Upon Three Paws

Chapter 19

Killer Instincts

Step after step I can tell that the squirrel is growing closer. My instincts bring out my stalking nature and I lower myself down in the grass. The pads on the bottom of my paws helps me to slip effortlessly through the grass, silently. For a moment I'm back home in my forest searching for more food to sate the hunger in my ribs.

I'm brought out of my vision when the harness suddenly tugs me back. Looking back to Fesco for an explanation why he stopped me from continuing, I see that the leash has been tangled in the branches of a low hanging bush.

Oh.

Fesco quickly untangles it and stands back upright to resume following me. Sahala stays back slightly behind Fesco. I have a hunch that they're whispering to one another, but don't dwell on it long as I wish to continue exploring.

Trees double the height of Fesco and Sahala sway as a burst of breeze blows through. Grass rattles and leaves shimmer in the sunlight as their inhabitants sing to themselves. The crunch of old, decomposing nature follows not that far behind me and scares away any other wildlife I was originally hoping to track being Fesco and Sahalas footsteps. My own footsteps are far quieter as they are smaller and barely audible to my own ears which stand perked up and twitching at every surrounding sound.

An hour or so later of searching the expanse of trees and Fesco is now the one leading me back out of the park. From the show of different trees and landmarks we're going out a different way than we came in.

Before when we first arrived the birds and some strange bugs I've never seen were chirping and whistling. Their slow descent into silence has me feeling paranoid and my movements more quick and sharp as the adrenaline and suspense grows. I don't doubt Fesco has noticed my change in behaviour from his frequent glances down at me.

The suspense makes the trip to the edge of the trees seem far more lengthy than it should be, and everything is still quiet. A calm before the storm that I don't want to be around to witness.

I breath of relief leaves me as Fesco picks me up and cradles me in his hold. Once a few seconds of walking have passed, I stand up onto my haunches to peek over Fescos shoulder. It takes a bit of effort from me since he refuses to help, but eventually I manage to look back.

There, standing amongst a thick bulge of leaves and grass stands a black creature. Blood drips down it's muzzle filled with razor sharp teeth, it's yellow eyes demanding attention as it bares it's bloody weapon at me. The sight startles me, but when I recognize it as the same species as the one who dug up my old home anger bubbles in my blood.

The change of breeze is all it takes to push me off the deep end as it's revolting stench flares my nostrils. Growling more than loud enough for it to reach across the field, it retaliates with a louder, fiercer hiss like growl.

I'm knocked off my back feet and fall back into a laying position in Fescos arms as he spins around at lightning speed. The large black creature lets out a screech and charges out from its halfway hidden place amongst the shrubbery.

For some reason unknown to me, I snarl at its approach in anger and struggle wildly against Fescos grip. Surprisingly, I manage to escape his hold and am dropped down to the ground. My snarls and barks of warnings do nothing to dissuade the creature to back down. I feel my paws tingle, but pay no mind to it as I find myself running at the beast.

It's as if strings are pulling my limbs and directing them on where to go and how to avoid being hit by the massive claws. Dodging the two attempts at striking me, I twist and jump up sharply before latching onto its stomach and clawing at it with all my working claws. Out of the corner of my eye I see a long, whip like tail heading towards me and barely manage to release my claws in time to duck beneath it. If I want any chance at winning this fight then that tail has to go.

Darting back up, I weave around it's legs to its rear. Right when I launch myself at its middle section of tail, one large foot connects with me and sends me spiralling way off course. My wings ease the impact of the landing enough that it doesn't hurt me too bad, although I can tell that my side will be badly bruised and painful later.

That is if I survive.

My head waves from side to side as I get back up, distracting me from my violent mood. The sound of electricity and multiple flashes of blue light don't help with my disorientation. The world sways and twists while everything is a large blob of colour. Deciding to wait it out, I flop back down and set my chin on the ground. Blinking seems to help, so within a minute the after effects subside enough for me to register what's going on.

The first place my eyes go is to the large black pile of charred and scruffy hide. It's scent has begun to fade and is replaced with the tinge of death. That observation calms me down way more than it should've. Fesco runs towards where I lay and I sit up at the sight of his grim face. Worry and relief flood his natural scent which I revel in as soon as I'm back against his chest.

Fescos POV

When I first spotted that sicora hiding in the park my heart practically leapt out of my chest and I didn't think it could get worse. However, when Peppa clawed my arm and got away, I felt as though my chest had been hit with a class three energy blast. The feeling only lessened when I saw Peppa laying away from the fight. Now that I am able to pet her and ensure that she isn't dead does my heart calm down.

Feeling around her ribs where I saw the sicora kick her, all she does is jump away and mouth my thumb with slightly bloodied teeth. Furrowing my brow, I lightly take her bottom jaw and separate it from her top one. When I see the missing tooth I sigh in relief.

No internal bleeding, although her side will be sensitive with bruises for the next week until she's healed.

I'd expected more severe injuries for an animal this small going up against a sicora, yet I'm left half shocked that Peppa doesn't look to have anything more than a missing tooth and mediocre bruises.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when one of the guards who helped kill the sicora marches up to me, weapon still armed and in hand. His larger build and deadly serious demeanour reflecting that he's had some experience to know this isn't normal. After all, we haven't had this problem in years.

"What happened?"

The picture at the top is of my last bird Sunshine. She hated that blue bird.

That was intense.
What's happening?
Where did the sicora come from?
Was it just a coincidence?