The Hunted

Coming Back

Lyra

I heard their screams as I fought the urge to run back and help them. They didn't deserve it because of how they treated me before. Thank goodness my brain saved me from getting my ass beaten by that loudmouth. I sigh as I reflect on our first run-in before the flare went out.

~~~~~~~~

I picked up my knees as I stepped over fallen trees that nature had disregarded long ago. I was huffing and puffing at the constant change of pace. Switching between jogging and fast-paced walking was tiresome. It's good that I have a brother who has been in the military. He conditioned me to be quick on my feet, both mentally and physically.

"Hey!"

I snap my head up to meet the eyes of a shorter brunette before she pushes me into a nearby tree.

"The fuck?!" I groan as I stumble off the tree, I glance up to see two women glaring at me.

"You're in our space, get lost." The tallest gritted out. I could tell she had already been the rough of it, covered in blood, cuts, and dirt. Honestly, I don't want to be another thing to piss her off more. That's just cruel.

"Fine. Just don't continue on that way." I said before pointing to my right.

"It's full of sharp and slick rocks, I've heard women crying out in pain from injuring themselves down there. Putting more strain on yourself when you're being hunting isn't the smartest idea."

"Rika. Maybe we shouldn't go-"

"Philia! We won't discuss this with others around." I grew a tired expression listening to them bicker like old seagulls squawking on the seaside.

"Well, this was a fantastic conversation, I'll be heading off now." I lazily salute the women before walking off in the direction I was going before the interruption. I got some distance before being dragged back by the back of my dress.

"You don't get to say what I do, nor go in a direction without me saying it's okay to go that direction." The woman, whose name I'm guessing is Rika, yanks me back.

I feel my irritation rise. Wolves are surrounding us at every corner, and yet these assholes are worried about their feelings. I shuffle on my feet as the girls practically circle me. Philia seems unsure, while her friends' emotions blind her to reason. This fight that they are so sure about, will get them hurt sooner rather than later.

Not that I knew how to fight. Listening to podcasts about murderers only prepares you so much for a fight. The type of people that fight, their mentality, their go-to when it comes to striking their victims, the emotions they feel when they are about to kill, what leads up to the death, all of it only helps you understand your opponent. It is what I did most, observing. Whether it be listening, watching things, or researching, as soon as I found something I thought was interesting I did nothing but observe.

Which is why I knew Philia would attack first. The way they stood made it seem like they had a go-to move for fighting. The small unassuming one was leaning forward more than her friend so she was likely going to strike first, then likely soon after the one the opponent would have paid attention to strikes after the victim was thrown off. It is a good tactic but somewhat obvious for someone who looks for the language inside the movement.

Sure enough, Philia takes off my direction in the corner of my eye. Her dress makes the movement much more noticeable as she ducks down in an attempt to tackle me but just before she does I squat down into a tiny position. Clutching my knees to my chest just before she could hit me and held my head in my hands for the impact. She stumbles over me and falls face forward her hands taking the impact of the fall as she hits the ground.

I stand and look down at Philia before glancing up at Rika. "Leave me be. Like it or not, it's an order. If you make me fight you, then you'll find out why I made it."

I waited for her next move before realizing she wouldn't make one, so I made my way back into the deep woods.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I just had to care. I had to come back. Because how dare I leave them to their inescapable doom of pain and despair." I stomped back, whining like a child. I knew complaining was going to be my only way to get over this incredibly stupid decision. What else was I going to go, talk to a dog?

Please wolf, can you leave them alone wolf?

I scoffed. Taking in my surroundings as I made my way back I noticed a girl further away running in the direction I was just going. She was missing the shoes she originally had on and her dress had been torn to the point where her underwear had been visible. There was a gash on her leg that likely made every step she made blood-soaked. I slowed to a walk once her leg gave out and I could see her begin to sob. I couldn't hear what she was saying or see what she had been running from until I saw a wolf emerge from behind a tree. 

I took a step forward but halted when it snarled at the poor girl before launching at her, biting her neck. She quickly went limp underneath the mouth of the wolf with her eyes fading out as they caught mine. I sighed and picked up the pace I initially had.

I could see Philia on the ground with her dress poofed around her, two wolves, but not Rika. I crouched down and took off my backpack before grabbing the rope I had made along the way. My brain was scattered for a plan, coming up with one, before shooting it down with ways that it could go wrong.

"Fuck it!"

I ran for the short black one. Weaving through the fallen trees and rocks that altered the otherwise smooth forest floor. They all saw me coming as the midnight wolf locked eyes with me, getting in position to take me down until the last minute when I turned towards the slightly larger blonde wolf. I slid underneath him while looping the rope around one leg and yanking it with me as I stood back up. The wolf's head smacked the ground with a thud as his back feet stood planted on the ground.

That shouldn't have worked as well as it did. I knew I caught the wolves off guard but seriously, that worked surprisingly well.

The grey wolf I saw earlier stood a few feet away, sitting there doing absolutely nothing as he stared at me with what looked like pride and something else. I glanced back over to the black wolf to see him sitting down as well until I heard a thump. The blonde wolf laid down completely before huffing.

"Well then," Rika said.

"It looks like they've submitted," Philia whispered. I glanced at the scene before me and nodded my head.

"Yeah, looks like it."