II

In A Flash Of Lightening

The coldness nipped harshly at her bronze skin, chilling her to the core. Fear gripped her heart, leaving her motionless in the vegetation.

The noises that surrounded her belonged in a horror movie. Snarling, growling, rumbles that tore through the evening darkness like angry thunder from the gods. Clashes of marble and teeth echoed nearby, as though a stone mountain was being torn apart.

It was then she saw it, a sight that would forever haunt her. A pale, marble hand, still connected to a broken arm was left on the yellowed grass. Its owner shrieked in agony as the wolf, her saviour, tore it limb from limb till it was nothing but marble pieces.

Slowly, still shaking from the cold and appalling fight she just witnessed, Natalia emerged from the tangle of Everglade undergrowth, approaching the large, chocolate brown wolf.

"Eric..."

The wolf turned to face her, eyes melting from ice cold to an affectionate, brown warmth. His muzzle bubbled; long white razor-sharp teeth bordered a flat pink tongue that hung lazily from the side.

Despite the situation, she smiled, knowing he was too.

A flash of white tore through the empty sky like a meteorite, with speed that rivalled lightening. Less than a second later and it was too late. Natalia blinked and Eric was gone.

Snarls, growls and pained whimpers exploded mere feet away. Before she could think, Natalia found herself running towards the source, knowing Eric was in danger.

"Eric!"

Time seemed to freeze as she pushed the last of the thick undergrowth aside. Looming over the lifeless, large furry body was the scariest sight Natalia had ever seen.

Pale skinned, devilish brown locks, ravenous muscles were tense, covered by torn material that was once designer clothing.

And then she looked into his eyes, fierce and golden, they pierced right through her like icy daggers.

A snarling smirk crept upon the vampire's face. Fangs dripping in blood...Eric's blood.

"Natalia..." It purred, stepping closer, pressing it's fangs to her neck...

"Natalia...Nat, sweetie?"

A light shaking of her shoulder welcomed her back to reality. Raising her head off the arm of Alexx's old couch, Natalia looked up at the motherly doctor, seeing concern even in her drowsy state.

"Alexx? Wha...Alexx? What time is it?" She asked, running a hand through her already dishevelled hair.

"Just after five baby." The doctor's voice betrayed her worry as she took in the pale undertone to Natalia's skin and dark circles drooping beneath her eyes. Watching the younger woman sigh tiredly, Alexx felt her heart squeeze.

"Where did the quilt come from?" Natalia asked, pulling the thick material off of her, hazily recognising it from Alexx's living room.

"I brought it in during the night, you were shaking baby." Alexx explained sadly, spotting a stray strand of hair and stroking it back soothingly across Natalia's clammy forehead.

I doubt it was from the cold, Natalia thought, shaking away the image of golden eyes and white fangs from her mind. Seeing her distress, Alexx sat down next to her, watching the lifeless body in the small bed mere feet away.

"He's going to be okay," she spoke lowly, "His bones are mended. I'm hopeful he'll wake up soon."

A weak attempt at a smile bubbled on Natalia's lips, falling into a frown as watery brown eyes looked over the shiny pink scars covering her lover's body.

"Now, do I get to check you over yet or are you gonna be stubborn?" Alexx challenged, sitting next to Natalia and looking her in the eye. Groaning, Natalia looked over from Eric to her surrogate mother, knowing she would persist till she gave in.

"Alexx, I'm fine." She answered defensively, earning a doubtful look. "Really!" she continued.

Holding up her gloved hands, Alexx sighed as she gave up. "Okay, okay but sweetie promise me you'll get some rest."

As Natalia indicated to the lumpy, old sofa, dark motherly eyes narrowed. "I mean some real rest, on a real bed and not cooped up in here."

"What about Eric?" Natalia asked, voice breaking slightly, "I need to be here for him."

Alexx felt her eyes water, "Baby I've got him. Now you need to take care of you too."

Natalia stifled a yawn as she spoke, "I'm okay-"

"Running towards a vampire doesn't scream okay now does it?" Alexx challenged, disbelief in her tone. "Now, I don't know about you but that sounds crazy."

Despite earning a scolding look from the doctor, Natalia chuckled quietly.

"I guess I'm crazy then."

"Or just crazily in love."

Both Alexx and Natalia looked to the wooden doorway, relaxing when they only found a crossed-armed Yelina leaning against the post.

"How's he doing?" She asked, nodding sadly towards Eric's bed. Alexx rose from her seat, sparing Natalia from having to speak.

"Mending," she explained softly, walking along the Alpha-wolf's bed and tenderly rubbing his bandaged arm.

"And you?" The she-wolf directed towards Natalia, watching her wearily.

"I'm fine," Natalia answered, offering a grateful smile. "Thank you. If you and Jesse didn't show up when you did..."

Yelina frowned slightly, "A minute sooner and you wouldn't have that gash on your neck."

Subconsciously, Natalia raised a hand to her jugular, timidly touching the present from the golden-eyed vampire.

"A minute later and I wouldn't have a neck." She retorted, genuinely showing her gratitude to the wolves.

Yelina smiled back, though it quickly fell into a frown as she looked to her comatose leader. "Will he be okay for the bon fire?" she asked.

"Bon fire?" Natalia looked up questioningly, Alexx sharing her confusion.

The she-wolf nodded, "The pieces must be burned, its tradition." She explained softly, a tense smirk formed after the reference of vampires as pieces.

"But that can't happen in the village, can it?" Alexx questioned. The tribal community was built from wood, scrap material and greenery from the surrounding swamp lands.

No place for a roaring fire, she thought, looking around her wooden shack.

Smiling, Yelina shook her head. "No, it'll be up by the old motorway, not too far from here."

Natalia saw the fear peak Alexx's eyes, knowing it was present in her own. Growing up under the doctor's wing, she knew that outside the village was a dangerous place.

She never knew how dangerous till last night.

And Eric suffered the price...

A soft, brass groan tore Natalia from her thoughts. Alexx and Yelina fell silent, the former leaving the room. "Let's give them a minute." she whispered, closing the door behind the she-wolf.

Natalia approached the bed slowly, releasing a breath she didn't realise she was hold as Eric Delko gradually opened his eyes. Two large pools of soft black instantly found hers, and he smiled.

So did she.

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- Mel out ;D