Choleric

Chapter XX

Summary of previous chapter for those who didn't read it (just skip if you did):

Basically after spending the night on the run everyone migrated back to the clearing where they saw all their pack mates slaughtered. The Alpha's and other high ranks looked for life among the dead and separated all the bodies into their rightful packs and placed the living together in a new, smaller clearing (where the Alpha's originally had their meeting at the very beginning of the book). 

While helping out, Celia couldn't see Eve anywhere until at the very end she heard Eve scream somewhere within the bush-lands surrounding the clearing.

[unedited]

"There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part. So give me a happy middle and a very happy start." – Shel Silverstein.

Celia's first instinct was to run, sprint towards the pained sound of her best friends scream. Before she knew it her feet were moving, pounding against the tainted red floor as she tore through the clearing and into the bush.

"Celia!" Cassius' voice rang in her ears and for a moment the desperate sound nearly pulled her to a halt as she heard his heavy weight crashing through the undergrowth behind her. Shaking away the silent command behind her name she shifted and let her animalistic form charge onward with a grace two feet would never master.

Behind her, Cassius shifted into his wolf, surprised by her speed as he gave chase. Her heart pounded as she forced herself onwards, no longer clear as to where she was heading. The sound had long since left the trees, allowing desperation to swarm Celia at every angle.

Her breath came out short and sharp as her body weaved effortlessly through the thick land. She let her nose lead her, tracking the familiar scent of her best friend. The more she ran the stronger the scent grew. It was sickeningly sweet... tainted.

The wind whipped through her soft coat. The sun caught onto it's raven strands – the same colour of her wavy mane in human form. As the winds soft grip began to tug in a different direction, another scent crawled to her nose. Her paws gripped into the dirt in a forceful stop.

A cold growl whispered in her ears, freezing the blood in her veins. She inched forward, her body lowering under the thick undergrowth, concealing her dark fur as she hid from the soft rustling that made itself ever closer. She waited, the sound of her heart pounding in her ears as she held her breath.

Then he emerged. Fur covered in blood and dirt, only the tufts closest to his skin was still the gleaming white of his original coat. The bad soul was small and awkward, as if he were not used to his own body.

Omega.

His form was weak, his wolf shape only emerging after he had been turned into something so inhuman it allowed his very slight animalistic side to take over completely. The used-to-be Omega growled, it's eyes empty pits full of rage and bloodlust.

He stood in Celia's path, separating her from her friend. She growled in return, changing her position into one she had seen others do many times before. She had never been in a fight before, the safest option was to run but she couldn't lead this bad soul to her friend. Not if Eve was hurt.

Flattening her ears she flashed her teeth, exerting all the dominance she could. As an Alpha she'll be able to force him down, bend his will and ruffle his feathers. But he's not alive – not really anyway. Her dominance doesn't effect him.

Celia will have to kill him. The thought didn't scare her as much as it should. She stomped her foot and stood her ground. The bad soul accepted the challenge with a gleam in its eyes.