Chapter 03

Moments after, I was stuffing my long hoodies into my bag, while I stare at the dark clouds through the hole in the small space where I slept. I sniffed and continued stuffing in the stuff I would need.

What’s all this?

I don’t wanna cry anymore, now I was aware of the reason I was having this gut feeling of killing a wolf each time I see one. I was a threat to them. Because of the curse in me, my hands went to my neck, there was a mark in there, the old made me promise to always hide them.

It was something the wolf shouldn’t see, none of them should. My hands went back to the book he gave me and I tucked them into the bag, standing up my feet, I was prepared to leave the cave, but then I heard a sound, heavy feet. I was sensitive to sound, so I was able to know something was coming and it wasn’t just something ordinary, it was an army of the wolves.

They were here, so soon. Had they been waiting for a signal, they had been outside all this while. They all came together. To kill me especially, I had to protect the old man, I flung the bag over my shoulders. Running out of the room, I met him already prepared. He was staring at me. He saw my gaze and he became worried too.

“Let’s go..” I cried. Holding his hands.

“They’re here.”

“What?”

He looked surprised.

“Let’s go!” I yelled.

“The wolf is here already!” I screamed in his face. He nods and gripped my hands.

“C’mon Amaia!”

And together, with his hands gripping mine, we ran out of the cave, running out of our home, the place that was once our home.

Were we running to? We had no idea, we can’t be faster than the wolf, we can’t run faster than them, they would get to us, they would catch up with us, I was scared of the old man, though he could fight this wasn’t just a wolf but more than one. And they could kill him. I don’t want him dead yet, I wanted him alive, he was all I’ve got. And he needs to be alive for me, I’ve got a lot to ask, I a lot to know about me.

His grip on my hands tighten, as we ran, heading north of the forest. But it seems we were surrounded. I could hear the wolf running, I could hear them running to us.

“Faster old man!”

“You know I’m old, I can’t run faster and you know I’m not a wolf either.”

“Who the hell are you?” I yelled.

“I’m not gonna leave him behind.”

“Seems that’s what we’re gonna do, we need to split..”

“No, I’ll fight..”

“Amaia listens to me, You’ll go south, I’ll go west. Then we’ll meet at some cavalry.” He squeezed my hands. Trust me, I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll not agree to that.”

“Go, just go, that’s the best for us.”

“It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have killed him.”

“Stop it, it isn’t your fault it was made to happen. It has to happen. This isn’t your first kill. You’ve been killing the wolf, I’m sure the Alpha had been aware of it. He’s been planning to kill you.”

I sniffed.

“But..”

“No, but.. just go now!”

I held his hands, refusing to let go of them. Seeing I was hesitant. He places a hand over mine.

“You have to go..”

“We’re going together.”

“Now isn’t the time to be stubborn!” He half yelled.

“I can’t leave you behind.”

“You ain’t leaving me we’re gonna meet at sona, we’ll meet there, if we split, it would only make it easier for us to run faster.”

“You promise you’ll meet me up there.”

“I’ll promise.”

Sona was the mountain after Novak, it was the gate of the forest, a secret gateway that would lead us out of the mountains. It was a narrow path, why narrow? Because it’s dangerous. It’s a risk, it was said there’s a monster who dwells in there, and you could never go out after you get in, alive.

That’s where we were going. And from there, if we survived, we’re going someway, a park.

We’re gonna live like the rest of the pack members.

That’s all my thoughts...

I was gonna protect the old man, he was my parent, he saved me, feed me and trained me, more reasons I’ve to protect him.

I watched him run off running to the west, his feet were feeble, he was really old, could he be about a thousand or so, that’s my estimation, but he was old, I was sure of it.

I waited. Till I was sure he has gone far.

I waited for a while if I could see any of the wolves coming, there wasn’t anyone in sight. I waited.

Waiting for them, I wanted to see them and distract them, so they could come for me instead. I was waiting, and then I saw them. About three wolves. My hood was covering my face, I doubt if they could see my face. I stood for a while. And heard them growl.

“We’ve found the killer!” One of them yelled. He raised a signal to the sky. He was giving them a signal where I was.