Sapienophobia

Chapter 11

Two of them.

Don't break eye contact. Back awa-

Three, there were three of them. One peeked out from behind a trunk.

Look for more.

It seemed like there were only three. Only.

Idiot! I went into their kill box!

The deer didn't frequent there because it was predator territory. Not just deer, no direct prey were there either.

I should've noticed.
No point in dwelling on the past. Survive.

The first sun had almost set, they should have been going to sleep. I suppose my presence would've put them on edge.

My legs started to shake.

Stop, if they assume I'm weak, it'll set off their instincts. Don't turn my back to them, retreat slowly.

The situation was tricky; I needed to behave predatorial enough to make them think that I wasn't an easy target but not so frightening that they would attack in a desperate attempt at self-preservation. I needed to act as a perfect combination of predator and prey.

I'll let my size handle the prey part, but will waving my arms and suddenly screaming at them give the right impression?
It should be fine, move-
I can't just go all out! The wrong decision will mean death.

My eyes quivered at the image of being ripped apart.

They'll probably go for my neck first, putting me out of my misery before they eat me. The alpha would at least if it was alone. There's no telling where the other two would start. My intestines, they'll tear a hole in my torso and eat the meat in my muscles. I'll have to watch. I'll get to see my insides brought out. I'm young, so they'll eat my bones too. They're brittle, so they won't have to work hard to chew them into smaller pieces. All that will be left are flaps of skin.

My breathing quickened. I doubt my lungs were processing all the oxygen at the speed they were receiving it.

They'll hear me breathing differently. They'll attack.
Run.
No! They'll chase me, I know it! I can't outrun a wolf! And these are Murks wolves, they can see through the eyes of their pack members. If there are more than three, they're on their way. They'll come from the direction I'm heading to surround me.

In my gradual retreat, there was a hitch in the rocks, an outlier that I could notice pricking the ball of my heel. I was aware of it, but I didn't break eye contact with the wolves.

If I keep going like this, I'll reflexively look away at some point. They won't let that opportunity pass them by.
Run away. If I run fast, I can-
What do I remember seeing on my way here? Thick logs, dead trees, mud, twigs. Lots of places to hide but lots of places to trip, too.
Can the wolves trip too?
What's nearby? Something I can get to before they close the distance. The bushes?
No, scratch all that.
They've probably got my scent. Wherever I hide they can find me.

The grayest one stepped forward first, so I assumed it was the alpha. It wasn't snarling, so I must've been doing something right so far.

Their curiosity won't last.

I started to wave my arms quickly to seem bigger than I was. I eased to the ground, analyzing their reaction as my knees popped. The crouching position allowed me to sift through the ground for items I can use.

Larger rocks, drier dirt, crunchier leaves. The less wet, the better. I still hadn't turned my sight away so fumbling blindly for what I needed was the best I could do. My left arm was still waving.

If I'm running, I'll make it as difficult as possible for them to catch up to me.

I lightly dropped the materials into my pocket, careful to fashion padding between the rocks so that they wouldn't clash as when inertia took over. It was light enough that I wouldn't be sluggish while running.

If I'm going this far, wouldn't it be better to fight them? I have a good idea who's the alpha and taking it down would make the others retreat.
No, dummy. I can't account for the other two.
Those three are coordinated, I should see them as one smart enemy rather than three individuals. They'll know my weak points before I do. They'll be able to see in both my blind spots and theirs.

The sandy one snarled but maintained the composure of the alpha. It wouldn't attack before its leader. The third wolf, its fur a matted blend of gray and white, held further back, covering them and surveilling our environment.

How is three-to-one fair?

The alpha hiked its lip up to snarl, but I acted before a sound escaped its lungs.

I produced the clumps of ground from my hoodie and chucked them, blinding the nearest wolf. I didn't see whether it worked to slow it down as I took off.

A cliff, a large group of rocks, something.

I had maybe 30 seconds before the alpha would reach me.

I could tell it would go for my legs, holding me as the stronger wolf while the other two finished me off.
It was good that my boots were a rubber alloy of sorts, it'd be difficult for the wolf to bite through them.

I wasn't looking behind me as I ran so I didn't know where the sandy one was.

My nose burned and I felt tears coming to my eyes. I wiped them immediately.

I can't cry, it'll blur my vision and I'll trip. Keep going.
There!

A branch tree about a quarter of a kilometer from my position.

I believed I could've made it.

The alpha lunged at my calve. Its head jerked and swiveled, throwing me off balance.

I hit the ground, the mud cushioning my fall, and I screamed.

Part of the canine's fang had pierced my leg. The other fang was still hanging over the rim of my boot.

The other two would be on me in several seconds if I were lucky. I scrounged in my pocket for the remnants of dirt and tossed them directly into the wolf's eye.

It didn't release.

My satchel had Father's scalpels in it but my shaky hands forgot how to unclasp the button.

I repurposed my left with a rock and brought it down on the alpha's snout.

It released.

The tears that I had cast off earlier had no qualms with falling now as its fang pulled out of my muscle.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.