Rescued

"Listen to me Ariel, I know you are in there and what you have become looks strange to you but you have to accept your nature now to be able to defend yourself. Something isn't right about this place, we have to leave, please take back your human form before someone sees you."

"But I can't." I replied immediately and felt awkward because my voice was downtoned than normal and more like it was difficult for me to articulate. Besides I kept trying to return to human form which was the part I thought I needed to play here until he said,

"Oh no, I remember, it's your first time. It will take a while for you to understand yourself but don't worry, you will automatically take human form at first light." He panicked before shifting into a werewolf, then I turned to see what stole his gaze. It was the image of a man who stood before him, hissing with dropped jaws revealing a canine teeth in preparation to attack. "Ariel," Raymond mentioned my name with a breath pause and moved towards me slowly, "get close to me Ariel, and stay behind me." I knew Raymond intended to protect me against this man who appears treacherous but he was startled when more canine teeth looking humans surrounded us out of nowhere.

"Who are they, Raymond, and why are they here?" I asked with howling tone.

"These are vampires, Ariel. Listen, I am going to clear a path, and then you run. Don't look back and don't wait for me. I'll find you."

"Raymond..." I mentioned his name and was going to refuse leaving him behind but he had already sprinted to attack one of the vampires that charged towards him. I had to stay close to him because the rest of them began to draw more closer than they've been. Raymond's fur was black and thick, he was a little taller than the vampires and stood erect in manly figure but the vampire's moves where a bit more swift than his. I watched Raymond take down the first one that attacked him with his claws after several competitive smashing with their hands, then he turned to look at me. I noticed they were hesitant to attack us, "Ariel, time to go. Have no fear, they dread you because you are the white one. They may not come after you. I'll buy you time and then catch up. Now go!" Raymond commanded in a way that left me no choice but to flee.

"Awuuuuuu!" Raymond wailed in a way that frightened the shit out of me, I had to stop running because I knew he was in pain. I turned around and saw that they had clamped his arms and he was struggling to free himself, then another vampire stroke him on his cheek, it must have been very painful he shifted back into human form and bent the knee. It was dark but my eyes could see far-off and the moonlight was an added advantage.

"Ariel, run for your life!" I heard him scream. Initially I thought he was the only one who saw me stop but when I saw vampires running towards me, I had to run. I felt useless not being able to help him fight, it must be the faces of the vampires that frightens me. I had not the balls to fight them even if I wanted to. I kept running as fast as I could because I was being pursued. I kept running to get to the end of Winsburg as that was where I hoped to find my brother. I believed they've killed Raymond... I could feel my lungs pulsating as I gasped into exertion because I have been running nonstop for about an hour, maybe more, but my pursuers never gave up. I retarded in motion and turned to face them, waiting for them to get to me and devour me. My wolf body could possibly be taller than an average human being and I could tell because the vampires looked small in size plus the space I occupied was really large. I wish I could transform back into my normal form and beg for mercy, coupled with the fact that this felt abnormal even if I had anticipated to be like the rest of my kind. I guess I don't need to be a wolf anymore because I don't even see myself going back to Whitewood to rejoin the blood moon pack.

As I waited helplessly to be attacked, I shut my eyes but opened them at the spark of hope: a wolf showed up out of nowhere to defend me. It swiftly took out two vampires in just a minute, biting off their head and the rest three had to flee. Startled and speechless, I took a few steps backwards as I watched the ash fur wolf with brown mixtures draw close to me slowly. Halted for a moment and then transformed into a fine young man with blue eyes, short hair and fair skin like amber. And putting on his clothes,

"You don't have to be afraid." He said and drew closer to me. Those words made me feel he could be trusted and besides that, he saved my life and could understand there was a fear in my eyes. He then reached out to fondle me in a way that I could not explain, then all of a sudden I saw myself transform. First my spine broke and my structure began to change less painfully until the fur and claws disappeared.

"Who are you?" I asked nervously.

"I am a friend. That's if you will accept. You look naive and I believe you are not from around here. Your scent drew me here. I was passing by."

"I-I come from Whitewood." I replied intending to ask him to help me find Raymond and save him.

"I see. And you are alone, I can't tell why but you have to understand that it is dangerous to be alone out here. If you come with me, I could shelter you. There is a pack nearby and my name is Bryan."

"I am Ariel. And I am not alone, they have my friend, I was only escaping. Can you help me save him?" I asked with brittle tone, he turned and stared into my eyes as if to know if I was telling the truth, then he said,

"I am afraid I can't. He probably will be dead by now or captured. That is if you did not see him die."

"How do you know that?" I asked trying to keep up with his pace because it appears he was in a hurry to leave.

"I know because I have been protecting my pack for a long time now and your chasers derive pleasure in capturing and tutoring werewolves. Come on, you'll be safe with me."

"Your pack?... You have a pack?"

"Yes, I do. Don't look so surprised. I am Bryan Stark and am an alpha of Snowdon pack."