Black Mountain Mates

Etana

        Hours I ran.

        I ran until my paws were sore.

                My joints were tired, and my throat was crackly and dry. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but soon I wasn’t going to be able to keep this pace. In the distance, getting closer were several more howls. One in particular was sending goosebumps all over my skin. I was going to have to do something besides running.

                I looked around and spotted something off to my right. That was going to have to do. My legs pushed me faster, I was going to make it! Behind me, the wolves barked more urgently, growled a little fiercer, and one howled loudly for their incoming wolves to hear.

                Luckily before they caught up to me, I pushed off with my back legs and launched myself into a massive Honey Locust patch. The spikes pierced dug into my fur piercing the skin, but I didn’t care. I made my way to the middle of the thicket and curled into a ball, letting out little painful whimpers from the hundred bleeding pokes.

                One of the wolves, a solid dark brown color, came close to the one opening I could see out of. It was way too small for its massive body to fit though, but it could get a line of sight to me. I let out a scared and pained whine, scooting back more, showing I was hurt and didn’t like them being there. The large brown wolf whimpered back, trying to fit its body in, but after getting stuck a few times it backed out.

                I watched as the three sat or laid down on all three sides of the thicket, making sure to block all of my exits. My body shook from the pain, and I was sure once they figured out a way to get me they would rip me apart. Every time I let out a pained cry the wolves responded, either whimpering themselves or letting out little howls.

                After a little bit, I closed my eyes and tried to get some rest, but it didn’t last long. Soon enough I could hear the feet of more wolves surrounded the Honey Locust thorns, making me shake even more. I watched movement all around the thicket. I looked back to the small opening to see a wolf move into view that for some reason made my heart leap into my throat. This wolf was completely black with bright blood red eyes, it’s face had a strange mahogany streak down it’s right cheek and neck kind of like a mark of sort. It was also larger than the rest I could see, more stout, taller, and all around just bigger.

  His eyes met my cyan ones, and I couldn’t help the noise that came from my throat. It was half cry/half moan, and I had no idea where it came from. It seemed to set off the wolf though as it tried to push through the thicket. It let out a low growl from the sharp pain and backed out. It seemed my hiding in the thorns was agitating them more than anything. Now, I was sure they were going to kill me the moment I got out.

        Another two hours passed, and I was becoming increasingly weak. I was tired, hungry, thirsty, and still bleeding from constant poked of the Honey Locust. Suddenly it felt like someone was getting close, and I opened my eyes.

        “Hello, little bit.”

        I tilted my head to the side to see a very beautiful woman looking through the small opening. Her caramel skin and light brown hair blended gorgeously with her striking green eyes. I gave her a slight whine, trying to tell her I was upset, and she seemed to understand. Why was this woman with those wolves?

        She smiled warmly. “We’re not going to harm you. I promise. I was one of the ones who first found you. Remember me?”

        No. Wait. The brown wolf?

        Hold up.

        These enormous wolves, were like me? Shifters? None of this makes any sense. I was supposed to be killing a rouge and returning with a tail. Where the hell did these wolves come from?

        “Where did you come from, little bit?” She asked delicately.

        I snorted at her. I don’t understand how she expects me to answer her in this form without a mind link.

        She giggled. “Okay, give me a moment.”

        The woman disappeared and went to the black wolf. I could hear her half of their conversation.

        “She can’t mind link with us. Either too young or you forgot to give her one.” The beautiful woman said with a shrug.

        The black wolf snorted back at her, causing her to nod and come back to me.

        Her smile was infectious. “Okay, little bit. I’m going to need you to come out of there. We can’t talk to each other unless you Turn back, but I don’t think you should in there. Come to me, I promise no one will hurt you.”

        I shook my head at her. Nope, not falling for your sweet as molasses smile. Nope. Tempting, but it’s a no.

        “Come, little bit. You don’t want us to come in there and get you. It will stress you and us out more than needed. Please, I’ll be with you the whole time.”

        Crap. Okay. Fine. I’ll come out to my death, and then I’ll haunt you in the afterlife. Hope you like ghost’s beautiful lady.

        I began to belly crawl towards her, trying to avoid as many pokes as possible. I was almost to her when a shadow hovered over me, and when I looked up I saw a black and white set of jaws coming down on me. Being agile, I twisted away from them letting out an ear-piercing cry as if I was being murdered already. I tucked myself back into the place I was originally and hid my face in the fur of my tail.

        The stunning woman let out a growl and smacked the s**t out of the wolf that tried to get me. “What the f**k, Prest! I almost had her out here on her own! She thought you were going to hurt her! Now she’s not going to come out! f**k!”

        She’s right. I will die of starvation here in this thicket before I trust them again.

        The black wolf let out a low deep growl, coming towards the opening. I instantly looked up with my ears flat back against my head.

        “No, that’s not going to work. You can’t submit her into listening when she has the advantage.” The woman told the black wolf, but apparently it stopped listening.

        It pushed its way into the Honey Locust, baring its long sharp teeth at me. In that single moment, my whole body wanted to lay down and show my throat, and I was sure that’s what it wanted. Me to submit to it. It was a hard urge to fight, and weakly I let out a growl in defense. For a second the black wolf looked shocked, then it’s shock quickly turned to anger again. It let out a fierce growl that shook me to my bones, and instinctively let out a whimper.

        It locked eyes with me, and for a few seconds it looked like the wolf’s eyes went softer. But that didn’t last long. It took the advantage that I wasn’t paying attention to lunge forward and grab me up by the scruff of my fur like a pup. I let out another cry, but it was useless.

        I was caught.