Sortie’s Perspective
Pulling into the national forest’s long deserted path drive I find a small clearing. Stopping the truck before the night sets in. I get out without a word allowing the door to clack behind me. I lift my nose to catch any scent on the wind. Winter is approaching so these woods should be closed to the public for the weather can turn bad quickly making the surroundings extremely dangerous for average humans. This spot should be perfect as long as there is what I need here. The sound of the truck’s door closing rings from behind me. Willow quickly comes beside me with a heavy breath.
“I can not smell activity from humans,” Willow sighs.
“Agreed, none that came around as of late at least.” I say while glancing behind me to see C. J. looking around. “C. J., we will be staying here for a few days.”
“WHAT! I though they are chasing us they will catch us within a few days!” C. J.’s excitement clear in his voice I do not bother looking towards his face.
“I expect them to be here with in three days. You will need to feed your hunger that will be raising soon,” I deadpan.
“What? I just ate some jerky. I am fine.”
“Your lycanthrope will come more uncontrollable these next few days as you awake that beast.”
“It’s been almost a month since it appeared though.”
“Correct, but it is the first full moon since. You will try to hunt any prey that is weaker than yourself. So, prepare yourself for taking a life.”
“BUT YOU SAID IF I DRAW HUMAN BLOOD YOU WILL KILL ME!”
“Of course I will; however, I will ensure you do not kill a human. With that witch’s magic, we should be able to curve your lust for humans to super humans.”
“What if I attack you?” he mumbled under his breath.
“I can keep you off of me no matter the issue, idiot.”
“You heard that?”
“Yes, Willow could even hear you.”
“How good is your hearing?”
“Cedar concentrate. You need to practice, change forms now.” His body morphed into that of his dark wolf. His one paw easily could cover both my palms. As the sun began to set it was easy to tell how beautiful his wolf truly is majestic. “Cedar try to attack me now.” He lunged at me in that moment. I stood still waiting for him to come nearer. When I felt his breath on my face I turned around him as his eye widen before he face planted into the soil where I once stood.
“How in the world?” the wolf exclaimed in my head with a gravel tone.
“You are too slow. Your movements are obvious. You lack a back up plan to try and complete a simple mission.” I spoke as I walked away from him waiting for him to try revenge. To my surprise he stayed still. “You need to think through a plan and come up with every option even if the plan seems fool proof. Try attacking Willow.” Willow yelled in my head before running away. Cedar followed after her trying to make a few amusing attempts to attack my gal. I let them run for a good hour before I spoke up, “you are to attack each other not avoid. Try again, Willow attack Cedar with force. No magic.” Willow immediately complied from defensive to offensive.
“UGH! Shorty this is not fair, I am tired. We have been running for an hour. You are being cruel.”
A chuckle escaped both Willow and myself. Willow jumped from the ground onto the trunk of a tree, then another base until Cedar lunged at a base where Willow landed only to be met with a face full of bark. She landed perfectly onto his back grabbing his neck in a locked jaw. He flipped onto his back rolling trying to remove the new weight. He stood up only for his jugular to be grabbed. Running full speed he aimed himself to a thick trunk ramming his chest. Willow yelped as she released. Jumping into the tree lower limbs she carefully stalked the prey watching the ground for his executioner. Willow let out a low growl as she pounced, Cedar’s eyes met Willow’s moments before he landed on his back four paws high. Lunging her head back, Willow opened her jaws as she lowered her bared teeth to his exposed throat. Before she could close with pressure, “enough. Willow stomped your butt into the ground.”
Vibrantly Willow jumped off him and skipped back to me. The massive wolf sulked back with his nose almost touching the grass. Shaking off the forest’s touch off her like water drops, Willow plotted by my feet and started to groom herself. Stomping towards me fully dressed a pissed off C. J. stopped short. Crossing his thick arms across his bare chest. “Seriously, you could not stop this charade before that thing sunk her teeth into my flesh?” Waving a hand at him I stared back at my girl peacefully stretching in the last of the sun. Looking back at the cry baby as he continued to complain, I notice a few scratches along his neck and chest.
“Willow, help this dumb animal;” I announce without waiting for him to pause.
“WHAT DUMB ANIMAl! I know you are not calling me a dumb animal. I am not dumb nor an animal. This beast could have killed me three times!” Lifting my right brow at the annoying voice his face paled. “Why are you acting like my life does not matter? She almost killed me!” Willow came over quietly licking his finger tips as he stood there shaking with anger boiling in his eyes.
“Almost? Could? Does not sound like it was a problem. Seeing if I tell her to kill she would, if I do not tell her too she would not. She may leave you wishing for death but that it all. You are being too dramatic. She even is healing you now so shut up, they are going to come soon. As your leader you will follow me tonight, so that pretty face you love will not end up hurt.” Turning away from him after to march further into the dense tree that will provide coverage. As the three of us kept our trudge weaving through the bark I decided to give one final piece of advice. “Willow set up a barrier just in case if junior needs a time out. This,” handing him a green amethyst gem; “use this to enter or exit the safe zone. Willow cast a small one that you do not need to stay standing for. Tonight will start hell so be prepared to fight. C. J. use your magic when ever you see fit. Remember that this could easily become life or death. Willow stay with him at all times. Kill him if he starts to attack a human. Understood?’
“I thought you choose here because there will not be humans!” C. J. whimpered.
“Should not be.” He gulped loudly as we reached the tallest tree. I started to climb up as Willow bounced. The idiot stood on the ground looking around wary.
“Hey dummy come now.” With a deep sigh he started working his way up the branches after us. I reached the top before the other two, followed by Willow closely. When C. J. finally joined us I leaned back looking up at the stars that decided to start peaking out. “C. J. you will encounter many different types these nights. I want you to remember to satisfy your hunger on the monsters that you will see tonight. Meet me here by dawn. Keep eyes on each other all the time. Also, C. J. if you attack Willow you will die. Your mind will go hazy but you will still have memories of now and you need to remember these two things above any other. One: Attack a human, you will die. Two: Attack Willow you will die. Anything else if far game to hunt.” I paused a minute when the smell of fun came coursing over my body. I looked to the north to see the trees shake accompanied by howls. “The hunting has began, call me if you guys need help.” I say this as I jumped off the tree.
The wind rustles around me as branches reach out for me. Closing my eyes I feel the soft ground under my feet for a second before I break for the north. Thirst controlling my teeth as they fight me for freedom. Pushing farther through the tree with the wind gives me a hand on my back. The clear sky brightens between the trees as the white circle moving. Keeping towards the shadow I pounce from the trees to the darkness that hides my soul. Keeping my breath regular I continue towards the herd of weak deer that try to flea towards me.
‘I am close to the pack,’ I mind link to Willow as the sound of a growl hits my ears. I cut the contact before I slow my pace, finding myself in a small clearing with many eyes watching me in the shadows. A grin forms on my face as I meet a pair of gold eyes directly north of my footing. Growls sounded around me and confirmed the path I took in closed. I dropped my smile looking at the eyes beading into me. Listening carefully to the sounds of the mute forest. Counting in my head I got to thirty before the golden eyes started to speak with a wolf–y grin.
“Lonely little meal,” the chuckle that covered the silence reminded me of hyenas. Not moving a muscle as I aloud my senses to heighten. “No friends for an evening jog?” Keeping my eyes glued to the eyes as they turned to a shimmer darker. The eyes grew from their location higher as the Lycanthrope continued to talk. “We are hungry, my dear. However,” he looked around before a man stepped into the moon light. “We can be your new friends.” Taking in his massive frame on two feet I noticed the silver glistening over his dark features. “Do you want to be my friend?” Asking with his head bowed, eyes forward, and right hand extended I failed to protect the plaster to creak on my face. A hearty laughter from deep within me burst forward.
“As if,” is all that came tumbling out of my mouth. Growls started behind me, in a wave it came to a stop at the man before me.
“My sweet little lamb is alone and we are many. How do you plan to walk away?” Smiling my teeth extended as I rolled my neck before cocking my head to the left. The crowd erupted in horrified gasps, growls, groans, and whimpers. My eyes stay locked to his. “One little bat against all of us?” He extend both arms to his sides.
“You smell awfully good, Lycanthrope.” Fear drenched the air in mass amounts waved. Closing my eyes I faced up to the moon, soaking in the bright shades with a huge grin on.