The Beast Within Us

Chapter 12: Chicken, Nugget?

Delilah's POV:

I yawn and stretch as I walk through the halls, heading towards Jason's room. I rub my eyes and look out the windows as I pass them by. The sun is almost up. The sky is filled with colors, different kinds of oranges and pinks.

Dawn is nice and everything, but having to wake up early every single morning has dulled its beauty. I stop in front of Jason's door and knock.

"Jason, get up! We can't keep Candice waiting." I say.

I wait a moment before knocking again, "You're really starting to annoy me with this whole 'hating me' thing."

No answer.

I roll my eyes and yawn again. Most likely he is ignoring me and sleeping in. As usual. Why do I even bother?

"Whatever." I wearily say. "Show up or don't show up, it won't be me getting chewed out by Alex."

I leave and head downstairs. I make my way into the kitchen and grab a small green apple before heading out the front door. I instantly spot Candice near a truck.

"How are you always so well rested?" I ask.

"The rush of knowing a battle could occur at any moment gives me all the energy I need." She answers.

"Poetic," I say. "Do you happen to know where Jason is?"

"Don't worry about him, focus on today's training." Candice sternly says.

"Which is?"

"Running."

"Running!?" I repeat. "Listen, despite all the black stereotypes you hear, I am not a very good runner. Far from it in fact."

"Well, you are just going to have to learn to be." She says.

I groan, "Why would I need to do well in running in my human form when my wolf form runs with superior speed?"

She narrows her eyes at me, then smirks.

"Scared?"

"Of what?" I ask.

"Of going out into that big bad forest all alone, nugget?"

I scoff and look at her with disbelief on my face, "I am not scared and I am definitely not a nugget! Whatever that means!"

"Then stop questioning my training methods and start running!"

I sigh and start with a light jog. Gradually, I pick up the pace until I am far from the pack, sweating, and in a full sprint. I am now sprinting through areas I've never seen before. Tall beautiful trees that have become homes for many creatures. Lush green bushes that bear ripened fruit.

Then I run past something shocking.

A large area of dead trees, some fallen some on the verge to crash into the barren ground. The land is brown and lifeless. Nothing has grown for quite some time. Old scorch marks still linger on the decayed bark from a fire that burned long ago.

"What the--" I trip, twisting my ankle in the process, and tumble to the ground.

"ARGH! Damnit!" I cry in pain. I hold onto my ankle that now begins to swell. I attempt to stand but the pain is overwhelming. I fall back onto my knees, holding myself up with the palms of my hands.

"This is why I don't run..." I whisper to myself.

I snap to attention. The sound of snapping twigs and crushing leaves growing closer towards me. I crawl behind a tree, rip an almost broken branch off of it, and manage to pull myself up and stand on one foot. When I hear the footsteps come closer I swing at them, hitting them in the face.