Running Wild

Running Wild - Chapter 2

Sorry it's not quite as long as the last one and its not very good but oh well life goes on. Yeah sorry as well it's not being updated often at all it's a school assignment and i can't be bothered but i have the requirement for school now so wooo yay! anyways vote, like comment what ever :) 

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I followed her through the woods trying to watch my footing and carefully minding not to get caught in the mass of surrounding blackberries. As we walked I wondered if we would catch up with the others. I also began to wonder where exactly Dakota was leading me to. She had never taken me this far into the woods before. I continued to watch my footing for a little while longer. I began to wonder exactly where we were. I raised my head to gaze at my surroundings. I examined the woods in front, behind and either side of me; all trees and nothing but. Then I realized something that startled me.

“Dakota?” I questioned her absence. “Dakota?” I asked louder. I heard I close by bark that could only be her. I started running towards where I heard the bark. I was afraid it would be dark before I found her again since the rich colours of the sunset were threatening to blacken soon to entire darkness. A large, deep brown, tree trunk stood in my way. I ran faster prepared to jump over it. I took a flying leap attempting to jump the metre high log when one of my silver flats caught on a small limb reaching off the trunk and before I knew it I followed and was heading face-first into a large, thick mud puddle at the base of the log. I hit my head on a small rock as I landed which caused me to feel faint. I began to feel dizzy and in between consciousness I sensed a wet nose stroke my forehead then followed by total blackness.

~~~

The sun blinded me as I tentatively began to raise my eyelids. The first thing I noticed was the blue sky. ‘That’s odd.’ I thought to myself considering the last thing I remembered you could barely make out the sky through the trees the majority of time in the woods. The woods? Hmm… This wasn’t the woods, I was lying on rocks. Didn’t I face plant in mud? I raised my hands to my face to check how much of the mud remained. Before my hand even reached my face I felt a stabbing pain all over my body. I glanced down at my feet only to see one of my silver flats was missing. I then remembered it had been caught on the branch. I sat up, fighting all the pain my legs were sending me. I looked down to my now ruined clothes. My sleeveless tartan crop top now had rips that tore apart the straps and mud staining all over the back. My denim shorts surprisingly stayed reasonably in tack but still didn’t manage to get away without dirt massaged through the material on the bottom side. From the rips it appeared as though Dakota had dragged me through the woods and right to where I was then.

I sat up, ignoring the pain streaming through my body to observe my surroundings. I looked around  from the rocky ledge that was mounted about 4ft off the ground and onto the side of a high stone-covered mountain that I was lying on and saw paw prints in the mud leading back into the woods. I figured by the sun it must have been around 10am and the pack would have gone off on their morning hunt. I decided, since they wouldn’t be back for another hour or two, I would go for a walk and take a look around the area.

~~~

I walked until I reached a small clearing with a beautiful river steadily flowing through the middle. I decided without a hesitation that I would go for a swim. I started running towards the rippling water and jumped straight in not caring that I was still fully clothed. The water flowed past me gently as I stirred the rocks beneath my toes letting them massage my feet with their smooth covering. The current seemed as if it was washing away all my unnecessary grief leaving me more relaxed than I could have wished for. I swam for what felt like minutes but was more realistically like hours until I eventually lifted myself up from the water and onto the bank leaving my feet dangling in the clear water. I looked down to the water and saw my reflection. I was a mess. My hair, golden blonde like my mothers, was nearly brown with dirt and my face wasn’t much better, I ran my fingers through my hair and cleaned my face with the water letting the dirt run swiftly down the river. After being reasonably satisfied with my appearance I picked a small wild flower from a small patch next to where I was sitting and inhaled the delicious scent it was creating. It reminded me of the blueberry pie Mum used to make me with the wild berries from the forest when I was li-

“What would a pretty little girl like yourself be doin’ out in the big bad woods today?” A harsh but familiar voice spoke from behind me, interrupting my thoughts.

I turned my head slightly so I could see his ragged khaki pants and muddy hiking boots. I grimaced.

“Get off our land Blane.” I snapped.

“Well ya see- Leila, if I’m right- the border of ya land stopp’d a few K’s back. What we’re in now is no-man’s-land so I have as much right as you to be here.” He was right.

I turned to look him straight into his brown violent eyes. “Is that so?” I asked letting my voice drip with sarcasm.

“Dad, back off you owe her that much.” A boy spoke and stepped out from behind Blane. He was around my age with tangled brown hair and green eyes.

“I owe her nothing!” He snapped. I gazed at his gun that was hanging by the leather strap off his shoulder. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit scared.

“You killed her fa-“ His son tried.

“It was an accident, boy, now shut-up!” He then turned to me, “You never answered my question.” He spoke quieter and now only a few metres away from me. I stood up, hoping my height might be a bit more intimidating, as I was the same height as him.

“And what would that be?” I stepped towards him trying to sound intimidating.

A nearby howl interrupted our conversation. I was sure it was Saber’s. He ran into view with anger showing clearly in his black eyes. He sprinted on all four’s heading straight towards Blane from the other side of the clearing. He was approaching fast until he reached him and jumped through the air heading straight towards Blane. Blane dodged leaving his son in his place but neither Saber nor Blane noticed. He kept going and landed with a thump right on top of the hunter’s son.

“Samuel!” Blane screamed. Saber jumped off Samuel and then aimed towards his legs and quickly dug his teeth into his left calf. Saber was still under the impression he was attacking the hunter until he looked up and saw Blane clearly in view. He let go of his son and stood back up his face showing signs of regret.

Saber glanced a ‘Sorry’ look and me, turned and ran back to the nearby trees obviously aware of what he had just done.

“Samuel.” Blane breathed and headed over to his son.

“Ooo my leg! Don’t freakin’ touch it!” It was obvious he was going to be okay. A few stitches maybe a broken bone, he’ll live.

“You’re wolf will pay!” Blane snapped at me, “He won’t get away this time!” He growled pointing at his gun to warn me of what was coming.

I turned and ran, following Saber’s lead.