5 Rogues
1235 Words
Truly, there was nothing more to be said. I turned around as tears streamed down my face. It was not just a jolt of shock; it was also a wave of helplessness. Since my brain could not process what I had just witnessed, my body acted on its own, and my legs carried me out of the pack and into the woods.
*Drip, Drip, Drop*
As though the clouds were hearing my pain, raindrops started falling, and I was soon drenched in icy-cold water. Tears overwhelmed me, and my knees lost their strength. With a thud, I fell to the soft leaves and curled into a ball.
“I know it's painful, Thea, but you had this coming sooner,” Seles comforted me but it sounded to me like she was taking pleasure in my pain.
My aunt always told me to let my wolf guide me, but it's difficult. Seles had warned me about Frank multiple times, but I couldn't see it.
“Ahhh.” “I’m sorry, Seles,” I said softly, curling tighter in frustration and apologized to Seles, but I was, in fact, apologizing to myself. How could I have been so stupid? Slowly, my consciousness faded, and I slipped into the darkness.
“Good night, Thea,” Seles said, but how could it reach me? I was already in my dreams, hopefully I don't get a nightmare.
...
Unknown to me, five werewolves gathered under a tree. One of them held a wolf's head and spun it around playfully.
“We need three more werewolves, and we are good to go,” he said viciously, kicking aside a headless werewolf by his feet and keeping the wolf's head in his backpack.
The other wolves looked at him indifferently. Some of them had their wolf heads with them, while some others didn't have their wolf heads.
One of them was a female that looked particularly coquettish. She glanced at the wolf that just spoke.
“Let's be quick about this, Ohms. Silvercrest is on our tail,” she said. When they all heard Silvercrest, their faces stiffened, and fear was palpable in their eyes.
She dashed into the woods without waiting for their response, and they followed. Their fear for her was obvious; they knew her as the Red Cherry. She may look beautiful but was the most feared in the rogue group.
...
Soon, morning arrived. It was my first time leaving the pack alone and sleeping in the woods. Although the woods are dangerous, I would never return to that demonic pack. The image of Lisa and the betrayer Frank is still fresh in my memory.
“Good morning, sleep beauty,” I heard Seles' annoying voice from within my sound sleep.
“Good morning, useless wolf,” I grumpily responded.
"That's not a nice way to respond to your closest friend in times of trouble," she protested.
"That closest friend should've known to keep me out of trouble in the first place."
"Well... at least I tried... E for effort."
"Alright, alright, now that we're in this together, we'll face it together." I was short of words because it was true; she had warned me against Frank several times.
"C'mon, it's not like I have any other choice," she whined.
"Hahaha… You're stuck with me forever" I honestly wouldn't want it any other way. She's been the one friend who has never let me down.
"Hahaha, it’s good that you know I got the short end of the deal." Seles chimed in.
"Anyways, how's surviving from now on going to go because I'm definitely not returning to that smelly pack." I made my intentions known. I was not only too angry to return; I felt powerless, and it would make me feel even more helpless to return.
"Not returning... Althea? But it's your..."
"I know it's my rightful place to be the Alpha of the pack, but I've decided not to return."
"That is not..." She tried to convince me but I cut her off.
"Blah, blah, blah. Yes, yes… I've decided... look, there’s a river." While bickering with Seles, I explored the woods and came across a stream. I was already uncomfortable from sleeping on leaves, and here was a miracle.
"It's not safe, Thea; what if there's some disease waiting for you in the water… wait, I don't have a good feeling abou-"
"Kai, Seles, must you be skeptical about everything?" I had to interrupt her; she's just too careful.
"I’m just looking out for you; don’t make me look like the bad guy."
"Ugh… Grow up, Seles."
I undressed and leaped into the water.
Immediately, a wave of freshness washed over me. The coolness seeped into my bones.
“This is the life, Seles, but you cannot relate...hahahahahahaha.” I laughed out loud, but Seles was strangely quiet.
Although I found it strange, I thought she was just pissed that I didn't take her advice.
“I hear something, Althea.” I immediately went silent. Her tone was serious, and I knew to be quiet while she focused. Although she might be playful, she was a dependable person in battle.
“I smell a wolf” a soft voice echoed from the depths of the woods followed by footsteps against the leaves. Immediately I sank into the water and held my breath.
“There's more than one person; they're rogue wolves” Seles said to me while she tried to pick up more information, but now they were underwater, her senses were impeded.
"Hello, hello, anyone here…" The female werewolf said aloud while she looked around. Soon she caught a glimpse of my clothes that were still at the riverbank.
"Hello, little sister, I know you're there." She looked around and waited for a response.
"You can come out now. I’m a friend." The lady said softly, and I was also running out of breath.
Coincidentally, a fish swam to my nose and nibbled on it. I jolted out of the water in reflex, and just like that, my cover was blown.
Immediately, one of them reacted with a loud laughter while the lady looked at me with more curiosity.
“Hahahahhaha, another big fish,” the guy called Ohms laughed out loud when he saw my naked body.
“Haaaa.” I screamed and clumsily clutched my chests then dived immediately into the water in embarrassment.
“Seles” I said, and immediately furs grew, and bones shifted till I transformed into a white wolf then jumped right out of the water.
"That was cute, Thea," Seles joked.
"i***t can't you see we are about to die… Be more serious," I rebuked her, although I also didn't think the situation was too dire.
"Easy peasy, lemon squeezy," Seles said as she jumped towards the guy called Ohms. The guy also launched at us, but in one smooth maneuver, Seles avoided his claws and weaved into his blind spot and viola… sent her claws into his chest.
“You… you….” He said in unbelief while quivering. Seles retracted her claws without waiting for his stories.
Ohm's body drooped down, and he fell to his death. The other four wolves looked at me in shock and bewilderment, but the female werewolf immediately regained her composure.
"Oh my... we have a feisty one " She said, Looking at me with a playful smile on her face.
- Writer
