Snippet #1512428

Ulva’s head laid upon a thin piece of moss that acted as a pillow against the worn planks of wood that made up the interior of the hollow tree. It was so quiet... she was sure she could hear a pin drop. Her legs hung out of the window which was at floor level to the planks, positioned right below the clocks that didn’t tick anymore. Fresh cuts and droplets of blood on her legs leaked slowly from tiny open wounds given to her by the demon woman that nearly took her life. With all her adrenaline pumping she could barely feel the cuts, her legs swinging freely, the damp breeze only making her feel more alone. Well, besides being here with Stitch. Stitch, Ulva thought, letting her head roll to left, cheek resting against the earthy moss. Her long blond hair was tucked beneath her in a tangled mess from the few hours events. Stitch was laying in a makeshift nest, tiny black eyes gazing back at Ulva with a look of wisdom and thanks.

“Why was that ugly beast after you, I wonder?” Ulva asked the creature softly, her voice no higher than a whisper. Almost softer than the whispers she was hearing from the tree. None of the words made any sense, or sounded like any language that she knew of. It was somewhat unnerving but she was beginning to accept the fact that it wasn’t something she should get stuck on. She had to think of what she needed to do next. Stitch was safe for now and probably the next few hours, though it would really help out if she knew the significance of the tiny creature. Obviously the black monster wanted it for a reason, and completely avoided all the humans until they started to fight back.
“One would think you’re the key to something, am I right?” Ulva asked Stitch, but it only chirped half-heartedly and got quiet again, hiding in the nest as best it could. Surprisingly if you gave the nest a quick look over, Stitch would have entirely blended in. Hiding was what both of them were doing right now. There was a flint of guilt for being safe here in this hollow home though, while who knows what else might be going on further away.

The thing that was making Ulva the most anxious was the growing silence of the area, like a calm before the storm. One could just sense that it was only a brief moment of rest before they were on the move again. It was the others she had to worry about now. Her heart sank as she thought about those back at the mansion, Rea and the rest who stayed to fight the demon creature. Then there was that woman that just tried to kill her, and gave her a decent run up until the hill path. Ulva would have been dead if it wasn’t for that cat like creature that emerged from the trees, whose massive size and color left a mark in her mind despite the darkness in the area. She hadn’t learned the woman’s name who attacked her, but she was indeed one of the lucky draws. Something very wrong was going on, it just didn’t seem right. Thomas couldn’t have planned for such a violent mess, he wouldn’t have brought them there just to see who could survive in this land of killer beasts. Maybe it was Ulva’s hope that the old man had some answers to help them out, or maybe she was being too naive.

And then there was the noise of all noise, the storm that she was afraid wouldn’t be here so soon. It was a sound that manifested out of no where. It reverberated in echos and when it finally had reached Ulva’s ears, she could feel her body freeze. She pushed herself up quickly, reflexes sharper and more agile the longer she was in the forest. Her legs wrapped back inside the window, shielding herself back into the shadows of the night. Unbeknown, her eyes shifted to black, but the side effects were instantly noted. This was the feeling of her trying to shift, trying to revert back to a wolf.

”No..” It leaked between her tense lips, holding back the urge to let in the energy, the power she had felt in the mystical form she had taken on. It wasn’t time to change but the desire was there. It was sparked by the sound of a crash, indeed maybe the beast that was after Stitch. The natural instinct to hunt was pulsing through her blood which felt hot beneath her skin now. “Why is this happening to me, Stitch? I can feel it...” Ulva said while crawling over to the nest. As Ulva moved further into the room, she inconveniently missed the flash of white pelt from another canine below on the forest floor.. it was Rea in her dog form.

Stitch was dead quiet. No thrilling shriek like it did before in the mansion, or even a flap of its wings. Its eyes were focused on something beyond Ulva. She followed the trail of sight to the hatch door the hung open above the staircase. Before her was the ethereal wolf she saw earlier, whose body was only a ghost but whose color lit up like millions of tiny fireflies. For a fair enough reason Ulva gasped, scooting backwards until her back hit the wall. No words or thought processes could take shape as she gawked at the glorious wolf before her, bigger than her as she sat against the floot. She turned to Stitch who wasn’t showing any sign of fear. The wolf moved closer, its paws appearing to hover about an inch above the ground. Ulva barely could twitch as the urge to shift clenched her muscles tighter. The presence of the force before her was calling it out,

“Don’t fight the gift bestowed on you, little one,” the spirit voiced, its words not just in her head but loud enough for the whole tree to listen to.

Ulva bit her lip and tried to get further away but her back was already pressed as much as it could up against the tree’s inner barrier. “This isn’t a gift I asked for... I’m human!” she finally managed to say in a raised voice, nails scratching into the wooden boards. The wolf stopped about 2 feet away, looking down at her with yellow eyes that glowed brighter than fire.

”For at midnight brake forth a Light,
which turn'd the night to day,
And speedily a hideous cry
did all the world dismay.
Sinners awake, their hearts do ake,
trembling their loynes surprizeth;
Amaz'd with fear, by what they hear,
each one of them ariseth.

They rush from shadows with giddy heads,
and to their vision run,
Viewing this light, which shines more bright
than doth the Noon-day Sun.
Gateway appears (they see 't with tears)
the Death of dark Angels, they dread;
Who with his plight comes on amain
to Save the Living from the Dead.”

It’s words cut sharply through the thick air, Ulva’s black eyes as wide as an owl’s. What was it saying? It sounded too much like a riddle or some crazy prophecy and she couldn’t help but feel like a child cowering in a corner. She didn’t want to be here, she wanted to be back home in Russia, cuddling in her Babushka’s arms. There was so much weight she felt was being placed upon her by the wolf.

“Can you at least give me a straight answer! What am I supposed to do!” she cried, so restless that it was more of a whimper. The wolf nodded its head down, getting closer to Ulva’s face.

“Stop being afraid. The Light is your weapon. Find it inside those brought here and bring it out, or else Darkness will ruin this land. There are Demons amongst us,” the wolf explained, the words quicker now.. and then the wolf’s tiny lights began to fade.

“No, don’t leave now..” Ulva said while reaching out for the spirit, but her hand traveled right through its form until it all but disappeared into the darkness again. Stitch chirped happily as it popped its head from the nest, but the feeling in the room was still ominous. Ulva cupped her hand above her mouth, the heat of her breath growing in temperature. Her body was forcing itself slowly to morph, change back into a wolf. But she wouldn’t, not now. She had to get out of this tree and follow the sound of the crash. “Stitch, stay here,” she huffed through a weak pant, more courage than she would ever know pulsing under her skin. Her face read fear but her body moved forward, crawling down the steps backwards and then taking foot at the tree’s doorway. To the right she could her voices, muffled under heavy bush and overgrown grass. Ulva crept silently, making sure to keep her body crouched low in the greenery. She took refuge in a large leafy covering that hung like a curtain from a tree branch. Through it, she could see a makeshift clearing... where the black beast lay pierced with a spear by.... a massive scorpion type of creature who looked just as dangerous.. and then there was what looked to be Rea, yet even more muscular and regal than before in a red gown. Ulva had to rub her eyes to make sure she was seeing things correctly. Rea was willingly putting herself in the wake of harm, and in a choice of attire that wasn’t fit at all for running in a forest. Ulva could feel her teeth grow larger, sharper. A low growl rumbled in the base of her throat, directed towards the beasts before her. And then Rea spoke,

“I would like to have part of the kill, I have chased this beast, have followed it and been lead here. Do you understand?”

Alright, so Rea had chased after the beast and now wanted to take part in the kill. But who was to say that the beast baring the spear wouldn’t as quickly pierce it through Rea’s heart. Ulva could barely stand the seconds behind this cover, feet etching to burst through and run in front of Rea as a shield.

The large monster of a creature paused for a while but soon answered Rea. It could speak? That THING could speak? Ulva stood her ground while she listened.

“Do what you must. But if he escapes this weapon will take life from something else,” and it was those final words stung the air like bee stings. Its hand moved to its face to reveal under a helmet the most eerie, creepy face below. His other arm reached out forward, offering Rea a hand.

“Do you have a name, human?”

Ulva couldn’t stay quiet any longer despite the part of her that already was regretting what was about to happen next.

Bursting through the wall of growth, Ulva tumbled into the ground of the clearing. Of course I’d still be clumsy in my human form.. she thought sarcastically as she regained her balance and ran towards the group of three.

“Rea! Don’t!” Ulva shouted, already at arms distance behind her companion. Ulva’s pale fingers reached forward, brushing Rea’s back softly with the pads of her fingers before drawing her arm back in. “Lets not rush into things,” Ulva then said, eyes looking upwards to refer to the massive scorpion-type animal beckoning Rea. Ulva stool tall, her back straight. Her hair was now the color white, as white as her pelt of fur was in wolf form. She glared up at the Guardian, black eyes watching its every move. Not even the dying sound of the monster to her right could make her flinch.