Alice and The Rogue Wolf

Chapter 7

"Oh my God!" I shrieked, ducking for safety.

Out of the location of the blast came smoke rising in the air. First I heard one scream, then others followed and before I could decide which direction to dash in, the air was filled with rounds of ammunition crackling.

"What was that?" I asked Johnathan who was telling me to lay low.

"I don't know. But I'm guessing we are being attacked. Grab the clothes you can, we need to return to the pack."

Jonathan sprang up as alert as ever putting on his clothes before leading me back into the forest with its large vegetation as cover. We scurried towards the road and into his house but by the time we got there the exchange of firepower had ceased.

The usual council was gathered while the warrior wolves stood guard armed to the teeth. Only my mother was absent and I concluded that her absence had something to do with her awaiting my return. They were all assembled, as usual, in a ring with only a seat left free. I was about to inquire about the absurdity when Jonathan halted in his tracks.

"Listen, Alice!" He said, turning to face me. "Uhm, you should go ahead and find out if your mother's okay. I'm sure she worried sick about you."

"What are you talking about? My mother will be safe and sound but will not be okay if we don't deal with what just happened. So I'll crouch if you think not having a seat is in any way going to deter me from being a part of this." Even though I may have wanted to back down, the way he was acting assured me that something was up.

"Do you know what we're going up against?" His voice gained pitch. "In case you haven't noticed it's the Rogues. The same pack who murdered you're father and mine. Some days ago, our guards saw signs that they were probably lying in ambush waiting for the perfect time for a strike but we weren't certain about their return until now."

"So why not retaliate? There was a report of a possible threat and you didn't handle it immediately?"

"Don't you dare raise your tone at me!" He barked threateningly. "We came up with a plan and were going to close in on them but I can't risk you being a part of this because out there it is dangerous and I can't be responsible for you."

"I'm not a kid, Jonathan. I can take care of myself!"

"No, you can't!" One of the sages beckoned his name. "See, they need me. Now go on, I'll come to get you when this is over."

With tears welling up in my eyes, I ran off. I wished Jonathan could understand that I was more than ready to help. Then like a deer in headlights I stopped dead in my tracks. I wasn't going to back off that easily.

Even though I couldn't remember much, I knew that being the alpha's daughter I must have had some sort of training. Somewhere inside me, there must be some set of vital skills that I could use to help. But I knew if I wanted to help, I needed to be discreet.

I retraced my steps to Jonathan's house. They were assembled out front so I figured the best way to get a close look would be through the interlocking bushes that enclosed the building which stood a farther way off from the other. Hastening my steps, I finally settled behind a part of his wooden fence which even though deprived me of a good view, enabled me to eavesdrop on them.

As I lay prostrated on the moist forest floor, the sun scalding my bare legs and neck, I could hear weapons clanging against each other, shuffling of body armor, and low whispering; they were moving out. I strained hard to listen for any ideas on where they were headed but found it hard to sift for clues amongst their indistinct chatter. Focused on listening, I rolled over on my back completely oblivious of a wiry-shaped stick that lay beneath me until it pricked my lower thigh.

The sore pain made a yelp escape my lips. In the realization that I had just exposed my location, I clasped my palm around my mouth.

"What was that?" I could hear Jonathan ask.

A gun c****d and I heard footsteps approaching. The rest of the crew remained quiet and no doubt alert. I scanned my surroundings for a possible escape route and just when I was about to resign to my fate, I found an oak tree and cluttered behind it as quickly as my hurting leg could go.

"All clear!" The broad-shouldered assassin announced when he found nothing, setting the other's minds at peace.

Meanwhile, I heaved a sigh at my lucky escape. Although I wasn't caught, I paid the price of not hearing what they said and also a numb feeling in my thighs. The only advantage I had was that I could see what was going on behind that fence which barely reached my neck.

After a brief address, the troop headed out led by Jonathan and disappeared into the bushes. I waited until a safe gap was achieved before trailing behind closely. They kept marching across the forest floor matted with dry leaves until after what seemed like forever we arrived at a settlement, so far deep in the jungle. At this point, I was wits scared but I kept on limping on my injured leg before crouching low behind an interlocking of bushes to avoid being spotted.

A "wow" escaped my lips. Wandering in a cleared space of land was a community where Some of the men were gathered in groups, beer in hand and chattering happily while the rest of them stood guard. There were no women and children in sight. Just looking at them developed contempt in my heart. Who would have thought that this happy and peaceful-looking set of people would be so cruel and vile? The more reason I needed to be a part of this fight; revenge!

Jonathan and his troops wasted no time in unleashing their firepower. They met the enemy with a heavy hand, causing a lot of harm before they could retaliate. In a matter of seconds, the once quiet air characterized only by chirping birds and cheerful chatter was now filled with flying bullets and ear-splitting explosions. To fuel this chaos, even more, were the screams of terror as these bullets struck their targets piercing through layers of bone and seeping life from their victims. Both sides were losing men but it seemed the clash wasn't favoring the Rogues.

I lay against a stomp shielding myself from the shells which flew at random. Perhaps, I should have equipped myself with a weapon before this, now I had exposed myself to danger. Left with no choice, I decided to reveal myself to Jonathan. It wouldn't atone do disregarding his command but it would surely get me a weapon. I was already deep in this mess, and there was no way I was going to back out now.

Slowly I crept up using the stomp as a cushion. I had stopped the bleeding and even though my leg wasn't in the best shape, it was enough to get me going. It was a slowed journey but I trudged on avoiding the thorns which littered around. Limp by limp, I made it past, and just as I was about to call out to Jonathan, a figure leaped out of where he laid ambush and leaped on me from behind.

"Aargh!" I wailed as my sweat-drenched body crashed on the hard floor.

I rolled onto my back strenuously but quickly and tried to crawl away but one kick on my leg from my assassin left me helpless and begging for him to spare me. He looked just like the Rogues and with the way he stared at my motionless figure, I knew the time had come to draw my last breath.

He grabbed me by the arms and led me into the bush he seemed to have appeared from. My voice grew weary from my weary screams but my assassin paid no heed.

"Please, I'm not with them," I pleaded with a shaky tone. But my pleas fell on deaf ears. He withdrew a pistol from where it lay clutched in a pouch strapped to his shoulder and aimed it at my head.

I tried to move but my limbs seemed to have added weight. We were a long way from the others so I knew screaming would do me no good. I shut my eyes in submission to my fate as tears trickled down endlessly.

The gun went off, and with the bullet's release came blood splattering on my face. As the shrilling bang from the gunshot flooded my ears, I could hear shuffling and a few moments later a heavy load crashed to the floor. I tried to flip open my eyes, but my blood-laden eyelids wouldn't let me. I tried to keep awake but I couldn't and just as I blacked out, I felt a pair of hands over me.