The Rogue Luna

Hunt - Part1

Hunt

verb

hunt (verb) · hunts (third person present) · hunted (past tense)

search determinedly for someone or something:

(hunt someone down)

pursue and capture someone:

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Winter’s POV

As the events of the day died down.

The brothers, despite the earlier tension, had finished their day with laughs and light joking.

Jeez, they really were siblings...

They, kind of, reminded me of my own little brother and I. Angry one minute, laughing the next.

It made them seem to have that humanity in them I saw before.

Before having them confirm that I would never be leaving this place.

Even though, I knew mentally I had already made up my mind in leaving. My empathetic heart had me second guessing whether or not I should even try in disguise of questions such as,

Would I even make it back to Dark Hollow?

What would I do if I did make it far enough away, but ran into other less savory rogues?

What would they do if they caught me?

Though these questions plagued me, but I had to try. I had to.

What was I supposed to do? Stay here? For another week, maybe months, until Alpha Ramos’ search parties found me?

I refused to be a damsel in distress, waiting for a knight in shining armor that may never come.

I was leaving. And that was that.

I mentally scolded myself, resting into the old brown suede couch cushions as the brothers said their goodnights.

Kane, of course being the more affectionate of the two, gave me a gentle peck on the forehead just as he had earlier that morning, before turning out the lights, the pair leaving to their room.

I lay there restlessly, as I waited and waited for the right moment.

I couldn’t be too rash about this.

If I were going to be even an ounce successful I had to be patient.

If I left too early, the men might not even be asleep yet and would most definitely hear me as I had carefully made mental note of the odd creak the front door made due to their cabin being built on uneven ground and out of scrap wood they most definitely took from the borders of other packs, maybe even my own, a distance away.

Be patient.

Hours must’ve gone by, as I lay there, trying not to fall asleep and ruin my own plan.

Ugh if only those bastards didn’t have my phone…

I couldn’t exactly say how many had passed, due to them not having a clock anywhere insight.

But I knew the night grew later, by the way the colors, of the sky and brightness of the moon and stars shifted through the window.

Earlier, a soft indigo haze illuminated the living room, being a reflection of the night sky, before slowly swirling into the near pitch black it was now.

Okay.. Now..

I hummed ever so slightly under my breath.

Now’s your chance.

Slowly, I rose from the pillowy cushions, sitting up, I waited a moment, making sure the floorboards beneath me didn’t sound from my small movement.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair, I pulled it up into a ponytail, wrapping it into an unkempt bun before poking a small smooth twig I had found earlier that day through it to hold it up.

I quickly looked myself over, being somewhat thankful to not have to run in that snug silk dress that they had taken me in. Being in shorts, well Kane’s briefs, and a regular t-shirt would definitely lend me a much needed hand.

Cautiously, I stood, relieved when there were no creaks or cracks, even when I made the short journey to the front door.

This… This was the first big obstacle. Just rip it open and dart out, Winter.

Don’t hesitate, you’re fast. You’ll make it out and into the forest before they’re able to process what had happened.

You’ll get away.

You’ll go home.

I silently hyped myself up.

My breathing was shaky, my hands were clammy, and my legs itched for the sprinting I was about to do.

If I make it to the borders of a pack, whether it’s my pack or another.

I’ll get home one way or another.

I’ll be protected.

They won’t be able to touch me.

Without another thought, without another shaken breath.

I aggressively pulled the thin, rickety door open. It, of course, made that god-awful creaking sound. And before I could think about possibly waiting just a moment longer to listen out for any rustling coming from their room, I bolted. Going in the same diagonal direction I vaguely remembered they carried me out from the woods from.

Maybe that was the way home.

The cool, night air felt crisp inside my lungs and sent chills throughout my body, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Damn, I forgot how chilly it’s been at night lately.

But as I worked my legs, sprinting through the clearing, adrenaline beginning to coarse through my veins, I slowly forgot about the unforgiving wind chill and only could think about my one goal.

Getting away from them, as far and as quickly as I could.

But just as I had made into the tree line, the moonlight barely showing the silhouette of my body in between the tall pines.

She’s gone.

I heard first, in Blake’s familiar stoic tone.

She f*****g left.

We need to find her.

Then Kane’s rasped voice followed suit.

Their quick, irrational thoughts from their mind connect flooded my head, stopping me in my tracks for a moment as it almost made me feel as if they were right behind me the second I heard their grumbled voices.

My absence immediately seemed to knock them out of their groggy state.

I heard the sound of the cabin’s front door being flung open, even more aggressively than I had.

“Winter!” Kane’s thundering voice carried in the wind, causing even more goosebumps than the cold had. “Blake! Look for her now!” He snarled.

Shit…

I swiftly moved into the woods, wincing as the loud cracking of leaves and twigs underneath my feet filled the silence.

Mother Nature seemed to betray me at this moment.

“Kane! This way!” I could hear Blake’s booming voice as he shouted to the other man.

Their quick, nearly completely silent footsteps caused that feeling of overwhelming fear and dread to loom over me as if they were the monsters under my bed I used to fear as a little girl.

I grunted as I worked my body nearly to its limit, running faster and deeper into the woods while simultaneously sniffing the air.

Hoping and praying I would catch the scent of others or a pack up ahead, but nothing so far.

Fuck.. f**k…

Where are they?!

I mentally shouted, panic slowly set in as their footsteps seemed to be even softer now despite the forest floor being littered with debris.

I couldn’t even hear a peep of their thoughts until Blake’s voice came through.

Oh Winter…

His inner voice seemed to be a disturbingly playful hum.

Then Kane’s chimed in.

I know you can hear us little one…

Blake’s cocky chuckle punctuated his brother's sentence.

Come on, puppy, don’t run..

Their tone was almost haunting, raspy as growls emanated from their throats.

As I made it a couple of miles away from their clearing, I ducked behind one of the larger trees to catch my breath just a bit.

I was starting to tire.

The base was thicker than the tops of it, and I was hoping its thickness at least hid my body well enough, even if my scent was giving me away the more I was beginning to sweat and pant.

Fuck.. Which way do I go?

Come on Winter… try to remember, try to remember.

I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, as I drew in slower breaths trying to calm the anxiety brimming inside me.

All I could remember that night was how fast and strong they were.

How determined they seemed to get me back to their home.

But I couldn’t for the f*****g life of me seem to remember the path they took, though now that I think about it, I was so dazed from it all it was hard to keep track. They could’ve taken a winded path or circled around to throw me off in case I attempted to escape.

They weren’t stupid after all. Impulsively, yeah, especially proven by their decision to take me despite a whole festival going on just meters away. But stupid? No… unfortunately not.

Kane, do you smell her?

Their mind connect pushing through my own train of thought.

Mhmm, I do…. She smells so f*****g sweet…

Their inner growls seemed to be in sync as they spoke to one another.

Then, just as I was about to start running again, taking that same diagonal path, hoping that even if I didn’t reach my own pack, I would find someone willing to help me.

I could hear the crackling of tree branches...

Fuck.. they’re climbing...

My eyes widened, and my heart only beat faster as I realized they were trying to get an aerial view.

I knew if I ran I’d be spotted.

I didn’t know where they were. Or what tree they were in.

I didn’t know what direction to go.

But I had to go.

I had to keep running.