His Favorite Pet

Chapter 1

The cave felt more empty than ever today. The sun beams tempted for me to come outside; to see the world I once knew, that turned into the living nightmare. "Where are they," I uttered under my breath. My parents were both out in the forest getting the firewood. They left me here even though I was fully able to help them.

"They'll be fine," my voice echoed in the cavern.

I sat there, weaving my hands into my hair. I felt it getting long again, I'm sure Dad will get the knife and cut it as usual. I felt the a burning sensation in my chest. I guess, I am still growing as the girl I'm meant to be.

I heard footsteps from the entrance; they echoed to the back of the cave and returned to the front. I quietly made my way to the floor; not wanting to be seen by anyone that dared entryway.

"Karma," I heard a gentle voice call me. I recognized the voice. My mom.

She came to me with lumps of wood on her back; hair tangled and bags under her faded green eyes. Her whole appearance I remembered used to be one that spoke "caring mother."

"Oh, Karma love," she brushed her fingers through my hair. "You woke when we left didn't you? Sweetie, you need to rest."

We have been in the cave since the Gathering. The dawn of that day had given us the nightmare we could never think of. Werewolves raided every town they could find. Destroy the houses that were created into homes. Memories that could never be replaced. Lives that could never have full peace once more. They began to collect all of the Humans they could catch. No matter you were; either child, woman or man. They collect you and take you into a building, and brainwash you to be a slave to a werewolf.

We made it out of our home as quick as we could. We all made it safely, though with the others we could not tell. That day I wish I knew if Nik had made it with his mom. He was the only true friend I had growing up.

I shudder at the gust of wind blowing through the cave. I helped Mom remove the wood off her back and had her sit down and rest. She sighed of relieve once the weight was off her; a woman like her can't push herself like this.

"Do you want me to catch some fish," I asked her.

She shook her head. That my Dad should be back with a deer from hunting or maybe fish soon. Though, I wish he hurried, the sun rays began to darken of warm colors.

Both Mom and I heard the echoes of feet coming. We moved quietly away from the circle of rocks to a boulder that was only a few feet away. Mom ducked behind as I grabbed a pistol. The silencer was on so if it was a Beast looking for a fight, his buddies won't hear it go off.

"Karma," a male voice spoke quietly into the cave. "June."

It was my dad. Oh, sweet dear God. I sighed of major relief. I almost came close to shooting him. I rested my head upon the rock as my Mom had gotten up to kiss my Dad 'hello.'

"I almost shot you, you jerk," I shouted to him.

"I am glad you didn't," he smiled at me. He messed with my hair, which was now long enough to get it tangled.

"Hair is getting long again," he said as he dropped a lot of weight on the floor. "Do you need me to cut it?" He pulled out his knife and handed it to me.

"Let her have it for a few days," my Mom began. "She might want to feel like a girl again."

I will admit, I do miss my hair being long. It used to reach my waist. "A chocolate river," Nik would tell me from time to time.

Now, since the raids; it has been cut poorly with the knife. The ridged edge cut it unevenly and had looked more of a young child doing it. Though, with the style, I was passable for looking like a boy.

After Dad had left toward the other side to begin skinning the deer, I hugged Mom and thanked her for persuading Dad to let me keep the hair.

As they were busy with cooking the deer meat, the sun began to fully set beyond the trees. I thanked God, that they finally let me out for the moments I had. At around sunset, I walked down the steep hill to the river that was not too far from the cave.

I stepped down to the bank, felt the water splash against my sudden action. "Ok, just quick little bath," I uttered to myself.

I held onto the bar of soap that we had; and a slim towel that was grabbed when we left our home.

I unbuttoned my plaid shirt. It was slightly ripped slightly open but still able to wear long as it covered my body. Although it draped me like a dress, it used to be my painting shirt so I could wipe off the paint. But now it was my everyday shirt since the raids.

My bra fell off my shoulders when the clasp was unhooked. I unbuttoned my denim shorts that were hidden from the shirt and removed my underwear along with it. After I folded all of my clothes neatly close to the bank, I walked in the cold water. It sent shivers down my back as I cupped some and sprinkle my arms with it.

I took a deep breath before I dunked my head full below the surface. I felt my hair drift off like a weightless feather. After I held out for a few more moments I rose from the deep and gasped silently for air. I turned around to grab my soap bar; gently soaked water on it to attract the bubbles.

I rubbed the bar all over my body, any part I could reach for the moment. The bubbles tickled my skin; scrubbed away the dirt that somehow never left from the bath the previous day.

After I had dived again below the water; I had grabbed my towel and dried my body as quick as I could. I sighed of relief for redressing myself once more.

Once I had been fully dressed, I sat by a tree trunk that was solid enough to even stand in the most deadly of storms. I leaned my head against the hard bark; the roughness of it had been subsided after a moment.

After only a few minutes, I had risen from my seat and began my path up the hill to the cave.

Once dinner was consumed, both of my parents had fallen asleep close by the fire that slowly burned out.

As they slept, I sat on a smooth rock that made the perfect chair. The night sky was painted the darkest blue, with white spots that made up the stars.

"Things should be getting better," I whispered to myself. "Soon, we will find a new place to call home."

I returned to the car and continued to watch the fire blaze. The embers slowly leaving.

I drifted to sleep slowly, with eyelids heavy of exhaustion. Darkness was all I saw; blind to the outside dangers beyond the cave.

Although as I slept, all I could see in the enveloped darkness, was a hand. A muscular hand that was reaching for me.

Come to me...

I heard the faint whisper to me..

Instead of running away from the shadow figure; I tried reaching for him.