Pack Warrior [EDITING]

Chapter 8

Even before anything had happened, I knew something was wrong. Something in the air let me know to keep my guard up.

I walked through the forest slowly, listening for anything that seemed off. But everything seemed normal.

That's when I heard the scream. It was high pitched, obviously, and it ran me through. All my hairs stood on end and my wolf had never been more aware of everything around me.

I took off running to the right. I wasn't sure which direction the scream had really come from, but my wolf did. Something in me just seemed to lead me.

As my body hurdled through the trees, something in the distance caught my eye. It was a group of wolves, around 4 or 5. It looked like they were chasing something. It wasn't until I ran faster and caught up that I noticed two things. 1. By their scent, I could tell these wolves were rogues and 2. There were chasing someone.

I sniffed the air as I ran, and instantly recognised the scent. Dread filled me as I picked up the pace. That's when I saw a flash of blonde hair as I came up alongside the wolves. They didn't even pay attention to me. They were too focused on the little girl running away from them.

I would have known her just from sight. I had spent a lot of time with Bailey, she was one of the children I looked after. She was one of the sweetest girls, being only six years old. She was nothing like her brother Damien however.

Now, I saw her tear-stained face and heard her cries, and it broke my heart.

I knew I had to fight off these wolves, so I tried to shift. But I couldn't. I kept trying, but I felt my wolf slipping away until I could barely feel her. I then tried to talk to the pack, but there was only silence.

I started to panic a little now. It was me against five rogues. I started to doubt myself until I saw Bailey trip, falling on to the ground. I heard her screams get louder as they caught up and circled her.

I didn't have time for doubts. I leaped into the air, right over the heads of the rogues and in front of Bailey. I checked her quickly, making sure she was alright. She was huddled against a tree, her eyes wide and I could see she had a cut on her leg.

I had to focus. The rogues growled loudly at me, and I tried one last time to shift, but nothing still happened.

I took a few deep breaths. "Bailey, sweetheart, you're gonna be ok. But I need you to close your eyes for me. Keep them closed until I tell you to open them."

She took no time to do as she was told, hiding the horrible scene. I turned my attention back to the rogues. I could tell they were all males of varying ranks. All had grey fur, making me think they were from a similar pack.

They all took a step forward. My body tensed and I watched their movements.

Finally, one leapt into the air, and it was on. I dodged the first wolf, and then made a lunge of my own. I jumped onto a smaller rogue, landing on his back. He started to buck his back legs, but I clung on. I wrapped my hands around his neck, getting a good grip, and with one twist I snapped his neck.

He fell limp to the ground, and I barely had time to move before another one snapped at my leg. I hadn't been fast enough, and felt pain. I held in my cry, not wanting to worry Bailey. I was going to protect her.

The next wolf lunged at me, trying to get my throat. But at the last moment I ducked, allowing him to soar over my head. Before he hit the ground, I grabbed his back leg in my hands, and bent it until it too snapped. 

As the others advanced, I used their friend to hit them all and give me enough time to fling the second wolf at a tree.

Now there were only three. They watched me carefully. The smaller of the three was furthest from me, so had a running start as he jumped. Again, I ducked low to the ground so he flew over my head. I knew he must have landed shakily, so I took the opportunity to backflip and landed, hard, on his back.

I put so much force behind this that I could feel his spine breaking beneath me.

And then it was me against two. I could tell these two were more skilled. They had made few attacks at me, allowing the others to wear me out. They thought I was just some stupid female.

I took my position in front of Bailey again and faced the two rogues. I watched to see which would attack first. I was caught off guard when both leaped at me. I stuck my arm out, catching one by the neck, but the other knocked me to the ground.

I lay with the wolf on top of me, only just holding it back as its jaws snapped close to my neck. Moving my legs, I kicked it deep in the stomach, sending it flying into the air. I tried to get up again, but a pair of jaws quickly snuck into my shoulder.

I gasped as pain radiated through me. I was just able to get the strength to grab its jaw with one hand. I then pushed it down, letting my wolf take more control as I ripped his whole lower jaw off.

His body slumped now, and all I had to do now was finish the last rogue. I could feel the blood pouring out of my shoulder. I gulped as the wolf stepped forward, growling.

I tensed again. Just as he lunged, I did too, meeting him head on and, grabbing his head, I used my feet to crash his body to the ground. With one last jerk, I snapped his neck.

Taking a moment, I looked at the five dead bodies. I had never killed anyone before. It was surreal how easily I could do it. Then I heard Bailey's crying and all the anger disappeared.

"It's ok Bailey. Just another little while, then you can open your eyes." My voice was hoarse now and came out ragged.

I quickly hid the bodies from view, knowing no six year old should see that. I then looked down at myself. I was covered in blood. But I had to go to Bailey.

I moved so I was crouching in front of her. "Its ok now, sweetheart. You can open your eyes." 

She peeked each open, and flung her arms around my neck when she saw the rogues were gone. She cried into my shoulder, but I bit back the pain. I wrapped my arms around her body and tried to pick her up, but the pain was too much, so I half dropped her half, placed her back on the ground.

"Emmy, you're hurt. You're bleeding." Her voice came out in a whisper. I smiled at her and nodded

"Yeah so are you though, sweety. We have to sort that out." I stood up straight, taking her hand and limped over to a tree were I thankfully found a couple of shirts. I sat her down, ripped part of a shirt and started to wrap it around her leg. I saw her wince in pain and a few tears escaped, but I knew she would lose too much blood otherwise.

Once I was done with Bailey's leg, I got to work on my own. I wrapped the material around the bite marks, stopping the bleeding. My shoulder was more awkward. I pulled the material up and tried to wrap it around. It took several attempts, with Bailey watching intently, before I got it. 

I then realized I couldn't tie it at this angle. I bit my lip. "Bailey, I need your help. See the two ends of the bandage? I need you to tie those in the tightest knot you can make ok?"

She nodded and stood beside my shoulder. She tightened it and I hissed softly from the pain. Tying it off, I sighed at less blood was pumping out.

"Thanks. Now lets get you home." 

I started to walked holding her hand, but I knew Bailey was in pain because of her leg. I stopped then, picking her up and letting her wrapped her arms and legs around me. 

I gently smoothed her hair down with my hand as she hid her face in the crook of my neck. "It's ok now Bailey. You're safe now."

My arm hurt holding her up but I ignored it, just like I ignored the pain in my leg as I made the slow journey back to the pack house.

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Thanks again to everyone who has commented, voted and what not. I'm glad people are enjoying this story.

Stay tuned for more.

-J