The Conversation (2)

Madam Tera poured a second cup of tea and extended it to Matilda.

She hesitated at first, unused to such kindness, but Madam Tera merely raised a brow, silently insisting.

Finally, Matilda relented, accepting the cup with both hands. "Thank you," she said softly.

As she sipped the warm tea, a quiet realization settled over her... this was one of the best nights she'd had since losing her parents.

For the first time in a long while, she felt free. It was as if an invisible weight had been lifted from her chest, allowing her to breathe more easily.

Madam Tera allowed her to enjoy the moment a little longer before speaking again.

"How old are you, Matilda?"

The question was so sudden, so seemingly unrelated, that Matilda blinked in surprise. She had already poured out so much of her past...what else was left to ask?

Still, she answered truthfully. "Three months from now… I'll be fifteen."

Madam Tera nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That means you should start preparing."

Matilda furrowed her brows. "Preparing?"

Madam Tera set her cup down. "For the coming-of-age ceremony."

Matilda stilled.

She knew of the ceremony, of course. Every young werewolf did. It was a milestone that marked the transition into adulthood and full-pack membership.

The details varied from pack to pack, some had trials of strength, cunning, or endurance; others had symbolic transformation rituals or formal acceptance ceremonies. But the meaning remained the same.

"You'll be participating in this year's ritual," Madam Tera said with certainty.

Matilda's fingers tightened around her cup. Me?

Madam Tera continued, explaining what the ceremony meant, the significance behind it, and how this pack carried out the ritual.

"All pack members will gather before a great bonfire," she said, "as the High Shaman leads the ceremony. Each young werewolf of age will step forward, proving their worth and their readiness. It is a rite of passage, one that cannot be ignored."

Matilda swallowed.

"If they are lucky," Madam Tera added, "some find their mates soon after."

Matilda's heart skipped a beat. A mate? That thought had never once crossed her mind.

Madam Tera regarded her carefully. "You joined us during one of the most peaceful periods in this pack's history. But peace does not mean ease. Work can be oppressive when you receive nothing but insults in return." Her voice was firm but not unkind. "You will need a strong mind from here on out, Matilda."

Matilda lowered her gaze. A strong mind…

It was true...she had endured, but was she strong enough?

Madam Tera stood, stretching slightly. "If you don't have anything else on your mind, we can call it a night."

Matilda hesitated, but then she shook her head. "No… nothing else."

Madam Tera gave a small nod. "Then get some rest, child. The days ahead will not wait for you."

Matilda stood, bowing her head slightly in respect before making her way to the door.

As she stepped outside, the night breeze carried the scent of flowers from Madam Tera's small garden...soothing, grounding.

For the first time in a long while, Matilda felt… something close to hope.

Matilda took slow, measured steps to her room, careful not to make a sound.

Inside, the dim light from the moon filtering through the window revealed that Tina had returned.

She was fast asleep, her breathing even but deep, evidence of exhaustion or perhaps, frustration that had finally worn her out.

Sylvia, the ever-watchful one, stirred slightly as Matilda entered.

"You're back," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. Then, without another word, she turned over and drifted off again.

Nora, the cutie of their little group, was curled up in her usual odd sleeping position.

At some point, she had kicked her blanket off, leaving her small frame exposed to the cold night air.

Each time a chill breeze passed through, she instinctively coiled in on herself, seeking warmth.

Matilda's lips curled slightly. A rare, fleeting smile.

Shaking her head, she walked over to Nora's bunk and gently adjusted the blanket, tucking it around her to keep her from catching a cold.

The room was quiet. Peaceful.

Glancing at the small, flickering oil lamp in the corner, she realized just how late it was, past midnight.

The conversation with Madam Tera had lasted much longer than she'd expected, but she didn't regret a single moment of it.

She replayed Madam Tera's words in her mind, each one carrying weight, wisdom, and a sense of quiet understanding.

For the first time in a long while, she felt something within her. A longing.

A longing for the future.

For the coming-of-age ceremony.

For what lay ahead.