CHAPTER 7
DARK WOODS OF ARMAGH
The sun was shining bright in the sky and the heat in the air was so warm it was almost suffocating. How can a person breath in this sickening heat. Bonnie thought to herself where she was walking or more like stumbling behind the pack.
They have been walking since forever Bonnie thought incoherently. She was drenched in sweat. Her curls wet and clinging to her head. She couldn't feel her tongue and there was barely saliva left in her mouth. She gave up swallowing because it only hurts her throat more and her head was still throbbing.
The guys took turns to walk in front of her except their leader Amarog. They tried to help her when she stumbled and offered her water, but Bonnie refused. She will find her own way out of this hell.
"Amarog we are near the river. We must stop." Wolfgang said behind Amarog.
"No, we walk until night," Amarog said in a stern voice.
"We can my brother, but, Aldolpha can't." Rudolph said and gave Amarog a pleading look.
"He is right Amarog, she really needs to rest." Ruelle said and the others also agreed.
Amarog looked at the tiny girl who was leaning against a tree. He could see she was utterly exhausted and struggled to stand on her legs. He was hoping for her to beg him to stop, but instead of her, it was his brothers ... and then another thought came to him. This little girl would have never asked him that. She would rather choose to drop dead then beg him Amarog the future ruler of ARMAGH to stop. He didn't know if he should be angry or admire the little girl's stubborn courageousness.
"We will rest at the river and put up camp there for the night." Amarog said and turned back to walk.
"I will carry Aldolpha further," Vilks said.
Amarog stopped and shrugged his shoulders. "Its your back." He said.
Vilks approached Bonnie. "You can get on my back and I ... I ... will carry you Aldolpha," Vilks said and blushed.
"Well who knew the big guy had it still in him to blush." Ruelle said with a grin.
Vilks glared at Ruelle.
"What? It looks good on you" Ruelle said with a mocking grin.
"Its going to be fine Aldolpha. The river is close but we still have to go uphill. It will not be difficult for us," Rudolph said softly.
"But for you it will," Wolfgang finished Rudolph's sentence. "We don't slap away a helping hand in ARMAGH." He said with a smile.
"Water ... can I ... please have some water first?" Bonnie asked with a dry throat.
Ulf who was closer to her handed her his water bag. Bonnie took it with a soft thank you and drank fast. She started to choke.
"Its so ... so cold and fresh. How in this heat?" she asked confused.
"We have our ways to survive Aldolpha." Ulmar said to her.
"What is the hold up?" Amarog asked hard in front.
The guys quickly helped Bonnie on Vilks back. They continued to follow behind Amarog in this order. Wolfgang, Sandalio behind him, then Ulmar, Ruelle, Ulf with Rudolph in front of Vilks and Bonnie.
Bonnie rested her head on Vilks back and closed her eyes and then she cried. She didn't care if the pack could hear her sobs. She lost her dear mother. She missed Meredith, her best friend and yes, her heart ach for Damon. The pain was intense and suffocating. Bonnie closed her eyes tiredly and gave herself over to the comforting darkness.
Amarog heard the Little Girl's soft snores. Good. At least she's not crying anymore. He pushed her too hard, but what was it about her that he can't get out of his system. He knew the guys already liked the girl. They barely know her and already they stood up for her.
When he had looked at her where she was leaning against the tree tired and drenched in sweat. He could feel her pain, helplessness and vulnerability, but still she was standing strong on weak legs. This little girl was something else, he thought to himself.
"We are here." Wolfgang said next to Amarog.
Amarog looked up surprised. Indeed they were at their wolf site.
"What do you want us to do with Aldolpha?" Rudolph asked.
"Make her a bed under that tree its much cooler there and let her rest. Do not try to wake her up. When she do wake up give her some dry fruit and water. No meat." Amarog said and looked at each of the guys. "I am going to go find our trap." He took out his water bag and knife.
"I will go with you." Wolfgang said to Amarog.
"No my brother. I need to be alone."
Wolfgang nodded and Amarog turned around and walked away.
Rudolph and Ulf prepared Bonnie a soft bed with the leaves of the Guk tree. The only tree in ARMAGH with leaves as soft as feathers. They placed a clean cloth over the leaves.
Vilks gently lowered Bonnie on the bed and wiped her sweaty curls gently away from her face. Wolfgang and Ulmar picked out dry fruit for her and Ruelle and Sandalio went to the river to fetch Bonnie water.
When the guys were done, they set up camp and went to the river to wash off their sweat one by one. They were being mindful of leaving Aldolpha alone.
Bonnie woke up in a maze. It was misty around her. She had on a long green see through dress. She was naked underneath it. Her untamed curls was tied up high on her head with a red ribbon with a few curls hanging loose over her face.
She looked around confused.
Then she saw him. His intense blue eyes staring right through her. She called out his name when he turned around to walk away. She picked up her dress in front and ran through the maze calling for him. The more she came to a dead end. The more she panicked.
When she was about to fall tiredly to the ground, he spoke behind her. "Go back Bonnie, there is nothing left for you here ." His facial features ever so handsomely and devoid of all emotion. Bonnie turned around and what she saw shocked her.
There, Damon stand in his vampire form. Dark red blood dripping from his fangs and in his hand he had a beating heart.
Bonnie looked at the beating heart and she screamed. "No! Damon no!"
Damon smiled coldly and squeezed the heart. "Feel that Bonnie? How I can end your undead beating heart." He said with a cold smirk.
"No Bonnie screamed and grabbed her chest. "Why? She pleaded.
Wake up. Aldolpha wake up. She heard a voice say.
Bonnie slowly opened her eyes to the concern faces of the guys. Ulmar was holding her head in his arms. "It was only a dream, just a dream," he said to her in a comforting voice.
"Drink some water Aldolpha, you need to build up your strength." Wolfgang said and placed the water and dry fruit in front of her.
"Thank you," she mumbled weakly with tears in her eyes.
Satisfied that she will eat and drink the guys went back to start a fire and skin the animal that they have caught. Everyone left except Rudolph.
"You know you don't have to sit with me," Bonnie said and slowly took a sip of water.
"I don't have to be anywhere but here," Rudolph said in a relaxed manner. "And besides its my turn to guard over you."
"You took turns guarding me?" Bonnie asked surprised.
"You are one of us now Aldolpha. We look after each other." Rudolph said with a smile.
"You do know I'm not a wolf." Bonnie said.
"Yes we do know that, except Ulf. I think he is hoping you are reallya she-wolf."
"Why?" Bonnie asked confused.
Rudolph smiled wider at her. "It will be mating season soon." He said and winked at her.
Bonnie made a face and Rudolph laughed out loud, making the guys at the fire turn their heads to them.
He stood up and offered his hand to her and said. "Come sit by the fire where its much warmer. It will be getting darker soon and darkness attracts wild animals, Aldolpha."
The sheer irony Bonnie thought. I'm to sit by the fire with wild animals just to be kept safe from other wild animals in the dark. Bonnie started to giggle and when she looked at Rudolph who was looking at her as if she lost her mind, she burst out laughing.
The sound of her laughter made the guys looked in their direction again, but Bonnie could not stop laughing.
"Aldolpha?" Rudolph asked softly.
When Bonnie heard the name Aldolpha that they have given her, she doubled over with laughter.
"Look at me?" she said through a fit of laughter. "My hopeless situation."
Rudolph went back to sit besides her calmly, knowing she was near hysteria and just to listen to her and let her vent it out.
"Am I even alive?" she laughed and slapped herself hard. "Yes I'm alive," she laughed again and went into a fit of giggles.
"Just yesterday, I think. I was in ARA' MANTH and I ... I ... I ... Bonnie's voice faded away.
"And I lost everything " she said after a while. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Rudolph brought the water bag to her lips and she took a few sips. "Thank you," she said in a soft lost voice.
They sit for a while in silence before Bonnie's voice broke the silence. "I think I'm cold."
Rudolph offered his hand to her which she took and together they walked hand in hand to the fire where the guys was looking at them in stunned silence.
Bonnie was sitting on a log between Rudolph and Ulf. Wolfgang, Sandalio and Ruelle was sitting on a log opposite them and Vilks was sitting on a log by himself. The fire was burning comfortable and warm in the middle and the heat made Bonnie feel a little better.
She didn't had any energy today to clean herself. I must do that come the light of a new day. She thought to herself. She looked up and all the guys was looking at her.
"What? Is there something behind me?" she asked a little frightened.
Ulf and Ulmar chuckled and Rudolph smiled. Wolfgang, Sandalio and Vilks had uncomfortable looks on their faces.
"No Aldolpha, in the presence of a ... Ruelle wanted to say she-wolf but said ... "a girl, we as wolves don't eat before she does." Ruelle said with a charming smile.
Bonnie looked down at the bowl of soup in her hands. It really smelled good. She was in fact starving for it.
"And what if I don't eat?" she asked cheekily.
"Then we don't eat." Ulmar said with a chuckle.
"We really want you to eat even if you just have a taste?" Vilks asked hopefully.
Bonnie slowly brought the bowl of soup to her lips and took a small careful sip. "mmmmmm This is really good she said genuinely. "
"Thank you Aldolpha, at last someone who appreciates my hardwork." Sandalio said with a smile.
Bonnie smiled back at him.
The guys started to eat away. Fast, loud and messy. Their jaws working overtime. They went for seconds, thirds and fourths.
Bonnie finished her soup and shyly asked for more. This made the pack happy. This tiny girl with the appetite of a she-wolf.
When they were done they quickly cleaned up and they sit back with warm full bellies in warm comfortable silence.
Rudolph stood up and cleared his throat.
"What now?" Ulmar asked and rolled his eyes.
"I have taken it on myself to introduce us to Aldolpha. We are not a bunch of wild animals with no manners," Rudolph said to them.
"You think? Where were you when we were just eating" Ruelle said with a smirk and the guys laughed even Bonnie smiled.
"Think I will start with you Ruelle." Rudolph said with a wide smile.
This one here is Ruelle, but don't let his handsomeness get to you. His mate is a she-wolf named Lucretia also Vilks little sister and she is more wolf then he is." Rudolph said with a smirk.
"I'm very touched. He said I'm handsome." Ruelle said in a sarcastic tone. Ruelle turned to Bonnie and said. "What Rudolph forgot to tell you is that I have much love to give and ...
Vilks cleared his throat hard.
"And much more love to give to my mate which is" ... Ruelle stumbled.
"Ulf" Rudolph said with a wide smile.
"Exactly" Ruelle said quickly. "WAIT. WHAT? NO!" Ruelle said. Realizing his slip up too late.
"Ruelle means noble wolf," Rudolph said to Bonnie with a mischievous grin.
Ruelle just glared at Rudolph.
"And moving on. This big guy is Vilks." Rudolph said and placed both hands on Vilks shoulders. "Forever starving. Which reminds me, can't leave my hands on his shoulders for too long. He might get tempted." Rudolph said to Bonnie and winked.
Everyone including Bonnie hold their laughter in. They couldn't dare to laugh as they looked at Vilks red angry face.
"This one here," Rudolph continued. "Is Ulf. The quiet one of the pack. The same quiet one who said you are here to, what did he say again hmm? Oh yes, now I remember. He said your here to seduce us with your lustful eyes and sinful body and your ...
"I have never said that Aldolpha!" Ulf screamed out embarrassed. His ears immediately turned bright red.
Bonnie hide her smile behind her hand.
"Ulf means courageous," Rudolph said and flapped one of Ulf's ears with his fingers.
"This one here is Sandalio our path finder." Rudolph said and pointed to Sandalio. "His got very good sense of smell that's why Guille blessed him with the longest nose in the pack." Rudolph said with a wide smile.
The guys laughed including Sandalio who tipped his head in Bonnie's direction.
"This one here, laughing harder than a she-wolf on a full moon. Is my dear sweet brother Ulmar." Rudolph said and Ulmar immediately stopped laughing.
The pack laughed harder.
"He is the lethal one of the pack and very skillful with a weapon. Ulmar means famous wolf. Famous only to himself." Rudolph whispered loud behind the back of his hand to Bonnie for everyone to hear.
The pack doubled over with laughter.
"This seriously looking fair hair guy is Wolfgang. Amarog's second in command. Wolfgang means people of the wolf. People like his mother and sisters. His mother and sisters and again his mother and sisters. " Rudolph said laughing.
"I think Aldolpha gets it." Ruelle said wiping away tears of laughter from his eyes.
"What does your name mean Rudolph?" Bonnie asked with a smile that mesmerized the guys.
"Oh my name? Just Rudolph, Aldolpha." Rudolph said a bit shy.
"Oh really?" Ulmar asked loud. "Rudolph means famous wolf Aldolpha. Famous only to himself." Ulmar said loud behind the back of his hand to Bonnie for everyone to hear.
After a while the laughter and talking stopped and there settled a warm companionship over the group.
Then Wolfgang howled loud in the quiet night and Bonnie almost jumped up in fright when he did that.
"Do not be afraid Aldolpha. He is just asking Amarog where he is." Ruelle said with a comforting smile.
After a short while they could hear a howl coming from far.
Bonnie looked at Ruelle.
"He is not coming back tonight. He will be here in the morning." Ruelle said to her.
They heard another howl coming from Amarog.
"Is he serious?" Ulf asked out loud and Bonnie quickly looked at him. Ulf's cheeks went bright red and he looked down.
"He wants us to sleep" Ulmar said to her with a smile.
Wolfgang howled back and the pack followed. Their howls were scary and if it weren't for her tired feet and body she would have jumped up and ran away.
"I'm sorry for that." Wolfgang said with a apologetic smile to her. "Right wolves and she-wolf time to get some shut eye."
Goodnight Aldolpha the guys said one by one. Goodnight, Bonnie simply said.
Bonnie rested on her soft bed of leaves that Ulf and Rudolph prepared for her earlier tonight. She felt strangely safe. She even smiled today for the first time since ... no ... its too painful to let her mind go there.
Amarog. She wondered where he could be. Its so cold and dark out there in the woods. Is he safe and warm with a fire burning all night?
She sigh, turned on her side and closed her eyes.
"Aldolpha? I'm sorry. I picked the shortest stick to wake you up. We have to move." Sandalio said with a apologetic smile.
Bonnie looked up at him with sleepy green eyes. "But I barely slept" she said in a sleepy voice.
Sandalio chuckled. "You will get used to it."
Bonnie got up and looked around her. Gone were the logs. The place was just the way they've found it.
"Good morning Aldolpha, are you ready?" Ruelle asked with a charming smile.
"I would like to go down to the river first." She said with blushed cheeks.
"Of course. I'm sure Wolfgang won't have a problem." Ruelle said.
Wolfgang nodded his head and Bonnie said thank you to him.
The water felt great on her skin. Swimming to shore she walked out naked. Her skin was glowing in the sun. Her wild untamed curls was once again alive on her head and framed her face beautifully.
Her dress was still wet from washing it. "I will just have to wear it wet," she said to herself. She looked up and her eyes went wide. Not far from her, Amarog was leaning against a tree with an intense gaze fixed on her.
She angrily turned her back to him, unaware of giving him another glorious view of her back side. She put her dress on and once she was done, she walked up to him and slapped him hard in the face.
"Where are the guys?" she hissed in his face.
Amarog touched his cheek and smirked. "Good to see the little girl is clean and presentable. Time to move." He nodded his head in the direction of the wolf site and said to her. "Go."
Bonnie walked away furious. Amarog turned around with a smirk on his face and followed her.
