tly aware of her presence an

me, a bundle of warmth an

rest. Even though Sri had told me all about my parent's murder by my alp

he did to my parents and how he'

when I was all alone in this bleary forest and

ouldn't be able to tell you because I

hair was now tangled and dirty and once when I'd looked into a puddle o

st times I wasn't just drifting through the day

s in my body were starting to heal; at a

y voice called suddenly bringing

y stared back at me for a moment before sighing dejectedl

out Apollo?" she asked cal

hook my head, already used to showing actions r

out him, and she'd already done so much for me i

rders to sneak into the forest with a clean change

es to uplift my downtrodden soul only to l

ponsive I acted, I was always

her eyes flashing coldly perhaps at

't deserve you..." she said gently

s and looked down at

but I could neve

ut the alpha's guards are already getting suspicious of my

brief but lasting image of a burning cabin

ing suspicious of her meant and I d

alienated I now felt towards her, a

, "if I don't return by noon tomo

ds tighter until she winced

tection will be with you," she concluded her gaze for

e quickly laughed trying to dispel the heavy mood

.

the sun realizing with pain that

lo was also going through as much

ming whatever cold leftovers I had left from Sri, be

n edge. My startled eyes kept watch at her usua

in my head and I prayed in my mind that

passed fast approaching dusk

sob escaping me as the pain of si

en though I had no bond with her. Her re

n that I was now really all al

. My parents, home, my mat

carrying through

ife so cr

e have so mu

, orphaned and left to di

nd I didn't leave the spot I was crou

else he'd send someone aft

r him, however, the natural instinct to survive took over and I found my

ising, I slowed weakly to a walk, tiptoeing cau

f an insect. I instinctively started to relax,

s darted around the thick growth loo

and I gasped, choking and coughin

and I soon caught sight

arge hulking figure moved and I sighted a

val instinct kicking to life as I fought down the urge to screech as I darted away

ground and chased afte

eneath me as I ran through trees and thick undergrowth

ran, and even when my legs caught in

the enraged theta wolf as it stretched wi

ream tore from my throat and my co

onster was already gone and I was al

ing and I stretched several times, gasping as my hands

antly slowly drainin

ing as I tried to keep in the oxygen that kept di

calming wind blew through the forest for the first time, and the dense

just as I was about to gasp my last, a glow enshrouded m

to clutch my head as I fought against the thing

light after a seemingly ete

wer that couldn't be unrivaled and I gasped drawing in

a large beautiful beast, its fur the color of obsidian circled around me once before

iv

of blood on my tongue. My frown deepened and I straightene

. It's just a bad dream," Muna c

efused to believe my words. But

, those ghastly green ey

arred face wondering for the first t

and had been prowling through search

ard, it was revealed to me in the..." I said,

er of my group. He was the youngest and had the opposite features to m

re..." h

at the sight that awaited me vag

such thing as–" she complained, stopping

nees gaping with mouth wide open at the m

g, Muna?" he asked w

s unbelievable," she whispered