Tormented

-Taken-

Feeling the crisp morning whisking air against my skin feels further exhilarates what is to come... Its sharp awakening chill serves to further fuel Sables anxiety for our coming excursion. His anxiety to run, surging thru me so powerfully with my own, we immediately phase midair. We land and bolt towards the forest on the opposite side of the riverbank. The sound of Sable's excited tone ringing strong in my head.

"Ale, I am in the mood to hunt. It has been some time since we have felt this free."

"Sabe, you know I don't have work today? So HELL YESS!! THE DAY IS OURS!!"

A chuckling Sable responds "Then as you said... HELL YESS!!"  Sable knows why I am laughing, He sucks at human quotes! Arriving at our side of the riverbank side Sable leaps, landing on the center boulder then again landing to the opposite river bank. Without hesitating he plunges headfirst into the brush and we are gone. Leaving behind for a few hours, the packhouse, our responsibilities, and all pack matters.

The sensation felt from the wind howling blowing rapidly in our ears. The squishing leaves & twigs combined with the crunching snow beneath my pads. Builds our urge to run faster and faster; automatically my heart reacts powerfully from the stimulation and we do. Digging into the earth harder, up against a slope we ascend, the beginning budding foliage a blur in our passing. the breaking foliage coming into view. indicating what we seek we will soon have.

Breaking thru the brush Sable brings his gait to a complete stop when we reach its crescendo. Its ridge holds a spectacular breath-catching the view. The view of our home range.

For a few moments, silently we sit on the ridge peak marveling at the beauty nature displays before us. Everywhere my sight touches I behold winter snow giving way to budding trees and awakening foliage of spring. Mosquitos and flies swarm, skimming along the lake's surface. In the distance I see a doe appear with her twin spotted pelted fawns. Bending her head, she cautiously approaches gracefully lowers her head and takes a drink from the lake. Such beauty, such marvel. This. This is the beauty of natures creation and me, forever grateful to be a product of it.

Yeilding to my spreading impulse, I release my emotions. Tilting my head back my excited howl carries for miles free, unrestrained. Alejandro's own emotions untied since birth with my own, conveys his thoughts to me "FREEDOM! YESSS!!! Goddess blesses Sabe. It has been three months since we have been able to run free without a pack matter or work, or training!!"

Alejandro, my human soul companion. Bowing my head closing my sight to the beauty awakening in our territory I proudly respond "Yes Ale, it has been. the responsibility of pack leaders has been taxing. Let us enjoy a run and hunt without care. As we once did when we were cubs yes?" His excited response spurring me to motion "YES!! GO FOR IT!"

Taking a deep scent of the air, I pick up the tantalizing aroma of rabbit nearby, my mouth waters. Relatively two miles away. Relaying this to Alejandro with my comment "Shall we, my human soul companion grab a bite to eat?" His devilish chuckling response spurs me to begin down the opposite slope, in the rabbit's direction "Yes We shall my lovely wulf soul companion."

I was five miles away when the scent drastically changed. Previously I only smelled life, nature and my prey. Now a scent of strong putrid decay hits my nose. Somethign I had not scented previously. With it, a sudden whooshing sound comes from behind me. It missed me, the hiss made from an object whizzing under and past me. But a second whizzing projectile, timed well hits my shoulder burying itself in my shoulder blade. I react, a storm cloud forms announcing my situation. But it was too late. Leaping into the air to turn and face the threat. Scalding searing pain races thru my body from where the projectile entered. Numbing me."SABLE!!" 

Knowing I can't remove it Alejandro's roar rips thru my mind. "PHASE! PHASE NOW!!". Being human, Alejandro can fight. Doing as he says, we phase but again it is too late. although my human soul companion removes the dart another zips thru the air into his back, embedding itself deeply. We are both losing consciousnesses. Darkness seeps into my vision. my reaction is dull, sluggish. the light around me begins shrinking. The last thing I see mixes with the stench of decayed flesh as it approaches. So to does it affect Alejandro. With just enough consciousness Alejandro wulf speaks to our mate. "Kojak! Am...bu....s.....h......ed..... He..e...e....l....p..."

A sneering cloaked figure comes from within the shrubs kneeling before my slowly darkening vision"Hello abomination. We meet again.... Luna." A male voice. His gray-green hand extends to me. I snarl trying to pull back. But I can barely stay awake let alone pull away. Sounds begin to fade into silence becoming harder to hear. Who is thissss??