The Outcast

Imprinted

Mona runs blindly into the night.  Her fury toward those bullies and her anger toward herself for not fighting back create a storm within her.  She doesn't care anymore.  She wants to get away from them. Someone grabbed her arm.  Tristan!

"Where are you going? It's dangerous to be out here at this hour!" he said forcefully. 

"Leave me alone!" she screamed at his face and yanked her hand off his grip.  

"No!  You will return to the cabin, now!" Tristan is not holding back either.  "I alerted the Camp Masters,  they will be here any minute.  And if you're still here,  you'll get punished!" 

"Then let it be.  What's the difference? I'm being punished every day anyway," she said sarcastically, venting her anger and hurt to this boy in front of her. She started to walk away from him. 

"I said NO!" Anger is now in his voice. 

She looked back at him, and Tristan saw her eyes. Filled with anger and hate and sadness? Her teardrops glint in the moonlight. His face soften then he said in a soothing voice. 

"I'm sorry that they are mean to you.  I know what they did,  and they will be punished for their actions. I'll make sure of it. But we must come back.  It's not safe here, Mona...Come on... " he held his hand to her, and she just looked at it. He sighed when she did not reach for it. Tristan took her hand and then pulled her carefully. She did not hesitate anymore and let him guide him back. Then, she froze in her steps.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked

"What's that smell?  Don't you smell it?" Mona said warily.  Tristan smelled the air, and it was filled with a nasty smell like old, unwashed, grimy clothes. Tristan was all alert.  

"They're plenty. Six or seven... Behind the trees,  coming near us," she whispered to his ear. 

"How did you know?" he inquired,  they're back to back now,  talking in hushed voices. 

"I can see them. They're rogues! Run!!" she said and took Tristan's hand. They ran towards the camp when a filthy wolf jumped in front of them,  growling.  Although they have studied them in school,  this is the first time they saw it in person, and tales and books did not prepare them that much. The kids were scared when two more emerged at the sides. Tristan growled back at them.  These are ruthless beasts, and two kids are really in grave danger.  Tristan holds her hand tighter. 

"Give the girl!" one rogue said

"No!" Tristan said forcefully. 

"A brazen pup you are!" it said, smirking. 

"Mona,  you have to run!  At three, you will run to the camp and call the Camp Masters!" he instructed swiftly. 

"What about you?" she asked worriedly.

"I'll distract them.  I can shift,  you can't. And they're plenty,  we don't stand a chance.  So do as I say!" Mona was hesitant to leave Tristan behind. What if something happened to him while she ran to safety? 

"Just do as I say!" he repeated more forcefully.  The rogues are closing in on them.  She nodded.  

Tristan counted to three, and she ran.  Tristan shifted.  His wolf was as chestnut brown as his hair, and strong and big for his age, but it was not as big as that of the rogues.  She ran swiftly towards the camp. Not looking back. A rogue was after her, and her little steps are unlike the rogue's leaps.  She screamed when it reached her. It bit her arm.

"Tristan!!!! " she screamed. Tristan heard Mona's scream, but three rogues were fighting him.  His hindleg bitten, and there were deep scratches in his back,  oozing blood. Once they got Mona,  they stopped attacking him.