Mortals & Transitions

Enchanted

The screen door clicked shut as a familiar figure stepped out of the darkened shadows, her warm features etched into her cheeks, emanating a warm presence.
"Hello Ma" I softly spoke, not wanting to be louder than a nimble.
She held a small object in her slender aged hands, the steam billowed and swirled until it dispersed into the cool air. My nose quickly picked up the scent of peppermint and honey, my favorite and knew instantly that she made it just for me.
The porch swing was the only thing that was continuously squeaking as it went forward with the motion of my legs, so I quickly made room, and put the blanket over my mother's legs as she snuggled against my side.
"Good morning my love, how did you sleep?" Her eyebrow quirked up, and smiled as she handed me the warm delight. I kissed her on the cheek with gratitude, and took a sip before I spoke.
Frowning as I told her.
"I didn't.. watching the snow fall seemed more fulfilling"
She kissed the top of my head and slowly drew my ruffled blonde hair behind my left ear.
"I know, my ears could hear the porch swing from across the house"
I stopped the motion of my legs, giggling as I saw her smile softly.
"I figured I'd join you for a few before I headed off before sunrise"
I couldn't help but admire her features, she always looked so young.. but with the wisdom of someone who has been around for years and years.
I questioned her motivate, she's usually asleep around 7am until our village has its early meetings about the packs and news around the area.
"Why?" I mumbled, slowly sipping on my tea, the invigorating liquid ran down my throat, it's warmth traveling all the way down to my cold toes, I wiggled them in hopes of warming up faster.
"Your Aunt Teresa is having troubles transforming after she was beaten by those maniacs months ago" her features showed me that there was more to the story, but I decided not to push based on the facts that it takes a lot for my mother to show emotions such as sadness, or sorrow. She always replaces it with leadership and diligence, but this was much more than she lead me to believe. But she couldn't fool me, not her daughter.
"Did they ever find out who did it?" I paused. "I was lead to believe that she fully recovered from that incident?" I sighed, placing my tea on the edge with a hollow thump.
"Don't worry darling, your aunt is the strongest woman I have ever known, next to my mother that is" she nudged me with her shoulder, trying to make me smile.
Her glossed over eyes, tried their best to be hidden, and I allowed it this time to be hidden from my questioning words.
"She is great, isn't she" It wasn't a question, more of a statement. If anyone can handle a group of men beating them with rocks and sharp edged sticks it would be her. 
Time became comfortable between us as we sat there watching the snow land on the ground with a soft pat.
Her soft hands wrapped around mine, she quickly let me know that she was about to go on her way and that she would be back before the weeks end.
A little teary eyed, I nodded. Knowing she wouldn't allow me to follow, she always tried to shield me from anything bad. Death, disease, famine and destruction but what she didn't know, is that I almost see that on a daily.
The moment she stepped off that porch her smooth olive skin turned into soft brown fur, a little  white triangle patch was noticeable from where I sat. She ran until she became a small speck, then she disappeared.
I soon went inside to get some shut eye, but before I could get in a decent hour of sleep, the sunshine lightly covered my room. Frustration coursed through my blood stream, making me angry that I was having this Insomnia issue.
I shouldn't be having this issue, I sighed in defeat. Gathering up my clothes and got myself dressed.

Walking through the crunchy snow was the only relief I felt in what seemed like a long time. The cool air seeped through my lungs into my fingertips. Make the tips turn pink, and I'm sure my toes blue.
I ended up near the woods, a small home with smoke billowing out of the chimney letting me know that he was home, a smile crept up on my face feeling happiness spread throughout my chest.
I quickened my pace to the warm home ahead of me, but something stopped me short of the happy home.
A silver arrow knocked me off my feet as it sliced into my shoulder, a putrid smell oozed from the arrow as it injected orange liquid into my bloodstream. I could feel my scream rip through my vocal cords as I cried back. Gripping the arrow with my weak hand, I do my best to break it off, but I don't have time. I felt the poison take affect, making every muscle cramp uncontrollably and my heart rate quickened, my breath began to fade, my eyes were burning as I willed them to stay open.
"If they're open you have a chance to survive" I weeped as I tried my best to roll over.
I agonizingly glanced around my surroundings, A few feet away I spotted a dark figure dressed in coral clothing, it would have been easy to miss if it wasn't for the cleanish silver bow in his hands that glistened, he was hidden partly by the bushes in the thick woods, he nodded as I looked, then slowly turned around. Taking one last look at me, then taking off.
The sky slowly turned dark purple as my eyelids became heavy and my weakened self let it happened.
The last thing I saw was a figure hovering above me, ready to strike down.