What's Beyond the Trees?

Chapter 5 Hiding

Coleson's POV

I run until I can't run anymore, just collapsing onto the ground. I crawl across the ground to find some type of shelter.. anything to help, even if it's just for a moment. I see a huge boulder just along the way, making a sort of cave. I slowly pick my weak body up off the cold damp ground, stumbling forward until I get the supporting stone behind my back to just lean all my weight on.

I grunt and pant until I collapsed back to the ground again, pulling myself under the boulder just to rest. I shift back into my human form as I groan out so loudly in pain instantly because of the action.. it was an automatic reaction I completely regret.. I just have to hope that no one heard that.

I'm groaning out and in so much pain that it's almost unbearable. I feel the weakness hitting me like brick wall, making the bloodloss more detrimental for me than I was hoping.. I collapse completely flush to the ground, feeling almost numb. I stare up at the bottom of the rock, listening to my throbbing heart beat, while feeling it in every inch of my body, before the darkness consumes me in an instant, not even giving me a chance to object.

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I hear a loud stick cracking then breaking under a weight that's close by, I jump up panting and grabbing at my chest.. I was knocked out, but for who knows how long. My gaze pans over every little detail I can see.. But the number one thing I do notice is the sun is not too far over my head, which means it's still morning.. That's good because I wasn't out for too long.. But long enough for something to catch up to me.

I hold my side trying to stifle the pain to myself, before holding my breath because I can hear someone coming. I freeze like a statue, not moving a muscle, just hoping they won't notice me. By the smells cascading through the breeze, I can tell it's two males and both are wolves. I press myself against the undercarriage of the boulder as I see they're in human form and stumbling around.. By their strong smells that are hitting my senses, I can tell it's not a threat because they are not hurt or drunk, they are stumbling around together, stinking of arousal.

These two men are kissing and rubbing all over each other's bodies like there is nothing else that matters. I sit there completely still as the men maul each other, before the smaller one states into the other's lips. "I can't believe this worked, I have been hoping for a moment like this since the moment we met."

"Yeah, I'm surprised Raine agreed.. But she knew I wanted to talk to you as well, so she wanted to help me out." The taller wolf states as he presses the smaller one against a tree before kissing across his neck then purring into his neck. "What are sister's for, huh?" so the smaller one states. "I honestly thought you two were together, until you said she was your sister.. But you two look nothing alike.. You know most siblings have some similar features, but not you guys.. Where are you two from anyways? It has been known from multiple tests, to happen on the west side of this state because of the climate and how it affects the beings living there, that for some wolf families to produce a female that doesn't have a wolf.. So I'm assuming you're from that side of things, since she is obviously not a wolf.. Or is there something wrong with her? Or did something traumatic happen to her? Because she looks completely healthy, so it's weird for her to not have a wolf or even smell like wolf." The man blathers on, just spilling everything on his mind that's at the tip of his tongue.. As the taller man stops kissing him and steps back, looking startled by this conversation, almost taken back as he says. "You really want to talk about my sister right now.. during this? Because I don't and believe me it's turning me off.. ugh.. let's just do the mission." He states sounding annoyed as he walks away, leaving the other man following him on his heels. "Ry?! Come on."

I let out a wavering breath. Feeling a little bit of relief hit me like a wave, I lay there for a moment before I feel over the top of my stab wound, which was the biggest wound and still open. It's not bleeding anymore, so I bet it's healing already, so that's good. I change back into my bear form to make sure I can keep healing just as fast as possible and hopefully blend in with the wilderness around me.. I let out a deep breath just taking a moment for myself, as another sound of dirt moving under the pressure of weight can be heard.

I freeze and wait for something to happen. I can smell wolves again, but by the sound of their feet hitting the ground.. since I can only hear a couple feet in the dirt, but I can smell multiple wolves.. I can only speculate that they are in their human form and coming this way. I try to wait it out just like I did with the other two.

I see their shoes kicking the small pebbles and creating little bits of dust floating in the air at their scrambling, that keeps going on until their feet abruptly stop. I can hear them sniffing around the area, so now I know they are the ones looking for me. I hold my breath hoping they won't smell me, but with my particular scent of bear and blood, it's hard to ignore if that's what you're looking for. I observe their feet move back and forth in front of the boulder, but not noticing me just yet, as if they are looking but can't find where I'm hiding.. I stay still as a statue, just hoping they would give up soon enough.

My wish comes true as they huff and walk away from the area, so I wait until I can't hear or smell them anymore to make my move. I take this open moment to run from my hiding spot and into the opposite direction they just went. I start traveling as quickly as I can down this mountain side between the trees and boulders just following the small stream of water in hopes I can connect with the big river that I hear in the distance, to make them lose my scent and clean out my wounds.. The further down the mountain I get the harder my heart beats as I hear them yelling about me in the distance above me. I glance back to see they are running down the hill still dressed and in their human forms, but with guns in hand.

I try to quicken my pace but that's easier said than done since it's a steep route down this mountain with lots of trees, boulders, and mossy grass all around. My paws keep slipping over the damp grass, mud and moss, but I won't stop no matter how much my body is begging me too. I look back to see where the enemy is at, as my front paws slip out from under me. I slide face first down this hill, getting slapped in the face by bushes and rocks, until I come to an abrupt stop by slamming straight into the line of trees, I groan out in pain, feeling as if I broke a rib with that collision.

I can't seem to stand up, but I have to.. I can't let them get to me.. I won't stop fighting until I'm safe or dead.. and I'm neither at the moment so I have to keep going. I struggle to push myself up onto my paws that are now shaking under the weight.. They are bleeding from all the sticks and rocks they have been cut by.. But if I survive this, then they will have plenty of time to heal.

My legs shake the more they push my big body up, but I'm still able to get up no matter how hard it is because I'm stronger than that.. and I have the motivation to survive and find my brother to make sure he is ok.. That's all the matters at the moment.. So I stumble forward before I squeeze myself between the line of trees trying to get to that water that I can still hear close by.. That's my goal and only relief at the moment.. If anything I might be able to ride the current away from this chaos to give myself a moment to breath, if the river I hear is big and strong enough for my weight.. With how loud it is, the closer I get, I just figure that there is a waterfall around here somewhere. I get closer to the edge of this small cliff hoping I can get a better view of the area.

I look around to see that there is a building that's hidden within it's surroundings because of it being made from wood and mostly painted the dark forest green, which blends in perfectly.. But I don't want to go there because if there is anyone living there, they could get killed in the crossfire and I would never forgive myself for endangering an innocent. I keep looking, seeing the river besides the place and maybe the top of the waterfall, but not too sure.. I keep taking in deep breathes trying to calm my rapidly beating heart as I check out all the details, trying to figure out where to go next, until I hear the click of the gun c*****g behind me. I swallow the lump in my throat as I slowly turn around, just to be staring straight down the barrel of a gun.

"Just come with me calmly bear.. and no more harm will come to you.. I know you're hurt and need some medical attention and we are more than willing to give that to you, as long as you come with us without issue.. No more fighting.. No more running." The man states in a pretty calm tone between the hard breathing because we are all out of breath at the moment.

I shake my head but not moving a muscle, I shift back in my human form just to state. "You only want to help me so I'm in better shape to create a better price for your boss to sell." They shrug their shoulders nonchalantly, knowing that I'm right because we all know what this is, so there is no denying or lying about any of this.

"Of course you have to know how good the price is on a bear's head.. let alone a king bear's head.. Let's be honest.. we are in the business of acquiring amazingly rare items just to sell them at a higher price.. You had to have known this was coming at some point." The man spats with no regard or remorse for my feelings, making me feel stupid because I never assumed this would happen. I shuft back into my bear form because it easea the pain.. What this rude man doesn't know is that I was just hoping to find a chosen, is that too much to ask? But he makes me feel like less of a being, as if I'm not worth more than a car.. just an item to sell.. I won't ever be more to anyone else and it hurts, to know that... because as much as I won't admit it out loud to many, I do want more than that.

I huff at that comment feeling the somber moment hit my heart like a brick wall, hating every last word that came out of his mouth, making me want to slap the malicious smirk that appeared on his face, right off. "You didn't realize that did you?" he asks me with a curiosity in his tone that is almost mocking. I just huff looking away as he laughs and spats, "You really thought you had found a mate to be with? Oh that's so....... stupid.. alright let's go."

I shake my head swiping at him as he holds the gun tighter into his grip, I swipe again as he warns. "I don't want to hurt you bear!" I keep swiping as a loud band reverberates between the trees making it almost echo. I look down to see the steam exiting my newly given wound.. I stop and stumble back until I collapse on the ground. I watch the men inching closer to me knowing I lost this fight.