Dark Aura (under editing)

Part 2 Wolf's Den

I traverse the cold, misty woods. I hope for my sake there are no werewolves around. I tear off a sleeve of my dress and wrap it around my leg to contain the bleeding. I can't leave a trail of blood for other animals. I allow the moon to guide me through the eerie forest. All night I hear different sounds of creatures and animals. Each having their own melody ringing out in the woods. I find a hollow small cave and step inside. My body is aching and freezing, I use some magic for a fire.

With that, I collapse on the stone. When I awake, the sunlight shines in my eyes from a distance. Seems it's not as hidden as I thought, the entrance is wide and noticeable. The only thing that hid me and kept me safe was the dark. I peel off the piece of fabric from my leg and see the stained blood turning maroon. Hopefully, it stopped the bleeding. I examine my arms and legs and see burn wounds and flesh wounds.

They will heal overtime naturally; I could speed up the process if only I knew how. I climb out the cave and. I don't know where I should go or where I'm heading. All I know is that I can't go back to my hometown. When I awake the next sunrise, I'm greeted by the sight of my new cave. It's cold, desolate and bare.

I slowly pick my body off the ground; my body isn't in so much pain as it was before. The burns are no longer excruciating, just a bit sensitive. I crawl out of the cave and venture around for a river or pond.

I stumble around looking for a clearing. I stop to lean on the trees; I pant to catch my breath, why am I so drained? Ethan! Damn it! That son of a-Snap! I spin my head to the direction of that sound, nothing. I felt my heart beat's steady pace quicken. The sound fills up my ears as my heart thumps harder. I have to get out of here.

I lean off the tree and try to run as fast as I can. I run as far as my legs could take me. I stop to catch my breath, now, I really need water. I hope that wasn't just a small, inferior creature back there. Or all of this effort would've been for nothing! Nightfall will be the most difficult, I venture around some more.

Finally, I found a small creek. I cup my hands and take a sip from the creek, it's not as safe from the pitcher back at home but, it's something. I take lots of sips and walk further away from the creek. Since I don't have a container to put water in, I'll need to find a place to set up camp nearby. I look up to examine the color of the sky. It's going to be night soon.

I haven't even found any berries or animals running around. It'd be reckless of me to wonder around here longer for any food. Hopefully, there's a cave or den nearby, my feet are aching.

I find a barren log and crawl inside of it, it's not the most ideal, but it's safe. The bark of the log is scratchy and uncomfortable, since it's made of wood I won't be able to make a fire to keep myself warm. I huddle inside the log and fall asleep.

I awake from the sound of snarls and growls nearby. I sit up and climb further in the log, do they know I'm here?

I hold my breath, a large paw stomps in front of the entrance. The wolf snarls and growls. Its head dips slowly, before it can dip down all the way, a howl rings out.

The wolf takes off and howls; I let a breath and pant. That was too close! I have to get out of here! There should be more creeks nearby. Now that I know the wolves are nearby, I have to be more cautious of where I wonder off to. I fall asleep again awaiting morning. I wake up with the warmth of the sun covered me like a blanket. I crawl carefully out of the log and begin heading a different direction.

"Over here!" Gasp, I duck behind a tree. "I smelled one!" I hold my breath. I can hear multiple voices. There's more of them, I have to get out of here! I sneak away from the tree and head to the direction behind me. I stop in my tracks when a large male stands there blocking my way.

"Going somewhere?" I gulp. I take off to the other direction, the guy grabs me. I squeezed his arm muscles with my magic. He releases me and falls to the floor, my eyes are stinging and pulsating.

The group eyes me, it's dangerous but if I use my energy to create a flame, maybe they won't consider anything. I open my hand and a flame appears, I stand there steady waiting for the group to react.

They study me, I whip the flame to the ground guarding me. They fall back, I run as fast as I can through the woods. My head is hurting and I'm feeling even more lightheaded. The ground seems bumpy and unsteady, that's when I realized I'm on another level of ground! I tumble my way down and hit the ground hard

"AHHHH!" I use my arms to pick myself up feeling even more pain. I pant.

"There!" someone calls out. Before I can react, a hoard has me surrounded. I lay there motionless, with not enough energy to stand.

"Lower your guard everyone, the mage is too weak to stand."

"How can we be so sure?"

"Look at it, it can barely even look at us, besides, it's a child." All I can muster are grunts and groans.

"Don't forget one of a mage."

"Yes, Alpha will be most pleased." Werewolves, just like feared! A guy walks over to me and yanks me up by the arms.

"Careful there, we want her alive." He nods at the other guy. The guy holds me in place. Other werewolves surround me making it difficult to escape. The guy that's holding me is using brute strength to keep me cooperative. I struggle to keep up with them. My body is failing to respond to movements. My feet cannot move or find ground. The guy becomes impatient with me.

"Move your feet!" I shuffle them, ah! I grunt. I must've twisted my ankle.

"I can't!" I voiced.

"What do you mean you can't!"

"Just carry her up the mountain." He yanks me forward.

"No, she can walk just fine." He grits. I grunt at my injured foot. We walk up the mountain with each second the pain becomes unbearable. I don't know why I bothered to tell them I'm injured. I thought they would want to keep me as healthy as possible? I guess not... We finally made it to the top. The many dens and caverns reveal more wolves. Their eyes meet mine with disdain and disgust. They lead me inside a den we pass through reaching another smaller cavern inside. The guy yanks me toward the direction of the cavern I fall in, and the wolves guard the entrance.