Luna's Arc

Chapter 5 of 29

Luna ran until her legs burned. The dead deer crashed through the brush behind her. She held the cat under one arm and the fish and pole in her other hand. Branches whipped her face. She could not slow down. The herd had cut her off from the stream, and now they wanted her too. She needed to hide, fast, or the bony things would run her down. The trees broke open ahead. Luna stumbled into a field of tilted stones. Old graves lay everywhere, and the dirt had been torn up from each one. Every pit gaped open and empty. She did not stop to wonder why. She spotted the nearest hole and dropped in. Cold soil pressed her back. She pulled the cat tight and clamped a hand over its mouth. Then she went still. Hooves scraped the stones above. A skull dipped over the edge of her pit. Luna held her breath. The deer's empty eyes swept the dark hole. It huffed. Then it turned and clattered on. One by one, the herd moved past the graveyard. The scraping faded into the trees. Luna waited a long time before she climbed out. Her hands shook, but she had won. The dead things were gone. She brushed dirt from her clothes. The cat shot out of the pit and stood stiff, ears up. Then Luna heard it too. Soft crying, close by. It came from behind a leaning stone. She crept toward the sound, fish and pole still in her grip. Someone else was here, in this place of empty graves. A small boy sat curled against the stone. He was younger than Luna, with pale blond hair and dirt on his cheeks. He hugged his knees and sobbed. Then he looked up and saw her. His whole face changed. He scrambled to his feet. "Luna!" he shouted. Luna froze. She stepped back. "How do you know my name?" The boy did not answer. He wiped his nose and dug into his pocket. He pulled out a folded scrap of paper and held it out to her with both hands. His eyes begged her to take it. Luna took the note. The paper was soft and worn. She read the words slowly. Stay here our dear boy. I know this is scary but it's for the best. Your sister will find you. Her name is Luna. Below the words was a small drawing of two children. A blond boy. A girl with dark hair. Her. Luna's mouth went dry. She looked from the paper to the boy's face. He had her nose. He had the same shape to his eyes. The same parents who left her had left him too. And they had promised him she would come. "You're my brother," she said. The boy nodded and grabbed her sleeve. Luna held the note tight. She was not alone anymore. Now she had to keep them both alive.