Change of Heart 2

Chapter 31

There was a smile on his face when he approached the spot where they met twice before. He caught her scent without even trying. Lying on the ground at the base of the tree trunk was something white. As he walked closer he realized that it was a folded piece of paper with his name written on the front. The smile was still there, but it faded as he unfolded the paper and began to read what was inside.

Aiden,

I hope everything is well with you. If it is, then I pray that it stays that way. If it isn't...then I pray that things will get better. Things always get better Aiden; I want you to know that. I never thought I would ever have to do this...but sometimes things just happen especially when you least expect them to. I'm sure you're wondering why I'm doing this. It's not your fault. Remember when I said that I already broke the rules? Well, when you break the rules...there are consequences. I just want you to know that I'm never going to forget you. But I need you to forget me Aiden. There's no better way to say this but...you won't be seeing me anymore. I know that I told you that it was my job to take care of you but it's not anymore. So please, try to take care of yourself...for me.

I'm really sorry Aiden.

Ember.

"Ember." He whispered her name to himself as he dropped on the ground with hot tears soaking his face. His face slammed into the mixture of dirt and grass and his shouts of frustration echoed through the entire forest. In seconds he burst into more sobbing but the rocking of the ground caused him to stop. At first he thought it was an earthquake, but when he stood up and peered forward using his werewolf vision he realized that it was a wild wart hog crazily speeding his way.

"What the hell?" He whispered and ran to the tree pulling out his hidden bow. Stepping back into the path of the animal he aimed the arrow and shot it directly at its head. The dead animal came skating through the dirt and tumbled until it was two feet away from him and could move no more. Confused, he walked closer to the animal, pulled the arrow out of its head and threw it on the ground. "That's weird." He commented before he turned to walk away but again the ground started to shake below him. Taking a deep breath he aimed another arrow forward but when he peered ahead of him again there were hundreds of the animals coming his way. "Damn it!" He shouted and turned the other way starting to run.

"Hey!" Someone shouted. "Up here! Quick!"

"Who said that?" He shouted back while he ran.

"Up here! Look up in the trees!"

He looked up and saw a guy perched on a branch on one of the trees. His hand hung down for Aiden to grab. Speeding up he ran in the stranger's direction and grabbed his hand. In almost seconds he was high and safe in the tree while the wild animals raced through the forest down below.

"Who are you?" He asked the guy.

"Isn't it obvious?" The guy asked.

Aiden looked confused.

"I'm Tarzan." He smiled putting his hand out.

"You gotta be kidding me."

The guy laughed. "My name is Morgan."

"What are you doing in the trees?" Aiden asked.

"Uh, same thing you're doing; trying very hard not to be trampled."

"No I mean, what are you doing in the forest?"

"Um, nothing I was just hiking." Morgan replied looking down where the dirt was completely dug up but the animals gone. Without hesitation he jumped down from the twenty feet tree with ease and landed safely on his feet. Aiden did the same.

"Skilled hiker." Aiden said looking at him suspiciously.

"Comes with practice." Morgan shrugged. "What about you? Are you a hiker too or are you part feline?"

Aiden ignored him and looked forward. "Where did the animals go?" He asked walking in the direction where they disappeared. They walked for about five minutes before Morgan spoke.

"Question is," Morgan said. "what were they running from?"

"There're dead." Aiden said.

"Yea, whatever it was will sure come back for them and they will be."

"No. There're already dead." Aiden said looking at the corpses of the hundreds of animals which were scattered all over the ground over a cliff in the forest.