Chapter 2 - Encounter

Christa's PoV

As I ran, I regulated my breathing, so I don’t get easily out of breath and after what seems like hours, I was certain I was at least a few miles out and away from the Night Moon Pack’s reach. Believing no one would be able to track me and to be honest they may not have even realised I’m missing, it's not like they would care anyways.

So overall that means I should be safe until tomorrow morning where they’ll question why I’m not up to make breakfast. So, before that happens, I must get as far away as possible.

And with that determination, I kept on running towards the north until I stumbled upon a beautiful and clean riverbank within the forest, glancing around making sure no one was around, thinking it would be safe to take a short break, I made my way towards the fresh water with a dry and sore throat, thirsty for some water as I reached out with both my hands to cup some water within it to drink. As I took my first sip of the water, I felt refreshed. Knowing the water is drinkable, I cupped more water in my hands to drink until I was satisfied, and my thirst was finally quenched.

I then washed my face to wipe away all that dirt and sweat I accumulated whilst I was running and then faced into the river revealing my own reflection looking back at me.

Now thinking back, I haven’t seen myself in for ages and now that I am, I was quite surprised.

My skin was very pale, my short scruffy black hair was dirty and a mess, much like an uncleaned bird nest due to not washing it for I don’t know how long. And as the omega of the pack, I did not have the luxury to take baths since it’ll ruin the bathroom’s clean environment, or that was what I was told by other pack members.

Looking up and down my body, I see a slightly malnourished little girl that was skinnier and smaller than any other average 14 years old, my usual light brown eyes looked dull and lifeless. My puffy pink cheek was now shrivelled and thin. All in all, my appearance would be a nice description of a beggar or a crazed individual on the run.

As I was thinking to myself, a sudden rush of pain coursed through my body, it was an unexplainable suffering, even worse than the abuse I suffered during my previous abduction but instead of screaming out in pain, I held it all in, not wanting to reveal my location to anyone nearby since I am currently alone in the world with no one I could trust.

And not long after the pain has started, my vision began to blur as tears slowly forced its way out of my eyes and little by little my unconsciousness was eating away at me until I finally fell into darkness.

As my consciousness laid within the darkness, I felt at peace, but I knew this peace would  not last forever. Not wanting to die, I tried forcing myself to wake up from this comfort.

Not knowing how long it took me, by the time I finally opened my eyes once again, the sky was already about to darken, the sun was already beginning to rest as it sets from the horizon. Looking around I guess I must’ve slept for quite some time.

With my high senses, I could tell no humans or any other ferocious creatures around me, assuming I was safe, I tried standing up as I turned around with my crumbled body that felt like it was about to break at any moment along with my eyes shut due to the unbearable pain.

As I was finally able to lay on my belly, I placed by hand below my body pulling it up and then took a deep breath before opening my eyes but to my surprise, instead of seeing the light green grass laying below me, it was instead replaced by stains of ruby red blood which covered the field I laid in furthermore, instead of human hands, I have a pair of furry black and white paws.

Ensuring this blood was not from others, I looked around my surroundings wondering who’s this blood is and as I was certain there was no injured body or even dead corpses around, I presume this blood I am seeing was mine all along.

After recollecting myself, I stood up on what seems like my four paws and attempted to walk or shall I say stumble my way towards the river as I glanced over my reflection and as expected, I was no longer in my human form but instead I was a wolf.

My wolf was beautiful, she had black fur but the tip of her tail, paws and ears were white. And on the side of her body near the neck lays a beautiful water shaped tattoo that shimmered for a while before it suddenly disappeared. Confused and in a trance, I wondered whether it was all just my imagination but after rubbing my eyes and looking at that same location, I see no such tattoo.

Ignoring what I believe was my imagination, I came to admire and love my wolf, she has light blue eyes with a speck of grey staring straight back at me, her eyes shown emotions full of energy and liveliness, the feelings I once had when I was young. And as for her figure, she was smaller than any normal wolves but nonetheless more confident than me.

Knowing it was impolite to stare but also confused at the same time, I asked “Who are you?” 

“Hello, I'm Lisa your wolf.” She replied sweetly and confidently.

“My wolf!?”

“… I'm only 14, shouldn't I be getting my wolf when I turn 18?” I said confused.

“Well, that's true but it only shows that we're special!” She said in a happy voice that began to ring in my mind.

I smiled knowing that I have someone next to me who would always be by my side however I also feel sad.

“You... do you know our mate rejected us?”

“Yea... and I know you accepted his rejection.” She said in a matter of fact but for some reason I sense no sadness from her.

“Aren't you angry or sad that I rejected our fated half?” I asked whilst Lisa thought about what she was about to say before replying to me.

“Nope, he doesn't deserve us, if he rejected us and bonded with another she wolf whilst we were gone, then he is just a cruel and disgraceful alpha, he doesn't deserve us.” She said in a considerate and confident voice which erased my guilt.

However, it also made me sad to hear he bonded with another she wolf whilst I was gone, I guess that explains the pain I was suffering a while back before I fell unconscious.

Let's forget it, my new life has just begun, why should I keep myself back because of him, “Okay, so do you know what happened here?”

“No… not really, I was asleep like you.”

I nodded in understanding, and it doesn't seem like she was lying so instead I just shoved the event to the back of my mind and carried on with my journey.

~2 weeks later~

I am currently in an area known as no man’s land. A territory that isn't owned by any pack or humans due to the roaming rouges on the premises which are described as dangerous.

You may all be thinking, why would I risk myself to come to such a dangerous place.

Well it's because I'm also a rouge now and I have nothing else to lose so why not gamble on it.

Upon arrival, the area was plain and quiet. Only the sound of wind blowing towards me. Footsteps were also heard close by. By knowing this, I quickly hid myself behind a bush waiting for the people to arrive before me.

It sounds like, there are only two people and from their scent, it seems like they're also rouges.

And as their figure came into view and as predicted, there was two people, one female and one male. Both seem to be identical twins as they both have blonde hair, green eyes, and light brown skin. And from the looks of it, they should be 17 or 18 years old.

“Where are you going, do you even know?” The girl with blond hair asked with frustration present in her voice.

“Just be quiet, I'm trying to concentrate!” The boy replied annoyedly as he looked around the area trying to get some clue of where they were at.

And as seconds became minutes, and the scorching sunny weather blasted upon them, a heated argument between what seems like siblings began.

Seeing how this was a great opportunity to get some information, I quickly took my aim and pounced at them in my wolf form, surprising them. And as I was on top of the boy, I shifted back to my human form and luckily for me, my clothes were still on me rather than ripped leaving one less worry to think about.

“Who are you?” I questioned with my dagger that was previously in my mouth but now close to his throat and any wrong move, he'll be dead.

“Wow, there little girl, we were just passing by no harm done.” The boy said with both his hands up in a surrendering pose, but I paid no heed and kept my dagger close to his neck whilst the boy then glanced over at the girl sitting on a big rock, “ Sarah come and help me!” The boy said in a frustrated manner.

“Why should I?” The girl said with her hands crossed and an expression showing anger alongside amusement before she smiled at me, “ little girl, do whatever you want with him” she replied with a smirk plastered on her face as if testing me knowing that I would not actually kill the boy.

“I'm your brother!” the boy said shockingly,  “you should stick by my side not hers!” He yelled once again.

“Shut up!” the girl said as her smirk turned cold, I could even sense a large amount of anger within her which she has kept sealed within her and another push could lead her to burst into rage. “If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this state… and anyways, I like this girl's gut” she said smiling at me.

“She's quite daring, isn't she? I like her.” Lisa said amusingly whilst I sighed.

To be honest, the girl standing before me has quite a personality and in agreement with Lisa, I nodded and got off the boy, “thanks” I said before raising my hand out for a shake, which she obliged and shook it, “I'm Sarah Smith and that there is my stupid twin brother, Zack Smith” she said introducing themselves to me.

I smiled, “I'm Chris C.”

“That's a unique name, so why were you here in no-man’s land” Zack asked.

“That's my question” I said in return.

“I give” Zack sighed.

“See, I like her!” Sarah said smirking and happy that his brother became this speechless and defeated during this short period of time and the one who made his brother like this was none other than a little girl.

He laughed, “ok, little princess, we're just passing by trying to find a place to stay since we're kicked out of our pack so now it's your turn.”

I nodded knowing how hard it is to stay out in the wildness by themselves.

Looking at both I then opened my mouth, “I just paid off my debt and now I've become a rouge.” I replied nonchalantly whilst leaving out some key information.

“You’re keeping something from us, aren't you?” Sarah said quite perceptively with a hint of concern as her eyes wondered towards my elbow.

I then averted my eyes from them and looked at where Sarah was fixing her gaze upon before I saw a scar on my upper right elbow, one that was made and sustained a long-lasting trauma which I quickly covered up with my clothes.

“Well, we don't know each other yet and it seems you are keeping something from me as well so why don't we keep it as it is now?” I replied with all seriousness which gave them a bit of a chill.

After a few seconds, we all agreed.

And since we were all alone, we decided the best decision to do for now was travel together. But who knew these two would become my closest friend and allies in the future!