2

The yellow rays of the sun seeped through the branches directly hitting her face making her stir in her slumber. A groan left her mouth as she turned away from the intruding light.

After a few more minutes she finally woke up, yawning loudly. Her body ached from the weird position she stayed in all night.

Getting up with extreme difficulty, she stood up on her feet. Her eyes trailed around the cave until it landed on the small brown kitten who quietly shivered due to the cold in the corner. A frown instantly made its way towards her face.

Ilaria darted towards the little animal with hesitant steps. "Easy their little guy, I wont hurt you." She muttered in the lowest tone, ceasing the movements of the cowering cat.

She swiftly took off her sweater and placed it around the little baby giving the ample amount of heat he needed whilst softly patting him on the head. "I hope this keeps you warm." She smiled when the cat nuzzled his nose against her palm. "Awh, cute." She cooed as she slowly scratched him under his ear.

He meowed, making sure he conveyed the thanks to the girl who sat half naked with just a thin knee length shirt.

"Are you hungry? Ofcourse yes, you are. I'll quickly bring you some food." She questioned yet answered it herself. The cat let out a small whine making her chuckle. "I'll be quick."

She hastily got up and dashed out without any shoes. Ilaria didn't felt bad when she mostly walked around barefooted afterall it had been years since she had worn or even seen an actual shoe. Barefoot had its own advantages and disadvantages. The very big advantage was that she could feel the wet mud under her feet when she ran freely under the sky and the disadvantage? Well, her feet were almost battered from the rocky ground. The sole of her feet had thorns pricked in it with blisters and dried blood all over the skin.

"I should get milk and meat. But the problem is where should I get the milk? I don't have money." She grumbled under her breath as she strided through the humongous trees. "Maybe water should do the trick?" She tapped her chin, vigorously.

"Oh how about I steal from the humans?"

A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about them. The last time she went to market to steal a piece of bread and fruits, she had ended up in her own blood. The owner of the shop had gathered the nearest citizens just to teach her a lesson that she'd never forget.

"Ugh, forget it." She shook her head with a sad smile and continued, "only if Cherie was here to tell me but they snatched her away from my body as well."

Suddenly her steps halted when she in took her surrounding. The air was much denser than before and the trees had a different aura to it. Her breath hitched as she realized that she had walked along a different path to the other side of the cave, where the wolves were forbidden to go, no matter what. Even the Alphas of several packs would hesitate.

When she was little, the people in her pack would usually talk about how the wolves in the neighboring area were strong, almost too strong. They could kill the other wolves with just one strike.

Her curiosity took the best of her as she carefully marched towards the pack borders. A little information wouldn't hurt right? She asked herself.

But who knew that this peak of curiosity would leave her more broken than ever.