Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 2

This chapter is dedicated to my new little nephew Jack :) Came into the world on July 31st with 7.5lbs of love and cuteness. Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

It seemed like the she-wolf had been running forever as her pursuers had found her trail again and were now always a couple steps behind. Her back and side were screaming in pain as she had been hit by a multitude of fireballs that hurtled at her.

Her heart pumped frantically as she willed herself to keep moving, to always be ahead of the three behind her. Leaves and sticky brambles had managed to wedge themselves into her fur as her legs pumped back and forth furiously.

Didn't these three have something better to do then chase her down?

As she skirted around another large tree, her red eyes widened as a high pitch yelp forced its way out of her throat. One of the three had thrown senbon needles towards her, and two had found their intended target.

Her ears flicked back as she heard laughter from the 'three musketeers' that she had deemed in her head.

Panting, the she-wolf looked around desperately for a place to hide. She spotted a small hole under a collection of tree roots, and scrabbled to get under them. Insects buzzed in the wolfs face and she snapped at the flying intruders in irritation.

Lying her head on her paws, Mori flicked her ears back and forth, trying to listen for the three ever faithful pursuers. She tried her best to situate her now injured leg, but just managed to move it out a bit before it violently protested.

Mori felt sick to her stomach: first her side and back, now her leg.

What next?

A tiny voice in her head yelled at her to give up, to not run anymore. With a low growl, Mori squashed the voice. She wouldn't go back there. She couldn't go back. After those long, cold and viscous years she spent in captivity, Mori vowed not to go back.

Those people were nothing but pathetic insects that hid behind chains, whips and talk.

Her lips pulled back in a silent snarl as she refused to reminisce about her past. The bushes beside her small hide-a-way moved back as the three musketeers made their entrance.

"I could have sworn she went this way!" one said, his high nasal voice causing Mori's hackles to rise in disgust.

"She can't be far. Those needles hit I know it!" the other said.

Mori bit back a whine as she accidentally moved her injured leg. The two needles had embedded themselves deep, and Mori wasn't sure if her leg was broken as a result.

Her ear twitched as she heard the three argue among themselves.

If she made a break for it, she could potentially get a head-start towards her intended place. Then again, she could be caught in a trap and become a senbon pincushion. No, she had to get out of there. The three idiots weren't going anywhere anytime soon.

She must act now!

Willing her muscles to move with a desperate plea, Mori burst from her spot under the three pursuers and with the last spout of chakra that she had, willed her paws to move fast. Shouts of surprise and protest sounded behind the she-wolf as she weaved in and out of the trees.

Mori could feel her stamina fading fast, and her heart began to sink as the sounds of the three musketeers were steadily becoming closer.

Wait...what was that?

A glimmer of something caught the fleeing wolfs eye. Shifting her eyes, Mori then caught the unmistakable scent.

Water!

This could be her big break once and for all. She then swerved and raced with a new burst of energy to the sound of rushing water. As she broke through the cover of the trees, her eyes came upon a river with a waterfall at the end. Even though she couldn't swim very well, Mori had to take a chance.

A new pain jolted her out of her revere as more senbon embedded themselves into her already injured leg, rendering it useless. Mori took off again and lept into the water with a 'splash' as the three musketeers broke through the foliage.

The cold water shocked the she-wolf, and she paddled enough to pull her head out of the water before the waves rushed over her head. Mori swirled helplessly through the current, until something in her mind told her to relax and trust the chilling waters. Her limbs slackened, and Mori finally let the current take her battered and injured body to safety.

Her body flopped down the waterfall and crashed into the bottom of the pool.

She didn't care anymore.

The pain was too much to handle for the she-wolf, and her mind succumbed to the comforting darkness.

Little did she know that the currents gently carried her broken body into a shady area. Rocks jutted out of the water, but were smoothed down until they were flat by the constant running water and wind. Tree roots were hanging down from the cliff above to get at the lifesaving water.

The water currents had indeed saved her life, and deposited her unconscious body onto the smooth rocks. Her head lolled onto another smooth rock and out of the water as her exposed furry side rose and fell with shaky breaths.

The water had saved her, and she was one step closer to being free.