The Omen of the Crow

Chapter 9

    As I ran through the woods my legs became heavy, there was an unknown force pulling me back. I bolted forward fighting against the unseen force, I could see the end of the tree line ahead. The end of the pack territory was almost there. As I ran a loud  roaring voice shouted, "Stop!" I looked around as I continued on but saw no one, the voice had sounded like Rickon. I shook my head ignoring the command and pushed forward full force with determination. As I reached the tree line I heard a deep howl as a silver wolf jumped in front of me causing my heels to dig into the ground resulting in my body coming to a sudden stop almost losing my balance.

    I stared at the wolf making eye contact with his eyes, they flashed a ferocious bright green. The tree line was just behind him, I took a knife I had stashed and threw it at the wolf's head but at the last moment he dodged it and the knife went flying embedding itself on a tree. "Stop!" The voice shouted again but this time with a louder ferocious snarl. The wolf looked at me with a rabid mouth,  teeth snapping at me, pushing me backwards.

    Suddenly I felt a wave of pain that folded me down to my knees, holding my stomach as it twisted. I looked up only to see a full moon up ahead, the silver wolf howled loudly in the background followed by other howls in the distance. My skin crawled over my muscles as I felt my bones snap into odd angles. I screamed out in pain as my body snapped into a canine form, I looked down only to see claws instead of my hands and grey fur sprouting out of my skin. I growled, my teeth protruding out of my mouth making me taste blood.

    I heard deep growls coming from within me as I fought against my turning. My spine spasmed as I heard it elongate and snap, after a while I let out a deep thunderous howl as I shed my skin for fur. I panted looking up at the moon, exhausted. The silver wolf pranced around me and yelped in excitement. 

    "Tegan you have transformed!" The voice inside my head shouted eagerly. I moved around only to find myself renewed to my normal self once again. I felt all my strength come back to me, even more of it than before. All my senses had not only been regained but enhanced twice fold, it excited me. I bounced around trying to get the feel of four legs, Rickon stood in the side lines with encouragement.

    I took another look at the moon and howled feeling reborned. I raised my lip as I saw the chance to take off into the night and leave these woods. I jumped on Rickon taking him by full surprise, he fell on his back as I pinned him down with all of my strength causing his back to dig into the dirt. I heard the melody of his bones splintering beneath me and I internally laughed in satisfaction. He tried to push me off, but the strength he had was no competition to mine.

    "You can't kill me!" He snarled his anger flaring out his now black eyes. I pressed down harder on him and he yelped out in pain, maybe I should crush him to death. "Off!" He yelled. I felt a force thrust me backward and I hit several trees as I went tumbling through the darkness. I quickly recovered and pounced on all fours pumping my legs forwards until I saw the Silver wolf who was still on the ground.

    I joyously continued full force ready to make my kill, but at the last second Rickon turned his eyes to me and another wave hit me, sending me flying into the darkness once more. I shook my head and headed back undeterred towards his broken wolf but when I finally got near, Rickon was on his feet no longer a wolf but a naked man. I pushed forward with caution this time but as before I felt a force pushing me back from him.

    His eyes were cold and emotionless. It was then I knew I truly could not kill him, whatever bond he had formed with me made it impossible to hurt each other. I snapped my jaws and growled fiercely in defiance, still wanting to tear his neck. 

    A shadow stepped out of the trees, it was a tall mulatto man. Midnight! I looked at him then back at Rickon and grinned making sure my sharp animal teeth were showing. If I couldn't kill him then I would kill everything he loved like the vengeful crow I was. A sudden flash of recognition washed over him but in seconds I had passed him and pounced on his beta. 

    Midnight quickly shifted to an enormous black wolf before I bit down on his shoulder. I shook him from side to side hearing his bones break, he yelped in pain trying to pull away but it was useless. I bit down fully and trashed him one more time until the wolf went limp. I threw his body on the ground in satisfaction, I hadn't even noticed the silver wolf running full force towards me until he had already slammed into my side.

    I rolled several feet away getting up almost immediately. Rickon sniffed the black wolf before letting out small whimpers and finally one loud mournful howl. It was clear now to me, in order to get Rickon to submit to me I had to kill his closest friends. I sniffed the air and directed my attention to the direction of the mansion.

    "Stop! What do you want?" Rickon shouted in a calm voice.

    In truth I would have liked to hide out in the wolf's den but Rickon had crossed the line with me. I looked him up and down trying to take advantage of the situation. The reminder of his paws on my skin still stung bitterly on my tongue.

    "I need a safe haven from my pursuers, but I am not one to be ordered around mutt. I will stay but if you ever touch me again I will kill your entire pack." I sneered at him. He was quiet for a while but finally nodded in agreement.

    "I will not touch you." His voice turning husky as if it had gone dry. "It would seem you are stronger than myself and I am very f*****g strong." He knew the peril he was presented with, for now he had to comply.