Chapter Text
A predator, he stalked through the thicket, muscles moving smoothly underneath his sand-coloured fur. He inhaled deeply, smelling the different scents of the forest around him. A few squirrels, a bird or two, some mice, but nothing of interest to him. He could take down each of the prey with no difficulty at all, but today he wanted something new; A challenge. One could only take down so many squirrels and the odd hellpincer or two before they wanted something different.
I'm really hoping for waffles.
He shook his head to get rid of the memory of the high, slightly nervous voice. That had been his voice but it had been a long time since he had been scared. He still remembered vaguely what life had been like for him. Growing up living with his aunt for the most part of his life in the countryside, his parents diplomats, always busy on assignments in faraway places and most of his contact with them over the phone or during holidays where he'd visit them and they'd take him on trips around the country they were stationed in. Back at home, he'd spend hour with his cousins, running around the open fields, caring for the sheep and horses his family had and having sleepovers underneath the free sky.
When had been the last time he had waffles? He didn't remember, but it didn't matter to him anymore.
There was a new smell. Finally, a challenge. Twisting his feline snout into what could be the remnants of a smile, he crept through the underbrush towards the new arrivals.
Crouched low in the tall grass, he observed his prey of choice. It was a pair, human, young, barely in their teens. From the looks of it, they were definitely related and behaviour confirmed it. Both had tan skin and dark brown hair. The male human held a long staff in his hand and gestured down the dirt path they were on. The female human held a large hammer in hers, it reminded him of someone he used to know.
Someone he had once considered a friend. Friend... that was a word that he hadn't used in a while. This friend had had a war hammer similar to the girl now in front of him, though in one of his memories his friend's hammer had been much stickier than the girl's, covered in... was it porridge?
Yes, it had been. How strange humans were. It had been years since he had been one fully. He flexed his hands, the part of him that had remained the most human. Long, sharp claws adorned the tips of his fingers, the undersides now padded with a thick layer of calloused skin.
The young humans were talking to each other, seemingly without much care for the dangers around them. A big mistake on their part. A low growl escaped his throat as he tensed his muscles in preparation of his first attack.
Too loud. The children spun around, staff and hammer raised in defensive positions. Oh, well, better now than never, he decided, and stepped out onto the path. Seeing them retreat away from him made a part of him flinch in hurt but it small. A part of an old life, one he had been forced to leave behind years ago.
"Well, well... new fresh meat."
His voice sounded hoarse, he hadn't used it in a long while. He didn't have any reason to. The children's eyes widened in shock.
"Who are you? What do you want?", the girl asked, mistrust tainting her voice. Smart child.
Who was he? He was sure he had a name once, but he didn't remember it anymore. It didn't matter anymore, he was the hunter and the children were the hunted.
"I'm Sam Singh and that's my sister Kaya. We've come here to-ugh."
He interrupted the boy's words when he launched himself towards the children. Just before he could sink his claws into them, he collided with an invisible barrier right in front of them. The boy, Sam, had thrown his hands up and a dark smoke had formed around them.
A magical shield. Pah. He dodged a swing of the girl's, Kaya's, war hammer with ease and retaliated by sinking his long sabre-teeth into the shield, causing the invisible barrier to shatter. He landed on his hands and feet... and was immediately hit with a hard thunk on the head. Sam had struck out with his quarterstaff.
He growled, frustrated, and ripped his head upward and forward and connected with the boy's torso. The human stumbled back, the air knocked out of his lungs by the blow.
Pain exploded in his shoulder and he looked up to find that Kaya had discarded her war hammer in exchange for a very sharp scimitar which had now carved a cut into his shoulder. Her brown eyes were glinting with grim determination.
Roaring with fury, he swiped at her, a spark of satisfaction igniting in him as he tore through her jacket and backpack strap. The girl retaliated without missing a beat by slashing at him which he narrowly escaped.
In his revenge-fuelled retaliation, he came to realise too late that he had forgotten about the second child, as a dagger dug its way cleanly into his arm.
He whipped his head around and stabbed at Sam with his sabre-teeth which the boy had told jump back to avoid. This was bad for him, he was cornered between two armed opponents where he had thought he'd have an entertaining, but in the end easy, meal.
With a determined swing of her war hammer, Kaya swept his legs out from under him and he crashed to the ground, indignantly.
Not willing to give up easily, he tensed his muscles and returned the favour to the girl by barrelling into her and sending her flying to the ground. Next, the boy. In a similar fashion, he pounced on him, only vaguely registering Sam's worried shout for his sister. With a feeling of satisfaction growing in his chest, he felt the child fall onto the dirt path, immediately pinned down by his much larger and heavier form. He was about ready to deliver the final blow to him when a doom-bearing click made him freeze.
His gaze whipped in its direction and he saw himself confronted with the sight of a fully loaded crossbow trained directly at his head.
Kaya's voice was low and steady. "Get back from my twin."
He considered his chances at taking out both children before the loaded arrow could be discharged and burrow itself in his head, but had to concede that no matter his speed, not even he could outrun a flying arrow.
With a frustrated low growl, he let go off the boy and decided to cut his losses for the day. With a few deep cuts and a wounded sense of pride, he retreated into the cover of the trees. Too bad, the humans seemed to have won that particular fight, but there were still plenty of fights to have and win. And, if they'd happen to cross his path again, he'd be ready for them.