Darkness

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I finally come to the clearing where I had woken everyone up early in the morning only to get ourselves captured. I collapse in front of the small fire still giving off a small amount of heat from the coals. I look around and it looks like they were here for a few days before they left sometime today. I pick up the scraps of the meal they had last and nibble on them. I stand back up and adjust Kelly into a more comfortable position. I start off into the darkening woods. I plan on walking through the night and all tomorrow cutting traveling time down. I start my trek back to the Clan.

When it gets too dark for me took see my hand in front of my face I carefully climb a tree and tie Kelly to it tightly so if she does wake up she can't get out or call for help. I tie myself to the tree but with way less urgency and carefulness. I let my head hang as I drift asleep.

I am taken back to the clearing. The Goddess stands before me again.

"You didn't do as I said" she says calmly.

"No I didn't and you didn't do much to stop me" I challenge.

"I haven't yet" she says "but you still have a chance to make it right, just let her go so she can wonder back to them"

"I'm taking her back to the Clan so we can help her be normal again.

"But she doesn't want to be normal she wanted to be something more then just human and she was. But being a Shifter became her normal and she will always want to be something more" the Goddess explains.

"She will be okay. She will live on. She will come back with me even if you have to kill me" I say and I turn away.

I jerk away to Kelly screaming. I reach around the tree to pinch the nerve but I feel a pinch on my finger and I pull back. I untie myself an jump onto her branch. I hold her head to the side as she tries to bite me and pinch the nerve. I sigh and untie her fully. I tie her to my back and start running. I slow down after a while and silently stalk through the forest trying to not alert anything to my presence. I hear a twig snap and I bolt from the forest and into the clearing. Suddenly I am surrounded by wolves and a few humans. Oh shit. I fashion a fire sword and rock shield. I turn to face the oncoming dark brown wolf and slice through it's shoulder. It scampers away whining. I let out a growl as if to dare another to try and attack. One red wolf barks and the others attack at once. I turn to slice at one at as another attacks me. I spin around swinging my sword at the wolves around me. I will not let them get Kelly. A few more run off limping into the forest. I let them go, they'll bleed out before they can get anywhere. I face the four left as they each pull out a gun. Shit. I drop my weapons and pull up a force field of wind. I turn tail and rub as they start firing. A few stray bullets ricochet back and hit my attackers. I dive into the forest and create fire darts. I climb a tree and take aim. I launch two at the idiots who turned there backs and it hits one in the head and the over in the chest puncturing the lung enough he will suffocate before he can heal himself. The two humans left turn tail and run off. I let them go even though I know I shouldn't. They could circle around and try to attack again but I doubt they would be that stupid. Satisfied with the science I drop from the tree and run off towards the Clan in hopes I make it to the territory before I collapse.

I find a small stream and I decide to follow it upriver to the waterfall just outside of our territory. I know I am, I have to be. Kelly needs to eat soon and properly before she withers away to nothing. I walk upstream in the river to hide my scent from anything or anyone who may be following me. It's been a while since I've had to survive on my own like this always on the run from my captors. I have to admit I kinda missed it. But it is also good to know that I would be welcomed back to my Clan without hesitation.