Hunted

Chapter 19

Malkolm *insert dirty smile here* >;D --->

Chapter 19-Amias' POV

“Azula, it’s okay. Shhh, everything’s gonna be okay,” I murmured. I knelt down beside her and ran my fingers through her glossy white coat, loving the feel of her silky fur against my fingers.

My words had no effect. She just continued to stare off into space, her sapphire eyes haunted. Her whimpers of distress burned my ears.

                “Is everything alright in here?” Dobry asked from the cave entrance. Concern clouded his voice. I didn’t take my eyes from Azula as I answered him.

                “I don’t know. I heard noises so I came in to check on her and found her like this.” I helplessly gestured to her, still rubbing soothing circles with my other hand.

        Dobry took this as his cue to enter, coming to a halt by my side. Azula showed no acknowledgement of his existence. It was just another sign to show how horrible she was feeling; no matter what she said, I knew that Azula liked Dobry best out of everyone in the pack, including me. There was no way that she would just ignore him like this.

                “Dobry, do something,” I begged. You’d have to be deaf not to hear the desperation in my voice.

                “What do you want me to do?” His voice portrayed just how hopeless he was feeling; he was just as clueless as I was when it came to an emotional woman.

                “Something. Anything.” I paused. “I can’t stand to see her like this.”

                “I can’t promise anything, but...” Dobry trailed off, crouching down beside me and reaching out a hand to touch Azula’s right temple. I shuffled back a bit to give him room.

                Her body spasmed on contact, her eyes flashing. I shook from the effort of not ripping Dobry away from her. I had to remind myself that he was here to help her, not hurt her, despite how it may look.

                My eyes darted from Azula’s trembling frame to Dobry. I flinched when I saw that his eyes had changed from their usual green to a disturbing milky white. It was the same colour it had been when he’d trapped me in the Wolf’s Bane circle. I suppressed a shudder.

                Dobry’s breathing was heavy as he chanted words in a language I didn’t understand. Little droplets of perspiration trickled down the sides of his face. His body trembled just as badly as Azula’s did.

                The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as that unnatural energy seeped into the cave; an energy I was beginning to recognise as Shaman magick.

                With a gasp, Dobry let his hand fall from Azula. He fell backwards, crashing to the floor with a groan. At once, Azula’s trembling ceased, although her whimpering continued. She threw us both an accusing glare before retreating back into her own little world.

                “Dobry!” I cried, rushing to help the older wolf into a sitting position. “Are you okay?”

                “Just peachy,” he panted, wiping away a bead of sweat that had trickled into his eye. His movements were lethargic, like he was moving through water.

                “So what happened? What did you do?” I asked eagerly, shifting Dobry so that he was propped against the wall. His shoulders slumped with exhaustion.