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Prey to a predator. He narrowly avoided being devoured once again. He gets to live another day. A different setting and much larger compared to the cabin, but he was still trapped running from danger regardless. Perhaps it was luck that he managed to lose the beast in the forest, or maybe she found other prey to hunt down. Either way, Hunted was alive and that was all that matters in this moment. His hand instinctively holds onto the deep scratch wound on his side that his predator inflicted during their bout, his leg aching slightly from being cut. He has no reason to be spending his energy fleeing from a beast that is no longer pursuing him, but he would rather not risk being close to her location.
Hunted keeps what he found clutched close to himself. He should have been more careful when he was scavenging in the abandoned campsites, but now is not the time to be lingering on past events. The past doesn't exist, there is only now. Like prey on alert, he quickly scans his surroundings. The sun is setting and he'll have to find a place to rest soon. His ears flatten against himself as he notices a figure in the distance up on a short cliff just at the edge of a different forest, wondering if it's another predator. He hopes it isn't, but it's likely.
He observes as the figure shifts in their position and he soon recognizes that this was a familiar face. Paranoid. Someone who most likely wouldn't hurt him. Hunted glances at what he gathered. Food, a half empty canteen, and his steel claw. Maybe if he was lucky, he could form an alliance with the jumpy one. Even a temporary truce for the night would do.
Hunted scurries up to where Paranoid is seated, taking note of their curled up form and the backpack beside them. He stops at a safe distance away from the being, far enough where any attempts of attacking can be avoided but close enough to be able to communicate. Paranoid jumps in fear at his approach, eyes wide and caught off guard before recognition flashes briefly in their eyes.
“Oh, it's just you,” Their anxiety shows despite sighing in relief. They look around before looking back at Hunted, slightly unnerved by his unblinking stare.
The two of them remain quiet as they observe each other. Neither of them dared to make the first move. Hunted’s ear twitches as he listens to the sound of the gentle breeze, the only sound disturbing the heavy fog of silence. After what felt like hours, Paranoid finally speaks again.
“You're… You’re not going to kill me, are you?”
Hunted shakes his head no. “We can make an alliance if you want.”
Paranoid narrows their eyes at him in suspicion. They don't seem to believe that he doesn't have any ill intentions. It would make sense considering the situation they were forced into. All of them were put against each other, meant to kill one another until one of them comes out on top. As nice as it is to have allies, it's easy to be stabbed in the back when you aren't looking. Especially since it's in their nature to betray others for more than just one of them. They don't need to be named.
“Sign of peace,” Hunted offers some bread he had found in hopes of gaining this one's trust.
Paranoid stares hard at the offering as if he had offered death on a silver platter instead. They take a wary step forward towards Hunted.
“Are you… sure you didn't poison it?”
Hunted looks down at the loaf in his claws, thinking momentarily before tearing the bread in two and shoving one half into his mouth. After a long day of running and searching, even the plain taste of bread tasted like the most delicious thing he has ever eaten. Paranoid watches in surprise, the gears in their head turning as they think.
“What exactly do you…” They look away briefly, looking for the right words. “... want out of this alliance?”
“Safety. Only for the night.” Hunted responds, hastily swallowing his attempt at proving he didn't poison anything. It was a simple request, but if it doesn't work out he'll have to find a place elsewhere. And that's too dangerous, but he would have no choice if Paranoid were to decline. He must be very lucky because much to his relief, Paranoid walks closer and hesitantly takes the food he offered. With his sharp senses, he can hear them murmur a short phrase of gratitude, to which he responds with a nod.
The silence returns, albeit more awkward this time. They both stand there, Paranoid most likely contemplating what to do next with his new ally. They study him, looking over his body before noticing what his predator inflicted on him earlier.
“You're... injured.” Paranoid frowns, squinting ever so slightly at the injuries.
Hunted looks down at his wounds. The bleeding wasn't that bad. It must've slowed to a steady stream at some point. He puts a reminder in the back of his head that he should get rid of the scent of blood on his hand soon.
“Minor. Scratches. Just need to keep them clean.”
Paranoid thinks to themself before grabbing the backpack and kneeling down to check his side.
“Here, let me help.” They pull out medical supplies from their bag. Hunted gives them a nervous look, prompting Paranoid to quickly add, “And... you can keep a look out while I clean your wounds and bandage you up.”
Hunted nods quietly, keeping his senses sharp as Paranoid starts to clean the wounds and wincing when he feels the stinging pain. Paranoid mumbles an apology and focuses on disinfecting the wounds. It doesn't take long before Hunted gets impatient, anxious about having to stay in one place in a place of possible danger. The two of them were right outside the forest in the open. He didn't feel safe being in a position where they can easily be ambushed.
Paranoid looks up at him, noticing the wary expression on his face. They try to make the bandaging process quick, making sure the bandages aren't loose around the other's body. They sigh when they finish a couple minutes later, putting their things away and standing up. “Okay... I'm done.”
“Thank you.” Hunted speaks swiftly, “We shouldn't stay out here. Maybe somewhere safer in the woods.”
Without waiting for more than a few seconds, he ventures into the forest. Paranoid picks up their bag and hurriedly follows after Hunted, not wanting to be immediately abandoned. They catch up to him, trying to match his pace as the duo wander into the woods. At some point, Hunted pauses, causing Paranoid to almost run into him if they weren't careful. He signals for them to be quiet, looking around the area and listening for any signs of life outside of the two of them. His ear twitches as he tries to listen for any sounds and looks up at one specific tree in particular.
Paranoid follows Hunted's gaze fearfully, already feeling the panic rising up in their system. “There.. There isn't anyone in that tree, is there?”
Hunted's ear only twitches in response and he sniffs the air, trying to get a scent. It wasn't long before he sensed something or someone. He lowers himself down to the ground, staring up at the tree without uttering a single word. He watches whoever is in the tree with fearful, yet eager eyes. Paranoid glances back and forth between Hunted and the tree, their mind beginning to race with all the different possibilities of who could be in the tree.
Was it an enemy? Certainly someone who wants to kill them on the spot, right? They couldn't take this anymore, they were on the verge of having a meltdown! Heart. Lungs. Liver. Nerves.— It was until then that Hunted whispers a single word that Paranoid could barely hear above their panicked train of thought.
“Squirrel.”
And just like that, Paranoid lets out a breath they didn't know they were holding. Feeling lightheaded, they walk over to the closest tree and slump down against it. They sigh heavily as they make an audible thump the moment they hit the ground, bringing their knees up to their chest and hugging their legs. Hunted seems like he was snapped out of a trance as he looks over at them, worry clear on his face.
He takes one last look at the supposed squirrel in the tree before heading over to Paranoid's spot. He crouches down beside them, sensing their anxiety.
“Sorry.” He moves closer to them, his voice barely above a whisper. “Didn't mean to scare you.”
Paranoid doesn't respond as they subconsciously rock themself, trying to calm down. Hunted notices the movement and feels unsure of what to do. He watches them struggle to calm their nerves, their quiet voice wavering as they chant. When it becomes clear that Paranoid isn't calming down anytime soon on their own, he slowly lays his head on their shoulder, causing them to flinch and tense up. A small part of him for whatever reason feared that they would move away or pushed him off, but he realizes now after a few moments of silence that they probably would have by now if the action wasn't welcomed. He works up the confidence to start nuzzling Paranoid's shoulder much like a cat. He can feel their body stiffen more at the sudden movement, but he smiles softly when they slowly start relaxing eventually.
Around this time, night already has fallen upon them and the darkness surrounds the duo like a cool blanket. The air feels cold and somehow, they end up huddling for warmth. Neither of them spoke a word, but they both felt comfortable this way. At some point, Paranoid carefully placed their arms around Hunted, to which he gladly snuggled closer in response. A feeling of security worms its way through him. It's warm. For the first time in a while, he feels safe and at peace.
…
Paranoid opens their eyes blearily, the sunlight peeking through the leaves and into their eyes. When was the last time they slept like that? When was the last time they slept anyway? They stifle a yawn, rubbing at their eye as they take a look around. The place where they last recalled Hunted being there now is replaced with empty space, as if he was never there. They wouldn't have minded if he had stayed longer, but it doesn't matter now. They're alone again and they could only hope that he's okay wherever he is now.