Snippet #1782572

Ari ran down the path, shaking her head in bewilderment. Crys seemed so nice, but then again she was out to hurt Sean and doing that would hurt the Pack. Yet it was hard to believe that one person could accomplish all of that just by tormenting another. And what on earth did she mean that she should stay away from the pack? Ari couldn’t just leave, could she?

Her mind tossed around this notion, toying with it for awhile before she came to a dead halt. She was already seeing it from Crys side, and agreeing. She groaned and slowly walked forward, lightening her mood by thinking about Sean. Something in her twisted and she felt giddy until she realised she would have to face him and the entire Pack, answering for her actions today. She reached the edge of camp, taking a deep breath before walking out amongst the assassins. As she walked by they grew hard and silent, glares hitting her like daggers. She flinched internally; you didn’t have to be an empath to feel how much they hated her. She walked briskly past them, keeping her head held high even though her heart was racing in her chest.

Ari breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she had passed the large mob of assassins and she neared her sleeping place. She was exhausted but as she neared the door a hand wrapped around her mouth and nose, another around her arm, and she was quickly dragged into the woods even as she fought back.
“Hush,” growled the sharp tone of Stranger as she got a very good kick right into his knee. Ari fell still and let Stranger lead her into the woods a little ways before he let her go.
“Stranger,” she cried, turning to hug him tightly and he carefully and awkwardly embraced her back.
“What the hell have you done,” he sighed, stepping back, “You do realise that you insulted Sean’s brother and talked like you were pals with Ali. Sean will hear of this and you.....”
“Are going to end up dead or worse,” she exhaled noisily, “I know, I am screwed. But what I did probably saved his life!”
“Maybe, but do you think that Sean and the others are going to see that? Ari,” he shouted, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to look up at him, “You have put yourself in harm’s way. The Alpha maybe your trainer but mark my words Ari, if and I mean if you are given a second chance you will suffer for this.”
He watched as she bowed her head sadly, blinking as he saw that she had sliced her hair short. He gently ran his fingers down it, a little mesmerised by the colour before gently pulling her chin up to look at him.
“You have to be careful,” he said his tone softening, “And what did you do to your hair?”
“Sean cheated when we fought. He used it to pull me down and so I cut it,” she shrugged, “Now no one can use it against me.”
Stranger laughed and smiled lightly, amused by this immensely. He ruffled her hair like a kid’s and she slapped his hand away, glaring at him as she smoothed the wild strands back down.
“Erm, Stranger? Could you take me to find Donavan? I really need to ask for forgiveness for the things I said,” she blushed and looked down at her feet, rubbing the tip of her boot into the earth. She could tell that he wasn’t angry, just worried for her and that what she was doing would help heal at least one of the things she did wrong. Finally he relented, nodding his massive head and resting his hand on the broadsword on his hip.
“I can but I warn you that he may not be so forgiving right now.”
Ari dipped her head and began to follow Stranger when he turned sharply and shook his head.
“Actually, right now is not a good time to see Donovan. He will be with Sean and you don’t want to be running in there as of right now,” he paused and continued walking forward, calling over his shoulder as an afterthought, “Franklin is my name Ari, feel free to use it.”
“Franklin? Huh, if you don’t mind I would like to continue calling you Stranger,” she bounced alongside of him, happy to see and talk with the wolf that had found her.
“Alright,” he laughed loudly, “though I do suggest that as soon as we hit camp you stop drawing attention to yourself, there are plenty right now who would see you dead.”
Ari stopped skipping and withdrew into herself; making it look like “Franklin” had given her a stern scolding and he caught on to her plan and grabbed her arm. He steered her back out of the woods and back to her sleeping room, pushing her through the door. She winked as he shut the door and she lay across her bed, running her fingers lightly down the side of her bow. Ari waited until the voices had died outside of her door, peaking out the window to find that the aria around her was deserted. She cracked open her door, scampering out grabbing only her bow and a quiver full of arrows. She ran through the camp, still seeing nobody around and she assumed they would be at the Alpha’s place, figuring out what had happened and reporting of “the little traitor”. She shook her head and continued running, skidding to a halt as she saw some targets set up down below. Ari made sure that no one was there before walking calmly down and drawing an arrow from her quiver. She carefully nocked it raising her bow in a beautiful arc and turning her body until she got the stance she was looking for. She breathed, taking her time drawing her arm back and breathing deeply as her eyes focused on the centre of the target. Her eyes flashed and she released the arrow, watching carefully as it struck dead centre of the target. She drew a second arrow; repeating the motions much more quickly and her face broke into the grin as that arrow split the other, watching the broken splinters fall to the ground. She lowered her bow, relaxed finally, before walking over and pulling her arrow from the target and collecting the splintered one.
Ari tensed as she felt a hand fall on her shoulder, followed quickly by, “You’re pretty good.”