Inamorata

Chapter One

Chapter One: Wayward
Warning: May be a bit graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.

My eyelashes fluttered, as I felt myself lift from a state of unconsciousness. A feeling of stabbing cold penetrated my skin, causing a shiver to run through my body. I blinked, raising my hand to my eyes to rub them. Then my eyes danced around my surroundings. Tall pine trees towered over me, theirs tops covered in a layer of snow. I blinked again and pushed myself off my bed of snow and looked around me.

Where was I?

I stood up slowly, my feeling a bit wobbly as I did. My fingers tingled from the cold, I could barely feel the bark of the tree I held to support myself. No footprints. Meaning I couldn't go back the way I came.

Where did I come from?

Looking around a bit, sat still trying to process anything and everything. But my instincts told me what I needed. I needed shelter. I needed to get out of this cold.

I looked down at my clothes and saw that I wore a dress made of draped golden linen, tying at the shoulders and held in place at the waist by a belt. It offered no protection against the cold. And to make it worse, my feet were bare. I wouldn't survive like this.

I began to stagger through the snow. I needed to hurry and find somewhere to get warm. I didn't know where to go, so I was just aimlessly wandering. The cold bit into my skin like little rats all over my body, especially my feet that were buried underneath the snow with every step. My body trembled as I clung to myself.

I was going to die out there. I walked for what felt like forever, even though I could tell it was only a few minutes, but I felt the warmth of my life being sucked out of me with every passing second. Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I walked. I was going to die. Alone in the woods, scared and confused.

I felt like giving up. Why try? It was inevitable. Or so I thought. I suddenly heard a voice in the distance. It sounded like yelling. But it was a voice, a beacon of hope. Wiping my cheeks, I began to hurry towards where I heard the sound. I made it to the edge of a large clearing but froze as solid as an icicle.

At least a hundred huge wolves, clashing against each other, biting and ripping at each other. Blood stained the snow of the clearing red, leaking from lumps of lifeless fur on the ground. I knew I should have run, but I couldn't. I was terrified.

A growl echoed from behind me, causing my stomach to churn. I felt nauseous. Slowly, I turned, my eyes locking into gold. Creeping towards me was a white wolf, ready to pounce. I was sure they would have no problem ripping me to pieces like those who I had just witnessed.

I stumbled back, slowly moving into the clearing. I would surely die now. A whine escaped my throat before I suddenly felt the world beneath my feet disappear as I tripped over a branch, falling onto my back. I didn't move anymore, the white wolf was standing over me, its white fangs snapping at me as more growling fill my ears. I closed my eyes and simply whimpered quietly.

Suddenly, I heard yelping and a blood-curdling crack. I opened my eyes and was horrified. Another wolf, one that was grey and black, had attacked the white one, ripping its bottom jaw off completely,

My eyes rolled back into my head as I faded from consciousness. Out only laster a second though, I was awake again, but quite delirious. I tried to roll onto my stomach, nearly completely unaware of the bloodshed all around me. I just wanted to get out of there. I scrambled, crawling like a terrified mouse back to the forest. Dying there would be better than here.

A sudden weight came down onto my back, knocking me flat on my stomach. I couldn't breathe, for a second, gasping for air as I clawed at the snow to get free. I didn't look behind me. I knew I would freeze if I did. I just kept up my pitiful attempt at escape.

"What do we have here? A bug trying to crawl away. I wonder what would happen if I tried to squash it." A man's voice jeered as the pressure on my back increased.

I squeaked in pain, but nothing came out. I was beginning to panic more, my arms and legs thrashing. I didn't want to die like this.

"Pathetic" Their voice had changed suddenly, sounding rough and void of emotions.

They lifted their foot but easily grabbed me by my neck, lifting me into the air like a doll. I didn't move now, staring at my attacker. He was massive. His muscles were like that of a horse, you could see every movement they made under his skin. His face was surrounded by a beard of grey wires. Everywhere, he was covered in scars. But the most terrifying part. He wore a felt of white fur stained with a rusty color. My eyes drifted to the side and I saw the pelt of the white wolf was gone and now on this man.

"Huh... Prettier than I thought... I think I might just keep you. Like a trophy." He said nonchalantly before throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me into the battlefield. Or at least it used to be. Now, it was just a pile of bodies and blood. Few wolves were left, victoriously howling, blood coating their bodies.

My stomach flipped when I heard the sound of popping again. I lifted my head just a bit to see the wolves shifting into a different form... like the form I held. I quickly dropped my head again as I saw them beginning to rip off the pelts of their kills. I didn't want to watch it

The man slipped me over his shoulder again and set me down in the snow again. "If you move an inch from this spot, I swear I will rip your throat out."

I nodded my head quickly, staring up at him with wide eyes, tears forming in the corners. He gave me a weird look before walking away. I didn't move at all for a few seconds before I curled up into a small ball. I wanted to go home... where ever that was. I was sure it was far better than this place.

I must have fallen asleep at some point in the position because again, I woke to the freezing air and an unfamiliar location. It was getting dark now, the sun setting behind the tall trees, casting a shadow on me and a large number of wolves around me. Except they were all human now, wearing the pelts of the dead wolves and setting up tents.

I still didn't move until the huge man came up to me again.

"Get up." He growled lowly.

A small whimper escaped me as I slowly pushed myself up. I was not moving fast enough, seeing as he grabbed me by my upper arm and dragging me along with him. It felt hard enough to bruise. As I cried out, shoved me into a tent, causing me to fall forward.

"You're going to die if you stay out there. This is an act of mercy..." He growled as he moved across the tent. He grabbed a chain and proceeded to lock it around my neck. My eyes followed the chain to a large post in the middle of the tent.

"Don't try anything little girl. My men have been instructed to kill you if you do." He turned and began to leave, looking back for a brief second. "I'll be back for you soon."

Once he was gone, tears welled in my eyes. Yes, I was alive, but now... I would suffer.

I wobbled to the bed in the tent, seeking the warmth of the blankets. I crawled underneath them and began to cry. I cried and sobbed and whined until I had no more tears to cry.