Wolf Dance

by Wolfdance(Lit)

  "You should eat," he urged. "It’s considered rude if you don’t."

  "Okay." She took the plate he was offering her, but only put a very small amount of food on it. They found themselves a grassy area to sit.

  He made few comments during the meal, and this did little to rid her of the feeling that she was an intruder here.

  Finally sensing her discomfort, Justin told her. "Come with me, there are some people I'd like you to meet."

  Helping her to her feet, he led her back toward the crowd. In the middle of the dance circle a bonfire had been lit. The setting sun cast shades of amber on the scene lending to it an unreal quality.

  Leaping flames had bathed the arena in dancing light and many people had already begun to move into the circle. Leaping and twirling as if they had become one with the wind and the flames. Their movements flowed with a natural grace until they appeared to become one.

  She and Justin came to a stop beside the man whom he had introduced as his uncle the day before.

  Arch extended his hand. "Our wildflower has decided to grace us with her presence."

  Blushing, Laura took his hand. "Thank you. It’s nice to see you again."

  Arch stood aside and Laura saw that he was with a woman of about his own age.

  "This is my Aunt Ida." Justin motioned toward the woman.

  Ida’s smile was guarded, her eyes distrustful.

  "Hello," Laura managed to get out.

  At that moment, the same little boy whom Laura had encountered on her previous visit came barreling into them.

  "Hi, Justin." The boy’s smile was bright and full of innocence that only a child can possess.

  "This is my cousin ... Ben." Justin ruffled the boy’s hair.

  The boy’s dark eyes rested on Laura and his smile widened. "I remember you." He giggled and then ran off to find some other amusement.

  Laura decided she liked Ben, but the aunt and uncle she was not so sure about.

  Arch said something to Justin in an unfamiliar language.

  Justin looked to Laura. "I’ll be back in a moment. My uncle needs to speak with me concerning tribal business."

  The two men moved to a secluded spot behind a tree. Laura could hear them speaking in urgent tones. She wondered what could be so important that they would discuss it at a sacred ceremony.

  Justin returned only a few moments later and Laura thought he looked extremely troubled.

  "Why don’t you get Laura a drink?" Justin was speaking to his aunt.

  The look that passed between Justin and his aunt left Laura with a vague feeling of unease. She almost refused the glass of punch when Ida returned with it.

  Chiding herself for letting her overactive imagination get the best of her, Laura smiled and took the glass.

  "Thank you."

  Justin led her to an area where she could sit and enjoy the dancing. "Will you wait here for me? I have a pressing matter I must attend to."

  Night fell while she awaited Justin’s return. The spot he had chosen for her was shrouded in the darkness outside the dance circle.

  Laura sipped at the punch sparingly while she watched the dancers. She found herself transfixed by the whirling mass of feathers and fur. The drum held a hypnotic quality that caused time to slip away unnoticed. Her heart seemed to become one with its rhythm.

  Laura gradually became conscious of how dry her mouth was. Tipping the glass, she swallowed the last of the punch. She looked around for Justin but he was nowhere to be seen in the bustle of activity. Laura rose, thinking that she would just go find some water, but halfway up she felt dizzy and was forced to return to the grass.

  What was wrong with her? It felt as if she might be coming down with something. Deciding that she had better stay where she was until her head cleared, Laura lay back in the soft blanket of grass.

  Her vision became increasingly blurred as the minutes slipped by. Her eyelids growing heavy, she closed them thinking she just needed to rest.

  Laura was overcome with the sensation of falling into a deep tunnel and the sense of suffocation under the blankets of darkness.

  When she again opened her eyes, her numbed consciousness registered only one thing--the dance arena was deserted. Only the crackling of the fire interrupted the stillness. She had the sudden understanding of being the only living soul present.

  Where had everyone gone?

  Laura tried to rise but her limbs felt as if they had been weighted down with lead. In defeat she lay back in the velvety grass, letting the warm breeze comfort her. Focusing on the pool of darkness above, she lost herself in its twinkling silver lights.

  Some time later, the murmuring of voices brought her attention away from the sky. Justin stood above her, holding his hand out. Weakly grasping it, she let him pull her to her feet. She used his arm for support as she allowed him to lead her into the trees.

  "Where ... where are you taking me?" Her tongue felt thick and she found words were difficult.

  "I want to show you something," he whispered.

  Too disoriented to ask more questions she followed him further into the forest. It seemed to Laura that they must have walked for miles before coming to what looked to be a small canyon. A cascade of water fell from the rock walls.

  The full moon gave the water the appearance of liquid silver--its dazzling beauty adding to the dreamlike quality of the night.

  "This is the place of the Talking Waters--a place where spirits dwell. All that we need to know can be discovered here." His soft voice caressed her as softly as the night breeze.

  Laura didn't answer. She focused all her attention on the rushing silver water. It seemed to fill the night with a mysterious energy which penetrated her down to her soul.

  "Why did you bring me here?" she asked, when she was finally able to tear the words from her mouth.

  "Because here ... I would see what is in your heart. There can be no untruths in the presence of the moon and the water."

  Her eyes sought him out and she found that she was only mildly surprised that he no longer wore any clothing. Maybe he had not even been wearing clothing when he came to her? She searched her memory but found it clouded with cobwebs--she just could not be sure.

  The sight of rippling muscle beneath copper skin sent shockwaves of sensations through her body.

  "And?"

  Her voice was barely above a whisper. Somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, she knew that his answer would forever change who she was.

  He drew her into his arms. "The moon has reflected in your eyes, all that I need to know."

  Laura could feel his hot breath near her ear as he spoke to her in soothing tones. "We may not have forever, but we have been granted this night."

  His lips, seeking her sweetness, cut off the questions that stormed through her mind. The intense passion in his kiss closed down all thought. Resistance was not even a thought when she felt his large hands slip beneath her shirt to softly stroke her skin.

  She could not remember when he had removed her shirt, but his warm fingers contrasted the coolness of the night air as he caressed the silkiness of her firm breasts. His adept fingers teased her nipples to erection.

  Breathless, she ran her fingers across his hard back, and his lips devoured hers with a hunger that only one of his own kind would understand.

  His exploration of her body continued as he stripped away her remaining clothing. His fingers sought her warmth, leaving a trail of fire wherever he touched her, searing into her, probing her depths.

  There was only his touch, all other thought had ceased. He pulled her down into the tall grasses, holding her so close that she could feel the evidence of his own inferno of desire.

  "Justin." His name came out as a gasp.

  "Tell me what you want, Laura." His darting tongue tasted her aching breasts, trailing down to the heat between her legs.

  "You Justin ... I want you!" By now she was scarcely capable of speech.

  Playfully, his teeth bit into her
thigh, and though it had only been a soft nip she could feel warm blood trickling down her leg. Any doubts that might have flashed though her mind, drowned in the whirlpool of passion that she found herself plunging into.

  "Tell me what you want ... you have to tell me!" he pleaded.

  "I want you to make love to me Justin. I need you," she breathed.

  His groan was indistinguishable from a growl. He gently parted her legs and mounted her, filling her with his frantic need. She gasped in pain when he filled her. Pausing, he lovingly let her adjust to him, though it pained him to do so.

  He moved gently within her, building her passion to incredible peaks, until his own need overpowered his restraints. The pain had passed and she found herself swept away by his frantic thrusts. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she pulled him into her depths.

  Screaming, Laura raked his back with her nails and the night shattered into a million fragments. Simultaneously, she felt him pulsing within her, his growls turning to vicious snarls. The sensation of his throbbing was enough to pull her back into the depths of whirling ecstasy.

  Drowning in his love, her mind never registered his blazing yellow eyes.

  Chapter Ten

  The morning’s soft light covered her like a golden blanket. Rushing water reached out to pull her from a deep sleep. A feeling of displacement brought her fully awake. Shades of black were stripped from her memory as bits and pieces of the previous night returned. The first detail that slipped into her thoughts was the cold emptiness beside her and the awareness that she was alone.

  The memory was surreal and hard to place in the world of reality. Had Justin made love to her last night or had it all been a dream? The longer she thought about it, the clearer the memory became, bringing with it a feeling of total contentment.

  Justin’s tenderness had turned so savage in the heights of their lovemaking, but he had sated the fire within her like no man ever had.

  Laura rose to her elbows and took in the beauty of her surroundings. The reflecting sun lent the illusion of a million tiny diamonds dancing in the spray of the waterfall.

  Though a woolen blanket sheltered her nakedness, the moisture in the air chilled her. Laura made an attempt to rise, but her knees were too weak, and she stumbled.

  Laura wondered sourly why she felt as if she had consumed a large amount of alcohol the night before. On a couple of occasions she’d had the misfortune of drinking too much champagne and the next morning had felt very similar to this.

  As soon as the dizziness passed, Laura struggled into her clothes, stopping abruptly when her jeans made contact with her thighs, sending tendrils of sharp pain through her body.

  Laura swayed when she saw the ugly teeth marks that had turned to angry black bruises.

  Had Justin done this? She could not quite grasp the elusive memory.

  Scanning her surroundings, Laura attempted to find a clue as to where she was from Beaver Creek. There was only one trail leading away from the waterfall leaving her no choice in which way to go.

  As she walked though the thick pines, Laura became increasingly angry. How could he have made love to her and then left her there in the woods all alone? Never had someone treated her so disrespectfully.

  Blinded by unshed tears, Laura pushed her way deeper into the shadows of the pines. She made up her mind to find him and thrash him like he deserved. Afterwards she would walk away and never see him again.

  "Hello!" The voice of a girl called out to her.

  Laura froze--her eyes seeking the source of the bodiless voice. An instant later, she saw the little girl hidden in the shade of a large pine tree not too far from where she stood on the path.

  The owner of the voice could have been no more than six or seven years old, and reminded Laura of a little waif. The girl peered up at her through large, dark eyes. Her shoulder length black hair appeared to be tangled and knotted, as if she had been hard at play.

  Her smile was disarming and when the little girl stood up, Laura could see that her small feet were cracked and dirty, as if she had been walking barefoot on the hot desert floor.

  "You look very sad."

  "Yes, I guess I am." Laura tried to smile.

  "Why are you sad?"

  "I’m really not sure." A single tear crept down Laura’s cheek, her pain threatening to burst forth. "I think it is because someone I know did something that was not very nice."

  "Justin?" The girl’s eyes widened questioningly.

  "Do you know Justin?" Laura asked, completely forgetting to answer the girl’s question.

  The girl said nothing, but just nodded.

  "What’s your name?" Laura asked.

  Dark eyes stared at her silently, but a second later her little feet closed the distance between herself and Laura.

  "I bet you have a really pretty name." Laura knelt down so that she could look into the girl’s eyes.

  "My name is Rosa." The girl held out her tiny hands to Laura.

  In the same instant that she grasped the little girl’s hands, Laura felt something close to an electrical shock flood through her body.

  The darkness of Rosa’s eyes pulled at her and she felt herself slipping into them, losing touch with everything around her. She was falling ... plunging into obscurity.

  When the world ceased spinning, she found herself in a large clearing darkened by the night. A full moon filled the sky, but its silvery light was unsuccessful in penetrating the dense fog.

  The mist seeped through her skin until she had become one with it. Her sight cleared and she could make out the erratic but graceful movement of the things before her. Their dance was hypnotic, but what were those things?

  Slowly, the mass of movement took on individual shapes--the shape of cats. But they were huge and deformed--their features shifting and changing as they danced.

  Their eyes! Laura could not hold back her screams when she saw into their eyes. Their eyes seemed to have captured the light of the moon and were burning with murderous lust. Blood dripped from their snarling fangs.

  "This is their true essence ... Laura." Rosa sounded far away.

  Laura opened her eyes to find herself alone. The morning was as bright and beautiful as it had been a moment before, but Rosa was gone. Looking around, Laura tried to spot the girl but there was no sign she had ever been there.

  Shaking her head, Laura tried to clear her thoughts. Maybe she had imagined the whole thing? Possibly something left over from the drug they had given her the night before. She was certain now, that she had been drugged.

  A wave of misery washed over her anew. How could he have done it?

  She continued on to Beaver Creek and upon finally reaching the town she found it completely empty. Laura looked for any sign of life as she made her way to her truck. Though she detected no sign of life, she was overcome with the feeling of being watched.

  The truck was exactly where she had left it the night before. Digging into her pants pocket, her fingers grasped her keys. She quickly got in and started it up. An overwhelming need to flee Beaver Creek took hold of her and she began to shake.

  The wind whisked through the trees, creating an eerie moaning and whirlwinds of dust danced in the dirt road as if they could block her escape.

  Laura slowed the truck as she approached Justin’s cabin. It, too, appeared to be deserted. Leaving the engine running she knocked on the door but all was silent. She tried again, but received the same results.

  Disappointed, Laura got back in her Bronco and started home.

  * * * *

  Laura bathed and dressed for work. A glance at the clock told her that she was already very late. Jessup was not going to be happy with her. This would be the second time that she strolled into the office late.

  Entering the dimly lit office, she braced herself to receive a tongue lashing.

  "Jessup!" she called out, but her only answer was the echo of her own voice.

  "Jessup, are you here?" Laura began searching the trailer. />
  She found only emptiness. Laura frowned.

  How odd.

  Maybe in Brantic City she would find someone who might know where Jessup had disappeared to?

  Outside, the day was already heating up and inside the truck was even hotter. A breeze wafted through the window as she drove helping to cool her. Before long, Laura rounded a hillside and Brantic City came into view.

  Something was wrong!

  It appeared as if the whole community had gathered outside the Nugget Saloon and several police cars lined the street in front of the old building.

  Laura was forced to park a distance from the saloon. She headed toward the mass of people, spotting Jessup in the midst of conversation with one of Duccini’s employees.

  Laura tapped Jessup on the shoulder.

  "Where in the blazes have you been? We have been looking for you all morning!" Anger glistened in his eyes.

  Taken back, Laura answered. "It got so late last night that I stayed in Beaver Creek," she told him, hoping that her blush didn't reveal too much. Fortunately, Jessup was too caught up in other things to give it much notice.

  "What’s going on?"

  "Oh, not much, just a couple of the locals were found mutilated, that’s all." His irritation with her came through in every word.

  "I’m sorry. I'd have let you know if I had known I’d be staying over," Laura apologized.

  His big hand came up to slap her on the back. "Since there seems to be some crazy nut around here, I suggest you stay closer to home from now on. We were just worried about you ... that’s all."

  "What on earth is going on around here? People disappearing and popping up dead. I feel like I’ve walked onto the set of some B movie." Laura wondered how all this could really be happening.

  Jessup took Laura by the arm, leading her back to her car. "By the way, your grandfather called this morning and he sounded very upset. He demanded that you leave here immediately."

  "I guess I should try and call him." Laura slid into the driver’s seat of her Bronco.

  A spooky feeling gnawed at his insides as Jessup watched her drive away.