Savored Poison

Allies

Once I woke up Shanik wasn't next to me anymore, rubbing my eyes I looked around and saw that he was sitting next to the entryway, scouting. 

"Hey," I patted his head when he wasn't looking, startling him, "calm down it's just me."

 He sniffed me and then licked my arm, "what are we going to do today?" he just stared at me before he exited the cave, I followed. That's when I heard a growl from Shanik. Before I knew it he was pushing me back in the cave by his nose.

 "I'm coming with you," I stepped forward, but he stopped me again. Taking out my knife I showed it to him, "I can take care of myself." 

That's when he snarled, making me flinch. Maybe he thought that I was trying to threaten him. So I stayed back, putting my knife away. It was probably best if I stayed behind, I had to remember that this was still a wild animal and I didn't want to get hurt. 

Watching him trot away, it way maybe a few seconds until I lost him in the depths of the forest. 

Gone from sight. 

All I could do was wait. Staying at the cave entrance I kept my eyes in the same place the whole times. Where was he? 

 It had been about a hour I was starting to get worried. What was he doing? Did he get caught? Sticking my head out, it was eerily quiet. Too quiet. Taking my knife out I walked towards the lake, taking a sip of clear water and washing my face off as well. 

Suddenly I heard movement behind me, spinning around my knife was held out in front of me, ready to take anyone on. But in mere seconds I relaxed my composure, it was just Shanik. Letting out a breath I hadn't noticed I'd been holding, my hand went straight over to my heart, ''you scared the hell outta me!" 

Shanik's eyes turned towards the cave and he trudged over with a rabbit in his mouth. He was tearing off the flesh once I followed him inside, "gross," I muttered as blood fell down his face, messing up his fur. 

Pushing some of the mangled pieces over to me, I gagged.

 " I'm okay. Besides if I made a fire then the hunters would see us. That wouldn't be good." 

He wined, as if he understood what I was actually saying.

"If were here after a few days then I'll make a fire as a last resort somewhere downstream so they aren't so close to us, okay?" 

Inwardly I groaned, how was this possible? I was talking to a wolf who shouldn't understand a word I'm saying but he did. AT least, I thought he did. Maybe it was just some fluke, maybe I was still dreaming. But I couldn't be dreaming, I knew exactly where I was and how I got here. Nothing was out of place and I'd been here for a long time. 

Suddenly I felt him lick my hand, then go over to my bag, sniffing the contents within. Pulling out some of the items until finally he got down to the food. I knew what he meant, he wanted me to eat something. Either that or he wanted to steal some of my food.

"Thanks" I said, grabbing the granola bar and munching on it, it tasted like heaven.

 "Hey Shanik watch camp. I'm going to go downstream, I saw some berries when we were running away yesterday, that will last us a few days," He wined, "Don't worry, it's only a few minutes away." 

That seemed to calm him down. 

Trudging down the dirt path I found the berries and started to eat my fill before putting some in my bag. Once I took a decent amount I walked back up to the cave, "I'm back! Look at what I..." Suddenly I felt like a bucket of ice had been poured on me, something was wrong.. Something was out there, I could feel it. The eerie quiet struck me like a bolt of lightening.

 "Shanik where are you?" my voice shook as I took a few steps forward, "Shanik?" I called again, just as I pulled the vines back from the cave. 

I screamed, three large men were standing there, grinning as if they'd found a gold prize... me. 

Grabbing me by the arm one of them threw me over their shoulder, starting to walk away from the lake. 

"Stop! Let me go!" Squirming around I couldn't get away from their grasp. "Please! Just let me go! I didn't do anything!" That's when I looked behind me, Shanik was tied up, he had a muzzle on and being carried just like me. 

"What do you want from us? You can't just go around hunting wild animals in the middle of the forest!" That's when they stopped. 

The guy carrying me let me down and grinned, "that is  no wild animal, maybe he's a bit crazy in the head for thinking about running away but he isn't a wild animal," Pulling my knee up I slammed it into his jaw and kicked him in the face, "He had every reason to run away from monsters like you!"

Pulling out my knife I held it to his throat, sliding off of his back and twisting behind him.

"If you don't let Shanik and I go then I'll kill you," 

He only laughed, "Shanik huh? You know his name already?" he stared my wolf down, "Is this your girlfriend Shanik? Do you mind if I have her instead? I'd think she'd make for a good prize," Shanik growled, but I spoke for him.

 "He's a whole lot better than you! Now LET HIM GO!" the knife went deeper into his throat, "no." then he was on me, instead of my blade to his neck, it was against mine in a matter of seconds.

'how did you...?" He cut me off, "Shanik did you even tell her about you at all? Or were you afraid of what she would think once she found out?" 

I spit on his boots, "That's what I call him, not garbage like you!" 

The man smiled, his lips were grazing my ear, "Awe well... I bet that you'd rather shut up then be stabbed to death now wouldn't you?! That will teach you to be afraid of me." 

I scoffed, "Try me. I'm not afraid of anything."