Lack of Sleep (An Origin Story)

[Dacre Tyr]

The ground was cold and rough, full of debris from the recent explosion. Just one of many that decimated this small village. Dacre slowly lifted himself up grunting from the pain in his right leg. Looking at it, there appeared be a huge gash on his thigh. He cut a piece of his shirt and tied it like a tourniquet to stall the bleeding out process. Limping around the village looking for survivors was a daunting task, one that would be fruitless. "I did this." he cursed under his breath, "I brought them here. I've doomed us all." A worried looked of realization passed over his face before he runs towards a flower shop just ahead of him. The wolf stepped through what was left of the store, pushing away fallen beams. He looked around searching, searching, until his eyes stopped on a hand sticking out of the rubble. He hurried over and removed the debris that had fallen on his mother, daring to hope that he wasn't too late. When the last beam was removed, it was plain to see he was, in fact, too late. The light in her eyes had left. Dacre looked away wiping a tear from his own pale eye. She wasn't his birth mother but she was the closest thing to family, her and...."Clover!" He noticed her on the floor behind a fallen bookcase beside the ruined orchids. He rushed over and picked her up. She had minor injuries on her head and arms but otherwise nothing to indicate anything fatal. "Clover. Clover! Wake up" His shouts fell on deaf ears but at least he could feel the little fauns' heartbeat. Dacre hugged his little sister softly sobbing knowing that it was his fault. Footsteps. Someone was coming. Out of the door a tall figure stepped in. The wolf looked up ready to fight his way out if necessary. The eyes of a man he hoped to never see again peered at him with a look of satisfaction. The red eyes. All he heard was laughing, laughing. And those eyes, the red of those eyes swallowed him to the sound of maniacal laughter.

Dacre woke up breathing heavy, in a cold sweat. He looked around and saw the rest of his team was sound asleep. He let out a long sigh and pulled back the covers. He walked over to the window, careful not wake anyone up, and opened it wide. The night air was crisp and cool tonight and was refreshing in light of the nightmare he had. No, that wasn't a nightmare, that was a memory, a horrible memory. It was a full moon tonight. "I'll find the guy who did that you and I'll get to see your smile again. I promise. I  won't lose anyone else." he whispered clutching the ring around his neck. A small fire flickered in his eyes. "A full moon is good fortune for wolves, and this wolf is hungry."