Kitten In A Pack

Chapter 19 ✔

Raylina

The trees pass me in a blur as I continue barreling through the forest. I can't believe their alive, and yet them actually surviving terrifies me.

'Raylina where are you!?!' The Luna call to me through the pack mind link. I still don't understand how it's possible but then again I can turn into a huge cat.

'I ran into some complications on my way down? ' I response sheepishly to her. She's done so much for me. I can't just ignore her.

'What kind of complications?' I can already imagine the scowl clinging to her face. Slowing to a walk I try to think up of a short way to explain the situation, but there is no explanation.

'The kind in which I never went to the safe room.' I count my pennies and hope she doesn't ask for more details.

'You missy, better not get yourself into any trouble, and you're going to explain everything after this is over.' I smile to myself at her words. I've already gotten myself into trouble.

'I'm sorry' My response is only a whisper before I imaging myself closing a door between myself, Anna, Chase, and everyone else in Josh's pack that I can think of.

Continuing on I simply wallow further away from the commotion. It's not every day a situation like this turns up. If I go back who knows what would happen. I could always decide to stay with the pack, but would they accept me? And even if I did, would the pride let me? So many questions bouncing around in my head has me unaware of my surroundings.

Just as if I were a door being kicked down in a raid, my face is suddenly in the ground with the delightful taste of dirt and leaves filling my mouth. The only thing I can think as panic surges through my limbs is that he has me. The thought of my father getting to me has me struggling to free myself from the weight on top of me so I can run.

"Get off of me you Ompa-Lompa!" I yell the first string of words I can weave together as I spit the leaves out of my mouth.  

"Why'd you run?" The voice sends relief throughout me knowing it doesn't belong to my father. I let my face drop back to the ground, leaves crinkling under my forehead. 

"Maybe because you were chasing me!" I pull my left arm up enough to elbow my aggressor in the ribs.  

Letting out a grunt at my impact he responds anyway, "I didn't want you to disappear again." 

"What last time..?" The weight pinning me down is lifted and I immediately shoot forward and twist myself until I'm facing him. It's Chase. 

"I have places to be." Crossing my arms in front of myself in an attempt to create an invisible barrier between us. 

"I'm sure you do," Holding out his hand he shines a smile, and just wow. "I'm Chase." Looking at his hand I crack up with laughter. "What's so funny?" 

"You." Catching my breath, I continue "You're being nice." In turn to my response, he himself laughs, until he realizes I'm not joking.  

"Seriously? What makes you think I'm rude?" Rolling my eyes I breathe in a short breathe.  

"I've seen you been rude to your sister, you don't trust your friends, and you've been an oaf since the moment Emily brought me home."  Taking a few steps to my left I lean on a tree. 

"Emily? She brought you home..?" I nod my head and wait for the little trinket wheels in his head to click into place. "So you just clawed me for fun?" 

"What? No! that was in self-defense. " Pushing myself off the tree, I carry on away from the two groups again. 

"Where are you going?" I hear the sound of leaves crunching under Chase's feet behind me. 

"Away." I push the one word past my lips keeping it short in order to keep my uncertainty out of my voice. 

"Wait, you can't leave!" The moment he touches me on my shoulder I stop abruptly causing him to almost walk into me. 

"Really? Who's to stop me?" I turn around and give him the coldest look I can muster. 

"I will." Chase looks me straight on, our eyes locking before I can avoid it, and I almost feel as if I can't look away. "About that Pride, is it yours?" Looking down I turn away from him to clear my head. 

"No, I don't think it ever was." 

"So your name is Raylinally." Looking back at the mention of my name I see the smirk set on his face. Butterflies instantly spread throughout my stomach. 

"No. It's Raylina." Turning away from him with a small flip of my hair I proceed to nowhere. 

"Where do you plan to go?"  Glancing over my shoulder I notice him following me once again. 

"Anywhere, but there." 

"Why neither? Do you hate confrontation?" Letting out a huff of air I stop walking again. 

"No, I'm just not in the mood." I know if I go back the pride will refuse to leave without me, and the pack won't have a choice in the matter. I just can't shake the bad feeling the idea of going back with the pride gives me. 

"What is, or was your relation with the Pride?" 

"It's not important." 

"Sure it is. It's you they're after." Glaring over at him I fight the urge to step closer to him. 

"He's my father, but.." Looking away I bite my tongue to stop from finishing my sentence, once it's said out loud I'll have to face it, and I'm not sure I can. 

"But what? If he's your father he deserves to know you're alive and okay." Wow, leave it to the seemingly rude person to be a daddy's boy. 

"You have a point." I can't deny the truth, and besides who knows, I could just be imagining the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. 

"I am known to be a voice of reason" There's that smirk again. That damned smirk.  

"You have to big an ego." Holding his hand out again the smirk on his face grows into a smile that reaches his eyes. 

"Come on, let's head back." Rolling my eyes once more I snicker at him placing my hand in his, allow him to lead us back to the commotion. He's really going to get me in an immense amount of trouble. 

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