The wolves descend

Chapter four

With a hard kick to the stomach, I am brought out of my sleep. As I go to sit up, I realize my hands are bound in front of me and a collar and leash are attached. Confused, I wearily glance up at the person who kicked me awake, "we're about to leave girly, I hope you're used to walking." The creepy man grunted, I turned my body, so I could watch him untie the end of my rope from a tree, the other end is attached to my collar. After he unties me, he forcibly pulls me to my feet and attaches my leash to a horse. I presume I will most likely be sold into slavery, for the first time since I've heard about the war I finally can't hold my tears back anymore. The fear of what awaits me and the ache in my heart from leaving my mother behind causes tears to streak down my face while I try to choke back my sobs. I would rather not be a slave, and I most certainly didn't want to serve a mangy mutt for the rest of my life.

Soon enough, Mia's mate jumps up onto the horse I was attached to, he gently set Mia down in front of him before taking the rains and making the horse trot forward. Not expecting the horse to be going so fast I stumble to keep up, I noticed Mia looking at me with sorrow filled in her eyes. Strangely enough I didn't blame her, honestly I'm sure, regardless of what I did I would always end up like this. After hours of stumbling after the horse my legs couldn't take it anymore, falling to my knees the horse continued on while dragging me. I tried to regain my footing but since the horse wouldn't slow down I continued to get dragged behind. Finally, after ten minutes of pure struggle, the horse finally came to a stop, allowing me to get up. Once I managed to find my footing once more, Mia's mate calmly walked over to me, the memories of him relentlessly beating me caused me to cower away from his looming figure. Mia's mate continued over to me anyway, ignoring my obvious fear of him, before I could register what was happening I was flung to the ground with a stinging sensation across my cheek. He had backhanded me, I presume it was because I couldn't keep up very well with the horse. As I looked up at Mia, I could see her looking away with tears falling down her puffy cheeks. Upon further inspection I noticed her long black hair was mated, and she was no longer wearing the skirt and top that she was previously, a sinking realization of what had happened to her settled in the pit of my stomach.

She looked so numb, all I wanted to do was reach out and hug her. I wanted to let her know that I was here, and she wasn't alone, I had never considered anyone my friend until this very moment. I tried to keep my distance from other people, fearing that if I got close to them, they would only die. But this was so much worse watching my friend suffer and there was nothing I could do about it. Not only that but she had sacrificed herself for me, guilt started to creep its way into my heart making me hate myself even more than I already did. A loud growl omitted out of nowhere, "Don't you dare look at my mate you pathetic human." Mia's mate spat, not knowing what to do, I coward in the dirt where I had stayed stationed after he had hit me. This thankfully seemed to please him, letting out a grunt he walked over to Mia. After securing her in his arms, he carried her bridal style into a tent that his men had built for him. Once Mia and her mate receded into their tent, I was untied from the horse and tied to a nearby tree instead.

It seemed that none of the soldiers cared about me anymore, which I was deeply thankful for. On our journey, I noticed we weren't heading further into my kingdom, we were heading towards the opposite direction. I figured it must mean that we were heading back to wherever they were from. Considering they were soldiers for the night race kingdom that must be where we're going, sighing I leaned back against the big oak tree I was tied too. I know I should be trying to escape, but there were men in sleeping bags all around, wolves at that with their heightened hearing I'm positive they would catch me in a heartbeat. As I lay against the rough bark of the oak tree I gently close my eyes, muffled noises can be heard coming from the tent that Mia was staying in, it caused bile to rise to my throat. Looking around I could see some men taking watch while drinking presumably ale around the fire.

Somehow after tossing and turning I was able to let sleep over take me, dreaming about my mother and my home. At this point, I would rather work in the factory for the rest of my life than be a slave, but sadly, life is cruel and unfair. Another sharp kick to the stomach caused me to rise bringing me out of my dream, after being tied to the horse once more we were off, after four hours of stumbling I noticed a village up ahead. Forcing myself to continue forward instead of collapsing like I wanted to, we were in the middle of a beautiful town. Unlike the town I'm from, there were cobblestone streets instead of dirt. As magnificent as the streets where I was wishing we would come into contact of a soft dirt road. When I was being dragged by the horse I lost my shoes, so now with each step, I felt a sharp pain in the soles of my feet. After walking on one particular stone, I hissed before looking down only to see the dark crimson of my blood leaving a small trail in my wake.

After a few more hours of walking, we finally made it to the capital of the new kingdom that we found ourselves in. Once in the capital, we went straight to a slave trader. No matter what kingdom you went to, one thing was for sure, there will always be slave traders selling unwilling humans. The horse soon came to a stop, Mia's mate got off his horse, untying me from the horse he proceeded to drag me into the warehouse looking building. It was dark inside the building with rows of cages everywhere, we walked in silence to a back room where I assume the trader was. With my heart pounding in my chest, I could feel my fight or flight instincts finally kicking in. I had to get out of here, and I didn't care how! Deciding, my best option was to just hope his grip was loose enough that when I ran, the rope would slip out of his hand. Sadly, though, when I attempted this courageous yet stupid plan, I ended up chocking myself and falling flat on my back. Mia's mate did not care though, he kept the same pace dragging me the whole way there, "PLEASE NO! PLEASE LET ME GO!!!" I screeched trying to plead for my life, but that didn't stop him, once we were finally in the back room he stopped allowing me the chance to get up.

The room was dimmed with nothing but a candle illuminating the small office. There was a short man who had quite a few pounds on him, sitting at his desk with a cigar in his hand. He didn't flinch or look concerned as he saw me begging to be released, he looked happy like he enjoys seeing the misery of others. Without saying so much as a word, he handed Mia's mate two bags full of gold coin. Shaking his head with satisfaction, the short, pudgy man grabs my leash and throws me into a nearby cage outside his office. Sobbing, I lay on the dirty concrete floor and watch as Mia's mate leaves me all alone.