Chapter 3

O.C p.o.v

My stomach swelled painfully as I forced down gulps of water.

I wasn't thirsty, I was sick of water and it's no taste, I just wanted a full stomach.

It had been three days since I had last eaten.

I stopped drinking, feeling that I'd drown if I drank anymore, and stood up on all fours. I felt my stomach gurgle unpleasantly. At least I didn't feel as hollow.

After deciding on a path I continued onwards, following the stream downwards, my hopes being that I'd come across a town sooner or later. I hoped for sooner.

This had been my routine for while now. I would walk in no particular direction during the day and sleep hidden somewhere during the night, hoping to come across some source of food every few days.

I walked at a steady pace, as that was all my energy allowed, and felt the water swish around inside me as I moved.

I glanced up at my surroundings every now and then, watching as the alien green flora slowly covered everything and the weather began to change, a light wind picking up bringing with it a grey blanket of clouds which rolled over the sky blocking out the sun.

I walked for several hours, the fullness in my stomach gradually seeping away until all I could feel was the familiar sharp stabbing pains of before as the hunger monster inside me reawakened.

I tried to focus on my surroundings, taking in all the life in the forest, like the hundreds of birds that flew and chirped to each other and the several startled deer I saw prance away from me.

I thought about catching my own food, but when I realised what that would involve, I banished the idea. Having to kill an animal so violently like that and then to eat its raw flesh made me sick, I was already a monster enough, so I gladly remained hungry, for a minute.

It was late afternoon and I still hadn't come across any kind of civilisation, my stomach gurgled painfully. I could feel bile rising in the back of my throat. I was so hungry I could puke. Suddenly I smelt it. My mouth watered and eyes closed as an amazing scent passed my nostrils on the tail of a breeze. At first I thought it was my imagination, but then I smelt it again. It was the smell of roasting meat and burning wood and it made my stomach rumble angrily, without a seconds thought I was after it. I continued too for several miles, my excitement rising as the smell got stronger, all thoughts of weakness forgotten.

It wasn't until the smell surrounded me that I stopped, knowing it had to be close by. The smell overwhelmed me and made my stomach grumble again, more forcefully this time but I ignored it, scanning the forest. Not a moment later I heard the distinct sound of a crackling fire, so slowly I stalked my way towards the noise, aware that people would most likely be nearby and came to a small clearing. I quickly hid myself behind a large fern that fanned out in front of me, and peered through.

In the small clearing stood several green tents, all pitched around a small camp fire. Above the flickering flames rested a whole deer on a spit, slowly cooking. It took me a second to notice the warm liquid dripping out of my mouth, I was drooling and I couldn't care less.

There in front of me was the most beautiful thing I'd seen in days, the scent I'd been chasing for miles. My stomach rumbled impatiently and I agreed with it, it couldn't be in my stomach any sooner.

I quickly scanned the clearing and strained my ears, listening out for any persons. It was dead silent minus the crackling fire, so I sniffed the air just in case. I got a strong mixture of human and dog smells, but I was sure that was to be assumed, after all it was their camp site.

If I was going to do this I'd have to be quick, I thought, they wouldn't be staying away for very long. So waving off the dangers I took one last look at the clearing before lunging myself towards the deer. I could hear the air whoosh past my face and feel my heart thump quick with adrenaline as I sped towards it, my excitement rising as I got closer. I couldn't wait to have a stomach full of food.

I was mid stride when something hard hit my left front leg. It wasn't till I put my weight on it that I realised something was seriously wrong. As I placed my paw on the ground I yelped as a intense sharp pain shot up my leg as my muscles moved, causing me to fall as I lost my balance. I came to a sliding stop just short of the camp fire, the pain in my leg unbelievable. I looked down shocked. Blood was slowly oozing out of a small circular wound.

"Guys! Get here quick you gotta see this!"

I rolled upright again, flinching as I moved my leg, and whipped my head around to where the voice had come from. There, where the tree line began stood a middle-aged man with a shotgun in his hands.

I sat there frozen, staring at the man who stared back, his gun barrel pointed at me. I had just been shot.

I continued to stare at the man and watched as he shifted his feet nervously, looking at me with a mixture of fear and thoughtfulness. It seemed like he was trying to decide on what to do next. Fear slowly engulfed me, how had I got myself into this situation?

If only he knew I wasn't really the monster they saw, but a girl. I could phase and show them, but that would mean explaining a lot of things I never wanted to think, let alone speak about, ever again. On second thoughts though, I was a monster, girl or wolf. The things I've done definitely make me a monster. Maybe it would be a good thing having my existence stripped off the earth, then at least I wouldn't be able to hurt anyone ever again.

The sound of approaching men and dogs interrupted my thoughts, I could hear them crashing through the branches, their dogs barking excitedly. The middle-age man in front of me turned a fraction to look at them, his gun moving with him. I saw my chance of escape and took it, not waiting for an invitation. I may be a monster, but I wasn't about to be used for target practice, not if I could help it.

So gritting my teeth I pushed myself up as quietly as I could, my wound throbbing horribly. I took a deep breath and prepared to run, but meanwhile the hunter had been joined by his friends.

"What it is it Joe?" one of them said as they emerged out of the trees.

"I don't know...", but Joe was cut off by another.

"Look! It's making a break for it! Crap what is that?"

I turned my head just in time to see them all raise their guns at me.

Shit.

I bolted as anxiety overwhelmed me, my front leg starting to scream in protest as I pushed my limbs as fast as they would go, and to think I had been whining about hunger pains before, how petty they seemed now.

I was about to pass the tree line when I heard five loud cracks resound around the clearing. There was a short, silent pause before I felt three of them.

I screamed in pain as three bullets pierced my left side, one just below my hip, another near my navel and the last one in my chest, which burned when I drew breath. I stumbled as they hit me but I caught myself, refusing to stop, if I did they would kill me for sure. So I pelted through the forest, branches and leaves whipping and scratching at my face as I crashed through the trees, warm blood streaming from my wounds.

I tried to push through the pain, promising myself I could rest once I lost the hunters and there dogs, but the pain was intensifying and my energy was slowly ebbing away.

I found my breathing was become more and more restricted, it felt like every time my chest expanded my wound ripped open, sending a wave of pain throughout my chest. This pain wasn't isolated though, it was all over my body. No matter how I moved, or what I did, it was as if my body was being speared with hot pokers.

Slowly the sound of barking dogs and yelling men faded behind me as I lost them, I didn't bother to stop and check. My body was still pulsing with adrenaline as my numb legs continued to some how carry me.

But soon they became like lead and I came to a slow stop, my lungs burning with each gasp I took.

I was beginning to feel increasingly light headed, the world was tilting and black fuzzy dots were seeping into the edges of my sight. I closed my eyes trying to stop it, when suddenly my legs wobbled and gave out. I opened my eyes just in time to see the ground connect with my jaw with a thud.

A weak groan left my lips as pain rippled though me. My lids were becoming increasing heavy and my laboured breaths were soon fading out. I struggled against it but soon found the darkness too heavy to lift off of me.

Everything went silent as I let darkness claim me.

I woke up at what felt like seconds later, to the hooting of an owl. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold onto unconsciousness. I could hear faint barking in the distance.

Realisation hit me and my eyes flew open as I suddenly remembered how I had got there. It was night time now and I barely recognised my surroundings.

I noticed yellow lights flicker through the trees and it took me a moment to realise that they where flash lights, and there was heaps of them. Great.

My muscles and wounds twinged painfully as I went to push myself up onto all fours, but found instead that I was crouched on my hands and knees, my tanned skin streaked with lines of dark dried blood. I must have phased when I went unconscious.

Finding I was naked, I ripped off the cloth tied around my leg, and pulled the long dirty singlet over my head, flinching at the movement. I looked down at myself having not seen my human body for a while, and watched as red circles grew on the white fabric.

I staggered to a stand, the world spinning as I gasped for air. I felt something hitch in my dry throat and I let out several hacking coughs. Wiping my mouth I found blood. At first I thought it was from my hand, but as I dabbed at my lip again I found more.

"… trail goes up here." A husky voice said in the distance.

I stood there frozen. They had caught up to me.

I took off, winding through the trees as best I could, my heart thumping in my chest.

My mind was getting hazy and it was making it increasing harder to navigate my way through the brush. More frequently I was tripping and falling, finding it harder and harder to get up each time.

My muscles ached stiffly with every trip and fall and my wounds seared with pain, I screamed every time I knocked one. My limbs were becoming more and more like lead weights and my chest was on fire, flaring with each breath I took.

I stopped for a moment and leaned on a tree, putting my face in my trembling hands as I tried to slow my breathing. Several coughs escaped me again and I found myself spitting out mouthfuls of blood, it left an awful taste in my mouth. I tried to swallow it away but my mouth was bone dry.

I wasn't going to hold up much longer, I was slowly losing the battle.

Dogs barked in the distance.

I couldn't catch a break could I?

For some reason, I think out of habit, my body pushed off the tree, swayed to a stand and began to move, my legs taking quick shaky steps. I guess it was my last reserve of energy, my last feeble chance to get away.

I staggered through the trees quite drunkenly, my body numb with pain and my mind fogged with delirium, the sound of the hunting party growing louder behind me.

I pushed passed a large branch and stubbled as my feet sank into soft sand, I gasped in shock. Before me was a clear beach, its sudden openness shocked me.

On any other night I would have stopped to relish in the smell and beauty of it, instead I was double over in pain as coughs erupted from my throat again. I fell to my hands and knees, coughing up blood again.

I could hear my blood pulsing in my ears as I looked down at the now dark splattered sand.

Not wanting to look at it anymore I crawled to a stand again, swaying on the spot. I looked around blearily my mind all hazy, trying to decide where to run. Really it was pointless for no matter where I went or how fast I moved they'd see me from miles away, but reason wasn't connecting with my body because I found myself staggering forward anyway.

All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and ragged breaths. The world was spinning and unfocusing before my eyes and I soon felt burning bile start to rise up my throat. I closed my eyes, appreciating the unwavering darkness it gave.

My right foot suddenly sunk and gave way and I fell flat on my face. Pain sparked all over, producing a low moan, but I was beyond the point of caring, if they caught me now – whatever, if I died – so be it. I just wanted it all to be over, for the pain stop.

I stayed still for a moment, enjoying the motionless state of my limbs, my lids getting heavy as exhaustion finally claimed my body.

Soon the pressure on my chest became excruciating and I had to move. I felt the sand crunch in my mouth as I moved my lead heavy arms. With the little energy I had I tried to push myself up, my arms shaking violently but it was a hopeless cause, I couldn't do it, so I went back to lying there pathetically, Another round of coughs shaking my body.

I then felt vibrations through the ground. It must finally be the hunters I thought, well it was about time. I lay there limply, unable to move even if I wanted to, listening to my harsh breathing and pumping heart beat, my eyes barely open.

I felt my body be gently rolled onto my back.

I tried to focus on who had moved me, but I found my vision blurred by the hair that covered my face. As if reading my mind I felt warm fingertips brush against my forehead, sweeping back my hair.

As my focus unblurred and I finally saw the stranger, I found myself thinking that surely I had died.