Chapter 3
1653 Words
The rustling of dry leaves jolts me awake from my brief slumber, and I strain my ears to identify the source of the sound. It’s not merely the noise that unsettles me, but the possibility of who or what could be responsible. In this unpredictable world, where creatures ranging from mischievous gnomes to blaring sirens exist, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to distinguish between harmless rustling and a more menacing threat. Like a tiny church mouse, the wolf cub beside me is barely audible. I hold my breath, fearing that any sound could put her in harm’s way.
The ground trembles beneath my feet, signaling the approach of an unknown creature or person. Confused and overwhelmed, I find myself trapped in a dilemma. On the one hand, I don’t want Little Light to be in danger, but on the other hand, I am not ready to leave this world yet. I have many things to set right before departing, and my time has yet to come. The stillness of the night is broken by a sudden, ear-piercing howl that echoes through the air. The sound is soon followed by a chorus of responses from different directions, making it clear that we are not alone.
A shiver runs down my spine as I realize that the source of the noise could only be a wolf or, even worse, a werewolf. I know they've found us, and more of them are likely on their way. Without a second thought, I scoop Little Light into my arms and retreat from our hiding spot, fear driving us forward. As I sprint deeper into the forest, the sound of snapping twigs and crunching leaves behind me grows louder. The wolf chasing me snarls and bares its teeth, eyes fixed on my every move. I can feel its hot breath on my neck, and my heart races with fear as more predators join the hunt.
My sole objective is to protect Little Light, no matter the cost, even if it means sacrificing my life on this dark and treacherous night. Suddenly, a massive silver-gray wolf appears before me, blocking my path. I'm forced to make a split-second decision and swerve to avoid a collision. With each frantic gasp for air, a white mist escapes my lips, a sign of my lungs struggling to keep up with the intense exertion. The cold air bites at my skin, and sweat pours down my face as I push myself to keep running, fighting, and protecting the girl I hold dear.
As I continue on my path, unease washes over me. Despite the danger, I press on, knowing full well the dangerous consequences that could come if I stop. Suddenly, the path ends abruptly, revealing a steep cliff edge. When I turn around, my heart sinks as I see a pack of wolves slowly approaching, their warning growls echoing through the darkness. Every other route is blocked by their menacing presence, leaving me stranded with no apparent way out.
As I turn around, my eyes meet the breathtaking sight of a colossal waterfall, cascading down with immense force and creating a deafening roar. The water below is a mesmerizing shade of deep, dark blue, and I can feel its cool mist on my face. Trapped with no escape in sight, I feel a wave of fear wash over me, and I quickly say a silent prayer to any divine being that might be listening. My heart pounds with a fierce intensity as I stand on the edge of the unknown, ready to take the plunge. My urgent need to protect her is the only thing that propels me forward.
With a swift and precise motion, I begin to chant an ancient incantation, drawing upon the power of magic to shield her from any harm that may come our way. As we leap off the precipice, the world around us blurs into a swirl of motion. The wind rushes past, tousling my hair, and the ground quickly retreats beneath us. For a moment, time seems to stand still, suspended in the air like a fleeting dream. The enchantment casted on her guarantees that she can take a plunge from a great height without suffering any harm or losing her breath.
As for me, I cannot help but feel the impact of the water as it crashes onto my body with immense force, almost like a tidal wave. As the waves lash against my body, I feel a searing pain from the redness left behind, which intensifies as the frigid water seeps inside my clothes. The thought strikes me that all my struggles to uphold my beliefs may have been in vain, and I consider giving up. Despite the odds, I find the strength to push forward, for I hold in my arms an innocent child who deserves to live. Every muscle in my body strains as I fight to keep us both afloat and reach the safety of dry land.
I struggle to catch my breath as I emerge from the water's depths, gasping and coughing after being without air for too long. In my arms, Little Light is silent; her fragile body cradled tightly against my chest. With great effort, I manage to drag myself and my precious burden to the safety of the riverbank, where I collapse in a heap and pant heavily. Little Light is still asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber. As I lay there, my wet hair plastered to my face, I gaze across the river at the pack of wolves who chased me. They stand on the opposite bank, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of hunger and frustration.
The water between us is treacherous and swift, and they know better than to attempt to cross it. One of them snorts in anger before turning and bounding back the way they came. The river stretches before me, a winding ribbon of water that snakes its way through the city's heart. I can't outrun my pursuers by following its course; reaching its source would take me far too long. I'm trapped, with no clear path to safety. As I survey my surroundings, I realize the path ahead is blocked, and we must find an alternative route. The knowledge that we must detour to avoid danger fills me with a sense of frustration but also fuels me with extra energy to continue my journey toward redemption.
As I rise to my feet, I feel the stiffness in my legs and the sting of my muscles. I can sense the bruises covering my otherwise pale skin, but I ignore the pain and take one step at a time. Slowly, I move away from the sandy riverbank towards the dark trees that loom ahead, leading to the inner city. Despite the discomfort, I push on, knowing that we cannot afford to rest until we find a safe place. My body protests loudly, creaking and groaning, but I must ignore its pleas for rest until I find a secure spot for myself and Little Light to sleep until morning.
As the night deepens, I feel my body giving in to fatigue, but I know I can't stop yet. With every step, I put more distance between us and the dangers that lurk in the dark forest. I can't shake off the feeling that we're being watched, that there might be more wolves or other predators waiting to pounce on us. That's why I must keep moving, even though every muscle in my body screams for rest. Little Light stirs in my arms, and as I look down at her, I feel a sense of responsibility weighing heavily on me. She depends on me to protect her and shield her from harm. I'm not her creator or her parent, but at this moment, I'm the only one who can save her.
It's a strange feeling to be the guardian of a being that is not your own, but I can't deny the sense of purpose it gives me. I push aside my own exhaustion and fears and focus on the task at hand. We have to keep moving to find a safe place to rest before the night is over. I refer to myself as a protector, for that's what I've become to her, though it wasn't a choice I made willingly. I say 'involuntary' because she should never have had to need a protector in the first place. Despite this, I'm committed to being whoever Little Light needs me to be, for the world seems to be crumbling without her.
The responsibility of the future rests in my hands, and I know that her smile is a testament to the trust she places in me.
A/N:
Hello everyone!
Long time no see. I've been absent, and I'm very well aware of that. My life continues to constantly move up and down, which is out of my control. I'm in a dark place in my mind and doing everything I can to get out of this depression that's slowly swallowing me whole. Hopefully, you'll continue to be the outstanding support you all are and bear with me when it takes a long time for me to update. Because I promise that no matter how long it takes, this series will get finished at some point. We have several books in line after this one until there's time to say goodbye, but that's not now because we still have a long way to go until the series is finished.
On another note, what did you think of the chapter? It's a tad bit short but better than nothing.
~ What do you think is happening?
~ Who were the wolves? Good or evil ones?
~ What's going to happen?
~ What do you think occurred before the start of this story?
Please let me know your thoughts. Hugs and kisses<3
- Writer
