Feral

Chapter Four

         Swollen raindrops trickled down Lacey's fur. She rubbed her muzzle against her paw, scratching the itch on her nose from the rain. The cool mountain breeze and the heavy rain did not phase the wolves. They continued down the muddy path with their noses leading the way. Lacey's only concern was maintaining her grip on the faint scent of blood from the wounded buck.

         Geroge managed to land a bite on the deer before it kicked Lacey. The scent on the trail was strong before the storm swept through the thick forest. They were lucky the deer did not stray from the buffer zone. Finally, Lacey picked up on the scent of the wounded deer. She quickened her pace, waiting for her father to give the command.

         George surveyed the landscape, quickly devising a plan for the attack. He moved his snout south, leading Lacey to her starting point. She readied herself for the attack by trotting through the thickets and shrubs. Geroge initiated the attack with three abrupt barks. Lacey's trot transitioned into a brisk run. She moved carefully to avoid burning through her reserved energy. They had not eaten a full meal since the failed attack. A few meager chips, candy, rabbits, and squirrels were not enough to fill their bellies.

         Lacey spotted the deer running through the forest. It steered clear of the treeless patches of grass. She learned her lesson from their first attempt and maintained a steady pace beside the fearful deer. She was not close enough to get kicked in the face again, but she was also not close enough to be empaled by its sharp horns. She yipped energetically at the buck. Her father inched closer to the deer, steering both of them to a treeless patch of land. The deer's speed faltered.

         A sour scent wafted off the buck. It enticed Lacey to end the hunt with a single bite, but she knew better than to act rashly. She carefully nipped at its front legs. Once they were into the clearing, George took advantage of Lacey's distractions. He clamped down on the antlers and pulled the deer to the floor. A loud whistling shriek erupted from the frightened deer. Lacey immediately latched onto the deer's neck. I will not fuck up this time, she reminded herself.

         She tasted the bitterness and metallic flavor of blood. She nearly vomited the remnants of her previous dinner from the smell and taste of the deer's fear. The thick hairs on her neck stiffened from the adrenaline. She tightened her grip on the neck until the deer went completely limp. George proudly nodded at the clean kill. Then he softly pressed his head to her temple. I'll be back with some clothes. Keep watch.

         Lacey rolled to the floor from exhaustion. She whined between her quick breaths while staring at the dull rainclouds. A cold chill finally penetrated her undercoat as she glanced back at the corpse. The rain watered down the bloody mess on the deer's neck, painting the wild grass with blood. She shuddered. Immediately, her gnawing hunger ceased.

~

          Lacey looked at the woman in the mirror with disgust. The creature in the reflection looked wild. Her usually combed hair was matted with debris and dirt. Dried blood decorated the lower half of her face. I'm a fucking hypocrite. She would not feel shame for loading her plate with a freshly cooked steak or topping her salads with grilled chicken. Yet, the aftermath of the hunt still plagued her thoughts.

         The thought of eating deer meat did not bother her. She had a plate of the entrails waiting for her in the motel fridge and she was hungry enough to want to eat. She had even helped her dad clean it without feeling sick. They cut through the soft flesh, drained the blood, removed the genitals, and gathered the organs. She even washed away the dried blood from its outer wounds. Yet, the unsettling jabbing pain in her stomach would not leave her alone. It was not the death of the deer or the brutal reality of hunting that bothered her, but the way she craved the smell of her prey's fear. First, it was sour, then it was sweet. Lacey clapped her hands over her cheeks.