Wildling

Nightmares always make me stressed. To relive what happened and think of alternative scenarios that could have saved everything. I always feel like shit once I wake up. I can’t go back and change what happened no matter how much I long to.

With the past on my mind, I hastily put on my clothes. I grabbed my tight, black pants and pulled them up over my hips. Throwing on my black, long sleeve shirt over my bra, I grabbed the other necessities. My shirt had a hood I usually used to avoid my hair getting tangled in branches. I adjusted my black corset around my waist, so it sat just under my breasts. I looped my tan leather belt, that I could attach my knives to, through my pants. I attached my thigh strap to my right thigh and slid two of my larger knives into their compartments. I wrapped my quiver for my bow around my shoulder. The strap was leather that would extend over my right shoulder and gave me a little more protection. I decided against my black gloves that I usually wore. I usually ditched them once I started sweating. I grabbed my black cowl I used as a face shield and slid on my calf high black combat boots. I spotted my bow leaning against the wall by the door and made my way towards it. I whistled for Accalia as I left my cabin, drawing my hood over my head and the face shield up over my nose.

I always train in full dress. That way I will be prepared for every situation and weather condition wearing what I would in fights. It also helped that I looked fierce so if any humans were around, they would hopefully steer clear of me, and the hood and face shield also helped me hide the disfigurement of my right eye.

I began jogging through the woods and I weaved around trees, jumping over fallen logs and stumps. I picked up speed until I was at a full run towards the base of the mountain that my cabin sits nearby. In the five years I’ve been here, I know the paths of the mountain like the back of my hand. My pace slows a bit as the elevation gets higher. I chug on, loving the burn in my legs that takes my mind off everything else. Accalia jogs beside me. She loves our runs too.

I continue our pace, stopping only briefly to catch my breath or drink from the stream that trickles by. After about two hours we are halfway up the mountain where there is a clearing with a cliff that overlooks the valley. This is my training ground and my escape from my own mind. When I train, my brain zones out while I focus only on fighting style, maneuvers, and what I can make better. I don’t have time to think about anything else. Instead, physically exhaust myself as much as I can in the hopes that at night, I will be able to sleep. It rarely ever works.

My biggest issue in training was not having an opponent to fight against. I spent the next few hours practicing my target practice with archery and throwing knives. I used a variety of tactics from running and tumbling while I did it to jumping off various trees and rocks as I shot or threw. I even tried to get Accalia to attack me. She never quite gets what I’m asking. She will usually run towards me and jump on me to give kisses. I trained as hard as I could. At least I have excellent aim now, even if I can’t fight hand to hand. I was panting with sweat running down my face as I jumped from a large boulder, twisting about 90 degrees in the air and firing my last arrow at the target. My muscles were trembling by the time Accalia and I began to descend the mountain towards home.

Once we made it back to the cabin, I removed my hood and face shield while walking inside, the cloth damp from sweat. Accalia ran past me to go collapse on the couch. Lazy wolf.

I unstrapped my thigh strap and tossed it onto the kitchen table. It was around 2pm so I proceeded to make Accalia and I lunch. I grimaced as I realize we will have to go hunting soon. I didn’t mind hunting until it came to dressing the animal. Such a messy job.

I had dug a small cellar type of space behind the cabin. I had to dig down to the permafrost so I could have a place to store food before it spoiled. Wintertime was easy as I could just use snow. I grabbed two fish that I had caught yesterday and some potatoes to fry up for lunch. I guess I should hunt tonight or tomorrow at dawn that way the deer would be out grazing. I might get a bear if I’m lucky. They are out trying to fatten up before winter hits which should be another month or two. My mind drifted to all the chores I needed to do before the snow hit. At least they will keep me busy.

I spent the rest of the afternoon picking veggies from the garden and seeing if I could catch more fish. The sun was beginning to set by the time I finished. I should have another hour or two of light so I can clean off in the stream and make dinner.

I was walking back towards the cabin when Accalia’s ears pricked up and she stared into the distance. I stopped walking to listen. My eyes and ears didn’t pick up what she heard yet. I really hated not having those heightened senses anymore. Accalia stood still, hackles raised as she growled.

“What is it girl?” I walked towards the cabin and slowly grabbed my bow and quiver, keeping my movements quiet as my ears strained. Then I heard it. Crashing in the underbrush. I tilted my head towards the direction it was coming from.

“Get him!” I heard a man’s voice yell. A few other voices yelling in agreement. There was at least three people headed my way not counting whatever or whoever they were chasing. They were coming from the direction of town. They would be near my borders in minutes. I took off, sprinting through the thick brush until I reached an old path that would lead towards town. I could hear the men running closer. They sounded louder than a rampaging bear.

“Hurry before he reaches the witch’s borders!” Aw, he must be talking about me. Pesky humans. They always make up lovely names for me. Though in some cases I guess some of the names they make up are true, but they didn’t need to know that. They could speculate all they wanted.

I ducked down as I ran towards their voices. I’m pretty sure I knew who they were. I found a tree that had good brush coverage and knelt behind it, waiting with my bow drawn. I watched as a large, muscular man sprinted towards me, well, as best he could while limping badly. Blood was dripping down his chest and his left leg. He had only shorts on. I didn’t get a great look before one of the humans threw a knife towards the man. He yelled as it lodged into his calf and he crumpled to the ground. That seemed to be the final blow. He was done for. I watched as he tried to crawl away. It was clear he was exhausted and about to pass out from pain.

Suddenly, Accalia jumped over my head and landed in front of the man, facing the three humans chasing him. She lowered her head, growling menacingly with her fur raised. I raised my eyebrow at her behavior. She had never acted protectively to anyone besides me. He must be a werewolf. It may explain his lack of clothing. Wolves seem to recognize the natural kinship with werewolves.

“Shit!” The men slid to a stop a few feet away from her. They quickly raised their weapons ready to kill her. Not on my watch. I stepped out from behind the tree. I had three arrows notched in my bow ready to fire. I drew back, aiming at the men as I walked towards them.

“Enough. Leave him be Travis.” I walked forward, glancing down to the injured man as I passed. My breath hitched in my throat when I glanced into his green eyes. The time seemed to stop for a split second, but the spell was broken when his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

Shit.

This can’t be happening. I shook my head clear, focusing again on the dickheads in front of me. I would deal with the injured man later. I walked towards them until I was at Accalia’s side.

“I won’t ask you again, Travis. Leave my land.” Travis snarled at my words. His face twisting into a scowl as he watched me.

“He is ours, witch. Let us take him and we will leave you alone.” His eyes shifted from me to my bow and to Accalia beside me. He was nervous. Good. I raised my eyebrow at him and smirked.

“You know what I am capable of Travis. We have dealt with each other before...I see this is your new team.” I paused as I looked at each new face that looked confused as I continued to speak. ” Did you tell them what happened to your last team?” My smirk grew as Travis growled and swore under his breath.

“What is she talking about Travis?” One of the men, who could pass for a kid, glanced at me nervously as I stared him down. He looked like he was about to piss himself.

“Shut up. Don’t listen to her. Let’s go. We will deal with her another time.” Travis took a step towards me only pausing when Accalia dashed forward a few steps snarling at him, teeth bared. “This isn’t over, witch. We will be back, and you will give us what we want… or die.” He signaled the other men to go. I kept my bow drawn on them as they walked backwards a bit before turning and running off.

I sighed a little. At least I didn’t need to use force this time. He must have learned his lesson the last time we met. I walked back a few steps towards the man passed out on the ground. His wounds still bleeding. No doubt the weapons were silver. Travis was a hunter of super naturals, so he knows how to inflict damage. Knowing him, I probably had a week or two until he came back with reinforcements. He fears me. Especially after our last fight when I wiped out his entire team and he left them all to fend for themselves, running away with his tail between his legs. At least I could get some hand-to-hand combat in. Always have to look on the bright side.

I stare down at the man before me. How am I going to get this brute of a werewolf home? I shook my head in bewilderment as I started to drag him to my cabin.