story(unamed)--chap 8

Chap. 8
Serenity, came a voice in Serenity’s mind.
“Hmmm?” Serenity thought it was Esmera speaking to her, but the voice did not match.
Serenity, came the voice again, barley speaking.
After a few moments of moans, Serenity opened one eye and peeked to see who was calling her. No one was actually speaking; they were speaking with their minds. Serenity looked and found herself staring into a calm and gentle white eye that was looking at her. Serenity rubbed her eyes then sat up; she found that the eye belonged to a beautiful pure-white fox.
It is Serenity, right? The fox asked.
Serenity was about to speak, but then changed her mind; she didn’t want to wake Esmera. Yes, how did you know? What are you doing here? Who are you? Serenity questioned the fox with her mind.
Don’t fret, I’m allowed her. I think you’ve heard of me earlier today. If not, well, I am YoKo, the white fox.
YoKo! Serenity exclaimed. Yes, I’ve heard of you. Why are you here?
Well, for one, I was wondering of you’d like to go take a walk with me outside the forest. The moon is awfully bright tonight. We could talk where no one would disturb us. We would be alone. Let Esmera sleep, she’s had a long day.
Serenity wasn’t sure, but she felt as if she could trust YoKo. “Okay,” she whispered soft enough not to wake Esmera.
Quietly, Serenity and YoKo walked out of Esmera’s home and once again through the intertwining hallways. YoKo led the way, knowing where to go while Serenity thought to herself, No matter how long I am here, or if I studied the halls, I could never manage by myself; I would surly get lost. The castle is so big.
YoKo led Serenity through the gates, not once seeing a guard like on the first day she arrived in Alercaria. That’s weird observed Serenity.
They slipped through the doors, leading outside. As soon as they laid foot on the grass, YoKo ran ahead into the shadows of the trees. A few moments later, she came running back with a rabbit in her mouth. “The forest makes me feel so alive!” sighed Serenity, awed.
Yes, it does seem that way, replied YoKo, a strange glint in her eyes. The moon reminds me of...blood.
Serenity didn’t notice the random comment, just continued to breathe in the woods’ scent. YoKo looked around her, and then once again dashed into the woods. Serenity didn’t mind, she knew YoKo would come back, as she had the previous time.
Sure enough, YoKo came trotting back to Serenity a few moments later. She sat in front of Serenity and gazed at her; a look of wanting in her eyes. Serenity gazed down at her. “Yes?”
I just wanted to say, you look exactly like you did a hundred years ago.
Serenity blushed, looking up at the moon; tonight was a full moon. “Thank you. You knew me back then?” Serenity already knew the answer, but she felt like saying something to make YoKo talk.
Yep, YoKo responded, then ran off once again. Serenity thought she heard YoKo mumble, I regret it.
Serenity’s eyes wandered around the trees’ shadows, finally stopping in the middle. Her eyes suddenly widened at the sound of a twig snapping. She wished that YoKo would come back soon. She looked around, fearful.
Another twig snapped and Serenity gasped; this was no coincidence. “YoKo!” YoKo! Serenity called out, but to no luck. She turned to the origin of the noise and Serenity thought her heart had stopped.
Out of the shadows stepped out maybe ten giant wolves. They formed a circle around Serenity and bared their teeth. The wolves were larger than usual, and their eyes stayed on Serenity like a predator would do a prey. Serenity tried to call out for YoKo again, but her voice was caught it her throat. Serenity gulped and stepped back, only to be forced back into her regular position by a shaggy black wolf.
A gray wolf that was standing in front of Serenity took a step forward, a growl starting to form in his throat. Serenity knew wolves did not normally act like this.
All the other wolves followed the gray one’s move, only to yield because the gray one gave a warning growl in the back of his throat. Serenity assumed it was the leader.
The gray one was ready to spring at Serenity. YoKo! Serenity gave a last attempt at calling for help; it didn’t work. Serenity put her back between herself and the wolf, covering her head with her hands.
There was a sudden blinding red flash and everything felt warm. Serenity wondered if that was because she was lying in her own puddle of blood. She carefully opened her eyes and saw a black dot hovering above her. The more she concentrated on it, the more she realized that the dot was a dragon. The dot hovered closer, and Jason jumped off it. The dot was Shinku.
Jason pulled out a sword and rushed to defend Serenity. He looked around, and seeing that all the wolves were scared away, sheathed his sword and turned to Serenity. “What happened? Who led you here? Are you hurt?” he demanded.
Then Serenity started to sob. She had almost been killed, or rather, murdered. “I—don’t—know—” Serenity babbled in between sobs. She finally gained some self-control and stopped crying.
Jason looked at her, and murmured, “It’s okay, Serenity. Climb onto Shinku. We’ll go back to the castle.”
Serenity followed Jason’s directions and,—with the help of Jason—climbed onto Shinku. They flew up in the sky for five minutes and then arrived at the castle where Isabella and Esmera stood waiting. Serenity didn’t know she was that far out in the forest.
As soon as they landed, Isabella came up to greet them, relieved that Serenity wasn’t hurt. After seeing that she was okay, she and Jason went to go talk in the shadows. Esmera, however, stayed back. You could’ve been killed... she murmured.
Serenity rushed up to Esmera and gave her a hug. “I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ran out alone.”
But you weren’t alone, objected Esmera.
“Please, let’s just go back to the cave.”
Esmera agreed, and together, they headed back inside.
* * * *
Serenity and Esmera slept soundly in the night. Late in the night, a cool hand touched Serenity’s shoulder. She jolted awake and Esmera along with her. “Huh? What?” mumbled Serenity, wondering who it was this time. In the darkness of the cave, stood Jason.
Jason stood facing Serenity and Esmera. “Did you say it was YoKo who led you out?” he asked.
Serenity nodded, not trusting her voice.
“I just had a talk with YoKo and she said she hasn’t laid a paw in the castle for a week. Are you sure it wasn’t your imagination?”
Serenity again nodded.
Jason ran his hand through his hair, messing it up. “What color were her eyes?”
The question caught Serenity off-guard, but she managed to stammer out, “White.”
Relief crossed over Jason’s eyes, but then horror replaced it. “That wasn’t YoKo,” he finally managed to say.
“What?”
“I’ve only heard of it in myths,” explained Jason. “They say, on a full moon, a certain person can control the blood in animals, fiercely controlling them. That person did that tonight. He or she took control of a white fox and lured you out to the woods where they had a pack of wolves waiting.
“Then he or she made them attack you against their will; animals would never harm Ilea. How do I know that wasn’t the real YoKo? I know, because even though she is pure white, her eyes are a misty blue, the only other color on her body besides white.
“Whoever led you into the forest last night, was trying to kill the long-awaited Ilea.”