My Naga Owners

18)-A Royal Visit

Ainsley's POV:

Fear.

The rabbit's brown eyes grew large with trepidation. His body is stiff and unmoving as he stares at me. No move of mine escapes his searching eyes. His fur sticks to his skin like some sort of adhesive was applied to him but as the moonlight shines upon him, I could clearly see it was blood. There is no doubt in my mind that the terrified creature would bound away if he was able.

As I continue forward, slithering closer to the rabbit. His legs thrust outward and start frantically moving about, rustling grass and fallen leaves. The grass around him stains red by his blood that is forced out by all of his extra moving.

"Hello, little one. Aren't you a cutie. I'm not here to hurt you don't worry." My eyes wander over the small body, checking for any wounds I didn't see when I first approached him.

"What happened to you, you poor thing? I bet that leg hurts, doesn't it? I can help you with it, how does that sound?" As my hand stretches out over him, casting a shadow on his body, his eyes grow impossibly wider and his furry chest expands and contracts speedily.

"No need for panic. I'm going to help you." What seemed like comforting words in my head causes the shifter to make another escape attempt driven by fear.

His thrashing around manages to help him in collecting more dirt on his fur.

My body winces a bit as dirt gets in his wound. That will be infected soon if it doesn't get cleaned.

Alright, I tried to calm him, but he's just getting worse. If I get stern it'll probably cause the poor thing to panic more.

"Hey. Please calm down. You need help. I am here to do that." I get a sudden idea, and start biting my claws off. "See? You're safe with me. No more scary claws to hurt you with."

I touch his soaked fur and watch as his eyes roll to the back of his head. His body is motionless now except for the occasional jerk.

"Oh no. I'm so sorry. I did not mean to scare you that bad," I apologize, picking the small unconscious shifter up.

Instead of the wild panicked rise and fall its chest was doing earlier, it's now slowly taking in and pushing out air.

    "I have got to get you to my den quickly. You've lost too much blood."

It's a short trip back to my den, but as I approach the entrance I notice that it's quieter than usual.

"Hello, little ones. I am bac-"

I stay frozen in spot as my eyes meet the familiar shape of a naga's body.

The royal that was in my den a few days ago is coiled up in a nest with his small human in his arms. He strokes his clawed hands through soft golden hair with a small smile on his face.

My eyes wander down to a pool of melted lava by his side. Archie's fluffy tail thumps against the ground as he sniffs the human's hair. He places a paw on the small human's shoulder and licks a bead of sweat off of his forehead.

Felix's tongue flicks out of his mouth and he looks up. His small look of worry turns into a contagious smile that has me smiling back at him.

"Oh. Hello, sir. I did not know you were going to be here. I would hav-"

"Your meal is dripping." Felix stares at the unconscious rabbit shifter as drops of blood continually fall off of it forming a small puddle.

"Oh Yeah. Sorry. Does it bother you? I'll clean it up right away!" I blurt out. Worry crawling in my chest about him being angry about it.