Lost In The Storm

I could see the storm clouds gathering already. That couldn't be a good sign. I ran through the forest, the recent happenings starting up a turmoil in my mind. I had no idea where or how Jade was. She had risked everything for me... I felt that I had disgraced our friendship. Those beasts must have reached by now.

I jumped over the locked gates of the orphanage and went in through the backdoor. No sign of her... or anyone actually. I reflected upon the situation, looking at the dull and dreary furniture... lifeless... I tried to think of all the places they could have taken her, and the most terrible one struck as it thundered outside. I retraced almost half my path, and took off towards the lake. The rain was pelting down by now.

I could figure out a blurry shadow of a lady near the lake. I fought back angry tears, as I recognised another person, slumping down as if unconscious, right on the edge. I can't explain properly what happened next, but it was surely terrible... to understate.

As soon as the lady found me nearing, she knew she had to work fast. She kicked Jade right into the swirling waters, chanting simultaneously. I could already feel the building aura, and tried my best to counteract it. Blood boiling in all my veins, I did what I did best...

I attacked full offense.

Two wolfish eyes stared into the black waters. "Jade", I sobbed, covered in blood that wasn't mine. As the clouds cleared and the full moon rose, I howled, calling my kin to my aid.

The night felt eerie, and there was a chill in the air. I had morphed back into the human form. I had searched everywhere, but she was gone... just gone. Drenched and cold, I looked again at the calm waters.

"You'll have to give Jade back. I won't rest until I find her." My eyes were burning with hot tears. I finally decided that mourning by the bank wasn't going to help anyone. I turned to look at my knocked out foe, Jade's kidnapper.

Where once lay a fierce wolf, now was a woman in torn combat clothes, her face covered by her hand. I bent down to have closer look at the face. As I moved her hand, I saw the claw marks; deep and bloody. I was still seething with rage. But, somewhere inside me, I felt slight guilt; I don't know why. Something felt hauntingly familiar. That reddish hair, impish ears, sharp features, and that confidently stubborn look---- even in an unconscious state.

The woman looked just like me.

I was startled by a sudden movement behind me. I turned to find Miss Alden standing. I hastily stood up and bowed. With that ever-placid expression, she approached my victim. But strangely, she suddenly looked shocked and confused. She sat down beside the unconscious woman, looking completely dazzled, and started crying. This was something I had never expected from such a phlegmatic person. I never got the time to say anything, as she uttered a sentence... a single sentence... that changed my life from that moment and crumbled the very base of my past...

"Cepheid, she is your mother..."