Secret Lives

Chapter 23, Edge of Sanity

Chapter 23

I was carried back to my cell rather surprisingly and was told I was not to be fed until learnt some manners, whatever the hell that meant around here.

It was long after that I was unconscious, a presence next to me pulling me from my sleep as the feeling in my body returned quicker than expected.

The wolf next door had improved significantly, his eyes now open as he watched me be thrown in my cell.

He was sitting up, the dark grey fur around his eyes looking like they held a grey tinge.

I could feel something familiar, an imaginary hook pulling at my mind as I realised it was the same feeling as what Mitch had done so we could communicate.

‘I’m surprised you came back so soon she wolf, normally the hunters are not kind to us’.

Now staring into the wolf’s swollen brown eyes, I was surprised he had made a connection and I was more curious as to how he could.

‘That link you made for us to talk, how can you do that’?

I noticed the strange look he returned, a shutter passing through his fur as he laid down once more.

The wolf clearly didn’t expect my surprise as I could see he was thinking over his answer.

‘You’re not from around here, are you’?

I didn’t like the way the wolf was now inspecting me, like he knew he was missing something.

I didn’t know what would happen if he figured it out but I assumed this friendly connection we now had would be severed immediately.

What answer was I supposed to give him, what answer would this wolf be willing to accept.

‘I’m from down south’.

I didn’t know if my lie had fallen flat but from the looks I was still receiving the wolf was willing to accept that response for now….

‘Well in any case, it no longer matters.  My name’s Simon, and what would they call a pretty girl like yourself’?

I had no idea what this wolf was implying; I was a wolf what was there that was supposedly ‘pretty’ anyways.  It was the first time anyone had called me that.

‘Sonya’

Simon gave a brief nod, this body language obviously meaning something to other wolves I did not understand.

‘Well Sonya, I suggest you enjoy the quiet whilst you have some, this will most likely be the last time we see each other as I fear after tonight you may not survive the fight’.

What fight was this guy talking about?  I had been captured was I not to be killed and that would be it?

‘What fight exactly are you talking about’?

Letting out a snort, Simon rolled over onto his back, the fleshy wounds on his belly now catching my eye as it looked like he was getting comfortable.

‘I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough Sonya; the hunters always put big money on newcomers’.

Wolves around me whined as something told me it was now early morning, and that the sun would now rising up in the sky.

I wondered how Mitch was doing and if he blended much like the other wolves in comparison.

 ‘Mitch’?

A minute passed of silence, a long minute of panic as I realised something might have been wrong.