The Heart Thief

Chapter Four

Tomorrow's the big day... graduation day! >///< so excited. After this graduation, I'm gonna update more ^^

Zuma took quiet steps toward where Chase and Ryder slept. It was an early two in the morning and darkness still embraced the land. He was about to steal from them… again but for the last time. After he steals, he’s gonna continue on his search for the oasis his people died trying to find. He knew for himself that that is where he must be and that is the purpose of his remaining life span. When he finds that place, he’s finally going to rest himself eternally.
            Not a single thought occurred to him of what he’s going to do once he finds the place. All he knows is that once he settles in that particular oasis, he’s gonna stop his mortal activity and starve his self to death or something as crazy as that. He wasn’t sane anymore, that’s for sure and he’s dying more than any adventurer in the desert.
            He bit the string lock of the bag that tightened the opening and pulled it swiftly, quietly. There were still lots of food left for Ryder and Chase to share but knowing this certain boy and pup helped him, a foreign emotion came upon him – guilt. He never felt that sensation before but he knew well what it was and he never dreamed of feeling that awful emotion… but now, it’s tormenting him.
            Stop, he forced his thought but he only felt guiltier as he took one food from the bag. Guilt got the better of him and he dropped the food to where he took it. He made a few steps back and sighed as he refreshed his mind in an attempt to remove the guilt feeling but unfortunately for him it didn’t go away.
            He sighed in frustration and dug his head inside the bag, attempting to steal one, even just one, food and after that no more. He managed to bit one end of a plastic sealed food and pulled it swiftly outside. He dropped it the moment he saw two furious eyes glowing at his direction.
            He made an immediate run to escape Chase, who stared at him with eyes of distrust. He met the wrath of his gaze and that alone sent him shivers. If in the past, he would be running while laughing, enjoying his crime as he made his way through the desert, now he’s fleeing for another reason – fear.
            He made an immediate stop the moment he realized what’s been going on – he felt guilty and couldn’t do what he does best and now he’s running because he’s afraid? He laughed at himself and wore his true face and true feelings. His expression shifted to mischief and his fear, now vanquished.
            He turned his back and met Chase stopping a few feet from him. He saw Chase’s eyes and underestimated him. That? He thought he was running away from that? He couldn’t believe himself and he found himself laughing inopportunely.
            “What’s funny, thief?” Chase asked and barked to activate his net. The sound of his voice sounded different and thrilling. It sounded like a challenge to Zuma. “I knew we couldn’t trust you…” Chase continued when Zuma’s laugh started to settle.
            “Of course you can’t trust me,” Zuma still laughed. “What idiot would trust an innocent, thieving stranger? You should be smart enough to see that no thief is innocent. That was the flaw I’ve shown you yet you kept on as if I’d actually venture with you.”
            Chase ignored his last statement, “I guess I’m the idiot who trusted you.” He sat down on the sand and gave an exasperated sigh. “I let my desire meddle with my instinct and I thank you for showing me that I should trust my instinct first.”
            Zuma put out his tongue and accepted his remark as sarcasm. But later on he just coped… desire? “Desire?” he voiced out his thought unknowingly.
            Chase walked to him and Zuma took a few steps back. Chase’s eyes pierced Zuma’s taunting gaze. He could see that he was being underestimated and that is the biggest mistake people often make about him.
            Zuma swallowed his fear and forced himself to stand his guard. He shouldn’t take steps back unless needed to yet he just did for no reason at all.
            Upon meeting contact with Chase, Zuma swallowed and forced his unchanging expression glued to his face. He wanted to show Chase that he’s not who Chase thinks he is but is that really what’s happening or the other way around?
            “You know…” Chase laughed, a mere smirk in his face signified dominance rather than humor. He continued, “You could have gone easily.”
            “What do you mean?” Zuma asked. He didn’t get what Chase meant and he has this feeling that he is not gonna like where Chase is going at.
            “You captivated me with your innocence…” Chase sighed. “You could have used that and if you’re an expert on what people, or pup, would do then I’m guessing you should have done that. It is you who committed a grave mistake not I.”
            Zuma gave a taunting huff of his breath but alongside that was a mixture of fear. What’s the matter with him? Why is he succumbing easily to this certain pup? He didn’t want to accept that he’s starting to gain a soft side for Chase and because of that thought he forgot Chase’s remark completely. Before he could answer a farfetched idea, Chase interrupted with the same remark, making sure Zuma didn’t forget what he said.
            “Admit it. You’re not as good as you think.” Chase degraded, “for a thief you’re quite weak or I’m just better than you.”
            Zuma realized that he drifted afar from their original topic and he was astounded to have heard him say such things. Being a thief, for him wasn’t a job and it is most certainly not his forte but inevitably, it is and he’s miserable for it. “Better than you?” he cut at his last remark. “I am better than you,” he boasted. “I saved you from that sandstorm.”
            Chase was thrown off his composure slightly, remembering that embarrassing rescue and aftermath made him flinch. “That was a storm,” he reasoned, “Anyone can get beaten badly by a storm–”
            “–that I face and survive for as long as I can remember,” Zuma interjected, stomping one of his paws on the sand it created a small print. “Don’t mistake me, I walk that storm every once in a while with only my blanket as my protection.” He bit the cape that tied on his neck and shook his head crazily. “Don’t underestimate sandstorms or me because I’m as fierce as they are.”
            At his action, Chase grinned. Hearing Zuma’s words with his mellow accent contradicting his anger made him forget his statement. It was a rather distracting conversation than an argument. He found himself fantasizing about Zuma. “You are perhaps a fourth fierce less than a sandstorm,” Chase laughed.
            “Oh I’m fiercer than that,” Zuma crouched. “I’m gonna have your perspective changed after I’m done with you.” He jumped from where he stood and targeted Chase.
            “A challenge, I see.” Chase evaded nonchalantly. “You’re a thief. You’re good at stealing and running but certainly not fighting.”
            “I’m a hunter as well, remember?” Zuma recalled as he crouched once more like a lioness about to pounce on her prey.
            “So much for hunting scorpions,” Chase taunted him.
            “And snakes!” he added with a violent yell.
            The more he attacked Chase, the more he got tired until he no longer had the energy to attack.
            “Tired, finally?” Chase insulted. “Now it’s my turn.” With a swift leap from where he stood, he cornered the exhausted pup on the sand, tightening his body by pressing on him so he couldn’t move. Zuma was only able to shake his head. “In hunting snakes, such as yourself, first rule – exhaust them. I remember you telling me that. What ever happened?”
            Zuma felt embarrassed at his remark as he tried to violently shake his head. He was even more humiliated when he realized that the tactic he used against snakes was used by the pup that cornered him. “Let me go!” he demanded.
            Chase didn’t let go. He was glad for what Zuma did. The scale is now imbalanced. “No.” He played.
            Zuma shook his exhausted body and his movement touched Chase’s and that made him want more. Chase was slowly succumbing to his lecherous desire. At first, it was him who tried to fight back but now he just wants his lust to take over him completely. He wanted to hear Zuma’s pained moan and he wanted to see him cry as he deliberately enters him.
            Chase neared his mouth on Zuma’s ear and whispered with each breath stunning Zuma’s breathing. “You were so innocent when we talked yesterday… was that just a mask to hide your true self?”
            Zuma hesitated. Honestly, it was his true self and he was disgusted for showing it. His whole action was only to make Chase forget that innocent starving pup he told him he was… and is. He won’t give his effort off that easily. He gathered his voice and answered with great difference from what he had shown yesterday. He made use of harsh words to make Chase believe that he’s not all what he thinks he is. “I told you you’re an idiot for believing who I was. Good luck tryna’ find out who I really am.” He smiled largely and his eyes shifted to cynic.
            Chase raised one of his eyebrows. “I guess I fantasized on the wrong pup. I like this one better.” He neared his mouth a close inch from Zuma’s and enjoyed the sound of his exhausted breathing. “Let’s see if you’re really the pup you are now.”
            He pressed his mouth against Zuma’s and penetrated his tongue inside, enforcing the taste of sweetness inside Zuma. Zuma responded oppositely. He tried to lock his mouth shut but he couldn’t do so now that Chase was locked with his. He felt mountains of sensations fluttering in his stomach and raising up to his chest with a fast beat.
            He thought of biting Chase’s tongue so he would let go. The moment it touched his tongue, he bit Chase’s tongue… but softly. What’s happening? He couldn’t tighten the lock of his mouth and he immediately found himself kissing back. He hated what Chase is doing and he wanted to withdraw but he couldn’t. What’s making it so hard to pull back?
            Chase felt Zuma’s soft lock on his tongue and he thought he invited him more. Going in deeper, Chase explored Zuma’s mouth, sliding his tongue hungrily.
            A tear rolled down from Zuma’s eye. He didn’t really like what’s happening yet he kept kissing back. The warmth of Chase’s body touching his made him forget all his oppositions. And his full minute kiss made him moan in pleasure.
            Chase withdrew his tongue, sliding it in between Zuma’s lips before giving him a dominant stare that told Zuma his place. He walked a few steps back letting the Labrador cope with what happened for more than a minute.
            Zuma was still shocked. He could still feel Chase’s tongue invading his mouth and he could feel his body yearn for more. His face turned blank and he walked over to Chase. Sitting beside him, his face twitched as it blankly stared at Chase.
            Opening his mouth, about to say something, Chase kissed him again but it was over in a blink of an eye and Zuma tasted his sweetness once again. He didn’t say anything afterwards and when a few minutes passed, he finally returned to his old self.
            “What happened?” he yelled in disbelief as he felt hot rushes of heat run from his neck to the base of his ears. This sensation also reached his cheeks and made his eyes blurry of tears.
            “What did happen?” Chase asked with a smile.
            Zuma eyed him murderously. He couldn’t argue with him since he kissed back but anything to say would do just to break that awful silence – the silence that made him recall what happened moments ago. “How dare you–”
            “You kissed back,” Chase interjected, “just really pathetic. I didn’t expect much though. After all, you’re only good at stealing.”
            Zuma sunk in humiliation. It shrunk his personality and offended his existence. The way Chase delivered his remark had this harshness implying his very existence was to be a thief.
            “I’m not a thief…” he denied. His voice diminished and made Chase wonder. Chase’s eyes asked for him. “I mean… I wasn’t a thief before.”
            “Newborns aren’t thieves.” Chase harshly stated. “But they grow up to be many great things… others not.”
            Zuma was offended. “What do you know?” he asked with opposition in his voice. He yelled the question out loud and he didn’t realize that he was babbling nonsense he shouldn’t say. “Your family didn’t die, you weren’t left alone and you’re not doing anything to survive because you have someone to take care of you!” he yelled in perfect anger. After a few seconds, he covered his mouth and denied what he just said.
            “Zuma…” Chase walked over to him. “Who are you?”
            Zuma trailed his paw on the sand for long moments. “I’m Zuma…” he dug his paw through the sand and threw it at Chase’s eyes, blinding him. “… The thief!” he heard his voice diminish out in the open and when he finally regained his vision, Zuma vanished without a trail.
            A strong push of the wind erased the mark where Zuma sat and carried his scent with it.