Chapter 11

Wow - it's definatly my favourate chapter!

Chapter 11

Kira woke up at the crack of dawn. Her throat was parched but she struggled up and around her tree. She looked towards the camp. All the boys were asleep, including her guard. The fires were smouldering and nothing stirred. Kira bent down and strained on her lead. The loop moved along the branch. She moved her bound hands along again to get the same result. Finally the loop was bending the twigs at the end of the branch. She checked under the tent; seeing that her guard – she didn’t know who it was – was fast asleep, she pulled hard, and her lead fell to the ground. She smiled; surprised her escape had been so easy.

Crunching on the ground came towards her. Kira froze. Run, Kira run! The medallion told her – but she didn’t. It was the one person she wished to see the most, and the least, that came through the trees. Ash. He saw her and she bolted. She did not see her lead fly; Ash did, and leapt for it. Kira felt a strong tug and was forced to turn. Ash had her. It was always Ash.
“Let me go,” she pleaded, “please! Please, let me go and you’ll never see me again!”
“I can’t,” whispered Ash. He looked towards the tent and then back at her. “They’ll blame me! They’ll know and I’ll get in to trouble!”
“What’s some trouble?” Kira argued.
“They could kill me!” Ash whispered harshly. “I can’t –” He choked. “I can’t do it again.”
“Do what?” Kira tugged at the lead. She almost had it, but Ash gripped it at the last minute.
“Do WHAT?” More crunching on the dead leaves, and another boy came tottering around the corner rubbing sleep from his eyes. It was Kira’s last chance. She tugged again as Ash turned and saw the other boy. He looked back at her, eyes wide. She couldn’t tell what was in them – fear?
Kira gritted her teeth, “Ash, last chance. I don’t want to be stuck here. Let me go. Let me go – PLEASE!” He shook his head. She glanced at the tent, then the boy. He had noticed them. Now or never, Kira thought. She stepped towards Ash.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Then Kira lunged at him. Startled, Ash cried out. The other boy came running, and there was a muffled grunt from the tent as Kira’s guard was woken with a fright. Kira forgot everything; she only thought of getting away. She tried to lash out at Ash, and he caught her hands as they came down to strike. He rolled her over and she fought back. They rolled on until she was on top once more. Kira tried to get away, she tried to stand, but Ash tripped her and she landed on her front. Before she could scrambled away again, Kira was lifted up and put on her feet. Both Kira and Ash were breathing heavily. Ash had blood at the corner of his mouth, and Kira could feel a bruise on her cheek.

“Well– who’s a feisty one then?” Corcky sauntered up and grinned at Kira. Not a nice grin; one concealing a secret, a pleased grin, like Kira had one something Corcky had wanted her to. Kira spat and looked away. Corcky motioned with his head and Ash wiped his mouth on his sleeve, glared at Kira, and walked towards camp.
“We’ll be stopping today. Boss said he’ll meet us. He really wants to meet you,” Corcky paced in front of Kira, and the boy behind her who held her in place said nothing.
“Who is this Boss of yours?” Kira growled. Corcky turned and saw Ash returning with the rest of the gang, most of who were still half asleep. Corcky looked back to Kira.
“You’ll see,” he whispered.
‘Does he have green eyes?” Kira snarled. Corcky’s eyes widened but he ignored her otherwise, turning to his group.
“Time to move on!” He yelled. Kira stared at the group. Apart from most of the boys groaning, and one or two mutters under their breath, the gang obeyed Corcky and it was no time at all before Kira was pulled along behind Corcky. She was dragged by her lead this time; and Ash stayed well away. Whenever she looked at him he was looking somewhere else. She gave up.

*
The wolves were asleep. The only one awake was the watcher, who stood guard while the others slept. He was irritated. He could feel the Alpha – wolf sense, the ‘sixth sense.’ She was in trouble. A female came up to the watcher, her belly bloated with deer meat. She licked her chops and nuzzled him. She felt it too. The call for the Alpha. The watcher shook the snow off his back and barked. The wolves woke quickly and all felt the sense. The pace was set high and they all began to run. The Alpha needed them.

*

Kira heard the village before the others did, but she had not thought they would go anywhere else. In the end she found that they stopped short of the village and came to a barn. It had been abandoned, Kira presumed, a while ago – but the smell about it was fresh. There were no holes in the roof and when they went in they had to light a lantern, as it was dark. The barn smelt like hay and there was the stale smell of horses.

“Leave the door open!” The hair on the back of Kira’s neck stood up and she felt chilled to the bone.
‘Yes, Boss,” Corcky’s voice was barely a whisper as he shooed the other boys out.
“Go, will you? It only needs to be us two,” the voice said again. Kira was looking around, but even with Agwang’s wolf eyes she couldn’t see anything.
“Yes, Boss – call me if you need anything,” Kira caught Corcky’s eye, and for once there was something there, fear perhaps. They felt the same about ‘Boss’, both could tell. Corcky turned on his heel and – after opening the door again – disappeared into the light. Kira shuddered and looked around again, but only silence echoed back. Kira was nervous and alert. Let me out! Growled Agwang from Kira’s head. No! She thought; I won’t!

Kira tugged at her binds again and realised that someone had untied her. She stretched her arms and rolled her wrists, and looked towards the door. She wanted to leave, but knew ‘Boss’ was still in the barn.
“Kira...” she whipped round and came face to face with green eyes. They held her in their glare but her mind was whirling. She noticed the rest of him, keeping her eyes always on his eyes; she could not see much of him, he was covered with a long cloak, similar to hers. His face was older than hers and handsome in a way she did not understand. He had long hair, hiding his ears and coming to a stop just above his eyes. He looked familiar.
“Who are you?” She growled.
“You want to know?” His voice was soft and chilling, but like his face, strangely alluring.
Kira nodded and swallowed. What was it with him? She was frightened – very, very frightened. He was not what she would have expected. He leaned down, and electricity seemed to spark between them.
“Scorpio,” he whispered in her ear. Kira shuddered inwardly as he leaned back. She straightened up and gathered her strength.
“What do you want from me?” She asked. He smiled harshly and kept silent. He was pacing, around and around her – circling. Wolves circle, Agwang pointed out.
“Answer!” Kira demanded. Again, he was standing in front of her.
“I want to kill you!” He snarled.

Kira stumbled back and Scorpio grabbed her arm. Pain; pain like Kira had never felt sparked and flew through her body. It was so great she couldn’t scream, couldn’t cry out. She fell to her knees and felt numb. She was going to pass out... it couldn’t go on. She wanted to die if only to stop the pain, stop it... It shot through her like a spasm – fire was burning inside her.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the pain stopped. Scorpio had let go. Kira knelt there shaking uncontrollably. Never, ever again.

Scorpio stood away from Kira, a smile playing at his lips. He focused on his hand, observing it.
“Funny what a touch can do isn’t it?” he murmured. Kira stood up, still shaking all over. She was no longer entranced by his voice, just terrified.
“Funny?” she repeated. “I doubt it,” she muttered. Her comment wiped the smile off Scorpio’s face. He glared at her and she shrank away. The smile returned. He was stronger that her – in power as well as in strength. His power was greater than hers – what if she didn’t have any? He laughed and she looked up, confused. She had stopped shaking now.

Scorpio tucked back his cloak and took from his knife belt a dagger. He began to play with it, making sure Kira noticed its pointed end and sharpened side. Kira eyed the dagger, and thought back. A thought struck her.
“Why didn’t it hurt you?’ she said, glancing from his face to the dagger. Scorpio decided against answering that question, and took a step towards Kira. She stood her ground; surprising Scorpio and making him raise his eyebrows.
“Brave,” he remarked. She smirked. Scorpio caught the dagger as it spun in the air and held it tight. With his other hand, Scorpio lifted her chin, revealing her neck.

The pain was less excruciating this time but Kira had to bite her lip and clench her fists as it came. She felt the cold blade of the dagger against her neck and Scorpio’s hand still lightly on her chin. Remember? The pain of before had almost made her pass out. She gave a little gasp and fell. Her head hit the floor and Scorpio looked down. He stuck the dagger in the ground beside her and felt for a pulse. Kira felt a new wave of pain but managed to stay completely still. Her wolf senses told her when Scorpio turned away, muttering to himself.

She opened her eyes and looked up. Scorpio had her back to her, and was looking again at his hand – muttering. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, he was speaking so softly. She turned and pulled the dagger out of the ground and got slowly to her feet. She tried to slip around Scorpio, moving softly, but to her amazement he heard her, and snarled. He lunged for her and she slashed out with the dagger. He swore and clutched his side, where Kira could see blood. Looking up at her, Scorpio caught Kira’s eyes. Fiery hatred glared out of his green eyes.
“Corcky!” He yelled. Kira jumped and saw her chance. As she fled she heard Scorpio shout behind her, “We’ll meet soon Kira! I will get you!”
She ran.