The woods blurred past, and her feet barely touched the ground before she thrust off the floor again. She barreled down the path, she could hear the other sifters running as fast as their feet could carry them. Everyone was dashing to their expected locations and Kyera had to leave it to her people. Right now there was only one thing on her mind.
The familiar path was second nature. The shadows sped out ahead of her blocking her from view. Like a ghost in the night, leaving no trace of her passing out of habit alone. She could smell the Dark Ones taint on these woods. Her woods. They would not take this from her too, her family her life. Desperation forced her past the burning in her lungs, and the tears forming in the muscles of her legs as they continuously contract and explode to push her forward toward that familiar sound. The waterfall drew her nearer.
The wind changed and a sent brushed across her face. She hesitated for only a moment before changing course and barrelling toward it. It was her scent mixed with… something stronger. It was terrifying and her blood turned to ice, tears flowing down her face as the metallic scent reached her nose.
She broke into the area, the trees were thinner here and the area reeked of blood. Three bodies lay on the ground, their bodies clawed to shreds. Kyera recognized them. They were members of the forest Rebellion. Yet, she didn't remember seeing them during the fight just at the meetings. They smelled heavily of the Dark Ones. Kyera growled and sniffed the air, she could still smell Raina near.
She followed the scent toward the little river nearby that led to the waterfall. Her heart stopped as she came closer and saw someone sitting in the water with familiar dark curls showing over his shoulder. His back was bare, golden shadowed in the moonlight. Black waves spiked around his shoulders, his neck bare and she was fairly sure she could strike there before he noticed her.
The sound of Raina's soft voice stopped her. "Thank you for saving me." Her little voice whispered and there was a chuckle from the man. It was so… familiar… yet so different in the same breath.
"Don't sweat it, little one. Family should take care of one another." He replied and Kyera crept closer. She saw Raina's face wet and tilted back as he washed the blood from her hair.
"Family?" She asked looking up at him and Kyera followed her gaze. A gasp alerted him to her presence and his green eyes flecked with gold met hers. A quirky smile she never dreamed she would see living again on his lips.
"Yea; wait here for a second, little Cub." He put her down and stood so the water drained down and off his buck hide pants. He walked out of the water, and smiled running a hand awkwardly through his hair. "Gonna say something, Ky Cat?"
Tears watered in her eyes as she snapped out of her daze and morphed to her human form. Her body covered in the whispery black and purple cloth of the shadows. She ran to him and threw his arms around her neck holding close. He wrapped his left arm around her, catching her against his chest. She felt like a child crying in his chest.
"Thank you for saving her." She whispers into his ear and he pet her hair gently.
"She's fine, Kyera. It's okay, I got you both." He whispered soothingly rocking her back and forth. Her nerves calmed and she let go stepping back wiping her eyes.
"Your heart… its beating." Kyera whispered in astonishment. He smiled and nodded.