Ginger Wolf

It was raining cats and dogs and Valarie knew if she didn't get back to the pack in time, she would be in danger. Her sense of smell was dwindling with every second, making it harder for her to trace her way back home but the heavens showed no mercy.

She swore to herself that she wasn't going to cry but she felt her strength failing her. She wasn't a strong wolf, and so she knew if she fell into the wrong hands, it would be the end of her.

Her mother had warned her of this severally but she never paid heed. Somehow, it felt good to break the rules, and since her mum drew in her last breath, she had plenty of time to wander.

She didn't just wander for nothing though, she had a whole plan of her life mapped out but it didn't include sitting behind on pack territory, waiting to be offered a rank when she was old enough.

The grass scratched through her fur which was drenched with water, and she shook it off to reduce the weight off her. She was scared and although her wolf form did well to hide it, all she wanted to do was go home.

She knew there would be other wolves hunting, but she prayed that for that night if she ever ran into a group of sigmas, they should be those of her pack.

She could smell a presence around her, it caused her to tremble. With determined speed, she charged into the night, her feet digging into the earth as she covered the grounds, aimlessly heading home.

A loud number of feet thundered behind her and she cursed under her breath. She was already being watched and she had no idea about it.

She dared to look back and she saw them, from her count, seven werewolves were on the hunt for her and even though she knew that this was a lost race, she kept going, her eyes on the path behind her until she felt the claws graze her thigh the first time, causing her to dash to the left.

Taking the next turn, she intensified her speed, draining the last of her strength, and when the next set of claws dug into her neck, she only made it two more steps before collapsing onto the ground.

As she drifted away, she saw them form a circle around her, before they released a howl, celebrating their catch.

*****

Valarie awoke in her human form, her eyes burning from the smoke that came from the fire that was in her opinion, a little too close to her.

She immediately recognized that she was not alone and so she maintained her position, careful to not move.

She heard a lot of movement behind her, she tried to smell but it was nothing familiar, nothing like the people who had picked her.

She was in another pack territory, and judging by the chains on her hands and legs, she was now a captive.

She fought the tears that tugged at her eyelids as she evaluated her situation. The movement behind her soon stopped after what sounded like a metallic door was pulled open and then shut afterward.

It took a lot of courage for her to turn over and assess her surroundings. There was someone else in the room with her, a girl too, only she was still knocked out. The room had a musky smell, like a brewing house, and she could see cobwebs hanging down from the ceiling.

Apart from the two huge drums in the room, the room was empty. She could see a window but it was well protected by iron bars with railings too small for her whole hand to go through.

She dragged herself to where the other girl lay and nudged her a couple of times before her eyelids peeled open, revealing a gorgeous set of hazel eyes.

The girl flinched and propped herself up, Valarie guessed she was ready to go into an all-defense mode but the chains on her legs brought her to the realization that she didn’t stand a chance.

“Hey…” Valarie started as she desperately tried to assure her with her eyes that she wasn’t the enemy. “I am in the same position as you are, we should try to get out of here.”

The girl assessed her with suspicious eyes and then her lips parted, releasing a low growl “You really don’t know where you are, do you?”

Valarie shut her eyes for a second, she didn’t have time for chit-chat, all she wanted was to find a way out.

“I am guessing it's nowhere good. You wanna work with me on a plan or not?”

The chuckle came out a little too loud “You better save your strength.”

Just then, the door was pulled open again and a terrifying huge man walked in “Good you’re getting to meet each other. I hope you had enough time.” His voice was strong enough to inflict fear on anyone.

Valarie shifted as he approached them but the girl didn’t move an inch. She stared at him with those eyes of hers that showed no sign of worry in them.

He stopped when he got to her, his hands reaching straight for her hair “What’s the name?”

She swallowed as she struggled to lift herself to reduce the pressure, he had on her and he laughed, tugging harder “You better learn how to speak, girl.”

“Amara,” she replied. The energy Valarie had heard in her voice was no longer there, and it gave her away, she was scared.

With a snort, he pulled her away, dragging her along the rough, hard floor.

They were gone for minutes before Valarie was able to bring her mind and body together. A sudden cold came over her and she curled up into a ball, glancing at the door, waiting for her fate. Her sobs began soon after as she thought of her mum, her friends, and everything in the pack. She wondered if they were looking for her, or at least worried. Her thought was interrupted when she heard the sound of muffled feet heading her way. She brought her hand to her mouth to keep herself from screaming but as she heard the sound of the key lock being turned, she burst into tears.