Chapter Six
I opened my eyes, and I was at the foot of a mountain.
Instinctively, I raised my hand to my shoulder, and it was whole, like I had never been bitten.
Okay, apparently, I had either passed on, or this was a shock-induced fever dream.
Well, whichever it was, I was sure it was better than experiencing the pain I would be feeling when I woke up.
I took a long look around my surroundings; it reminded me of the pictures from Mom and Dad’s honeymoon when he had taken her back to visit Nepal.
It wasn’t the most romantic place, but the white-capped peaks did have an undeniable beauty.
As I marveled at the view, the silence was interrupted by a lone wolf howl, which was joined a moment later by several others.
Not more fucking wolves.
Okay, definitely, probably a trauma dream.
I scanned the area and finally caught sight of a person running high up on the mountain far behind, but closing the distance was a pack of wolves.
I ran closer to the mountain and the figure turned to look down at me.
They were distant, but I recognized her instantly.
It was Nisha. Even if this was a nightmare, I would not let anything happen to my sister.
I sprinted up the mountain path, but after only a few steps, it changed from grass to rocky ground to a sheer cliff face.
I leaped up and clung to the side of the cliff, my fingers digging into any small handholds I could find.
The rock was hard and jagged, and after only climbing a few feet, my clothes were ripped, and my fingers were bleeding.
I ignored the pain and moved upward, using every bit of strength and everything I had learned about finding my way when I was free running to ascend toward my sister.
Finally, I reached the plateau and dragged myself over the edge.
I stood up shakily and gazed down the way I had just come; it was a big mistake.
It seemed like I had only been climbing for a few minutes, but when I looked down, it was from a dizzying height, and I knew if I fell, there would be no chance of surviving.
My sister had put her back against a wall and the wolves were advancing on her.
I willed my tired muscles to move and ran toward her.
As I ran, I grabbed rocks from the ground and threw them at the wolves, but the beasts continued to move in on my sister.
As I got closer, I spotted a large branch and picked it up.
Then I was upon them. I swung the branch frantically this way and that, and the wolves backed off for a moment.
I reached my sister’s side. She lay on the ground with a large gash torn out of her leg, but she was alive.
I spun around and held the stick high, ready to bring it down atop any wolf that came close.
The wolves growled and circled warily, but none stepped forward.
A moment later, a much larger wolf with jet-black fur moved out of the pack.
The other wolves had seemed hungry and vicious, but this one locked eyes with me, and I could see a human hatred within them.
It wanted to kill me and Nisha. It was going to enjoy tearing our throats out.
I shifted my feet, preparing for the lunge I knew was coming.
When it happened, it was almost too quick for me to follow; the black form shot toward me, but before it could close the distance, another form interjected itself, a white blur that impacted the demonic wolf.
The white shape was a snow leopard, and as it hit the wolf, its teeth sunk into its neck and drove it to the ground.
I heard a large snap as the wolf’s neck broke under the impact.
The snow leopard shook the wolf in its mouth to make sure it was dead, then dropped it.
The rest of the pack seemed suddenly uncertain and apprehensive.
The cat turned and hissed at the pack, and they took a step back.
The snow leopard took a few steps forward and walked back and forth in front of Nisha and me.
The pack took the message and slowly melted away.
The leopard turned and looked at me directly, and as I gazed into its eyes, I found myself drawn into the sky-blue orbs till I lost myself.