Forever Luna

Reprisal

noun ~ an act of retaliation

CHARLIE

Hours blurred into days, and days blurred into weeks. Before I knew it, I lost count of when it was. I knew where I was, and that was in the middle of a damn forest somewhere along the eastern coast. If I lifted my snout, I could smell the ocean close by.

Where was she taking me?

It felt like we backtracked a little, and the past few days she's ran with her senses on high alert. I should've cherished that one 'shared' meal, because we were back to be careful around each other. She has charged at me once, teeth bared and hackles raised, and since then, I kept my distance. I agitated her, I knew it. Her frustration seemed to grow with the miles she passed and I followed.

We barely stopped for food and sustenance, and my body was weakening. I worried I may not keep up, and as we finally came to a stop for the night, my knees buckled. I watched and listened to her hunt and eat. My heavy head settled on my paws. I saved my energy, waiting for her to fall deep asleep so I can get something worth the hunt.

A drink.

A deer.

Anything but a rabbit.

My wolf whimpered in agreement, and as the moon took over from the sun, Calida's breaths evened out.

Time to move.

I crept through the trees, nose to the ground as I searched for my prey. I hoped to find something sleeping; it would be easier on my tired body. However, I doubted I could even eat a full animal. I'd have to let Axel have a bit more freedom here; his hunger would destroy mine.

Bunny.

Opossum.

Mouse.

More bunny.

Mole.

Owl?

Nah, too high.

Eventually, we came across something worthwhile.

Fox.

It was enough for now. Better than a bunny.

I took little to track the fox, and with a swift attack, my teeth sank into its throat and tore. It died almost instantly, sagging in my grip after landing a swift kick to the side of my head. Huffing, my wolf tightened his grip in repayment before turning back to our mate.

With blood coating my maw, I must've not noticed the change in the air until I got to the tree. As I dropped the fox to the floor and licked my snout, the sudden scent of blood had my body pause.

That wasn't fox blood.

I darted out of my hiding place, shock coating my system as I found a dying wolf on the ground. It may have been a rogue, but the look in the terrified wolf's eyes seemed oddly human.

Food forgotten, I ran over to the wolf and assessed their injuries. The sight of internal organs didn't bother me as much as it should, and my lips curled with disgust at the gruesome death my mate gave this female.

My nose twitched, searching for the faintest hint of my mate's blood. I found it in the wolf's front claws, recognising that they landed a good hit to my mate. My chest rumbled with anger, and with a swift chomp of my jaws, I snapped the wolf's head. It barely whimpered before succumbing to its fate, and I dropped its lifeless head to the ground.

Now my mate has fucking run off.

Great.

No food for me.