Somehow I had fallen asleep. My mind was in constant worry of all that I had learned. It almost felt like it was a dream, but no matter how many times I pinched myself, I wouldn't wake up. It was if I was living someone else's life.

I wish it had been, as I awoke with a hand covering my mouth. Startled, I had awoken not being able to breathe. Nor could I scream when the person towering over my bed was Kern. My eyes quickly drift to the side and Zachan had not joined me tonight. Out of all nights I would have done anything to have him there.

Looking in the other direction I see Seanne, she stands in the doorway seeming unsure of where she would rather be. She captures my pleading eyes and she quickly looks away. Still with out looking at me she walks forward, strips of cloth in hand.

I still struggle but it doesn't take much for the two of them to pin me down. Kern puts a gag in my mouth so all I can do is whimper. Seanne ties my hands behind my back.

I am thrown over Kern's shoulder like a rag doll, and I feel the chill of the winter night as we exit the tent. My gag prevents me from making any loud noise so I could scream for help. As my eyes can only see the ground in the darkness, I don't entirely know where we are going. But only after a couple minutes of walking I am placed on the ground, my dark navy nightgown instantly wet from snow. It made me shiver even more.

I watch the two, brother and sister in front of me. We look to be just deep enough in the forest to be away from the border of the haven, the full moon was giving me enough light to see that. It also gave me a chance to see Seanne pass something to Kern. He approaches me with a dagger. I try shuffling back but it was no use as my hands made it awkward to move.

He crouches down in front of me, the dagger moving closer to my body. I let out a wail and the tears can't help but pour from my eyes. He eyes me sternly before grabbing hold of one of my ankles.

I kept still as I watch him bring the dagger under my foot. He makes a clean slice under my ankle. I was already trying to scream as he does the other. It stung badly, like a hundred paper cuts. I could feel my blood leaking out onto the snow.

Kern puts the dagger away, and gets up. Seanne moves behind me to continue forward. Yet this time Kern doesn't throw me over his shoulder. He grabs me under the arms and drags me across the ground.

All I can do is watch my slit ankles dribble blood into the snow and dirt. It left a trail of red behind and I struggle and wail as mud was kicked up from my heels and dug into my cuts.

I was crying so much I didn't know how much time passed, and I had no idea where we were going. I could hear the harsh yet quiet whispers of Kern and Seanne. But as usual I had no clue on what they where saying. I was so scared, because I didn't know what they were doing to me.

Finally we had stopped and I am dropped down in the middle of nowhere familiar. I was forced to lie uncomfortably on my side, my cheek resting on the cold forest bed. I could barely make out anything as my crying blocked out my hearing and the tears glazed my vision.

What was happening?

I could still feel some blood seeping from my ankles. The pain had dulled to a throbbing as my legs were laying still.

Kern and Seanne had disappeared and I didn't hear them around, so I assumed they had left me here. To bleed to death or freeze. I guess, whichever one came first...

It might have been 5 minutes to half an hour I lay there, time not comprehending in my mind. My shivers were turning into shakes and convulses from the cold nipping at me. I forced myself not to cry as my breathing was already coming out in short gasps from the winter air.

I never had felt so hopeless and pathetic. After everything this was my last night living. I was in the middle of nowhere, surround by people that didn't care about me or wanted me dead... I realized then how little I had lived, had experienced. I had hoped to see my sisters again, or at least imagine their voices through a letter. But right now, death was coming for me, and that would never happen. Nothing I ever hoped for in life would come to pass.

A fresh load of tears were about to burst from my eyes when a low growl vibrates my bones.

My heart beats painfully in my chest, my eyes widen in complete understanding.

Seanne or Kern didn't care if I lived or died. I was bait.

I struggled to adjust my position to pop my elbow out to help me sit up. Once I did I ignored the ache of my body and shivers to look around. The trees weren't as thickly scattered here and I was placed in the middle of a very small clearing.

Movement catches my eye, and in front of me I see Saria prowling from the bushes. Her large body looked tense as she took me in, her head and snout bowed low to the ground. Her mouth was drawn back and her canines were snapping.

I made no sound, as her yellow eyes fixed on mine, all I saw was hate, nothing human or recognizable as one. Seanne was right, whoever she was, had disappeared.

Saria approached slowly, every step deliberate. I sealed my mouth closed around the rag, not daring to make any small movement.

Kern and Seanne had said they promised to kill her, Saria knowing she wouldn't be the same. But they failed her the first time, because they had hope. But if my theory was right they had dragged me out here to lure her. Made a trail of my blood for her to come find me.

But if they couldn't kill her before, I doubted they could go through with it a second time. Saria was getting closer and closer to me, and no move had been made. She was barely a few meters away before I decided to close my eyes, I could feel her warm breath. I didn't want to look death in the face.

In what I thought were my last moments I prayed to whatever god there was that my family was safe, that my soul could rest in peace.

An angry cry was yelled out, it ringing through out the forest. Something sprayed across my face and arms.

A howl filled with agony pierced the air and my eyes burst open.

The huge wolf had a spear sticking out of its side.

I watched as the wolf, Saria, stumbled back from me. Her whines are loud as she twists to try and erase the pain.

A thump is heard to my left and Kern squats on the ground, just jumping from the tree. He hesitates only for a second before running to Saria. He quickly bolts to the side as she snaps her jaws at him, and he grabs the spear. I thought he was going to pull it out, but he only pushes it deeper, earning another howl of pain from his sister. Kern's face was full of agony to, as he caused her pain. He was whispering something, as if a prayer to her.

Another thump was heard to my other side and Seanne appeared. She was crying, her hands shaking.

"Nero!" I jump from the raging cry that manifests from nowhere. "Nero!"

Someone whizzes by me, missing me by a hair and goes straight for Kern.

Zachan.

Never had I seen such emotion on is face, pure anger in his voice and eyes. It scared me to the core.

He leapt at Kern, and pushed him to the side. Kern hit the ground hard, but made no move to get back up. He only looked on, tears streaking his hard face. We all knew it was too late to change anything.

Saria was already done trying to fight.

Her body was slumped to the ground, her breath coming out laboured. Zachan pulls out the spear and Saria wheezes out in relief.

What occurs next had me in shock. The big black mass of fur was shrinking. Bones clicked and creaked as limps were shortened and defined. And soon in front of my very eyes the wolf dissolved into a woman.

Everyone couldn't believe what they were seeing for a moment as the world stood still.

Zahcan was the first to move, dropping to his knees and scooping up the woman in his arms. He turned her over, her tanned naked body limp in his lap. A dark pool of blood was smeared on her side. Seanne next to me lets out a whimper, taking a step forward.

Looking back Zachan cradles her head in his hand, holding her for dear life. I could see her eyes flicker, and for a moment she was awake, alert of the world around her. Of the men holding her. She smiled and whispered something too quiet for me to hear or understand.

A sob shook Zachan's body as he let his forehead rest on hers, whispering something back before she took her last breath.

Zachan wailed over her body, holding her to his chest.

I had to look away, tears I didn't know where streaking my cheeks. I peered down to my arms and realized what had sprayed me.

Saria's blood.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, it might not be as long but I didn't feel it needed anything else.

What do you think will happen next now Saria is dead?

Comment and Vote and let me know!

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