Rhydian's P.O.V.
His scream is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard.
My head snaps around. At first I'm confused because I see nothing different; Alric's still slumped on the ground with Jana crouched over him in concern. Then I see the direction of their heads, where they're both looking. Straight into the heart of the forest.
The sun's disappeared and we're on the brink of a storm. The forest is bathed in shadows. And amidst the heavy patterns of warning black and grey, are three pairs of eyes glaring out of the darkness…wolf eyes.
I almost flinch. It's been three years since I saw another wolf besides myself, but those eyes still make my skin crawl with anger and apprehension. I glance carefully back at Alric and see his eyes flicker wildly between the three wolves' shadows, wide with panic. Jana's frozen, her scarlet curls hanging limply onto her father's arm. I'm about to look at Maddy when she hisses something to me.
"We can't win," she breathes.
I see her point. Me, Maddy and Jana are no match for three evil-looking wolves who are already approaching, growling, especially when we have a baby with us-
We all seem to remember the baby at the same time and everyone's heads whip around to stare at her in my arms. The little girl's began to whimper slightly, with those huge flecked eyes fixed on the wolves. I look to Maddy in panic. "What are we supposed to do?"
"Run." Jana answers me instead, her voice unsteady but firm. "Take the cub and run, Rhydian. Me and Maddy will hold them off."
"No, I'm not leaving you two-"
"Do what she says! We can't let them kill a baby!" Maddy hisses.
"And you expect me to let them kill you?" I shoot back. Her big brown eyes flit down I pain.
We remain standing there as the wolves gradually get closer and closer. They're almost out of the forest when Alric croaks "Please."
I turn to see his eyes locked on me. "Please don't let her die," he chokes out, his voice strangled with blood. "I've already lost Jana. Don't let me lose Arianwen."
Arianwen? I finally know the little cub's name. Arianwen, pure white, like snow, like her little blood-stained dress. What does he mean, he's already lost Jana? Because he exiled her and then left himself? I look and see Jana's eyes turn down in sadness. Then I turn back to the cub, who gazes up at me with those same eyes, and take a deep breath, because I know now what I have to do.
"Take her, Jana."
Jana glances up at me. "What-"
"Take her," I insist, and push the baby into her arms. Arianwen protests slightly, but then nestles into her elder sister's shoulder. "Now run," I whisper.
Jana stares at me, the fear and loneliness, and then the hope, hovering in her eyes. She looks over at Maddy, who nods in acceptance. And finally she looks back to her father, as the wolves get ever closer.
"Goodbye Jana," Alric murmurs, and he smiles, as if the words are a long-forgotten dream. "Goodbye Arianwen." The tears shine in his eyes and are caught there for a split second in a sudden burst of sunlight, before falling softly like rain onto the cold ground. Then those hazel irises glaze over, and he's dead.
We're frozen in shock for a minute. Until the alpha wolf growls and I yell at Jana "Go NOW!"
As soon as she runs, the wolves begin to pounce.
Sorry I haven't updated in so long! Revision is boring :p Please read and review, next chapter will be longer and with actual romance in it! BUt will probs be a while till I update because I have an exam next wednesday, coursework deadline and biology test :( BUt I'll try!