Chapter 54
So I am sadly starting to feel the effects, minimally, of burnout. From here on, I will be only updating Druidification Monday through Friday, so down from seven to five times a week. Worry not! As this means I will now be using the weekend to start up one of my other story ideas. I can guarantee that patrons on Patreon will get the first look at it by the end of the weekend! I have been excitedly planning this one for a while, and cannot wait to write it up. Regardless, Patreon will be kept 10 chapters ahead on each individual story I write. Sadly it may be some time before you all read this new one, but I promise that it will have longer chapters, hopefully more action, and hopefully some more dialogue. Anyhow, hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Waking up the next morning was a loud and boisterous affair. Stuff was being cleaned up as fast as possible, breakfast were chomped down expediently, and feet were moving. For just Natalie. Every other canine that was with her just looked at her like she was crazy. Mornings were usually more relaxing affairs, not a panicked attempt to get out of the door as fast as they could. Turning around, Nat looked at the pack still at the bed area confused, as if she was wondering what was taking them so long. Then it clicked, she had woken up and talked last night, but that was only about the ambush from the hobs. She had not said anything about her dreams, or what she saw and believed. Getting everyone up and awake, she got all of the adults of the pack up and out so she could let them know. All except Edwin and Lucille. After the job they had done during the night, they deserved their rest. However they promised to stay awake until the meeting was done, so that the pups were not interrupting or distracting.
Knowing that it would not make sense right away, Nat started from the beginning. "So the reason for all of this boils down to the dreams I have been having. Four days ago, I had a dream where it brought me to a mountain range filled with canines, and everyone was there. Especially Sol, Luna, and Seeka." Hearing that the wargs sat up straighter, until a thought came into their head. Feeling their confusion, Nat continued, "Yes, I know. At that point we had not yet met. However, the weirdest thing about the whole dream was that one of you approached me and kept repeatedly asking me to help. Over and over, it went on for a while. The following night, I had another dream, same place, same thing. I was once again approached for help, but this time by all three of you. It felt more desperate and afraid than the night before. The day after, was when we found and rescued you from being tortured and beaten by those monsters."
Taking a breath steadying herself, Nat collapsed down into a ball. "These last two nights, I have had the same nightmare, only it has kept increasing in detail. The last time that anything I saw in my sleep repeated, it happened to be true. You guys did need help and were in danger. What I see at night now is far worse to me than having some of you appear to ask me for help. I see my best friend, one of the only humans in this world that I have ever gotten close with and felt comfortable around, being tortured, abused, and raped. Repeatedly." Taking another moment to take a breath and attempt to hold her tears back, before continuing on, "And every time that I am there watching, I cannot go forward and help. And I am unable to turn away. It forces me to watch this. The first night I wrote it off, as just my dreams feeding off my fears for how she is doing. After last night, I cannot help but to compare it to the repeating dreams from the days before. So please help me be fast and strong, for I need your help to get to her as fast as we can. Please." Unable to hold back any more, her tears streamed down her face as she sobbed into her hands.
Her sobbing briefly halted when she felt the back of her hands getting licked. Looking up from her palms, she saw Kali right in front of her, eyes lit with determination. Incapable of holding herself back and moved forward, hugging Kali around her neck and sobbing tears of joy, repeating thank you over and over again till her throat started to hurt. As she did, every member came up and nuzzled against her, comforting her. They all took turns licking her face, which Natalie thought at first was to get rid of the tears. But then she realized that they were doing what is standard in any pack, speaking and conveying messages through body language. That they were there for her, and that there were no hard feelings. As she realized this, the sobbing only intensified as the feelings that were conveyed from the pack filled her to the brim.
She sat there crying for ten minutes, surrounded by her second family. As she let go of Kali and started to get up, none got in the way. Looking around, she found that all of the things they had brought out the night before, save the log blocking the entrance, had been stored away already. Thanking them, most of them disappeared into the Soulscape, leaving just Sol and Kali still out there with her. Making her way over to the log, she thanked Kali one more time before the wolf took the log inside the Soulscape with her. Surprised about the fact that only one canine was out here with her, a confused look came upon her face. Seeing her reaction to being alone, Sol lightly picked up some sunglasses from a display stand by the cash register and tossed them to her before walking outside. 'Come with.' Was all that he said to her, but she just followed him out, putting the sunglasses on.
As she stepped outside, she was surprised to see Sol standing sideways looking at her. As if expecting her to know immediately, he lowered himself down to the ground so she would be able to get on. Realizing that all of them intended to travel this way today, she quickly went over to him and climbed on top. Thinking back on how they kept passing up on the horse saddles they passed by, Nat shook her head as she lowered herself as close to his body as he could and hung onto his fur. While she could reach around his neck to hold on, she was only able to barely. Feeling as secure as she could, she let him know that she was good, and then all she could do was hold on tight, as the wind flew past her as the warg underneath ran forward. 'Hold on Shannon, I'm coming to save you.'
Huge thanks to my Elder Wolves Jake, Viktor, Nikolas, Saganatsu, Eeleater, Corgi, Zmal, Lachlan, Coen, Adam, John, Ty, and Kevin for supporting me and my writing! Remember that I keep Patreon ten chapters ahead at all times. Our next goal on Patreon will be getting up to 25 patrons, which I will then open up an official discord for everyone to come and discuss the story in and hang out!