Author's Note: Hi! Hi! Thanks so much to everyone who voted and responded to my last story. This is a continuation. It's probably two times longer than the previous segment. And I'll likely continue the story releasing one or two every week as writing practice. So, please leave comments to help me improve my writing. ^-^
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Running. Why was she running?
Ren scrambled across the brush of the forest floor, barefoot paws sliding along the excess of foliage littering the vicinity. She winced at the extraneous noise she was making.
It was coming.
Ren flattened her ears. Her muzzle lifting to the scent the air, her fox nostrils becoming filled with scents.
But they weren't right?
Ren couldn't figure out why. But something was off, no not off- wrong. Something was wrong.
The sound of crashing drove her into a sprint. Foxes weren't as fast as other shifters, but it wasn't a shifter.
Wait, it wasn't a shifter?
Why couldn't she remember?
Shit! How had she gotten here? Why wasn't her mate at least talking to her?
Her mate?
Something inside her screeched to a halt. There was something wrong there, too. But she couldn't remember.
Damn it. Why couldn't she remember?
An electrical charge ran through her body- her psychic senses sounding an alarm. The thing was within half a mile of her, but it was constantly flickering on and off her radar from all directions.
On some instinct, she backpedaled- managing to slip behind a tree before a harsh crack filled the, conveniently, clear area of forest Ren had been about to enter.
The thing- flashed into existence.
Yes, the word flash tasted right in her canine mouth.
The way the magic shimmered in the air indicated a form of teleportation- but the word was off. Alice teleported. In fact, Alice had teleported her on occasion. Teleportation didn't feel like this.
Ren looked on as the flash dissipated and the form should have become clear. Should, it turned out, was the operative word.
Despite the lack of visibility, Ren felt the thing's aura grow with every second, and she had to let canine teeth dig into the tongue of her mouth to prevent a whimper from escaping.
Wrong. It felt wrong.
She couldn't see it clearly- almost as if a clear fog overlaid the thing's form blurring its shape. But she knew, it wasn't supposed to be here.
Somehow, she knew it wasn't supposed to be here.
"Little one," the thing spoke, and Ren howled in agony- her fox ears flattening at the pressure. Get away, she had to get away.
"I have no quarrel with you, only your mistress," it began to move toward her, and Ren tried to move backwards hitting a barrier.
Too much. The thing was too much of something. Ren just didn't know what that something was. But it was overwhelming her even at this distance.
Nevertheless, the thing kept coming. Taking what Ren imagined were slow measured steps- perfect serenity in its movements, perfect order.
Order, the word resounded in her head. Bad.
She tried to back up. She really did try. Fox shifters knew when to run unlike some of their other shifter counterparts. But she hit a barrier.
Srrck! The barrier made an ugly sound as it fried the back of her haunches. Ren whimpered at the new injury.
The thing continued its advance. Its movements alien their perfection.
When it was only a meter from her, something burned on her chest. And an anguished howl filled the air; with a start, Ren realized it was her. It was her sounding so broken- so raw.
The creature's sereneness seemed to break in response, and it darted towards her its magic crackling in the air. Power so much power was rushing her- too much. It was all too much.
Ren woke up.
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For a second, Ren just laid there staring up into her mate's eyes- her heart pounding. Her breath was coming in harsh gasps.
Blaine was straddled on top of her, and his hands were clasped on her shoulders. His breath coming in short, ragged spurts while his body lay on top of her tensed.
Under normal circumstances, the situation would have rather arousing.
Instead, she laughed. The laugh sounding strangled even to her ears before shoving him off the bed.
He hit the ground with a rather satisfying thud- the small act of violence reducing her anxiety a bit.
Blaine had woken her from what in all likelihood was a prophetic dream.
Was her reaction to his help rational? Nope.
Did it make her feel better? Absolutely.
She began to giggle- hysterical giggles that soon turned into full out bellows of laughter- her entire body shaking with relief. By the time Ren was done and had opened her eyes, her mate sat across from her on the bed- watching her with exasperation.
Yes, it was fortunate her mate handled her little idiosyncrasies well.
When she'd fully calmed, Blaine finally spoke. "You want to talk?" he asked studying her with those beautiful blue eyes. "Or you want to play?"