Misery

Chapter Six

Every part of her form felt like it had at least an ache. Disoriented - a fact not aided by the battering of a headache that possessed her skull. The first thing she realized was the raw feeling of her skin, a level of numbness that caused a tremble to carry down her spine. Snow and ice was what her flesh was pressed against. Not fur. Her current form was that of her human self. How long since a shift from the tiger form that had been fled in - Persephone did not rightly know.

Nausea assaulted her already muddled senses, rolling onto hands and knees before a purging of more water and bile burned its escape. Panting on shaking limbs. Lungs not yet forgiving of the abuse of being flooded with water. Lucky to have not drown her even after she'd escaped the unforgiving grip of the violent current. The beasts within having had a challenge to heal.

Persephone was not a weak woman, and it was the power in her and her beasts that had allowed her to survive.

Fuck - what happened? The human inquired to her beasts as another wave had her retching upon the frozen ground. Trying to make sense of the flashes of memory that pummel her.

Heart hammering unevenly in her chest at the recalling of her mate... Running... The river - the waterfall...

You where a f*****g i***t and sent us over a waterfall instead of say hello to our mate - Valkyrie was not at all pleased it seemed with the events. Sulking. Not ready to forgive that there was a part of her that did not wish to embrace their other half.

Persephone winced - the waterfall wasn't exactly a good idea, I'll give you that... She hadn't exactly thought about... Honestly anything aside from getting away from her mate. It had been unexpected and the absolute last thing she'd wanted to happen.

Xena had anger - and realizing it was at her left Seph surprised. It wasn't the irritation she'd recalled upon first running. Xena understood that... But the building rage?

Growling threateningly in their mind only cause the pounding to increase. But the tiger didn't hesitate to clarify for her human - because of you our mate nearly died! Shock flooded the red head, causing her to stumble during her attempt to rise to aching feet.

Memories forced their way back.

For any that may have peered over in horror as the golden wolf went over the edge of the waterfall - they would not have seen the wolf turn to a tiger - swallowed by the mists as she was. Tigers happened to be good swimmers for the most part. And enjoyed water. But no matter how much Xena might love to swim and frolic about - she was not excited for what she knew would await her upon impact. No matter what it would hurt. No matter what there would be broken bones.

The tigeress forced her muzzle against her body, covering maw and nose in hope to minimize the water that would be forced into their body from impact. Taking a desperate deep gasping breath before finally her known, brutal reality was realized.

Water forced its way up her nostrils despite being covered, the agony causing her to inhale sharply. Only to feel the burn of water sucked into her lungs. Body broken and trying so hard to heal. Even strong as she was, her beasts howled and whimper at the pain of everything. Disoriented and grasping for some clue as to where up was as the twisting waters flipped and dragged the large form like a rag doll.

Initially there was panic that exploded from the human side of the three. So intense she'd taken control back, paws clawing at the pulling waters and trying to take panicked gulps filling her lungs with the river instead of air. It felt like an eternity once more. And like a blink all the same. Even more terrifying then panic - was when a sense of quiet started to settle.

Maybe this was for the best. Just stop. No more fighting. No more struggling. No more pain.

She felt numb now. From body to soul. Eyes looking into the turning ink of the waters. Ready to just let go. Feeling of acceptance of a watery grave...

Seph. Promise me. You'll never give up. Never stop fighting.

His voice invaded - a memory that caused a clench of sorrow to erupt within her screaming chest. A promise reminded at the gateway of giving up. Her beasts had been as rattled and disoriented as her from the fall. But at once they worked together to fight. It mattered not the broken bones - Xena fought the current. Fought against the agony and burning lungs. Pain returning as they struggled to find air. Finally breaking the surface and gulping down beautiful air...

Crawling upon the shores weakly before shifting into her human form only to vomit much of the water she had the misfortune of inhaling.

Only to see another form crash into the water...

Stunned she clawed still at the water, keeping afloat. Fighting against broken limbs. When once more panic set in.

Mate! Valkyrie howled desperately.

What?! Persephone snapped at her wolf. Mate jumped after us! Xena panicked. She wasn't waiting for her human to register the facts before taking their body back under the water. Tigers where good swimmers. Loved water... Just not when they jumped down f*****g waterfalls and shattered bones... The fool! He shouldn't have done that!

But it mattered not how much her broken bones and bruised muscles screamed. The tiger and wolf both had one purpose. Make sure their mate did not drown. Maybe it was instinct. But it was easier to find her mate in the dark turning waters than it was to find the surface the first time.

The massive tiger grabbed her mate in her maw and swam. Exhausted beyond anything she'd felt in all her years. But driven by an instinct that felt even more powerful then survival. It was good that Persephone hadn't had time to think yet because the idea of someone she didn't know being that important after just a glance. That her treacherous heart longed for a man she'd never even spoken too.

In honesty - she might have been cussing herself out. Instead she was fighting the turning waters, dragging the black wolf that was clearly unconscious. Fighting a current and pulling them both upon the shores. Massive head setting upon the wolves chest and listening with bated breath. Hearing a heart beat.

The wolf stirred rolling to cough and sputter awkwardly in its canine form as water spilled out. The beasts felt more calmed that their mate was safe. Her chest felt heavy. Breaths murky and crackling. Body heavy on the broken limbs that Persephone tried to control. To continue her flight from her mate. From the one the Moon Goddess had fated her with.

Xena was enraged at the fact the actions taken had put their mate in danger. It was one thing for her human to need more time to process and warm up to the idea of having found her mate. But to nearly get him killed? That was a pain that nearly drove the tiger mad.

Honestly. The realization nearly did the same to Persephone.

Shock.

"He... He jumped after us..." of any outcome - that had not been expected. Her mate had risked his own life to follow her into uncertainty. Into possible death. Valkyrie howled - he loves us. Seph we have to go back to mate. Mate was hurt because of us. We have to make sure he's really okay...

You're hurting him and yourself with this foolishness. You're hurting Valk and I - Xena had seemed to decide she too, was done with her humans agenda to stay far away from her mate.

A heavy sigh left cracked lips, "but trying to be with our mate might get him killed. And he doesn't know we're hybrid..." Speaking out loud as if it would make the beasts understand. As if it would further solidify her own conviction. But she knew -as well as Valkyrie and Xena - that resolve was shaky.

We have met our mate Seph. We'll go into heat and be in more danger if we are not with the one the moon destined us to be with. It was true. Once mates met, the female would endure a heat every month. It was said to encourage mates to mark and accept each other. It usually was not an issue. In most cases mates marked each other within twenty four hours of meeting. Anyways. He saw us as a tiger. And he saw you as a wolf before going over. Anubis thought we are perfect.

Persephone stiffened. Frowning as another memory - of him looking at her in tiger form... Wait who is Anubis?

Valkyrie yipped happily, Anubis is mates wolf! They would have stopped us from going - the mood shifted again with a growl - but mate was still too injured to follow.

Guilt pierced her heart.

Her wolf was less angry compared to Xena - Persephone. The moon gave us someone. Divined them for us. I'm tired of just surviving Seph. I want to live a little. Have a person - people I can trust and love! It's what Perseus would have wanted! What mom and dad would have wanted!

Tears bit harshly at the back of her eyes. The wolf knew even mentioning their parents or brother would bring pain. But it was honest. It was part of the woman and how she felt no matter how much she denied it. Life had been a state of misery. Of a broken lonely heart standing alone in a flood of chaos and pain.

Hesitation was still corrupting the ability to give in to the idea. Fear of what could happen. I don't even know where we are. How far I managed to run...

Irritation was clear with the wolf, you actually got rather far. But it isn't too late to find our way back. Valkyrie wanted her mate. Xena wanted her mate.

Shivering once more, looking about the snow covered land about her...

Persephone told herself she didn't want her mate. But she and the beasts knew that was a lie.

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 Okay. Finally I was like. 1/2 not lazy.... and made a more legit cover for the book! Hopefully yall like it!

 Let me know how you are enjoying this story so far. How do you find the pacing up to this point?

 What are your thoughts on Persephone? Do you understand why she's so afraid of letting people get close? Would you like to have some throwback memories to her childhood to get a better image of her parents / brother?

 As for this chapter I ... am not really happy with it? But it's done. Lmfao. Hoping to have a better more exciting next chapter for you all within this next week :D