Thread: The Wolf, the Forge, and Love Forbidden - Raivh & Abovetheroses

Ahren glanced from the thick treeline ahead of him to the sky above. The clouds swirled overhead, and he felt the beat of life firing up in his chest. It was like a drum, thrumming loud and steady. He rolled his large shoulders back and shifted his weight, his body naturally calibrated itself for a powerful explosion of forward momentum. It was an old rush, but it was one he quickly recalled to memory as he felt the wind screaming past his ears. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, and he felt the warmth of his body flood over him like a waterfall. The sensation was almost overwhelming and caused his knees to buckle and his vision to cloud for a split second as his feet flew over the earth below. Another howl ripped through the sky and reached his ears, followed quickly by the deep bellow of a horn. His head snapped back and he slid across grass, rock, and dirt. Chest heaving, he lost his hold and rolled a few times before he could right himself. Another desperate and sorrowful cry was carried by the wind and he swung back around and tore off once more. They were on the move, and he needed to be, too. He wasn't sure how long it would take him to make the change. As he neared the forest, he scrambled with the strands, thick fingers ripping through them as quickly as possible until the leather armor was sliding off his back. It landed with a heavy thud behind him as he ripped past a few trees and kicked off his boots. Here, he stopped and stood still, digging his toes into the soil as he felt the pulse of the earth against his soles. His large chest heaved, mouth slightly agape as he drew in ragged breaths. That was the fastest and hardest he'd had to run in many years. His eyes remained closed, brow furrowed in concentration. Gritting his teeth, he took one deep lungful of air and threw back his head. When he opened his eyes, he could see the canopy above him had changed. Another blast of the horn in the distance was chased by the barking of the Lord's hounds in pursuit of Elise. Ahren's ears sat forward at the sound, and his black lips curled back, giving way to a fierce bite as he gnashed his teeth. He could feel the prick of his fangs against his jowl. Fury coursed through him like a river, carving out a canyon of pent up emotion and energy that had been locked deep inside during his time in captivity. His eyes widened as the horn once again met his ears, and he felt it. At first, his chest felt tight, his lungs expanding inside of him until he felt he might implode. And then he felt it leave, and the sound that left with it shook the earth and what dead leaves remained on the trees. It was eerie and aggressive as it cut through the air like a sharp blade through soft flesh. --------------------------------------------------------- Elise's insides were tight as she paced the cage, trying to find strength to run. If she could get away from them fast enough, she could take out the hounds. It might not mean her escape, but it might slow the wicked men of this keep until these hounds' pups grew old enough and strong enough to hunt her kind. Circling the moving prison slowly, she looked at her captors one-by-one, sharing her teeth with them as they shared their own vile grins. Her wounds ached, and she didn't know how far her legs would carry her. It had taken a lot out of her to stand earlier in that wretched stone keep. Her heart felt heavy in her breast, like an iron ball meant to keep her still. The drab and dormant branches of the forest were coming into view now. She stopped pacing and stood at the only way in and out of the cage they kept her in. Slowly, her eyes closed, trying to force her mind to concentrate. She felt her rolling enclosure come to a bumpy halt. The men around her chattered amongst themselves as two neared her. Her eyes open, and she fixed her gaze on one of the men and snapped her teeth at him. It caused him to jump and curse until the others around him laughed. Come on! Luca shouted. I haven't got all day! I want her hanging to bleed before dark! Large shoulders rocked and swayed as she watched the men lift large bolts from the door after freeing the lock and letting it fall to the ground and embed itself in the dirt. The very second the bars were moved out of her way, she leapt forth, causing the men to scream in terror in what she only assumed was a cry for their lives. Internally, she chuckled, but the second of humor was quickly outmatched by the fear she felt growing in her belly as she realization set in. She wasn't running just to save her own head. She needed to run and run fast if she had any hope of saving her child. When she crossed the grass and began to feel the crumble and crunch of dead leaves at her feet, she gained some momentum. That's when she heard the hounds behind her. She flung a quick glance over her shoulder and could see them bounding after her. The poor beasts looked starved and likely were. That's how man kept his beloved pet. They fed them so they were strong, but when a hunt was coming, they cut them off, and the dogs grew bitter and ferocious, daring to take the arm of the nearest person that showed even a hint of fear toward them. Her nostrils flared as she desperately drew air into her lungs. Her vision was blurry as she ran, her strength waning. She wasn't going to make it. Then her ears were met with a sound that sent a shiver down her spine and made her hackles rise. She didn't recognize it. A rogue? At least he would provide some distraction and perhaps a bit of luck to help her get close enough to the mountains that she could trap the mongrels nipping at her tail. Elise! As much as she didn't want to stop, she did, dead in her tracks, and she spun around, searching.