Lorelai couldn't remember having run the fast before. Then again, she'd always been the hunter, never the victim, so she'd never had to run for her life- or freedom, as the case was- before.

She could hear the blood pounding in her ears, almost drowning out the other sounds- the sound of her pursuers feet, their yells, the sound of their guns... she'd been lucky enough to avoid the tranquilisers so far. But how long would her luck hold?

Lorelai turned a corner, and she was sprinting down the main street of the village now- the one leading to the forest. There, she could lose her pursuers more easily. It would be even easier once her rapidly approaching transformation took place.

"Stop that bitch!" came the yell of one of her pursuers, and the hatred in that voice made Lorelai run all the quicker- but despite her speed, one of them was still just a metre behind her. She strove to put more distance between them- but she stumbled.

"I got you now, whore." Lorelai realised with horror that it was Browning, and that he was probably still smarting from the kick earlier. He made a dive at her, and Lorelai closed her eyes in despair as she felt his outstretched arms close around her. They slammed to the ground, but just as Browning was reaching into his pocket for tranquiliser and it seemed there was no escape-

Lorelai screamed briefly as she felt every cell of her body changing, but before Browning got over his astonishment, he found himself clutching an empty shirt. A few yards away, a wolf with brown fur streaked with grey galloped into the night and, more significantly, the forest. The wolf was barking loudly, almost... triumphantly?

Of course, the GSC men tried to search the forest, but with the darkness and the thickness of the forest, all they managed to achieve was some twisted ankles and, in one case, a very painful rear end.

Meanwhile, Lorelai tore through the forest, never missing a step in her wolf form. She wasn’t sure where to go, but for now it seemed that all that mattered was fleeing.

After a short while, she found herself running uphill. It was a little difficult to remember geography as a wolf, but Lorelai realised she was approaching Ashger Mansion. Maybe the residents could help her; after all, they were outcasts from the village too...

She slowed down slightly, approaching the house cautiously. It seemed safe-

Until what felt like a pair of metal teeth closed around her leg. Yowling, she attempted to get away from the device, but it continue to grip tightly. Her blood began to splatter the grass surrounding the house, and she began to feel woozy...

But as she collapsed onto the ground, she felt the metal trap being removed. In its place was a piece of material- a T-shirt? It didn’t really matter, the blood wasn’t flowing onto the ground much anymore.

Lorelai felt herself being lifted, and for a time felt bare skin against her fur while this person lifted her inside the Mansion. Then, she was placed onto the ground for a while, and she tried to look up at whoever had helped her. Whoever it was gently pushed her head back down.

“Hey, you just rest, OK?” Came a soft male voice which sounded slightly concerned. Being in no position to object, Lorelai lay for some time with her eyes closed, focusing on the fact that she was much safer now than she was when she was being chased.

The stranger, who had obviously been standing thinking, came back and lifted her once again. The sudden motion made Lorelai realise just how exhausted she was. Maybe it was that, maybe it was the blood loss; either way, Lorelai drifted off to sleep.

I won't be able to update again at least until Sunday, really sorry. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, your patience is much appreciated.