(A/N: WARNING there are descriptions of blood withing this chapter ;))
Storming out the same doors she came in, she met Tom staring at her blood soaked self. Although her eyes were crazed and seemed to have no sanity left, her body remained calm each movement was planned step by step.
"Tom don't scream or cry at what I'm about to tell you... Your father's dead. But we need to get moving now or we'll end up just like him. As much as it hurts right now, remember your father would want you to live, so you have to put those feelings away for a little while until we find a safe area. OK? " she instructed, watching his devasted reaction.
As tears were about to spill, he inhaled a deep breath and gulped swallowing his grief and pain. Nodding, he prepared himself for what was to come.
"Good" Ebony smiled, shredding the clothes she was wearing as she transformed into her wolf. Picking him up and placing him on her back the same as last time, she mindlinked asking him, "You wouldn't happen to know where a leisure centre for rich people is, would you?"
"Umm, not really... but I heard my mum talking to my dad about him going to a leisure centre as part of a membership provided by his work. Something about him having to keep fit so he doesn't get ill from working long hours. Could that be it?" He discussed, grabbing into her mane as she was about to start running.
In reply she mindlinked, "probably, but did you hear where it was located?"
"Unn! I-I think th-the cit-yy center!" he stammered as she took off in the direction of the woods.
It didn't matter if she discovered where it was if she was already dead before she could even go there. Setting her mind on finding safety first, she shot through the woods destroying all the wildlife that came her way.
As she reached the end of the forest, she came across the road her and Ghosty had driven to get to his home. Knowing it wouldn't be long before people armed with guns would arrive, she quickly scoured the surrounding area and made a run for the forest on the other side of the road.
Dashing over the scorching tar, her wolf could feels it's paws sticking to the road especially under the heavy weight of her body. Growling she removed her paws speedily from the tar and sped across the remaining distance of the road.
Ebony's heart thumped, as she was running on her basic instincts, fired up by the adrenaline of her killing a human for the first time in her human form.
'As much as it was thrilling to get my revenge on him... I felt a bit numb. As though me and my desire for vengeance were detached from each other. All that was left was an empty host set on tearing apart it's prey. I feel satisfied at fulfilling a part of my mission but at what expense, my sanity? Everything about it was animalistic and emotionless. It wasn't me and sure as hell wasn't what I wanted or what I want for my future.'
Entering the second forest, she noticed that it smelt fresher than the one prior. Perhaps the familiar scent would lead her to someplace close to home. Although it would be unsustainable to stay there for a long period of time, she would at least have enough time to retrieve what was rightfully her's.
After about half and hour of running at top speed, she discovered a cave at the bottom of a small mountain. Believing that it would be the best cover they would find in the little time they had left, she decided to stop there for the night.
Remaining in her wolf form, she lowered the now sleeping child of her back and onto the flat, stone floor of the cave. Noticing him shivering, she went and collected dry sticks from nearby to make a fire. Also considering him being hungry when he woke up, she managed to find a deer to kill and cook for him.
With the resources built up, she quickly turned back to her human form and somehow lit the pile of dry sticks to make a suitable fire. Using a sharpened claw her wolf had bitten of earlier, she stripped the deers skin off and slowly cut of the limbs and edible parts of its body, ready to cook. Leaving the skin out to dry as it would be a good cover for her body that lacked any clothes.
Skewers of cooked meat were lined up next to the sleeping boy, after Ebony had eaten her fair share and decided it was time for the boy to wake up and eat or he might starve. Transforming into her wolf so he wouldn't see her exposed body, she nudged him carefully, waking him up from his deep sleep as he clumsily rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"Mmm... Something smells nice?" he groaned, sitting up and looking at his alien surroundings cautiously.
Mindlinking him, Ebony stated "Eat."
Startled, the boy flipped his head and looked at the white wolf that sparkled under the bright moonlight that shone through the cave entrance. It contrasted with the patches of fur that lit up in autumnal colours as the flames spiralled back and forth in the warm breeze.
Hurrying, the boy turned to the line of sticks that had large chunks of meat stuck to them. Dazed in confusion, he picked up the stick and smelled the delicious scents that oozed out along with the thick, meaty juices that poured down the stick and onto his hand. Not wasting time, he quickly tore into the tender meat, enjoying it's succulent flavour as he swallowed it and moved onto his next bite.
It didn't take long for the boy to feel full after devouring a large portion of rich, flavoursome meat. Rubbing his stomach in satisfaction, he rolled onto his back and breathed in the night air that held the heavy scent of pine and morning dew that was yet to fall onto the blades of grass covering the forest floor.
Inhaling softly, he drifted of taking in the foreign smells and feelings that surrounded him in the wilderness. Despite not knowing what had happened to his mother and father, he was content to continue living oblivious if it meant everyday would feel as calm and resolved as he was feeling at that moment.
"Why? If it is so beautiful here, why do we destroy it? Everything out there is so dull compared to lying here. Exposed to the natural elements, relying on my own senses." Tom mumbled as he fell into a deep sleep.
After watching the boy go back to sleep, she too closed her eyes and drifted off into a vivid dream of her childhood. It was a happy one compared to other nightmares she had experienced in the past and there was no knowledge of her parents being dead in her dream.
Perhaps that's why it was hardest and most painful dream to wake up from.
"Oiy, Wake up!" a venomous voice entered her head and snapped her out from her blissful dream.
Opening her eyes, she witnessed Tom, curling into her fur in terror. Following his gaze her eyes met the glare of someone she had already came across once before. It was only a brief encounter, but he was supposedly her mate's father... Not that it mattered, he was dead either way.
Paying more attention to the scene, she realised that someone was stood beside him shivering. Ebony, noticing that it was Jane, laughed bitterly. How could she not after being betrayed yet again?
Luckily for her she was already in her wolf form so the issues in front would be easily handled. Although the person in front of her was aiming a gun directly to her head it was only an annoyance at most.
Growling, she stood up as the earth vibrated beneath her feet. Towering over the enemy, she snapped her jaw in his direction earning a gunshot to her left cheek.
Feeling the burn of what seemed to be a silver bullet laced with wolfsbane, she displayed her salivated jaws towards the man who had just shot her. Stepping back, the man re-aimed his gun towards her head, ready to take another shot.
'This fool hasn't noticed that our wound has already healed, how pathetic. He clearly underestimated me from our last encounter to be so arogant in his abilities.'
Prowling forward towards her prey, Ebony's wolf grinned menacingly knowing that his death would inevitably be painful. Refocusing his aim, the man pulled the trigger firing a shot directly to her head, but to no avail as she quickly ducked her head and dodged the bullet.
"Arggg, stupid mutt! Stay still." his agitated tone, caused Ebony to chuckle as she watched him fumbling around reloading his gun.
Diverting her eyes for a second, she realised that Jane had snook over to her son and was on her knees, cradling him in her arms. Grunting, the wolf swiped her claws over to the armed man, smashing him onto the floor under her weight.
Annoyed by the distraction, she decided it was better to end this quickly before the man shot her again. Although it wasn't life threatening it was painful and the healing process just made her hungrier than she already was.
Opening her jaws, she lowered her head down to the trembling man in her grasp. Reveling in his agony, she bit his head off in one crunch before flinging it against the cave wall. Blood puddled down at her paws once again. It made her wonder how many times she would have the same experience, before the suffering ended.
Releasing the stiff corpse from her retracting claws, she stepped backwards eyeing her decapitated kill. It wasn't a pleasant sight and she was beginning to feel repulsed by herself and what she was becoming.
'At first it felt enjoyable to get revenge but not at the expense of contaminating myself with bloodshed and gore. It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted justice, but justice isn't just repaying their acts with the same behaviour. I won't let myself become the monster they already see me as... '
Turning around, Ebony's wolf looked at the two pairs of watering eyes watching her cautiously. Tired, she huffed and turned back into human form. Flinching, Jane quickly covered her son's eyes before chucking over the long black trench coat she had been wearing. Putting it on, Ebony chuckled at the seemingly ordinary gesture before walking over to the two.
"Sooo, I heard from Ghosty you told them my location. Why?" Ebony enhaled, trying to feed her rationality before flaming her rage.
"He told me that he would kill Tom, I... I'm sorry." sinking her head in shame and guilt, Jane began weeping softly.
Ebony, knowing that it was unreasonable for a mother to sacrifice their young for a random stranger, sighed lifting up the woman's head before stating, "I get it, you care about your son and wanted him to live."
Nodding in agreement, the woman smiled meekly, tears staining her pale cheeks and her eyes puffed up like a goldfish.
"... So help me."