Night Touched

Discovery

Asher

    The doe lay ravaged at my feet. My wolf was satisfied from a successful kill. He always loved the thrill of a good chase; who was I to deny him the satisfaction? I left the remains of her in the clearing having taken my fill; padding off slowly, into the darkness at a leisurely pace. This is what I enjoyed the most about this form; the smells of the earth and the beauty of a moonlight sky. Though, tonight's moonlight shone its blood red tendrils through the forest canopy; giving everything a strange tint of color.

    I began heading back towards the car, following the meandering trail my hunt had left behind. Then my gut twisted, with the distinctive pang of grief. It came over me suddenly, like a tidal wave, giving me pause. I stopped in my tracks feeling a pull in my mind willing me southward. I tried to shake off this intense wave of emotion, shaking my head back and forth. My wolf dug our paws into the earth refusing to continue towards the car; whining in protest. Pointing our nose south and sniffing the air expectantly. I started walking in that direction to appease him; gazing upward at the stars noting by their position that it had to be around three in the morning.

     The witching hour, I thought snorting indignantly.
   
    My wolf seemed satisfied, that I let him take the lead. I mean, what else did I have to do tonight anyways? A mournful howl broke through the darkness; piercing my wolfish ears, and my soul. My wolf howled in response and took off running full speed towards the sound. My heart beat raced, as I weaved through the tree line with precision. The feeling of grief humming within my mind, but strangely, I knew the sensation was not my own.
    
Our mate needs us. Must find her.

    My paws pounded the earth, as I leaped over branches and other undergrowth littering the forest floor. I had to find her. I thought and howled again into the night. I smelled and heard a few forest dwellers run away from me; hiding within their holes, as I barreled my way through their domain. Paying them no mind, my wolf spurring us forward determinedly.

    Another sad howl broke through the tree line; much closer now. I paused for a moment to get my bearings and catch my breath. How far had I run? And in such unfamiliar territory... I held my nose into the air sniffing cautiously, sampling the mixed areas that tickled my heightened senses. I smelled a strange mix of things wafting on the light night breeze; the freshness of pine, the coppery scent of blood, the rot of death, and HER. I picked up her scent and followed it growing uneasy as the smells of blood and death grew stronger. I didn't like this at all, fearing what I might find.

    I shouldn't have let her leave. Not when I had just found her. I shook the worried thoughts away and noticed that the tree line had begun to thin.

    Ahead of me was a small stone cottage set within a clearing; there was a small shed and a glass greenhouse. The stench of blood and death flooded my nose, overwhelming me. Something horrible had taken place here. I felt my stomach wring into knots with worry.

     If my mate had been harmed I would fucking kill whomever was responsible and make them suffer for it.

    I saw a flash of movement to my left and spun my body it that direction ready for anything. My muscles tensed, lowering my ears down menacingly, as I prepared to strike. A stunning silver wolf stepped slowly into view. Her coat glistened in the starlight, almost sparkling. Her golden eyes met my gaze, boring into me. She was magnificent. My posture changed immediately and I felt my tail wag back and forth, with a mind of its own.