Moonland
To follow this story from the beginning, do check out the sequels;
[Part 1], [Part 2], [Part 3], [Part 4], [Part 5], [Part 6]
8.05pm, June 28th 2018
“Get out of my way Wolfman! I am taking her back where she belongs. She is mine!” roared Badar, the moon prince. “No one takes Diana from me today! She is mine!” roared back Richard, the wolf man. Their voices sounded like rolling thunder, deep, loud and scary. Both of them charged, crashing into each other, claws and teeth bared, grunting and growling terribly as they fought and tore at each other. Badar lashed out violently and slashed Richard in the stomach, spraying blood everywhere. “Get away from him! Leave him alone you horrible oaf” screamed Diana, tears pouring down her face. She had broken out of the trance that held her prisoner and was afraid for Richard’s safety. Badar froze at her words and in that unguarded moment, Richard hit him hard in the chest. The impact of the blow threw him against the fountain pillar and the tall, beautiful, ageless structure came crashing down on him. He lay unmoving, as though dead and Lucinda rushed to his side. Richard moved the heaviest pillar off Badar’s prone form. His eyes were shut and his moon glow seemed to be ebbing away. Lucinda crouched down on the grass beside him, cradling his head gently and touching his face and neck tenderly. She was weeping as she looked up at Richard who had morphed back into human form and had come closer to take a look with Diana by his side. “What have you done?!” she screamed.
Badar’s glow was getting duller and duller by the minute and Lucinda seemed to be getting angrier too. “You have to come back whether you like it or not!” she said to Diana. She raised up both her hands towards the heavens as though in supplication and suddenly there appeared a host of winged moon creatures who lifted the moon prince up and vanished. Lucinda stretched her right hand and a white ray of light, like a moon beam began to shine from her palm. She began to float upwards directing the moon beam full onto Diana’s face. Her face was dark with anger as she said the words, “Come along little sister” and then she faded away. Within a split second of her disappearance, Diana felt herself begin to float upwards too. She grabbed unto Richard’s shoulders in fear, “Don’t let me go” she begged and faded away too, taking Richard along with her. The three parents, Femi, Morenike and Ulva who had been watching from the safety of the mansion, ran out at the disappearance of their children but there was no trace of them anywhere. Only the damaged fountain and its fallen bricks attested to the fight they had just witnessed! They looked at one another in consternation. “What under the heavens do we do now” asked Ulva. It was a rhetorical question no one had an answer for!
Diana and Richard felt as though they were floating through space and time. They continued to hold on tight to each other as they rose and rose. One minute they were floating upwards in a vortex of space with a kaleidoscope of lights rushing by and the next minute they were standing on firm ground. They stood for a moment contemplating their new surroundings. This was definitely not the Thompson's estate in Lagos. It had been night time when they were transported from the estate. It was obvious they were in Moonland. Here everything looked especially bright and beautiful with the moon light shinning as bright as day. The air smelled different, fresh and untainted. A gentle breeze blew against their faces, the calm surroundings belying their confusion. The most striking thing about Moonland was not only the abundance of colorful vegetation and streams everywhere but the great variety of animals present. Animals known to be wild and dangerous seemed to be interacting peacefully with other animals and other inhabitants of the land. "This is a happy place Richard, I can hear the animals talking" said Diana, gazing around in awe. "I feel it too" said Richard. He couldn't hear the animals speak like she could, but he could pick up the prevalent emotions through his super werewolf senses. Richard was back in his werewolf form and couldn't seem to shape-shift back into human form.
Diana eyes lingered especially on a huge tiger that had been watching them languidly since they appeared. He looked totally unruffled by their sudden appearance on what looked like his turf. "How do we find Lucinda and the prince in this strange land?" Richard wondered out loud. "He will show us the way. He says his name is Kale and he has been waiting for me" said Diana, pointing at the tiger she had been focused on. "You go on with him. It's fairly obvious that I shouldn't be here. I don't know how you managed to bring me along with you. I will stay out in the open watching out for danger, but I will be close by at all times. Have no fear my love. Follow him, my eyes are on you" said Richard. Diana hugged her sweetheart and turned away to follow Kale. Richard watched them go, wondering what was going to happen. Had he killed Badar, the moon prince? If he had, there was no longer any contender for Diana's hand in marriage or was there? With his telepathic abilities, he spoke to Diana who was now some ways ahead with Kale the tiger. "I love you with all of my heart D, remember that, no matter what happens. I will get us back home safe and you will be my wife in December". He strained to hear her response, imagining that she smiled but he could no longer pick up her emotions nor hear her thoughts, she was too far away.
To be continued......
Cheers and thanks for reading!!
