Her Nature

|Chapter 9|

The clouds hung heavy and dark in the sky, ready to weep in agony. Gusts of wind ruffled the leaves and blew my now loose hair around my face.

Fighters had retreated to the large garage of equipment, the indoor training center. Thunder growled in warning to find shelter, but I stayed.

I could feel fire pumping through my veins, burning in my eyes. I focused those fires back on the female wolf. Her black holes sucked in everything they laid sight on.

My fingers grasped her head, stilling the snapping movements. I held her steady, forcing her to focus on my eyes.

She glared back, refusing to give in. I leaned closer, so close I could feel her hot breath fan my face. The female's jaw snapped at me again, but I held my position, her teeth skimming the tip of my nose.

Tiny dots beaded, growing larger languidly. Once the dots became visible, they all joined into one droplet.

I gave no reaction when the small drop of blood trailed down onto my lips. "Look at me, wolf." It was a command from deep within my chest.

The wolf's lips still peeled back threateningly, but she no longer snapped. Bringing my head closer so that her wet nose met my bloody one, I stared into her eyes.

They swirled like vortexes, any and everything condensed into small orbs. I could point out each and every emotion the female battled. She struggled for her sanity. I kept my eyes on hers, an intense gaze passing between us.

Deep blacks glossy from constant tears. Hatred burned in her endless pits. They ached in pain, cried out for help. Red revenge clouded by desolate melancholy. But the strongest, was a small steely glint.

Far back, it sparkled like a lonely star in her night eyes. It controlled all others, caged them in and bottled them up. That strength that lingered fueled her.

My eyes reached further, black fur brushed against my sweaty forehead.

I watched her study my eyes, the fire in my depths. My empty orbs resembled a swampy forrest. Vines tangled around my limbs like shackles. Mud swirled in the water, murky and disorienting.

The swamps sank so deep as if it was once filled with something. It was a dark abyss with no end. A tiny connection hummed, but the cavity was blocked.

Anything that tried to pass failed, embedding in the mud. Adding more weight.

Her body slowly relaxed, and we sat there, looking into each other's eyes. When I deemed she had herself under control, I slowly released her face.

"You'll get through it, I can see your strength, wolf." Something plagues this female. Something overbearing haunted her and the ghost hovered in her eyes.

I slowly stood and she did too. The tips of my fingers grazed her spine. The fur was rough and patchy over her lumpy spine.

I shrugged off my shirt, hearing a few gasps. Holding it out for her, the fur receded and I pushed it over her head. She slid her arms in the holes and pulled it down.

Keeping her eyes glued to the ground, she tugged the shirt lower from its thigh high length. She faced the woods, away from the crowd and I stepped behind her to shield from the intrusive stares.

"Come on, I'll cover you home." Nudging her forward, she slowly dragged her feet and hung her head. The female's once confident form hunched with defeat as if a weight pressed on her shoulders.

My heart clamped in understanding. The weight forces you down and keeps you down. It traps you in the dark, blind with no escape. No twinkle of light, no gut feeling. Just cold, empty darkness.