A Blood-Like Rain

— Kaden —

I began to panic.

We were heading to battle, but I smelled my mate. I smelled my mate!

I tried to track the direction the smell came from but it was so faint I could hardly notice it. I moved in circles half in a daze. I found a line, a line she must have been traveling, but I couldn’t tell which way she came from and which way she was going. And I tried to sniff both ways to see which seemed the strongest, the freshest.

Sam noticed my change in behaviour and got closer. When I noticed him, I raised my hand to make him stop. I was afraid his sheer presence would make me lose her scent.

It wasn’t completely irrational either as my own scent on her tracks was enough to nearly destroy what little clue I had.

I went in further.

I followed one side of the track all the way to a small stream, then I lost her. I checked all over, on the other side, everywhere. The track ended here. My best guess was she walked in the stream for a while, the water masking her scent.

I didn’t realize I had bolted in that direction, until I heard Sam running to catch up.

We were far now. The noise of my men, faint in the distance.

“What is it?” asked Sam worried.

“I found her,” I said in desperation. “I lost her.”

“Who?” he asked confused.

“My bloody mate.”

“Fuck! Now?”

“Yeah.”

“This is not a good time for this.”

“I know,” I growled in frustration.

I walked for a while, following the stream. I still couldn’t pick up her scent, so I stop.

“What now?” asked Sam.

“I go the other way,” I said.

I went back on my track. It was easier to go by the scent I just left than try and pick hers again. I went at a dead run, Sam could barely keep up.

I reached the clearing again I

are you doing?”

was back to where I was when I found her.

from where we just came from to the opposite side. “This is her track. I don’t know what direction she went from but I know this side leads nowhere.” I pointed at where we went. “Which means this is my only chance.” I

Sam looked back at the direction of our convoy then back at me, worried.

but if I don’t give this a chance—.”

“I know,” he

on quickly,” I said. “I just need to

is still time until nightfall,” he said looking at

too. There was time, but not

“Keep this quiet. Just in case it leads nowhere.”

he said. “You’re going on your own?” It just dawned on him as I

here,” I told him.

one moves alone. That’s your own

I looked in the direction I had to go.

if it’s a trap?” he

I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I think I need to do

don’t make

“I know,” I said in frustration. “Go,” I told him.

he was about to

said go,” I insisted.

He looked like he wanted to defy me on this.

took my phone out and waved it at him behind me. “We keep in touch.” And I disappeared through the brush.

little stronger

at the highest pace I could maintain in the wood. I covered a lot of ground and I was probably kilometers from my men now.

pace, she was probably walking, which explained why I

the woods and the mountain, it was hard to believe someone would travel here. A little further, there were some paths that would be far easier to travel. Was she lost, or was

word of Sam resonated in my head.

if this is

get me away from civilization, from

should slow down, think about this, but my feet didn’t seem to connect

sound of water. Another stream? A river? Had she walked deliberately into the water to erase her tracks? The stream had been small, easy to cross, so why risk getting her feet wet far in the woods, otherwise? Then was she doing the

was not visible anymore, the orange glow slowly turning to

I was running out of

eyes, my vision was getting limited in the

was close, I knew it.

I suddenly

to meet someone so far in the forest. I had run relatively silently, but at this pace, I would have sounded like an elephant to anyone with heightened senses. I slowed my trek to a walk, silent, undetectable.

closer to the river, the forest cleared, the wind pick up speed, and I smelled her just

strawberry juices running on your tongue, of a stormy night

dark outline, barely visible at the edge of my vision, but I knew