Blue Roses

chapter Thirty

chapter song~ Frozen by within temptation

ASH POV

By the time I wake up, Jade is still asleep with her back to me, so I get up carefully to not wake her and write a note saying I went out to get breakfast. Of course, I wasn't really, I was going to hunt down the hunter and kick his ass. I change into a blue t-shirt and some jeans running a comb through my hair quickly and pulling on my tennis shoes. I check in the guest room one last time before I leave to make sure she's still asleep. I hope I'm back before she wakes up.

I dart out the door and start running to where we encoutered this grade A jackass last night. Once I get there, I look for signs of anyone being back since then, and I find fresh bootprints, matching the ones Mark was wearing. I follow them a short distance into the thickest of the woods. I follow the scent of human as well, thats easy, they stink.

I come across a miniature camp site that looks like it had just been left, the coals of the fire still warm. From here, I track the scent at a faster pace until I can hear someone about a half mile in front of me. I jog silently until I catch up to see who it is.

I see someone in dark clothes and boots carrying a big bag that I'm guessing has a sleeping bag and necessary items to survive with.

I trail beside him awhile until he stops, setting the bag down for some water. I leap out and grab him, pinning him agenst a tree my arm crushing his neck. His eyes are wide with suprise and shock, he fights to get away but my grip is solid as a rock. He scrambles for anything as a weapon, anything he grabs I take and throw behind me getting more and more annoyed with him. Finally, I slam him back again into the tree making him stop. I growl menacingly,

"Now you listen up asshole, your going to do exactly as I say and you might not end up dead, got it?"

He nods silently and I loosen my grip slightly.

"Good, now listen up cuz I'm only going to say it once. Your going to tell me what exactly the hell happened the day you left, and what you meant by you all thought Jade was dead, who, because that's bullshit. And after, if I decide not to beat the shit out of you, you will leave and never come near her again, its bad enough she thought you were dead, but you just happen to show up and try to kill us? I can't stand seeing her upset, and she's a wreak, I don't fucking think so, not a coincidence, now spill or I'll beat the shit out of you."

I loosen my grip and wait for him to talk. When he doesn't, I punch him as hard as I can in the stomach, I hear a few rib crack and he doubles over in pain. He pants,

"Okay, okay! I'll talk, just let me sit down you broke three of my damn ribs thank you very much, its not like I can go anywhere now."

I growl and let him go, he slides down the tree and sits agenst the trunk, I stand a foot in front of him glaring.

"Talk, now or I'll break the rest of your bones."

He rolls his eyes,

"Fine, but please hold all questions till the end... It all started that day with the wolf attack, we were best friends, had been for years, and we were walking home from our tree house when it started. We heard them howling and we took off, unfortunately they're fast and chased us.

One bit her leg real bad, did alot of damage, she tried to hide it but I knew. We kept running, but she was slowing us down and she knew it. I tried to keep her going, but she made me leave, made me keep going without her. I didn't want to, but she threatened to go to the wolves and give herself up if I didn't run....

So I did. I got to the top of the hill just as I heard her scream the first time. They had found her and were mauling here. It took all the strength I had to turn and run for help. I was so panicked and cold, everything looked the same, white, that I didn't see the lake. I was running, and suddenly my feet weren't sinking into snow anymore, they were fracturing a thin layer of ice on a lake infront of the forest.