lORe

Alex- hidden realmes

SLAM. The door slammed shut with more force than I intended. I guess I'm not feeling quite myself. Perhaps picking berries is the better task for me to do, maybe I can calm down. I just don't know why I got angry like that. I mean, I don't usually get mad at my sister... I don't know why I just snapped, this isn't like me at all. What about Luci? Would Luci get mad? Would she abandon me like how... like how the wolves did? The dirt crumbled under my feet, and my bag slowly filled itself with fresh berries. It had been a long time since I was in this form. This human form, with legs and arms and no fur covering my body, just hair on top of my head, and smooth skin. My senses, however, remain sharp as ever.''What's that?'' I muttered under my breath. Just ahead of me, there was a small pack of wolves. Oh no. Oh no, no no. I can't stand wolves. I just can't. Oh no. Oh no, no no. I can't be here. Not with them, not with wolves. I peered between two small trees. My heart pounded as I stared at them. Maybe I could just sneak past. Surly wolves won't attack me, right? I'm one of them, after all. Oh, god. I'm one of them, what good does that do me now? Wolves are wolves, they don't care if I'm one of them. They'll kill me anyways. I backed away slowly, keeping my eyes on the wolves. I felt something wet touch my hand. Slowly, I turned my head to look down at my hand. A wet nose. Yellow, piercing eyes. Snarling teeth. A wolf. What happened next was a blur.A blur of gray fur. Fast, sharp teeth puncturing my skin, blood spraying onto my face. A rush, a frenzy, a hidden attack behind the trees. The other wolves hadn't noticed this one was missing, but not for long. The wolves perked up, their eyes scanning the trees, ears twitching. I stared at the gray wolf in front of me. A pause, like it was letting me escape. Then, it started to bark. Loudly. Loud enough that it got the attention of the other wolves. I had to think fast. I surely can't beat a whole pack of wolves in this form. I'll have to become a wolf again. I felt the fur come out of my skin, piercing the insides of my body like thousands of pins rising to the surface. My fur was a striking red, a bright shade of auburn, of sorts. I felt like I was going up in flames, the pain was excruciating. I felt my back snap and my spine rearrange itself, my hands slowly changing into paws. The wolf snarled, and all of a sudden, I was surrounded by wolves. They all slowly advanced towards me. As I stood at the middle of the circle of gray, the moon cast an eerie glow over the clearing, illuminating the silhouettes of my opponents. The pack of gray wolves circled, their growls resonating through the stillness of the tall trees that stood above us like gods—a primal sound that signaled both their dominance and intent. My heart drummed in my chest like a war drum, and I was painfully aware of my own distinctive hue—my red fur, a vivid and rare beacon against their drab coats, marking me as both an outlier and a target. Their sharp observant yellow eyes fixated on me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. With each step they took towards me, I could feel my heart racing and my breath quickening as I realized the gravity of the situation I was now facing. Surrounded by wild predators, there was no escape and no one to come to my aid. I was a red wolf, and my presence stood out like a foreboding omen, a symbol of danger and uncertainty that seemed to embody the very essence of this harrowing moment.

With every step they took, I felt the weight of their numbers pressing down on me. I could see the gleam of their sharp teeth, hear the low rumble of their growls vibrating through the air. They were a unit, sleek and powerful, their eyes glinting with the confidence of predators accustomed to dominance. I stood my ground, my instincts screaming at me to fight or flee. Inside, I was a storm of emotions—fear, anger, and an unyielding determination to prove my worth. I had to prove that I was better. Stronger. Faster. As the first of them lunged, I twisted away, dodging the impact. My muscles coiled and unleashed in a blur, the thrill of the chase blended with the sheer terror of survival. I had to be faster, smarter, more agile. Each strike from them was a test of my resolve, each growl an echo of the struggle that both defined and threatened my existence. I was an outsider, abandoned for being different, caught in a battle not just for my life but for the very essence of who I was. In that moment, as I faced the looming shadows of my attackers, I knew that my spirit would not easily be extinguished. I was fighting not just for survival but for Luci. Without me, what will she do? She won't survive. A much bigger wolf, most likely the leader of the pack, unhinged its jaw and bit my leg. I howled in pain. The bite was searing, a white-hot ember of agony that pierced through the numbing cold that had settled into my bones. Yet, it served as a catalyst, igniting the fiery embers of defiance that had been smoldering within me for so long. The pain was a stark reminder of the reality of the situation, the brutal truth that there was no room for weakness here. I had to be more than just a survivor; I had to become the hunted that would not be claimed. With a snarl of my own, I swiped at the oversized wolf, my claws finding purchase in its thick fur. It stumbled back, surprised by my ferocity. This was not the reaction it had anticipated from a creature like me—smaller, weaker, an aberration in their eyes. But I was not just any creature. I was a tempest in fur and bone, a force of nature that would not be so easily cowed. The pack, momentarily stunned by my display of resistance, paused their advance. Their eyes narrowed, reassessing the threat I posed. For a heartbeat, we were locked in a silent standoff, the only sound the harsh panting of our breath in the frosty night air. Then, with a flick of its tail, the alpha wolf signaled the attack to resume. They closed in around me, a tightening circle of snarling menace. But I was ready. Years of running, of hiding, of fighting for every morsel of food had honed my reflexes to razor sharpness. As they lunged, I danced among them, weaving a tapestry of evasion and counterattack. Each snap of my jaws, each swipe of my paws, was a declaration of war against the tyranny of the pack. The night was a symphony of snaps and growls, a cacophony of chaos that mirrored the tumult within my own soul. I was not one of them, but I was not weak either. I had been shaped by the very solitude they sought to impose upon me. It has made me adaptable, resourceful, and, most importantly, unafraid to stand alone. My eyes, glowing with a wild light, searched for an opening, a way to turn the tide of the battle in my favor. The leader, sensing my growing desperation, moved in for the kill. Its teeth flashed in the moonlight, aimed at my throat. I knew that one bite would be the end of me. I couldn't survive this attack. I backed away, into the tall trees, my fierce growls turning into terrified wimpers. Then, I ran, not looking back. I had dropped my bag of berries, but now that wasn't the problem. I could hear the low growls, hiding between the shadows, and in the trees. Turning back into a human, I stumbled and crashed into every tree in my way. My legs were weak, and there was a tear in my shirt on my shoulder, where there was a scratch. A scar that would remain for a long time. I could feel the eyes watching me, wolves lurking in the dark. I found an old oak tree and collapsed beside it. This tree looked familiar... could it be that I had run in a circle? I tried to calm myself, catching my breath. Suddenly, I heard a creeeeeak. I stared at the door of the old oak tree, and just as Luci spotted me, everything went black.