Ashley's POV: Pacing up and down in the entrance to my cave, I tried everything I could think of to rouse my wolf from her fitful trance of sorrows. From demanding to begging, nothing worked. Occasionally I would hear a small sigh or a low whine but it had been 3 months since the dreaded words were said and Ember hadn't spoken a single word.
Giving up I set out on one of my daily trips to the lake. I had found it a few weeks back and it had become routine to visit for a drink and/or wash.
Sipping the water from cupped hands and resting by the waters edge, I once again tried to persuade Ember to speak. This time I heard her mumble something that I couldn't quite hear however before I could respond I heard someone behind me. Closing my eyes I let my enhanced senses branch out to try and get an idea as to who was spying on me.
Ashley
I almost screamed as Ember suddenly whispered my name. Ashley I know I have been very rude and stuff but right now you need to get out of here. What do you mean? I asked, a mixture of happiness and confusion evident in my tone. Look just do what I say, we don't have time for this. But Ember...! Just fucking run! You're being hunted by rogues!
I sat frozen in shock before jumping up and racing towards my hideaway. If I could get to it I would be fine, its whole purpose was for scenarios like this.
Ashley c'mon there's one catching up! Ember was shouting in a desperate attempt to make me run faster. With the bolt-hole in sight I pushed myself to top speed and as I was a meter away from safety the unthinkable happened. I tripped. I smashed into the ground with an incredible force and let out a squeak.
Laughter behind me made me twist round and I immediately tried to scramble backwards, away from the terrifying sight before me. A group of rogues all dirty and battle scarred in their wolf forms except for the guy laughing.
"Well boys what do we have here? A pretty little girl all on her own in need of some sort of assistance, it looks like." He beamed. Shudders shook my body and I let out a small whimper. "Oh what's this are you cold? I can fix that." He stated with a smirk. In one swift movement he picked me up and held me close to his chest. I squirmed as much as possible but it was no use. He brought his face right up to mine and I stiffened in fear, his foul breath rolling across my skin.
Ash! Yelled Ember but it was too late, I didn't see the rag doused in chloroform until I was going under.
I awoke in a dark room with bars and began to panic. Where was I? What happened? I felt my heart pounding as my anxiety increased.
Ash calm down. You've been placed in a cell that's all. Nothing happened to you. Embers familiar voice was calm and cool in my head.
What do we do now? I asked, surveying my surroundings. Ember didn't reply. Ember! I yelled in my head. Sorry Ashley but I... I don't know what to do. Just wait for the right moment to make a run for it? She sighed and fell silent once more. Leaning against the wall with nothing else to do, I let my thoughts drift back to my plan. My plan for revenge to be exact. I planned to improve my fitness, strength, agility, fighting ability, pretty much everything. Then I would try to persuade others to join me on my quest for vengeance.
I had no idea how much time had passed but footsteps began to reverberate from a corridor behind the cell door. Quick as a flash I positioned myself back where I had woken up and pretended to sleep. My heart had just slowed down enough to create the illusion of unconsciousness, when suddenly the door crashed open and, as I peered through my eyelashes, a couple of tall figures crossed the threshold. Bang! The door swung shut then, silence. Risking a small peek I saw a large boot mere centimetres away from me.
"I don't think she is the one he was talking about." A male voice stated from the right side of me. " I mean who in the world would let such a valuable and stunning thing wander through the wilderness alone. No guards, no lookout, heck, not even a servant."
