The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Sixty Four

I watched from the sideline as they took down another beast and smiled at me when they brought it forward to place in my bag. I had tried to hunt before, but they kept telling me that I didn't need to do anything. Now, three days later, I felt ready to hunt them instead. 

"What do you think of this fur, little cutie?" Ora asked as he held a winged deer for me to inspect. "I think you will look super cute wearing it as a scarf when winter comes. The colour fits your eyes perfectly."

I sighed and turned away from him, starting to walk away. 

"Where are you going?" He asked as he walked after me, Azrael not far behind.

"You stay here. I told you I want to hunt, not I want to stand and watch you hunt."

"But we can be helpful. What if you hurt your cute little hands?"

"Go away."

"Come on, little cutie."

I turned back to him, a shield immediately stopping him in his tracks. "I'll see you in an hour."

With that I ran as quickly as I could, keeping the shield around both in place for as long as possible before I released them. I ran as far as I could and quickly found a few beasts to take my frustration out on. It was about three hours later when I decided to return. Only, I found them tied up together and unconscious with another group standing over what was most likely their latest hunts. Beside the four strangers who were obviously much older, was a large wolf lying and watching Ora and Azrael.

Sighing, I looked to the older group not far off, using appraisal on them to see who they were and what resistance they may hold. They were ages eighteen to twenty, considered some of the stronger attendees of the school. I rolled up my sleeves as I walked forward.

"I would appreciate it if you were to let go of my partners."

"Who's this little brat? Sick the wolf on him and be done with it."

The wolf on the other hand, despite the obvious use of magic to command it, lay perfectly still and watched me.

"Do you want to be my friend?" I asked of the wolf, still hoping to get a new beast to play with. The wolf reacted immediately, running towards me and rubbing itself against me.

"We need to run." One of the older students said as he watched the wolf and I.

"You're so fluffy!" I rubbed my hands through its fur as I smiled happily.

"Why should we run?"

"The child took over my control of the beast. Even if we can knock the kid unconscious, going up against a hellhound is not something I want to risk."

"Oh come on, you raised that thing since it was a pup. Like it would attack..."

I felt it's chest rumble as it stood in front of me protectively, growling at the one who attempted to get closer.

"Fuck. Why the hell is that thing protecting the kid?"

"Its something I could never establish with the wolf. The child is it's true chosen master, and even if I raised it I am nothing more than a breeder to it."

"Let's just go, grab the haul."

"I implore you to leave whatever you did not hunt yourselves." I said, a barrier appearing around them at my will.

"Like hell I'd listen to a little brat." the same one tried to reach out to the carcasses and touched the barrier. A wave of electrical sparks shot through his entire being, knocking him out cold immediately.