Chapter 1: Saeva Canum
After patrolling La Push, blustering clamors emerged from the soul of the forest. With her heart beating erratically, Leah whizzed past the border separating the residential areas from the woods and blindly pursued the odorless infiltrator. Abruptly, the blares vanished. After regarding the bare terrain, she respired shallowly.
Temptation blossomed in her chest when she saw swift streaks of platinum maneuvering through the trees, bewitching and enticing her. Enraptured, she followed. Her resentment faded when a serene tenor consumed her.
A profusion of umbra monitored her when she ascended and recoiled. After deciding to elude the shadowy eyes analyzing her critically, she regarded the ample tree behind her. A lucent radiance dispersed from the core of the tree to the very roots, which stretched beyond the heart of the forest and pulsated. Imprudently, she tapped the roots and barely suppressed herself from shrieking when the bleariness in her eyes evaporated and her senses became enhanced. Blinking experimentally, she suddenly caught sight of the shadows departing. Abrupt light spurted from behind the clearing.
Leah scanned her surroundings before tentatively tracking down the splendor. But she skidded and stopped and sprung backwards when she noticed how the unearthly light transformed into a humanesque shape. An ethereal beauty with allusive, cobalt irises, flaxen ringlets, a flawless complexion, and a compassionate beam, gracefully ambulated toward her, accompanied by a sinewy frame who gradually discarded his shadowy tendrils. With his swarthy flesh, dark eyebrows, masculine jaw, severe irises, and closely cropped hair, he resembled one of her pack mates. Only his sterling eyes cast him apart from them.
"Who are you?" Leah inquired, eyes narrowed.
"I'm Carabelle, and this is Alcander," she introduced, smiling serenely. Her irises sparked with familiarity; her cheeks flushed with color. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Do you want to come with us?"
Instinctively, Leah retreated, pupils dilating when her animalistic side resurfaced. With coiled muscles and an unwavering stare, she rejected their offer. Carabelle frowned. Alcander tensed. Leah nearly snarled.
"I know this is weird. I know you don't have any reason to trust us, but we really don't mean any harm," Carabelle declared, eyebrows furrowed. "The Dark Forest isn't safe, especially now—especially with everything that's happening."
Leah crossed her arms and straightened.
"Be careful," Alcander warned before surveying their surroundings and nodding.
"If you change your mind—"
"I really doubt that," Leah interjected before turning around and walking away from the abnormal beings, who, after perceiving her transfiguration in behavior, permitted the darkness of the forest to devour them.
With her head pounding, she advanced, darting around aimlessly. Half-heartedly, she wondered where she was, but as she continued walking away from the heart of the Dark Forest, she wavered. Cautiously, she stopped and rested against a trunk; she breathed harshly, shallowly, quickly, seemingly disturbed by her surroundings. But she closed her eyes and slackened her tense muscles. As she respired more calmly, she heard the soft, placid murmur of a river. With her teeth clattering and her heart beating rapidly, she dashed to the creek and whooped. Eagerly, she cupped her hands together and drank before indulging herself further by submerging herself. Once she resurfaced, she trudged out of the river and mounted one of the surrounding trees. Eyes narrowed, she scrutinized her surroundings before falling asleep.
Suddenly, she straightened and scanned her environment. The puny hoots coming from the wildlife stopped, and a new, boisterous noise penetrated the silence. Leah tried to phase, but her body refused. Huffing, she threw herself further into the cover of the trees and silenced her hasty breaths; she watched, unmoving and unblinking, as two stalwart men barged into the clearing, searching, murmuring, and sighing. The youngest neared the river and inspected the puddle she produced before ruefully saying, "Someone drank from the river."
"I'm hoping it's one of them."
"Damien, they wouldn't be desperate enough to—"
"You never know, Radley."
"But we do know."
"Do we?"
"We're wasting time—"
"You're right. We are wasting time. Ly and Adara would want to know what's happening. The Bellators—"
And he stopped, exhaling sharply.
"I hope that whoever drank from the river is okay."
"So do I. Even though the poison isn't deadly, it's still dangerous. I just hope—well, let's just hope the person's okay. We'll send the huntsmen when we get back. They'll be able to find whoever it is—especially if it's Alistair. Let's go."
Quivering, she descended and closed her eyes, but she soon reopened them and gasped. Her eyesight blurred before clearing and catching sight of savage, boisterous animals slowly slinking forwards and baring their salient fangs. Unconsciously, she backtracked but tripped over tree roots; she paused, heart racing, mouth opening, eyes flashing. In an instant, the strange animals circled her before pouncing and lacerating her exposed flesh. Screeching, she battled with the ferocious beasts, clawing, biting, yelling, serrating. But she paused, throat clogged and lips chapped, when she noticed that their figures blurred and vanished. Abruptly, roguish men and women environed her, smirking, sneering, simpering. An unknown man confidently stalked forwards before nodding to his cronies, who turned and began slicing her exposed skin. Bellowing, she punched and kicked wildly, but she stopped when she noticed how their figures evaporated. Panting, she stood unsteadily but gaped when she found herself standing on sand and overlooking an ocean—an ocean composed of blood. She heard children screaming, begging, pleading; she heard people drowning, begging, pleading. It sounded familiar.
"It's n-not r-real," she stammered, shaking. "Poison. Poison. Poison."
But she heard footsteps heading towards her; she heard loud screams piercing the air around her. But those screams were hers. They were hers. Panicking, she clumsily stumbled away from the sources but retreated in the other direction when she spotted the familiar, gut-wrenching creatures sibilating and sprinting towards her. But she skidded and shook her head—even when the beasts approached her and sank their teeth into her ankles. Flinching, she darted across the vicinity and found figures streaking through the treetops. Leah propelled her legs faster and faster, throwing her entire weight forward when she neared the edge of the Dark Forest. Nearly blinding light peeked through the canopy, scorching the surrounding darkness.
"Stop! We only want to help you! Don't leave!"
But she continued until she barreled through the tree-line and wandered towards the opposite side of the clearing. The huntsmen abruptly stopped, admonishing her of the supposed horrors awaiting her.
"Leave me alone!" Leah ordered before pivoting and shrieking when the hallucinations became more vivid.
A group of shrewd, sly immortals cantered forward and flanked their leader—a beast whose glower intimidated her; his eyes showcased the souls he had stolen, the lives he had ruined, the deaths he had eagerly caused. Leah squawked when the visions became realistic, when his experienced hands grappled her throat with strength, when his irises ignited with amusement, and the souls swarming his pupils lamented.
"Plutus, let her go!"
"Is this who I think it is?" Plutus asked while petting her.
"Let her go!"
"She is, isn't she?" Plutus insinuated. "If she wasn't who she is, this wouldn't have happened. The precious huntsmen wouldn't have been brought out, right, dearest Alistair?"
His fingers tightened around her throat. Growling, with her eyes narrowing into slits, she viciously serrated him, but she whined and gulped when the scenery evaporated. Leah found herself lying beneath a tree, fingers clamped around her own throat, eyes watering, hands vibrating from shock. She froze. Reluctantly, Leah retraced her steps and ended back at the healing tree, where she dabbed the trunk and breathed more easily when the tree expelled the poison from her system. Cautiously, she hoisted herself on one of the low branches and rested her head against the trunk. Uneasily, she noticed that shrill hoots suffused with soft, responding taps. Leah rocketed when she heard susurrations coming from the tree-line; she hushed her spasmodic breaths, waiting for her enemies. The jeers intensified. Leah readied herself for the onslaught, and, after catching a glimpse of a woman stationing herself on the tree across from and hooting, she departed from her safe haven.
A squad of agile troopers descended from their hideouts, accelerated toward her, and encircled her. When they hounded her, she hysterically deflected them by zigzagging through the trees and avoiding the outskirts of the Dark Forest. Once she found herself standing alone, she looked around and listened carefully; she stood still, calculating, waiting, listening. The branches nearest to her trembled. With adrenaline coursing through her, she barreled to the opposite end, but she sidestepped their traps. Without thinking, she lurched to the outskirts of the Dark Forest.
"Stop! We only want to help you! Don't leave!"
Leah burst through the obscurity, staggering into the overly bright clearing. Slightly dazed, she centered herself and simply watched the fumbling huntsmen; she noticed how one slipped into the front of the group, wordlessly admonishing her. But she stayed still—ramrod still—until another troop of immortals enclosed her and their superior. Struck by the familiarity, she riveted the familiar figure—an immortal whose eyes captured poor souls who screeched noisily, shuddering, bleeding, relieving their bloody deaths over and over again. Leah straightened before bypassing him and charging away. But she snarled when one of his followers impelled her back. The huntsmen surrounded them before their leader shouted, "Leave now!"
Plutus ventured forward, but she promptly evaded his blow and searched for an escape. Bodies mashed together. Angrily, she kicked off one of the bodies and somersaulted behind Plutus, who quickly turned but barreled back when she punched him; she slipped underneath his legs before sweeping them from underneath him and elbowing his jaw. With his bones cracking, he smirked broadly and whistled; he rose, plucking her from the ground and laughing when she flailed and scratched his hands.
"Feisty," he remarked, chuckling. "Just like the little—"
The leader of the huntsmen blared before tackling down his nearest cronies and signaling to the rest of his huntsmen, who barged through the human layers.
"Ly and Adara must be happy to know that you're here."
Chagrined, she lurched forward and kicked his nose; he bent back but tightened his hold, while she wrapped her legs around his neck and squeezed. Groaning, he inched his hands towards her jugular, but she twisted herself around and brought them both down to the ground, where she swiftly uppercutted and groin kicked him. Seething, he cracked his neck and impulsively lunged forward. Leah tripped, hissing and sneering. But she paused and stared wide-eyed as the lead huntsman tackled Plutus and roughly gestured with his head to the opposing woods. Gratefully, Leah entered her new vicinity and continued to run until her legs ached. When she stopped, the sounds of the wildlife consumed her.
Leah scaled a tree before resting her head against the trunk and tucking her legs under one another. The whistles and catcalls dwindled, causing her to become erect. A roar, followed by the pounding of paws and responding hisses, sounded beneath her. Leah exhaled harshly when familiar figures prowled beneath her; she crossed her fingers as she surveyed the animals tearing through the forest and sniffing the air. The creatures were strange with an illumined gaze, perked ears, fangs, and a limber frame that was covered by white fur and dark spots.
The leader of the pack cruised around her. With ease, the alpha escalated. Leah darted away from the pouncing monsters, hastened past the members who attempted to ambush her, and ultimately plunged to the ground after noticing the leers exchanged between her opponents; she sped deeper into the woods to avoid the stampede behind her, but she expired forcefully when the alpha propelled himself forward. He rammed into Leah and peppered her with a combination of saliva and venom. Leah gasped when the acid brushed her flesh, but she tactically waited for him to assault her.
His subordinates flocked him. He sagged forward with the intention of puncturing her, of pelting her with his paws, of killing her, but when he caught a glimpse of her hands flying towards his neck, he retreated. Leah prodded him before clamping her hands over his shoulders and threatening to dislocate them. Her serrated teeth perforated his flesh, thriving on the spasms that immersed his body and reveling on the agony sweeping over his features. Resentfully, she lacerated him and growled when he sprung forward. Speedily, she clawed through his chest. The ceaseless thump, thump, thump, coming from his chest warned her that he was still alive.
An incensed growl emanated from the alpha female, who, after instructing her inferiors to not interfere, challenged her. Leah accepted.
As she circled her adversary, she noticed the way she favored her left leg over her right; she focused on her distorted gaze and her unconditional devotion to her mate. She threw herself on top of Leah and flung her to the far side. With impressive speed, the alpha female landed on top of her and sprayed her poison onto her. Leah barely stifled her screams, but she grated her teeth together and thrust her hips up; she threw her off before lunging forwards and punching her repeatedly. Growling, Leah struck her temples and watched as she remained still.
When she blanched and mewled, her mate suddenly rose and pounced on Leah; he snarled before embedding his fangs into her flesh, masticating it, and injecting his venom into her bloodstream. She withered, whimpering. He howled, commanding his pack mates forward. They circled her, fangs bared, eyes narrowed, claws extended. Deliriously, she thrashed and bellowed and wilted. Growing desperate, she wildly threw herself forward, but he pinned her down and pricked her chest. Hissing, she glowered at the beast before tensing and staring, wide-eyed, as arrows flew around her. Screeching, the beasts jolted around and, with their eyes widening and breaths billowing, suddenly toppled over. Blood pooled beneath them.
In the midst of the chaos, two stalwart men flanked a petite woman who shot stranglers with her arrows; she glared and sneered before executing more and catching sight of the two alphas. Together, the trio dashed forward; the two men protected the ferocious huntress from behind, while she murdered the raging, red-eyed beasts.
Ears perked, he ran back to his mate, lowered himself, and propped her on his backside. She barked, but he licked her forehead and howled to his remaining pack mates. Together, they evacuated, narrowly missing the arrows.
Exhaling sharply, the huntress crouched down beside her and felt her pulse. Leah instantly recoiled, but she bit down hard on her lips and blearily regarded the two men who inspected her wounds. Unconsciously, the huntress swiped away her sweaty, bloody hair and nodded to her companions.
"We have to go," she ordered before rising and pursing her lips. "Admes, carry her—"
Leah snarled but choked and gasped.
"I know you don't know us, but you'll die without our help. We can't leave you like this. Please, please trust us," she pleaded desperately while sorrowfully eyeing her bloody, cleaved body.
Leah shuddered involuntarily.
"Admes, carry her," she repeated forcefully. "Aristo, make sure that the pack doesn't follow us."
Leah unconsciously closed her eyes are when she felt warm arms carrying her. The whir of the wildlife, of feet colliding with the terrain, of her heart racing against her chest, and of her fitful breaths, resounded loudly in her ears. Silence followed, but faint, astonished murmurs soon interrupted the silence.
"Delia!"
Leah was limp and unmoving.
"Delia!"
"Artemis, what's—oh no, what happened?"
"Saeva Canum," she replied gravely.
"Poisoned?"
"Poisoned," she confirmed.
"Lay her down," Delia ordered. "Don't move her too much. Lay her down easily. Okay, let's see what I can do."
Leah moaned and wheezed.
"Don't worry. You'll be okay. I promise you'll be okay."
And she blacked out.
Hello, everyone! I haven't posted anything in such a long time, so this is really exciting for me. I already finished writing and editing it, so I'll post every two to three days. I hope you all liked it! If not, I'm open to constructive criticism. :) Have a nice day!