Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 19

The one-on-one combat continued for several long minutes before I finally saw Jude push his opponent back with a punch in the snout. There was a crackling, followed by a plaintive barking and the hideous beast backed away shaking its head. Jude was in bad shape, his left leg was bleeding profusely and he was bending over, his torso surrounded by his right arm. He had barely a few seconds to catch his breath, when the dog jumped again in a terrifying growl.

I stood there helpless, watching them kill each other. One with his fangs and claws and the other with a simple knife, which seemed quite harmless in comparison. Unfortunately, the result seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Although Jude obviously knew how to fight and had extraordinary strength, his injuries were crippling. I had to do something, but what?

I didn't know how to fight, for God's sake! I would only provide a good meal for this hellhound. I looked frantically around me, my gaze desperately looking for a potential weapon to put in my hand. That's when I saw Jude's bow, abandoned near the tree from which he had come down a little earlier. I rushed to pick it up, as well as the quiver, and clumsily tried to notch an arrow. Who would have thought it was so difficult to shoot with a bow and arrow, but it looked simple on TV.

I had to try three times to position the arrow correctly and bend the bow in a more or less satisfactory way. Between my inexperience and my trembling body, it was already a miracle that I had succeeded. I tried to find a stable position, then aimed. In the few minutes it took me to arm my improvised weapon, the fight had evolved and not in Jude's favour as his shattered breath and curled up position testified.

I adjusted my aim and released the rope. Unfortunately, I hadn't put enough strength into it and the arrow, after making a pretty semi-circle in the air, bounced back on the animal's head, only making it angry. Its attention instantly turned away from Jude, which was already a definite progress, to come and settle on me. With an annoyed look, the beast shook its head and came towards me in a muffled rumble. I began to instinctively move back, with the bow still in my hand, looking at the animal as it slowly approached because of its injuries. I dropped my weapon when I realized that I would never have time to fire a second arrow. I might as well have both my hands free! But to do what with it? Good question!

- 'Climb a tree!' Jude shouted at me in a hoarse voice.

His intervention diverted the attention of the beast. He apparently didn't know which one of us to attack first. I took the opportunity to turn around and rush towards the nearest tree, a young oak tree at first sight, with enough low branches to allow me to climb it. I managed to get myself up to a relatively strong branch that I hoped would support my weight. As I reached it, the dog jumped up and down to try to grab my leg, just as a shock wave broke out on our little corner of the forest.

I had found this afternoon's situation to be pretty intense, but apparently I hadn't seen anything yet! Confused and out of breath, I no longer even tried to identify what was going on exactly, only to remember how to breathe. I knew it came from Jude because I had recognized his "signature". My eyes instinctively looked for him while I stood there, helpless and trembling, watching the show.

Shocking was the first word that came to mind. Jude was curled up on the ground and seemed to be suffering horribly, his body twisting in a grotesque and anything but natural way. He was probably trying to be silent but could not hold back the increasingly inhuman moans of agony. I was horrified, both by the show and by the reaction of my body which, as I now understood, was reacting to Jude's metamorphosis. Moreover, at the first moan, the beast had lost interest in me and turned its horrible, fangy mouth towards him, adding to my horror. Surely exhausted by their fight, the dog stealthily advanced on its target in full transformation. If it could reach him, it would finish him off without him being able to defend himself.