As I gaze out the window, the full moon slowly drifting through the deep night sky, I reflect upon my young friend. Luna has rejoined her family. I wonder if I will ever see her again. But before she left, I was able to give her the remedy I made for her… and she too left me with a gift.
Yesterday, while I was healing her bumps and bruises, Luna asked me if I would come and see her off when her family returned. “I want you to see me as I am,” she had said. After closing the last little cut on her cheek, I answered that of course I would, but what on earth did she mean by “see her as she was”? I was looking at her right then, wasn’t I? Her sweet brown eyes grew so wistful I thought she might cry, and she threw her arms around my waist. I suddenly found my heart aching, and hugged her back tightly. Later on, Dorothy let me now that Luna’s parents and siblings would be back to collect her the following evening, “right around moon rise.” She had an odd smile that made me curious.
That night, back in my cottage, I finished up the Confidence remedy. Impressions of bold night birds singing their call and fearless squirrels leaping from limb to limb were mixed in with more personal moments, like Luna climbing the tree, her radiant smile lighting her face. The remedy gave off a subtle crimson glow, similar in shade to that of my half embroidered cloak, still laying folded, unworn.
Thus the parting day arrived, and a short while before sunset, I packed the bottle of Confidence into my basket and made my way into the forest, an old lantern in hand to light the way. Night had fallen by the time I arrived and Dorothy was standing outside, Tibbs rubbing against her boots. “Where’s Luna?” I asked, nervous that I had somehow come too late, but Dorothy told me she was inside getting ready. I stood beside my old friend and together we watched the full moon rise. It was glorious, round and bright as a new coin, with a rosy blush across its face. Then I saw from the corner of my eye shadow shapes emerging from beyond the trees.
I gasped when I recognized what they were: wolves! There were five of them: two large, three smaller, with bright eyes shining against dark fur. For a moment, fear gripped me, but then Dorothy stepped forward and greeted them! I was so confused. “Sonya,” she said as she turned back to me, “open the door and let Luna know her family is here.” Mystified, I did as I was told, and when I opened the door, there sat a young wolf pup. Big familiar eyes gazed up at me, and the fur… it was the same warm brown that the girl’s hair had been. “Luna?” Suddenly understanding, I leaned down, and I laughed when the pup jumped into my arms. I hugged her close and scratched her behind the ears, then I took the bottle of Confidence out of my basket. “I brought you something,” I giggled, “though I’m not sure you’ll be able to carry it.” Dorothy came over and offered her help, tying a length of red ribbon around the bottle and fastening it around Luna’s neck like a collar. As we knelt beside her, she leapt up and licked our faces. We heard a yipping and she darted forward toward the other wolves, the three smaller of whom had begun to jump and play. The two larger ones stepped into the moonlight and lifted their head to the sky. They howled; the younger ones joined and Luna too, a beautiful, bold cry that made the hair on my arms stand on end. Then they turned. Luna looked back at Dorothy and I one last time, gave a little yip as she ran, and then they were gone.
Goodness dear reader, what an incredible night, though it does feel bittersweet. I know I shall miss little Luna, but she gave me a very precious gift: the honor of seeing her as she really was. It must have taken great courage for that shy, little girl to share her wolf self with me. She trusted me with a great secret, and for that I will always be grateful.