Far away in Nerda's capital city, Aderon, a young man with raven black hair and blood red eyes paced through the grand halls of the Goddess's temple. Draven Mortenson was in a foul mood as he left a meeting with his father, Draken Mortenson, the head of the temple.
Draven had only been fifteen years old when his father forced him to follow and observe what he claimed was a holy cleansing. The only thing Draven saw was a massacre of innocent people, whose only crime was being werewolves. Ever since that day, Draven lost all respect for his father and all the other vampires who followed him.
That contempt led to a secret that Draven has kept for over 170 years.
One wolf got away.
**********
Draven had shifted into the form of a raven to observe the "cleansing" when he'd noticed one wolf break away from the pack and race up the hill. Curious about where the wolf was going, Draven followed.
Flying slightly ahead he saw a woman and small boy suddenly dart out of one of the houses and race into the nearby forest. Perching nearby, not close to be noticeable but close enough to see and hear, Draven heard the woman's frantic voice, "Nate, honey, you need to shift. It's very important that we get away from here as fast as possible."
Draven continued to watch as the mother gave orders to someone named Axel before turning and racing back toward the village. He watched her until she was gone from view before turning back to the small boy. In his place, an equally small wolf pup stood before racing up the mountain.
Following at a distance, Draven shadowed the pup, a heavy feeling in his chest at the thought that someone so young would lose his life solely because Draken Mortenson detested werewolves.
It was that thought that made Draven decide that he couldn't tell his father that this wolf was here. Angling his wings, Draven turned back to the village, landing in the plaza before shifting back to his human form.
Draken stalked up to him before asking harshly, "Where have you been?"
Draven, not wanting to appear guilty, took a brief moment before responding. "I was scanning the forest for any wolves that were trying to run away."
"And did you find any?" Draken asked, one eyebrow raised.
"No, Father."
"Be sure. Werewolves look the same as regular wolves. I don't want any getting away."
Draven took a deep breath, "I didn't see any wolves, Father." He fought hard to keep a poker face.
Draken studied him for a moment before accepting his words. "Very well. You're just in time for the execution on the pack's top tier."
**********
While Draven was lost in thought, his feet brought him to the main chamber of the temple.
There in the center of the space, surrounded by pews, was a marble statue of the Goddess. A serene expression carved onto her face, in one hand, a moon lily, and in the other, a dove. Both symbols of peace, while the moon lily was also a symbol of the Goddess herself, found growing only in the Moon Vale.
Draven stared at the statue before moving to a pew directly in front of it. Lowering his head, he clasped his hands in prayer.
"Goddess, please continue to watch over that pup. Let him be strong and brave. Let him know love and compassion. Let him live the life he was always meant to have."
Draven paused as he considered whether to add his next words.
"Please give me the courage to strike down the one that brought about such tragedy and bring peace back to this nation."
Draven continued to sit there, his head bowed in respect for several hours, trying to find the strength to leave the comfort of the Goddess's presence.