The Jesters Forest

Chase P.O.V

I’m running through a thornbush 5 hours later when I hear a growl and feel every ounce of air is pushed from my lungs. “I’ve found you after all!” The wolf cries as I make my way back to my paws. “I’ll have you know,” he barks, his voice thick with glee, “It makes me happy knowing it was me, the Alpha’s deputy, to find the illusive rat.” I take a deep breath and fall into a battle stance, all my combat training demanding attention. “Let’s get this over with, Deputy.” I say and launch myself at him.

It’s only my use of a blitz attack that I manage to surprise him. Grasping a front foreleg in my jaws, I drag it with me as I slide in between his legs. He gives a yelp as he falls on his muzzle. Not giving any time to recover, I slam my paw into his left temple as hard as I can. His face shutters from the force of the blow. He gives an enraged growl and tries to stand.

Knowing he’ll beat me if he regains footing, I bite into his scruff and flip him over and into the thorns. My whole body strains from his greater size until I let him fly. I jump up after him, causing him to sink deeper into the bush while keeping me thorn free. Working as fast as I can, I use my claws to open deep wounds in the soft skin of his underbelly.

Growling savagely I make a rip into his throat with my fangs before jumping down and sprinting off. The taste of his blood makes me want to vomit, but even then. I can’t stop my mouth from watering. What is wrong with me? I swore to uphold the law! To protect living things… not to harm them. “I’m not sure these wolves count… and I doubt the sanity of laws bless this cut throat forest.” I whisper out of breath as I continue to run away from the whimpering mass of wolf still in the bushes.

I don’t get far before another wolf crosses my path. She stands in the middle of the game path I’ve been following. “Will you please move? I have no wish to hurt a lady.” I say out of breath. She gives a harsh laugh, “I thought you’d be bigger to have made this much heat. You’re just a pup, a young one to boot, I almost feel sorry.” I turn my head in question, “Sorry for what?” I ask, unease making my fur crawl. “For this.” She says before giving a commanding bark. She charges me.

Right as she gets to me, I swing my right paw and push her off balance. Causing her to bowl into the wolf coming from the left. I smile having ruined their ambush. That is until I hear the third set of paws and spin around just in time for me to dodge out of the way. As they run by I grab onto their tail as hard as my jaw will allow me. Giving a cry of pain, the smaller wolf keeps on trying to run away. Not this time!

Giving all I’ve got, I yank him by the tail and slam his body against the trunk of a great tree. Jumping onto him again, I give him a harsh slash to the shoulder. Having caught a break, I begin running again.

Looking behind me, I don’t see anyone following. Giving a small smile of victory, I don’t see a wolf anywhere in sight until I run into him. Reeling from the impact, I try desperately to get my paws back underneath me. Looking down upon me is the giant that is Alpha. His great charcoal paw slapping me back to the ground. “I’ll give this to you kid, you’ve got a fighting spirit, and a hunter’s grace. The only thing you don’t have,” he says, leaning down to put his muzzle right beside my head. I shake in uncontrollable fear as I feel the heat of his breath, Please god don’t let this be the end! “You lack the common sense to watch where you’re running.”

I give a yelp as he grabs me by the scruff of my neck fur. “At least I gave you a chance kid, should have been faster, stronger. You know what you should have been? A wolf.” He slowly raises me into the air, bring gravity into his already destroying force. "If it's any consolation," I whisper out, my breath coming out in strangled gasps, "At least I'm half wolf." Laughing as I hear his deep snarl, " in that case, welcome home mutt." With that he slams me head first into a rock, knocking me out cold.