The Hunted

DOMINIQUE

I looked up. Gemma and Tarrion went into the woods. I had no clue were oli went. I didn't care, the world was spinning, and the smell of blood was coming off strong from my leg. I Held my breath. the smell was worse then the twisted feeling in my stomach. I groaned. Maybe, maybe if i closed my eyes for only a minute.

I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes, exhaling deeply. That did feel better. I laid back. Just a few minutes, every one gets tired. Right? I sat up a bit and looked at my leg, the blood was seeping through, did i hit a vain? No, no i would be dead already. Right? I touched it and my hand was soaked in blood, this couldn't be good. Animals would smell it and come. Then every one would be in danger.

I brought my hand up and cradled it, all that blood. I laid back and drifted into unconsciousness.

GEMMA

I stopped, "Wait a sec Tarrion, I think Dom is over there, if there is going to be food maybe we should tell her. She was looking a little peaked earlier."

He sighed, "Fine, hurry though. I need food woman!"

"Yes sir," I giggled, "one second."

I ran back the way we came, I couldn't see her anywhere. Then I tripped, there was Dom on the ground. She was unconcious and her leg was bleeding heavily.

"Tarrion!" I screamed.

He broke through the trees looking alarmed, "What is it!?" Then he saw Dom in a small puddle of her own blood. "Oh my god..." he looked sick.

TARRION

Oh crap, oh crap... I breathed slowly through my mouth, trying to fight off my nasuea. "Help me get her leaning against a tree," I ordered, swallowing heavily. She nodded and helped me drag her to a tree, propping her up against its trunk.

"She needs new bandages," Gemma commented. She was already working on untangling the soiled ones from her leg.

I looked around for something I could use. Not much here. I hesitated before pulling off my shirt and tearing it into strips. "Here," I muttered, shoving it at Gemma and looking away. Man up. I told myself, kneeling beside Gemma and Doni.

"You okay Tarrion?" Gemma asked. I was still holding back the food I had in me.

"Fine. I'm just not that good around unexpected blood. I'll be fine now though." I helped Gemma wrap my shirt around Domi's leg. I let Gemma fasten it securely.

"We should get her back to the fire."

"Agreed." I managed to pick her up, she was't that heavy. "Let's get going then." I heard another menacing growl in the distance and shuddered. "That thing is starting to creep me out," I grumbled.

DOMINIQUE

My head began to pound. My breathing deepened. My leg was killing me. I groaned and muttered out, despite the dryness of my throat.
"W-w-what happened?" My eyes were still closed. I turned my head over. Readying myself to open my eyes. Everything but my leg was numb. I flinched when some one finally answered me.
"You passed out. Are you okay now." I shuddered. Opening my eyes to come face to face with tarrion. I shrieked and shuffled back.
"Sorry, you scared me." He came closer to me, but i backed up again. I started sobbing as i had another flashback of an abusive ex-boyfriend.
"Domi, are you sure your OK?" I looked over at Gemma.
"I'm fine, stay away from me."

GEMMA

"I'm fine, stay away from me." Dominique snapped.

Tarrion and I both backed away, frankly I was a little startled. "I-I-I'm sorry," sputtered Domi, "I just don't want people to see me like this. I can take care of my self. I'm not useless!"

Tarrion chuckled, "Domi, you aren't useless, and you never will be."

"Yeah, there are just some things you need help with," I added, "There are some things everyone needs help with."

Tarrions face was serious again as he spoke, "Just let us help you Domi, this is one thing you can't take care of by your self. I know it's scary but you could have died in the woods. Maybe from bloodloss, or think of how easy it would be for an animal to take advantage of you."

"Dom, Tarrion and I are seriously worried, you scared us. You are not useless you just need some help. That's all." I said.

Dominique looked skeptical. "I care of myself. That's all

TARRION

I frowned. "Dom, you're hurt. I don't know what's happened to you, but I swear on my life I won't do anything to hurt you more." I needed to help her, she needed us to help. She needed to trust me.

"No! Please! I'm not useless, just... just stay away!" She was panicking.

I stole a glance at Gemma. She looked as unsure as I was. I took a slow step forward, watching Domi's horrified expression. "Tarrion, leave her," Gemma whispered.

I shook my head. "Listen, if we're going to get through this, we need to be able to trust eachother. I would never, ever do anything to hurt you Dom."

She took another step back and her leg gave out. I caught her under the arms and she screached. I didn't let go and she kept screaming. I let her tire herself out, this girl could scream for a long time.

"Tarrion!" Gemma shouted. "Just let her go! She obviously doesn't want your help!"

Perhaps it was some form of female understanding, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I helped her up slowly after she finally stopped. Her cheeks were wet with tears. "I told you I wasn't going to hurt you. I don't know what's happened to you, but you can trust me," I assured her, making sure to ignore my instincts to wipe away her tears. Physical contact obviously wasn't a good thing in her mind.

Shalo shrieked and landed on my shoulder. I stroked her gently, not removing my stare from Domi.

DOMINIQUE

Tarrion should listen to gemma. I was so done for. Dead. I was freaking right out, i had shown weakness. That was the number one rule. Never show weakness. My head was pounding. I shook him off me and backed up, leaning against a tree.
"Please... j-just don't touch me." My leg throbbed. My head pounded. To top it off i was shaking like crazy.

I pushed up against the tree, sliding down and sitting. I closed my eyes, begging that when i opened them i would be at home. Safe, well safer then here. At least at home you cant get eaten by monsters. it started to drizzle, a soft comforting rain. i was right. it was going to become a downpour. I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky.

Sorry to interupt the flow, but im lost, and I think im going to drop out, I can't be of any use anymore. So sorry.

same here...sorry but I just dont feel like I'm any help or in any way a part of the story.

Well mine and Isha's character just heard someone coming possibly with food, but we never got the chance to check it out. It could be you.

Wren

I heard talking in the forest. I spotted Tarrion and Dominique and Gemma. I ran towards them and saw blood.

"Whats going on?"

Dominique looked at me angrily. "Everyone doesn't have to come, you know," she hissed.

I was taken aback for a moment, then said, "What happened?"

GEMMA

"Please... j-just don't touch me." sputtered Dom.

Tarrion reached for her and I swatted his hand away, "Tarrion," I growled, "I know you care, I do to, but we just can't do anything, not now at least." God did he look sad, it was heartbreaking, he just cared so much...

My thought were interrupted by a girl running towards us, I hadn't met her yet but I think Tarrion said her name was Wren. "What happened?" she demanded. Then she saw the blood.

"Everyone doesn't have to come you know!" muttered Dom.

Still keeping between Tarrion and Dom I said to Wren, "She is hurt and doesn't want help. "

Dom sighed, "Why can't I be left alone? Maybe I am better off as animal food."

Tarrion shoved around me, "No!" he exclaimed, "You are fine and able, let us help you get back to camp and there are plenty of things you could do. You aren't and won't be useless, ever. I promise you."

Wren caught on quick, "Tarrion, leave her, I'm sure she is as able bodied as she says. We can leave, she can get back to camp on her own."

Together, Wren and I tugged Tarrion away. He finally gave in and followed. We got only a few yards away when Dom started crying, "Wait." she sobbed. In an instant we were all back at her side.

Saphire
I was still ticked and still looking for people who I couldn't find. I heard rustling in the bushes and shouted "Hey who's there? I can help you!" to my horror 5 pure black wolves their eyes glowing red with bloodlust stepped out. I backed up just as they cam running towards me. I let out an involuntary scream of horror. One of them managed to bite my arm and reopen the cut while the others scratched my legs. I threw them off and running as fast as I could managed to get up in a tree. I swung myself onto the second branch and they circled the tree jumping up and snapping at my foot. I screamed again this time more out of desperation then of fear.

DOMINIQUE

I could hear screaming... who was it? Saphire! I pulled myself off the ground.
"Saphire!" i started half limping half running towards the screaming. The others followed right behind. I saw them before they saw me. Wolves. Just like how one had me in a tree, five had Saphire.

My life flashed before my eyes, then i stopped and thought. Useless. Pathetic. Animal food. I ran over at the wolves, just avoiding getting bit. I jumped on ones back, it ran around, trying to make me fall off. Why on earth did I do this? This wouldn't help Saphire! I looked up at her as i held on for dear life. She was bleeding where she cut herself earlier.

My head was pounding. My leg throbbed. I clenched the wolves fur tighter, it yelped. pulled at its fur viciously. I wasn't falling off. Not yet.

TARRION

I panicked, looking around me for anything I could use for a weapon. I grabbed a large branch from the ground, holding it infront of me. "Stay back, I've handled wolves before," I ordered. In truth I had. Maybe not this many, but I had fought lots off in my lifetime. They were relentless creatures.

One snarled and approached me, but I went for the one Dom was taking care of. I bashed it on the head and it whimpered before turning on me. I smacked it in the temple as hard as I could and watched it fall to the ground, limp. Blood oozed from a gash in its head. "Dom, I need your help! Grab a branch!" I shouted, running back to the others.

One snapped at me, just catching the back of my leg. Two more were already down, which left this one and one more. Gemma and Selene were fighting it off with branches. "Hit them on the side of the head or the back!" I called out.

I could feel blood dripping down the back of my leg. The creature snapped at me again, holding my wrist between its teeth. If it bit any harder I'd lose a hand. I kneed it in the neck, but it refused to let go. I cried out in pain and frustration.