Young Writers Society

Okay, so I'm really not sure how many chapters you can post a day etiquette wise. I have finished this story, but I'm going back through and editing it. So any critique good or bad helps. Again please don't sugar coat it. I'm going to post this up then go back on my document and try and catch everything else. I tried reading through this for any of the same mistakes, though I may have failed epicly at it. :D Hopefully this will tag properly for @ChocolateCello and @artybirdy . 

Pain was all Piper’s mind could register when she woke up. Pain searing through her right shoulder where the claws of the mountain lion had mauled her arm. She tried to push her eyes open as she fought to push the pain aside. Pain was nothing new to her, it was something she could handle. She just needed to convince her mind that it wasn’t as big of a deal as it thought it was and after a short while it would heal over.

She opened her eyes and found herself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. It looked like one of those ceilings out of a fancy cabin up in the woods that people would rent for a weekend. It was made out of real woods, almost like someone had just walked out to the woods and cut the wood themselves to make the ceiling.

I’m alive? She thought as she felt the pain in her shoulder start to dull. How am I alive?

“Well, looks like our guest is awake.” A deep voice said from her left. She quickly whipped her head around to see who had talked. It was a guy that looked about a year or two older than her. He had short brown hair and the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. His shoulders looked twice as wide as hers and his shirt seemed to strain to fit on him.

She felt her heart rate pick up as she tried move away from the stranger. Her head started to feel light and she stopped moving trying to steady her breathing. She watched as concern and confusion crossed over the strangers face.

“I wouldn’t suggest you try and move.” Another voice said from behind the first man. She glanced behind blue eyes and saw an older looking gentlemen with a kind looking face. “How are you feeling?”

Piper wasn’t sure if she should reply. She glanced around the room trying to figure out a way of escape, or even a clue as to where she was. The room looked like it was straight out of an ad for a log cabin. Everything look hand crafted and well cared for. There was only one window in the room and one doorway. She wasn’t going to be escaping with the two men in the room.

“Sore.” She replied her voice hoarse and scratchy sounding. She tried to push herself up to a sitting position and accidentally putting too much weight on her right arm in the process. Pain surged through her body and she sank back down on the bed tears threatening to push from her eyes.

“I’d imagine so, that cougar sure did a number on you. Course from the carcass, I’d say you returned the favor. It would’ve died from that stab wound you gave it.” The old man said as he studied her face a little. She avoided eye contact with him as she glanced around the room again.

“What about the wolf?” She asked curiosity getting the better of her. The wolf had saved her life, she wanted to know what had happened to it. She glanced towards the two men to just barely catch them exchange a glance she couldn’t read. Blue eyes was about to say something when the door to the room opened and an older lady walked in carrying a tray, that from the smell, held a bowl containing the most heavenly smelling soup she had ever smelled.

“Look who is up.” The lady smiled as she carried the tray over and set it on the table that was beside the bed. Piper glanced at the tray and then the open door. She didn’t know what laid on the other side of it even if she was able to get up and take off. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

“Fine.” Piper replied as she glanced back at the two men who didn’t look ready to give up any information about the wolf that had saved her. She tried to replay the last few seconds of what had happened before she passed out, but her mind wouldn’t give her that.

“I’m sure you are hurting pretty bad, I’ve got some pain pills here if you would like one. The doctor looked at your arm and said it will heal just fine, you just can’t use it for a little while.” The older lady smiled apologetically down at her. She glanced over at blue eyes and the older man her face getting serious. “You two should’ve hollered the second she woke up, poor thing must be in a world of pain.”

“She just woke up, Darlin’, I was about to come and get you.” The older man smiled at her as he walked over and kissed her temple.

“Uh-huh, I’m sure you were.” The lady laughed shaking her head a little. She turned her gaze back to Piper with a smile on her face. “Men, I swear are so absent minded sometimes around a pretty woman.”

Piper felt her cheeks warm as she glanced away from the lady unsure as to what to say. She didn’t know if it was just a sweet comment or if there was malice behind it. But in Piper’s experience nothing was ever just good. There was always some hidden motive or distaste. She glanced over at the bowl and saw what looked like chicken noodle soup, her stomach let out an uncanny growl and she felt her cheeks start to burn even more.

“Oh my, you must be starving.” The older woman blushed a little as she grabbed the tray of food. “Cedar, help the poor girl sit up.”

Piper swallowed hard as blue eyes, Cedar the lady had called him, stood up and gave her a questioning look. Piper tried in vein to sit herself up and ultimately had to allow the giant of a man help her to a sitting position. She didn’t feel the normal feeling of fear roll over her like when Jeremy was near her, but she still wasn’t comfortable with the strange male being so close.

He seemed to pick up on her feelings and only stayed close to her long enough to help her to a sitting position. Once she was sitting Cedar sat back in the chair next to her and the older lady set the tray down on her lap. Piper’s stomach growled again and she wished she could hide beneath the covers.

“How long was I asleep?” Piper asked as she slowly picked up the glass of water and took a slow sip. She felt the liquid slowly ease past her parched lips and into her dry mouth.

“Cedar found you last night, so I would say about twelve hours or so.” The older lady smiled. “Now, is there anyone we can call for you?”

“No!” Piper said a little more firmly than she had planned. “No, there is no one to call.”

“Alrighty then, how about you eat your fill and then get some more sleep. Rest is the thing your body needs the most right now.” The lady nodded. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to steal my husband for a few minutes. Cedar can get you anything you need.”

The older lady steered her husband out the door closing it gently behind them. Piper glanced nervously at Cedar who was still sitting in the chair next to the bed she was on. She glanced back around the room quickly, at least now there was only one person in the room to get passed, albeit a very large person. She glanced down at the food and felt her stomach rumble a little. She hadn’t eaten in a while so staying to eat wouldn’t hurt.

“Clem can be a little forgetful sometimes.” Cedar said from beside her. She glanced over at him and saw a gentle smile on his face. It was a sweet looking smile that made Piper want to smile back, though she fought the urge to do so. “Alon was the older gentlemen and I haven’t been officially introduced. I’m Cedar. You should really try that soup, Clem makes the best soup anywhere around. Heck, she’s the best cook in general.”

“You didn’t answer me earlier. What happened to the wolf that killed the mountain lion?” Piper asked as she held his gaze. She saw something flicker across his face again and then shift in his seat just slightly. The chair groaning a little under his weight as he shifted.

“It’s fine.” Was all he said as he looked at the bowl of soup on her tray. “You really should try that soup.”

Piper looked down at the bowl of soup and carefully used her left hand to scoop up some of the liquid with the spoon. It wasn’t an easy task since she wasn’t used to using her left hand to eat. But she somehow managed to get the spoon from the bowl to her mouth without spilling a drop. He hadn’t been kidding when he said that Clem was a good cook. The soup was the best that she had ever had. Something about it made her feel comfortable, which was something she wasn’t used to feeling.

“What’s your name?” Cedar asked leaning forward a little in his seat as she lifted another spoonful to her mouth. Piper hesitated for a split second before looking down at the bowl in front of her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him her name. What if he knew Jeremy or her father and would lead them to her. Cedar had been nothing but nice to her, the least she could do was tell him her name.

“Piper.” She pushed out as she studied the soup on her lap. Her mind slipped back to everything that had happened during the past couple of days.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Piper, I have to tell you something.” Jeremy said pulling Piper’s attention from trying to pick out a movie for their weekly movie night. She partially liked their routine, even if she hated being around him. Maybe if she had gotten to pick him instead of being forced to date him she wouldn’t mind it so much. At least he didn’t expect anything from her, for the time being at least.

Piper glanced up at him as she held the case to a new action movie he had gotten. She had been taking her time to pick out the movie so that she didn’t have to sit on the couch next to him for just a little while longer. He had a very serious look on his face as he motioned towards the couch with his hand. She swallowed hard holding the dvd case a little harder as she slowly stood up and sat down on the couch.

“To start, we are going to go out to eat tonight instead of tomorrow night, so don’t worry about the movie we’ll watch it later.” Jeremy said as he moved to where he was standing right in front of her. Piper felt her eyebrows furrow a little. They never changed their routine.

“O-okay.” She said as she scooted back a little on the couch to move away from him, even if it was just a few inches. “What’s up?”

“I’m a shape shifter.” He said his face completely serious. She couldn’t help the laugh that came out of her mouth. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand trying to stifle it. “I’m not joking, Piper.”

Piper managed to stop her laughing as she looked up at him again. His face was still completely serious, that wasn’t possible though. Shape shifters didn’t exist, they were just a fictional species made up to get people to read books or watch more movies. She was about to tell him he was crazy when he stepped away from her a little.

One second Jeremy was standing there in front of her, the next a giant grizzly bear was there on it’s hind legs. She screamed as she jumped over the back of the couch and scrambled backwards until her back hit the wall. He shifted back to his human form a smirk on his face as he walked towards her. Piper fought to get her breathing under control as she moved away from him. The smirk left his face replaced by a scowl.

“Don’t run from me!” Jeremy hissed grabbing her wrist and yanking her towards him. Piper tensed up as she kept her eyes on his fingers that were wrapped around her wrist tight enough that she knew there would be a bruise.

“I-I’m sorry!” She whimpered as she tried to pull her wrist away from his grasp. She didn’t know why she thought it would work, it never had before. Jeremy pulled her wrist up and kissed the back of her hand pulling her eyes to him.

“Good girl, now there is a fancy dress in the guest room you should go change into.” He said glancing at her wrist before he finally released it and cupped her cheek. “You always were good at listening when given a little incentive.”

Piper fought to keep from pulling away from his touch. She felt him pat her cheek softly and then his put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her head forward so he could kiss her forehead. She didn’t know why he refused to kiss her on the lips, not that she wanted him to. But her whole life keeping her purity until she married had been ground into her, even kissing was forbidden.

“Now, go get dressed, we have a big night ahead of us.” Jeremy smiled down at her the glint in his eyes making her want to turn and runaway. To be able to digest everything she had just seen.