Helpless

"Dammit..." Jyriah muttered as he pulled at the gaps between the net's webbing. What ever it was, it was strong - a woven wire of sorts that not even his teeth were able gnash through.

"Hello?" he called out helplessly as dread started to fill him. He had never been this high up before - not even close. He was up about 21 feet in the air, and when he looked down for the first time, he felt dizzy and disoriented.

"Aww come on..." he whined as fear turned to dread, and then to absolute horror as the minutes passed, and no one came around - not even whoever set this trap.

"I hate you, whoever did this!" Jyriah shouted out in rage- his voice echoing only so far until the trees swallowed up the sound the further it traveled.

At first it wasn't so bad - hanging in the air like this. As long as he didn't look down, it would be fine. So he avoided it at all costs until the leaves started to shift through the wide holes, and then it became impossible.

To see how far away he was from anyone or anything was disturbing to say the least. He could even see the mountain over the peaks of the trees, and wished so badly he could be inside the fortress with everyone else.

Being so far away, and so helpless - it was enough to make anyone cry, or shout - or scream. Nothing was coming out of his chest, though. It was like he was silenced and suffocated under his own weight of fear so much so that sound was impossible to to make.

His palms were sweaty and made it hard for him to get any kind of stability. For whatever reason, he thought that if he squeezed the wire ropes, some how he would be able to will the net down to the ground with sheer willpower itself.

The worst part about this was the fact he was alone. It was easier to make jokes, and get through things like this when you had someone with you. By himself, though? He may as well just die in this moment. It wasn't something he was prepared for - being here - in the air - all on his own.

The unknown is what scared him more than anything. The lack of support and company from his loved ones was crippling, and the fact that he was so high up with no way to get down made everything about his situation hopeless.

"Can anyone hear me?" Jyriah called out again with a waver in his throat.

No reply. No jeer or taunt. Nothing.

It was the loneliest moment of Jyriah's entire existence and he would never forget it.

******

The pack had all returned to their fire as the moon started to settle below the treeline as dawn approached. Everyone was there - everyone but Jyriah and Jessie.

"Where is my sister?" Joss asked accusingly towards Veltar as though he hadn't been with others all night.

"What? I don't know - she was paired with your mate tonight. Why would you ask me?" the tension between the two males was starting to reach its boiling point as the disdain for each other grew day by day.

"First of all, I would never - ever - hurt Jess. Second of all, I have been with Metas all night. I don't think he'd allow that either," Veltar finished with a growl.

"You aren't one to be trusted - especially around my sister. Who hops from one female to another? Syrana dies one day, and then you meet my sister and you're already 'mates'?" Joss put up air quotes at the word 'mate' and glared at the handsome brunette.

"Excuse me, you absolute-"

"Stop! You two can deal with this later. Jessie and Jyriah are missing!" Myranda barked and snarled at Joss first.

"Stay out of his business," she started towards the silver-haired male before she continued, "and don't insult my pack-brother. I'm on your side here as far as being with Jessie is concerned, but insulting Joss isn't going to help, and it isn't necessary."

Both of them nodded and stopped their spat, but now there needed to be direction.

"Half of us need to go look for Jessie at their project spot. The other half should search for Jyriah," Metas directed the group and delegated tasks immediately after.

"Lara, you Joss and Jax go get Jessie. Veltar, you come with Myranda and I to search for Jyriah.

All did as they were told, and separated into two groups.

Myranda had learned from experience to trust Metas and follow him through the woods he knew so well. Jyriah's scent was strong around this area and all three of them could tell he had been around here recently.

They circled around a few trees to ensure that his scent did not leave down anymore paths, but it didn't. It was like something picked him up and flew off - but not even vampires could do that.

Myranda shifted into her mortal form to shout out for her brother with panic and desperation in her voice, "Jyriah!? Where are you?!"

The only reply were leaves rustling, and some falling down from above. When she looked up, though she could only see tree tops and open sky.

"I don't understand, his scent ends right here..." Veltar hummed out as his wolf form shifted to his mortal one and sniffed the air to be sure.

"This makes no sense." Metas said with a stern voice of concern.

"A vampire couldn't have gotten him - even if he was incapacitated, he's a huge wolf. It would take three at least, and I don't think they care enough to fly off with us. They'd rather eat us and be done with it like the animals they are," Metas sneered as he looked around.

There was this feeling in all three of their stomachs that he was closer than they thought. There was something about this spot that told them Jyriah was still around.

Where, though? There was nothing upwards except sometimes some falling leaves or dirt (which was weird to the party). Nothing was below, or around - but that sinking feeling just didn't go away that he was merely inches from them.

....and he was, they just couldn't hear or see him. You see, Vampires had some pretty handy magical artifacts, too - and one of them was this handy little net that had been woven from a very potent orichalcum that had been fused with the ability to cloak its contents.

If only they could hear his screams above them, if only the metal would let his voice through. Instead, it tricked him in thinking he was being heard as the sound echoed out as normal, but once through - silenced like a singing bird ripped from a branch by a predator.