In The Shadows

Chapter 3 pt. 2

ha! i have gotten over my writers block! curse it! :) anyway, here it is. PART DOS!

----------

Griffin and I trotted on our way back to the village. It wasn't exactly a smooth trot because we kept bumping shoulders or biting each other's tails. Halfway to the village, though, we ran into some...trouble.

We were just closing on the perimeter of our hunting grounds, all was quiet for the forest, a few birds chirped and I heard a rabbit scampering out of a bush. Griffin had sat down, dragging me down with him. He playfully swiped at my muzzle and I nipped his neck. We rolled over and cuddled.

I felt great. Never had I been this happy and carefree; it was the best feeling in the world. Suddenly, Griffin was knocked from my side and lay crumpled at the base of a pine. Standing, I began to survey the area. Nothing. No movement whatsoever.

Little wolf, I told you I would be back.

 The voice. It's back and I think it came with a few others this time.

I twisted in circles trying to find the direction from which the voice came. Nothing at all was around me, it was all empty and strangely barren for a forest. A rustle of leaves behind me caused me to whip around ferociously. In my peripheral I caught a flash of silvery white.

Look around, Little Wolf. What do you see?

Nothing, I mind-yelled at the voice, I see nothing!

Look with your soul, not your eyes. Concentrate on the emptiness, forget what is real, see what is not.

Wow, I have Confucious as a scary mental voice. Great. Well I might as well try it.

I Shifted back to my human, turning slowly in circles and concentrating on nothing. My mind was blank, my eyes rotating on their own. Suddenly, an outline of rippling silver appeared in my vision.

The apparition was enormous, standing a full foot taller than me. It's outline was of a wolf, silver fur gleamed and silver eyes sparkled. I backed away as fast as possible, turning to run away from whatever this..this...thing was.

Do not worry, this is only a projection of myself. I am much smaller and currently busy right now. Little wolf, I am coming for you. Beware.

The silver wolf rippled and dissipated quickly. Griffin stirred behind me and immediately I rushed over. There was a gash on his shoulder from where he struck the tree. It was bleeding profusely, but it would heal quickly because of the blood that ran inches veins. His eyes fluttered open and he let out a low growl in pain.

"Griffin, Shift back. I need to catalog your injuries."

His wolf disappeared and presented a muscular human. Dark, shaggy black hair plastered itself to his face; his eyes glistened with agony. A low moan escaped him when I rolled him over.

"Where does it hurt?" I inquired.

"Shoulder for the most part, though my lower back feels like it's been impaled." As if to prove a point, he let out a chilling groan. His body rolled into a ball and he wrapped his hands around his thighs. I tried to touch his back, but he threw his head back and howled. The howl itself was scary enough, I wanted to run and get the village healer but he grabbed my wrist.

"Blood. Blood will make me heal faster, especially your blood, Kyri."

Huh? Why my blood? I voiced my question aloud.

"Because, your my mate. A mate's blood in the other wolf's bloodstream automatically mends damages and gives a temporary burst if strength to the receiving wolf. Did you not pay attention in Werewolf Sociology 101?"

"Well, no not really. I always thought that I wouldn't have to know this for a while and I figured I could get the whole birds and the bees thing from Mom or Dad." I shrugged and Griffin attempted to chuckle, but ended up coughing instead.

"Just drip your blood into any open wounds and I'll be fine in a minute." Well okay. If the shoe fits. I cut my wrist and held it over his shoulder. Slowly, the blood dripped into his wound, making a sizzling sound as it did so. His hand closed over my other hand and gripping hard. I looked down at his back where a gash as wide as his hips was. It was at least an inch an a half wide and was oozing blood and other various debris. I grimaced.

"This will hurt." I warned. I squeezed my wrist to make the blood well and again held it over his wound. This time there was no sizzling sound, instead there was a loud crack, like someone had snapped a tree branch. He howled mournfully and dug his fingernails into my skin. His gash was slowly closing up, stopping the blood flow and clearing away debris. After a few minutes, both major wounds had healed, as well as many small lacerations on his arms and legs.

Shakily, he stood on his feet and immediately swayed to the side. I caught him and held him for a while.

"Shift back. Your wolf will be better off than your human is." He nodded and stalked off a few paces. His wolf formed slower than usual, his injuries causing damage to his strength. I Shifted as well, padding over to his side to support him.

Let's go, he said wearily. I need the healer now.

I barked a reply and we headed home.

* * * * * * * * * *

The half run half walk back to the village was long and painful for both of us. Griffin's wolf was apparently not even close to being better off. His walking path was swerved and every so often he would come close to impacting with a tree. Poor kid.

About a mile out of the village, I felt that something was wrong. There were supposed to be patrol wolves here, making sure enemy packs don't find a way in, but there were no guards, only slash marks in the tree trunks and blood spattered plants.

Griffin, something's wrong. His ears perked up and his eyes swiveled to past my shoulder.

Kyri, Blake and Trent are over there...dead. Looks like there has been an attack.

I spun around and, sure enough, there lay Blake and Trent, friends of ours that must have been on duty when this happened. Without thinking of Griffin, I took of toward the village square. Everywhere there were bodies. Bodies with arms and legs missing. Bodies distorted and mutilated so much, they were unrecognizable. Blood spattered tents, plants, and tools. I grimaced inwardly and shot off towards my father's tent.

What I saw is something I will not forget. I rolled my head back and let out a piercing howl into the air.

In my tent lay my mother, my father, and my unborn sibling.