Mist formed from his snout as he panted heavily. He could smell it, smell the blood from the wounded mountain bear. The smell of blood filled his mind and body with warmth, as if he were sucking the life from it as the chase lengthened. This feeling was what this ceremony was all about. He had to prove that he could control his bloodlust. And he had to prove that he could kill with it.
As he came to a small stream he slowed his pace, taking in the places where the underbrush had been cleared away from the bear's passage. Putting his snout to the ground, he searched for a trace of the animal's scent. His prey may be an animal, but mountain bears are by no means stupid creatures. They are cunning and dangerous, exactly the reason Yanille had decided on one for his ceremony. No beast could match it's ferocity.
Once Yanille had found the beasts trail once more, he continued on, doubling his pace. His padded paws let him move as silently as a ghost as he sped through the underbrush. Nothing could escape his sights now. The gap between himself and the bear was steadily closing. The bear was as good as dead.
Yanille rounded a small ridge only to fall victim to the bear's trap. The bear had managed to cleave right through Yanille's fur and skin, right down to the bone. Searing pain shot up the length of his body, as he was hurled into a tree and back into his human form. Yanille opened his eyes, but his vision was filled with stars and he was in too much pain to transform back into his animal form.
The bear knew the extent of the damage it had done, taking his time to close the distance between itself and the human. Slowly it raised its massive paw, preparing to bring it down squarely onto the man's head, but as he was about to crush its prey the bear felt a heavy thud in it's chest. All the strength had drained from Yanille as he had launched himself from the tree and into the bear. The force with which Yanille had thrown himself was enough to knock the bear back a few strides.
Swallowing his pain, Yanille forced himself back into his wolf form, his once silver coat now dyed crimson with blood. Yanille fled down the slope of the mountain, coaxing every last bit of speed out of his mangled body as he could. The trail of blood Yanille left behind him was like a map that would lead the bear straight to him, but he didn't care. All he could think of was safety. The air was getting thicker, and as Yanille burst through the last bit of forest he saw a small lake bordered by the desert. By the far end of the lake Yanille spotted two people, that was the last thing Yanille saw before collapsing into unconsciousness.
A young man lay sprawled out across a rock, soaking in the last rays of the setting sun. He smiled as he glanced over at the sheep and goats playfully butting heads and running around like mad.
Suddenly, a deafening crack resonated across ...
Read the full post »
"I...Hate...Cactus...Ow...." I murmured darkly as stickers embedded themselves in my fingers. Scarlet drops of blood scattered as I flicked my wrist irritably.
"Okay...careful now, Caelia," Bringing the fruit to my mouth, I threw my head back and drank deeply. The sweet juice trickled around my lips. All too soon, the beautiful liquid was gone, leaving me to stand there panting under the sun. If anything, the sweet taste made me even thirstier....
I tossed the dry cactus into the sand with a dull thud. Running a hand through my sweaty, spiky hair, I gazed at the cloudless sky around me. Meanwhile, my skin felt like it was sizzling and beads of sweat rolled off my cheeks like tears.
Just then, a beautiful lynx trotted past me with an air of, "I'm not paying any attention to you." With nothing else to do, I followed after with a grin on my face. It threw me a look of disdain before flicking its tail like he didn't care.
As I ambled after the creature for at least an hour (at least it felt like that with the merciless sun beating down my neck). The Devaneir Mountains in the distance were my only clue to where I was. I considered turning back before the lynx suddenly broke into a run.
"Wha-? Wait!" I nearly tripped as I sprinted after him. Why I was chasing this cat, I have no idea, but nonetheless my feet pounded after one another as they sank into the sand.
Even though I was dangerously close to the Devaneir border, I ran after him without thinking. "Wait! Where are you going?" I panted, more to myself than him.
His dark eyes glinted in the sunlight before he disappeared over a mountain of sand. Clambering clumsily after him, I peaked over the hill. "Where are you- Whoa...."
I gawked at the oasis before me. Silent waters glittered with thousands of shining stars. Towering trees cast very tempting shadows over the scattered tufts of living grass. Coming to a stop at the edge, the lynx bent down and lapped at the sanctuary spring.
"No way," I breathed in the lush air. This was no mirage. Grinning, I skidded down the bank and fell to my knees next to my leader. I bowed playfully and cried dramatically, "Thank you, oh wise cat!! I am forever in your debt!" He replied with a threatening hiss.
Cupping the cool water in my hands, I brought it thirstily to my lips-
"NOOO!!"
I started so violently that the water almost trickled through the cracks in my fingers. Then I screamed as something tackled me, hard, into the sand. "What are you-?!" I snatched my dagger. But as quickly as it happened, the weight was lifted and a boy smiled warily down at me.
I flushed with anger. "Do you think this is funny-?!" was all I managed before a bloodcurdling screech rose above mine. Horror flowed through my veins like ice as I turned, to see the lynx writhe in pain. Terrible, guttural screams tore out from his throat.
"Uh! What-?! It's dying!!" I panicked, my voice barely loud enough to hear over its yowls. Then, with a disturbing twitch, the cat's cries died away and he lay still.
Realization hit me like a smack to the face. He must've read my mind, because he shrugged a little and laughed, "Anyone would...."
"Well, uh...thanks," I said lamely, still staring at the cat's body. It took me a second to see the hand just inches from my face.
"My name is Ryle," he smiled warmly.
I couldn't help smiling back. "Caelia." And I shook his reaching hand.
