Finally Noticed Trilogy: Finally Noticed (being revised)

Orchid

I groggily opened my eyes, immediately analyzing my surroundings once I remembered what just happened. We appeared to be in some sort of dungeon or cave even as the walls were pitched black and absorbed all light that was emitted from the few torches hanging on the walls. There was a small hole in the ground in a corner which I assumed was a bathroom and in the distance, I could hear running water.

"Says he misses us and then throws us in a dungeon," I thought bitterly as I looked for a way out.

"Orchid. Where are we?" Asked Accalia.

"Some sort of cave or dungeon. The patrol must have brought us here once we were knocked unconscious," I explained.

"Do you remember anything? All I remember is that wolf pressing her paw against your nose and suddenly everything went dark and quiet."

"I'm afraid that's all I remember too. We must be in the Tourmaline pack's territory as I highly doubt they would have brought us anywhere else but to their territory."

"Have you been able to find a way out?"

"No sadly. I just woke up as well. I don't think there is any way out unless we got a guide or something." The sound of footsteps broke our conversation and I quickly looked into the darkness. Despite my strengthened eyes, I couldn't see anything and it wasn't until the silhouette of a boy appeared that I could see who it was.

"Valentine," I said, automatically realizing who it was based on the small amount of power he gave off.

"I'm sorry about having to throw you into the dungeons. It was just too risky having you up here with the other pack members and Grimsley being in such a horrid state," he explained, sounding very apologetic.

"Why? And wouldn't you want me near him then?" I growled, not letting my guard down with him. I've let my guard down with him once, I wasn't about to do it again. Especially now that I'm in unknown territory.

"Because the members will growl at you and even try to attack you as they blame you for the state that Grimsley's in. He hasn't been the nicest or tolerable wolf around. Constantly snapping orders like he's the alpha only to have father snap at him and then give different orders, short-tempered, hostile towards anyone, restless, just in a horrible state of mind.

But because of those characteristics, I fear what he may try to do if he realizes that the tie between you two is no longer tied and there's nothing for him to do. He could become worse than he already is and give in to the chaos or he could make even more desperate attempts at figuring out how to retire the tie while also never letting you out of his sight. Almost as if you were a criminal and he was an officer.''

I stared at Valentine with an emotionless expression, not wanting to give him any signs to feed off or give him an even more reason to keep us separated.

As much as I hate what he did to Accalia, I can't deny the feeling of longing and loneliness that I and Accalia have been feeling. We've been feeling lost and hopeless, constantly second-guessing ourselves and just wanting to return home.

But there is no true home for us.

We're nothing. We're the fire in the furnace. No one pays mind to us, believing that we won't someday grow stronger and that they'll never have to acknowledge us.

"Please understand you two. I and my brothers will visit every day with plenty of food and water to keep you alive and well-fed. This is a cave with many tunnels that only the elite members of the pack know their way through. You can explore them and we'll easily find you. But don't bother looking for an exit. There's none here. I can promise you that," Valentine's words broke me out of my thoughts and I looked back at him, daring him to keep going on.

Getting the message, he just simply nodded and walked off. Being engulfed by the darkness and his footsteps being embraced by nothingness.

"Accalia. Do you want to take control for a bit? I know you didn't want to take control any longer, but being cooped up like that can't be good for you," I said to Accalia.

"How? You were almost always cooped up like me and you never complained."

"That's different." I sighed. "You shifting into your wolf form is also my form. While we do share the same two bodies, just like conjoined twins with heads on the neck, I have superior control over the wolf form while you have superior control over the human form. Eventually, your body will become weak and more sensible the less you just do it. Just like the wolf form."

I could tell Accalia was debating on it as we laid in silent, waiting for what her next decision or move would be.

"Fine." She finally said. "I'll do it. But as soon as we hear something, you're taking over again."

I felt our bones crack and shift around as we shifted back into human form.

It felt so weird being in control again. It wasn't until when I could barely stand did I realize how long I've been in wolf form and allowing Orchid control the entire time. It almost felt as though I were learning to walk again as I struggled to get strength back into my legs and remember how to use them.

I looked around the cave that we were in, there were torches lining the walls which led through different tunnels which I could only assume led to more tunnels. The walls were made of complete stone and dirt, proving that the cave was natural.

There was a pair of chains on the opposite wall that was getting rusted at. They appeared to have dug into the stone and dirt but didn't appear to be able to stop anyone as the chains appeared delicate and could easily snap within one hard tug.

"Not careful about keeping prisoners huh?" I thought.

"Those aren't regular chains. They're made of wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is the only known thing that is able to weaken a wolf to the point of death.. It makes it so the human doesn't have any abilities that the wolf gives them, such as faster healing and speed. You're basically a regular human while your wolf is at the brink of death," said Orchid.

I stared in horror at the chains, now knowing what they're truly able to do and what that would mean for me if I was to be put in those. Ever since having Orchid around, I can't think of a life without her. With Grimsley rejecting me and my family not caring about me, life almost seems meaningless.

Almost.

Orchid is truly the only thing that is keeping me alive and stopping me from deciding to just give up and allow myself to get swallowed by the trees and earth. Living without her would be like living without happiness. I would just be an empty void with nothing to do in my life and no one to care about or to be cared for by.

"Accalia. I hear someone coming. And you're not gonna like who it is," Orchid suddenly breaks me from my thoughts and I ask her who it is and why.

"It's Grimsley. And I think you know why."