~Paloma~
As I caught sight of the black-haired little girl behind Prince, I wondered how I’d managed to go 1 ½ years without finding another halfer, but all of a sudden I meet five in one day.
“Watch where you’re going squirt,” Prince said.
The young girl glared defiantly up at him with her dark eyes and Prince shrugged nonchalantly.
Her gaze focused on the other three of us (Claudia, Ren, and I) and she ducked under Prince to our group.
"Hey!” She greeted everyone amiably. The girl quickly stuck out her small, slender hand--which I eyed carefully--and Ren shook hands with the new halfer as she announced, “My name’s Zoey. What’s yours?”
"Ren, a shark halfer,” he replied. Zoey smiled in response, flashing her pearly-white teeth, and I flinched back in fear.
Zoey’s attention shifted to me and she prodded my side with her finger, “So, who are you?”
A low growl rumbled in my throat (which I’m not sure if she heard) and she stopped. “Paloma,” I mumbled softly and Zoey nodded politely.
She soon spotted Claudia and energetically ran to her side to seize her arm. “Claudia!” Zoey shrieked, “Have you seen Jethro? I haven’t been able to find him!”
Claudia was looked surprised by Zoey’s urgent tone. “Now, why would I know what happened to the mutt??????”Claudia demanded.
“Because you’re always with him!” Zoey pointed out, “Ya’ll have like, a love-hate relationship.”
Claudia eyes widened in disbelief as irritation emanated from her, strengthening her fantastic scent. . .
"Say what?! We have what kind of relationship?!” She yelled furiously.
Ren tapped Claudia, distracting her from her rampage, and she turned around to look up at him. “You know Jethro?” He queried.
"Yeah!” Claudia confirmed. ”Do you know anything about him???”
“Uhh…well, yeah……”Ren began. He shot a quick glance at me, and I looked at Zoey in return. “You see,” He said with a sigh, “We were walking down, and we found her,” Ren gestured towards me, “and we got in a fight with hunters, and they kinda sorta took him.”
A horrified expression crossed Zoey’s face and she gasped in shock, “Well, we gotta him back! They’ve got Belk, too!!!!” She shouted.
“And Kari,” Claudia and Prince added in unison.
“Alright,” Zoey said, “Let’s head back to the hotel to make a plan…..”
The cold was starting to get to us, so we jogged back to the hotel, through a door, and into a warm, heated room. It looked like a lounge room--though no one was here for now--complete with leather couches and oil paintings of game birds.
Prince stood next to a beautifully crafted table and we all assembled around it. Despite Claudia being on the opposite side of the table from me, the closeness of the group made heat intensify faster and kept smells within close range, so I could scent the otter aroma wafting past my nose.
A formidable claw appeared on Prince’s finger tip and he effortlessly carved into the wooden table. “So, this is what we’re going to do. . .”
“Wow Prince, I just LOVE your drawing technique!” Claudia snorted sarcastically. Prince’s eyebrows furrowed slightly in annoyance, and his reaction made Claudia’s heart beat faster with adrenaline--I swear I could almost hear the blood pumping under her skin. The raised heartbeat generated heat, making the scent stronger than I had ever smelled it. My mouth watered as I imagined her as an otter, imagined chasing after her and of the meal to follow. . .
"Shaddup! Do you really think this is the time to be talking about that?!
Plus, it’s hard to draw in cedar!” Prince retorted.
I barely heard his plan because I couldn’t stop thinking about Claudia. She was mockingly close! Just a few feet and I could have my teeth around her neck... But it would be so much easier if she were in her mustelid form, I wish she would change already!
“Well, who is ready to go?” Prince’s voice sounded distant.
Everything was out of focus, I couldn’t think clearly. I felt my inner hunter ready spring, ready to kill.
]Everybody followed as Prince opened the door, letting a rush of cold air into the room. It also blew Claudia’s scent into my face, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I leapt forth.
I automatically switched into my dog form and lunged for Claudia. I sunk my teeth into her fleshy calf and relished in the smooth, rich taste of otter.
She screamed in pain, thrashing about and trying to get me off.
“GET OFF ME YOU LES!!! LET GO YOU STUPID MUTT!! LET GO! LET GO! YOU STUPID MUTT! LES DOG!”
I bit down harder, tasting the fresh red liquid soaking into my tongue and moistening my throat. It was indescribably satisfying. . .
Claudia stopped struggling for a moment and I saw a light-colored flash in the corner of my eye. Then, a stiff hand slammed into the side of my neck and things went black.
____________________________________
I considered titling this, "When Whippets Attack."
Dude, Paloma got owned XD. Hope I did this okay, but if I didn't, you can tell me :)
Featured *in order of appearance*
~Paloma
~Zoey
~Prince
~Claudia
~Ren
~Jethro (mentioned)
~Belk (mentioned)
~Kari (mentioned)
