Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Third Chapter

Ch. 21 - Needle

One week and three days later. (alot of swearing in this chapter :3)

"Nope. No. Pe. Nope. Fuck you. I ain't letting you do that sh- No! Fuck you, Shade!"

I snarled at my mate and he gave me a thunderous glare, "Come here, Shadow. Now."

I took two steps forward and he seemed to be content with my 'surrender'. He held out his hand and I stopped, raising my head defiantly.

"Fuck."

His eye twitched.

"You."

I gave him my most sarcastic smirk then shifted and disappeared into the shadows of the trees, hearing him release an enraged roar and charge after me. I clenched my jaw as the deep slash on my pelt oozed thick clots of blood onto my dark fur, crusting just under my wing where the buck had wounded me with his stupid antlers.

Stupid male deer.

Stupid fucking deer.

Fuck him.

I padded slowly and carefully along a thick branch off an old oak tree that Shade and I used to kiss under in the summer. "You're hurt, mea umbra." I heard his close voice and it chilled me to the very essence of my soul. "You won't last long." I saw him pad just under where I was and he paused briefly, before looking straight up at me, "I will find you."

I exhaled a large breath I did not know I was holding and zipped away as rapidly as my gash would allow me; leaping from the tree and onto the dew-dropped emerald grass, I felt his hot breath on my pelt, making my wound hurt even more. Tears sprang to my eyes instinctively and I panted heavily to get away from him.

Stupid hormones.

Stupid fucking hormones.

Fuck them.

I let out a small cry as I jumped the river and stumbled over some stones slightly, glancing up and realising without climbing the rocks, I would not get away - I could not handle the task, and even if I did, I would have had a high risk of falling and potentially hurting myself further. Shade was in front of me in a nanosecond, his face contorted by anger and his dark eyes swirling with vexation. I let the shift overwhelm my body as I dropped to my knees, shaking my head slowly, "D-don't. P-p-please, Shade. I c-can't do t-this. Don't m-make m-me." I croaked, watching his rage fade away as he approached me. He knelt beside me and stroked my cheek with soothing words, "It's just one little thing, my love. Please, try for me. You know I hate it when you don't let me heal you." His expression was one of pity and sorrow - seeing me sad like that hurt him, and I knew it from the first time he ever saw me wounded.

Stupid emotions.

Stupid fucking emotions.

Fuck it.

I gave him a lip-trembling look and he smiled faintly, slipping me into his arms bridal style and carrying me away to our cave where the young healer, Sara, the Healing Claw, lived. I whined and struggled weakly in his arms but he brushed the hair from my eyes and caressed the sore wound at my side. I flinched and held onto him with the last of my strength, but he lay me down and I reached for his comfort. He sat beside me, holding my head in his lap.

"Relax, mea umbra. Look at me, Shadow- Shadow, please, just look at me."

I resisted at first but he sounded so vulnerable, I had to obey. He smiled at me and I smiled sadly back, "Hey." I whispered. He trailed his knuckles down my cheek, "Hey." He replied gently.