Barely Breathing

'It will rain tonight’ I thought as a herd of ants lined up in a frenzy, evacuating from their haven to a log nearby. Living within the walls of endless forests gained me skills and tricks relying everything on animals' instincts or nature itself. It has been helping me to survive the last two years of solitude.

I unpacked my improvise bag which was in reality an old blanket wrapped around a few times to my only possessions. All in all, a hair comb missing almost half of its teeth, a pair of clothes I stole from a house in an old house I came across a few weeks ago, a toothbrush, some candy, a now-empty plastic bottle, and a few dollars from my previous job. I tried getting into jobs but with little luck because of my appearance.

I am wearing a simple blouse paired with washed jeans and an oversized leather duffle coat, both old-fashioned. My bright red hair was securely tucked under a wide-brimmed black hat. With my 5’9” height almost as tall as an average man, I could pass as a teenage boy. And me starving almost all the time, is skinner than usual which perfectly worked to my advantage to hide my curves. But one look at my face will blow off my disguise completely. My features are 'too soft' to be likened to a man, I heard others say before.

With a sigh, I put back all my precious belongings, the small amount of cash now in my pocket. I got to buy food for lunch, the consequence of hunting nothing for hours. I'm in the middle of a meadow. Soft grass and dried leaves crunched under my faded boots. Hopefully, there’s a nearby town where I could buy something to eat. I’m starving.

The sun was set high above the sky yet it wasn't hot, the air was cold. I have no idea of where I am or what country I was in. All I'm sure of was the date. I asked an old woman walking with a crane in her hand on the sidewalk one day, of what day it was. From then on, I counted the day each time dawn appears and kiss dusk goodbye. That's why I’m sure today's the 5th of June.

thickness of my coat, I shivered. I stopped walking when I picked up a faint foul scent of rotten food in

was faint. But either he was far or near I can't tell. Not shifting gives me slightly enhance senses compared to humans. I am only fifteen and shifting into your wolf form starts at the

there's something odd or signs the rogue was here. I have always been careful not to encounter rogues. Rogues are lone wolves. They are usually vicious and dangerous. Not belonging to a pack will drive your wolf crazy. Werewolves are designed by the moon goddess to live

the Storm Forest Pack. I looked for a safer place to hide but all I can see was the vast grass. There were trees and a long road on the other side but miles away from where I stood. I calculated the distance from how far I still am from the main road, it will take about a 15-minute walk.

road, I still need to get a free ride to the town. What if there's no car passing by? What if he catches up with

I won't let them take away what little hope left in me. I will fight with my last breath.

all my strength. Adrenaline rushed through me in waves like hope seeping through my bones, determined to reach the end