I was not amused.
Peter had refused to see me and had instead instructed Richard to give me a lesson in combat particularly in my senses. Guess I didn't need to talk to him about him teaching me how to fight.
That was the good part.
The crazy part was that Richard wanted me run again. In the dark.
"And how am I supposed to do this? I have not once run off in the dark when I was with my parents," I told Richard as we stood outside. The forest was filled with howls and I was sure some growls. I took a hesitant step back and glanced back at Richard who looked amused.
"You're going to use your nose," Richard answered gently," Nothing more than your nose."
"What-what if I get attacked?" I asked with a worried frown.
"You won't. The pack has been instructed by Marcus to stay away from the path Peter marked for you," Richard assured me. He then walked down to stand beside me and pointed to the forest where a flapping red scarf could be seen, "That's your starting point."
I nodded but then frowned at his words," Marked?"
"Duck. Raw duck. Its blood was dropped through the forest and should be strong enough for you to pick up."
Turning to him, I gave him another confused frown, "Duck?"
Richard grinned, "Well, we weren't sure if you were okay with a dead deer or rabbit meat as your prize."
I felt my tummy turn and was sure my face was a bad shade of green. Shaking away the nausea, I faced the forest and rubbed my arms though the night's cool air didn't affect me at all. It wasn't a bright night as their was no moon but the forest felt alive with movement.
I took off my shoes and socks before bouncing on the heels on my feet to psych myself up. I can do this.
I can. Do this.
"Clear your senses and focus solely on what you smell," Richard told me before clapping his hand, "Go!"
With the scarf in sight, I ran towards it.
This actually felt good.
When I reached the scarf at the edge of the forest , I slowed down and took a deep breath before exhaling. There was trees, moss, grass, a live animal and wolf. Shifting through them, two particular scents stood out to me.
One smelt like feathers, blood and meat.
The second one made me feel weird. It was mouthwatering. Very strong and earthy. Made my heart race and my face heat up.
Both scents were headed in the same direction. I followed it. Through the trees. Over two more logs. Around another large tree. I stopped when I heard running water.
Maybe there was a creek nearby. Soon enough, I smelled water. The scent went over the little creek and over to the other side.
Following it, I jumped over the creek and took to the left. A few more trees. Down a little slope.
This was actually fun.
A twig snapping had me stopping in my tracks. I spun around and scanned the area for any sign of movement. Nothing moved. I then inhaled to scent what was out there.
Blood.
Blood and apples. The smell made me gag before I shouted," Whoever is out there, come out! I can smell you! You reek!"
A growl from my left made me gasp and I saw a pair of blue eyes coming towards me from around the corner. It was a wolf but the place was so dark I couldn't see what color it was.
Another growl came from behind me before something hit me in y back and brought me down. I screamed and tried to turn over as a sharp pain caught me in my left arm. I could hear the wolf growling as it sunk it's teeth into my arm. Something trickled down my arm.
I then remembered how they attacked when I was Turned.
Outside my home. The pain!
"No!"
A flash of light was released and the wolf let go off me. The sounds of wolves yelping was my saving grace as I scrambled up to my feet and bolted," RICHARD! OLIVE! ANYONE!"
I ran and jumped and just ran as fast as I could while calling out, hoping that their super werewolf hearing would hear me. My arm was felt like it was bleeding but I didn't care. I couldn't get turned twice. I just needed someone to find me.
"Richard! Quin! Oli-"
A pair of arms caught me around my waist and I screamed.
"Thalia, it's me! Calm down! "I heard Peter say before I stopped struggling. Peter was standing in front of me. Holding me.
"We need to go! They're inside the woods! They bit me...," I blubbered with tears now rolling down my face. I didn't like pain and my arm was on fire.
"Sir!" Richard yelled as he run out from behind him with three other wolves.
" Find them!" He yelled over his shoulder. Gently he made me hold out my arm. I watched Richard and the other wolves run off into the night before refocusing on my wound.
"Relax for me," he whispered and I nodded. I tried to stop crying but pain was so agonizing. Looking down, I could see the wound slowly mend. I winced.
It looked like my skin was stitching itself up. But it still hurt. I sniffed and used the back of my other palm to wipe away my tears.
In another minute, the wound was healed but the blood was still there. My arm felt numb.
"You'll be okay now," Peter muttered. He then put an arm around my shoulder and urged me to walk, "Let's get you back."
I sniffed and allowed myself to be led through the forest.
When we got back to the Cave, Rachel was there waiting but Peter didn't let go of me. He brought me straight to his room where he helped to wash the blood from my arm. He then had me change into large black sweater before telling me to wait in his office.
I sat on the seat until my eyes grew heavy. The sweater smelt really good. It was that scent from the forest. Earthy. It reminded me of the herbs from home. Home. I wanted to go home to my mum and have hug me.
I missed her hugs.
I dreamed of nothing but apple trees. I was standing in an orchid in a place I was sure I had never been before. The sky was bright but I felt cold, like the heat from the sun wasn't even reaching me. Shivering, I retreated to the nearest tree and leaned against the trunk only to hear a hissing sound.
When I looked up, I could see the apples turning black and then melting off the branch as if acid was poured on them.
Someone grabbed my neck from behind, making me shriek and then I heard a woman whispered in my ear, "You should have stayed dead."
Gasping, I shot up from my bed. I scanned the room and saw that I was alone. My neck felt numb.
Running a hand over the back of it, I scrambled from the bed and headed straight into the bathroom to use the mirror to scan my neck.
No marks. No bruises. Nothing.
But I could still feel her hand print.
It felt so real.
Sighing, I sat down on the floor, "Just another bad dream."
I hated my dreams sometimes. They made no sense at all.
"Thalia, is everything alright?"
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Peter standing with a towel in hand along with a bag in front of the bed. His head was titled to the side as he took in the image of me sitting on the floor of the bathroom.
"I-"I paused. He was dressed in a suit and inside my room. Frowning, I scanned the bathroom before my eyes widened and I realized that I didn't have a bathroom in my room," I'm not in my room."
Facing him again, I saw him smirk before coming over to drop the towel and bag on the floor before the door," No, you're in my room. Take a bath and get changed. You have school in an hour."
He then closed the door and I winced. I was in his bathroom. That means I slept in his bed last night. I dropped my head into my hands," This is humiliating."
"I don't hear showering!" Peter yelled from outside.
I lifted my head from my hands and shouted, "I'm going! I'm going!"
Standing up, I checked the bag and saw that whatever I needed to wear was inside along with my toothbrush and hair brush.
"Thank you Olive," I whispered in gratitude before I stripped down to get into the shower.