Chapter 2
The second I stepped out of the door I was overwhelmed by the silence that enveloped me. I'd forgotten how peaceful I found it here. I felt something stirring within me, probably the long since forgotten memories from the one place I truly loved.
Time seemed to stand still as I strolled through the softly rustling foliage.
A shiver of apprehension ran through me and I realized that I didn't know where I was. I guess I should've been paying attention to where I was going I berated myself.
I couldn't be sure of the amount of time I spent stumbling around helplessly, but it had felt like hours and I could already feel the surrounding light diminishing.
A painful knot began to form in my throat and tears swam in my eyes as I suddenly felt very young and very far from home.
Blindly, I stumbled into a clearing and collapsed against the nearest thing to me. I couldn't contain myself any longer and the first sob escaped my lips.
"Why were you so stupid?? Why couldn't you have paid attention to where you were going??" I said to myself. "You should've known that the forest would've changed since the last time you were here. Now you're lost. And grandma will be worried sick abou-"
Suddenly, the thing that I was lying on shifted slightly.
I sprang up and gasped as I saw what I had collapsed onto. What I had thought was a tree trunk covered in moss turned out to be a boy. A super-hot, super-startled, sexy 17 year old boy, I might add.
All I could do was stand there, like an idiot, gawping at him.
I realized that my mouth was hanging open, so I quickly snapped it shut and began to turn the colour of a ripened tomato.
He smiled reassuringly at me.
"Uhm... Hi." He said softly, slowly reaching out a hand towards me, as though I was a wild deer that might flee without a moments notice.
I stammered something unintelligible, then stopped. After all that had already happened, I didn't want to seem like an even bigger freak than he already thought I was.
"You're not lost by any chance?" He asked me, then gave me a big grin. "I'm Griffin by the way."
He had gotten to his feet and was extending his hand to me, as if he expected me to shake it.
Tentatively I extended my hand in return. I was totally caught by surprise, and eeped like a little girl, when he grasped my hand and pulled me into a strangely comforting hug.
The giggle that escaped my lips was slightly hysterical as he finally released me.
"Well, that was unusual." I stated. OMG, that's the best I can come up with to say? I'm such a retard.
"So, Griffin, huh? That's an unusual name." I said awkwardly.
"Yeah, I guess. Speaking of names, what's yours? And how are you feeling?" He looked at me as if to inspect whether any damage had been done when I collapsed on top of him. Blush. I really should pay more attention to my surroundings, instead of getting lost in my own world, then I never would've had my mini-breakdown on top of poor Griffin or even been in this predicament at all! Speaking of which, I wonder if he has a girlfriend. He's so out of m league though.
"Hey?" He gripped my arm lightly. "Are you OK?"
"Uhm.. Uh.. Yep. Yep, I'm fine. My name's Leila by the way." I finally managed to stammer.
"You sure?" Her looked at me skeptically. "You looked pretty upset back there."
"I'm fine." I smiled what I hoped was my most winning smile. "I'm just very lost."
I must've had a sheepish look on my face because Griffin chuckled.
"It's hard to believe someone who grew up here would get SO upset about getting lost out here."
That's weird, I wonder why he thought I grew up here.
"Oh. I didn't grow up here." I looked at him quizzically. "I've just come to stay with my gran while my mom cools off."
"Hmm... I could've sworn you were from here. I'm sorry, guess I was mistaken." He looked around awkwardly and I wished I had bitten my tongue.
We continued walking in silence, I was being very careful to watch what I said and I was taking in as much of my surroundings as possible.
While passing through yet another clearing, a wild sense of relief washed over me. I was finally beginning to recognize where I was!
"Griffin!" I exclaimed, "I know where I am now!" I smiled happily. That's when I saw the horrified expression on Griffin's face and I turned to look at what he was staring at.
The cluster of purple violets was sitting innocently in front of a large rock. I punched Griffin jokingly.
"Scared of a wittle bunch of fwowers Gwiffin?" I asked him, giving him a naughty smile.
The second I turned around I regretted it. A large, indistinct form was materializing from the shadows, its blood red eyes glinting malevolently from beneath shaggy fur. A savage snarl rippled from its mouth as it exposed its wicked looking fangs.
"HOLY SHIT!" I screamed hoarsely.
All I could do was stare at the figure of the gigantic wolf that stood before me. My feet were rooted to the spot as if I had become a piece of the scenery.
The wolf seemed to be grinning at me, as if it took pleasure at seeing me terrified at its presence.
It deliberately rotated its head, almost as if deciding which of us would be the better prey and recognition seemed to flare as it laid eyes upon Griffin.
The smile instantly dissolved and its features hardened into an expression I could only describe as hatred.
It growled menacingly and it tensed its muscles as it prepared to lunge for Griffin's throat.
The wolf sprang into the air and before I knew it I had leapt in between them. Time seemed to freeze as my hand automatically shot out as if it alone would be enough to stop the wolf in its tracks. I felt an intense pain beginning at the back of my head, then coursing to the rest of my body. The pain reached the tattoo and it reached an excruciating level. I let out a shrill shriek of pain and my body convulsed in a sudden surge of power.
A blinding flash of light illuminated the clearing and I felt myself being thrown backwards into Griffin.
The wolf's howling was the only thing that punctuated my daze.
Spots danced in front of my eyes and just before my vision blurred completely, I could've sworn I saw a tiny dragon flitting in and out of my field of vision. Then my vision dissipated completely and I lost conciousness...
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