***
The pups had been growing. Aranck watched from a distance. Every day he had done as he promised. He brought Malleah food and ensured they were at least alive. Every day he saw them, his lips curled. His attention was drawn to the boy. The runt. The creature that had taken on his appearance and whose blood would surely bleed his lineage. He was to be the debt he would pay.
His visits had been frequent, his study of his mate’s movements meticulous. No one could remain in the den for too long. So he waited and watched. When at last she left he struck. Reaching into the hole he finally grabbed the body of his small son and took him from the sheltering home. Looking down at his daughter, he bared his teeth threateningly at her, accenting his action with a growl. Nothing more, he turned and left, Zharko hanging, whimpering softly in his jaws.
Taking his sweet time, the male moved from the land of Diveen. Malleah would not dare challenge him. She would yell at him until his ears bled, but any attack would have been met fully. He needed to pay a debt before the contract came back to him. The pound of flesh in his teeth was enough. As he made his way to the crags, the pup in his jaws ceased its struggling, knowing if he fought too hard his life would be forfeit anyway.
Once in the sheltered seclusion of the crags Aranck dropped his son uncaringly on the ground. One large paw placed on the boy’s small body preventing the pup from moving, escaping, and almost breathing. Silver head lifted as did his voice to call to the hunters who had once cornered him here. Looking down at the runt, Aranck’s lip curled in disgust. Snorting, he bent his head and snapped his jaws on his son’s paws.
The pup screamed in pain. His tiny paw torn by his father’s fangs. The grown male turned on his own paws, his payment given and left, his duty done. The hunters could do with the whelp what they wished. Curing into a ball, Zharko whimpered over his ripped and bleeding paw. Soft whines echoed off the rocks. Either calling for safety or for an end, either way he knew he just wanted this to end. Maybe his death would allow his sister to live.
ARANCK
....far far from the sky. |