The Unknown

Chapter 2

           

***I added a new part to this chapter. It is a memory of Mia talking to her parents. It might also help get her age across better.***

Normally I like having the wind blow through my soft white fur as I run in the beautiful mountains. But not now. As I run through the tree I can hear the gun shots from behind me. Some barely miss me and hit the trees next to me.

Not knowing how much longer I can push my injured limps I send a small prayer to whoever was listening. "I love you mommy. Please let daddy know I'm sorry" I mumble as I run hearing the laughing behind me. To them this is just a game.

"Follow her boys! She will lead us right to them." One of the men yell to the other.

Making a quick turn to the right I fall suddenly into a small rabbit hole at the base of a big oak tree. The hole is just big enough for me to curl up in and not be seen. I pull my stuffed wolf tight to my chest once again, breathing in the familiar smell of home. Dirt falls off the walls onto me as I try to push myself in even farther as I hear pounding feet and muffle yells getting closer. Holding my breath, I wait for the men to get farther away, praying I'm not seen. Even at this young age I have been taught to never let people know what I am and if people with weapons come after me to never lead them to the pack. I think back to when mommy and daddy first told me about this. This was when I was three that they first told me this might happen and if it does what to do.

Daddy asked me to come to his office for a moment to have a big girl talk with him and mommy. I don't want to have a talk now, I want to play with Avery and Oliver. Their mommies and daddies don't make them have talks.

I march to daddy's office mumbling mean words.

"Mia, hate is a strong word. Would you like to explain what you dislike?" mommy says as she opens daddy's door.

"No ma'am." I mumble.

"Come here sweetheart, we need to talk to you about something very important."

I skip over to daddy who was sitting in his big chair. Sometimes I like to sit in his big chair when he isn't in here and have Oliver push me in circles.

Mommy and daddy look at each other with sad eyes then look down at me with sad smiles.

Mommy begins, "We feel that you are old enough now to know that sometimes people can be...  mean".

I perk up, "You mean like when Oliver called me a baby? Or when I laughed when Avery fell in the mud?"

Daddy looks up at mommy, "Are you sure she is old enough? Maybe we should wait another year or two".

Mommy shakes her head and says, "No, the longer we wait the more likely a threat is to attack. She needs to know what to do in case something was to happen".

"You're right," daddy sighs then picks me up and plops me into his lap. "Kind of like that honey, but sometimes people can be really mean and hurt someone. Sometimes there are people who want to hurt people like us because we are different."

"They want to hurt us because they are jealous?"

Mommy steps in to help daddy who seems to be struggling, "No honey, some people want to hurt us because they think that we are monsters. We aren't the monsters though. Those people, called hunters, come after those of us who can shift. We want you to know what to do in case they were to find you."

I am shocked. People want to hurt us because we have wolves?

"If one of these hunters finds you, you must not run home. As much as you want to you can not lead them to the pack. If they were to find the pack they would hurt everyone here."

"Even Ollie?! And-and Avery?" I don't want them to get hurt too.

"Yes, even them. If someone follows you who you think might hurt you, you must run and hide. Stay hidden until someone from the pack finds you or until you know for certain they are gone. You must never lead them here." Daddy hugs me tightly and mommy kisses my head.

Hunters have been after my pack for years. They normally don't find anyone but today they scored good. They managed to find my mom and me, the packs Luna and the Alpha's child. While in the store with mommy men came in and told everyone to leave then pointed at us and told us to stay. We couldn't shift to protect ourselves or even run because of the humans.

Someone must have found out what we are. We don't usually go into town without our men but today mommy said we would be safe if we hurried back. But she was wrong. Very, very wrong. Now because of that she was dead, and I would soon follow.

Thinking about her laying lifeless on the cold ground made the tears start coming down even harder. I will never be able to hug her when I'm scared again. I won't be able to play dress up with her on the weekend when daddy is at work and she won't surprise me at school anymore. Reaching up to wipe them away with my small paw, pain shot up my limb.

I am so lost in my thoughts I don't realize a scent is getting stronger. Before I can react a twig snaps right outside the rabbit hole and a small blonde head pops down right in front of mine. I let out a yelp because it startles me, but it is quickly covered by the boy's hand.

"Please don't yell. If you do, then they will find you," he slowly let go of my mouth and just keeps looking at me. "I won't hurt you I promise. You aren't what they told me you would look like. They said you would have long ugly teeth and try to bite me. But please change back so I can talk to you." For some odd reason I listen and I'm thankful my clothes come with me through all the changes. "Now that's better. You aren't scary at all, you're just a scared little girl."

"I'm not little." I can't help but say then quickly cover my mouth with my hand remembering we aren't supposed to talk to them.

He continues to look at me with curious eyes. "Then how old are you? My name's Colton, I'm seven. What's your name?"

"Mia and I'm five years old." My mommy and daddy always say I talk too much. Going against my better judgement I tell him my age anyway.

"You're really small for your age. I thought you were three." I'm going to tell him people think that a lot, but I don't have time. The shouting was getting closer again. "Stay down and don't make a sound, I'll lead them away. Bye Mia, maybe I'll see you around sometime, but I'll keep your secret."

With that he runs off into the woods towards the people. As they go the other way Colton turns and looks at me one last time. His forest green eyes stare into mine. As hard as I try I know I will never be about to forget him. He saved my life even though he is trained to end it.

Then I wake up.

***

the picture is of a forest like the one she could have ran in to hide. This is a picture I actually took while on a hike. Fun fact for you. Hope you are enjoying it so far.

Tell me what you think!