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I take my time explaining everything to Laila, wanting to make sure she has it all down before I leave her. She seems confused at one point, asking about the charging bit. I part my lips to explain but it seems her mind only needed to catch up with her question because soon enough she's answering it herself. She stares at the boar for a moment before answering and I nod in agreement. "Exactly." She tells me that she's ready but I hold firm, my skin tingling at the thought of leaving her alone. What if something happens? I'll never forgive myself...I could sit here thinking up the worst case scenarios forever but I should probably start hunting so we can eat. Surely, Laila is hungry. Finally I start off but only after giving her a smile that shows all my love for her. She returns the smile and for a moment nothing else matters but that smile. I tell her to be careful and she says me too. I nod, not wanting her to worry about me. I can handle a little pain and goring. It's her own delicate frame I'm worried about. She bides her time as I would want her to. I find a good spot and wait for the hunt to begin, not wanting to rush her into this. She could change her mind at any moment, decide she wants to hunt something else. Maybe some tasty rabbit or perhaps fish or bird. The options are endless. Suddenly the boar turns slightly away from her and she bolts forward, right at its neck. Barking in my surprise, I leap out of the bushes on the boar's other side, rushing at his flanks to nip at his meaty haunches. I dodge a kick he tosses at me as I bite down before rushing back. One hoof nicks my back leg, tripping me up for a moment but it's only a bruise, something I can live with. I look back anxiously for Laila, wanting to make sure she's okay. She seems to be okay, leaping in and snapping and rushing back as I told her to do. I feel pride swelling in my chest as I turn and rush the boar again, snapping at its shoulder this time. He huffs and grunts in frustration as we continue to take bites out his flesh. It isn't long before red dots his hide everywhere. I keep looking for Laila, always keeping her in my vision. Suddenly she stops, her body trembling. I bark again, pulling the boar's attention to me while I watch her, a whine escaping my lips. What's wrong? Did she get hurt? Did he do something to her? Anger spikes as I rush the boar, biting at his ear this time. I shake and jerk back, slicing through the thick cartilage. He throws his tusks at me, gashing my shoulder as I jump away but my attention has wandered to Laila again as blood seeps down my leg. What's wrong? I whimper again, feeling helpless because if I go to her, the boar will surely follow and then we'll both be toast. Instead I keep distracting him. "Laila, what is it?!" I yell over my shoulder as I spin and come back toward the boar's other shoulder. Unfortunately it's harder now cause his attention has circulated mostly to me since Laila is not a threat at the moment, though he does keep her eying her, probably sensing her weakness. I am worried sick about her, wondering what's happening. It drives my bites to be harder, fiercer, adding shakes now to tear the flesh and make it bleed more. My own shoudler keeps trickling blood but I can't feel it around the adrenaline and anxiety I'm feeling right now for my imprint. What's going on? |