Hunted

Chapter 33: That's It.

The wolf was circling the tree. I wasn’t that far from the ground he could reach me in one jump. What was I going to do? I couldn’t tell if he looked rabid or sane. I just kept catching the flick of his tail as he circled. I was full on panicking now. I needed to try and run back towards shore. There was no way I’d make it if I sat in this tree the whole time.

I grabbed a small branch and as quietly as I could broke it off the bigger branch. I then threw it as far as I could. I watched as the wolf’s ears perked up and ran towards the sound. I quickly scrambled down from the tree and started to make my way to where I thought the beach was. I realized that I had absolutely no idea where I was going. I got myself so confused and now it was dark. I couldn’t see the wolf and I had no idea which direction the beach was.

If only I could see the smoke from the fire or heard the water, I’d be able to find my way home. I was walking through the brush when I felt a twig snap underneath my feet. I froze. No one heard that…the wolf didn’t hear it. I was going to be safe. I took another step and snap another branch broke. At this point my cover was broken and I started to run. I really hope I was running in the right direction.

It didn’t really matter the next thing I knew the wolf who had attacked me when I was 12 jumped over my head and landed not 4 feet away. It was snarling at me. It’s eyes were red like blood and it looked possessed. I had limited experience with shifters but it did not seem like this was accurate.

I held up my hands and took a step back. “Please don’t hurt me…” I didn’t know what else to do. The wolf growled and crouched down. This was it I was going to die.

The wolf snarled and growled at me again taking a step forward. I started to sweat and tremble. I didn’t want to die. I know I still have a lot of things to work out but this was not exactly how I wanted my birthday to go. I took another step back and the wolf let out a growl.

The pain started in my toes. It traveled up my legs and into my back. It felt like I was cracking from the inside out. I felt like I was a glow stick that had been snapped and shook in order to make light up. I couldn’t help it I let out a scream. I was in the worst pain of my life but when I opened my eyes the wolf was staring at me. He looked almost confused. If I wasn’t being attacked by this wolf what in the world was happening.

I felt like my body was being torn apart. I couldn’t stop the screams. The gray wolf I think was still circling me trying to see how much of a threat I would be when I was done. He was just going to finish me off. Slowly as the bones cracked again I started to shift. It was the most painful experience I had ever felt in my life. Everything started to change. I could now see way better than I as before…and smell well I felt like everything. It also felt extremely weird to have 4 equal appendages instead of 2 that you use one way and 2 you use another.

I had collapsed in the dirt and leaves during the process. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it. I felt like I had broken every bone in my body. The gray wolf’s growl brought me out of my haze. I blinked a lot trying to get my footing. He finally charged at me. I wasn’t sure what was happening. The next thing I knew I was running. The pain from shifting was still there but it was nothing compared to the pain I’d feel when that wolf killed me. I was running through the unfamiliar territory trying to use these new way more heighten senses to find someone.

I could hear and smell the wolf behind me. He was gaining on me and quickly. I had just gotten back to near the beach when he tackled me to the ground. He looked even more crazy then he did when he first found me in the tree. He was snapping and snarling. I did my best to kick him away with my paws before running once again. He snapped at my foot and I let out a howl. I thought I was being quick. I don’t know how he got me. I really wished my father was here. I couldn’t communicate with anyone in the pack because I hadn’t been recognized by the pack yet as a shifter.

There was no way anyone would be able to hear or find me at this point. I needed to take this crazy wolf away from the beach. I quickly changed directions and headed towards the middle of no where. I didn’t want to hurt anyone of my pack members. It seems like he was only going after me.

I didn’t think I was going to out run him long. I found a spot near a fallen tree that I thought hid me pretty well. He was going to smell and find me. There wasn’t much time now. I sat and waited. At least I know I brought him away from the pack. Everything was moving so quickly. I didn’t know what I was doing in the slightest. I barely could comprehend that I just shifted for the first time ever!

I could hear him running up near me. I didn’t know how to do anything. I was really hoping my instincts would kick in. Or at least my wolf spirit would do some talking to me that would be very helpful at this point. He was getting closer and closer. I needed to come up with another plan. I had gotten him away from everyone but there was no way I’d be able to fight him.

He was of course rabid and I was terrified…but on top of all that I had no idea how to really…fight. I didn’t know anything. I was never included in any shifter training or even saw what that would look like. I couldn’t keep my thoughts straight. I could hear his breath as he got closer. This was it. I was finally caught. He finally got me.