HUNTED SOULS

~ Chapter 2 ~

TW: self-harm, blood

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One sharp pull and Saph managed to get it out. It fell unceremoniously into the dirt, the red glow receding as Saph's hand bled over it.

And she waited. Hyper-aware of her surroundings, she realized she couldn't sense the others anymore without the stone. Would they find her first? Or would she meet her end here before that? But, several cold and agonizing minutes later, nothing had happened.

Hah! Another lie.

Angry but relieved, she took her pants and ripped a leg up to the knee, wrapping the cloth around her hand and arm as tightly as she could bear. Darkness was almost completely upon her now. If they couldn't sense her either, she might just be able to put some distance between them.

Steeling herself, Saph cautiously stepped out from underneath the oak tree. Relying heavily on her practiced senses in the dark, she crept down the length of the river, using its sounds to mask her footsteps. If she traveled far enough down this water source she hoped to find some settlements to hide in.

Her hand and body throbbed in pain as she moved as quickly as she could. There were noises of animals scuttling through the brush here and there, but nothing else.

Without warning, her chest began to burn intensely. She crouched over in agony, clutching at her shirt as the familiar and fiery intensity consumed her on the inside. Her extremities began to itch and her breathing became labored as she shuddered on hands and knees in the darkness. Reeling in confusion, she didn't understand how this could be happening without the stone forcing her to.

I can't shift here! Not now!

And too late, she realized that the sounds of the forest had stopped, as if stilled by the spirits themselves.

Before she could rise, a deathly shriek pierced the night behind her and something massive collided into her back. They'd found her.

Huge talons hard and jagged as granite gripped her shoulders and lifted her into the air as she made pathetic sounds of pain. All Saph could see in the inky black of night were pairs and pairs of terrifying, glowing eyes. They wavered like they were made of smoke, wisps of monstrosity that glared at her ominously.

"Traitorrr..." a voice hissed in her ear. She shuddered.

"No! I won't go back!" Saph screamed in the monster's deathly grip. She writhed back and forth, trying to break free. The eyes circled around her, waiting.

"No one leaves...you know this" it said, voice crackling like the pops of an open fire.

Saph felt her throat close, eyes pricked with the beginnings of tears. All this had been for nothing.

"Tell me where she is! Where's Amber?" she cried.

As long as she's alive...

All Saph could hear was her own ragged breathing until the crunch of footsteps sounded towards her in the darkness. They paused directly before her.

"It's me," a soft voice spoke. Amber's voice.

Relief flooded Saph's body and she almost smiled in her happiness to hear her only friend. Maybe they could find a different escape. Maybe their next plan will succeed. As long as they could continue on together, as they always had.

"Amber!" she gasped, "I thought they'd –"

"I told him about your little plan, you rat."

Saph's blood went cold.

"...what?"