Forest of Ashes

Chapter Eight (Rough)

Owen focused all his rage, channelling it at Lailah. He closed his eyes, keeping his attention on the brightest light in the darkness. Holding on, he bared his teeth and tried to ignore the heat burning his skin.

I'm so close.

His claws dug into the cold ground, centering him to the earth.

Just a few more seconds.

Owen opened his eyes, glaring at the girl. She looked so scared. So small. It reminded him of himself: vulnerable, expendable, gone with just a blink. I can't do this. Pushing the anger to one side, he focused all of his energy at the tree behind her.

A power pooled out of him, leaving him empty and cold. All his anger diminished. What have I done? Gasping for breath, Owen collapsed on the ground. He looked up and saw the tree ablaze with fire. A branch smouldered and fell, crashing onto Lailah. She screamed, the embers of the burning wood settling on her face.

Tyra ran to her daughter, pushing off the branch and cradling the girl. She opened her hand, letting her black shadows dance around Lailah's face, easing her pain: the girl's harsh shrieks turned to whimpers.

Still holding her daughter, Tyra glowered at Owen. Within seconds, she had shot out her hand, sending fragments of black glass at him. The invisible wall Bree had summoned was gone. The boy let out a small cry, looking down to see shards of glass sticking out of his stomach. Warmblood began to ooze down his body, sticking his fur together.

Tyra held out her hand again, but something ran into her before she could throw the killing blow. A brown blur knocked her to the ground. Blinking, Owen made out the shape of an animal.

Holding his wound, he realised that he had lost a lot of blood. Even with his Grandmother as a doctor, he had never seen so much of it before.

His heavy body fell to the ground, the vast amount of fur softening the blow. Opening out his hand, he looked at his claw. It was hard to get his head around. He was in control of this paw. Yet, his body hardly felt any different.

His head began to grow light, the trees of the forest merging together and dancing in his vision. He knew what was happening. Black dots began to appear in the sky, expanding and connecting with each other until everything he could see was darkness. Owen had to remind himself this wasn't Tyra- while he could only see blackness, his body was warm, not cold.

With that thought in his mind, he gave into the twilight.

-

Owen awoke to the familiar feeling of aches and pains. It seemed that ever since he had entered the forest his body had taken countless beatings after beatings. Opening his eyes, he saw the brown fabric of a tent above him. It looked old, different coloured fabric had been used to patch up holes. Looking around, he noticed a small furnace and blankets were in the shelter with him.

How did I get here? Did I escape Tyra? Owen remembered what Lilah had done to him, what she had made him become. Quickly, he looked down at his body and almost wanted to cry. It was real. It wasn't a trick. She had made him become a monster. He would never be able to go home now.

His breathing hitched and he struggled to breathe. Gasping for breath, he choked on the air. His body felt hot, and his heart was pounding in his chest. What is happening? He tried to breathe deeply, but he couldn't, his body wouldn't let him.

"Just count to ten." His sister's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of what to do in this situation. One. Two. Three. He gulped down air. Four. Five. Six. His breathing slowly came back to normal. Seven. Eight. Nine. He was nearly there. Ten.