Kidnapped

Chapter 7

     Thorne and Fern stalked forward. They circled the edge of the camp, where the undergrowth hid them from the guard. 

     Moonlight shined off the silver-furred feline in front of Fern. 

     She belly crawled next to him.

     His eyes opened. He sprang to his feet and hissed at her. A chain around his neck rattled. 

     "Ash, it's me, Fern." She crawled closer and reached for the chain. 

     Ash growled, low and menacing. 

     "What's going on over there?" The guard shouted. Nelgen.

     Part of Fern wanted to leap at him, to sink her teeth into his throat. That would teach him for messing with her brother. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and her skin burned. 

    Ash turned toward Nelgen and roared. 

     Taking advantage of the distraction, Fern unclipped the chain around his neck.

     He turned on her. His huge silver paw slammed into her side, bowling her over. 

     "We're under attack!" Nelgen shouted. 

     At Nelgen's words, Ash charged. 

     Nelgen lifted his rifle. 

     Ash bowled him over and the pair went down in a flurry of claws and fur. They rolled over some packs, scattering bottles and syringes. 

     The camp sprang into action. The werewolves charged Fern. 

     Fern unslung her rifle and stood. 

     Thorne leaped into the fight, blocking Fern from the werewolves. He grabbed the nearest werewolf by the back and shook. 

     The pureblood werewolf grabbed Ash by the scruff and threw him off Nelgen. 

     Ash lowered himself to the ground, submissive. 

     "Kill the elf," the werewolf ordered. "She doesn't care about you. She knows you're an animal now." 

     Ash stalked toward Fern, Nelgen's blood covering his face and paws. 

     The rifle trembled in Fern's hands. He's a monster. "Make him stop or I'll shoot!" Fern yelled at the wolf. She couldn't hit him without hitting Ash.

     Behind her, Thorne fought the trio of smaller werewolves. 

     The pureblood werewolf's ears pricked. "I didn't think Elves carried guns." 

     "This one does." Fern's words came out as a snarl. The wolf within clawed at her chest, trying to rip free of its prison. She aimed the rifle at the werewolf but hesitated. If she fired, Ash might attack.

     The huge werewolf turned to Ash. "Attack." 

     Fern aimed the rifle back at Ash. "Ash, it's me. Don't listen to him. Please." 

    Ash growled and stalked toward her. What had they done to him? 

     Fern backed away. "Ash. Please stop." Tears flowed down her cheeks. They'd made him into a monster. Where had her brother gone? 

     Ash leaped. 

     Fern fell under his weight. The rifle dropped from her hands. 

     Ash stared down at her, his blue eyes narrowed. 

     The wolf inside Fern pushed harder, telling her she had to fight, not lay still like a piece of prey. God, please help me, she silently prayed.  "Ash, don't do this. I'm your family. I love you. You're not a monster."

     Ash glanced at the werewolf.

     "Kill her." The wolf stepped closer and licked his lips. 

     Ash glared at the wolf. "No." He took a few steps toward the much larger wolf. His ears were flat against his head. 

     Fern crawled toward the rifle. She had to keep focus or she'd shift.

     A black halfblood werewolf pounced on her. Its teeth sank into Fern's leg. 

     The wolf within her exploded in a roar of rage. Fern turned on the halfblood as her jaws shifted into the jaws of a wolf. She grabbed the werewolf by the neck and shook. The rest of her body followed her head. Blonde fur flowed over her body. Her bones bent and stretched.

     She released the halfblood and stood, her lips drawn back. 

     The halfblood backed away, blood dripping from his neck. 

     Ash yowled in pain. The big werewolf had him by the scruff. 

     Fern sprang on the wolf. Her teeth sank into his shoulder. Blood spurted into her mouth. She pulled at the wolf. 

     He turned on her, his jaws snapping. 

     Fern sprang away. 

     Ash leaped to his feet and tore into the wolf. His teeth sank into the huge werewolf's spine. The wolf spun and snapped at Ash. 

     Fern attacked. She grabbed him by the throat, stopping him from reaching Ash. 

     The werewolf fell to the ground. Fern kept her hold on his throat. He thrashed, but his struggles weakened. Finally, he lay still. 

     Fern released the wolf and licked her lips. Satisfaction shot through her. She'd won. 

     Ash still held the wolf's back, his jaws clenched. He growled at Fern. 

     She backed away from the kill. 

     Thorne limped to them. "Get hold of yourselves, both of you." He stepped toward Ash, his tail uplifted. "That is not your kill. Stop acting like an animal." 

     Ash released the dead werewolf and backed away, his body low.

     The horses tugged at their halters. Ash stalked toward them. 

     Fern's mouth watered. She could already imagine her teeth sinking into their tender flesh. She shook herself. No. She wasn't an animal. 

     Thorne leaped between the horses, Ash and Fern. "Control yourselves," he growled. "Follow me, now. We're going hunting. You two need to burn some of that bloodlust in a constructive way." 

     Fern closed her eyes. I'm a person, not an animal. Still, the horses smelled good, and she hadn't eaten much but dried meat. Getting fresh meat would be fun. 

     "We're going after deer," Thorne said. "You'll leave the horses alone."

     Fern and Ash followed after Thorne, their noses lifted in search of deer.