Dream Wolf

35: The Escape

Sandy didn't even seem to notice that his friend had fallen, shot in the back straight on with a deadly arrow.
"C'mon guys!" he called back, not looking behind him. Ali looked around, and her other friends were frozen too.
She ran.
Maria was right in front of her, and she figured Tom was right behind. Cocoa, well, Cocoa would be welcome to come with them, but she wouldn't.
"Don't shoot!" shouted Darla. "You might hit the girl!"
The quartet kept running, running away, running to another place. They left the base, into the forest now, deep into the forest.
It was a while until Sandy declared they were far enough away and stopped, sending everyone tumbling into each other.
Sandy was the first one to stand. Tom helped Ali up, and in a moment they were in a circle, out of breath and legs aching. Sandy looked around, counting everyone again, and then thought for a minute.
"Where's Ed?" he asked. Ali squeezed her eyes shut. She did not want to be the one to break it to him.
"He didn't make it," said Tom, his voice barely above a whisper. "They shot him. He-he's probably dead."
Ali hadn't noticed the tears trickling down Tom's cheeks, and the redness of her eyes, and soon enough no one was talking, and they all huddled in a hug until the sun went down.
Ali stood up, wiping her eyes. The sky was turning black, and it had been maybe 4:00 when they'd left, according to Ali's brain-clock. Maria pulled herself up, using Ali's shoulder, but Sandy and Tom were sprawled on the ground, asleep. One of them (Tom, she thought.) was snoring.
"Ali, um," Maria said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards a tree. They hoisted themselves onto a low branch, legs dangling, and it almost felt like before.
"Who was the traitor?" Ali blurted, remembering her time in the dungeon. She hoped she's be able to get the girls there out. They'd helped her more than they'd realized.
"Cocoa," Maria said. "I saw her sneak off. I followed her, and she was talking to the wolf about us, and some very traitor-y things. That's why I ran off. I'm sorry I didn't warn you, but she's my sister. I just couldn't-"
"Rhana," Ali realized. Maria cocked her head, waiting for more. Ali grabbed her friend's arms. "She knew about Quendel. If we can get to her maybe she can tell us more." Maria half-smiled.
"Maybe, but, well, there's one more thing I should tell you."
"What?"
"When you were unconscious, Ali," Maria looked away. "It wasn't two weeks. It was a year."

A/N: And there you have it! The end of Dream Wolf...
Kinda. I have decided to write a sequel (how could I not, with a cliffhanger like that?). *insert cheers here* Thanks to everyone for commenting, voting, and reading. I wrote DW in about 11 months, but it would have taken a lot longer if it wasn't for you guys! For the next couple months, or month, or however long it takes, I'll be editing and revising, and after that, the sequel! I'm still thinking of a title (and a plot, seeing I don't have much idea what it'll be about). If you have any suggestions, please tell me.
THE END...