His Oblivious Mate

Chapter 5 : Rogue visit

She was walking through the woods. She felt a presence behind her, when she glanced back it was the bear. He growled at her, exposing ridiculously large teeth, and swiped at her with a huge paw. She started running. Jumping over rocks and branches, not daring to look back. She could hear it behind her, and it almost felt like it was breathing down her neck. She was so close to reaching the cabin door, when her foot caught on a log and...

She fell off the couch. Jumping to her feet, she looked around in the darkness surrounding her. Taking deep breaths, she realized that she was safe in her cabin. She fell asleep on the couch, and had a nightmare.The fear she felt in the dream faded away. She turned on the light and searched for her cellphone. She found it on the kitchen counter and saw that it was four in the morning. Groaning, she rubbed her hand over her eyes.

She stood under the hot spray of water in the shower, letting the water wash away the tension from her body. She washed her hair and body, then got out and brushed her teeth. "That is what you get for not sleeping in bed Cathy, you get bad dreams and bruised knees" she scolded herself. Her stomach decided at that moment to voice it's own displeasure, at being empty, with a loud rumble. She threw on sweatpants, a turtleneck shirt and her slippers.

She made herself an omelette and coffee, and then dug in. She looked at the darkness outside the window, and decided that she would give the woods a miss for a few days. She needed to speak to Cass or Duncan about what other animals might be roaming the woods. She didn't think a mini heart attack every other day would be good for her health.

She put on some pop music to break the silence. Then cleaned the cabin, before lighting a fire in the fireplace again. After living in the city, where she could only use a space heater, she adored the fireplace. The heat from the flames spread through the cabin quickly and made it feel cozy.

She spent half the morning arranging her studio in the attached shed. She had a few logs left, and plenty of clay. She switched on the light, dragged a log to the centre of the studio and started up the old chainsaw, that travelled with her from her college days. Donning safety glasses and a dust mask, she cut the log into the basic shape she wanted it in. She walked around it a few times, looking at it from various angles, and when she was satisfied, she put the chainsaw away.

Taking a break, she made herself some instant soup and toast, and added wood into the fireplace. She ate and after clearing away the dishes, she returned to her studio. She chiseled away at the wood, forgetting about time. The afternoon flew by, and when she looked outside through the small shed window, it was dark outside again. Stretching her back and legs, she packed her tools away, covered the statue with a sheet, and switching off the light, she pulled the door closed.

She made a cheese and tomato toasted sandwich for dinner, before curling up with a book to unwind. When her eyelids started drooping, she went upstairs to her bedroom. She dressed in her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and then crawled into bed. It wasn't long till she was snoring softly.

Owen, being her self appointed guardian, was in his usual spot outside her window. He scanned the area surrounding the cabin. He heard twigs snapping in the wood, not too far off. He took flight and circling over the trees, he saw a rogue wolf creeping towards the cabin. "O hell no, not tonight scum" he thought to himself. He swooped down on the unsuspecting wolf, digging his strong talons into its neck and spine, instantaneously paralyzing it. The wolf barely had time to register something was wrong before his beak closed on its neck, tearing out its windpipe. "Duncan, a rogue was sneaking around Cathy's cabin. I took care of it" he linked the Beta. "Wait there, I am on my way". He flew up and landed on a branch to keep watch.

About twenty minutes later, Cass and Duncan arrived. Cass sniffed at the carcass then retched. "Yep, definitely rogue. Smells like its been dead for years" she remarked. "What is a rogue doing here?" Duncan asked, "And how did it get past our patrols?". "We will have to sharpen our focus. If I was not here, what would have happened?" Owen replied. "Can you stay here while i dispose of it?" he asked. "Of course" Cass huffed, sitting down facing the cabin, wrapping her tail around her legs.

"I am going to patrol the surrounds. Link me if anything happens" Duncan said, taking off between the trees.

Owen picked up the dead wolf, flying off to the hills. It was quite a bit away. When he got there, he spotted a ravine. Flying over, he dropped the carcass and turned back to the cabin. He found Cass where he left her, still watching the cabin. Duncan returned as well. He spread his wings, dragging them over the snow, covering the blood. "I will continue watching, thanks for the help" he said, before taking off for his spot. "I will rearrange patrols to cover more of Cathy's land" Duncan answered, before the siblings left to return to the packhouse.

In the cabin, Cathy slept soundly, totally unaware of how close danger came to her doorstep. She was still oblivious to the existence of a whole different world, right next to her property. She had no idea that shifters even existed, or that she befriended two of them. She also did not know of her guardian owl, watching and keeping her safe from the shadows and branches of the trees.