🐲 Dragon and Phoenix (Path of Light and Fire Book #2) (Completed) 🐲

NSP 1: Survive

Two Cycles (6 months) ago...

The squeal of fear was music to Kaita's ears.

She felt a rush of hope. It had been several cycle-days since she'd eaten anything other than berries and roots. Her stomach gnawed at her, ravishing her from the inside as punishment for her hubris. She thought she could handle this, that she could survive on her own. She almost didn't recall why she'd started down the path in the first place.

Another squeal.

Her mouth watered. Her family had not been wealthy and meat was not a staple of the dinner table, but this was beyond that. She could feel the weakness in her limbs and the thinning of her face. She was starving.

Several of her animal traps had failed. She had no experience hunting. Most of what she knew came from others' conversations. She hadn't paid them much attention and Schewa knew she'd never expected to be in this situation. So most of what she did was an educated guess.

Each failure was a success. She learned more about what didn't work. While she was sure this was an imperfect trap, it did not matter.

It had caught a hare.

The small, brown furred creature dangled by its legs, twisting and pawing at air to escape. Its attempts were futile.

She pushed off her walking stick as she approached, its top worn from days of use. She wasn't sure what she should do after she killed it. She wasn't taught how to clean it or start a fire, but that would be another learning process.

Then there was growling.

It was a deep, heavy noise that drew Kaita's attention away from the rabbit. It was a wild dog, its sharp teeth were in full snarl. She'd seen a hunting dog before, but this mottled tan and black creature held none of their kindness. It had a wild look in its eyes. Every rational thought in Kaita's mind told her to walk away and let this feral creature have its prize.

But one irrational thought said otherwise. It was the most important.

Mine.

She picked up her walking stick. The thing was shorter than the staff, but it was all she had at the moment. She was weak and out of practice, but she remembered the basics and formed into a stance. Hands wide, the back one a fraction lower. Her weight distributed on the balls of her feet.

Mine.

The dogs haunches tensed in response. A surge of adrenaline hit Kaita. She could feel the jolt down to the tips of her fingers, so she gripped the stick tighter.

Mine.

The wild dog inched closer to the rabbit. Kaita sidestepped in the dog's path in response.

It lunged at her.

The panicked, uncoordinated swing of her weapon knocked the dog off its path. It slid across the dirt and grass, legs scrambling to regain its footing. Kaita's second attack was steady and sure, a thrust to the animal's face.

The beast took the blow and whimpered, eyeing Kaita with more respect.

It feinted and dodged Kaita's counter thrust. The beast's powerful jaws snapped around the stick before Kaita could pull it away. The creature shook and twisted, prying the weapon from Kaita's grip. The stick clattered to the ground.

An eerie silence followed. Kaita put up her fists and held her breath. She observed the dog as it held still, deciding what to do next. Even the trapped hare ceased its wailing.

The dog charged and Kaita kicked. Her shin connected with the dog's face, then she was in agony.

Itss teeth sank into her calf and she screamed. She'd thought her discomfort from hunger was bad, but this was excruciating. It wasn't long until she lost her balance and fell on her backside.

Blood leaked from her leg. With each shake of the dog's head, blood splattered a different part of the ground. It painted the earth in the deep shade of red and she knew she would die.

It was that moment she decided she had nothing left to lose.

She lunged for the creature's face with her hands, hoping to find some purchase. One hand brushed the creature's ear and failed to find a hold. The other caught the corner of its eye. It yelped and released its hold on her leg.

She pushed harder, feeling the mush of its eye give way to her thumb. It snapped at her arm, but its angle was off and only grazed her forearm. She got her other hand into its other eye and squeezed. It tried to back away at that point, but her hand was well into it's socket. It could not carry her weight and settled for snapping at her face. Her arms were long enough to keep her safe.

She felt the second eye pop and it howled. Her hands lost its grip among the blood and squishiness of its ruined eyeballs and the dog was free.

She pushed her body back against the ground, spent from the loss of blood and the effort. As she scrambled back, her hand felt along the heavy, thick wood of her walking stick. She lifted it, straining with effort and used it to push to her feet. She needed something to staunch the bleeding from her leg. She looked around to gather her bearings, so that she could limp back to her camp.

Her eyes fell on her trap. In the melee with the dog, the rabbit had managed to get away.

She was incensed.

The dog whimpered, changing directions and snapping at the air around it. Kaita limped to her assailant, and raised the stick above her head. She waited until the dog turned it's head in her direction and put her weight behind the swing.

"That..."

She heard the crunch as her stick met the dog's skull. It's whimper lowered in volume and it wobbled in place.

"Was..."

She prepared for another strike as it collapsed to the ground.

"Mine!"

After the second strike it ceased its noises.

She leaned on the stick, gasping for air. The pain was starting to ease, but she wasn't sure if that was a good thing. She started to close her eyelids, until she noticed a movement in the periphery.

A person.

She inched in front of the dead animal at her feet. Whoever approached was another thief. It was something else that wanted to take what was hers. Once she was in front of the dog, she lifted her stick and formed into her stance. She didn't think she had the energy left to swing it, but she would try.

Her vision blurred and her eyes could not focus on the individual. As they got close enough, she thrust the stick forward. It was a lazy thrust, one that had nothing behind it, but it was enough to hold the intruder at bay.

"Mine," Kaita said. She didn't have the energy for more words. This person would get the message and they would leave. Or she would make them.

She heard several thumps in quick succession at her feet, but she didn't divert her attention. The one became three and swam in her vision. They gave her one last look, then backed up and walked away. When Kaita could no longer see the person or persons, she relaxed and allowed herself a glance at her feet.

There were three items: a vial of green liquid, a bundle of cloth and a knife.

Her mind fought through the haze and connected the dots.

Use them.

Eat.

Survive.

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Author's Note: Kaita is on the warpath.  How do you think she'll fit into the story?

Let me know in the comments. :)