Chapitre 16: chapter 16
The morning was bitter and cold, there was no fire to keep us warm now and we hadn't eaten at all yesterday. My stomach was in knots and I was cold. There was something warm against my back however and I wanted nothing more than to curl up and be surrounded by it. Trying to snuggle closer into whatever it was, I was a bit startled when it wrapped around my small frame and pulled me closer.
Opening my eyes I blinked a few times, seeing how I was in bed. Glancing back I could see fur, and none other than my beast companion. His eyes were closed as he laid on his side spooning me.
Yesterday he was trying to kill me... Yet now he was keeping me warm. It was hard to understand this creature...what drove it to do the things it did? Why save me and then try to kill me? Why take me away from my village? I still had so many unanswered questions, and with so many things that I had no answers to I couldn't help but feel the fear creeping back into my heart.
I had enjoyed the wolf's company the last few days, he was kind of stubborn at times but easy to work with. And being out here is so new to me. I enjoy the forest but without him... I wouldn't survive on my own. When did I become so reliant on such a monster?
Monster... The word tasted bitter in my mouth.
Why...he wasn't normal, he wasn't like other wild wolves...he was a beast right? So why did it seem so wrong to think of him as such.
Looking towards one of the windows, I could see light peeking through, but it still seemed darker than usual outside. Was it going to rain soon?
Should I run away...
My chest ached at the thought, surely if I left now, the rain would wash away my scent. The beast would have no way to track me and if be able to look for a way back home...
Home. I didn't sound right calling that village my home, of course, I had been living there for years now and gramps had taken care of me, he loved me like a daughter and I looked up to him, but that village... I always felt out of place there... The people were nice sometimes but I never really fit in. I had no real friends to speak of and I always felt confined to my little cabin. Not to mention the idea of leaving the wolf...it made the ache in my chest worse...
How are we supposed to survive out here? We hardly have the tools or supplies necessary. There's no good source of food and once it's cold enough the springs will freeze up, we won't have any water. The cold has already started to set in and we have no wood. What am I supposed to do?
Turning over to face the beast I could see he was still peacefully sleeping. What if he lost it again?
Burying my face in his fur I tried to calm myself. If I panic now it will only make things worse. I can't just stay here wallowing in self-pity... There must be something I could do, at least to help get my mind off things.
Slipping free from the beast's grasp, I did my best to not disturb him. Standing up I got dressed and grabbed the small bag from the table. Looking back once more to check if the beast was sleeping, I stepped outside.
Looking around I could see storm clouds gathering above. Maybe I could find some food and gather some sticks before the rain came.
I quickly set off into the forest gathering sticks as I went, it wouldn't last us very long but it was better than nothing. Thunder rolled in from distant skies as I gathered everything I could.
Bringing back as many sticks as I could I managed to make a decent pile on the porch. Now we just needed food for tonight. Getting back down the steps I went back into the forest and started checking the usual spots, the only problem was, I had nearly depleted the bushes of berries, I could not find any wild potatoes and any mushrooms I found were too small to really be of any use.
"There has to be something..." I started going deeper into the forest, looking for something... Anything for us.
Soon enough I came across a familiar area, and as I walked I noticed the old bear trap again, and within it was another unlucky rabbit. "Food!" I sighed happily under my breath. A smile spread across my lips as I ran towards our next meal.
Only a few feet from the rabbit my foot stepped onto something hidden underneath the leaf litter of the forest floor. In less than a second, the sound of clinking reached my ears, as metal teeth sunk into my leg, and an agonizing scream left my lips as my body fell to the ground.
Pain shot through my leg, and I ignored the ache from falling so harshly to the ground. Getting a hold of myself for a moment I looked down at my leg to see the iron jaw of metal teeth that were now digging into my skin. I could see and feel the warm red liquid that was now dripping from my skin where it was gripped on.
My breathing became rapid and tears blurred my visions the pain flared through my leg like fire. I bit the inside of my mouth trying to retain control, to not scream.
Sitting up, I turn over so I was no longer on my stomach, and could properly see the bear trap that had taken hold of me. A pained gasp left my lips at the smallest movement of my leg and tears rolled down my cheeks. With shaky hands I grabbed onto the iron jaws of the trap and pried them off of my leg, crying out in pain as the pressure was released.
Once it was off I fell back to the ground on my side and stuffed the sleeve of my shirt into my mouth to muffle my agonizing cries. How could I be so stupid?!
I moved onto my hands and knees and sat up. The familiar sound of a shotgun cocking and the feeling of a metal barrel being pressed against the back of my head made me freeze. Only now did I notice the figure that loomed above me.
My entire body shook as I realized the situation I was in. Slowly I turned my head to look at the man behind me. He was dressed in rags and looked like a hunter. A double-barrel shotgun was held in his hands pointed directly at my head, there was clearly an angry scowl adorning his face as he looked at me with a burning hatred in his eyes.
His voice was gruff and hoarse as he spoke. "You fucking animal...you think I wouldn't catch you?!" I fell back as he stepped closer keeping the barrel of his gun pointed at my face and I gasped.
"W-wait, please! I'm sorry" I stuttered as I raised a single hand.
This seemed to piss him off as he turned the gun around and hit me in the side of the face with the butt of his rifle. I cried out before covering my cheek that now flared in pain. Thunder cracked in the sky above as he readjusted himself keeping the shotgun pointed at me, with a crazed look in his eyes. What was wrong with this man?!
"You fucking creatures take whatever you want! You've been stealing food from my traps for the past weak!"
"I-i didn't know!"
"Shut up! You beasts steal our food, destroy our homes, and slaughter innocent people! Tearing apart families, like it's some fucking game!"
I looked up at the man confused and scared, what was he talking about?! "What?"
"You're not going to fucking get away with stealing my food this time!"
Did he think I was like the wolf?! Was he delusional?!
"I-im not a monster! I another person like you-!" He cut me off shouting even angrier than before.
"I said shut up! I know what you animals are capable of! You may look like us but your nothing but monsters! I'm going to send you back to fucking hell!" Thunder cracked through the sky again.
He raised his gun again and my eyes widened as he put his finger on the trigger. I screamed as covered my head. There was a defening gunshot and a loud snarl followed by thunder.
Looking back I could see the beast who had just jumped in front of me, taking the shot so I wouldn't. He stood up to his full height, towering over the man with an angry snarl. Rain started to fall as he took a single step towards the hunter making him step back.
The hunter looked at him terrified before lifting his gun again to take the second shot. I flinched and covered my head instinctively as the second shot went off, and there was an angry snarl before the man's agonizing scream pierced the night. I watched in horror as he or into the man's arm, redirecting the shot, before letting go and tearing the hunter apart. I looked away as he killed the man.
Once everything was silent I looked back up and the beast looked at me to make sure I was okay. He took a step towards me before stumbling forward onto all fours. Only then did I notice all the blood marring half his chest. And I knew it wasn't the hunters.
Quickly I got up and stumbled towards him, limping on my injured leg. Rain started pouring from the sky, as I tried to get a better look at his injuries. Multiple pellets had hit him all across his upper left shoulder and chest, painting his fur red with blood, and I could faintly smell and hear the sizzling of burning flesh. The beast groaned in pain squeezing its eyes shut tightly and I put my hand over his wounds. He was bleeding so much.
Seeing one of the pellets sticking out of his skin I pulled it out and looked at it closer. The metal looked like silver and it was practically causing the blood that covered it to dissolve like acid. I stared in horror at his wounds as I realized that the shotgun pellets were burning him. I didn't even notice the cracked pendant hanging from his neck.
He groaned and nearly collapsed forward in pain, making me fall back under him as he panted heavily.
"We have to get these out of you!...why did you take that shot for me!" I tried to push against him, avoiding his wounds, so he wouldn't collapse on top of me. Why was this happening?... Why did he jump in the way and take the bullet for me?! Tears streamed down my face as the rain drenched us.
He cracked one of his golden eyes open and looked down at me.
After a moment I quickly got up, ignoring the pain in my leg, and put one of his arms over my shoulder and tried to help him stand. "We have to get to the cabin!"
He whined as his injured side hung limply, and he struggled to move. Whatever those shotgun shells were made of, they were affecting him badly!
"Come on we can't stay here!" I tried pushing him, to get him to stand but he was too heavy. He nearly collapsed on top of me and I fell to the ground again, before looking up at him. He was keeping himself from crushing me.
He looked at me for a moment more before closing his eyes. The sound of bones cracking was followed by a weak agonizing howl of pain, as his fur started to reside and his wolf-like face changed.
My eyes widened as I froze unable to process what was happening.
The beast started to disappear, as all of his wolf-like features turned into nothing more than human arms and legs. His claws became fingers, his fur became skin. The wolf I once knew became something different...
I stared at the man before me in shock and awe, his arms were on either side of my head, and messy, overgrown grey/black hair covered his head. His face was twisted in pain as blood covered his entire left shoulder.
His eyes opened, and gold met silver. His huge frame shielded me from the rain and droplets of water fell from his wet hair.
He smiled down at me before whispering a single word.
"Mate."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone