The Land of the Wolves

Chapter Two

Aurora continued to walk through the dark forest. She didn't know for how long she was walking and actually had no real idea of where to go. Maybe she should have thought about this. Then she noticed that the forest was getting a bit brighter. There were less trees around and more light shining through. She must have walked for so long that the sun started to rise. Her eyes had to get used to it, so she put her hand above her head to be able to see something. It looked beautiful with all the light coming out between the trees and the leaves. She looked around. No one has followed her which was good. She couldn't see any place to hide if they did. Her stomach made rumbling sounds. She barely had time to eat anything, so she stopped to grab a snack out of her bag. That's when she heard something. Rustling leaves. Aurora looked around. Another person? But to her surprise it wasn't a person. It was a group of wolves. She knew that wasn't good and she was right. The wolves approached her and started to growl. She was in their territory. She grabbed her bag and started to run. The wolves following. Aurora had to look out for trees in the way or anything she could fall over. Not easy when you have angry wolves following. One caught up to her and tried to bite. She didn't know where to go. Then her right foot hit something and she fell down but not just on flat ground. She fell and rolled down a hill. The wolves stopped above and looked. She was out of the territory and not a thread anymore. So they walked away. Aurora laid there in pain. "Ow! That was...horrible", she said and tried to get up. She stopped when a stinging pain in her right foot hit her. Did she break anything? Unsure of what caused that pain, she laid back down on the cold ground. No one would find her. Hungry and hurt she closed her eyes. Was this the end? The pain in her body was too much for her and slowly she lost focus on everything.

On a path walked two men. Their clothes dark and some parts with a bit of gold. Both had long hair and each had a bow. They looked around. "I don't think we'll find anything good to hunt Charles", said one. The other looked at him when he started to speak "Even if we don't, it was still a great idea to get out here Matthew". Then something caught their attention. A person laying on the ground. Matthew walked towards them. "It's a woman. She seems wounded but still alive", he said and looked at the other man. Charles thought about this. "Let's get her somewhere safe. We can think about what to do with her, when she's awake", he said. Matthew nodded and tried to get her on his back, Charles helping him. They both walked, when he got a good hold of her. Charles walked behind, making sure Matthew wouldn't lose the grip and let's her fall. Both arrived at a huge city and walked to a castle.

Aurora woke up, her head hurting. She looked around. She laid on a bed and her wounds got taken care of. Where was she and how did she get here? So many thoughts ran across her mind but it quickly stopped, when the pain in her head returned. Then the wooden door opened. A man entered the room with a young lady. "It seems you finally woke up", he said. The lady walked up to her with a glass of water and a pill. "This will help with your pain", she said. Aurora looked confused but was also scared. The man noticed and made a hand gesture to the woman. She nodded and left the room. "How...did I get here?", Aurora asked. He looked at her. "Me and my older brother found you in the forest. We got you here and took care of your wounds", he answered. Aurora couldn't fully believe him. He was a stranger. "Your foot needs rest. It's not broken but you shouldn't walk around much and only if really necessary", he said. She took the glass of water and looked at the pill. Should she take it? She hesitated but then grabbed it, put water in her mouth and swallowed it with the pill. "What is your name if I may ask?", the man asked in a soft voice. "I am...Aurora. Aurora Durandus", she answered and put the glass away. "Well then Aurora. I'm Matthew Greywolf. My brother Charles is outside guarding the door. If you need anything just call him", he said and left the room. Now she was alone again. She still didn't really know where she was and still had so many questions. Yet the pain made everything harder. Maybe a bit more sleep would help. So she made herself comfortable and fell asleep. She woke up again after what felt like hours. She stretched and let out a big yawn. That nap was good for her and it had given the pill some time to do its job. She felt great but then remembered the words of the long haired man. She should only move around if necessary. Which was making her a bit sad, since she wanted to look around and know where exactly she is. A knocking caught her attention, then the door opened. This time it was a man, with long hair but darker. This most be Matthews brother Charles. "I wanted to check on you. You were really quiet", he said. Aurora nodded. "I took a nap because of the pill", she explained. "Well if you think that you could stand up, then I would take you with me for something to eat", he said and walked in. He already had her when he mentioned something to eat. For this reason she tried to stand up. Charles standing next to her to make sure she wouldn't fall. Aurora gently put her right foot on the ground. It didn't hurt as bad as before. Charles lead the way and Aurora followed as fast as she could. They both walked through big and long halls, walked down some stairs and arrived in a room. It had a large table in the middle and on it was a lot of food. "There you are brother" Matthew called. Aurora looked at them. "So this is the girl you have been talking about", a man said. He had short hair, a scarf around his neck and a long coat on. He as well had black clothes with some small parts in gold. Matthew nodded happily. "I made sure she wouldn't fall and wanted that she eats with us", said Charles. Then another person entered. He, unlike the others, had no hair and like the brothers he had a sleeveless top. "What are you all doing here? I'm starving! Let's eat", the man said completely ignoring Aurora. "Well that's not a way to be speaking when we have a guest", the man with the scarf said. The other looked around and then at Aurora, who waved a bit with her hand. "Ah. My apologies young lady", he said. "You already know the Greywolf brothers. My name is Falk. Falk Maria Schlegel", the man said and stood next to the other. "My name is Roel van Helden", he said while looking at her. Aurora nodded. "Let us eat my friends. We shouldn't wait", Falk said and walked to the table. The others followed. Aurora didn't know where to sit. Matthew looked at her. "If you want you can sit next to me", he said. She wasn't so sure about it but then slowly moved to the seat, next to the younger one of the two brothers. Falk said a few words and the boys started to place food on their plates. Aurora waited until they were done to fill hers. "One question Falk", Roel started while placing some chicken, "Where's the emperor?" Falk looked at him. "He's out and helping some folks. A big problem with selling things", he said. 'So that's why there is one empty seat', Aurora thought to herself. It was very quiet, only sounds of dishes could be heard. Then Aurora looked at each of them. "May I ask...what this place is? I am here and yet I know nothing", she explained. The 4 men looked at her. "You have never heard of this place?", Roel asked and got a head shaking for a no. "This is Sigewulf. The kingdom where humans and wolves live together", Matthew said. Aurora looked confused at them. "Where I lived we never got told what other places existed", she explained. That's when the men realised, that she couldn't be from this or any of the other kingdoms, if she knew nothing. "Let us continue to eat. We shall speak about this more when we're done. I will also take you to the emperor to explain yourself", Falk said. Aurora could only nod. They all continued to eat in silence. Aurora being afraid of what might await her.