Chapter 4 - Leaving

Carrie POV

            The sprite like she-wolf was first to get out of the water.  She laid down on the ground to dry off her damp skin.  I cautiously approached the edge of the stream to rinse the blood off my face and the splatters that I could see on my arms.         

            “What’s your story, newbie?” the sprite asks as she lays out in the warm sun, eyes closed.  “I do not have a story,” I say not sure I wanted to trust this woman.  She opens one eye and looks to me, “We all have a story,” she says softly.  “What is yours?” I ask looking away from her.  Her unique eyes intimidate me.  She might be small, but she is a powerhouse.

            She closes her eyes once again, “Same story as everyone else.  I met my mate, he decided I was not good enough, and rejected me,” she replies.  “How did you end up here?” I ask confused.  Just because someone rejects you does not mean you are banished from your Pack.

            “I tried to kill the woman he picked over me,” she says with a sigh.  “Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful, but it was enough to warrant me enduring countless days of torture before I was banished from the Pack.  I was tossed across the border, naked, beaten within an inch of my life, and left for dead,” she says softly.

            “I am sorry,” I reply but she simply shakes her head jumping up from her spot.  “I was fine.  I am fine.  Now I do everything I can to survive so I can spite those fuckers,” she adds before starting to walk away.  “I escaped my abusive, cheating chosen mate,” I call out to her.  Her step falters as she turns around. 

            “You had a mate and you left him?” she asks me perplexed by my statement.  “He was abusive and cheated regularly.  I had enough.  I escaped,” I say proudly.  I had escaped and I was still alive.  More than I expected when I crossed that border.  “You do not strike me as the type who is strong enough to leave,” she replies condescendingly.

            I feel myself bristle at the taunt, knowing she is trying to get a response out of me.  “Well, I did,” I reply defiantly.  She looks at me before tipping her head to me and turning away from us.  “I am leaving,” Jessica says to the departing woman.  Her foot falters as she stops walking.  “What?” she asks tightly.       

            It is clear to me that this woman, while mighty in her personality, has just revealed a shadow of vulnerability.  “I am leaving.  Today,” Jessica replies stepping out of the shallow water.  The woman turns towards her with a tremble in her lips.  “Why?” she asks as she stands there watching Jessica dry off before dressing.

            “It is time to move on,” Jessica replies before walking across towards her camp.  “How will you survive?” she asks.  “What is your name?” I ask the sprite.  She glares at me, “This is all your fault.  You have put these ideas into her head,” she growls at me taking a step towards me.  I prepare to be attacked, but before that can happen Jessica is standing between us.

            “It is not her fault.  I am tired of being out here.  Of fighting to stay alive.  Maybe there is someplace that will take us in.  Another Pack that will show us mercy,” Jessica says sounding hopeful.  The truth was she was as vulnerable as I was.  As we all were.  The sprite looks at me, “Mandy,” she says as she turns away.

            “There is no Pack that will show any of us mercy,” she mutters as she walks away.  We watch her walk off before Jessica looks to me.  “Okay, if we are going to do this, let’s go before I change my mind,” she says. She gathers some of her belongings and places them into a plastic bag.  After looking around her makeshift home, she wipes a tear away from her cheek and starts to lead the way out.

            “Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask her.  “No, I am not.  But a change of scenery sounds enticing,” she says as she walks ahead of me in silence.  Not long after we start our trek through the rogue territory, I hear a sound behind me.  The sound of someone rustling in the trees.  I start to look around worried that Adam or his trackers had found me.

            “Jessica,” I whisper, “do you hear that?”.  “Of course, I hear it and you do not need to whisper,” she says before stopping with a sigh.  “If you wanted to come with us, why didn’t you just say so?” Jessica asks.  I turn and see Mandy standing there looking annoyed.  “I didn’t say I wanted to go with you.  I am just trying to make sure you get out of here alive,” she says angrily moving closer to me.

            “You have a wolf less wolf with you.  You are setting yourself up to be attacked,” she growls as she gives me a nudge.  “Keep going, I will guard your back for now,” she says.  I look at Mandy in awe.  She returned to simply help her friend.  I had no disillusion she came to help me.  But maybe we could convince her to come with us before this was over.