Once a long time ago all people had four legs and two heads. And the gods threw down thunderbolts and split everyone into two. But the separation left both sides yearning to be reunited because they each shared the same soul. And ever since then all people spend their lives searching for the other half of their soul. ~Xena. Gabrielle. ~
She broke through the brush at a dead run branched pulling at her fur and tugging on the bag she had in her mouth. In the distance behind her she could hear the howling of the rest of her pack as they gave chase to her.
'Over my dead body will I go willingly to that prick.' She thought.
She was not going to be the alphas next plaything for the next twelve years. So, she ran after attacking him. She just had to keep the distance between her, and the pack and it was not easy not when they were trying to surround her.
Annabelle refused to mate with someone that was not her destined mate to begin with. How she longed to find him. She paused at a creek that was Infront of her and put the bag down to get a drink while keeping her ears open for her former packmates. Finishing up she grabbed the bag that had some cloth, her wallet, phone, tablet, and the few keep sakes from her parents that she had left of them shoes and the antidot for silver since the legend about the Loup-garou were true, they just happened to stay hidden from the rest of the world.
She was a northern wolf from both of her parents however she looked more of a mix of black and white fur almost like someone tried to paint her. She was happy that her aunt was able to throw them from her scent for a while. She looked down at the creek that she had stopped at for a drink and remembered the history lessons from school about how humans had used blood hounds to hunt. Is to cover her scent in mud.
'Great a mud bath just what I want to do in the middle of winter.' Annabelle thought. But before she could proceed with her actions there the firing of a gun and then was a sharp pain in her back right hind leg and the burn of silver.
'Hunters and they have found us.' She was torn. So, against her better judgment she lifted her bag and ran. She would let them fight on their own and without warning. She just hoped that her aunt would be okay as she trotted off deeper in the wood.
She heard it the howling of the pack and it was closer than before but not before she heard more gunshots. Not too far ahead of her she heard the rustling of the underbrush as another wolf stepped out in front of her.
'Hello old friend.' Annabelle said. The link to the pack had all but been severed except her aunt and her childhood friend Amara.
'Why Annabelle? Why attack alpha Aden?' Amara asked with desperation.
'There are several reasons I did what I did. But now is not the time, come there are hunters about tonight. Where is your hid a bag at?' Annabelle asked.
'In the cave where we used to play. You will tell me everything. I know your hiding something from me.' Amara said eyeing her warily. Golden eye watching each other.
'Yes. I will not attack you. You are like a sister to me. But please we need to go Aunt Helen can only do so much for throwing the pack off my scent.' Annabelle said and went to move past her friend.
'Annie, wait I smell blood.' Amara said. That made her pause and the pain of being shot came creeping into the back of her mind as Amara was sniffing around until she recognized it.
'Annie you were shot and it's silver. When did this happen?' Amara asked.
'Not that long ago. I have a little while until it really affects me. Let us go.' Annabelle said nudging her friend in the right direction.
'Aunt Helen is going to kick your ass. You do know that right?' Amara said with a wolfish grin.
Annabelle just looked at her friend and huffed and headed to the clearing with Amara following behind her to cover the blood trail to through the hunters off.
'Is Helen going to meet us there?' Amara asked quietly.
'She said she would try. I am worried for her she has not been the same since Uncle Dan died. She will not tell me what is bothering her. I think that the Alpha might have something to do with it' Annabelle said before stopping at the small incline that they would need to climb in human form that protected the clearing that her and Amara used to play in as children.
'We need to change back for this or at least I might need to do it and help you over. Let us hope Aunt Helen will be there so she can take out the bullet. The silver is still moving slowly hopefully it won't spread any faster.' Amara said while sniffing her back right leg.
'Have you been studying under Aunt Helen again. You can wrap it when you change back. There should be some in my bag you can also change into my spare set of clothes and I know we wear the same size shoes, so you are good.' Annabelle said with amusement in her voice.
'You came prepared. Didn't you?' Amara asked.
'This is me we are talking about. You can change I will keep watch.' Annabelle said as she set down the bag and turned her back to Amara.
"You do know that it doesn't take long to change right. Also, you genuinely nice taste in clothes. Can I borrow this jacket sometime?" Amara asked as she got dressed in the spare clothes of Annabelle's.
Annabelle turned her head and pulled her ears back and started to growl at her.
"Okay no need to get crabby. I'm ready let us get moving so we can get to the clearing." Amara said as she started to head to the wall.
'I'm coming just not going to be moving very quickly right now.' Annabelle said now moving her weight of her right leg. It was starting to burn more that meant the silver was starting to spread but slowly.
"The silver is spreading. There were some bandages in your bag. I will wrap it so it will take some of the pain away. I can see you starting to limp and slowdown. That hike will take a lot out of you." Amara said as she started to dig through the bag for some gauze and a wrap it would also help with the blood trail.
As Amara started to wrap the wound on her back leg, she started to tense the more it was wrapped due to the pain of the wound and silver combined.
"There all done let's just hope it doesn't come unwrapped during the hike." Amara said as she packed very thing back into the bag and put it on her back while heading for the wall of the cave with Annabelle following behind her.
'The first few feet I will be fine it's just after the incline that I will have problems and as humiliating this is there is a dog harness and rope in the niche just before the cave you will have to put it on me and help me along.' Annabelle said looking really sour about that part.
"Wait a minute you are actually going to let me do that and not fight me." Amara said looking at her with glee in her eyes.
'Don't get to thrilled now.' Annabelle said as she started to hike up with Amara following behind her in case she slipped and fell then the actual fall it is self would not hurt her just stun her.
'We have unwanted company Amara.' Annabelle said as she heard the loud footsteps and caught the scent of the hunters and their low voices.
"I know I can hear them to. What do you want me to do?" Amara said the fear evident in her voice.
'We are at the niche put the harness on me there is also a collar and claim that I'm your pet. Toss the bag into the cave as far back as you can go everything should be fine.' Annabelle said.
Amara was quick to do as she said putting the harness on and attaching a rope along with putting on the collar.
'They are about to come through the trees start petting me and like you mean it I'm not going to bite you Amara.' Annabelle said in an irritated voice.
"But if they ask. What is your name? What do I say?" Amara asked quickly.
'Lilo, Minnie, Moana, Oreo, just pick on I don't care. Just don't mention my real name or yours you never know what kind of information they may have also I'm a wolf dog not a real wolf.' Annabelle said as the hunters broke through the trees.
"Hey! Who goes there?!" A man shouted holding a gun on the two.
"Now hold on a minute there Leroy. No need to get trigger happy. It is just a girl and her dog. What's Yawls name their little missy?" The other hunter said pulling Leroy's gun down.
"I'm Sasha and this is my dog Oreo." Amara said with a cheery voice and a smile.
'Good cover. If they ask about my leg, it's lame.' Annabelle said.
"Can I ask what you are doing out in the middle of the wood then miss Sasha the area is closed." The unnamed hunter said.
"Um, the last time I checked it's privately owned. And we are rock climbing what does it look like? Why are you here?" Amara said with a guarded face.
"We have permission to be here by the owner to be here. My name is Jeff by the way." Jeff said adjusting the strap of his gun over his shoulder.
"No, you don't the is privately owned land by my Aunt and Uncle they would have told me if you were going to be out here. So, my guess is that your trespassing and walked right by the sings of it being so." Amara said in a snooty voice and crossed her arms with a blank face.
"Now listen here you little brat!" Leroy snapped looking ready to throttle someone.
'Someone has to much pent-up anger and needs to get laid.' Annabelle said boldly.
'Speaking from experience or just in general.' Was Amara's come back she could hear the laughter in her voice.
'The only one getting anything like that from me is my true mate and not some halfwit. Get rid of them Amara I am getting antsy. Something is going to happen I just don't know what.' Annabelle said holding in a whine.
"Look it's obvious that you're here poaching so I'll tell you what. If you turn around and go back the way you came, I won't tell the cops and my aunt and uncle that you were here." Amara said.
"We didn't see anything hanging that said this was privet property little miss." Jeff said.
"On a tree six feet that way you can't miss it they mark the property line your more than welcome to go take a look if you don't believe me." Amara said sitting down on the rock cliff they were on.
'Is there really Amara or is it a ruse to get them to at least turn their backs.' Annabelle asked.
"Oreo laydown." Amara gave the command along with a snap of her fingers. Annabelle did so as to not raise suspicion.
'You are having way too much fun with this.' Annabelle said.
'Of course, it's not every day that we play pet and owner now is it.' Amara said.
'Keep it up and I'll tell Aunt Helen.' Annabelle whined.
"Well before we leave let's see if there is in fact signs posted." Jeff said.
"Now Jeff I think there is something going on here. There is no way that is a normal dog." Leroy said obviously not happy about having to leave.
"She is a wolf-dog and very sweet has the personality of your regular dog but the intelligence of a wolf." Amara said.
"That's not possible wolves and dogs can't breed!" Leroy said with a snarl.
"Well apparently you failed zoology in high school. Because they can and have. You're from the States are you not they have sanctuaries for them." Amara said broadly.
"How do you know that we are from the States." Jeff asked curiously.
"My sister is from the south and when she gets angry it comes out thickly." Amara said as she crossed her legs and gave an oh well poss.
'No, it does not.' Annabelle protested.
"Leroy go check on that sign so we can get out of here." Jeff demanded.
"You keep an eye on them Jeff I don't trust that girl and her mutt." Leroy said as he walked off in the direction that Amara pointed out earlier.
"Is this going to take much longer I have herbs to collect for my aunt that is in the clearing." Amara sighed.
"What are the herbs for?" Jeff asked.
"Medicine. What else would they be used for?" Amara asked quizzically.
"You never know, now a days." Jeff commented.
"You do remember that you are in Romania? And not in the States? There are different laws here." Amara said.
"Well Jeff it looks like the girl was telling the truth." Leroy said as he came back with a look of disappointment and anger.
"Well, we wish ya'll a good day miss. Let us go Leroy." Jeff said as he turned to Leroy and headed back the way they came.
'Are you ready to go? We have procrastinated enough as is it.' Amara asked Annabelle as she stood up not willing to voice her comments just yet just in case the humans were still close.
'Let us move slowly and with the harness we don't know if there are watching us or not and I don't want to take that chance.' Annabelle said as she stepped into the harness and allowed Amara to put the collar on her to.
'You don't want to take the chance of the Alpha finding us too.' Amara said as she attached to rope to the harness and carefully lopped it around under her stomach to.
'Yes, I have a felling he will kill me once he caches up and anyone who is with me to. I cannot have you or Aunt Helen die for me. I will kill him myself before I let that happen.' Annabelle said as she looked at Amara in the eye, so she knew that she meant every word.
'I believe you. You do know that I will stand and fight with you.' Amara said as she started to climb up the incline of the cave with the rope tied around her waist, so she was not fighting it while hiking.
Once at the top Amara looked down at Annabelle with a slightly worried expression.
'What is it Amara?' Annabelle asked with her head tilted sideways like a carouse dog.
'I feel that the Alpha is close. Half of the pack is gone.' Amara said as she started to pull Annabelle up. With each pull they could almost feel the change in the air. Like a mixture of death and something new.
'Then it's a good thing that we don't have much farther to go. So, let us get a move on.' Annabelle said as she pulled herself up from the edge.
"So, I heard that Beth did a spiritual mate test so you could find him." Amara said as she gathered up their bags and a flashlight so they could see.
'You want to know what I found while I had my out of body experience?' Annabelle asked as she moved away from a stalagmite that was in her path.
"Well, you never did tell me what you did find before everything happened like it did." Amara said as she was following Annabelle through the maze of stalagmites before the cave actual opened up. But they had to be really careful due to the open holes in the cave floor.
'Well, he smells like evergreens in winter and fresh money. His eyes are an ice blue, and he is blond. I didn't get a chance to get a name.' Annabelle said with a longing look in her eyes and her ears dropped down.
"He sounds gorgeous you will have to draw him out, so I know what he looks like. The opening for the clearing is coming up." Amara said as she saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
'I really want to find him. He's my destined mate even if he is human that doesn't bother me.' Annabelle said as she moved into the light.
"You do know that if the Alpha finds out about him. Aden will try and kill him, right?" Amara asked as she unhooked Annabelle from everything.
'Aden won't have the chance to. Make sure you block the exit into the cave, to stop anyone from following us.' Annabelle said as she shook out her fur.
"Well, it's about time you two showed up. I was beginning to worry." Said the familiar voice of Aunt Helen.
"You made it? Were you followed by anyone?" Amara asked as she gave Helen a hug as Annabelle trotted over to give her a nuzzle.
"No. I spread my scent around in several different directions. Annabelle why are you still in wolf form?" Helen asked as she looked at her niece.
Annabelle quickly back peddled and sat on her rump to hide the bandage that was on her leg.
"She got shot with a silver bullet." Amara said as she started laughing at her friend's reaction to her Aunt.
'I despise you sometimes. I really should bite you for what you named me earlier.' Annabelle said as she started to growl and pulled her ears back.
"Enough of that." Helen said as she thumped Annabelle on her nose.
'You just thumped me like a common house dog. What the fuck!' Annabelle smarted at her Aunt with her ears pulled back like she was insulted.
"Then don't behave like one and you won't get thumped in the nose. Now change back so I can take a look and the wound and do not even try to argue with me. Amara do you know if the bullet when straight through or do I need to dig it out?" Helen said as she pulled out an extra-large medical kit.
"I didn't have the chance to check." Amara said as she found a towel to wrap around Annabelle as she changed back.
"Shit this hurts a lot." Annabelle said after she wrapped the towel around her as she uses Amara as a crutch and helped her sit down on the ground and undone the bandage that had shifted to her knee now.
"Well shit it when through the knee Helen. It looks like it when straight through. Silver is starting to infect the wound and make it bleed more." Amara said as she carefully examined Annabelle's leg more closely.
"Well, we can't mix the antigen and morphine together. Can you bare the pain for a few hours so the antigen can work?" Helen asked Annabelle as she checked over the wound for herself.
"Well, goodie." Was Annabelle's smart-ass comment. That had earned her an unamused look from Helen as Amara snickered at her. Annabelle gave Helen an innocent look at battered her eyes at her.
"You are not funny right now." Helen said as she went back to her examination.
"Have you heard from Beth any Amara?" Annabelle asked as green eyes locked on to the hazel ones of her friend.
"No not yet. I will try her again here in a few minutes let's get you situated first." Amara said as she gently stroked a lock of dark brown hair back from Annabelle's face.
"Let's hope that Aden or the hunters didn't get to her." Annabelle said with holding a wince.
There was a long pause in the clearing and very thing fell silent even the crickets. The only thing you could hear was a strong wind and the flap of wings. A quite thud announced the arrival of their guest.
"It took you long enough. I thought we might have to go trapsing through the mountains to find you." Annabelle said her green eyes shining in amusement.
"If you think for a moment that I'm letting you run wild through the woods you have another thing coming young lady." Helen said as she tightened the bandage painfully around Annabelle's knee.
"OW! I was just kidding." Annabelle said as she tried to pull away from her Aunt.
Beth while watching the whole thing had changed into her human form.
"Did you get attacked by hunters Annie?" Beth asked with a smile.
"No, I got into a fight with bigfoot and lost. But no, I got shot by hunters." Annabelle said to Beth in a snarky tone.