Contemero
"Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing"
She hates it.
Absolutely detests it.
Yet she can't help but admire it.
She tilted her head up to the sky and gazed at the snow slowly falling like a dancer gracefully descending in the finishing act. Her irritation grew and she turned away with a huff.
"Foolish," she thought. "To admire what it represents." A smile tinged with bitterness tugged at her lips.
"Purity," her thought still insisted. She almost laughed aloud when the thought hit her. She had lost that a long, long time ago. She shook her head impatiently, wishing she could do the same for those irrational thoughts before continuing on her way. The soft click of her shoes echoed on the cobblestone path and trees loomed over her while others stood sentinel.
"A shield, "she thought idly, as her hands brushed over the bright flowers littering the ground near the path. "The trees are a refuge from the outside." With a harsh yank, the flowers were torn from the ground and a ribbon was quickly wrapped around them. After all, she was going over to someone's house and it would do her no good to be rude as to forget a gift. She looked over the flowers critically, wincing as the bright red and blue clashed together. Biting her lip to stop another sigh from escaping, she continued on her way.
It was barely moments later, when her stomach gave a painful whimper and all too soon she was reminded of the disgusting swill she had consumed earlier that day. She almost salivated at the thought of the food that she could eat and the sweet relief of her aching throat when she reached her journey's end.
For a few moments, she stood unmoving as she agonisingly reasserted her control over her body. It would be detrimental to lose control now, just when the prize is near. She would not jeopardise it, else she be mocked as a fool when she returned home with an empty belly and dry throat. She nearly growled aloud when she thought of the scorn she would face and the hateful jeers, if she should return empty-handed.
"NO, not that, not again, "she thought viciously.
A harsh bark of laughter wrenched her away from her memories and she whirled around to see three burly men, laughing raucously. Her eyes narrowed as she looked over at their ragged clothes, beefy arms and tangled beards. Her eyes lingered especially at the glint of silver as one man hefted a large axe onto his broad shoulders. She felt her lip curling in disgust as she realised what these men were.
Hunters.