Running free.

There was scarlet around her, slowly flowing from the open wounds on the creature in her hands. A small rabbit had become her dinner; . Erupting from her throat were stifled sobs; water fell from her eyes. A black chain hung limply on her neck, contrasting against her sickly pale skin. Her hair was plastered across her face.

“Violet?” I asked, my voice cutting through the eerie silence that surrounded her.

She moved her eyes to look at me. They were unwavering, and empty.

She didn’t speak, but just kept looking at me. Slowly, I bent down and moved my hand close to her face. Her icy gaze never lifted; never showed any emotion,

My hand touched frigid skin. I repeated, my voice unsure, “Violet?”

She instinctively moved her hand to touch mine, her eyes still clouded.

“You…You don’t hate me? After everything I did?”

“I don’t hate you. I never could. Violet, I said I would never leave you, and I intend to keep that promise. But why? Why do you do this?”

She slowly moved her head up; and looked up at the moon. “I don’t. Its….not me. Its that.”

“The moon? How could the moon hurt you?”

She stood, her dark dress hugging her fragile hips; her legs bent in a sprinter’s position. I quickly jumped up, to prevent her from escaping.

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I took you from the wolves; I taught you how to be a human.”

“Perhaps. You took me from the wolves; you separated me from them. But do really think I’m human? Do you really think I can fit in here, fit in anywhere? I belong with them Scorpio. I belong in the woods.”

And you,” she said her eyes narrowing, her lips curled into a snarl. “you took me away. You and your civilization. Being civil is being fake. I can’t do it anymore, I have to go back.”

I reached and grabbed her arm, hoping it would pause her speech.

She broke free of my grasp easily; just like a wolf.

“And these?” she screamed, pointing at her eye. “These contacts? Why should I hide my eyes?” Then, faster than Believable, she reached up and took them out, and threw them into the snowy air.

Then I saw her true eyes; the ones that scared people. They were Golden, like a wolf. Like what she truly was.

“Why? Why did you do this to me Scorpio? I can’t go back, I reek of human. I can’t stay.

“Yes. You can stay.”

“No. I can’t I’ve killed humans; I’ve bent your guns and bent your necks. Whenever I see you, I want to bite your neck and drag you to the ground. It’s innate; I can’t get rid of it.”

Every word she screamed ran true; like a wolf. I shouldn’t of taken her away; I shouldn’t of tried to mold her into what she wasn’t. She was free, she could chase after shadows or raid a farmer’s field. And us “Civilized” people? We’ve shot; we’ve killed her family. And it didn’t matter to us. We burned her home, we killed her food. And for what? To feed and expand our “Civilization?” No, we are not civil. Wolves are civil. They know they have to kill to survive; they understand it. They don’t cringe at death, they openly accept it.

“Go.” I whispered. She looked at me, and walked close; cringing at scent. The scent of humans. I looked at my palms, suddenly ashamed. Of being a human.

“Good-bye.” She whispered in my ear. Then, unexpectedly raised her hand onto my chin and gently kissed me. Her lips were soft, her hands delicate. She was fragile; but she would survive.

Suddenly, she let me go; and glanced at the edge of the field. There, hardly visible stood a dark figure. It raised its head, and let loose a mouring cry. She removed herself; and began to run towards the figure. It turned; seeing that she understood. Her feet deftly ran, avoiding deep snow.

I turned around, towards the soft glow of candles in little huts. She was where she belonged; I was where I belonged. It was the way the wolves wanted it. She was gone and I couldn’t follow.

I closed my eyes, and let a resounding sigh. “Good-bye, two-legged wolf.”