Caught in the crossfire

6

Time was of the essence! Silver Fang howls were drawing nearer as Kay began to work her magic to stymie their efforts in finding and recapturing the Rock Creek Pack. Quickly, she focused her energy on growing wolfsbane all along the riverbank in both directions from where she stood. Let's see them cross and try to track through that! She thought with satisfaction. Although Wolfsbane was only fatally poisonous to werewolves when consumed or injected it would still leave a blistering, burning rash if their skin came in contact with it. There was no way they would find her pack's crossing point through that, nor would they be stupid enough to try. There was still a small chance they might be able to pick up their trail further up the river though so for Kay this little deterrent still was not enough.

Breaking out into a run she let the wind pick up and carry her at an incredible speed! Far faster than possible for any normal human she sped through the woods until she came to the tree line to the west of where she and her packmates had entered the woods not long before. To the south and west a storm was slowly rolling in. If it could get here in time, the rain could wash away Rock Creek's scent and deter their pursuers. Taking off her shoes to have a better connection to the earth, Kay knelt on the ground. She knew she did not have the strength herself to accomplish what she was planning to do. She would have to borrow energy from the earth itself and even then she did not know if she could do it. She took a deep, focusing breath then bowing her head she lifted her hands, palms up, towards the sky. With all of her power, all of her will and all of her might she summoned the wind... willing it to push the coming storm further and faster towards her. Her body began to shake both from the immense power surging through her body - crashing through like a tsunami - and from her struggle to control it. She fought determinedly to bend it to her will and not to be consumed or carried away by it. The human body was never meant to channel such a force of power. She shut out thoughts of doubt and fear. Collapsing onto her hands and knees, a stifled cry escaping her lips, she pushed through with everything she had! Bent on succeeding for the sake of her pack, no matter the cost... finally, she felt a single raindrop hit her cheek.

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Racing through the trees north of the Pack grounds, it wasn't long before Alaric was at the head of the chase. She was gone. All of the captives from the Rock Creek Pack were gone... but there was only one that he truly cared about. When he'd allowed her to be locked in a third story bedroom instead of a cell he'd never dreamed she'd be reckless enough to risk leaping from her window. That tree was far enough away even most weres wouldn't have tried it. Did that little human have a death wish?! When he got her back, she wasn't leaving his sight!

He came to a sudden stop and shifted into his human form as he arrived at the Misty River. This wasn't right. He knew his Pack lands like the back of his hand. There had never been wolfsbane here. Not so much as one stem much less a whole spread of fully matured plants blooming with deep, blue-purple flowers. How was this possible?!? Come to think of it, there was a lot that wasn't right along the path to the river. Bushes, brambles, low branches and unearthed roots... having to dodge unexpected obstacles in what should have been a well known place had slowed his men down a bit.

As his Beta, pack trackers, and a few warriors arrived they too stood staring in shock. Suddenly, his whole body erupted with pain! Gasping for breath Alaric clutched at his chest. "Lec!" Cy rushed to his side "what's wrong??"

"I don't know..." he gasped. His eyebrows drawing down as he steadied his breathing. "Kay!" He breathed as realization dawned in his eyes. Shifting back into his jet black wolf he pelted off to the west, letting his heart lead the way.

Within minutes he reached a spot near the western edge of the clearing which housed his pack. He came to a halt as his feet hit dry, dead earth. Around him, what had been part of a beautifully thriving forest, was nothing but deadness. The trees were greying and bare, the underbrush dry and brittle, the ground cracked and parched. Hardly able to take it in for his astonishment, it was a moment before he noticed the lump on the ground a few yards away. Rushing towards it he noticed the damage reached out in about a  seven yard radius around the collapsed figure. Even before he reached her he knew instinctively it was his mate.

"Kay, Kay" he trembled, patting her face but she did not wake. Her pulse felt weak. "What's happened to you?"

As if in tune with his own pain and distress the clouds broke and a heavy rain began to fall. The snap of a twig had Alaric's head jerking to the side. Eyes blacker than the night he let loose a deep warning growl.

"It's just me Lec." Called Cy cautiously "Have you foun-" he gasp "Is she ok?!?"

"I'm taking her to the infirmary before this rain makes her worse." growled Alaric "She's barely hanging on as it is. You take the others and find the rest who've escaped. I want to know who did this."

"Right. You heard the Alpha," Cy called to the others catching up behind him "go!" Blasted storm wasn't supposed to roll in until late tonight... of all the times to come early... he thought as he watched his Alpha gently lift Kay in his arms and run off towards the pack house.

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Hey all! Hope y'all enjoyed! If you did, let me know! If I don't get another chapter up by tomorrow night then I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

When the days begin to shorten and the leaves begin to fall

Soon will come the gentle sound of Grandma saying "gather all"

Then the family's all together, sharing memories of the past

Let's remember all our blessings, it's Thanksgiving time at last!