Chapter 17: Into the Darkness

By the time Aria stopped running the pads of her paws were raw, cracked, and bleeding.  Her legs quivered beneath her threatening to collapse as her heart pounded the blood through her body at a rapid rate - blood full of panic at the violent attack from Philip and her near failed escape.  She stood in the clearing of some trees with her head barely above the ground, gasping for air and resisting the urge to collapse where she was.  She knew that if she lay down now, there was a chance she’d never rise again.  Her body needed water and food, soon, or it would fail her. 

As she stood, her breathing slowed but her legs still shook.  She lifted her head slightly and took in her surroundings.  The forest was dark, almost black.  The small bit of moonlight that did break through the canopy of dense tree cover was hardly enough to illuminate more than the few branches it touched on the way down.  Her ears twitched atop her head try