The Moon Weaver never elaborated his prediction on Aedan's density after the night he had caught him sulking by the doors of the Main Hall. The boy wanted to know what his future was going to be like; was someone meant to step into his life at some point and turn it upside down? Or maybe his destiny was redundant, and Aedan was the only one to establish its purpose.

The Moon Weaver postponed the lessons the day after, and Aedan did not see of him for the whole week. The boy fretted about the fact that his mentor had found out he helped Gabriel and Idris sneak into the Paclave meeting. If it was true, then Aedan had been, in all likelihood, condemned to debarment from attending the academy. This also meant he would never be allowed to use the experiment room or see his mentor, the Moon Weaver.

Could that incident be the reason why Leader Isaac wanted him in his headquarters shortly?

There were still many things he had wanted to accomplish before he was kicked out of his pack, though. He wanted to invent new devices that would facilitate conditions of life in their pack and, consequently, cause them to break away from other packs across Starleten. Aedan appeared to be a natural conciliator and couldn't stop picturing their realm with humans and werewolves living in peace, rather than tension and constant mistrust.

Therefore, Aedan couldn't afford to jeopardise himself again.

He averted his gaze from the chest of drawers, through which he had burned a hole with his staring, to Gabriel. Lacing up his training shirt, he raised his eyebrows at Aedan questionably.

"If you have got nothing better to do than sit and drill holes through the furniture, why don't you join us at the training?"

Aedan collapsed backwards into the bed, eyes fixed at the ceiling. "My purpose in life is far more convoluted," he sighed, "I'm not interested in wasting my time and puffing my chest out in front of the offsprings."

"Don't be dramatic, you've got all the time in the realm to do it because that favourite teacher of yours has gone and is not coming back."

"You don't know that, so stop saying this absolute nonsense you take great joy in spitting out at me," the older werewolf drawled. Gabriel chuckled in reply.

Aedan noticed his brother's bare feet, loose shirt sticking out of his trousers and dishevelled locks of shoulder-length hair.

He is too much of a werewolf, Aedan had often thought. Gabriel took after their father.

The boy grabbed a pear-sized leather sack, which possibly contained his supper, and turned to face Aedan, who was still sprawled on the oak-made bed with a combination of wool and hay padding.

"I'm going to be back late," said Gabriel. He bit his lower lip and fixed his storm-grey eyes on a selected floorboard. "I'm taking Hester to the lake tonight," he lifted the sack slightly as a proof.

Aedan arched his neck to see Gabriel better and gaped. "You are not, Gab!" he exclaimed, suddenly sitting up. Seeing his brother's radiant face somewhat convey grimness or hesitancy, Aedan recollected himself and spluttered, "Sorry, I meant it in a good way, brother."

He bolted towards Gabriel and seized him by both shoulders, examining him in a similar way a mother would before seeing her child off. Gabriel lifted his eyes from the floorboard and looked down into Aedan's eyes beseechingly.

"You are hovering over me, what an irony," Aedan grinned, "Enjoy your time with the beloved then, little brother."

The right corner of Gabriel's mouth jerked up, which was the closest he had ever got to smiling, and wiggled out of the older brother's grasp. Aedan watched as Gabriel advanced for the door and swiftly moved in front of him, blocking it.

Aedan felt relieved now that his brother had intended to show commitment to Hester. She was a lovely girl with a timid smile and hair as fiery as the leaves of maples. Hester had shown interest in Gabriel long before he did. The girl had pined after him since they were little children playing together in the forest, and she had waited for him for many winters. 

At last, Gabriel taking Hester to the Glassy Lake meant they were going to discuss their future life together as spouses. Every little detail of the most primitive routine had to be clarified between each other to avoid having disagreements in future. 

Gabriel had always teased Aedan that he would be the last one to find his soulmate. It was partially true. Aedan didn't wish to rush the time just to prove his brother wrong, but he would have dreams of a girl, whose face was blurred or obscured by a sheet of hair. Right after waking up from seeing the dream, he would strain his mind for her face to reflect back at him in vain.

He wanted life to lead him towards the person he was going to spend the rest of his life with. Aedan wanted it to be a pleasant surprise following sweet anticipation. 

"There is something you should have," Aedan said in a low voice. Gabriel stood still, only his chest rising and falling, as sorrow veiled his eyes.

Aedan walked unhesitatingly into his room, swathed in dim candlelight sourcing from the bedside table. Crossing the room in a couple of strides, he opened the first drawer of the dresser unit. The muffled sound of wood sliding along with Gabriel's intensified breaths from the front room filled his ears. He focused his eyes on a miniature trinket engraved with blue gemstones, dull under the shadowy lighting, nestled inside a silky cushion.

He heard Gabriel's footsteps and turned to look at him, standing in the doorway, his face unreadable by the variety of emotions that dashed across his complexion.

"Always search for the eyes, for eyes never tell lies," the Moon Weaver had taught them.

Gliding his calloused fingertips carefully along the subtle bulges of the trinket, Aedan sauntered towards the doorway, a genuine smile illuminating his handsome face.

"She would have wanted your beloved to have it," he spoke softly, almost inaudible in the silent room.

Gabriel wrapped his fingers gently around the trinket and clicked it open. Inside was a thin golden ring with intricate leaves carved through its surface. The ring required no precious stones, for it was exquisite in its way. It encapsulated the personality of the ring's bearer in one word - elegant.

"I can't take it, Aedan," his throat bobbed, "her ring is one of the few things left of her. It should stay with you as a memory." Gabriel's short eyelashes fluttered, and his stormy eyes regarded Aedan's.

"I remember Mother every time I look at my reflection," he paused, eyes flickering as he appreciated the ring, "I want you to have it to remind you that you are not like him and never will be. Besides, what is the endless training for if you are not going to knock Elias down?"

His little brother's deep laughter bounced off the cream-coloured walls. Aedan could tell his brother was grateful for a little humour. Gabriel unlaced his leather sack and settled the trinket inside.

"Thank you, brother," he said under his breath, embracing Aedan into a suffocating hug. "Hester will treasure it like the pupil of an eye when she learns it belonged to Mother," he whispered into Aedan's ink-black curls. Aedan's arms shot up to pat his brother's back lightly.

☽☽ ☆ ☾☾

Aedan's feet felt leaden, as if an ivy had entwined itself around his legs and cemented him to the floorboards. He gazed longingly at the front door, through which Gabriel had left, and sighed heavily.

A fraction of his heart fissured, chipped off and forsook Aedan. That was what it felt like to grant that ring to his brother. Aedan knew it was selfish of him to even give it a second thought because Gabriel never experienced seeing their mother at a rational age. He was only a babe when she left. But Aedan loved his brother deeply: he cared for him and wished nothing for him but genuine happiness. There was enough angst taking place in his life.

He shut the front door firmly behind him after he had trudged through the sitting room and put out all of the candles. Aedan's booted feet dragged him along a crushed gravel path that extended from the entrance door of the brothers' wooden cabin towards the main square, from which slate walkways originated and led to wealthier cabins of the Paclave members. The main path, which connected Aedan's quarters to the headquarters, disintegrated into many narrower gravel paths, and small, wooden or brick made cabins stood on the other ends of those paths. Candlelight flickered in a blur behind windows as Aedan walked to his cousin's manor.

The Ellwoods' two-storey house stood solemnly beside the Main Hall building. A wide path paved with slates led to the front door. Intricate bushes and flowers on the lawn were covered in darkness, and, otherwise, would have been noticed in daylight. Isaac's house was simply-made and contained not a thing that could give away his wealth. He was the leader of their pack, however, he had never forgotten where his roots took origins from.

Aedan knocked on the door twice and waited for Greten to open the door. He looked down at his boots, while crickets hidden in grass rubbed their wings together and produced the characteristic sound of the night. Fireflies flitted in the distance between various flowers, blazing with blue-green iridescence in the hours of darkness.

The door unlatched and revealed a bleary-eyed Idris, whose arched brows jolted up upon seeing Aedan, much to Aedan's confusion. His cousin's dark-brown hair was unruly on the top of his head. Shirt loose at his sides, he looked as if he had just rolled out of bed.

"I dreamt of someone else, not of you tonight. What the hex of stars are you doing here?" whined Idris and moved aside to give a wide berth to his cousin.

"Same applies to you! I thought you were training with Gabriel and the others," he declared, stepping inside the foyer and wiping his boots on a mat. "Uncle wanted to see me, so here I am."

"I'll trust you with that, nerd. He is in his office," Idris said, throwing the door closed. "I see idle life has somehow battered you, you look horrible," he winked. "I hope we are not going to have lessons for another week because I'd love to watch you grow that beard of yours."

Aedan slapped the back of Idris's head and took the hallway to the right towards the office with Idris following behind him, howling pretentiously.

The foyer was compact with the spiralling stairs in the centre that led to the second floor, where the family's chambers were located. A large chandelier hung on the ceiling, illuminating the room in warm shades. Two hallways flanked each side of the foyer and led to a dining room and an office respectively. The walls were painted a calming grey colour with plant pots adorning them: a touch of Greten's, Idris's mother.

"How come I never saw you during the trainings? That's right, you never attend them!"

"When was the last time you saw yourself in your shifted form? You must be out of shape by now!"

Idris continued winding Aedan up, and Aedan paid little attention to that. He knew his cousin was an innocuous creature and was probably trying to entertain him. Aedan was far from being out of shape, he was slender, and lean muscles defined his arms and legs as opposed to his brother's and cousin's towering frames rippling with strong muscles.

How classic of Idris, the boy thought.

After all, Idris wouldn't be observant enough to read Aedan's troubled mind?

"Alright, I'll leave you to it," Idris uttered and returned back to the foyer.

Aedan called a farewell after him and knocked on the door. Distinct permission echoed, and the boy emerged into the office.

"Evening, Aedan. Nice of you to join me, take a seat."

Isaac's office was spacious with his large mahogany desk positioned in front of a wide window at the centre. Bookshelves and chests of drawers lined the sides of the room. Dark wooden floorboards covered the floor and contributed to the mysterious air of the room. Various scrolls, papers and books scattered the desk; smudges of ink marred his uncle's hands.

Aedan sat down on the chair by Isaac's desk, being careful not to knock off a tall candle holder. He looked at his uncle, observing his long hair, greying beard, unruly eyebrows. The leader lifted his gaze to his nephew, his face taut with the concerns that came with his role. His light tunic was wrinkled along the sleeves. Isaac put the quilt down.

"I appreciate your patience," he said, clasping his hands together. "I reckon you noticed that the Moon Weaver hasn't been seen for a couple of days now. He left to attend an important business regarding our pack. Now," he paused, leaning back in his chair, "he came to see me the day after our Paclave meeting. Said plenty of good things about your performance, potential. I was quite pleased to hear that."

Aedan cleared his throat, "Thank you, Isaac. He is too kind, my teacher."

There was something more to the praise, something that caused Aedan's stomach to drop in anticipation. Aedan swallowed.

"I agree, but he is also just," he nodded. "Our Moon Weaver suggested for you to assist him, in a way. Starting from next week, he will be attending to a special student in a neighbouring village. A human student."

Silence followed his uncle's statement. Aedan sighed quietly in relief, pushing the horrible outcomes of his involvement in the Paclave sneak-in to the very back of his mind.

"With all due respect, uncle, why me?" he asked incredulously.

"Well, he had assured me that you possessed all the qualities he sought in his potential associate. And after Herielle, you must understand how thorough he had to be to avoid any possible mistakes. Sadly, it's our mistakes we must learn from, Aedan. I am sure you will fit into your role impeccably," he smiled. "Besides, we need succeeding teachers to mentor our younger generation. I believe it is something you have always been interested in, haven't you?" Isaac raised his eyebrows - ever so slightly - in question.

Aedan nodded his head enthusiastically. Isaac's mouth spread into a wide smile.

"That's the spirit I would like to see!" he chuckled deeply. "Once he comes back, you would be able to discuss further arrangements. If I were you, I would keep it a secret for now, for you know the forest can carry the news to undesirable places. Your father owns the same ability like you to interpret the Whisper of the trees. Surely, he would inform Thyrius if he found out about your new role, and that could turn out fatally."

"Uncle, he is not my father," he spoke roughly, "I am a Silverfang, like my mother. I don't wish to be associated with him, please," Aedan said in his more usual calm manner. He watched as Isaac's taut face relaxed, a look of concern visible. A sincere look that appeared every time they discussed Elias.

"I know, but we don't get to choose our origin. What we do get to choose, though, is how we carry it. You can either carry it with your chin high or head dipped low. Either way, your father's wrongdoings won't be imprinted on your name."

Aedan gave no reply. It was not Uncle's fault for what Elias was doing. The boy had formed his opinion at some point, and it was not going to be easy to change it immediately. Aedan had yet nothing to offer to the society, therefore it did not matter what was imprinted on his name or what his origin was. He wanted to derive his own story, not to follow someone else's.

Later into the night, Isaac dismissed his nephew from the office after they had reviewed issues that ensued from Aedan acquiring the new position. He was to accompany the Moon Weaver to the student's house five days a week, on top of that, he had to keep on top of his classes. He thought that his brother and cousin were futile to ask them to pay actual attention during lessons, hence Aedan figured he should ask his other teachers directly and, inevitably, learn new material on his own.

The boy reached his cabin, which they shared with Gabriel. He entered into a pitch-black sitting room, tossed his boots by the door and padded to his room.

There was some serious thinking he needed to do.