Short stories

Hollow Ridge pt.1

Layla sat on the highest branch in the tree, gazing at the almost full moon. It was so pretty and bright, but somehow cast a powerful, yet intimidating aurora.

"Are you going to stay up there all night?" Came a voice from the foot of the tree. Layla chuckled, looking down at Shaw, his brown eyes gazing up at her.

"No, I'm coming." Layla jumped off the branch, flying down to stand beside Shaw. Now you see, Layla is a vampire. Her best friend, Shaw, is a werewolf. They've known each other for about a year. The two species hate each other, but Shaw and Layla got along fine, deciding that killing each other wasn't worth it. Now Shaw's parents didn't know they were friends. And Layla was the only vampire around. Shaw's pack didn't know Layla was there, so she took a lot of precautions not to be found out.

  Shaw's pack lived among the town of Hollow ridge. It was a small town basically in the middle of nowhere. A road through the desert led in, and led out into woods. The road led right through, but it was about 10 miles, in the least, to the next town. The normal civilians of the town didn't know about the werewolves, just thought a pack of normal grey wolves inhabited the woods, which wasn't much of a surprise. They had a camp to the right of the road in the woods, which they guarded, claiming it as their territory.

  Layla lived on the opposite side of the woods, not wanting to get tangled with the werewolves. There was an old camper deep in the woods that she claimed. The town had no idea that she was there, and she gave no trace of her, unless you count the two mosquito bites occasionally popping up onto people's necks. Rarely though, animals were more her target.

"I better get back." Shaw said, running his fingers through his strikingly white hair. That was natural, some freak werewolf genetics. Everything else was normal. He looked, in human years, 17, he was about 5'9, soft brown eyes, and a tan. "I told my parents I was out hunting. If I'm gone to long they'll be suspicious. I need to get a rabbit or something."

"I can help with that." Layla said, grinning slightly.

"My way," Shaw said, smiling.

  They both crept silently, hiding behind a large tree. Waiting, Layla was listening with her heightened hearing. Nothing for a while except their own breathing, then she heard a snap of a twig, and walking as leaves rustled.

"Hear that," she whispered almost inaudibly to Shaw. He gave a slight nod, his eyes trained in the direction of the noise.

   A young deer stepped tentatively into the area. It was a messy area, full of brush. They'd found out that clearings are terrible for hunting, but rather the more messy stuff has the animals. The deer swiveled its head around once, it's eyes passing right over where Shaw and Layla were hiding. It gave one last look, before it decided it was safe, bending its head down to munch on some clover.

  Layla looked at Shaw, and he nodded. Quick as a bullet, Layla sprang out noiselessly, leaping over a fallen tree, and avoiding the dead leaves. She was now right up to the deer, which still hadn't even noticed Layla since she was to fast. Layla kicked out its legs, pinning it to the ground. It thrashed and kicked, but now Shaw ran up, jumped over the tree, and landed, slashing the deers neck with his claws in one fluid motion.

  Now Shaw didnt have to completely change into a wolf, he could change just his hand for claws, mouth for teeth, and so on.

"You had to slash it." Layla said, looking away from the deers neck, which had blood streaming out.

"Yes. That's how we do it," Shaw said. He stepped forward, grabbing the deers two front legs. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem. I'll see you later," Layla said. Shaw grabbed the deers back two legs, hoisting it up onto his shoulders. He began walking off, turning around once to smile back, then took off running.