Surrounds (Bonds) by S.L. Simps Read Free Book Online Page B

wincing. The ground was obviously not her friend. She never realized how wonderful chairs were before now. "Wh- Why exactly am I here?"
    His sharpening ceases and he’s left holding the, now very sharp, machete in his hands. She gulps, maybe asking while he was holding a weapon wasn’t one of her best ideas. It wasn’t as if he could answer anyway.
    Wolf stares at her for a minute before turning away, his back facing her as he grabbed another one of his blades and began sharpening that one as well.
    Uh… She bites her lip, wincing teeth digging into a spilt. "I mean, my family is probably very worried and stuff…"
    No response.
    A sigh escapes her. Slowly climbing to her feet, Alasa picks up a few sticks she had sharpened and skewered her fish and set them by the fire to roast. Once again Alasa sighs. She turns and nearly leaps back into the fire upon finding Wolf merely inches away from her.
    "God!" She cries, quickly catching her balance before falling into the flames. "Stop doing that." Her breathing comes out harsh and frantic.
    Wolf looks oddly amused as he grabs her arm and began tugging her out of into the tunnels. Alasa remains quiet, unsure what to make of this. Her legs begin to burn and ache and she quickly realizes how long they had been walking. Much longer in comparison to last time. All kinds of twists as well as some climbing and descending. Soon, like before, there’s a dot of light which grows bigger and bigger when they grow closer. Soon, when it becomes much too bright, Alasa shuts her stinging eyes, pressing a hand over her face.
    Only when they stop and her hand arm is let go does Alasa slowly blinks until her vision is less hazed. Outside, they are outside, actually outside, as in on the ground. Her body tenses as her gaze takes in the forest around her.
    Her attention snaps quickly to Wolf as he begins walking away, left, towards a clump of bright green bushes, disappearing through them. Alasa stands still for a moment, weighing what to do. A second later her feet quickly decides upon following the bizarre creature. The fact that he hadn’t growled out to follow him was strange.
    Her hands brush away the bushes and finds herself nearly falling over a hill. Quickly she teeters on the tiny perch overlooking the green, wild-flower filled valley below. It was a sight after spending so much time hidden away in a dark, wet cave.
    She can make out Wolf, already half-way to the other side of the clearing, moving in quick strides.
    "Am I supposed to follow him?" She whispers under her breath, testing incline with a pointed foot. Alasa looks up again, finding Wolf already a small figure yards away. Alasa starts down the hill, its steep incline causing the action to be a lot be upsettingly difficult.
    Alasa makes it to the bottom of the valley and smiles proudly, sticking a tongue out childishly in Wolf’s retreating figure.
    "I didn’t need your help anyway." She huffs and starts off after him. "Stupid animal…" What were they even doing anyway?
    A caw, bone-chilling and soul breaking, sends an artic chill down Alasa back and instantly looking to her left and up. Something was flying above her, shielded by the glow of the overhead sun until its massive body swooped low, revealing something large and red. A bird. A very big bird.
    No.
    If Alasa was being honest with herself, there was no way that was a bird.
    It was much too large and shaped like a lizard. She could see it, even from at least a hundred yards away its bright crimson scales and long claws. It was a hellish looking beast, truly frightening. Worse of all, it was heading her away. Fast, with quick, powerful flaps of red-orange waxy wings.
    A scream began climbing up her stiff throat as if trying to escape its own beast. Wolf was beside her with breath taking movement, a throaty growl, his arms around her waist, Wolf leaps.
    Like that they both are back at the top of the hill in front of the cave’s opening once more. Alasa’s being shoved