Alpha and the Fighter

I whimpered, a poor, pitiful sound coming from the back of my throat. Why me? I pounded on the heavy man's chest, willing him to breath again. He can't leave me, he just can't. What happened? Oh god, it was all so rushed, I need him back! My breathing was ragged, trying to get air in, but not being able to. I could feel the blackness creeping up in my vision, but I shoved it back down. Now was not the time to pass out. I had to bare my father to the ground and find a new safe home.

Suddenly, it was too much and I curled over the still warm body. My eyes were open staring into the lifeless face of my father. The blood was slowly coming to a stop from his lips and he was taking on a pale sheen look. His blue eyes stared back at me, the normal warmth gone from their bottomless depths, staring at me like a iced over puddle of water. My tears dripped onto his flawless skin, making the drying blood run all over again. Damn it! The sorrow in my chest was heavy, making it feel like tar was being pooled into my lungs. I was struggling to breath and I knew I wouldn't be able to stay here much longer. The wolves would be back for me and I had to leave their territory. Now.

I silently cried, crouched over the body. Why again? The Goddess had already taken my mother before her time, now my father too?

What did I do to deserve this cruel punishment? Again?

I stayed there for what seemed like hours, not caring anymore of the murderous animals. His scent was firmly etched into my brain, and I knew I'd never be letting it go.

---Laying down that night, I mourned over my father. Earlier, after everything had happened, I had buried him. It was easy with my strength, but tiring on my emotions. How many times was I going to have to do this for a loved one?

I finally fell into a dreamless sleep, tossing and turning all night. By three thirty a.m. I was up, cleaning the cabin of our stuff. I left all my fathers clothes with the exception of a few choice shirts. I packed all my clothes, bathroom stuff, my blanket, my stuffed animal wolf Gecko, and the picture of my family.

It was taken just after I was born. My mother still had sweat on her brow and her hair was damp. I was curled up in a pink blanket, nestled into her arms, my beautiful amber eyes staring into the camera with wonder. My father was bent over, resting his chin crookedly on my mothers shoulder, his arm around her. We actually looked like a normal family for once.

Seeing my mother stirred up emotions that I stomped on promptly. The numb feeling was returning.

Grabbing my iPod, I stuffed the ear buds into my ears, drowning out everything around me.

---By the time I was done packing and cleaning, the cabin looked as if a hunter lived there only in Deer season, or possibly Duck. And it only looked like that because I wasn't going to take my fathers clothes with me. Maybe another Rogue would come across them. Maybe they could use them. But I couldn't and my father always told me, "Don't take what you don't need."

I didn't always listen to his sayings. I did have Gecko after all. But my father and I had a nameless understanding that I need a piece of my mom, other than just a picture. I wasn't about to give him up now.

Humming with the song that was on, I opened the wooden door and walked out. I couldn't stay at the cabin, not knowing if the pack that killed Dad knew where I was or not. It was only about five a.m.

I tore across the moor lands, the packs territory, at the highest speed I could. I would not let them catch me like they had Dad. I still had my music on, so I ran with the beats to it.

By around six a.m. I had cleared just about the whole territory and was coming up on the boundary lines. I was going to make it.

I thought too soon obviously. When the unseeable markers came into view, I stopped dead in my tracks.