Chapter 216: Masks

Out back, August and Greta were enjoying the distraction of helping the pups with their masks.

Lily was finishing her rabbit mask, painting it with all the colors available. Its cute bunny face was brightened with the colors of the rainbow, and August smiled watching the girl bite her lip in concentration, covering every bare spot that still lacked color so that it would be perfectly filled.

Lily had come a long way. She was still quiet and shy, but the withdrawn pup who had avoided art classes all together was nowhere in sight. There was something about being here and creating things with her hands that seemed to heal a part of her.

Often August looked upon the pups through her Veiled vision. There was a unique energy when they were creating, and it hummed amongst them all, as if they became one vibrant organism that thrived in the space of creation. Wounds were slowly healed and forgotten as newness was brought forth from their own imaginations and they tapped into a common impulse to create.

This is what art was about. The thrill of helping others, particularly pups, find that magic soared through August every time she was able to share in this creative becoming with them.

It helped August as well. There was so much fear and uncertainty about the coming days and the threat that was looming, but when she was with the pups, shivering in the fresh fall air, skipping from project to project and pup to pup to see what their brilliant little minds were bringing forth into the world, all of that receded into something less important. This was what was important and vital. This moment. These souls. This space that they shared together.

The pups were also thrilled that their Luna was glowing. They asked so many questions, she couldn't help but be a little overwhelmed, but their curiosity was adorable. Lily wondered if she was part of the moon. Clementine asked if instead the baby was part of the moon and maybe August had swallowed a piece that broke off and fell into the forest. Bear seemed quite aware of how these things really worked, and he rolled his eyes at the girls who preferred fantastical stories that would explain the radiant light that emitted from August's skin.

But all the pups seemed drawn to her, cooing in awe and touching her flesh, getting up close to her fair, glowing skin with their eyes, as if upon further inspection they could discern where the light was coming from.

"Maybe a magnifying glass would help," one of them suggested.

"You think?" she chuckled, watching as they all bent close, inspecting her.

"More like a microscope," another countered.

"I have one!" someone exclaimed.

"Are you all done with your masks?" the booming voice of their Alpha startled them all into silence, and they spun around to peer up at him.

"Yes sir," Isaac was the first to respond, followed by little hums of affirmation from the others.

"Let's see them then," Graeme prompted with a tilt of his chin, walking forward amongst them with his hands clasped behind his back, inspecting the work of the pups who August had been mentoring in different forms of creative expression.

There was a devil, a bear, a rabbit—Graeme gave his mate a sidelong glance and she giggled to herself before raising her hands innocently, a gesture showing she had nothing to do with that choice of animal—a fox, a goblin… the masks were all truly impressive with the details they were able to achieve in the paper mache medium.

"Are you all excited for the festival tomorrow?" he finally asked after evaluating all the pups' creations.

"Yes, Alpha!" they replied in unison, a chorus of excitement.

August beamed as she watched them all. They were glowing more than she ever could. This was the pack's hope—these little ones right here. They were full of curiosity and questions and dreams and love and forgiveness.

"Okay, don't forget to take your masks with you!" Greta reminded them.

"I can't wait to see you all dressed up tomorrow!" August beamed.

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"Wait Luna, come see what we brought for you!" Plum grabbed her hand, drawing her around the side of the yard and toward the front.

"You brought something for me?"

"Yes! Come see!" the other pups skipped and ran around her in excitement until they came to the front of the house.

Around the wild, overgrown fall grasses and flowers, they approached the front porch where over a dozen pumpkins with goofy and scary carved faces were waiting. It was such an impressive collection of characters that August's face lit up in surprise.

"Did you all make these?"

"We heard it is a custom where you come from," Alexander said proudly.

"We wanted to surprise you!" Clementine added.

"This is such a huge surprise! They are all wonderful!" August giggled, approaching the ghoulish faces that stared blankly at her, awaiting for the candle light that would animate them from within.

"You like it?" one of them asked.

"It was my idea!"

"No, it was mine!"

"You had never even heard of it until I told you about the video I saw."

"Your mom told you about it, Bear."

"She did not!"

"I can't wait to put candles in these tomorrow. They will look amazing, especially all together. Thank you so much for the surprise, pups. I love it," August interrupted the arguments that were unlikely to cease on their own.

"Do you have a mask for tomorrow, Luna August?" Lily asked, grabbing hold of August's hand.

"I do, but it isn't as impressive as any of yours. It is a masquerade style with feathers and lace that matches my dress," she answered.

"What color is your dress?"

"It's gold," she smiled in response to the curiosity that was continuously brimming in all of them. Their excitement for the festival was at its peak, which was understandable since it was only 24 hours away.

"That sounds so pretty!"

"It's about time for all of you to head home. Grab your masks before you leave!" she reminded them, sending them scurrying back to the rear of the house in pursuit of their creations.

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