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1019 Words
Hannah barely had time to take a breath before the river swallowed her whole, its freezing depths suffocating her like a fist tightening around her lungs. The shock of the cold sent a jolt through her body, stealing every ounce of warmth in an instant.
She couldn’t see.
Couldn’t breathe.
The current roared around her, a merciless force dragging her downward.
**Aaron.**
Panic surged through her, stronger than the cold. She flailed, kicking hard, fighting against the river’s grip.
Her fingers brushed against something—small, fragile. **Aaron’s wrist.**
She latched on, refusing to let go.
The river twisted them, spinning them like ragdolls. Hannah fought to angle her body, pushing them upward, her lungs screaming for air.
Then, suddenly—
**She broke the surface.**
A desperate gasp tore from her lips as she sucked in the cold night air. Her body shuddered violently, but she ignored it.
“Aaron!” she choked, her eyes darting frantically.
A few feet away, his small head bobbed above the water, his arms flailing.
She lunged, wrapping an arm around his chest.
“I’ve got you!” she gasped.
Aaron clung to her, trembling. “S-Sis…”
“Hold on,” she panted.
The river carried them faster, the roar of rapids growing louder. Jagged rocks jutted from the water, deadly obstacles in their path. Hannah tried to steer them toward the shore, but the current was too strong.
Above them, distant howls echoed through the canyon.
The Ravenwood warriors weren’t giving up.
Hannah clenched her jaw. **We have to get out of the water.**
She kicked harder, her muscles burning, her limbs growing weaker by the second. Aaron’s breaths were shallow against her shoulder.
Then—
The current slowed.
The water widened, losing some of its grip.
Hannah’s feet scraped against the riverbed.
Summoning the last of her strength, she staggered forward, dragging Aaron with her.
Her knees buckled as they collapsed onto the muddy shore, coughing, gasping for breath.
Aaron lay beside her, trembling violently.
Hannah pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him, their soaked bodies shivering against each other.
“We… we made it,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against his wet hair.
But something was wrong.
The night was **silent**.
No howls. No rustling leaves.
Just the slow-moving river and their ragged breathing.
Hannah’s pulse pounded. **Something was watching them.**
Her arms tightened protectively around Aaron.
She had no weapons. No strength left to fight.
But if it came down to it, she would.
She lifted her head, scanning the darkness.
The Ravenwood warriors weren’t the only threat in these woods.
---
The river had carried them far from Ravenwood territory, but that didn’t mean they were safe.
Hannah forced herself to sit up, ignoring the aching stiffness in her limbs. Every muscle burned from the desperate escape, the freezing river, and the endless running. But even as exhaustion pressed down on her, instinct screamed at her to stay alert.
The towering cliffs loomed behind them, the forest stretching far beyond. The night air was bitterly cold, and the dampness only made it worse. The shadows of the trees twisted and stretched, shifting with the wind.
She needed to find shelter.
Aaron groaned beside her, shifting slightly.
She turned her attention to him, her heart clenching at the sight of his small frame trembling. His silver hair was damp, and his lips had a faint bluish tint from the cold—evidence of their strong Shadow Moon bloodline.
“Where are we?” he mumbled, barely opening his eyes.
Hannah hesitated, swallowing hard.
**I don’t know.**
But she couldn’t say that. Not when Aaron was relying on her.
She reached out, brushing his wet hair away from his forehead. “Somewhere safe… for now.”
Aaron frowned, rubbing his arms as he sat up. His small hands clutched at the tattered cloak she had wrapped around him earlier.
After a moment, he looked up at her. “Where are we going?”
Hannah felt her throat tighten.
The truth was, she had no idea. They had no home, no pack, no place to return to. They were running, but without a destination, without a plan.
But she couldn’t let Aaron see her doubt.
She forced a small smile. “Somewhere far away from Ravenwood.”
Aaron was quiet for a moment, his tired blue eyes studying her face. “Do you think we’ll find a new pack?” he asked softly.
Hannah hesitated.
She wanted to tell him yes—to promise that they’d find a place where they’d be safe, where they’d be wanted. But she knew better than to make promises she wasn’t sure she could keep.
“…I don’t know,” she admitted. “But we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Aaron nodded slowly, as if considering her words.
Then, after a pause, he whispered, “I just want to go home.”
A sharp pang of sorrow shot through Hannah’s chest.
Home.
But home wasn’t safe anymore.
She exhaled quietly and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I know,” she murmured. “But we can’t go back.”
Aaron looked away, his fingers tightening around the cloak. “Okay.”
He didn’t argue.
But he didn’t sound convinced, either.
Hannah hated this. Hated that he had to go through this. Hated that their home had been ripped away from them.
But she couldn’t dwell on that now.
They needed shelter.
She stood, ignoring the stiffness in her legs. “Come on,” she said gently. “We need to find a place to rest.”
Aaron nodded, slowly getting to his feet.
Together, they continued walking.
---
The forest was eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
Hannah’s eyes darted around as they moved, scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. Every crunch of leaves beneath their feet, every rustle of the wind sent her nerves on edge.
They couldn’t afford to be careless.
Aaron stayed close to her side, his small hand gripping the edge of her sleeve.
Then, up ahead, a dark shape loomed in the distance.
A cave?.
- Writer
