The Orphaned Omega

Chapter 17

Leaves crunched under my feet as I took off, weaving my way through the forest and cutting a line toward the river. I considered doubling back, making erratic turns, to throw off my scent, but Bailey’s promise of carrying my scent through the woods for me hung in the air. With her out here with me, my only goal was to hit the river to drown my scent and then beeline for the border. If I managed to make it across the border, I could forfeit my claim to this pack and disappear. I’d be free. I ran and ran, time seeming to stretch on forever as fear prickled along my skin. I could not, would not, get caught. Bailey had given me one final gift – extended one final chance at life – and I would not squander it.

The days of starving and lack of water were catching up to me, even with the meager meal I had eaten a few hours ago. Usually, this run would not be so hard. But my body felt like it was running on fumes. My feet launched me over a fallen log on their own accord, calves starting to scream in protest. My breath ripped from my lungs in heavy pants, burning as it came up my throat. I didn’t stop. I didn’t dare stop to rest, not until I reached the water. I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of movement, strained my ears to listen beyond my frantic breathing for any sounds. My backpack thumped against my back in a steady rhythm, almost seeming to urge me to keep going with each soft thwack to my lower back.

I managed to make it to the river without problem. I paused to take my shoes off before stepping down into the water. I tried to steady my breathing in the few moments I allowed myself to rest near the shore. I shook out my tired legs and leaned down to cup water into my hands, slurping down a few handfuls. The wounds on my legs had not healed much over the last few days, my body instead having chosen to preserve my very life as I struggled with dehydration. The cuts stung in the crisp water, and my running seemed to have opened some of them back up again. I rinsed the blood from my skin in the flowing water.

I settled my pack and my shoes on the rocks along the edge of the river before wading out further so I could dunk myself into the water. I reached down to grab handfuls of mud, plastering them to my neck and forehead. The muck and the water would help to erase my scent, cloud it so that it made it harder to follow if someone were to track me. I snagged my shoes and bag back and waded along the river in the shallows for quite some time. I continued to listen for signs of a pursuit, or any signs of life beyond the crickets and the occasional croak of a frog on the riverbank. Fish swam near my legs and every so often I felt the slippery scales of one brush me before it darted off down the river. I wished that the peace of this moment could stretch on forever, that there wasn’t the threat to my life looming over me. I reached a patch of rocks that jutted up across the river, creating torrents and miniature rapids as water swirled through them in its pursuit downstream. I finally crossed the river to the other side, using the rocks to make my way across the deeper part of the river. I stopped just long enough on the other bank to put my shoes back on. I secured my backpack onto my back and listened carefully to the forest for a long moment before taking off at a run again.

I glanced up through the branches at the sky, a sinking feeling starting in my gut as I realized the sky was beginning to lighten already. It would not be long before someone realized I was missing from my cell, and then the chase would be on. This lent fire to my legs, and I charged on, picking up the pace. I ducked under a low-hanging branch and then skidded to a halt, seeing the tree line ahead of me seeming to move. I heard the low mumble of voices up ahead. s**t, s**t, s**t.

I glanced around frantically and finally spotted a tree with a low enough branch to grasp onto. I pulled myself up, feet desperately scraping for purchase along the trunk. I managed to get up into the crook of the tree and begin a steadier climb into higher branches. I settled my weight on the highest branch I dared, back against the thicker trunk. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, and I fought back the fresh wave of panic that threatened to pull me under. I looked down and saw two members of the warrior patrol walking out from the copse of trees. They were chatting aimlessly with each other and seemed wholly unaware of my presence. They paused just under where I was hiding, seeming to finish up their conversation before parting ways in opposite directions. I waited until I couldn’t hear their footsteps anymore, waited until I was sure they were not coming back. Then I slowly weaved my way back down the tree to the ground. I landed with a soft thud. I brushed a few leaves and bark off of my pant leg before continuing my run.

Every shadow, every twig snapping, every chirp of a cricket, felt menacing to me after that; the encounter had felt too close, too lucky even. I didn’t know how long I’d have until that luck ran out. I wasn’t far from the border now. If I kept up my breakneck pace, I’d make it there in no time at all. Suddenly, a howl pierced the early morning air, causing me to stumble in surprise. I caught myself before face-planting into the ground and I shrunk down near a bush, listening closely. The sound was full of anger and promise, and I knew it had followed an order. That was the kind of howl the warriors let out when they were going into battle, or when they wanted to warn an enemy of the threat coming for them. It served as a warning to me – the Lycans were on the hunt now. They knew I was gone, and they would be scouring the territory to find me.

I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my jaw, trying to steady my heart. I took a few slow breaths to clear the rush of dread that howl had instilled in me. Nothing had truly changed, I told myself. I still was so close, and I knew I could do this. I knew I had to do this. I listened for a moment longer, ensuring that I couldn’t hear any Lycans moving near me, before charging onward. The forest came alive after that – I could hear the charging of footsteps in the distance. I could hear the shouts as someone picked up a scent, only to have someone else further away say they picked it up. It seemed Bailey’s plan was working – no one knew which trail to follow.

I made it within a half-mile of the border and slowed down, sinking into the shadows of trees. I strained my ears every few minutes to listen for additional Lycans prowling the border’s edge. I knew actually crossing the border would be the hardest part. As no fences were erected within the woods themselves, the edges of our territory within were heavily guarded by patrolling warriors. I was sure that now that they were looking for me, the borders were even more heavily enforced. I kept creeping closer to the border, bit by bit, with my heart in my throat. Eventually, I could make out the sounds of Lycans moving, their heavy footfalls creating a rhythmic noise against the forest floor.

I lowered myself to the ground entirely so that my stomach lay flat in the leaf litter. I crawled on my elbows closer and closer, until I felt like any sudden movement, and they would most certainly hear me. I carefully lifted myself up to a crouch and peered out from the cover of the bushes. I saw four, no – five, Lycans prowling the edge of the border. None were in human form, all in their four-legged form. I watched and I waited for what seemed like hours. I saw three of them walk one direction, the other two going the opposite. They would disappear and then return – a slow, continual dance. I could smell the border from where I was, its scent markers calling to me like a beacon. I saw our crest marked into some of the trees every few yards. I was so close. I could make it across in a matter of seconds.

I watched the Lycans patrol, counting beats to know how long they were gone for with each sweep. Thirty breaths. I had just thirty breaths from the time they disappeared from view and their footsteps faded. I swallowed hard, readjusting myself to prime my body to spring into action. I watched them come into view again, their heads swiveling each direction and then they would turn and march back the way they had come. I held my breath until they were gone, and I heard the final crunch of their feet. Then, I sprang up and I darted across the expanse between me and freedom.

I counted in my head as I sprinted across. Ten breaths to reach the border. My feet crossed it and I felt exultant, but I didn’t dare stop. Even though I was technically out of Dark Pine’s territory, they could still drag me back by force. I wouldn’t be safe until I was well away from these lands. Ten more breaths, fifteen. They’d be back any moment now. They may hear me. I kept going, even when I heard a loud snort from somewhere behind me. I could hear footsteps again, gaining ever closer to me. I didn’t dare look back. There was a sharp bark, and then the footsteps got louder, their pace more insistent. I forced my protesting legs to go faster.

I could hear the harsh sounds of two Lycans crashing through the underbrush behind me. I knew they had spotted me when a short, clipped howl sounded from one of them. I pushed myself on. The forest seemed to thin suddenly in front of me, and before I knew it, I was running across a short expanse of flat grass. Running right toward the edge of a cliff. I heard the sound of water crashing and realized that I must have found where the river turned into a waterfall. I saw the chasm widen before me, and I did not have enough time to stop to evaluate what I was going to do. I didn’t know how high up this cliff was, and I had no idea if I would ever have a hope of making the leap across the crevasse. If I stopped now, they would catch up to me, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.

Something in me urged me forward – instinct, or desperation, I didn’t know. But I followed the feeling. My feet pounded on the dirt, just a few more steps until I was on the edge. One further and I would be over nothing but air and possible death. A sudden calmness blanketed my body, comforting me as it had last night. I knew I was staring death in the face again, but I did not fear it. If death took me now, at least I knew I had died fighting for my freedom. I took one final step before the muscles in my legs coiled and launched me into the air. I was weightless, floating in the air with nothing beneath me for a moment that seemed to go on forever. I did not dare to glance down, sure that only a terrible fall waited for me there. Instead, I kept my eyes glued to the expanse of earth waiting on the other side of the chasm.

I could hear my heart beating, blood roaring in my ears. For an endless moment, it was just me and nothing else. I didn’t even feel as if I was moving. I took in one long, serene breath, closing my eyes to relish the feeling. When I opened my eyes, the entire world flooded back. The roaring of the water below me, the rush of wind on my face, the snarling of the Lycans behind me. And I became very aware that I was now hurtling toward the rock face of the other side. I had just enough time to brace for impact before I slammed into the other side of the cliff, missing the top edge by a few yards. I scrabbled for placement amongst the dirt and rocks, fingers trying to dig in to catch myself. I started to fall down the side, the earth seeming to yawn open in waiting below me. I shoved down the terror threatening to consume me, and I gave one giant heave, shoving my hands between two rocks. I jolted to a stop, wrists and hands protesting loudly. I groaned in pain, my feet swinging wildly until they too found purchase and I could alleviate some of the strain on my hands. I panted heavily, regaining my bearings. I looked up to find that the top was a few yards above me. I hadn’t fallen too far down. I glanced over my shoulder to the other side, seeing the Lycans peering down at me from the edge. They snarled one final time before retreating. A few long heartbeats went by, and no one came after me. It seemed they weren’t willing to bargain their life like I had. My arms strained, muscles quivering with the effort of holding me to the cliffside. My legs throbbed, worn from running through the forest. I allowed myself a few moments to catch my breath, but knew I needed to start moving or I would not be able to hold on and I would surely fall.

I looked back at the cliff awaiting me and assessed it for footholds and grips. It looked sparse, but not impossible, and I spotted a larger outcropping I may be able to rest on. I began the ascent carefully, my hands straining with each movement. I had to fight back tears with each pull, my wrists threatening to give out under my weight. I wondered idly if I may have broken them; I pushed on regardless, deciding I would evaluate the damage when I was safe again. I knew if I had been fully human, I would not have survived that jump. My werewolf blood was the only thing standing between me and certain death, and it seemed like every single cell in my body was hellbent on keeping that distance. A numbness crept in that allowed me to keep pushing, an instinct I didn’t know I had taking over to propel me toward safety.

I reached the larger outcropping and dumped myself onto it, heaving out a sigh. I raised my arms up and found that my wrists didn’t want to support my hands any longer. I saw purple bruising already forming along my wrists and the pain I had managed to block out hit me full force now. My stomach heaved and I lay on my back, willing myself not to vomit. The pain lessened, turning into a dull throbbing ache in my wrists. I slowly sat up again when I felt like I could breathe normally. I reached up experimentally and tried to grip and pull but my wrist gave out. I ground my teeth together, looking up to the edge of the canyon again. It wasn’t too far away, but I had no hope of reaching it if I couldn’t hold my weight. I decided I would have to stay here awhile, at least until my body had a chance of healing itself better. Maybe by nightfall, I would have the strength to get to the top.

I scooted myself back until I was resting against the cliff, pulling my backpack off and grabbing my water bottle. I took a long pull before putting it back, not daring to drink it all like I wanted to. I unzipped my pack and took out a granola bar with shaky hands. I unwrapped it and began to eat, savoring the sweet and salty peanut flavor. I looked out over the canyon, taking in its beauty for the first time. To my right was a large, rushing waterfall – I could just barely feel the spray of the water from here. Rainbows twinkled in the mist it created. Below, the river raged and then smoothed out into a peaceful, tumbling flow. As the sun fully crested the horizon, the water gleamed and sparkled. I let out a slow breath, relishing in the moment of relative peace. I finished off my granola bar and took another mouthful of water to wash it down before settling against the rockface. I closed my eyes and resolved to rest for a bit, interlacing my fingers and laying them on my stomach.

-x-

I hadn’t meant to fully doze off, but I jolted awake when my body started to slide sideways from my sitting position. My heart danced frantically in my chest, the fear of falling off the side of the cliff flashing through my mind. I steadied myself when I realized I was still safe, not having moved much from where I had come to rest. I yawned, blinking wearily, and glancing up at the horizon. The sun was beginning to set now, slowly sinking down the sky and leaving behind brilliant shades of gold and pink and orange. I stretched out my arms and found my wrists seemed stronger now. Not perfect, but better. I slung my backpack on and stood up, stretching out the rest of my body. I reached up tentatively to test my strength again and found that my wrists whined with pain but held.

I took a few deep breaths and started the ascent again, determined to make it over the edge before night fully fell. I knew it may be risky to travel at night, but I didn’t want to remain on the cliff side much longer than I had to. Who knew if they would change their minds and come after me? I couldn’t stay there forever. Besides, I had spent many sleepless nights in the forest. If I could make it across Dark Pine with a bounty on my head, I felt like I could make it through one night alone in the woods. After that…well, I wasn’t sure. I had no real plan. Just one foot in front of the other right now.

I hauled myself up and over the edge, letting out a small cry of joy to find myself back on solid ground. I lay there for a long moment, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the night sky. That sense of calm and rejuvenation that I had felt watching the stars at the Lake House came back to me now, seeming to reach inside my very being to light me anew. “Thank you, Goddess,” I murmured. “For getting me through.”

I got to my feet and set off again, stepping into the woods on this side of the canyon. I decided I would just keep heading north for a while, away from Dark Pine and away from Red Moon on the east. I didn’t know if other human settlements were out this way, or how far they may be, but I hoped if I just kept going one direction, I’d find something. I could then at least get a map, figure out a plan for my next move. I knew I couldn’t settle any place close by; Dark Pine could find me at any point and haul me back if I did that. I would need to put a lot of distance between us before I felt safe to settle.

I moved at a more leisurely pace on this side of the canyon and out of Dark Pine’s territory. While I had to keep going, I didn’t think I had to run through the woods like I had the night before. I set a steady walking pace instead, weaving through the underbrush and watching for any signs of potential danger. The forest was quiet as night settled in, just the steady chirping of crickets and cicadas and an occasional bird taking flight. I walked on until the moon was high in the sky, the trees washed in silver from the moonlight. I found a tree with thick roots jutting up from the ground, a hollow forming below them that would provide me with shelter for the night. I sunk into the indented earth and settled down, watching the trees for a while before my eyes closed and sleep took me away.