Rejection

Chapter 3 - A necessary evil

Warning, violent flash back. If you don't want to read it, skip the -~- part.

Snow kept on pouring down from the white blue sky, swirling in the wind until it fell on my coat. My eyes were focused on the small herd of white tail deer, stomach growling in hunger. The snow was helping somewhat, as I had taken a few mouthfuls to avoid giving myself away through my breath.

Digging my paws into the snow, I snuck closer to the deer. If I was part of a pack, I'd simply charged ahead, forcing the deer to keep running until they slowed down due to exhaustion. With no other wolves to run down the deer and aid me when I got tired, I had no other choice but to sneak closer.

My ears twitched on each crackling sound from the snow underneath my paw, the deer treading through the snow, kicking their legs high up in a show of health and power. The wind kicked up, dragging snow over the ground in ripples, as if an invisible creature ran past.

Licking at my teeth, I snuck closer a few more inches, freezing whenever the deer looked up. I couldn't waste this opportunity. If I couldn't catch myself a meal now, I'd be forced to go to the pack wolves and be a slave to their whims and mercy.

Paw after paw I snuck closer, until one deer snorted and bolted away, spooking the rest of the herd. I cursed but ran after them, feeling my muscles protest sharply against the motions.

As the herd scattered, I tried to find some individuals that were sick, wounded or generally slow. The foals were nearly adults now but not nearly as big and they'd have a harder time running through the snow.

My heart thudded in my chest, tongue lolling out of my jaws as I ran as fast as I could. The deer fanned out, a sea of rippling muscles and dangerous hooves. Targeting one deer was tough enough in these conditions, even worse with them running willy-nilly.

Still, I managed to lock eyes on a buck and slowly but surely caught up to him. He tried to kick me but it left his stomach vulnerable and I eagerly sank my teeth in his belly. He cried in pain and anger, jumping in an attempt to dislodge me as I tried my best to hold on and avoid his flailing hooves.

The hunt wasn't over though. My hold on the deer was weak, especially with my muscles and bones protesting against every wild buck and kick that jolted me left and right. As he stumbled in the snow, I released the deer, darting forwards in an attempt to grab him by the throat.

A snow drift made me stumble though, sinking into the deep snow and I watched in horror as the deer lined its hoof up and kicked with all the power it had. Bones snapped with a sickening crunch as badly healed injuries easily gave way underneath the massive hoof.

I howled in pain, dropping to the floor and flailing as my body cried out in pain. The deer quickly ran ahead but it was all over. Panting heavily and whimpering under my breath, I shivered as I slowly got my bearings and looked at my leg.

It laid limply in the snow, thankfully not bleeding though I could almost see the tissue swell. I knew the fracture had never set properly, as I had assumed my hip had been both broken and dislocated. Still it had been manageable to move around it otherwise.

But now pain was pumping through my body with every heartbeat, the leg that had previously been so tense and curled up now dangled loosely from my body. I didn't dare move it, as the pain was almost too much to deal with just standing still.

Catching my breath, I slowly took a few wobbling steps and had to bite my tongue to hold in the pained yelps. Getting to the pack's territory was going to be extremely painful. But I had to, unless I wanted to die from starvation.