I stumbled through the forest-my legs shaking underneath me, my body weak from hunger and thirst, from exhaustion. The darkness seemed to close in around me, the clouds above growing thicker by the minute. I could smell the rain coming-heavy and relentless-and I knew I needed to find shelter.
I stumbled and fell, scraping my knees on the rough earth. I struggled to my feet and felt the weight of my despair crushing me.
What was the point of it? Why even try to survive in the first place? The pack had cast me out, Ryker had rejected me, and now I was completely and truly alone, lost in a hostile world. I thought of my mother, of Cormac, and a sob rose in my throat.
"Mother, Cormac, help me," I cried low, my voice no louder than a whisper. "I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't want to live this way."
But there was no answer; only the snapping of twigs behind me and some type of low, evil growling. I spun around, heart racing, and that's when I saw them: a pair of glowing red eyes staring back at me from the dark.
A lump formed in my throat, I realized that a wild wolf was after me, closing in on me, his eyes closing in on me, the growl loud, and time running out.
Instead, I felt frozen in terror, incapable of running or defending myself. His eyes seemed hypnotic, staring into mine with a very unnatural fascination. Trapped, helpless, and all alone, I knew I was going to be the next meal.
And I stood in the closure of darkness, literally waiting for it, the heartbeat sounding in my ears like drumming. The growl of the wolf was closer already; his eyes, blazing brighter, stared at me as from the face of death itself.
It struck at me within inches of my face, its jaws snapping shut, and I did everything in my power to fend it off. I was no match for the strength and ferocity that this animal possessed. He had me pinned to the ground, his teeth sunk into my arm, and I screamed in agony as it started to bite and tear into my flesh.
"Why.why won't you just kill me?" I begged, my voice shaking in my pain and fear. "Why must you make me suffer that?"
The wolf, nothing but simply continued to bite and tear, the hot breath washing over me like some wave of agony. I knew that I was slipping, that my vision was clouding as the pain made the world unbearable.
But just when I thought it was all over, the wolf suddenly stopped, his ears pricked up, listening to something far away.
"What.what's going on?" I whispered. My voice barely rose above the sound of my own ragged breathing.
And then I heard it, too-a loud, piercing howl that ran shivers down my spine.
His head whipped toward the sound, and his eyes seemed to narrow in an instant to determine in which direction the howl came from. In that instant, he had forgotten completely about me and focused all his interest on this new threat.
"Please-please come and save me," I whispered low, my eyes scanning the darkness in any direction for some form of rescue. "Please, don't let me die like this."
But I was in no shape for running anywhere: bleeding profusely, my body wracked in pain, with barely the strength to move. I lay there helplessly on my back, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
The howl came again, louder this time and closer. His ears went further back. He took a step back, eyes fixed onto something way out in the distance, and I knew my chance had come. It was an opportunity to escape, given the circumstances, which I could hardly use.
"No.no, don't leave me," I whispered, my voice cracking in terror. "Please don't leave me to die."
But it was too late. The wolf's gaze snapped back at me, and I knew I was running out of time.
Then a huge shape launched from the darkness and tackled my attacker to the ground. I heard a snarl, a snap, and then a faint whimper, and then it was all over. The wolf that had been attacking me lay still, his body limp and lifeless.
I tried to sit up-to see who it was that had saved me-but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back onto the ground. I heard footsteps approaching-heavy and deliberate-and then a pair of eyes loomed over me, shining in the darkness.
"T-thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Who.who are you?"
I reached out, wanting to touch my rescuer's face, but my arm felt like lead and refused to budge. A wave of frustration and fear then hit me as I realized that I did not know what was going on or who was helping me.
"P-please," I said in a whisper, my voice cracking. "Don't leave me. I don't want to be alone."
Before I could get another word out, a pair of arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground. I let in a pained gasp-a second later, though, this was replaced with the inrush of welcome feeling caused by being cocooned against a warm, firm chest.
"I-I don't know you," I stammered, trying to make out in the dark some sign of a face. "But thank you. Thank you for saving me."
I felt myself being lifted and carried, my head rested back against my rescuer's shoulder. I struggled against the darkness, willing myself to stay awake, but it was no use.
The pain and shock, the exhaustion-all combined to overwhelm me, and my eyes slowly closed. Everything turned black as I slowly lost unconsciousness, not knowing where I was being taken, or who took me there.
"Mother." I whispered, my voice fading to nothing. "Cormac."