Embers in the Dark

Rose

This chapter is rated M for sexual content.

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Animals were screeching and roaring through the forest as the three gentlemen ran as fast as they could.  They were heaving loudly and jumping over tree roots and plants.

"What the hell is going on?!" Robert yelled.  "Talk to me, Leo!"

Leo huffed and puffed as they all continued to run.  "I can't think right now!" he shouted.  "We need to get to that tree!"

A loud roar rumbled through the forest behind them but they didn't stop running.  Robert's heart was about ready to beat out of his chest at any moment as they could hear the stomping echoing behind them. 

"If we die here without you telling me what's wrong with her, I will be very upset!" Robert snapped.

Branches snapped off in the distance as Robert pushed himself to run harder.  Sean was starting to lag behind but he snatched Sean up and threw him over his shoulder before running next to Leonard.

"Oh fer fuck's sake, Englishman!" Sean yelled.  "I can run on me own just fine!"

Lilly's form jumped through a crevice in a grouping of trees with her teeth wet and glistening, a blood thirsty expression on her wolfish face.  Sean blanched at the sight.

"Run faster!" Sean screeched.

Both the men increased speed as Lilly chased after them, her mouth barking and her teeth snapping like a rabid animal. 

"We can't outrun her like this!" Leonard shouted.  "You must change forms!"

"I'm not showing her that yet!" Robert snapped.

Leonard chuckled with a shake of his head.  "You still want to try and salvage this mess of a plan?"

"Absolutely!"

Lilly snarled as she charged through a large tree root, the tree breaking off and falling over on its side with a loud crash.

"What the hell for?!" Leonard bellowed loudly.

"I'm just a hopeless romantic!" Robert laughed before taking deep breaths.  "Gods, this is a real training exercise for stamina and endurance, isn't it?"

With a short cackle, Leonard looked at Robert with a smile.  "Maybe for you, old man!"

"I'm not that old!" Robert snapped.  "You're older than me!"

Lilly managed to get close enough to leap above them and land in front of them.  She turned with a loud, two toned growl and her hackles raised.  The men stopped in their tracks and backed up as the giant black wolf stalked towards them.

"I can't wait tah dig me teeth into some English flesh!" she snapped excitedly.

Leonard leaned to Robert's side.  "You got any bright ideas?" he whispered.

Robert's eyes darted back and forth as he tried to think.  When something came to him, he set Sean down and shoved him towards Leonard before taking a few steps away from them and holding up his necklace.

"Lillian..." he sang, shaking the small glass bulb between his fingers.  "Are you still curious about what I smell like?"

Lilly's eyes followed his every movement, her stance relaxing a little.  Robert backed up a few more steps before side stepping around her.  Lilly continued to track him.  Once Sean and Leonard were behind her, Robert put one hand on top of the other, spreading his fingers apart to form a type of signal.  Sean started fiddling with his bracelet.