Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) (16 page)

“Nah. It was fun. Worth the cold.” Rally laughed. “Hunting is fun.”

“So far.” I mumbled. My mind clouded. I wished that Rally and I were out exploring the woods for a different reason. I considered telling her that I was not going to hunt; I was going run.

“Hey look! We are going to pass The Giant Sisters!” She had her map open and was studying a black line trailing through the woods. It stopped at a rock shaped marking and went off in another direction, changing from black to red.

“What’s the red line mean?”

“That’s the way I go on my own. Weren't you paying attention in class last week?”

“No.” I said slowly, pulling out my own map. “I guess I wasn’t.” I had the same markings, the same black line going to the rock shape. The red line on my map went in a different direction.

“It looks like we split up at The Giant Sisters.”

My stomach flipped. Soon I'd be on my own.

***

The Giant Sisters was lovelier than I imagined. The formation of sandstone looked like two girls facing each other, holding hands. Ivy clung to the outside of each rock, softly flowing in the wind like wisps of hair. We both looked up as we crossed under the bridge of their hands.

Rally was the first to speak. “It's beautiful.”

My hearing and sense of smell were beginning to sharpen. I could hear water bubbling under the stones somewhere over Rally's deep sighs and oohs as she ran her hand over the cool rock. We were to split up after we crossed the barrier. I was to head due north while she went northwest.

“Do you want to sit with me and watch the sun set before we go on our own?” I wasn't ready to leave her.

She scratched her hand. “Okay.”

Rally found a crack big enough for her toes and climbed a series of divots and crevices. I pulled myself up behind her, thankful that the gritty sandstone was easy to grip. By the time I reached the top, my limbs where shaky. We sat on the bridge of the sister's hands, taking in the breeze as it rustled through nearby trees. The sun was just beginning to sink.

I scratched the back of my hands and looked at Rally. She was beginning to change. Her hand had the small red bumps that come just before the bristles press their way out of her skin. Her eyes had a wild look in them.

“Rally, I'm not going to hunt.” I made myself say it fast and clear before I was too afraid to tell her and the moment was gone.

She snapped her eyes away from the setting sun. “What? But you're hunting without killing, remember? We're almost there. I can smell it.” The look in her eyes grew a bit wilder.

“No. I'm running away.” I took her hands, careful not to touch the tops of them. “Earlier, I told you that because I didn't want you and Beth to tell anyone. I was afraid if I told you the truth, you’d tell. I'm sorry I lied.”

Rally pulled her hand from mine and crossed her arms. I winced, feeling her bristles. “What happened to hunting without killing? You can't just run away!” Her voice was almost a growl. I was going to have to make her understand fast, before she completely changed.

“If I tried it, I might kill. I don't want to chance it.” I hoped that I was reaching her. “And you know that I can't fake the hunt. They'll know.”

“I know.” There were tears in her eyes. For a moment I saw the clarity in them that I knew as Rally. She was the closest I would ever have to a sister. I hugged the vibrant little girl I had come to love.

"Come with me."

Rally pulled away. “I can't.”

Her eyes darted toward sounds coming from the shadows. It sounded like a small animal, probably a rabbit or raccoon. Deep down, I knew that she'd never come with me. It was a silly, childish fantasy. How could I imagine a life of two girls, sisters, running through the woods trying to survive on their own? I could be responsible for myself, but if something happened to Rally, I'd hate myself.

“We need to say goodbye.” Her canine teeth had lengthened and her words were starting to slur. Brown down covered her forehead and around her cheeks.

“Goodbye, little mama. You'll be a wonderful mother. Take care of yourself. And your daughter.” I tousled her pony tail.

Her smile revealed canines that hung over her lips. “Goodbye Lea, you're the best sister I could've ever had.”

Rally scurried down the rocks and ran off toward the northwest. I watched her until she was swallowed up by the twilight. She never once stopped to look at her compass. Her instincts were driving her toward her destiny. I hoped I could keep my instincts at bay long enough to fulfill mine.

I lay on the cool stone and watched the stars come out one by one. I could feel myself changing and willed my body to stop, to slow down. The burning from my bristles was tolerable now, not nearly as painful as the first time they pushed through my skin. I ran my tongue over my teeth; they had dropped and I hadn't noticed. I took my file out and began filing my nails down to the quick. Maybe if I filed them down far enough, they wouldn't grow into sharp points. I felt the familiar pang of hunger deep in my gut. I ate a jerky stick. Feeding myself would keep me focused and help stay off the hunger.

I stood, afraid to leave. If I left the clearing, into the trees, I might lose myself to the hunger. I took slow, careful steps to climb off the formation. I pulled out my compass. My plan was to go north until I saw the man's camp, and go around it. I couldn't risk going in another direction and running into another girl. I faced north and looked up at the stars. I tried to memorize their location in the sky.

As I reached the edge of the forest, I gave one final look over The Giant Sisters. They still looked beautiful against the darkening sky. I closed my eyes and wished peace and happiness for Rally. I turned back toward the trees. The beast raging inside me was pulling me to the men's camp. I needed to concentrate to keep the monster at bay. With every step I could feel myself getting wilder and wilder. I held my compass, trying to concentrate on the letters and what each signified. It was getting too dark to read. I began counting trees as I passed them, willing to do anything to keep my mind sharp.

Time eluded me as I crept through the woods; my path became winding and arduous. I jumped over fallen trees and ran my hand over the cool boulders as I trekked around them. Once my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could almost see as well as if I were in day light. I heard rustling leaves and sticks snapping ahead of me. I froze. A fox scurried across my path.

“Lea,” I scolded myself, “Of course there are animals all around you. You are in the woods. Calm down.” My voice was deep and sounded more like a growl. I took in a breath and smelled hints of smoke and another scent: pheromones.

I followed the scent until the glow of the fire was unmistakable. I stepped closer and closer to the camp, unable to stop. When I was fifty yards away, a shadow moved against its brightness. It was enough to startle me. I squatted and looked to the left and back to the right. I ducked behind a large stone to my left and listened. At first, I heard nothing, then some rustling, and nothing again. I looked out into the darkness all around me. The shadow was still at the fire. I waited and waited. Nothing. No movement. It must have been an animal. I looked back at the shadow. The fire was too bright; I couldn't tell which way he was facing.

I decided to take my chance and run, picking a path that went out and around the fire. There was a large tree that I could hide behind and catch my breath. My feet were nimble, jumping over logs and clearing bushes, as if I had lived in the forest my entire life.

I scrambled behind the tree, my heart pounding. There was rustling all around me. I flattened myself against the rough bark, closing my eyes and slowing my breath. Maybe he was running away. Maybe he didn't see which tree I ducked behind. I was going to have to peek around the tree toward the fire. I turned slowly so that I was facing the tree, my palms flat against the bark, and leaned just my head to the right. The boy's eyes locked into mine. He didn't look scared. He looked angry.

My heart hammered. I stepped out from behind the tree, my hands raised in defeat. The boy stepped closer to me. He was holding a thick branch in his hand.

I cleared my throat before I called out, “I don't want to hurt you. Please!”

He lifted the branch with both hands and swung it at me. I crouched down and the branch cracked against the trunk. I jumped at him, swung him around and pinned him against the tree. He squirmed and batted at my legs with the branch. I pressed one arm against his neck and shoved my knee into him, just below his stomach. He winced and dropped his weapon. There were bristles sticking out of his cheek and I pulled them off of his face. Once I finished, I bit down on my bristles and yanked as many as I could off with my teeth, spitting them on the ground. The pain seared up my arm, and it was all I could do to hold back a scream, but it cleared my mind. I didn't want to hurt him.

He was several inches taller than me and skinny with sleek muscles. I stood on my toes and still couldn't quite look at him on eye level. His green eyes were unafraid, but I could feel his heart pounding. I leaned in until we were nose to nose. His stare didn't falter. The pheromones hit me and the hunger deep in my gut rumbled. I had a fleeting thought of mating him without killing him. I shook it away and dug a nail into the palm of my hand. The pain cleared my mind.

“I said I didn't want to hurt you.” I was trying to whisper, but it came out a growl. “Now, I'm going to let you go. Run back to the fire, and I'll run into the darkness. If anyone asks you, I never showed up. Got it?” His eyes wrinkled. The hunger was beginning to fog my mind again. I needed to get away from him before I couldn't control myself. I pulled my face away from his and lowered myself back onto my feet.

He nodded and I lowered my arm, taking a step back. There was a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye before the impact. A loud crack reverberated, followed by the sensation of falling. Blackness surrounded me before I hit the ground.

Chapter 11

~Captured~

Searing pain in my head pulsed with every heartbeat, exaggerated by a bouncing sensation that shook my body. Someone's arms were under mine and wrapped around my chest. Hands were also wrapped around my legs just above my ankles. I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy and uncooperative. I moaned. The bouncing stopped.