BOOK 1, CHAPTER 12 – First Kill

Outside the nest cave, bright light shined down through the canopy. Happily chattering birds quieted as an intruder entered the area. Below, a slim green snake carefully came out. Following the snake was the black-clad figure.

Artien’s eyes squinted as he climbed out of the mouth of the cave system. He raised an arm as shade as he looked around. Giant trees were the first of his attention. They towered high, making him crane his neck to see the leaves at the top.

In the lowest branches of the tree birds sat. Their puffy fatness surprised him, as they flitted from branch to branch with speedy jumps. They looked down at him with beady red eyes. Their heads tilted from side to side, studying him. One opened it’s beak and squawked. Sharp lines of teeth gave him a start.

“Will they attack?”

“Those?” Little Green looked up. “No. Stupid birds.”

He looked at Little Green, slightly suspicious. He pointed at them.

“Can you catch those?”

“Yes. They’re fast, but I’m faster.” She held her head up, looking smug.

“Are they safe to eat?”

“Oh, yes. Kind of bland, but filling.” After a moment, she realized her mistake. “I was wrong! They are hard to catch. They take a long time to catch.”

He scowled at her. “So this whole time you were feeding me rat when I could have eaten those?”

Panic came across their connection. Little Green moved further ahead. “Ah, they make a lot of noise. We need to hunt quietly. So as not to attract the attention of the monkey.”

“Hah!” Artien laughed. “This whole time.” He muttered, moving along with her. “No more rat!” He hissed at her.

“No more rat! I promise.”

Still miffed, but glad he won’t be eating rat any more, he moved ahead. Little Green climbed to his shoulder and tasted the air. They moved at a slow pace, careful to keep the cave at their back. They traveled a long time. A few hours passed and the sun was starting to lower in the sky when Little Green hissed in frustration.

“There are only old trails here. If we want to have a real fight, we need to go further away from the nest.”

Artien looked around, agreeing.

“There really isn’t anything here. Is it because of the white monkey’s henchmen?”

“Possibly.” Little Green replied, looking towards the sky. “It gets dark faster in the forest. We should find a place to sleep.”

“Shouldn’t we catch something to eat first?”

“I’ll catch one of those birds. Look for a place. I’ll be back.”

Without saying anything else, Little Green leaped off his back and disappeared into the brush behind him. For the first time in a while he was by himself. The forest sounds creeped in, isolating him. He shivered, the hairs on the back of his neck raising. He instinctively lowered himself, quietly creeping towards a large tree.

He felt safer in the shadows of the large trees, keeping to them when he could. He traveled a little while before one of the largest trees nearby proved worthy. At it’s base a cove of roots was created during it’s growth. He cleared out some of the leafage and soil, creating a clearer, more level ground. He stared at the ground and frowned.

“Won’t it get cold?” He peered around him. His face lightened and he went to a nearby bush. The leaves were many and soft. He pulled a bunch of branches and laid them down, making a bed. He flattened them as best he could.

Crack.

He spun around, seeing Little Green with a fat bird in her mouth on top of the roots. He grabbed his chest, gasping. “Don’t scare me like that!” He furiously whispered.

Hiss-ss-ss. Her eyes squinted.

“Stop laughing!” He began thinking of ways to get her back when his stomach growled. He looked at the bird.

“Let’s eat.” Little Green jumped down to the forest floor. She grabbed the head of the bird, then swiftly coiled around it. A soft whisper of scale on scale was heard as she furiously spun her body.

“What are you doing?” He asked, afraid the meat was ruined.

Little Green spun faster, grinding her body against the bird. After a few seconds, she stopped. With a jerk, she ripped her head back and the bird’s head went flying into the forest. She uncoiled her body and moved towards him. In her mouth was now the remains of the bird. A pile of feathers was left behind.

She dropped the bird at his feet. “Hungry?”

He looked at her in disgust. “I don’t know.”

“I’ll clean it for you.” She opened her mouth, her fangs extending like sharp knives. She moved her body and head swiftly, carving the bird apart. Once more things went flying and falling. She stopped, now holding a cleaned and ready to eat morsel.

Beside her, Artien covered his mouth and ran off a distance into the forest. She heard puking noises. Confused, when he returned with a paler face she asked, “Are you sick?”

“Next time I’ll prepare the food.” Was all he said. He took the cleaned bird and ripped a piece off. He ate in silence, used to raw meat. He swallowed.

“Is it better than rat?” Little Green asked, gulping down her half.

“It’s more meat.” He wiped his mouth with some leaves. “Come, let’s sleep.”

He sat down, back against the tree. Little Green curled in his lap. He rubbed her head until she fell asleep. Then he kept watch until he too fell asleep. They both slept deeply, the darkness of night and it’s life noises settling around them.

A soft lick against his nose woke him up. Artien’s eyes shot open, seeing Little Green on his shoulder in the morning light. Excitement crossed over and she jerked her head towards their left. He slowly crawled to the edge of the tree roots, peeking over. A ways down a small slope, a black and spikey figure chomped down on the remains of last night’s meal.

“Our first hunt’s kill is here.” Little Green said.

He nodded, feeling his blood pump faster. Their excitement rose, feeding off of and boosting each other. They watched their adversary closely as it finished eating and looked up. A wolf’s body emerged from the brush, it’s fur stiff and black. The fur trembled, tufts moving in unison.

Suddenly, it looked at them, sniffing the air. It growled low, lowering it’s head and baring it’s teeth. It’s hair straightened out, and a clacking sound ensued. It was then that Artien knew it wasn’t fur it had, but a hard, spiked coat.

“A black-quilled wolf.” Little Green said as Artien stood up. “Nimble and high stamina. We should split up here.”

“What?” Artien asked nervously, eyes glued to the wolf.

“Use your force to protect against his attacks and quills. I’ll find an opportunity to strike while you two fight.”

“Ah, okay.” He swallowed, feeling Little Green’s presence leave. He stood up, revealing himself.

The wolf spotted him, jaw snapping. It took slow steps forward and Artien felt like he was the hunted instead of the hunter. He took a deep breath, clenching his fists and facing the wolf head-on. He gritted his teeth.

The wolf sensed a change. A wave of threat came from the human before it. It must attack now!

The wolf launched itself, running towards Artien. Artien quickly reached inside and called on the hot energy. He searched as fast he could, finding nothing. His eyes widened and the wolf made it’s move. It leapt, jaws wide, towards his head.

“Aah!” He screeched, dodging to the side. Air brushed past him filled with a clacking sound. He hit dirt, rolling down the hill the wolf had just climbed. He came to a stop after hitting a tree. He grasped it’s bark, pulling himself to his feet.

He turned around. Uphill, the wolf spotted him and immediately charged. Running downhill, it’s speed increased. It jumped, again coming for his head. He grasped, pulling up a broken limb and slamming it down.

The wolf landed right on him, biting at the stick. The force made him lose balance. He fell, his back hitting the ground. The wolf stood on top, paws clawing at his chest. It growled and pushed down on him, it’s eyes crazed and mad.

The stick cracked, smashed to pieces. The wolf dropped the stick and reached for his face. It opened wide, saliva dripping.

Artien felt time slow. He released the end of the stick, clenching the same hand into a fist. He struck forward. The wolf’s jaws clamped down on his fist, and time sped back up. The wolf jerked it’s head, trying to tear at the flesh in it’s grip.

Artien then reached for the only thing that had saved him before. Mana surged forth from the flame inside. It coated his enhanced flesh, traveling faster then ever before. It entered into his fist, activating the glove on his hand in the wolf’s mouth.

The glove greedily drank the mana. It glowed golden light softly, activating the symbol carved inside. The glove hardened, unbreakable. The wolf’s teeth slipped and slid on the glove, sounding like two swords clashing. Metal against metal tore the air. The wolf let go, then lunged for another bite.

Artien raised his arm again. This time, the wolf changed it’s target from his hand to his arm. It bit deep, blood sinking into it’s mouth. It grew frenzied, jerking back and forth frantically. It used all paws, pushing back against it’s prey.

Artien cried out, feeling the pain from the bite and claws. He strengthened his captured arm as best he could. He channeled mana into his other fist. The glove on that fist reacted, hardening like iron. He clenched his fist and punched.

The black wolf sensed the punch, moving it’s head aside. The fist went harmlessly by. Enraged, the wolf jumped back then forward on Artien’s chest, slamming him against the ground. It jerked again, sending fresh blood dripping. The air slammed out of him, shocking his brain. He became dazed.

The wolf, sensing the weakening, changed it’s grip on the arm and crunched down. It shook and pulled, drawing Artien forward. It kept pulling until he was on his stomach with arm stretched. It let go, backing up. It growled, licking the blood on it’s face in anticipation.

Artien gasped, pulling his injured arm to his side. He braced with his good arm, unsteadily getting to his feet. He did a quick search for Little Green, finding her nowhere. Their connection was deadly silent. “Little Green?” He choked out.

The wolf circled, bring his attention back. He stumbled, leaning against the tree behind him. Blood dripped from the bites on his arm. He filled the wound with mana, the pain dulling. He stared at the wolf, meeting it’s glare with one of his own.

The blood dripped to a stop, the mana healing the wound rapidly. A tiny bit of strength returned to his arm. The mana inside drew to his gloves. The glove hardened further, crackling as he fisted them. He took a step and the wolf responded, scratching the ground and snarling.

“Come on!” He yelled, his heart pounding. He pushed his worry for Little Green aside. His chest filled with desperation.

The wolf jumped, using it’s killing move. It’s jaws opened. Artien struck forward with his injured arm. The wolf snapped down. Artien grasped, his gloved fingers protected as he held onto it’s lower jaw.

“Gaaaah!”

He pulled forward as something burned through him. Force erupted, surging from his back through his body. It filled every cell it passed, flooding into his free fist. He swung forward, the force surrounding the glove and coming to a point just beyond the skin of his knuckles. He stopped short of the wolf, the force exploding.

Bang!

The force exploded forward, shredding anything in it’s path. The wolf’s head rippled, falling apart. Blood and matter shot out, spraying the ground and tree. The wolf’s body fell, lifeless. Artien gasped, his mind clear.

It was a moment before he came back to himself. He stared ahead, feeling something in his hand. His eyes traveled to his hand, seeing the bottom jaw of the wolf grasped tightly. He dropped it, shaking his hand. “Ugh.”

At his feet, the body of the wolf lay. A sense of urgency came to mind. His head shot up, seeing a flash of green every now and then. “Little Green!”

She joined him at his shoulder. “We must run!”

“What? Why?”

A distant howl answered, followed by several others.

“Run!” Little Green insisted, squeezing him.

He turned and ran back up the hill. Little Green guided him as they made their escape. A distant cackling was heard with more howls.

“They’re gathering. Run faster.” She said.

A loud roar screamed out and Little Green tightened around him more.

“Hurry. They found our kill.”

Artien raced forward, feeling the urgency. Faster. Run Faster. I can run faster!

Force erupted from his back a second time, striking down to his feet. He felt energy erupted with each push of the ground. The cackling came closer. He focused on his legs, the wind rushing against his face. His Divine Eyes canceled as he turned to his heels and toes.

Dark shapes flitted in and out of Little Greens view. She spotted a dark speck in the distance ahead of them. “The nest!”

Artien’s boots dug into the earth, force lining his feet like springs. It gathered, both speeding and launching him nearly off the ground. With thunderous steps the last few feet before the cave large depressions were left in the earth. He tripped, sliding into the cave just as the group of shadows caught up.

He tumbled into the cave. Little Green jumped off him, landing safely on the ground. He rolled, coming to a stop dozens of feet from the cave opening. He lay there, heart pounding. The remaining force withdrew back into his body to a place on his back.

Little Green crawled on top of him and smiled. “What was that?”

“A memory,” He said, confused.