Savanna

Chapter 12

Through the heavy breathing, wind blowing in my ears and crunching of branches, at first I couldn't hear much else. Until some moments later, I think I was hearing something following us. And it was getting closer. No, not it. They. The hyenas. I used all the strength I had to run, and did my best not to trip over. And I still had no idea where we were. No sign of getting closer to civilization. I even didn't think I remembered coming through here before.

Any time now they would catch up with us, I thought. A cold chill ran up my spine at that thought. But then I noticed a clearing from between the trees ahead. Jake made it there before me. And when I got out of the woods... the place was still unfamiliar. In front of us was a small two-storied house. The only decorations in the garden around it were some little flowerbeds near the trail leading to front door. The trail's other end led to the forest, where I could see the only place in the circled clearing where cars could access this place. I guess this was the way back to city.

Jake hadn't stopped. He probably knew where we were. Because he immediately ran up to the porch on the side of the house. I suddenly heard the strange laughter of hyenas and noticed that I had stopped. I wasn't sure about anything anymore, but I did know that I wasn't going to let the hyenas just get to me. So I followed where Jake had gone to.

I was about halfway there when I saw Jake take back his human form. Without looking back, he headed towards the glass doors. But he didn't go in. Instead, he grabbed something from the other side, then turning around. Seeing a hunting gun in his arms, I froze. He aimed back at the forest. At the way where we had come from. He seemed so comfortable with that thing. Like it was nothing new to him.

The hyenas were here. I could hear it. I turned around fast, right in the moment to see two of them jump out on the clearing. They were followed by third. I shrieked, forcing my legs to run once more. The sound of loud shots filled my ears, followed by something I think were squeaks. For a moment, Jake stopped and loaded the ammo, then shot again.

Only when he lowered the gun and stared at the woods with satisfaction, I dared to glimpse over my shoulder. Hyenas weren't there anymore. And I'm not sure at this distance, but was it blood there on the grass?

Jake turned away to put the gun back to where he had taken it, while I just stayed there, few metres from the porch.

"You... killed them..." I stammered, almost no sound leaving my lips. But Jake still heard it.

"Then there would be bodies, don't you think?" The way he looked at me, made me feel pretty stupid. But then I remembered it was not the right time to worry about that.

"They only got hit," Jake said. "Healing will take them some hours."

I then suddenly remembered something. How badly injured Jake had been the night hyenas attacked him. But the next time we met - at that lake - Jake looked perfectly fine. Just as he did now. I eyed him, looking for at least a scar. I saw nothing. So... savannians could heal fast. That sounded surreal. But hey, I've already seen people take animal forms!

But at the moment there were more important things to discuss. "Where are we?" I asked carefully.

"My home," he replied simply.

"Your...?" I started to repeat, but stopped. My eyes ran over the house and the clearing around it again. Moment later, I suddenly felt even more uncertain and hesitant. "We should be at school," I said, hiding my real intentions. It was still Jake who I was here with. And it was his home. I was at the lair of the predator.

"We should," he said, stepping down from the porch and heading towards the front door. With slow steps, I followed him. But didn't go too close. When he went inside, he didn't close the door behind him. I don't know if he thought I would go with him. But I didn't. I stayed outside and waited. From there, I could see Jake open another door, which he didn't close either.