Blood on Sand

AT THE END OF THE TAIL

Wojtek almost didn't notice the two shadows that flanked him as soon as he stepped out of the ring—Koray on one side, Satul on the other. They walked with him through the forest, through the hamlet Wojtek had never imagined leaving. There were no werewolves anywhere else, at least not any packs. He had nowhere to go, nowhere to seek shelter. He'd been born here, he'd learned to hunt in these woods, and he'd buried his parents in this ground. This was where he belonged, and this was what he had to leave behind.

"I'll just grab some clothes, and some food, and then we'll be on our way." If Wojtek's voice cracked no one gave any indication of noticing. "Take care of my orchids, Satul."

"Fool." The sharp tone in Satul's voice hurt, but Wojtek could understand him being angry so he let it go. "I'm not staying. How could you even think I would stay behind? I swear to God, Wojtek, sometimes you're so dumb I want to fucking strangle you."

"We're coming too, boss. I'm just gonna let Mum know. There'll probably be some tears, but I'll be back in a few. Pack some clothes for me... and some other stuff. I want my laptop." He gave Satul a sharp look before running back through the woods.

Wojtek tried to find his voice. He couldn't let them leave. They belonged here; they had families. Satul's sister would shatter into tiny pieces if he left her. He had a female who wanted to mate with him.

"Don't even think about saying what you're planning on saying." Satul didn't look at him. He was looking at Zoe's tail-stump. Wojtek was pretty sure Zoe had lost consciousness; he lay limp in his arms. "We need to clean that before we go."

Wojtek only nodded, the lump in his throat too big to talk around.

****

Tears sprung to his eyes as a screaming pain surged through his arms. He wished he could go back to being bound; his arms had at least been numb then. Satul's concerned eyes catalogued every little hiss and flinch, and Wojtek's growl from when he'd seen the shredded skin hanging from his wrists still seemed to ricochet through the bathroom. The two men doused every scrape in Betadine while an entire conversation took place between them without so much as a word being said.

He wanted to ask what was going on, but they wouldn't understand his hissing, and he couldn't change to try to talk to them. Changing now would mean never regenerating his tail. A wound anywhere else would remain through the change and continue to heal where it was on the human body, but since his human form didn't have a tail, it had nowhere to go and would be lost forever. And so would his chance of growing a new one.

As soon as he'd realised that he would live, all energy had left him. He felt safe enough in Wojtek's arms to let the exhaustion win. Apart from being carried out of the arena, he didn't remember anything about getting back to the house, just like last time. He could sense something going on now, though. They were in a hurry. Wojtek was tense, and Satul determined.

They left Zoe slumping on the toilet seat for a few minutes, his carefully bandaged tail-stump not even dangling over the edge of the lid. He huffed a hiss as he remembered Wojtek barging in while he was having a bath. It seemed so long ago. Zoe felt old, old, but glad to be alive. He would be given a chance at a life he hadn't dared dream about in a long while. They would leave this place, and he was happy about leaving with Wojtek. Where they'd go, he didn't know, and it didn't matter. Together they would find a way, a place, where they could live.

When Wojtek came for him, he got one of those rare smiles. "You ready?"

Zoe nodded. He wondered what Wojtek would think about him not changing back to human for a few weeks. It would sure make conversation hard, but he could still nod or shake his head.

"I know trousers won't work, but we need to get you into a jumper at least. The nights are still pretty cold and we can't stop to make shelter until we've left pack land behind us." Zoe nodded. He didn't know if he'd be able to walk all the way, but he'd do his best. He tried to stand only to lose his balance and almost crash into the wall.

Wojtek caught him. "You're not up for travelling." Zoe wanted to protest but froze as Wojtek caressed his cheek. He'd done it before, but not quite like now. Now his eyes were sparkling—there was no regret, no pain, only warmth, and it was directed at him.

Zoe didn't dare breathe as Wojtek held him closer. His big hands caressed Zoe's naked skin, lightly touched the spines on his back, making him shiver. The spines were very sensitive, and Wojtek's soft exploring was driving him a little crazy. He rested his clawed hands on Wojtek's shoulders, wishing he could explore a little on his own. What would Wojtek's skin feel like?

Wojtek bent down a little until his mouth was by Zoe's ear. "How long will you stay in this shape?" Zoe shrugged. How to tell that he'd have to stay like this for weeks? If he'd been in human form, he'd have had goose pimples all over. Wojtek's breath was so hot against his skin that he shivered. "I want you in your human form. I want to hold you, to kiss you." Zoe wanted to groan. He wanted Wojtek to kiss him. Now. Instead, he rested his head against Wojtek's chest and soaked up as much body heat as he could. He smelled nice, warm and safe. Soft lips landed on his forehead and Zoe closed his eyes. "I think I'll have to carry you. You're just a scrawny little lizard anyway."

Despite his hissing protests Wojtek picked him up bridal style and carried him out of the house.

"I see the happy couple is good to go."

Zoe would've blushed if he'd been in human form, at least until he noticed that Koray was carrying a huge backpack and seemed ready to go. Was he coming too?

"We need to go." Satul, too, exited the house. "The time's almost up, not that I think Aldo will do anything, but we need to get going." He put down another enormous backpack by Wojtek's feet and held up a hoodie for Zoe. Wojtek put him down, and Satul dressed him as if he was a child while Wojtek put on his bag. Zoe felt bewildered; were they all leaving their home because of him, even Koray?

Before he knew it, he was up in Wojtek's arms again and was carried away from the little village he'd never got to know. A few steps into the dark wood and the houses were out of sight. Wojtek didn't so much as break a sweat as they went. The forest was quiet, apart from the occasional twig that snapped as they passed through. When they reached the top of the first hill, the men stopped. They turned and looked down at the small houses built in circles around Wojtek's.

"I guess you won the bet," Wojtek said to Satul in a hushed tone. Zoe had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn't matter. Satul nodded without taking his eyes off their home. Silence fell. The chill of the spring night made Zoe slow and tired. A light breeze ruffled Wojtek's hair, but no one moved. No one said a word.

Everyone they cared for, everything they'd ever known was left behind tonight, and Zoe knew what that felt like. They would never again see the village that had been their home, their safety. And they left because of a slave. Zoe should feel guilty, but his heart sang. He was finally free.

THE END