White Phoenix

Chapter 1

The cell was cold and damp. The air stale and the night cold. A small girl, thin and pale, lay against the hard stone wall. The only sound that could be heard was the petite women's ragged breathing. Even in her sleep each gasp for air made her appear as though she was at death's door.

Suddenly, a piercing howl tore through the silent night. The girl's eyes opened with a start. A small gasp escaped her parched lips. Her brilliant blue eyes raced about, searching for the cause of the alarm. A second howl broke the silence. She paused listening to it. Was it a friend or foe? Afraid of the latter she stumbled to her feet revealing blood stained bruised wrists that were shackled to the dull wall.

Noise could be heard from outside now. The barks and snarls of fighters racing past the building in which she stood. Realising the importance of this moment but unsure what to do with it the pale girl started pulling at her bonds.

The shackles, to an untrained eye appeared to be made of regular metal, steel or iron. Only a wolf would recognise the burn marks on the girl's wrists to be that of silver. Looking about the room there were several objects -a rudimentary toilet, some dry, mouldy bread, wrappers and cans, a large wicker chair and several shards of sheltered glass. Seemingly from beer bottles, if the dull green pigment was anything to go by.

Then she spotted it.

A small but solid looking hook in the wall. It held up an outdated calendar. Quickly removing it, the girl gathered up the long chain connected to her wrists and wrapped it around the hook. At first it looked like it might give way but as she leaned her weight against it, pulling on the silver, the hook held fast.

The sounds outside were becoming more and more violent. Frightened whelps and whimpers were barely audible under the growls and barks of the attackers. Spurred on by the violence occurring outside the girl gave one last yank on the chains before collapsing on the floor as the links gave way - split into two.

She was panting heavily now. All her prior energy seemingly had left her. Slowly she propped herself up. Her hands were still bound together by the silver shackles, but she was free from the well. Unsteadily, she climbed to her feet, stumbling towards the small barred window. She reached up and managed to pull herself up onto the sill. She peered outside.

It appeared that the attacking pack had now claimed dominance. She could see figures she did not recognise. Men and wolves pacing outside. They were beginning to secure the perimeter; some were breaking into the cell buildings similar to hers and bringing out the prisoners inside. Fear leapt in her heart. Would this be worse than before? If the blood-stained ground was an indicator this was a far more brutal pack than any she had seen before. Her decision only took a second. Before she was what she was doing she had pushing her tiny malnourished frame through the wrought iron bars on the window. She slid out as quiet as night and dropped gently on the wet earth below.

Two men were patrolling just in front of her, though they were completely unaware of the little escapee as they were engaged in deep conversation. One of the pair stood out in particular. He was a couple of inches taller than his companion and had sturdy broad shoulders. Nothing else could be seen of him in the dark night, but it was clear from his stance and the aura that exuded from him - he was the alpha.

Fear flooded her chest and she watched in terrified silence as another man called the pair away. Bracing herself she crept slowly towards the edge of her former prison and looked around the corner. The men were now gathered around a large fire, there were women too, all fighters. The deep orange glow from the fire was casting long shadows against the building startling the girl with every sudden move.

Knowing that if she were to stay here much longer, she would be caught and likely killed on the spot the girl focused her attention back on the trees. Suddenly, and before she quite knew what she was doing, she had made a run for it! Weaving in and out of the trees she tried to dive deep enough into the woods where she would not be found.

Unfortunately, fate it seemed had a different plan in mind. A howl arose from the place she had just left and the pounding of paws against the sodden earth floor was unmistakable - wolves. Humans too it seemed, carrying great sticks aflame which lit up the woods in a hellish fashion. Her hands still bound with silver; she could not transform. Her weary body began to fail. Hair whipped around as she glanced back to see if they were yet upon her and - she tripped- falling, headlong, into the earth. She lay there, barely breathing, a tear running down into the earth below, winching in anticipation of the pain.

The men and wolves who had been following her close behind now held back. A sudden silence filled the woods as the pack strained to hear where she had gone. Nothing could be heard. The girl lay silent on the mossy ground - too scared to let out the slightest breath.

One of the men walked forward looking about the earth -the moonlight revealed his strong, handsome face with dark brown hair and a chiselled jawline. He was the Alpha. Suddenly, a large grey wolf began to sniff the ground and moved forward picking up on her scent.

The pack moved forward in unison as the small girl suddenly darted up off the ground. Clothes ripped as the Alpha transformed and tore after her. She didn't stand a chance. A blood curdling snarl ripped through the air. It was useless and she knew it backing herself against a wide oak tree, her head turned to the side trying to escape the sharp teeth of the Alpha.

Barely 3 feet away from her, suddenly, the Alpha froze. Even in wolf form you could see that his mood had changed. He was no longer snapping and snarling at the girl. The girl turned her head slightly to see why she was not yet dead and all of a sudden, her body crumpled beneath her.

The Alpha instantly shifted and stalked towards the forlorn figure on the ground. A wolf snapped near the girl's face. One look from the Alpha was all it took to send him whimpering away.

He bent down over the small girl and gently brushed away the hair that was covering her face. It was only then that he seemed to notice just how tiny she was, and not in stature. She was unhealthily thin. He let out a quite growl... Some of the pack had also shifted and watched in astonishment as he bent down and scooped the tiny girl into his arms. "Get Felix or Lucia now... now!' With the alpha order rippling through the air, the pack dispersed.

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Hiya!

I am new to writing on here. If there are any mistakes do let me know!

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