CHAPTER SEVEN

"Do you think this forest is haunted?". Violet suddenly asked Dora, making her stop for a bit and raise a brow at her. They have been walking for a while and it seems they are getting more lost in the forest. And she can't seem to forget the image of those eyes ingrained in her mind

"Not haunted by witches, wizards or magical beings if that's what you mean, but by animals and creatures, definitely yes. The forest is haunted. I mean it has to be the reason parents advise their children against coming close to it, especially at night. I mean I've heard a few stories of people disappearing in here, you know they entered and never returned". She shrugged as they continued walking

"Uhm Dora, you do realize we are in the forest you just described right?". Violet said unsettled, she is already starting to get scared and Dora wasn't helping matters. She had half expected her to wave her question off as impossible not to give a full reason for why they might never get out of here. She definitely is stupid to have choosen this forest as a safe heaven. Godness, the person because of whom she even ran into the forest isn't present.

"Well yeah, but then again, those people willingly wandered off into the forest, we didn't, sorry I didn't, at least you did while not in the right state of mind. But that aside, if something were to happen to one of us, it's probably going to be you. I mean just look, you got yourself the perfect damsel in distress look, you even got injured. It's all working out perfectly well, don't you think. Too bad I'm not going to be the main character but instead the side character who got out safe to narrate the story, not that I'm complaining". Dora said with her signature grin

"I get it Dora, I was an idiot for running straight into the forest. Geez you don't have to plan out my murder in details". Violet rolled her eyes at Dora's antics

"Just stating the obvious". Dora shrugged

"God! You can be annoying". Violet exclaimed exasperated

"You wouldn't want to suddenly roll down the forest Violet". She warned with a smirk.

"But I love you just the way you are". Violet quickly added with a sweet smile.

"Sweet talker". Dora rolled her eyes making Violet throw her head back as she let out strings of laughter.

"Violet?". Dora asked after a while.

"Yeah". Violet replied with a small frown. Dora had called her name with a tone of urgency, a really rare thing to be linked with Dora. Even in serious situations, Dora always found a way to ease the tension. It's her best trait and one of the reasons they got closer.

"Can you also feel the stares'". Dora finally answered after a moment of silence. She had gotten the feeling of her being watched the moment she met with Violet in the forest but had waved it off as paranoia but the feeling had suddenly gotten worse.

"Yes. I thought I was the only one so I waved it off as paranoia". Violet replied carefully looking around the vast and unknown forest surrounding them. To be honest she had gotten that feeling the moment she ran into the forest but her state of mind hadn't allowed her to process it, then it became a bit noticeable when she saw those eyes and now that Dora mentioned it, she could definitely feel those unsettling gaze from the forest.

"Well I really hope it's just paranoia". Dora said meekly as she also looked around just as they heard an animalistic growl. "What was that? '' Her eyes widened, scared.

"I have no-". Violet began but her eyes also widened when she sighted those eyes behind Dora, only this time they didn't have that look that made her both scared and safe, instead they have a sinister predator look that scared the hell out of her and they are brown not golden in color.

"Dora don't look back just let's run". Violet said in an almost whisper her focus still on those eyes

"Huh, why do you-". Dora began as she looked back only to come in contact with those eyes that stared at both of them with a fierce look, Violet mostly.

"I said don't look back". Violet hissed just as Dora screamed out her lungs and pulled a half crippled Violet along as she ran. Her action must have alerted the beast because they heard a loud angry growl before strong padded footsteps could be heard

"Dora, I can't run faster. Just leave me alone else I'll keep slowing you down". Violet said as she tried shrugging Dora's tight hold off her. Her injured foot is beginning to bleed again and it's hurt so much as she puts pressure on it

"I can't leave you here Violet, never". Dora said firmly as she turned behind to see that the beast was gaining speed on them "oh my God, it's a werewolf". Dora shrieked as her eyes widened in shock and she lost balance a bit which made them stumble but she regained her stamina and they continued running with all the strength they could muster

"A werewolf?". Violet asked in confusion as she also looked back to see for herself. She had heard a lot about them from Dora and their friends in school, but to her understanding no one has ever seen it. And whenever she asks her parents about them, they'd get startled and change the topic, almost like they didn't want to talk about it or they are hiding something. If she wasn't in danger right now, she's sure she'd have gone over to inspect it more

"Don't look at it. From what daddy tells me, it seems this is a rogue. And rogue's are the most dangerous". Dora said panicking

"Rogues?". Violet asked confused, she only knows about the Alpha and his Luna, in fact that's all her parents sometimes talks about if they do decide to talk about werewolves

"Yeah, they are werewolves without a pack, more like psychopaths in our world. Though to be honest, I never knew they really do exist, I always thought it was just tales parents told their children to keep them away from the forest. But if there's a rogue here, it means we've walked far into the forest". Dora explained just as they heard a growl behind them and Dora was thrown few feet away making Violet stumble and fall, the impact hurting her bleeding legs the more

"Dora!". Violet screamed to an almost unconscious Dora who laid at the feet of a tall thick tree groaning in pain

The rogue growled loud right next to Violet widening its mouth in what should be a sinister smile revealing its sharp and strong canine which glistened under the little light that managed to seep through the tall trees branches

Spotting a broken branch with a sharp tip close to her, Violet placed her fingers on it ready to grasp it and lunged at the rogue when it got closer. Unawares of her plan, the rogue brought it canine closer, hunger and pride clear in those eyes of it. Immediately it brought its face close enough, she grasped the branches and stuck it into one of its eyes making it howl out really loud in pain as blood splattered on her.

She tried using its moment of shock to escape but it must have gotten really angry because it ran it claws along her left shoulder leaving a slightly deep wound, which made her groan in pain. "Not again". She hissed. The angry rogue was about raising its claws again when another werewolf from nowhere suddenly jumped onto the rogue making it tumble away from her

The new werewolf turned to stare at her and she realized, these were the eyes she saw before, the golden eyes. 'It was a werewolf?' She thought. The werewolf seems to scan her for any injury when its eyes saw her wound, it growl in anger and turned it gaze on the rogue that was howling in pain

Violet, taken by surprise at its action, shook her head and staggered up to walk towards Dora who was still groaning in pain trying to keep her eyes open. "Dora, Dora. It's me Violet, are you okay? Please open your eyes''. She said as she shook her

"Hmmm, stop shaking me. It hurts". Dora mumbled as she forced her eyes to stay open "you know when I said you seem like the perfect damsel in distress for a story I didn't mean you should act it out". She wheezed out with a smile.

"You're hurting all over yet you're making jokes'". Violet smiled glad that she's okay at least. Forgetting Dora was in pain she hit her a bit hard

"Ouch Violet, easy on me". Dora coughed

"I'm so sorry, I forgot". Violet eyes widened just as they heard hard padded feet coming towards them. Turning their attention to the sound they saw the rogue running towards them alarming Violet. Looking behind she didn't see the other werewolf. But just as the rogue was about jumping at them, her especially, the other werewolf lunged at it from the side once again

"Can you stand? We need to hurry and leave this place now". Violet asked Dora who groaned but still nodded just as she wanted to take a better look at the new werewolf

"Here, take my hands". Violet offered her hands

"Thank you. You know if we weren't in danger I'd have drawn you down with me". Dora smiled sheepishly making Violet shake her head

"I'm glad you didn't". She replied "now let's go, can you walk?". She asked and Dora just grunted

"Here, let's put our hands around each other to assist ourselves". Violet said and then they heard a growl from behind them but both refused to check it out

"Yh sure". Dora replied as she did so and they began running away as fast as two injured 15 year olds could run