Haunted (shape-shifters x reader)

Chapter 8

    Suddenly, the weight on your upper half disappears, followed by a pained whimper. You hesitantly open your eyes and quickly push yourself up to a sitting position. Your (e/c) orbs grow wide in shock as you stare at the sight playing out before you. A massive dog has the wendigo pinned to a nearby tree by its side. The creature lashes out at the other animal and both of them tumble into a circle of fury. It's body is stitched together like some kind of experiment. Red glowing eyes reflect in the sunlight, sharp teeth grinding against bone. 

    You use a branch to pull yourself to your aching feet, watching the fight play out in a paralyzed state. The wendigo kicks the dog off of its neck as it presses a clawed hand on top of its enemy's throat. The poor animal growls in anger while struggling to fight back. You hear a sick muted sound, the cannibalistic freak of nature biting into its neck. It swiftly pulls the dog's head clean off and a spray of green blood splatters in every direction. 
    A group of howls mixed with growls break over the blood splatter, two more stitched together dogs jumping into the clearing. They automatically join in to attack the wendigo as the sound of snapping teeth reach your ears. More blood splashes onto the grass in crimson puddles, something grabbing your shoulders. Your heart beat automatically goes into overdrive and lash out at whoever dared to touch you at a moment like this. 

    Sebastian quickly grabs your wrist before you can leave a mark on his face, glaring at you. 
    "Are you okay? That thing didn't bite you?" He asks as he examines you for any bite marks or cuts from the creature. You quickly shake your head in response, guilt circulating throughout your veins. He immediately lets go of your arm and grabs your shoulders harshly. 
    "Why didn't you listen! I told you not to leave! Now, look at what you've done! You've ruined my experiments and I have to help you out! You're more like a chore than an actual person!" He snaps while shaking you roughly. The fight going on a minute ago stops and the noises fade away to silence. You both look in that direction to see a pile of ripped apart dog parts scattered at the wendigo's feet. 

    It tilts its head to the side as it looks at both of you in amusement. You see a slight smile on its muzzle as if it's laughing at you for trying to fight back. It swiftly opens its jaw unnaturally wide, charging at you. Sebastian quickly pulls you behind him while standing in front of its destination. He braces himself to shield you from anymore attacks and narrows his eyes at it. A smirk pulls at the corner of his lips, his thoughts focusing on keeping an emotionless demeanor. 

    Suddenly, a black cat leaps from a branch above you, latching onto its face. His claws plunge into the creature's inky eye sockets as he struggles to stay upright. It sways its head back and forth in annoyance. A pained cry echoes from its skeleton throat, black blood dripping down its muzzle. It forces its head to snap to the far left and sends him flying into a tree. 
    The cat's body hits the ground with a thump, the Wendigo keeping an eye on him. The cute little animal slowly shifts into a familiar boy you know too well. Ash flutters his yellow eyes open as he struggles to clear his head. He pushes himself up with effort while leaning his back against the tree. He hisses at his enemy, digging his claws into the tree bark. He swiftly pulls himself up to a standing position and steadies his swaying frame to continue the damage he's already done. 

    Panic overwhelms your senses, your feet carrying you toward him without any thought. Sebastian wraps his arms around your waist as he pulls you to a halt. 
    "Stop! That's crazy, we have to get back to the mansion!" He shouts while struggling to hold you back. You growl in response, trying to pry his fingers away. 
    "No, I'm not leaving him! Ash just threw himself into battle to save me! He's a cat trying to fight a cannibalistic freak of nature! He needs his friends and my help!" You scream back and slam your elbow into his ribcage. 

    He lets go of you as a pained expression twists into his facial features. You race toward Ash, ducking under the Wendigo's snapping jaw. You run up to him while carefully taking his left arm. He smiles at you despite his fresh bruises littering his skin. 
    "Ash, are you going to be okay?" You ask in panic, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. 
    "Yeah, except for the massive new scar I'm going to have for the rest of my life. At least, I'll be the bravest neko in the half blood clan," he makes a joke and pulls his claws free. 
    "We have to get you out of here. Now, isn't the time for jokes. I'm really worried about you, right now," you mumble, trying to help him walk straight. 

    The Wendigo rubs angrily at its bloody face, lashing blindly in random directions. It hisses in pain as it's aim slowly gets closer to you. Ash instinctively hugs you while looping an arm around your lower back. You lift up your chin, your face flushing to a light pink shade. Your head reaches his chest and your bodies are pressed together. Even if he's just protecting you, your heart won't stop pounding. 

    Everything seems to remain in slow motion as you realize you may have some kind of feelings for these shape-shifters. Maybe if you could prove you were something and you can be taken seriously, then the boys would change their minds. They would make you their bride. You wouldn't have to go back to your village or a simple life, ever again. You could become whatever you wanted and be part of a magical world. 

    Suddenly, flames erupt from the creature's face. Bones mixed with blood begin to bubble and pop. It twirls around as it tries to clear its face. A black inky substance leaks down its body like veins while the fire fades away like magic. It cries out in unbearable pain, blindly charging into a tree. It's body automatically collides with the ground and its limbs grow motionless within seconds. Rin appears next to the Wendigo as he smirks at the damage he's inflicted. He motions for you both to head back to the mansion while he gazes at the pile of rotting bones. A flash passes over his pupils, it's body exploding on impact. Body parts mixed with black blood goes everywhere and he catches its skull before it can shatter to pieces. 

    You quickly help Ash out of the clearing, ducking under a branch. You turn to look back while he appears to recover from his injuries. He gently twists out of your hold, taking your hand instead. He laces his fingers with yours as he quickly drags you away from the discovered Wendigo hideout. 
    "Don't worry. He'll be fine," he mumbles to reassure you and guides you down a dirt path. He cuts past the way you came from, looking around for the Sebastian.

    Suddenly, you hear a loud scream break over the silence. You yank your hand free from his grip as you blindly run in the direction of the noise. You swiftly jump over a tree root, landing gracefully on your feet. You continue to race past some trees while making sure you stay on track. You push some vines out of your way and step into a path close to the house.  
    You automatically spot Sebastian's frame as you pick up a broken piece of tree root. A Wendigo has its teeth sunk into his shoulder, blood leaking down his shirt and into a crimson puddle. You quietly sneak behind the creature while trying to make sure you don't alarm it. You swiftly hit the creature on the side of its head, it's skull caving in on impact. It hits the ground with a sick thump and its breathing comes to an immediate stop. 

   "Are you okay?" You ask, sitting in front of him. He quickly nods his head as he glances at the injury. 
    "I'll live. Let's just get to the house," he responds, managing to push himself up. Ash quickly joins you both while keeping an eye out for any more attacks. You wrap Sebastian's arm around your neck and you all head back toward your prison.