23. Lagoon
1006 Words
"We landed safely. I would probably have broken my neck if I were in human form. The alarm was blaring; footsteps were getting closer. We didn't waste any time and ran to the woods behind the mansion.
"Sabrina," I heard Jakob's voice in my head.
"Don't get involved," I shouted with my mind. "Don't get captured. I will try to hide somewhere, but I want to know that you are safe. It will not help anyone if you get captured, too," I felt as if I was yelling while Lea was taking me deeper into the woods.
"I can't leave you like this," he said.
"Maybe you can direct us where to go and hide?"
"Do you still have your collar on?" Jakob asked.
"Are you slowly getting to the pack?" I asked.
"I have to help you," he replied.
"There is nothing you can do right now, but I will need your help to hide," I told him. "Please go back to the pack."
"I am going," Jakob responded to me, defeated.
Lea's pace was incredible. She ran very quietly and took us further from the mansion and guards. Her paws softly made every step so gracefully, and strong muscles carried us forward.
I felt the collar tightly bounding my neck.
"I still have a collar," I replied to his original question. "It doesn't inflict any pain on me, and I am still in wolf form," I added.
"That is very interesting," he said. "We need a plan. Masters will soon know who left and search every part of the island for you."
I hated that he called them masters. I would tell him this one day, but it was not time to discuss the terms.
"I don't know much about the island. Can you guide me?" I asked Jakob.
"You should keep moving southeast, which will cross the road, be careful there, keep out. Then keep going until you get to the water. Do not try to swim this time, but walk in the water as deep as it's safe. Walk to the south by the shore. Dive if you see anyone. The water should cover your scent. You should swim around the mountain ridge to get to the lagoon. Stay there. I will see if I can sneak to see you or send Maria."
"Thank you, Jakob!" I replied.
Then I felt the emptiness within me. I couldn't hear him anymore. I was worried, but I didn't think that I could help him right now either. I was hoping that he was busy or asleep. I could not bear the thought that he was caught because of me.
We ran through the woods until we reached the water.
We followed Jakob's instructions, walking in the water but following the shore closely so the water would cover our scent. It was dark, but the light from the moon was enough for Lea's eyes.
We walked and walked, as it seemed, forever. I was worried that we were lost or walking the wrong way. Then the sun rose until I saw the mountain ridge. We started to swim around it. Lea was a great swimmer, but it was hours of swimming. The currents began pushing us out, and my collar started to sting periodically while we were fighting the water. Finally, we passed the mountains and saw the lagoon.
Lea pushed hard towards the shore, and we crawled on the sandy beach.
"We need to find better cover," I told Lea.
"Just a minute on the dry sand," she replied.
I made us crawl over to the big curved rock that provided some protection if someone looked at the waterside or the mainland.
The dry sand felt good on the wolf's wet fur, and I fell asleep.
When I woke up, I was all alone, human again, naked, and covered in sand. I tried speaking and reaching for Lea, but she didn't respond. Maybe she was exhausted from the journey, but it was strange to be alone again.
My stomach was growling, so I went into the water and washed the sand particles off me.
As the sun was setting, I rushed to look for any edible plants. There were bushes and trees, but I couldn't find any berries to eat, and my stomach was grumbling. So I kept wandering deeper into the woods until I found a massive patch of blueberry bushes. There were many prickles on them, but it didn't matter. I ate the blueberries, carefully taking them off the branches so as not to smash them. My fingers were sticky and dark purple. Nothing tasted better than those berries. Every muscle was sore, but that tiredness was more satisfying than any pain because I was finally free.
I ate the blueberries until I couldn't anymore. I needed to figure out where to settle for the night and get some warmth. I started collecting fern leaves to see if I could make a cover for myself. I also collected dry wood for the fire. I didn't know if I could light it without matches.
And suddenly, I heard someone.
"Lea," I called out to her, but she still didn't reply.
I tried to get inside the bush, but I was completely naked and getting all scratched up. I couldn't get inside, so I ran, hoping to hide somewhere else in the woods. I stopped a few times searching but couldn't see anyone still.
"Jakob," I reached out with my mind, but there was no answer.
I could see a man's figure approaching quickly in the dark.
I couldn't get caught again, so I ran again. I felt plants and roots with bare feet and branches scratching my body, but I kept going.
Finally, I couldn't hear him anymore. I stopped panting, looked around, and searched for cover.
I thought I heard something, so I started running again. But somebody jumped from the side and grabbed me. I tried getting out of his tight grip, but I couldn't.
"Sabrina," I heard a familiar voice.
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