I Will Protect You: Victuuri

Chapter 13: The Hunt

Though Yuuri was still recovering, Victor insisted on taking his mate with him as on their hunts. The idea displeased Lilia but she allowed it, only due to the promise that the human would remain either alongside his mate or on his back the entire time. The couple eagerly agreed, though they knew that eventually Yuuri might end up getting off the dragon or wander about. Victor smiled as he helped Yuuri down to the entrance. He felt proud to be taking his beloved Yuuri with him and excited to show off his skills. Yuuri, also a smile upon his face, hobbled next to his mate. The human had been given a wooden crutch for traveling short distances and had found it more pleasing than having everyone push him around.

Once at the entrance, Victor told Yuuri to stay back while he transformed. The human complied and watched once more as his lover transformed. Victor looked down at his human before he helped the smaller male climb on to his back. Yuuri left his crutch where it was, since there was no room to carry it easily as of yet, and trusted that Yurio would keep his word to hold onto it. Victor, careful to not jostle his mate to much, rolled his massive shoulders and spread his wings. Other dragons followed his lead, mimicking his movements, before Victor crouched down and leaped into the sky. Yuuri, having already predicted the dragon's actions, clung to the spine in front of him and clamped his mouth shut.

As they soared upward, Yuuri closed his eyes with intention of keeping them that way until they leveled off. Once they did, the human slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the landscape. They were in a large, forested area, a fresh-water lake only a half-mile away. Yuuri's eyes focused on the landscape, an expression of awe on his face as he held onto his dragon. Victor seemed to smirk a little before he slowly maneuvered himself down into the forest, landing as softly as he could. Yuuri smiled as his dragon turned to see how his mate was. Yuuri waved one arm to tell his dragon that everything was alright before the dragon directed his gaze upward. A couple of dragons landed close-by, the others going a bit further out to search for more prey.

A few minutes later, the white dragon spotted a rather large buck and grinned. Victor crouched as he crept towards the creature silently. Slowly he turned back into a human and lowered his precious human to the ground. He placed a finger to lips, telling his mate to remain silent, and took out his bow. Pulling an arrow from his quiver, Victor knocked his arrow and slowly drew the string back. Yuuri covered his eyes, not wanting to see the actual shot taken, and waited for his lover to loose his arrow. Though the human had no problems with the aftermath, he hated to watch the animals' lives leave their bodies. His father had taken him hunting one day as a child and forced him to witness his prey die. The experience had made the young human become overwhelmed with grief and unable to watch as the creatures died.

He had explained this in advance to Victor, who understood completely, and had been told to simply cover his eyes before they struck. Yuuri listened as the arrow flew through the air and struck its target. There were no ghastly noises or shrieks of terror from the buck, only silence. Victor placed a hand on his love's shoulder and told him, "It's over, Yuuri. You can look now." Yuuri uncovered his eyes as Victor said, "The other's will carry it. Come along." He pulled Yuuri onto his back once more and began to walk away as the others took care of Victor's kill.

The hunt went relatively well, the group stopping by the lake for a rest. Yuuri removed his boots and waded ankle deep into the water, his dragon close behind. Victor followed his lead and walked up behind his lover. The cold water felt nice on the dragon's sore feet as he held Yuuri close to him. The human let out a chuckle as he playfully admonished, "Victor, there are people here!" Victor kissed Yuuri's neck as he stated, "Let them look. I just want to kiss my little piggy." Yuuri flushed as he asked, "Where did that nickname come from?" His dragon nuzzled his human's neck and replied, "I just decided it was cute, like your other nickname." Yuuri felt his face heat up before he mumbled, "I guess that's alright."