• NEVER BEFORE
    Ceakey Hyuga

    "STOP!" Panick ripped through my body like a sword. But no matter what I tried to do, I couldn't get my legs to quit walking, I held my breath as my own legs carried me farther into the dark forest. The aroma of old clay and sour dough filled my nose, I choked and once again tried to force my legs to stop walking deeper into the darkness of the forest. But instead they quickened their pace.
    I held my small shaking hand to my nose as I peered around a corner of the rock cliff I was moving against. A huge beast was devouring a meal. I nearly gasped before remembering two things, I would not only choke on the animal's stenchh, but I would also hear me and attack.
    Whatever the monster was, it was ripping apart a large deer. It's furry muzzle was caked with wet, blood, and it's eyes were unfocused as it gnawed on the buck's throat. Long, black fur fell softly down the animal's back. By the figure, I would have called it a wolf, but It was squatting like a human.
    Once again, like my legs had minds of their own, I crepped closer,
    "No!" I shreaked in my head, "Stop!" I dry twig cracked as I took another unwilling step towards the beast.
    It's ears perked up, with a deep growl, it whipped it's long tail and slowly turned, the pearcing red eyes grabbed mine, I was helpless as the beast opened it's blood covered mouth and roared. Of all the times my legs couldv'e moved on their own, why did they stop now?!
    No matter how hard I tried, my legs refused to leave the forest's floor. The animal roared again, and dropped to all fours and began it's way slowly dowards me. I inhailed a gasp, and nearly blacked out from the stench! The forest went foggy and I tried to breath, but the aroma form the beast was suffocating me, killing my, I gave a whimper as I fell to my knees, trying to breath! The animal's face was above my now, blood dripped into my hair, I gulped for more poisonous air, then pushed myself into the trees, the animal roared then dove for me! I clutched the tree's trunk and screamed as the jaws dove for my throat-

    "Oh, for peat sakes, Sen, I know you're not really asleep!" My eyes snapped open, a dream, it was only a dream.....
    "Sen! Get up or you'll be late for the trade!!" My older sister Linn was standing over my straw bed on the floor. I sat up slowly, and rubbed the sleepyness form my eyes. "Sorry," I muttered. Lenn huffed, turned, and strutted from the house. I got out of bed and quickly put the deer skin coat over my night cloths. I hurried into my boots and stood infront of the cracked mirror to pull my hair back.
    I was skinny and small for my age, with sholder lenth brown hair and bright, ice blue eyes. Our three room house was in the middle of the forest, my father sold meat for a living, and Linn and I were often the ones who prepared it for him.
    My family made me, Lenn, my little sister Eldi, and my parents. I kicked at some blankets as I left the house, why was life so hard? Why did we have to be so poor, and what in the world was that dream about?
    I stepped outside into the cool air of the forest. My mother was tending to the fire, wile Lenn was washing and chopping up fresh elk meat. I joined her with the cleaning without saying a word. Eldi handed me a slice of bread with some cheese on top.
    "Here is your breakfast." She said,
    "Thank you Eldi," I yawned taking the food, "What is your job today?"
    "Cooking." Eldi answered. I smiled at my ten year old sister. "Are you exited for the trade today?" I asked her. Eldi's face brightened, the trade was a fastival the happened every three years. Everyone in Pine Springs, our home town, gathered in the main streets, and we traded our goods and had free lunch of delicouse meats and vegitables.
    "Yes! Mum said she would get me a new pair of shoes!" Eldi answered with exitment. I handed her some clean, chopped meat, "Go and cook this with mother." I told her. "And make it as perfect as you can!"
    "Will do, sen!" Eldi answered happily, and taking the meat, she skipped off.
    I smiled wile washing another batch of meat. And wondered what the Trade would bring me this time.



    End of Chapter one