Through the Emerald Forest

Chapter 8 The Dream

        ***Deep in the foggy woods.***

    Amethyst peered through the trees. They don't seem as threatening as they usually do. Everything was still dim and there was a fog creeping through the trees. She heads through the woods. She reaches out and touches the tree trunks and finds that they are almost soft under her touch. The leaves underfoot crunch as she walks.    

    Suddenly she hears the leaves and bushes behind her rustle. She turned startled. Whatever had rustled the bush didn't have the terrifying presence that she normally experienced in the woods. It still was unsettling so she started to run away, weaving through the trees gracefully and quietly. No matter how fast she tried to run, the rustling of leaves seemed to be right behind her. She wanted to shift to Sky but something seemed to be stopping her. It was as if Sky wasn't there. That scared Amethyst even more.

    She kept running; she stumbled over some roots of the large trees. After several minutes of running, Amethyst broke out of the trees and into a meadow full of flowers. In the center of the meadow there was a pond. The waters of the pond were so clear you could see the bottom with ease. The flowers in the meadow were all different and left the most wonderful smell in the air. It made Amethyst forget the noise behind her. The breaking of a stick broke Amethyst out of her admiration of the meadow. She spun around and saw stepping out between the tree, a large black wolf.

    The wolf fur was black as night, but in the light of the woods it had sheen to it. When they locked eyes, Amethyst breath caught in her throat. The wolf's eyes were black as night but she could see small flecks of gold. The wolf made no noise but stepped carefully towards her. Amethyst took several steps backward and tripped over her own feet. The wolf stopped and laid down a few feet from her. It laid its shaggy head down on its front paws. It scooted forward one paw in front of the other.

    Amethyst covered her head with her arm. She felt a nudge on her foot. She peeked from under her arm to see the wolf's nose nudging her foot. When she pulled her foot back, the wolf whined softly. Amethyst froze at the sound. She looked at the wolf curiously as it slowly scooted forward to lay its head on her lap. She slowly placed her hand on its head. Its fur was soft under her fingers. As her fingers ran through the wolf's fur, Amethyst closed her eyes.

    Amethyst opened her eyes to find she was still in the cell. She sighed, at least she didn't get chased this time. She wondered who the wolf was; she knew that it wasn't Sky or Jas. They both looked different yet similar to each other but the wolf in her dream was nothing like them.    -Are you OK? What is on you mind, Am?- Sky ask her softly   

    --Yeah. I'm alright. I was just thinking about the dream I had.-- Amethyst replied. She closed her eyes and let her mind open to show her dream as she could remember to Sky and Jas. Jas started humming slightly as the scene unfolded for them. It was hazy, merely a memory.    ~Ah, my dear Am, you found your way to the Emerald Forest.~ Jas said with a slight air of mystery. Amethyst opened her eyes to stare at the rough ceiling of her cell. She thought about what Jas said and it left her with more questions. Jas chuckled softly and continued. ~The Emerald Forest is also known as the Wolf's Wood. It's a place that connects us to each other. You are being drawn to it for a reason; I wonder if it's this mystery wolf trying to connect to you.~ Amethyst mind raced.

    --If..if a wolf is trying to connect..--She hesitates slightly before continuing. --Do you think it could be..do you think it could be our mate?-- A small flicker of hope still resides in her heart. Someday her mate would come and save her from the cell she's been in for nearly half a year. Her 18th birthday would be in two months and she knew she would find her mate.

    -Maybe it is. I sure hope it is.- Sky murmured wistfully. The past few months that's been the topic of conversation. Ever since the night she was dragged down to the cell. She stared out into the rest of the room, there wasn't  much to see.

    The rest of the cells were empty, kept that way on purpose. She had heard guards muttering about keeping here there.  Not that anyone would tell her why she was locked into the cell. She heard the door at the top of the stairs swing open. The sound of three sets of feet came down the stairs. One set of steps was a bit lighter then the others, she knew as soon as the sickly sweet perfume reached the cell that Ashley had come to torment her. She scooted back to the furthest corner of her little cell. She kept her head down as she heard them stop in front of the door.    "Well, well, well. Look at what we have here. A runt finally in the right place but still just a waste of space." Ashley's voice has harsh and full of hatred. Amethyst made sure not to look up at her, the last time she did she had a hard time opening her eyes for a week.  "I still don't understand why you're being kept around. I've asked Collin but he just tells me to leave it alone, but I just can't. What makes you so special? Hmm? Let's find out shall we then?"

      ***This section may contain content that triggers those sensitive to r**e and attempted r**e. Will mark end of section*****

    Amethyst hears the keys jingle, she risks a glance over to see Ashley unlocking the door and the two guards looking at Amethyst like a piece of meat. She shrank back into the corner, pulling her knees closer to her chest. She heard the door to her cell squeak open and the slight shuffle of feet.    "Teach her her place here." Ashley says to the guards as they both stepped into Amethysts cell. She could smell the alcohol seeping from them now.

    They both smirked at each other then moved toward where Amethyst was cowering. She heard a rustling sound. She risked a glance over and saw the two large guards walking in her direction. One of the guards was rubbing his junk; the other was unbuckling his belt. They were both getting closer to her causing her to shiver and look away from them. She wrapped her arms around the bars next to her as one of the guards grabs her arm and pulls at her. She growls at him, making him laugh cruelly.  As he pulls on her again, she could feel Sky push forward and her teeth start turning into her sharp canines. The guard looked back to where Ashley stood leaning on the wall. Ashley huffed then walked down the hall, disappearing into a room. After a moment Ashley appears carrying something. Amethyst cant tell what it is; she was too busy trying to get the guard off of her. She didn't hear Ashley open the empty cell next to her. She howled as she felt a pinch in her neck and a cool numbing sensation start to spread.  

   ~Wolfsbane.~ Jas was howling. ~Hang on, Ams...Just...hang..o~ Jas faded from her mind. Her transformed teeth had returned to normal as Sky disappeared. Her grip on the bars weakened. She felt herself get pulled off the floor. She tried to fight, but the grip on her hands was too strong so she screamed. As she screamed the hands released her but, before she was able to get away, she felt a rough slap across the face causing her to fall onto the hard floor.     She felt multiple sets of hands grabbing at her body, tearing apart her clothing. She tried to get up again only to be slapped once more. She screamed as she felt hands groping her chest and sensitive spot. One set of hands covering her mouth. She tried to pull their hands off only to have her hands held above her head. Her nose crinkled at a foul smell approached her face, on of the guards had his member out of his pants and had it very close to her face. She tried to get away from him but he had her firmly held down. The other guard was manhandling the rest of her body. She felt tears escaping down her face, she felt that there was nothing that could possibly save her.

    Suddenly there was a overwhelming presence. The door leading outside suddenly slammed open. All Amethyst could see was a shadow figure standing at the top of the stairs. She felt herself fading out as she heard a deep angry growling. Then just darkness.