evard was watching over everything and motioned Luna over.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, sir?" Luna asked as she noticed Evard motioning over towards him. "Is there anything that I can do to help this journey get started?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd like you to join the helmsman at the wheel, keep an eye over the deck to make sure none of the new sailors are having a hard time. If they're too sick to work onboard, I'd like you to write their names and I will put them back in the shipyard and try someone new." Evard spoke clearly and calmly, rarely harsh to the Wolf who'd become an asset to his operation as a healer.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, sir." Luna said as she bowed her head towards him and then turned to join the helmsman at the wheel.

Her calm blue eyes looked out over the men that were there to work, keeping track of those that seemed a little unsteady and those that seemed perfectly fine. She knew it was cruel to keep men that struggled on board the ship, but for some, it very well might be the only job that they were cut out for. She would lie to save someone from death if she had to.

 

[KieranSoares]

A few sailors, human and were, grew sick during the journey but none so much that they wouldn't work. Many could take some herbs and be perfectly fine. Others would have to just keep at it til they overcame it. The journey was uneventful, just testing sails and rudder and all the moving parts. It was as they were coming back into the little bay that a huge Man-o-War ship appeared from around the edge of the bay, coming in at full speed.

Evard stood beside Luna at the helm, looking puzzled. "Who the devil is that?" He called for his man in the crow's nest to signal the ship to slow with the flags, but the approaching ship ignored it. Evard's grip tightened on the wheel. "Dear God..." He whispered, then yelled across the ship, "BRACE!!!" Everyone was knocked off their feet when the reinforced hull of the oncoming ship struck broadside. A long, familiar howl echoed over them all, and the banners of Sweden and Inverness rose up the attacking ship's mast.

A flood of men in blue uniforms, human and were, leapt on board to clash with those who opposed them. Only a few slaves lifted weapons against them, knowing Sweden was a nation of free werefolk. "LUNA!!" The familiar cry of a particular werewolf reached her, and she saw Jan leap up onto the railing, holding onto the rigging and looking for her in the chaos.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna was not prepared for the ship to suddenly appear and act as a battering ram against the side of their ship. She was knocked off her feet, sprawling across the wooden floor of the deck as men flooded onto the boat and a familiar sounding cry issued across the boat as someone searched for her.

"Jan?" She murmured, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees. "Jan!" She cried out as she scrambled towards him, desperate to feel herself wrapped in someone's familiar embrace.

 

[KieranSoares]

Jan leapt from the railing, through the fray straight to Luna and he wrapped her up tight in his arms. It didn't last long before he pulled her behind him to deflect the blow of a human sailor. Then she saw Petu and Karn leap on board, followed by Ruben, Kreston, Selena, and even Ghell and Adane. It was a Swedish ship brought by Jan and his fellow sailors, but those who loved her most would never stay behind when she needed saving.

 

[heartofcourage]

The moment that she saw her parents, she rushed into their arms. It felt so good to be wrapped up in her father's warm embrace even as a battle raged around them. Her mother was soon joining them, wrapping her arms around her daughter in the tightest hug that she had ever given Luna.

"There are two I can't leave behind. They are still at the villa." Luna murmured against her father's chest as she thought about Urubay and Arys being left behind.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We already raided the villa yesterday. There are three more ships moored nearby ready to pick everyone up and take them to France and the isles," Kreston told her. "Stay close, love." He drew his blade as Evard approached. "Surrender, Sir Evard," Kreston told him, having tracked him through all the men Luna had changed hands through. "Your home is overtaken and the Scottish Navy will come if we don't report back by tomorrow."

"Take who you came for, Wolf, and leave. I don't want a fight."

"Either all the slaves go free or you'll have a fight. Brogan Ghis has sent money with us if you surrender."

Evard thought over his options, knowing he'd be ruined without his slaves, unless... "How much?"

"The equivalent of forty-thousand denars in Scottish silver."

"... Very well, Wolf. Allow me and my human crew to dock and we'll make our deal there."

"Call the surrender."

So Evard dropped his blade and roared for a retreat. All his humans backed off and they were sent to shore in row boats. Jan came to Luna, having suffered a gash to his jaw from a pommel strike. "Lu..." He murmured, dropping his blade to come take her in his arms. Kreston and Selena and all their fellows still didn't like it, but after what Jan had done to get them there, they were willing to give him a chance.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna hugged Jan tightly when he came for her. She was simply happy to be back with the family and friends that she so desperately wanted to find in the first place. It didn't matter to her anymore that Jan was a rouge who could still very well break her heart. She was free again and all of the friends that she had made at the villa were free as well. They wouldn't have to worry about anything any longer.

"I can't believe you still came for me despite the fight that we had." Luna murmured softly as she glanced up at Jan. "You didn't have to come."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I heard you howl that night when they took you... I found the blood," Jan told her softly.

"Jan tried to steal his captain's ship when he learned you were being brought here," Kreston said and laid a hand on Jan's shoulder. "Once he was arrested and had a chance to tell us you'd been taken... Brogan sent word to Marianne and very nearly bought the Swedes' ships too, but they volunteered to help as long as their supplies were taken care of. They didn't ask for wages. Jan and his shipmates tracked the slavers all the way here. Carver is dead for trying to take Ruben, but not before we found out who bought you "

 

[heartofcourage]

"Evard is a decent, if not cold man. He did not treat me unkind." Luna said softly as she looked up at her father. "Carver deserved everything that came to him in the end. Many died on the voyage here. Some died on those docks the moment that they were sold."

Luna went quiet for a long moment as she thought about Urubay's mate. The thought still horrified her and she let out a long sigh as she pressed her cheek against Jan's chest. She was tired and she wanted to sleep, if only to escape the horrible thoughts that were racing in her mind.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well from this point on, Marianne has promised to prevent as many slave ships as possible from leaving Scotland. Now that she knows some of their routes and is asking King Henry to help guard the English Channel, fewer will suffer and hopefully hunters will think twice before coming to the isles," Kreston explained, and they soon headed ashore where Ariadne was nervously directing her overseers to free all the werefolk. Evard looked angry, but not vicious as his entire workforce he'd paid thousands and thousands for over the years was simply being released. Kreston gave him the promised money and Evard simply went inside the house. Little Arys burst from the crowd to come running to Luna, Urubay appearing soon behind her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna knelt and hugged Arys tightly as she ran into her arms. She gave the little girl a smile, nuzzling against her soft white fur before she pulled back to look at her.

"Didn't I promise you? One day you would be going home. You'll be seeing your Ma soon." Luna murmured before she glanced up at Urubay with a smile. "And you'll be seeing your daughters too. It's bittersweet, I know, but hopefully this will never happen again to you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Urubay nodded with a soft smile, "And you'll find the man you love." He scooped Arys up and soon more ships appeared in the harbor. Fearfully but willingly, the werefolk boarded. But there was plenty of room and there would plenty of food and water and stops along the way for more. Jan's ship would carry the family and those closest to Luna.

But the one were who hesitated was Orin. He paused beside Ariadne. She'd always been good to him and he had become friends with her. But she hugged him and Arys one last time before sending them on their way. Aboard the ship, Luna saw a few other werefolk from her first journey, including Osa who was thrilled to see her and know she'd been right to hold onto hope. They couldn't save everyone, but they had saved hundreds and would prevent the slavery of thousands from the isles.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna had never slept more in her life than she did on those first few days of freedom. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore and once she was safely in s cabin on the ship, she slumbered. She woke a few times for offered food and water, but for the most part she was left alone.

A few times she woke to her father nuzzling against her, imprinting his scent on her fur like he had when she was a cub first learning to crawl. Some were did that in an effort to show others what was theirs. She was sure that his wolf was making sure that she would never be lost again.

"Daddy, you know I'm never going anywhere again." Luna murmured in a sleepy voice as her blue eyes finally opened to look up at Kreston.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston hugged Luna a little closer when she spoke, nuzzling softly against her cheek. "You haven't called me Daddy since you were tiny, love... I know you're not going anywhere, but I can't help it. I nearly lost Ruben on this trip too, and your mother had a close call helping me free him. I know family is everything to me, but... Something like this just reminds you of how quickly everything can be taken away."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I wanted to kill them all." Luna said softly as Kreston held her tightly, nuzzling against her cheek. "I think out of everything I saw, that startled me the most. I wanted to hurt them so badly and burn them to the ground. The way they treated us was horrifying. Some were skinned simply because their fur was the "right" color. How can someone do that to someone else?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's something I can't explain about some people. Not just humans, but it does seem more prominent in them. These people see something they don't understand, and instead of taking time to learn or understand, they boil everything down to profit and danger. They think we're dangerous but worth keeping for money, except for the unlucky ones who are the 'right color' or too dangerous to let live. But they know they'll find replacements in the next shipment..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"None of us are simply replaceable though." Luna murmured softly as she looked up at Kreston. "We're not objects to be thrown away and traded."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know that, but they don't. Men of money and ill-gotten power see all else as replaceable tools. Thankfully, that sentiment is dying at least where slavery is concerned. One day, a Wolf or a Tiger or any other will be able to walk the streets of any city without fear of being captured and shipped off to some plantation or mine half the world away. That day may not come in our lifetimes, but it will come."

Kreston settled beside her and hugged her a little closer, holding her as he had for as long as she could remember. "But I promise, you've seen your last of slavery. I'll never let anything like this happen again..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I love you, daddy." Luna murmured softly as Kreston hugged her a little big closer, showing her just how much he had missed her while she was gone. "I know now that Inverness is my home and I never want to leave it again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good. I think the whole village realized just how much they needed you, not just the family."

The long journey home was made longer by the stops at ports along the way, and by the time they returned to Scotland, they had about fifty werefolk still right them. At the docks of Inverness, the group split into Erygonian and Lunar and each went to try to make new homes in the villages. Less than a dozen went to live in town. Luna's family headed to the keep to report the successful rescue, but a few split off to go home. Jan didn't go home but he didn't go to the keep either. He didn't say it, but he wanted to talk to her when she had the chsnce though he didn't know when between her homecoming and her overprotective father to try.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna's first duty was to her family. She followed them as they went to the keep to meet with everyone else. Her grandmother Kitty sobbed and clung to her, her uncles seemed angry at what had happened but happy that she was back home. For a wolf that had never wanted attention or the spotlight, it was all a little overwhelming.

"I just need some air." She murmured to her father before she slipped from the front of the keep to get away from the pressing stares of her family.