Rogue Moon (unedited(complete)

chapter 16

The morning was bitter and cold, there was no fire to keep us warm now and we hadn't eaten at all yesterday. My stomach was in knots and I was cold. There was something warm against my back however and I wanted nothing more than to curl up and be surrounded by it. Trying to snuggle closer into whatever it was, I was a bit startled when it wrapped around my small frame and pulled me closer.

Opening my eyes I blinked a few times, seeing how I was in bed. Glancing back I could see fur, and none other than my beast companion. His eyes were closed as he laid on his side spooning me.

Yesterday he was trying to kill me... Yet now he was keeping me warm. It was hard to understand this creature...what drove it to do the things it did? Why save me and then try to kill me? Why take me away from my village? I still had so many unanswered questions, and with so many things that I had no answers to I couldn't help but feel the fear creeping back into my heart.

I had enjoyed the wolf's company the last few days, he was kind of stubborn at times but easy to work with. And being out here is so new to me. I enjoy the forest but without him... I wouldn't survive on my own. When did I become so reliant on such a monster?

Monster... The word tasted bitter in my mouth.

Why...he wasn't normal, he wasn't like other wild wolves...he was a beast right? So why did it seem so wrong to think of him as such.

Looking towards one of the windows, I could see light peeking through, but it still seemed darker than usual outside. Was it going to rain soon?

Should I run away...

My chest ached at the thought, surely if I left now, the rain would wash away my scent. The beast would have no way to track me and if be able to look for a way back home...

Home. I didn't sound right calling that village my home, of course, I had been living there for years now and gramps had taken care of me, he loved me like a daughter and I looked up to him, but that village... I always felt out of place there... The people were nice sometimes but I never really fit in. I had no real friends to speak of and I always felt confined to my little cabin. Not to mention the idea of leaving the wolf...it made the ache in my chest worse...

How are we supposed to survive out here? We hardly have the tools or supplies necessary. There's no good source of food and once it's cold enough the springs will freeze up, we won't have any water. The cold has already started to set in and we have no wood. What am I supposed to do?

Turning over to face the beast I could see he was still peacefully sleeping. What if he lost it again?

Burying my face in his fur I tried to calm myself. If I panic now it will only make things worse. I can't just stay here wallowing in self-pity... There must be something I could do, at least to help get my mind off things.

Slipping free from the beast's grasp, I did my best to not disturb him. Standing up I got dressed and grabbed the small bag from the table. Looking back once more to check if the beast was sleeping, I stepped outside.

Looking around I could see storm clouds gathering above. Maybe I could find some food and gather some sticks before the rain came.

I quickly set off into the forest gathering sticks as I went, it wouldn't last us very long but it was better than nothing. Thunder rolled in from distant skies as I gathered everything I could.

Bringing back as many sticks as I could I managed to make a decent pile on the porch. Now we just needed food for tonight. Getting back down the steps I went back into the forest and started checking the usual spots, the only problem was, I had nearly depleted the bushes of berries, I could not find any wild potatoes and any mushrooms I found were too small to really be of any use.