Alone and broken...

A gash of radiant moonlight break’s through the cauldron-black sky smothered in thick, crawling clouds as the ground becomes baptised with blood. A great tremor overpowers my body forcing me to clasp my hands over my mouth, desperate to muffle my weeping while I look around in disbelief at the onslaught raging on, streaming tears cleansing my flushed cheeks.

The overwhelming sensation of helplessness consumes me as I witness an unknowing wolf being stalked as she backs into the reach of the predator creeping behind; a sharp pain ruptures within my chest making me whimper as she lets out an agonised cry as the creature grips her by her rear paw. It drags her to the ground – violently flipping her on her back making her chances of survival, almost nothing. She whines defenceless against the creature, snarling at her as she writhes around in an attempt to escape its tightening grip.

                    She barks savagely, her voice fiercer than ever before 

Ash remains’ ready to launch as he scans the area; his back rigid and muscles tensed, assessing each potential threat joining the fight against us. Preparing himself to defend against the creatures that continued to swarm in, ruthlessly killing any wolf in their path in a blood driven frenzy.

Each twisted monster blazed with a powerful hatred; mindlessly ripping through the terrified camp, chasing the wolves as they attempt to flee their vicious attackers.

Ash releases a low rumbling growl - looking around enraged, shaking with anger as he becomes restless and tormented listening to the wails and cries of the wolves building around us, travelling throughout the forest acting as a warning to all who can hear them. 

He looks up at me whining and I already know what he wants - his eyes are filled with a deep pain as he unwillingly stands by watching his friends get torn apart. Watching as their taken from our eyes within seconds despite their tenacious efforts to fight back. Every molecule in his body becoming responsive, urging him to fight and protect those who need help, to follow his wolfs instincts.

I nod uneasy at him giving him my permission; a sense of dread crashes over as I do so. I don’t want him to leave but understanding his need to get back in there I can’t stop him. A pang of guilt washes over me, wishing I could do the same.

                       She wines unhappily

Without any hesitation he sprints towards the squirming wolf being dragged away while she desperately kicks and bites at the twisted figure attempting to isolate her, her growls broken and panicked as she flails on the ground. Ash launches from behind, gliding through the air with teeth baring, releasing a bellowing growl - aiming his force at the creature, oblivious to its surroundings while its fixated on its prey.

Ash’s jaw clamps onto the creature’s thin shoulder as he makes impact - making the monster release an ear-piercing shriek in anguish, sending shivers down my spine as it echoes throughout the forest. Ash’s teeth sink in allowing a flow of heavy black blood to spill from its pierced skin, breaking the monsters trance and releasing its grip on the panicked wolf as he drags it away.

He violently tugs at the creature’s frame reducing it to its knees, forcing it down to the floor as he continues to shake his head ferociously, tearing deeper into its rancid flesh. The creature lashes out, it eyes wide and consumed with fury, spitting and thrashing around as it continues its disorientating wail drowning my mind of all of its thoughts, making me cover my ears.

The freed wolf stumbles to her feet, shaking her head as she stands revealing crimson crescent‘s along her legs and side from the malicious creatures bites. Exhausted from her struggle, she staggers taking a few steps forward attempting to regain her strength as her golden eyes lock onto the monster that intended on destroying her.

Fuelled by a burning vengeance she lunges towards the creatures exposed neck while Ash pins it down as it struggles to shake his grip, allowing her to sink her teeth into its throat - savagely ripping it open with no mercy. Tar like blood gushes from the fatal wound, quickly flowing down its chest and splattering on the ground beneath them, its bulging eyes slowly closing as the life leaves them. The limp body drops without uttering a sound cutting off its unbearable cry, the corpse crashes to the dirt creating a loud thud, now remaining silent and motionless.

Ash and the injured wolf pause momentarily to catch their breath; embracing the small win as she bows her head towards him, thankful for his interception before quickly attending to her wounds, licking them without complaint. 

The brief victory is stolen away as the harrowing howls continue. Without a second thought they selflessly turn away rushing out of view into certain danger preparing to assist the others, helping tear into the next unsuspected monster hurting one of our own – beginning to balance the odds.

I try and focus on the scene in front of me – trying to make sense of how this is all possible when an intense gut-wrenching yelp echoes through my ears like a siren, stealing all my attention and consuming my senses. I snap my head around looking for the creator of the noise and notice a small boy, no older than six. He’s covered in mud and trembling in the distance, hyperventilating as he chokes on the air. My eyes follow the boys glare as he focuses on a shadowed figure now cornering him, pushing him back further into the forest.

His small face is filled with fright as it closes in, the creature segregating his prey from the rest of the camp making the vulnerable cub back further into the woods. The creature starts to hunch down as if it’s preparing to pounce like a lion on a gazelle.

I realise that I need to act - a sudden surge of confidence runs through me, maybe even madness but I manage to conjure up the small amount of strength I have left. Inhaling deeply, I tell myself it’s time to be brave again like the old days, shaking my limbs loose ready to face the twisted monster. I can feel the adrenaline building as I brace myself to run into the open, acknowledging the risk I’ll be taking.

I take a few steps forward but I’m yanked back with force, stuck as my jacket pulls at my chest. I look behind me annoyed noticing a chunk of the material in Lillie’s mouth as she drags me back persistently - trying to keep me in the safety of the leafy shelter we remain out of sight in.

I rip my arm from her grip defiantly, refusing to sit on the side-lines this time.

I look at Lillie whose brows are frowned - she looks weak as her eyes plead with me, shaking her head unhappy with my intentions of leaving our dome of protection. Fara whimpers “Please don’t go Willow” through repeated sniffles, wiping her snotty nose with her sleeve, her eyes red and puffy and voice broken from all her howling cries.

“I’ll be back-“ I hesitate, attempting a smile but failing. Lillie whimpers in disagreement but I assure her “just stay here with Fara, I won’t be long. I swear!”

Her teary eyes narrow as she steps forward whining but I spin and run off before she can reach me, leaving her behind with Fara in her care. Suddenly aware of what I’m doing my stomach begins turning, making me feel sick. I choke back the rising bile building in my throat and race past the mangled bodies strewn across the floor, keeping my eyes ahead and my attention on the child.

My shoes squelch against the floor as the spilled blood begins to soak into the soil, the stench of iron fills my nostrils making me gag. The aroma of death now filling the night.

My heart thumps hard, vibrating in my ribcage as I run past the horror and bloodshed. My breath becomes raspy as my chest tightens, leaping over a fallen tree as I close in. The boy freezes, traumatised by the nightmare in front of him, the final shards of innocence utterly destroyed in the matter of a single night as he cries out for his father.

My chest tightens with fear as I trip over a stone protruding from the ground, masked in moss and fungus, hidden under the blood drenched soil, sending me tumbling. 

I look up panic stricken as my body aches, relieved as I see Ash and Ronnie approach the monster mid pounce saving the boy from near death. They tackle the creature to ground, pushing it back as it slams into a tree. The vile creatures looks back and forth at the wolves who are now standing at its side as it scuttles to its feet.

It eyes shift back and forth; unsure of which one to lunge at first. Both wolves stand fierce, snarling rabidly at the creature as they approach both in sync, fuelled by internal rage.

Ronnie catches its leg between its teeth and starts tugging hard as it goes to grab Ash, he shakes his head savagely ripping into its muscle almost ripping the flesh from the bone. It ignores the pain and tries scratching at Ronnie but before his claws make impact Ash takes no mercy and latches onto the creatures arm while its eyes writhe in agony, dazed from its attack. The wolves begin pulling backwards, mimicking a game of tug of war as the creature is torn apart. 

As they toss the remains of the creature from their mouths like a toy they notice me, running over instantly. Ash looks furious, annoyed at me for leaving the shelter. I scowl and blurt “I saw the boy!”. Ronnie looks at Ash and nods before running towards the young child crouched down wailing as he rocks gently, aiding him to safety. I feel a wave of relief, realising I had no real idea of how I was going to kill the creature… suddenly feeling foolish.

Ash growls at me turning his head in the direction of Lillie and Fara’s shelter in the distance, implying for me to return to the safety of the masked hide. I go to protest but before I can even utter a sound he snaps a bark at me indicating it’s not up for discussion. I turn away rushing off back to the leafy sanctuary, looking behind I watch Ash run after Ronnie as they rush to take the cub to a safety spot.

As I make my way back I’m suddenly aware of how quite the forest has become, an eeriness lingers in the air as the uncertainty of which side is winning remains unclear. I look around trying to establish where we stand on ending this fight when my body begins to shiver uncontrollably, my hairs raising, telling me something is heading towards me…

                         There’s on behind you!

She screams at me, her voice as clear as my own, making me spin around swiftly as I jump frightened, my senses on high alert of a nearing threat. 

As I finish turning I feel my blood turn cold as the breath is stolen from my lungs. I blink dumbfounded as I’m faced with one of the monsters. Its appearance much clearer than before as it stands under the moonlight, watching me as it sends my stomach into tight knots. Its dark empty eyes stare into my own resembling what I can only describe as an abyss, empty and soulless. It’s thin, transparent skin covering the purple veins which pulsate rhythmically beneath, spreading across its body like a spiders web.

A cruel, twisted smile spread across its thin lips, revealing razor like teeth as its body straightened up looking me up and down. He licks his lips allowing an icy chuckle to leave them, taunting me as I shudder. I try to scream but the fear holds the noise within my throat, barely letting out a small cry. I try to turn and run but terror strikes me, holding me to the spot giving the creature enough time to hurl itself through the air towards me.

As the monster make’s impact were thrown into the clearing, landing on large rocks scattered across the floor hidden within the glades of grass. 

                       He’s here!

My body tingles with an unknown sensation, strong and powerful as she cries but I ignore her and shake the feeling – I’m far too focused on my attacker to pay attention to what I already know as its eyes are already locked onto me as its holds me in its grip.

The weight of the creature on top of me pushes my back into the sharp edges of the stones, cutting in as we land. He immediately grabs my head and begins slamming it repeatedly into the rock beneath it. Crunch, crack, crunch. The soring pain makes me gasp as the blows continue to rain down, my head becoming light and foggy. 

                      She whimpers “so close…”, her voice broken

The smell of the creature drowns out any surrounding scent, thick with decay and dust as I wrestle the beast, tasting iron as the blood drips from my nose into my gaping mouth. I try to push the creature off but he hits me with a bold fist; beginning to shower my body in a mist of punches and blows, sending searing rips throughout me as the roaring sound of cracking is heard within me as bones begin to crumble from the creatures torture. 

I hold my arms out protectively in front of my face with one eye already swollen shut. I thrash my head around hoping someone else has made it through but the others are nowhere in sight, I’m alone and broken.

I try to let out a scream but a muffled attempt escapes through clenched teeth as my attacker grips my neck, squeezing and shaking me as its nails tear through my skin. The creature laughs harder as the tears roll down my face, taking enjoyment in my suffering.

“Poor little wolfy” it smirks releasing its hands, dropping my head on the ground. I try to push him off but his fist hammers into my face, making me yelp as it burns with agonising pain. 

A tearing sensations rips through my side as I watch him dig his nails into my ribs, twisting them as I wriggle in agony. I look up to see the creature pulling its blood soaked claw away and raising it behind his head, ready to send it thrashing down once more I close my eyes tight, defenceless ready to take the next hit - accepting my fate.

A swoosh swings past my ear and at first I think he’s missed but within seconds the niggling urge to cough rises through my throat causing me to splutter as a rising, warm liquid fills my mouth - spilling crimson blood onto my attacker. My eyes open wide with shock as a tingling sensation spreads over my neck, my body begins to tremble as the warm fluid flows down my shoulders and onto my chest, dripping onto the bright green grass. 

I desperately gasp to take in air but it’s no use, my energy rapidly depleting as my vision becomes blurry, growing darker by the second. With shaky hands I clasp at my neck as the gash begins to numb, releasing he’s reopened my scar, but this time much worse. The blood continues to flow like a stream, gushing in sync with my slowing heartbeat.

I urge my body to stay awake but it doesn’t respond continuing to feel heavy as it begins to let go, drifting away as I feel my hands begin to loosen around my neck fighting the constant blood flow. A dull ringing sound slowly grows within my ears as my hands slip and fall at my side, defeated.

The creature suddenly looks around startled, no longer interested in my demise as he was just moments ago. The growing sounds of rustling approaching at speed makes him jump, his face filling with panic as he sniffs at the air twitching his nostrils. It looks down at me with angered eyes and hisses in defeat, annoyed its unable to finish me off. It quickly jumps to its feet, hesitating for a second before speedily departing as fast as it had arrived, blending into the darkness as it vanished back into the trees.  

The rustling sound now resembling footsteps grows closer as my eyes finally close, heavy and unable to open. As they approach I hear panting as they rush to my side surrounding me, I feel the presence of a few but can’t make out who they are or how many.

A shocked gasp is let out beside me, unfamiliar as their cold hands brush the hair from my face.

“Oh crap! You think this is her?” the woman asks panicking, her voice gentle but loud, filled with concern as the soft hands lift my arm checking my wrist for a pulse. “She’s still alive!” she quickly shouts as she feels a trace of life inside me. A pressure is applied to my neck followed by a tearing sound behind me as I feel a strip of cloth being wrapped around my throat.

“We better take her back, this might be the one he’s looking for…” a male responds worried, his voice young.

“It’s her. He’s said some stuff that matches her description. We better hurry, doesn’t look like she’s got much fight left in her, poor thing!” another man orders, his voice deep and clear, rushed.

The woman continues to say something but the ringing in my ears grows; drowning her words out, eventually becoming the only sound I can hear. I feel myself being lifted, my limbs flop as I’m raised into the air.

I try to focus as hard as I can on my wound begging my body not to fall asleep but I continue to fade away, eventually slipping into the silent abyss of unconsciousness, my body now a prison of darkness being taken away by complete strangers…