Kissed by the flames

Chapter four - waterfall

Years flew like the passing sands of time and every moment of it was treasured by Freya and Akihus. They had been raising Nina as their own for six whole years now teaching her they way of the wolf. She was a bright little girl with fiery red, wavy locks just past her shoulders and she started life full to the brim with confidence. However, as this past year had ticked on it was time for her and the othet children to start learning the way of the wolf, how to hunt and fish and to start gentle training. Nina unfortunatly was not as skilled as the other children she was weaker and less agile. She didn't seem to posses any heightened senses confirming to the pack that she was indead human. This did not mean she was exempt from learning though.

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"Today is a big day children! You will accompany myself and the rest of the hunters on a spear fishing hunt. We have prepared each of you your own spear tipped with a sharp slate head. Please collect one each as you follow us down to the nearest lake." Jeremy stated before turning on his heels and leading the way without even taking a second glance at the children.

The children followed one by one including Nina and each grabbed a spear on the way, they conversed in idle excitable chit chat before coming to a stop. A small lake that narrowed and shallowed out at one end. Jeremy explained how to complete the task at hand before having one of his men give a demonstration. "You children will use the shallow part of the lake to practice so you do not scare off the bigger fish. It is important that we catch each day so that our pack may eat. We may be wolves that love red meat but some of us prefer to  indulge our human side and treat ourselves to finer foods. You will all understand one day when you are older and no longer pups."

With that the children rushed over to start their task full of enthusiasm and awe. Amongst all of the splashing about and concentration starring down into the water Nina had become transfixed on the flow of the water and decided she would fight against the small currant given off by the even smaller waterfall. She was yet to catch a single fish unlike the other children and this had disscouraged her so she had instead decided to go wet her beautiful red locks under the mouth of this dainty trickle from the waterfall.

Oh wow thats a huge fish! I bet if i caught that the other children would find me so brave and strong. Nina thought to herself full of excitement. She started to creep up on it but before she could get too close it started to swim away its beautiful iridescent silver scales shimmered under the water.  So she ran. Before Nina could catch up to this magnificent fish she slipped on an uneven rock under the water and was swallowed up by the water, as she fell she scrambled to save herself spearing her foot in the process and hitting her head on the many rocks by the bank of the lake. As she sunk further and further down to the bed of the lake pools of red emerged congregating on the surface. This was the only tell tale sign that something was amiss.

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"Jeremy it's hellishly rocky that far down and close to the waterfall. We should have warned the children not to stray so far!" The beta Adriel snapped running this wet hand through his slightly damp dark brown hair. Stress covered all of his features but before Jeremy even had chance to take a breath and respond Adriel sensed something was wrong and then the smell of blood flooded his nostrils. He shot over to the pool of red as fast as lightening using his wolf ability of speed and agility. Delving beneath the surface he yanked out a badly injured Nina and panicked as he struggled to hear a heartbeat, a wearwolves hearing was second to none so he was concerned to say the least.

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As Nina was swallowed whole by the deadly lake smashing her head in the process she blacked out. Darkness invaded her tiny innocent eyes before engulfing her entirely, it wasn't long however until blurry visions of a young man and woman flooded her mind they looked warm and inviting. The man was tall and had short blond hair, the woman had silky golden hair and fair pale skin; both splattered in blood and laced with wounds. She saw another image of the same couple stood over a baby laying on a black coat while the harsh wind dancef around them.  Nina felt a closeness like no other to them, although she was drowning she haf not yet felt more safe.

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"Okay pups. Time to head back we have an injured pack member and we never leave anyone behind!" Jeremy boomed.

"Nina do you hear me? Nina! You're okay I will get you straight back to your mother and father now okay? Then we can get you to the pack healer." Adriel said with a soft tone to his voice trying to comfort her. He scooped her up into his arms and the warmth of his body heat helped warm her up, she was soaking from the lake and even though it was a summers day there's something chilling about almost dying.

In no time at all they were back at the pack village where Ninas parents were waiting with the village healer. Their faces were pale with worry so to see her in such a bad way was agony to them especially as they found out via mindlink. After Freya and Akihus reassured Nina the healer got to work on the nasty gash atop of her foot. "This will leave a life long scar if she is fully human. She will also suffer a terrible headache and lethargy for a short while too due to the bang on the head" he stated very matter of fact.

"Thank you"

"Thank you sir..." Nina mummbled between conciousness.

"Thank you for getting her back so fast beta sir." Akihus smiled thankfully

"No problem just make sure she gets some rest."

They discussed what happened in detail and took Nina back to get rest and heal in peace. Freya and Akihus decided they would do everything in their power to keep her safe, shes more fradgile than they imagined... In the pack could this present as a problem?