CHAPTER FOUR

"It's dark here!" I grumbled, rushing out of my bed. Initially, I thought it was just a dream all that while.

Not just a cage, Angus had built me a shelter.

But, it was a dull day, partially bright. As usual, the entire land of Arleta covered almost dark places only. It was believed that there was a powerful moon that controlled the land and always empowered the rogues and beasts.

I walked out of my room, trying to go and check on Angus. My footsteps hit very loudly on the ground so that I had to stop and look back. I wasn't free with him yet. But I was often in pain whenever he left and I was lonely again.

Why would my mother's situation keep hitting me always in my ears?

"Anyone?" I asked, keeping mute after that. I first thought Angus was the one intentionally chasing me. I knew he loved playing with me in such a way.

Suddenly, I heard another sound of footsteps.

Not mine.

I knew too well that it wasn't mine. But, it also didn't sound like a strong man's footsteps like Angus's. He wouldn't even try to scare me by stomping the ground to pursue me. I got close to an area fenced with tree branches.

I ran.

I gasped. And I kept running.

As soon as I saw another fence, I hid behind it. I was bothered and was wondering how an enemy could pervade into my abode again.

Where was Angus?

My eyes blinked as the atmosphere began to change. It started with a gusty and unending wind. I couldn't remain behind the fence, so I walked by the tip far away from the spot where I had heard the strange footsteps.

"Hey, Future Luna!" I heard a voice, stiff and so deep, which cast me in fright that I froze. There was a tree beside me, so I quickly stood behind the stem, watching out for the pursuer.

I could no longer hold it. The eerie sound coming from the front of the tree was ringing louder than my ears could contain. "Who is that?!" I let out, my voice coming low, meaning to disallow the stranger from locating me. "Where is Angus?" I muttered to myself, almost sobbing.

"Fortunately for me, I've found the real you!" The strange voice continued. "Just like I found your mother, I have found you… Haha!"

I was shocked. Would I remain at the spot hearing that? Even if I tried to run away, the stranger who could be a wolf would catch me easily. How was I going to escape him?

I gasped.

Within a short while, I began to hear the clashes of swords. I couldn't turn my head forward to pry into the scene since I feared weapons. I held my chest with my right hand and began to sob.

The voice who called me the future Luna must have known me before. He was speaking like the brutal wolf who tortured and devoured my mother. I didn't know what he meant by referring to me as the future Luna.

"Let her come out!" I heard again, the voice sounding in the same way as the stranger's. It was still him, but I didn't see what sort of person or creature he was. "Why not give it a try?!"

"Can you dare me?" Another voice returned, sounding exactly as Angus's. I was stunned and forced to look at the scene, just with one eye.

It was Angus, holding a very smooth sword with rage, and was approaching the enemy in slow steps.

"Do you know me at all?" The wolf questioned Angus, his voice breathing out foams of fire. I decided to leave the spot since Angus was there. But, I still wanted to hear Angus's response to the enemy.

"Who are you?" Angus reverted, his voice swallowing that of the wolf. "I think you should have resigned and asked the moon to stop supporting you!"

"That angers me the most, fool!" The wolf exclaimed, "I must not see that girl here. Else, I will kill her. Her blood does not taste sweet in my tongue. Trust me."

"You're silly!" Angus exclaimed back as he rushed to the wolf and stabbed him by his side. "Let me give you a taste of this smooth sword. You'll be forced to surrender when I capture and punish all your pack members!"

"I have never lost one of them since years now…" the wolf objected, raising his voice as he touched the wounded part of his body. "How are you sure you will cause that to happen?"

"It will be an interesting job to play on my end, Alpha Thane!" Angus retorted, breathing heavily as he deliberately stopped striking. "What the sword can not do, I will do to make sure I seize power from you."

"How do you even know my name?" The wolf asked, blinking his eyes in amazement.

"I don't have time for stories." Angus rapped.

"You're troubling my nerves, but I won't say anything until I'm ready to..." The wolf complained as he rushed to Angus and suddenly closed his eyes.

Without wasting time, Angus, having discovered the wolf's tactics, kicked him out of his way. The wolf was trying to evoke powers into his body, heal his wound, and strike Angus till he was defeated. I could remember how that wicked Alpha always gesticulated whenever he was trampling his prey underfoot to feed on them. He would look up and close his two eyes. It gave me a glimpse into the past, so I turned my face back, and my neck made a slight but audibly sound.

"Who's right there, behind you?" The wolf questioned Angus, his eyes still off.

"Open your eyes and see for yourself." Angus retorted as he returned the sword into the sheath. "I'm done with you for now. I don't have time to waste here."

Immediately, the wolf heard that. He opened his eyes again and breathed softly, smiling at Angus.

"I need the future Luna," the wolf requested, proving to be submissive as his voice suddenly became softer. "I wonder if you can get her for me."

"Are you still craving her?!" Angus questioned him, frowning his face and nearly brought out the sword again.

"What if I am craving her?" The wolf asked back as he moved side to side and was approaching Angus very closely.

"Then, you can't have her!" Angus exclaimed.

"I pity you." The wolf said, his voice raised louder and fiercely. "I thought you should have known you're already a prey…"

Very intelligently and quickly, Angus turned backwards and jumped onto a cliff, targeting a dangling rope that was stuck to a metal on the nearby mountain.

Angus noticed there were numerous snarling wolves right behind him, but when they discovered they had lost sight of him, the wolf leader screamed at them, commanding them to locate Angus. I was already seated on the branch of the tree since I couldn't stand being wounded by the bloodthirsty wolf without a prior signal.

"I just hope Ellie is not anywhere close…" Angus muttered, his words sliding into my ears as I began to pant.