Chapter 03
1330 Words
Seraphina
A deep hole formed in my chest as my heart pounded away inside it.
Rogues, from nowhere had chased me right in front of them. It was the only thought in my mind as I felt the wind whip against my face and my braid loosen from my sharp movements. My lungs swelled impossibly and the muscles in every part of my body ached in protest, asking me to slow down.
I had been running like lightning for fifteen minutes through the endless land of the rogues. I was in dangerous territory and my life was in danger. I could smell the innate scent of the forest on the bodies of those who chased me. They were one with the trees, plants and life outside the community of the clans. The forest was the only one who would take them in after they ditched loyalty and family for their sickening ways.
How on earth had they even made their way into the training ground? Nothing was adding up!
My father, his warriors … my warriors! My clan. I proved myself in front of them and more from my clan. I have tried for as long as I can remember to show my worth. And there was no one on earth that could convince me I was worthless.
They just preferred not to show it. And I took it as a sign that I needed to make myself priceless.
But I was not so priceless that I was worthless. They had left me like I was.
None of them had moved as I ran into the forest, into Rogue woods.
It was dark and dreary. Life and its essence were sucked out of it and I felt like it would take mine too. It smelled strongly of such deep emotions, emotions that could serve as fuel for starved warriors for days on end. I couldn’t take strength from it. It felt like it wasn’t mine to take.
Behind me the rogues were unrelenting. According to my personal records, I was the fastest wolf in my clan. I ran faster than the winds of a tornado and moved swiftly like a blur. It was something I perfected from the day I started training.
But these rogues … for the first time, I felt tired while running. Thirty minutes had gone and they were still going hard about half a mile behind me. Soon, I would slow down and they would catch me to do whatever they wanted with me.
I wasn’t going to let that happen.
Common sense, Sera! The voice in my head told me. I wasn’t going to die here shamefully.
Noting my surroundings, I decided to use it.
I deliberately slowed down until the fastest of the six was right behind me. Suddenly, I swerved under a large thorny branch and slid down a slippery incline. More thorns pricked my bare feet and tore through my clothes and legs. I gritted my teeth, holding back the pain as blood dripped out of my new wounds.
My reward? I heard the crash of the rogue and his loud cry of pain from slamming into the thorny branch.
Instantly, I picked up the pace, the others even closer now.
Suddenly, I felt claws dig deep into my side where sharp bushes had torn my clothes off. I yelped in pain and my first instinct was to jump up into a tree.
He followed me.
I had no time to think. He was faster in the tree!
“Ah!” I jumped off when I got to the top, creating distance between us and starting another run.
There is no way I can outrun them. This was their home. What was I thinking when I thought to run into it?
Seeing a tall pine tree, I jumped behind it and gathered my strength. My ribs hurt from my swelling lungs. And my panting almost gave me away.
One.
Two.
Three.
Two rogues appeared on either side of me and I threw two hard punches into their guts. They didn’t see that coming. The air in their bodies escaped before they flew back. I started running again.
I spun around trees, jumping into bushes and forming zig-zags to confuse them.
It was in vain. They were too in tune with the forest to be misled.
I grabbed a jagged stone and threw it behind me without looking. I prayed to the Moon that it hit one of them. The sound of a pained grunt came and it fueled me to pick up the pace.
Soon, I heard snarling. They were livid. I didn’t even know how many more were left.
At that moment, I sensed it. Not the rogues, it was something else. The scent was sharp, so much so that I tasted blood on my tongue. Its thick scent filled my lungs, full of wildness and hate that it made my skin crawl.
I couldn’t think straight. Who was this? I wanted to stop to know this strange and powerful presence. But I would die in seconds if I did. I was already fatigued. I could only use the rest of my energy to run and not fight.
Whoever this was, didn’t concern me. No matter how high my curiosity grew.
Suddenly, I thought of home. The warriors would have their heads on sight if they dared return to the border with me.
They were on the training ground.
For a reason I can’t name. I just have to try this time.
If I could take back these dogs, I could lure them to their deaths and I would win. Not the way I wanted but I’d be alive.
I turned sharply, making a U turn back home. I heard them getting closer as I paused for a few seconds. I summoned my wolf, fully transforming. I was going to run like I never did before. And I was going to use the forest even though it unwelcomed me so strongly.
In seconds, I transformed and let out a loud growl.
And so did the rogues.
I sped forward toward home as the rain began to pour heavily. I jumped on trees, boulders, stumps – propelling myself forward with my new, heightened speed. They were far enough and getting angrier to realize that I was leading them the wrong way.
It took me far less time to get home. I could see the large wired fence with towers holding guard wolves. They noticed my return and acted instantly.
Thank goodness!
I didn’t have to look back as the snarling behind me grew. Just as the guards transformed in their large number to fight the rogues, I jumped unto the high fence and didn’t stop climbing until I got over it and hit the wet ground with a loud thud.
“Ugh!” In that moment, my wolf was gone and I was back to original form.
I pulled myself up, arms over my chest and pulling my legs up to get ready for any surprise attacks but there were none. They hadn’t followed me.
Well, except one.
My eyes widened as I noticed that all twenty of the guard wolves were lying on their sides …
Dead? Unconscious? Loud warning sounds started up all over the border and more wolves were on their way.
I looked up and sensed that scent again. Like something had seized my body, I gasped before letting out a cry.
I wasn’t in pain. It felt like I was being possessed.
Then I saw them – golden amber eyes, different from the rogues’.
It disappeared as soon as it came.
“How could you lead them here? Do you realize what you’ve done?”
I heard my father’s low voice say to me. I looked up at him and tried to question him, to explain. But his next words shut me up.
“It was a test. They were imprisoned wolves. And you have failed.”
- Writer
