Innocent Midnight

IM 9

They stood outside the dark forest, no noise passed through its path. Finally after figuring she had come all this way to find some answers Ember swallowed her fear, Russ had gotten her this far she couldn’t make him risk his life anymore.

        “I’m going” Russ rose to his feet quickly, eyes caressing her body in a tender manor.
        “Are you sure?” Ember nodded afraid if she opened her mouth, she might show just how frightened she really was.
He huffed looking down the path.
        “Don’t touch them Ember, and don’t leave the path.” She wanted to laugh, what was with stepping of these paths.
        “If you hear a sound that shouldn’t belong….run and don’t stop” Knees buckled at his warning, just how dangerous was this place. Nodding Ember willed her legs to move past that haunting sign, it creaked as a light wind picked up. Gripping her bag tightly Cricket started to stir within her chest, she’d have to keep him contained till she passed throw.

Knowing if she looked back she’d not be able to go one, Ember put one foot in front of the other. The further in the darker it became, silence was deafening her ears causing her to try to steady breaths. Cricket chirped making Ember jump, shaking her head at him he lowered his ears. He seemed to know they weren’t in a very comforting place as he didn’t bother leaving the part between her, another few steps and he looked over her shirt.

Staring into the darkness her eyes slowly adjusted letting in the little bit of light to guide her way, keeping to the path that was her only comfort. Crunching leaves under her feet seemed to echo even louder, try as she might to conceal her sounds it all made matters worse. To Ember she sounded like a marching band, the more she tried to be silent the louder it became sending out a calling card to any dangerous beings.

Part of her was glad she didn’t ask Russ what was in these woods, while her other have had wished to be more prepared for what could be in store. She missed Russ terribly and even though she’d only known him for a short period of time Ember had grown accustom to having someone to converse with, a silent tear trickled down her cheek eager to give her some form of emotional release. Swiping it gone Ember gripped the bag trudging onward, useless were tears in time of these…they’d only get her killed.

Ember was almost certain she was being followed, those blood sucking trees were watching her every move and she new it. Just waiting for her to trip or stumble off the path, right into their awaiting branches. Cricket kept to the safety of her chest, every so often he peered over her shirt. She had to hand it to him the little creature new when to venture out and when not to, rubbing his head with a finger Ember looked up.

SNAP!

That single sound gave Ember’s blood a dose of ice water, Russ’s words rang through her skull making her feet push off. Another loud crack resounded causing her feet to push off faster, Cricket tucked himself securely in the confines of her. Thundering beats shook the path she was almost pounding on, fright took her head swirling it around to see what could possible be after her.

It rode on all fours with goat like hooves, the stalk white of its eyes were so ghostly Ember tripped. Regaining herself Ember pushed off hard, fur or more like bristles covered the entire body giving the creature a maddening look. Long snout that carried blood coated tusks, for a creature so large it was moving faster then Ember would of liked. It screamed out which sounded more like a siren then a scream, black liquid oozed from its jagged teeth to which it chomp at her furiously.

With every passing tree that woodland beast gained, had he only had two legs like Ember then she might have had a better chance. Her body collided violently with something body solid yet firm, a gust of a whistle blew past her catching Ember’s body before she fell. Thousands of tiny sparks shivered through her body at the connection, the being who had his tight but painless hold on her growled.

Her brain gave absolutely no time to adjust within in his confines as she chocked out unorganized words.

“Beast….chase…me” Gasping while her legs started to feel like some wiggly substance Len had made her, they shook so violently she’d not even realized the being holding her had carefully pushed her to his back. With a permitting sound he roared at the charging beast, slowly that thing which so looked more and more like a wild boar came to a stand still. Speaking in a tongue Ember hadn’t ever heard before the boar demon snorted giving her one last glare before galloping into the darkness, her death hold on the mans long black trench was painfully making her knuckles white.

Spinning around with such magnitude he grabbed her wrist so Ember wouldn’t fall, a hood over his face blocked out his features to which she could of sworn would be more then her fragile eyes could handle. Those tingles where pulsing into her skin making Ember’s veins jump like little frogs, she feared she’d traded one evil for a new more deadlier kind.

    “You smell….” She gulped before he finished, as her own fill in lines quivered lips. Bad…. delicious….edible….

    “Familiar.” The hoarse of his voice felt so safe that Ember didn’t even try to pull away, he pulled a little urging her to take careful steps- but her feet had glued themselves taught. The cloaked man had noticed and in one fowl swoop she was cradled in one of his arms, his other hung at his side walking with a purpose.

So much force was being his steps that Ember had to grip his shoulder in order not to throw him off balance, her eyes looked over him- of what she could see at least. He was larger the Len and it would appear he also was skilled as a fighter, but his hood hid his more personal attributes from her. When that dangling arm swung out Ember looked in front, branches had run across the path blocking their way out.

When they refused to move he snarled a predatory sound which shook her a little, scattering like mice from a fire those branches retracted to their solid foundation. Stepping through them Ember tucked herself closer to his side, after Russ’s information about how they sucked the life from ones body Ember wanted nothing to do with those horrible earth dwellers. Something rumbled from with under his cloak making Ember believe he was purring, his grip tucked her closer like a protector as he took the first step into a large clearing.

Beautiful flowers caressed the large field from one end to the other, it was even more spectacular then Astral’s field. Dark blurs were headed right for them making Ember squint to catch a better glimpse, it wasn’t till they were almost on top of them that Ember realized what they were. Wolves.

Whimpering at how mammoth they were her holder cued at her, the light of his fingers brushed against her thighs calming every nerve.

        “Easy little one” That velvet tone smoothed over her face, warming as it went. When the first of four jogged to his side Ember realized they were not just some farm town wolf, but Werewolves with enough power to destroy a whole city. Ten more gathered around them all looking at her, their eyes shifted in color stepping around the man ever so carefully. Not knowing where to look Ember gripped his shoulder, if he were to set her down she’d not have a chance.

One had snuck up close behind them its nose skimmed her behind causing Ember to squeal, his grip tighten before spinning around with barred teeth and reddening eyes. That wolf along with its companions dropped to the ground, showing either its belly or neck. Tails were tucked while ears dropped to the lower of their faces, everything about their posture was submission to the larger man.

When he thought they’d had enough he turned back around heading to the house in the distance, each wolf slowly got to their paws scampering after them. She watched as they yipped and played with one another, a few snarled at being whacked while trying to keep up with the man, there was one wolf that Ember watched the most. He was smaller not by much but she figured it was enough to make him the pack bitch, his whole demeanor was calm and easy.

Looking up at her Ember gave him a smile which sent his tail wagging, yipping wildly at her he’d not seen where he was going an bumped into a wolf much larger. It twisted around snapping its jaws nearly catching the smaller wolfs nose, frightened for him Ember screamed.

“Don’t you hurt him” Wiggling out of the mans arms she pushed herself between the two wolves, his fangs barred gripping long black claws into the flowery soil. She wasn’t sure why but Ember wasn’t scared of him, if anything she was livid. Feeling like he wasn’t taking her seriously Ember snarled back barring her teeth, it was a little surprising when he turned his head slightly to look at the man who had folded his arms in watching.

        “Back Off” Ember hissed, feeling the cold of a nose on her palm from the smaller wolf. Slowly the larger predatory tucked his head down, using his tongue to lick at her free hand. With her anger dissipating Ember smiled sticking her hand out to pet him, sitting for her as her fingers glided through his long black coat. When he snarled Ember rose a brow, his eyes shifted a few colors eyeing her chest.