Fortis

Fortis | Prologus

yes, another werwolf story. im sorry theyre fun to write. but before yall start reading: theres no packs and no mates          

           “Mercy, don’t go too far and be back before dinner,” Mom said when my gloved hand wrapped around the backdoor’s handle. She dried the glass plate in her hand, setting it aside onto the rack next to the sink.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I sighed, annoyed. “Yes, Mom, I know. You’ve only told me a thousand times.”

“A thousand and one times won’t hurt.” She smiled at me, her age lines showing through.

Flashing a fake smile back at her, I yanked open the door and walked out onto the snow covered patio. My boots left dragged marks as I made my way to the woods behind the house. Snow still fell, melting as it touched my flushed skin. The plush jacket that was wrapped around my torso and arms kept in my internal warmth.

Stepping over roots that broke through the soil and ducking under low hanging branches, I walked until I reached the pond. Trees covered overhead, making a clearing onto the water. It was a beautiful sight, one of my favorites. I had made it my goal to come to this hidden spot at least once a week.

At the cold temperatures, the pond had frozen over. I smiled to myself, my foot testing the durability of the water. Stepping onto the outer edges, the ice seemed to hold my weight.

Sliding further to the middle of the pond, I started to ice skate the best I could in snow boots. Laughing at myself as I tried twirling, I fell onto by backside. If anyone were watching, I would’ve been embarrassed but it was only me. So I laughed more, starting to make a snow angel.

But my fun came to an abrupt halt as the sound of a twig snapping echoed through the still air.

Sitting up and leaning on my arms, my eyes squinted through the falling snow where the sound originated. Another snap and the sound of snow being crunched together sent my breathing into ragged inhales. Even breathing through my nose, the exhaled air was visible.

Trying to stand up on the frozen pond, a low, bone chilling growl made me pause my movements. And as another branch snapped in half, an overgrown wolf appeared at the edge of the forest line. Its gray fur was matted with wetness and dirt. 

A shot of fear rolled down my spine, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. My eyes widened, we didn’t have wolves around here. I had never seen an animal the size of a horse, this wasn’t a normal wolf. It must be mutated, no wolf was that big nor did they look the way this wolf did. If it chose to, it could walk on its back legs and use its front as arms. Muscles bulged from under its filthy fur.

I tried controlling my fear, remembering that my mom told me animals could smell it. Holding up my hands defensively, I slowly came to stand on my feet. My smile looked like a grimace. “N-Nice, w-w-wolf.”

It growled, baring its sharp teeth at me. I imagined it tearing through flesh, blood splattering over its muzzle.

Tears sprang to my eyes, my body started shaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t feel my hands or feet, my stomach felt hallow. I didn’t know what to do, and more than anything I wish I had listened to my mom about not going to the pond today.

The wolf lowered its massive head, its ears pinned down as it took a menacing step forward and onto the pond.

One thing ran through my head: Run.

And that’s what I did, which wasn’t my smartest idea.

I slipped on the frozen water, but I managed to gain traction to reach the dirt of the forest floor. My heart thudded against my ribcage, threatening to beat out of my chest. Running with numb legs and wobbling knees, I glanced behind me only to see the wolf dig its claws into the frozen water and bound across it with three wide strides.

I willed my body to run faster and harder, but the fear that seized my heart was making my breathing difficult. Oxygen couldn’t get to my muscles, my eyes burned with the tears that ran down my face.

I wanted my mom. I wanted my dad. And now, I’ll never know if I’ll ever see them again.

Clumsily jumping over fallen branches, a white hot searing pain ripped through my ankle as the wolf’s claw dug into my flesh. An agonizing scream bubbled through my throat, the pain torching throughout my body.

I fell to the ground, my dull nails digging into the snow covered soil as I tried crawling away from the monster. I screamed for my mom, my throat growing raw. I scream for help, for anybody to hear me. But I was a half mile away from the house and all alone in the deserted woods.

I could feel the wolf’s dark presence over me. It growled as it swiped its paw across my back, the points of claws serrating through my winter jacket.

I tried reaching behind me to hit it, to harm it in any way. But it flipped me over so that I laid on my back.

Up close, the wolf was more demonic. Its eyes were a soulless black, its breath smelled like death.

I punched it in its nose, using my legs to kick its stomach. But as the wolf sunk its teeth into my shoulder blade, I could feel the tips tearing through my muscle. I screamed, fighting against it as my blood flowed into its mouth.

It tossed its head side-to-side, ripping into my skin more. Pain was all I could feel, and I knew this would be my last seconds at being alive. 

Growing weak from blood lose, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. I couldn’t feel it as it tore into my jacket, reaching the flesh of my stomach. I couldn’t feel as my skin seemed to burn, feeling as through something was surging through me. I couldn’t feel when something knocked the beast off of me. I couldn’t feel the snow fall onto my dying body as the wolf wrestled with another wolf. I couldn’t feel remorse as the new, jet black wolf ripped the other animal’s neck out.

I looked lazily up to the sky, blackness swarming my vision. Blood laid everywhere around me, resting on top of the snow due to the vast temperature differences between the two substances. Everything seemed peaceful. 

I couldn’t feel as my body was picked up from the ground and carried in a pair of two strong arms.