The Lone Rogue

3

(Unedited)

Its been days, my body is deteriorating with the lack of nourishment. I still refuse to eat. I would rather be the cause of my own death, then let these monsters destroy me themselves. They tried once and I won't let it happen again. Staying in my wolf form has become natural for me I haven't changed into my human form since my first shift at eight and in that moment my instincts told me not to change back until I know it is safe. That day has not come and it wont, I cannot trust anyone and therefore wolf form is better, leaving less room for vulnerability.

I miss the outside world, the smell of the wilderness, the bright sky and the moon that glows down on me. I feel a deep sorrow within me, I do not know when or if I will be able to leave this place but I also feel resentment for those who lock me here, my anger spikes just thinking of them. This cell now smells with the rotten food spread across the floor. The lack of food in my body causing my stomach to howl in pain like its begging me, like it has a mind of its own. I now know death is near for me, the beta has not come back and only other wolves have come to throw food in the room and run away. I am not sad though, I accept death, welcome it even. 

My senses have weakened, my body making breathing and pumping blood through it a priority. 

"You don't look so good." Comes a small voice from the other side of the bars.

"My daddy said you are dangerous, but I don't think you are. You look sad to me" It says catching me off guard.

"My name is Chelsea. I brought you some food. My daddy said you don't eat. I brought you pasta! pasta is my favourite. I thought you might like it." It said happily. I wonder how she got here. Why isn't she scared of me, she must be some ignorant child who can't sense danger when its right in front of her. 

I hear the gate open slowly and my head snaps with the little energy I had left, only to see a small child. It makes small steps towards me and I growl lowly in warning, telling it to stop. She ignores me and moves forward. My body is too weak to stand up. 

The bowl is placed down next to the child and i can smell the food within it. Most people wouldn't make it this far, but I cannot even move. I know i will escape and I would sacrifice the life a measly child to do it. I smell something delicious coming from the bowl, my mouth salivates at the sight of it but I do not move my head and continue to growl and warn this child away. Without any hesitation or fear the child sits across from me and grabs a hand full of food smiling, I get a weird feeling in my stomach. She grabs my top lip and shoves some food under it, forcing me to chew and swallow. I eye her causiously. I have never tasted something like this before and it is wonderful, though I am still wary, this could be a trap who knows what these mut's would do to harm me, sacrifice one of there young, betray one another. 

The child slowly hums a soothing tune as it continues to put the food in my mouth and slowly my body reacts, my stomach that was begging me to eat, is quieting down and the tune that the child provides surprizingly calms me. This child could help me escape, it could feed me and build my strength, let me out of the confined room and I would be free. just the thought of it brings joy to me.

I feel something slowly touch my head and I look up only to see the child's hand causally touching my head in a back and forth movement. I didn't enjoy it, it was rough, but I let her do it anyway, I must get her to trust me and come back to feed me.

Just as I begin to get adjitated with the childs touching a loud voice interrupts "CHELSEA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING GET OUT OF THERE." The beta says frantically, he opens the door as I just now notice it was only just resting closed. I quickly growl out of surprise and the sight of this man, Chelsea snaps her hand back in surprise and hurriedly jumps up running out of the room. The beta stands outside of the bars as he assess the child for any wounds. He looks over to me and i sit up with my new found strength and I make direct eye contact, he glances down to the empty bowl in front of me and then back to the child. 

The beta took the child away after what had happened. My body already feels stronger and I am able to stretch my muscles. 

*** *** *** 

The days go on the same, the child somehow appears in front of the bars at different times everyday. I learnt that her name is Chelsea though I don't know what a name is, I've never had one, from the way that she talks I know that it is something that others in her pack call her. I have gained the childs trust, she comes to me and hums the same soothing tune and pats me uncomfortably, still I tolerate it.

"Hello" a cheery voice says. I know its the child before I even look. It has something in its hand, a piece of what looks to be rope and a loop at the end which has spikes prodding on the inside of it. She walks towards me confidently, trustingly, foolishly, she does not know of my plan, a few more days and I would be almost back to a healthy state, my fur is still coated in the blood of others and the mud of the land i once roamed. The child pats my head as usual but gives me no food, instead she ties the rope around her hand. "My daddy taught me how to tie this knot. He says that they use these knots to tie the obstacles at the training ground, he says they are very strong because they have to hold all the fat warriors" she giggles. I don't know what she is talking about. 

Before I know what is happening the child slips the spiky loop over my head and around my neck. They prod into my skin uncomfortably, I know that with significant force they could cause damage to me but I can survive it. The child stands up and tugs its end of the rope attempting to pull me with it. I give her the illusion that she is leading me as I am tugged out of the door for the first time in a long time. She continues to lead me to the exit of this place and stops at a door.

"I am going to take you out of here and we can show daddy and mummy how well behaved you are. Please be nice." She says like some kind of superior.

As soon as the door is open the first thing see is the sky, it is blue and littered with fluffy clouds I almost internally smile at this. Without a second thought I am off running as fast as my body would allow. I feel the wet ground and notice the snow has begun to melt and leaves begin to grow on trees. I feel the tug on the loop around my neck and suddenly notice the petrified cries of Chelsea being dragged across the rocky ground. Frustrated I stop and turn around to look at the child, she is on the ground, tears soak her face as she looks to me through watery green eyes. Empathy creeps in, she is scared, she trusted me and I betrayed her, just like the people I despise most. I trudge over to her, she tries to move away fearful of me now but her stomach is scratched from the sharp rocks that litter the ground, her shirt is ripped and bits of blood show through, I move to inspect her wounds, they aren't too bad, they will be fully healed within a week.

Chelsea still wails loud beginning to aggravate me, I do not know what to do, instead I help her up shoving my big head behind her back and allow her to use me to stay upright. I lick the wounds hoping to provide comfort and get her to trust me again. I long to run into the wild, but it is my morals which hold me back.

"CHELSEA! COME HERE NOW!" She begins to cry more now. I see the beta in the distance and other wolves beginning to follow, I start to panic. What if they kill me or torture me I am on their lands and they have the advantage. It is then that he notices the rope that ties the two of us together and her hand clasped firmly on my neck. He pauses. More wolves come to see what is happening. 

I lick away the tears that steadily fall down the child's face, they are salty but the crying stops. "DON'T TOUCH HER" The beta yells. I growl low in response to his demands. We are in a stand off, neither knowing what to do.

I feel power coming towards me and the pack wolves turn their heads behind them, I cannot see what they can but the power is strong. They bow their heads in submission and it is then that I realise it is their Alpha. They part for him "What is going on Xavier" I hear a deep voice rumble authoritatively. He reaches the front of the crowd next to his beta and we make eye contact.

"MATE." he says dangerously.

I growl lowly steping in front of Chelsea protectively, readying my self for a fight.