My heart was beating faster than my strides. I was running faster than my legs because my life depended on it. A small animal scurried out of my way in fear.
This is my present predicament. I could hear multiple footsteps behind me. They had initially underestimated my speed. I am wolfless but fast.
They were still faster than I am, but I was running in zigzags, giving them a hard time because they needed to brake consistently.
They were all in their wolf form. Hungry and bloodthirsty.
My escape directly puts my parents into trouble for hiding my wolfless nature from the onset. I wished they could have escaped with me, but they wouldn't, and they bought enough time for me.
Theo was attacked back at the camp, and the attacker shoved me into the crowd, shouting "Run" continuously until he was apprehended. I ran into my Dad in the crowd, and he urged me to escape before it was too late.
I was getting tired, and I know some miracles need to happen, or else I'm getting captured. The ground was getting moist, and my feet couldn't plant firmly enough. My speed was reducing. I could hear them. They were closer now.
Suddenly, I fell with a loud thud, and before I knew what was happening, I started sinking. I had fallen into a swamp.
I fought to hold on, but I was sinking more.
I heard leaves rustling and stopped struggling. One of them had spotted me, and he walked carefully to not fall into the swamp.
He moved to a dry spot and shifted.
My heart jumped when I saw him.
"Theo!" I cried in excitement.
"Shhhh," he whispered and gave his hand, pulling me from the swamp. I jumped on him and kissed him. He didn't resist.
"They are coming," he said quietly, dropping me.
"I'm sorry, Theo," I said genuinely. "I'm sorry I betrayed you."
"You shouldn't be," he wiped off my tears.
A howl startled me.
"They're finding me. Go west, follow the river. There's another clan. They will try to arrest you. Tell them you need to see Zeddicus. Tell Zeddicus I sent you. Now go! I'll come find you."
He gave me a push, and I started running again. I looked behind me one last time. He was shifting back into a wolf.
I couldn't stop. Every step I took was painful. Leaving my parents behind, leaving Theo behind, leaving my life behind. My heart was heavy, eyes filled with tears that must not drop because it would make tracking me down easier.
"Smoke!" I almost screamed. I saw smoke a mile ahead. Someone was making fire. I was freezing, hungry, and tired. I needed shelter. I can't keep myself warm like a normal wolf.
I slowed down right before where the smoke was coming from. There was nobody in sight, a thatch house and fire being made outside.
"Maybe they're inside."
I waited it out because I couldn't risk it. I didn't know what to expect. A lone wolf or a monster that only feeds on flesh.
"What if they could smell me?"
I felt like running, but my legs were too weak. I couldn't run anymore. I needed food and water.
I summoned courage and walked into the clear area, step by step, slowly and carefully. There was water in a bottle. I didn't care if it was poisonous. I gulped it down. I could smell roasted meat inside the house. I didn't know where I got the courage. I went inside and started eating like my life depended on it. My life did depend on it.
The water was indeed poisonous. I started drifting away, my vision getting blurry. I fell to the ground. I could feel someone's presence. They smell really badly. I couldn't move or lift myself up. Slowly, my brain shuts down completely.
I woke up tied to a branch, and a man in a dark robe appeared. Tall, muscular, and very huge. He looked pissed.
"I was hungry, I'm sorry, I didn't..."
"Shhhhh." He placed one finger on my lips, telling me to shut up. "I don't care. I know you."
He sipped the water in his cup.
I made another attempt to plead with him.
"Shut up!" He angrily spat what he was drinking at my face. It was blood. I knew I was in trouble at that point.
"You don't get to say anything. I own you now. Theo will regret ever banishing me."
He ripped my cloth off, and I couldn't scream. Nobody would hear me. He brought out his manhood, and I lay there, torn and helpless.
I heard somebody else. I could feel them walking. I shouted, and he slapped me hard.
Suddenly, I heard someone running, a wolf most likely. He heard too and before he could turn, a big wolf jumped and bit him hard in the neck. I watched him fight for his life until he gave up. I was traumatized. I have never seen such a gruesome scene in my life. The wolf ran away immediately, leaving me confused and bewildered.
"Snow!!" I heard my name. It was Theo.
"I'm here!" I was very happy. This was Theo saving my life the second time. But who is the big wolf, Theo?
He ran to me and untied me.
"I'm sorry for leaving you on your own."
"No. It is my fault. I caused this. I am a bad person." I couldn't control the tears.
"It's okay... Did you kill him?" He asked, looking at the dead man at his feet.
"So it wasn't Theo," I said to myself. "Then who?"
"No, you killed him." I tried to play a mind game.
"I would never kill a person unjustly."
"What do you mean unjustly? He almost raped me."
"I mean, with his status in the clan."
"Theo, do you know who this is?"
"No, I... I don't..." He stuttered, and I knew he was hiding something.
"Who is this man? How did you find me? And did you kill him?"
He didn't answer. He was hiding something from me.
I was furious. Theo couldn't look me in the eyes. I looked ahead and saw a man in a black robe, similar to the one the man on the ground wore. He was huge and scary. He stood afar, watching us. His expression is angry.
"Look Theo, we are being watched." I took my eyes off for a nanosecond and before I looked back, he was gone.
Theo looked and didn't see anything.
"He was right there," I said to him.
"You need to rest, Snow." He said, leading me slowly into the house.