I Will Protect You: Victuuri

Chapter 9: Injuries

Victor forced Yuuri to lay down and rest while he conferred with Otabeck about what to do. Otabeck kept a neutral expression on his face as he commented, "Since you can not fly and your mate is feverish, as well as Yura's condition, we should probably have someone stay with them while the other looks for food." Victor nodded as he added, "We should also look for or make some sort of shelter. I can handle that much if you're willing to hunt." The red dragon complied as he ran into the forest to search for something to eat." Meanwhile, Victor sighed as he looked at the two slumbering on the grass. He gave a quick look around without seeing much. He sighed as he looked back up at the sky, desperately hoping the others noticed.

Taking advantage of low hanging branches of a tree, no more than two feet above the earth, Victor removed the blanket Yuuri had grabbed and hung it up to create a shelter barely large enough to conceal the unconscious boys. Once he had placed them under the safety of the make-shift tent, Victor kept himself on high alert as he listened for sounds of anyone or anything approaching. As he sat, the white dragon attempted to deduce what had caused Yurio, a masterful flyer, to lose control like he had. While pondering the probable causes, Victor did not notice the movement in the bushes behind him.

Once he came to, Yuuri found that his fever was gone. He sat there a few moments as he slowly worked up the strength to move easier, when he looked to see his dragon. Victor sat there, his beautiful features positioned in a contemplative expression as a soft breeze ruffled his silver bangs. Yuuri was about to say something to his lover when the older male was tackled by something large and fast. As he rolled out of sight, Victor heard his mate cry out his name in alarm. Yuuri crawled out from under the branches as he called to his lover.

Victor struggled as the creature attempted to bite and clawed at him. It had a reptilian body and face, wings flapping as it attacked. Victor let out a growl as he threw the monster from his body and took a more feral stance. He brought out his tail and allowed his limbs to be covered in scales as talons replaced nails. The creature hissed and snarled as Victor went on his arms and legs, crouching, while flaring his wings to make himself appear larger. Victor's pupils had narrowed to slits and his teeth sharpened while placing himself between those near the shelter and the creature.

They stood there, tensions mounting, for a few minutes when Victor launched himself at it. He slashed at it repeatedly while trying to get it to expose its vulnerable underbelly. The creature screeched as it used its clawed front legs to smack Victor away. He flew back and landed on his feet, arching his back like a cat's as he let out a guttural growl as he winced. A large bruise was already forming on the dragon's side from the blow but he chose to ignore the pain.

In the mean time, Yuuri could only watch as his lover fought with the monstrous thing that attacked. Slowly, he stood up and gazed in awe as the battle continued. It seemed to be going well until the creature used its whip-like body to knock the white dragon into the large trunk of an oak and struck him to pass out. Human eyes widened in fear as it approached to finish off the half-transformed dragon. As it was about to strike, Yuuri screamed, "NO, VICTOR!"

The creature whirled around to face the human. It's pupils widened as it let out a low hiss. Yuuri froze in fear as he locked eyes with the creature. The young male could practically feel the the malevolent intentions rolling off the scales of the creature. It felt like it was coated in dark magic and primal hatred that left Yuuri unable to move. It slowly pulled itself towards its new prey on its front legs and slithering body. Yuuri, keeping his gaze on the monster, tried to step back only to find that he was paralyzed, from fear or another source the boy knew not. As it approached it gradually opened its jaws, revealing sharp fangs that looked sharper than any sword Yuuri had ever seen. He glanced at the spot he crawled from, both thankful and upset that Yurio was still hidden.