Hope

I blink against the blur of gray above me. The sky shifts, spinning. My head pounds so hard it feels like the earth itself is inside my skull, beating. I try to lift my arm, but the movement sends fire through my shoulder. My ankle throbs in rhythm with my heartbeat, sharp and angry.

Air burns in my lungs when I drag it in. The world smells of damp dirt and stone, and my mouth tastes of blood.

For a moment, I can’t remember why I’m here, sprawled on the cold ground. Then the memory slams back. The two shifters had their snarling grins as they pushed me off...