Hold Me, If You Can

Chapter 1 - The Arrival

Her bleeding paws pounded against the crackling, sharp twigs that coated the forest’s earthy floor. Her legs were burning with the exhaustion she had put her wolf through for the past five weeks, give or take and she still had a few bleeding gashes on her neck and back from not so friendly rogues but she pushed herself further to a place where she hoped was a paradise, a place where she could start a new life and forget her sorrow. Slowly, a crystal clear lake appeared amidst the tall, old trees that grew to the sky. The lake looked so luminescent, pure and it brought a wave of peace over Ashlyn. Ashlyn slowed down to a lazy stroll and walked over to the edge of the lake. She let herself rest there as she drank some water from the lake then shifted back to her naked human form. Her wolf was extremely tired mentally and needed a break and Ashlyn willingly receded to her request. She laid herself down on the water and floated there, looking at the cloudy sky.

“Brad, I miss you so much,” Ashlyn told her dead brother. “I’m glad you’re not in pain anymore and I’m glad you’ll always be safe now, and happy too I hope.”

Her eyes glistened now with tears, but never once, did they fall. She breathed in a lungful of air, and tried to gather her thoughts again.

“Linda, my cute baby sister, you will always be my favourite rabbit. Nobody could every compare to your level of adorability,” Ashlyn declared, “stay close to Mum and Dad, okay? And listen to them; they will always have the best intentions for you. I miss you too.” A low, rustling noise came from right and she quickly stood up then hid her body in the water. Ashlyn had thought it was her brother and his friends trying to play a stupid prank on her but then she remembered that they were all gone. Vanished, never to be seen or heard from again. She let out a despondent sigh and continued floating on her back.

“Mum, I wish our future wasn’t taken from us. I can still imagine you bouncing ecstatically when we organise my wedding or when I tell you that you are finally getting the grandkid you’ve been dreaming about since I stopped being a cute baby. Thank you for everything; I miss you.” Ashlyn’s voice shook, but still she shed no tears.

“And Dad, you’ve always been so supportive and funny. You were a brilliant cook too. I admire your fairness, kindness, generosity – basically, everything about you. You are my hero.” Ashlyn moved her arms up and down in the clear water, making ripples.

“I love you all so much: Linda, Dad, Brad and Mum,” she whispered so quietly that she could hardly hear herself. It was then that she made her decision to settle down here, this lake was her sanctuary and she had said her goodbyes to her family here. She could not leave this place anymore, she bound to it for eternity and she felt she probably couldn’t even make herself leave in the future, even if she had to. If she had to die to stay here, then die she would. Ashlyn smiled in a twisted sort of happiness…and then she started drowning. A hand was forcing her head down and the other arm was pushing her body down onto the floor of the lake.

“Damn it, why did you choose to float in the shallow bit?” Ashlyn cursed herself, but then realised she was losing from oxygen. Her legs struck out and tried viciously kicking at the attacker but all she did was kick up clouds of small rocks. At that moment, Ashlyn really wished she was double jointed in her legs, that way she could kick her attacker. Her lungs were beginning to burn now and she wondered if it was her in fate to die and join her family. Ashlyn tried pushing herself up from the ground but the attacker’s strong hand never lost their power and continued to pin her to the ground. She was convinced in her fate now, and stopped struggling, some humane person finally decided she did not deserve to suffer anymore and was ready to end her life. She simply ignored the excruciating pain in her lungs, closed her eyes and smiled. She couldn’t wait to see her family again. It had been too long. Finally, the numbing darkness seeped into her thoughts and put her to a blissful sleep.