Werewolf

Klara panted heavily as she raced through the dark Forest, desperate for freedom. It didn’t matter where she went, as long as Gertrude and her minions didn’t catch her again. Her strength was fading fast as leaned against a tree for a while to catch her breath. She was barely able to calm her heart when she heard her aunt yell,

“Find her, now!” Ice ran through the young woman’s veins.

“Oh God,” she pleaded as she pressed a trembling hand to her side, trying to stop the reopened wound from bleeding. It flared with pain and she bit back a cry. “...don’t let them catch me!” Pushing off the tree, she stumbled a little ways, panting with exhaustion. Her vision was limited and she didn’t see the tree root that caught her foot. Klara collapsed hard onto the ground with a small sob. It was over. She couldn’t go any further.

Footsteps and the sound of brush being pushed aside brought her back to consciousness. Gentle hands gripped her torso and Klara was lifted up into a warm embrace. She covered her face in protection and heard a man’s soft gasp.

“Klara! What happened?!” Slowly, Klara peaked through her fingers and saw Randolf staring at her. Worry was in his eyes and now anger was replacing it. “Who did this to you?”

“R-Randolf..?” she whispered. Though she should be terrified, Klara felt safe in his arms and knew he wouldn’t harm her. “Please, they’re coming.” Klara cried. Randolf turned his head slightly, hearing distant shouts. Effortlessly, he scooped her up into his arms as he said,

“Don’t worry Klara, you’re safe. I won’t let any more harm come to you.” Klara couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, but could still feel his strong body as he ran through the forest. It was if he had wings on his feet, he was so fast. How could he exsert so much energy without so much as breaking a sweat?

Klara heard him open a door but still couldn’t lift her eyelids to look. After a moment, he placed her down on a soft and warm bed. Klara moaned in agony though and she felt Randolf’s hand smoothing back her matted hair from her sweaty brow.

“Forgive me Klara,” he whispered gently. “But I must tend to your wounds.” He leaned her up against him and slowly peeled her ruined dress off her. Klara whimpered with every touch despite his attempts to be gentle.

“Jesus…!” Randolf gasped. Her whole body was riddled with wounds. Ribs were bruised and broken, her back crisscrossed with deep gashes from a whip, a deep gash bled heavily at her side, and almost every part of her pale skin was dotted with horrid bruises. Randolf couldn’t believe she’d survived all of this, let alone was strong enough to run for a long as she did.

“Why didn’t you go to Gereon? Surely he wouldn’t have allowed this..?”

“I couldn’t.” Klara whispered, finally able to look up at him. She could only see half his face in the dark room, a fire lit behind him. His eyes though seemed to have a light of their own and she saw hatred in them. “I just...n-need a moment... then I’ll leave” He suddenly got to his feet and Klara flinched, thinking he was going to throw her out.

“Nonsense.” he snapped. “You’re not getting off that bed for at least three days.” Klara watched in stunned surprise as he started rooting through his cupboards for herbs and healing oils. “If your wounds aren’t treated now, you’ll get an infection and die.”

“No doctor will treat me, Randolf.” Klara whimpered. He pulled out his mortar and pestle then ground together a thick, pasty mixture.

“We don’t need one. I can cure you myself.” Smearing some on his fingers, he then told her, “This will sting a little...” and pressed it into the deep gash on her side. Klara’s body bulked and she screamed in agony. Her hands clenched in the sheets as she sobbed heavily.

“Shh...” the man cooed softly, taking one of her hands. “Klara, look at me.” Klara peaked up at him. His eyes locked into hers and a flare of purple light emitted from his dark gaze as he said, “You don’t feel any pain...” His voice soothed and echoed in her head. Her heart relaxed and the pain faded away. “Close your eyes...” Her eyes fell heavily. “...dream of peace.” Klara’s mind drifted away...finally at peace.

Randolf tucked in the sheets around her, staring at the strong woman before him. Though he knew she was asleep, he couldn’t help but say to her, “Don’t worry Liebling, no one will harm you again.” As if Fate were listening, someone pounded heavily on his door and Randolf growled, his protective instincts flaring.

Author: Katie (Crios) Editor: Elizabeth (Eala)

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