Saving Arthur

The Creature

Hello, everyone! So, this is my first time ever doing something like this. I hope you enjoy these short stories!

Prompt: Merlin is injured by a creature while out on a hunting trip.

Idea by: Me! :D

Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything from Merlin!! Only the idea is mine.
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Merlin's POV

Merlin had never loved hunting, but Arthur always decided to drag him along anyway. It didn't make sense really, especially since he was purposefully loud trying to warn the creature of imminent death. It always made Arthur angry, but he still insisted on Merlin coming, and truthfully, Merlin wouldn't let his King out of his sight anyhow.

"Merlin, you idiot!" Arthur screamed as Merlin came running noisily out of the bushes, a ten point buck prancing away. Inwardly, he smiled, but to Arthur he arched his brow and dropped his jaw. "Was that my fault?"

"Could you be any louder?" Arthur shouted aggressively before taking off running in a crouch the direction the buck had fled.

The Knights of the Round Table brushed past him as they followed closely behind their King. He turned to his right as Gwaine patted him on the shoulder; a wide grin on his face as he passed by.

Merlin grinned and let out a sigh before following in the Knights tracks. They followed the hoof prints left by the buck for what felt like hours until the sky began to held colors of a soft orange and pinks as the sun began to set.

"Let's make camp for the night," came Arthur's authoritative voice.

Merlin unsaddle his horse and unpacked the bed rolls while Percival volunteered to collect firewood. As he unrolled the first bed roll, the sound of twigs breaking peaking his attention. His head jerked to his right as the sound came once again, and he rose to his feet, his ears listening intently to nature.

"It's about time, Percival!"

He turned around to see Elyan greedily taking the wood from his friends hands. Merlin studied the expression on Percival's face. The gentle giant looked spooked like he had seen something to set him on edge.

Minutes later, Elyan and Leon got a fire going, and Percival glanced behind him ever so often, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword ready to withdraw it.

Merlin furrowed his brow but left him be for now. Arthur would kill him if he didn't get the rest of the camp set up. He finished laying out all the bed rolls, and began to cook dinner with the rabbit they had caught earlier.

As laughter erupted from the campsite, Merlin looked across the way to find Percival sitting in silence. He hadn't even touched the bowl of stew Merlin had put down beside him earlier.

"Percival," Arthur finally called, jerking Merlin from his thoughts. "What's troubling you?"

Percival sighed and thrust his thumb over his shoulder. "While I was gathering wood, something growled from behind me. I don't know what it was, nor could I find it." A grin tugged at his lips. "I'm sure it was nothing though, Sire."

Whatever it was had to be listening because a loud growl rang throughout the dark.

Merlin jumped to his feet along with Leon, the trees rustling behind them. Merlin ready his magic in case whatever it was decided it didn't want to be friendly.

The trees ceased their shaking, and the growing went away, the only sound now able to be heard was the thumping of blood in his ears.

"Maybe it's gone?" Lancelot asked, his hand slowly easing off the hilt of his sword.