I found the tracks in the deep snow between the trees. He had eluded me for days but I was finally getting close. I followed the tracks to a small clearing in the woods where the buck stood grazing. Kneeling down, I forced myself to breath evenly as I pulled the arrow back and aimed. We needed this. Everyone at camp was starving. This could feed us for days. Pulling the arrow back against my cheek, I prepared for the release.
“ISABELLA!” The scream tore through the woods. I watched helplessly as the buck took off through the clearing and bounded into the forest on the other side.
“Goddammit,” I cursed under my breath. I turned as I heard him approaching from behind me. I prepared to rip him a new asshole for ruining our dinner until I saw his face.
Something was wrong.
“Jonathan, what happened?” I asked. His face was a mask of terror. I’d never seen my little brother so afraid.
“They found us,” he said, his voice cracking over his words as tears spilled down his cheeks. A chill ran down my spine as his words reached out to me through the cold evening air.
“It happened about an hour ago,” he continued. “I was checking the traps on the edge of camp when I first saw them. I must have been downwind as they walked right past me.”
My body went numb as the scenario played out in my mind. I didn’t need him to tell me what happened but I listened patiently.
“The screams were loud but ended quickly,” he said. “I don’t think any of them suffered too much.” I nodded at him and motioned him toward me. He ran into my arms so fast that we almost fell to the ground. I desperately tried not to panic. We didn’t have anything. All I had was my bow and a canteen. Jonathan didn’t appear to have anything on him.
“Jonathan,” I said, pushing him away to look in his eyes. “I need you to tell me what happened after the screams stopped. Did you see anything else?”
He nodded slowly and pulled farther away though he still hung on to me for dear life. “After I first saw them, I ran back to camp as quickly as I could but I was too late. It was already over. I didn’t even have a chance to warn them.” Jonathan burst into tears at this and I pulled him back into my arms.
“Jonathan, you couldn’t have done anything. You need to understand that, okay? I don’t even want to think about what could have happened to you if you had been at camp when they arrived.” I shuddered at the thought and pushed it out of my mind. He was safe for the moment.
“Please keep going, Jonathan. I need to know everything.”
“There were five of them; four females and one male. I think the male was the leader. He ordered all the bodies to be brought before him. He seemed to be looking for something but all he did was lift up the shirts of everyone. I don’t know if he found what he was looking for.”
My body went cold and I instinctively touched the tattoo on my left side.
How did they know?
Jonathan didn’t notice my reaction as he continued with his story.
“After they were done, they ventured back off into the woods. That’s when I came to find you.”
I nodded. If they knew I was here, they wouldn’t give up that easy.
“Jonathan, I know you’re scared but we have to get out of here. We have to find a new camp. It’ll just be me and you; like old times.” I gave him my best smile but it was forced and he knew it. Jonathan grabbed my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
“I trust you,” he said.
A howl pierced the peaceful woods. Other howls quickly followed and they seemed to be getting closer. Jonathan stiffened as he realized what it meant. He had been followed.
I looked into his eyes as I tried to figure out where to go. The howls seemed to come from everywhere.
“Jonathan,” I said, placing my hands on his face before kissing him on his cold cheek. He looked at me expectantly, awaiting the master plan.
“Run.”
———————————————
Get Sloshed at the Speakeasy!
Arden Ruth 
Loved this !!
Thank you so much! I already see a bigger story in my mind 🙂
Oh goodie !! I was going to ask haha can’t wait (:
That got my heart going this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Yay! Thank you so much for reading! 🙂
This was chilling. More coming, you say?
Thanks 🙂 I hope so. I’ve written down a few ideas!
I’d definitely love more of this story!
Thanks!! 🙂
Scary story! I thought it was something else at first – it wasn’t until almost the very end I realized it was a werewolf story. Really makes you hungry to hear the previous chapter – or the next one – so we can learn more about the back-story, what Isabella did to deserve being hunted, and what happens next. Thanks for sharing 🙂
That’s why I love these little challenges! I love giving snippets of a larger story and letting the readers fill in the blanks with whatever they want. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Excellent cliff-hanger. I want to know more.
Thank you so much!! I do too. Haha 🙂
Great story.
Thanks! 🙂
So good Arden, and perfect last line!
Thank you so much! 🙂
I found myself wondering what she had done to be hunted, as well. You definitely piqued my curiosity with this one. Great story!
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading! 🙂 I definitely think I’ll be expanding on this one!
Brilliant story, something that i haven’t read in a long time! I love how you didn’t have to explain anything bt everything was just out there.
And you couldn’t have had a better last line.
Love this!
Thank you so much! 🙂 This was a fun one to write!
This was an intense story! I don’t know why she’s running, but they have my sympathies. I hope her plan works 🙂
Thanks!! 🙂
Wow, this is scary intense! Not to mention really good. And now I’m all intrigued. I hope you do write more of this one. 🙂
Thank you so much!! When I first saw the prompts, I had no clue what to write. I can’t wait to expand on it! 🙂
I really liked the mystery surrounding this piece. And I am intrigued by the beginnings of these two characters.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Fantastic! I love the tension in this. You hooked me right away and I read through it quickly. Congratulations on a terrific story and for the win!
Thank you so much! I have really enjoyed your Speakeasy stories as well!
My spine is uncomfortably tingly now. Also, I want a big sister like this, even if she comes with werewolves on the side.
🙂 Hah – I know! Kick ass big sisters are the best.
Wow. This is some raw fiction. I’m totally intrigued. I want MORE.
I’ll be back.
🙂 Thanks!
I didn’t want this to stop, more please….
🙂 Thank you! I wrote a small prelude to it a few weeks later. I’m pretty sure this will be my next book!
http://ardenrr.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/prelude-to-hunted/
Ahhhh. yes!!!!