FD: One Shots and Extras

4. Lost Nights

Violet shivered. Her legs felt stiff, like ice under the sheets. Even her mother's arm wrapped around her was void of its usual warmth. She should close the window... For some reason, the beasts of the night were too loud.

She rose slowly before falling back on the ground. Her muscles ached. Her eyes shot open in surprise to be met with the tops of trees and a starry night sky.

She was outside? When did she get here? Her mother's arm was still wrapped around her. The familiar bracelet was pressed against her shoulder. "Maman?" She groaned as she reached toward it. It was light and sticky.

Violet jolted up as her mother's arm took a moment to detach itself from her body. Naked, past the cloak there was nothing. Her hair was left in a wild mane that stuck to her forehead. She hastily tore it from her face to clear her vision. It wasn't her mother, only her arm.

Violet let out a sharp scream. "Maman!" Who would do this? Why was she out here? She looked around quickly. Tomi! Where was Tomi? She felt her heartbeat quicken as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She didnt know where she was. She needed to get home and see Tomi. "Maman!" Her eyes swelled in a panic, and her back ached. She didn't have time for that right now. Her cloak was stained from the dirt and stickiness that covered her but she held it against her for any hope of warmth. She stood up quickly before taking her mother's bracelet. There was no use, it would have to be amputated.

But how?! She heard the rushing of waves in her ears. Of course, the stream. The stream was close to home, if she could find the stream she could check on Tomi. "Tomi!" She yelled before trying to break into a run. She fell back on her knees. Was she attacked? Why couldn't she remember last night? She felt a chill in her sore bones. She wobbled as she forced herself back up. "Help!"

Where was everyone? Her head whipped from side to side to see shifting branches and dead leaves. It smelled awful, of course. Her mother's blood.  It was all around her. She was going to be sick, she needed to leave. She needed to see them.

Focusing on one foot before the next she dragged herself toward the sound of the river. She heard it so clearly, it couldn't be far. Her steps seemed to drag on forever. Why did every turn in this forest look the same? Was she lost? This was taking too long! "Mamma!"

The pain crept up, spreading past her spine into her tense shoulders.  She clenched her teeth as tears streamed past her cheeks. She needed to find the stream. If she could find the stream she'd find them. 

She huffed. It had to be those wolves. She hated them with such a passion! They were beasts thar did nothing but destroy, barely ever finishing their victims.  It was as if they lived for the blood shed. She knew better than anyone what they were capable of. Violet Cappotti, daughter of the great hunter Vauquelin Cappotti. She hated them with a passion, and like her father she swore she would kill them all. A beast had even tried to attack her on the simple road to her grandmother's!

She smirked at her cleverness. It was dead now. She remembered being assaulted by its pack but everything else seemed like a foggy memory. It was clear they were vengeful, she'd need to be careful to avoid them. Memories of her father in his thick silver hide drove her on. He wasn't here anymore, who else would help Maman? Who else would care for Tomi?

Despite the agony, her feet picked up speed. The river was becoming louder. This would be far easier if she wasn't freezing and had lost her shoes somewhere.  Answers, she needed answers. Clothing, a warm bed. She was starting to feel dizzy. The forest was so loud tonight! The wind pressed on. The creatures were lively. The crashing waves were ringing in her ears. "Help!"

A growl echoed. They were here. She was naked, weaponless. Those beasts had torn her mother apart and now they were coming for her! She wheezed. Faster, it was the scent if blood. Faster, Faster! To the river!

With her eyes and ears on high alert she hardly noticed when she fell in. The sharp water threatening to send her body in shock. Flakes of red chipped of her body and coated the clear waves as she rose and gasped for air. The moonlight shone, the water was turning the same color as her cloak. She couldn't take it. She weakly pulled herself upwards, throwing herself to the other side with deep breaths. She had to get home...

Steps shoved past the crinkling leaves.  A villager! "Help, Please!"

"There, we've found it!" A blurry figure came into view. Thank the gods...

"Tomi" She harshly coughed. "Tomi Cappotti. Is he safe?"

They stopped, and pulled out an arrow. "Forgive me." The silver tip heated her core in alarm as it flew toward her. On instinct, she swerved and ran. Her nails dug into the ground as her cape flew past her.
_______
It was cold. Everything hurt...
Her mother's arm wrapped around her. The familiar bracelet pressed onto her shoulder. If mamma was here, she was safe. Her mind felt foggy and faded. She pulled up her sheet closer as she went back to sleep.