My lungs were on fire, every breath like swallowing embers, and my feet throbbed with the ache of relentless pursuit, but I willed myself not to stop. To stop now would be to surrender to death's cold embrace, and I had not come this far to give in. I'd been running ever since I slipped away from the feast, the weight of my stolen freedom pressing on my shoulders. Someone would soon realize I was gone, and when they did, I could only hope that her moonlit majesty would cloak me in shadows long enough for me to cross the border.
The forest was alive around me, whispering its secrets through the rustling leaves, urging me forward. Every step I took felt like a dance in tune with the earth's rhythm, a divine choreography guiding me deeper into its embrace. The trees bent their ancient heads together, their branches weaving a canopy that both shielded and hid me. I could feel the pulse of life within, as if the forest itself was breathing with me, a living, sentient being whispering, Hurry, hurry—freedom lies ahead.
The only thing that kept me moving was the stubborn will to survive that had always burned in my chest, a small but unyielding flame. I had always bowed my head, enduring their scorn, just to see another dawn. To them, humans were weak, pitiful creatures, but I had seen something different. I longed to live as they did, to shed my skin and walk among them unnoticed. Beyond the great mountain lay the human town, a world apart from this life of fur and fangs. A two-moon journey was all that stood between me and the life I deserved. I just had to keep moving, one foot in front of the other, and never look back.
The forest, a tapestry of emerald and shadow, seemed almost to wrap itself around me, as if to shield me from the eyes that I knew hunted close by. Moss-covered stones hummed underfoot with an ancient song, a lullaby that promised safety in its soft embrace. The leaves whispered in a language older than words, a susurrus that filled my ears with the promise of freedom. Each tree stood like a sentinel, their branches reaching out to guide my steps, their roots whispering encouragement with every stride, This way, this way, they cannot catch you here. The sun dipped low, setting the sky ablaze with streaks of scarlet and gold that filtered through the dense canopy, casting long shadows that danced and flickered on the ground like phantoms.
I thought I had left them behind, felt the exhilarating rush of a bird on the wing. With each breath, I drank in the cool, crisp air that tasted of pine and earth, sharp and clean like a fresh start. I was free—at least for a moment. But then, I heard it—a low growl, rolling through the trees like a distant thunderclap. I wasn't scared, not of death. I was more annoyed than anything. Had I really escaped one prison only to find another? The idea of dying at the hands of anyone other than Saphira was almost a relief, a strange twist of fate. I paused, listening, every sense straining into the darkness. My hearing and scent weren't as keen as the others, but the forest seemed to tighten around me, its voice turning from a lullaby to a warning.
I could feel the weight of eyes on me, a heavy gaze that prickled my skin and sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. There was something out there—something I couldn't see but could feel, like the cold breath of winter against my neck. The forest grew still, its whispers hushed to a breathless silence, the leaves hanging motionless as if they, too, held their breath. Then a twig snapped, loud as a gunshot, and I bolted, the spell broken.
I ran, feet flying over the uneven ground, my dark hair whipping behind me like a banner. I pushed through the underbrush, branches clawing at my skin, the forest no longer a comforting guide but a maze of shadow and thorns. I could hear them now, the heavy panting of the wolves giving chase, and the slap of paws on the earth. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw it—a massive wolf, its fur dark as the night sky, eyes burning with a feral hunger. It was closer than I'd thought, its maw snapping shut just inches from my heels.
I pushed harder, my muscles screaming, but something in the forest changed. The trees closed in around me, their branches twisting together like fingers weaving a trap, and suddenly I was veering left, then right, every step guided by some unseen hand. I thought I was outsmarting them, staying one step ahead, but the forest's whispers had turned deceitful, its paths twisting and leading me deeper into its snare.
I stumbled into a clearing, breathless and desperate, and stopped. For a moment, I thought I'd outpaced them, that I'd found a moment's respite. But then I saw it—the clearing wasn't empty. Shadows moved in the periphery, shifting forms that slowly materialized into wolves, each one larger and more menacing than the last. I had walked straight into their trap.
My heart pounded as I turned to run, but it was too late. The largest wolf, its fur a glossy raven black, leapt in front of me, knocking me to the ground. I hit the earth hard, the wind rushing out of my lungs. I tried to scramble to my feet, but the wolves were already shifting, their forms melting into those of men, tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes like ice. One stepped forward, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.
"You must be really stupid to cross into our lands, rogue," he said, his voice thick with disdain.Rogue. The word hung in the air like a curse.
"I'm just passing through," I managed, pushing myself up on trembling arms, my voice steadier than I felt.
The men exchanged a look, their lips curling into cruel smiles. "You know you have to ask permission from the Alpha to pass through?" the taller one taunted, his eyes glinting with malice.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Alphas didn't grant mercy to rogues. If they took me to theirs, I was as good as dead. "That won't be necessary. I'll be on my way. I don't want any trouble."But before I could move, the shorter one lunged forward, grabbing my shoulders and hoisting me up like I weighed nothing. He tossed me over his shoulder, his grip bruising. "Oh, no you don't," he muttered, his voice rough with satisfaction.
Panic surged in my chest, and I fought against him, my fists beating against his back. "Let me go, you bastard!"
A dark, mocking laugh echoed around us. "Looks like we've got ourselves a feisty one," the taller one jeered, slapping me hard across my backside.
"Don't touch me!" I screamed, fury and fear mingling in my voice as I thrashed harder, my nails digging into his skin.
But my struggles were in vain. With a swift, brutal motion, something hard slammed into the side of my head, and pain exploded in my skull. The world blurred and darkened, the forest's whispers fading into nothingness as I was pulled into the void.
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BEWARE: Old cringy ass authors note:
Two chapters in one day?!?:D
Well the relatives are over and I locked myself in my room.
I KNOW I can't be the only one that does that xD
Vote,Comment,Follow c;
