The Wolfsbane

Chapter 3 - Bloodshed

I stood frozen. The Huntress's words humming in my head. She had her ears raised and forward, her forehead was furrowed and her eyes wide and wild. Her lips were lifted high, baring her teeth and fangs. Her pelt was bristled and her stance was somewhat crouched in an offensive position.

My ears were flat against my head. My muzzle twitched, and my lips lifted. My fur was slightly bristled, and my tail tucked between my legs. I cursed myself for being submissive, but their was no way I could win in a fight against her. The Huntress gave a low, deep growl. My eyes wandered down to her claws, long black daggers jutted out of her fingers. The tips and edges gleamed in the moon, they looked as sharp as a swords edge.

I looked back at her face, she smirked before crouching lower. It took me a few moments to relise she was about to lunge. Without thinking I slid my right foot backwards and turned slightly to my right. I raised both my hands up to chest height and flashed my claws. She lunged at me with lightening speed, with her arm outstretched. I side stepped her attack managing to trip her. As she fell past me I felt her claw graze against my arm. A terrible searing pain pulsed, followed by a sticky warm feeling.

I howled out in pain, my hand grasping the wound. Hot thick blood pooled around my hand. I looked up and saw the huntress land and spin. She shoved her muzzle upward, her nose twitching. The smell of my blood was pungent in the night air. Her eyes turned to slits as she eyed my wound hungrily. I positioned myself back into a defensive stance, I wasn't going down without a fight.

The Huntress leaped into the air. Both her arms outstretched, her teeth bared. I leaped forward meeting her advance. Our jaws clashed, and our claws scratched and stabbed at all exposed flesh. The Huntress had the advantage, she grabbed the tops of my arms and threw me to the ground. I hit hard, my body rolling through the grass. I could feel the stickiness of blood covering my face.

As I tried to stand I felt something hard connect with the back of my head. A sickening crack rang out through the night. The force of the blow whipped my head forward. My face connected with the compact earth, and I felt my nose break. Blood sprayed out of my now crooked nose, I sputtered as the blood filled my mouth. Rough hands pulled me upwards, trying to make me stand. Black spots pulsed and danced in front of my eyes.

The blurriness of my vision quickly dissipated, just in time for me to see the huntress pull her arm back, her bloody hand in a fist. Out of nowhere I felt an odd surge of power and determination. I pulled back out of her grip, I took her startled appearance as an opportunity. I brought my knee up, ramming it hard into her stomach. She buckled over grabbing her stomach. I extended my claws and punched her in the shoulder. I could feel my claws rip through her flesh and muscle, her blood seeping through the puncture marks. I pulled out and raised both my arms, lacing my fingers together I brought both my elbows down hard over her head. She collapsed to the ground, a scream of pain escaped her lips.

I came down from my energetic high. A deep ache throbbed through all my limbs. My nose throbbed and my wounds stung. I stumbled backwards and leaned up against a tree. I looked over at the huntress, she wasn't moving. I gave out a sigh of relief. Big mistake. The Huntress's eyes flew open, she slowly stood up covered in blood. A slow, torturous growl clawed its way out of her throat. I stood shocked, unable to move and paralyzed with fear. She stalked towards me slowly, her lips curled into a bloody smirk. She was mere meters from me when out of nowhere she was knocked down by a blurry figure.

They were instantly locked in a battle. Snarling and thrashing teeth filled the still night air. Chunks of fur went flying. The new wolf, dodged her attempted punches. They moved with such an elegant grace I found it hard to look away. The battle was won when the new wolf plunged their claws deep into the Huntress's chest. She screamed and thrashed loudly, pulling back. With a final growl and a pissed off snort she limped off into the canopy of the trees.

The unknown wolf just stood, looking out after the huntress. Their chest heaved, and their hands were clenched into fists. A couple of scratches bled on their left arm. But other than that they seemed fine. A slow clap pierced the silence. I whipped my head to the side, and saw a shaggy grey wolf leaning casually up against the trunk of a tree.

"Nice one newbie, thought she would kill you for sure" he spoke with an air of arrogance. I looked back at the wolf who fought the huntress. Their pelt was a sort of black, hints of blue could be seen sparkling in the gleam of the moonlight. The wolf's chin was leaning slightly to the left, his ears pricked backward listening. He stood proud and tall, his lean muscles pulsing from the fight.

A chorus of femanine laughs filled the air. I looked towards the grey male, and he pointed above his head. I followed his finger and looked up in the tree. There on a thick branch two females sat and stood looking at me with impish delight. A snow white werewolf stood close to the trunk. Her arm outstretched and palm leaning against the tree, keeping her balance. Her eyes were a beautiful blue, they glowed with a fierceness that made it hard to look away. Next to her sitting on the branch legs dangling down lazily, was a beautiful light brown wolf. A childish grin played at her lips, her eyes shone with excitement.

"Hey Aurion, what'd say? I think the girls proved herself" spoke the grey wolf. He walked towards me and put out his hand. I took it carefully, looking up at his face. His features were chiseled, he had a short snout and yellow eyes that could melt butter. I could tell he would be handsome in human form.

"The names Cohan, I'm the beta of the pack. The light brown wolf is Dana she's a subordinate, this guy who saved your ass is Aurion the alpha, and the white wolf is his misses Eli the alpha female" his eyes gleamed as he looked at his pack, his family. He smiled down at me and my heart fluttered in my chest.

"What's your name newbie? " he asked as he let go of my hand.

"A-Arora" I choked. At that Aurion walked over pushing passed Cohan. He looked me up and down and snorted.

"Dana she's hurt. Do something about it" he growled. His voice was gruff and demanding. As he walked off he looked at me over his shoulder.

"Welcome to the pack omega"