Chapter 4

MAELIS

"The north, it's too dangerous. You have no idea what kind of people live there," Icarus said.

"It's dangerous here too," I rebutted, then turned to face him with a hollow look, "The kind of people that live there certainly could not be worse than those that live right here in the heart of Pyreth."

At least, the North had not taken everything away from me. Instead, it was offering me a new beginning, a way to leave the ghosts and graves of the past behind and I was determined to go there.

Tales of the brutality of its land, rogue Pack and wild wolves, of banished kings and cursed lands had spread wild, they were told to us as infants.

However, only in the harsh, and unforgiving lands of the North could I temper my spirit and forge myself into the woman I needed to become to defeat Serina.

She was right about one thing, I was never her match and to change that, I needed the North.

Icarus said nothing after that, he knew I would not be swayed. Rather, he packed up what he could spare-dried rations, a flask of water and his cloak, "I'm sorry Princess, this is all I can give to you."

I took what he offered, tugging my lips back into a forceful smile at him, "You have done enough."

He had not just given me warmth, he had helped me live and now, I was going to learn to survive.

Immediately dawn broke, I left, didn't look back, didn't want to.

***********

The journey North was even harder than I imagined, the cold was biting, bone deep, snow lashed at my skin like broken shards of glass.

It was madness, what I was doing.

I had no map, no direction, just kept pushing ahead in hopes of finding civilization, if I could make it that far.

"I will survive, I will return and they will suffer," I gritted out, snagging Icarus’ cloak tighter around myself.

Those words had become my daily mantra, my push. That, and the phantom cry of my dead child that plagued my dreams every night.

I soon stepped into denser woods, trees growing so close to each other they left no room for much sunlight.

My ration and water were depleted and exhaustion was beginning to gnaw at my insides, blurring my vision.

Then, I heard a growl, a low growl I presumed was my stomach until it was followed by footsteps, crunching through the stone.

They were heavy, not mine, multiple.

Out of pure instinct, I ducked, hiding myself behind the large bark of a tree, holding my breath, waiting.

"I smell blood, someone's near," Their voices were close, too close and through the cold air that had clogged my nostril, I could make out distinct smells.

They didn't smell like the wolves I knew, this was different and I knew immediately-rogues.

Icarus had warned I would find them in their many numbers and I was to avoid them.

Slowly, quietly, I tried to creep away but had barely moved from the tree when I stepped on something.

A twig snapped then another.

"Over there!" A voice barked and growls rang out.

I ran, ran as fast as my battered body could, feet digging heavily into the snow until a hand yanked into my hair from behind, tugging me backwards with so much force I fell on my back.

Five pairs of feet surrounded me and accompanying faces, scarred and smeared with dirt and blood peered at me from above, "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" One tooted.

"Think she's a rogue?" Another questioned.

"No," The first one to speak laughed, "looks too dainty to be one, smells sweeter. We found ourselves a good spoil," He said, crouching behind me and laughter rumbled from the rest of them.

He grabbed my chin, tugging me towards him, "What's a pretty little pup like you doing out here?"

"Must be lost or stupid, maybe both," Another answered and they all cackled with laughter again.

I didn't answer, I squared my chin instead, glaring at each of them, "I don't want trouble."

"Oh, we don't either darling," One of them drawled, licking his chapped lips, "We want you."

He circled to my left, reaching to grab my arm, I smacked it away, "Get away from me," I growled in warning.

"She's got bite too," The first one pointed out with a mocking smile, "We like that too, don't we?"

"I said back off," I growled again.

"Or what? Your glare will cut through our skins?" His eyes shone with a taunting light and a chuckle rang out around me again.

One hand of mine balled into fist while the other reached for my feet, to the dagger tucked away inside of my boot.

"Here princess, to protect yourself," Icarus had said when he handed it over to me and I had taken it, knowing I would need it...I just did not expect it to be so soon.

The rogue leaned in closer and I moved quickly, my hands slashed, cutting a deep gash across his face.

"Crazy bitch!" He howled, smacking me hard across the face.

I fell into the snow, my dagger clattering out of reach.

"Strip her," The rogue I cut ordered, savagery taking over his gaze, dark and menacing.

"No!" I thrashed as hands pinned my legs down, more rough and greedy ones began tearing at my clothes.

"You want to be taken roughly, I will do you the favor," The first man hissed.

My sleeves were torn first, exposing my arms to the cold and I screamed, struggling with all the strength I possessed but I soon realized it amounted to nothing.

My hands were forced above my head, rough, calloused hands, ran across the length of my thighs and I screamed again.

I feared none of their actions, I was simply furious that the Moon Goddess was letting this happen. She was thrusting me into injustice, helplessness and I was too powerless to stop it.

That however did not mean that I would simply lie there and let it happen. My eyes flashed, claws elongated and I sank it into the eyes of the rogues towering over my face.

He screamed and at the same moment, a howl ripped through the air, like the forest had responded.

A growl, followed by a slaughtered scream.

They froze and so did I.