In the Rise

Chapter 5: The North

For three days we run.

Three days we can feel them pursuing behind us.

By the end of the third day, I feel blood coming through my paws, the soles of the feet split from the sharp rocks and constant pounding.

But we do not stop.

Not until Renna collapses.

Mother and I drag her body into a covering of plants to hide us. I go back and try as best as I can to cover the scent, running the wrong ways and trying to mix up the path.

When I return, Renna still has not caught her breath.

Mother has shifted back also, tears coming down her face.

I do not shift. Fear comes into me that if I shift back now, there could be a chance I would be unable to return to this form if needed.

Mother looks at me, understanding filling her.

"Nilsa," she holds her arm out, letting me lean into her embrace. She strokes my fur, the soothing motion only reminding me of Jerome. Of his own hands.

A small whine of pain escapes me.

Mother turns sharply to me but realizes that nothing is wrong physically.

"Do not think about him."

My ears flatten at her words.

She leans further in though, anger and something deadly mixing with her voice, "do not think his name ever again, Nilsa. He is gone from your life."

I cry. The sound of an animal crying is one I have heard before. It is a pitiful thing, something no one should hear.

Mother takes her hands, clamping my jaw shut, her eyes frantic to our surroundings. My sense of clarity is slowly seeping away as I try my best to swallow down this pain.

I wanted nothing more than to cry. To turn back to him.

To run straight into danger for him.

Mother seems to sense my thoughts.

Her hand comes down, hitting the side of my head, "Nilsa! Never again! He is nothing to you now!" She gets into my face, staring down at me, "he killed your father- he watched and did nothing. He rejected you. He as a mate is worthless. You are not the one who should have suffered from his weakness. You were never the weak one of the two."

She continues to stare at me, continues to look to make sure I am acknowledging her words. Finally, I nod.

She goes back to Renna, her voice turning soft and soothing as she gently wakes her up.

"Renna. We must keep going. Please. Please get up."

Renna begins to cry.

She and mother hug one another, tears coming to their faces as they each comfort the other. I let my mind shut down, trying to not think of another comfort that had been given to me by someone. Someone who was now nameless.

Nameless.

No one.

I look at the forest path, slowly turning back to look at mother.

She nods, knowing what I am saying.

Renna is unsteady on her feet but still is able to shift with ease. I look at mother, wondering if she would be able to read the question that was lurking in my eyes.

She stops and stares down at me, "the north, Nilsa. We go north."

The north.

Away from the main pack lands. Away from the other packs that had fallen into line with Alpha Rykell and his division of sub-Alpha's. To a land of packs that were ruled by themselves, with their own leaders for each pack.