helping another shifter(kaliah/open)

[Aliya]

The river was cool as I dipped my front right paw in, swirling the water and letting it rush over my fur. I purred in delight, feeling the coolness upon my hot skin, having run here from the city. I didn't want to leave my family, but there were people after us, so we split up. Besides, they were after my parents, not me, so the logic choice was for me to get to someplace safe while they dealt with the issue. I moved slightly, the pain in my body registered to my brain. Earlier I had been shot, but I would live. It was just a right pain. Peering down into the river water, I see my face staring back at me. Not my human visage but my cougar face. Round ears, short snout with dark brown and gray colored fur. Topaz colored eyes which I was extremely proud of, a symbol of my heritage as a werecougar. Thats right, a werecougar. You didn't expect others other than werewolves did you?

Sitting back upon my haunches and looking around, I felt at peace. This was my true home, my element. A small rabbit came bounding from the grass to drink from the river, and I dismissed it as food. I had eaten and besides, I vowed not to eat this family of rabbits, they had helped me first time I came here. Animals were smart, they knew I wasn't a true cougar and thus, they were not afraid. Kudos to them. Sniffing the air, I watch the rabbit and made sure nothing was coming after it, head swiveled left and right for any other predators that wished to kill my rabbits. Pulling my foot from the water, I walk up the bank, shifting into my human side as I walked. Fur melted into skin, ears slid back down, colors dimmed a little. But I still retained all my senses. That was good, I didn't want to be a helpless human.

My feet crunched upon stones and stabbed into my feet but I was far too used to it to care. The rabbit had decided to finish its drink and hop up beside me, so I had a little follower. It was gray in color with white feet and a dark black zig zag on its back. Suddenly, a noise came from my left and the rabbit took off, little feet hopping madly as it headed to safety. It wasn't anyone I knew so I snarled before growling deep, a cougar call to warn the intruder. Turning back into the cougar took seconds, and I bared my teeth coldly. Then it hit me, it was another shifter. I meowed, hoping that this shifter would come into view because something told me something was wrong. My head tilted to the sky, watching the sun get clouded by a few snowy white clouds before my attention was back onto the place where the noise came from.

I meowed again, the meaning was clear. Don't be shy, I won't hurt you. I was always ready for new friends, and the aspect of having another friend made me tremble with anticipation. I wasn't normally aggressive, normally playful to the point where I was annoying. Almost like a kitten. Hell, I was still regarded as a kitten or cub if you want to call it that, by werecougars. When we hit 25 we were regarded as an adult since our lives were longer than most creatures. I wasn't immortal, but I had a long life. That scared me the most though, because I would lose friends as I grew up, especially if they were human. I whimpered, putting my nose to the ground and laying upon my stomach.

[Kaliah]

It hurt in ways unimaginable to be in the jungles. I remembered my family, my pard, getting shredded by the hunter's bullets. I remembered finding Zahara, and devoting my life, my being to her. I remembered nothing but her will, my eagerness to serve the Feline Mistress. I remembered more humans, more hunters, coming after her and her great cats. Many lives were lost, including the Queen of the Jungle cats. I wandered, lost for a time, unsure what to do, how to live without the instructions and demands of my Queen. I'd known this life once, ages ago, but it seemed so far away now. I left the jungles, in search of something to distract me from my pain, something to help me reshape my life. I needed to live for myself now, and I had to find a way to do just that.

I traveled to other continents, through Europe and Asia, before finally wandering Canada, Mexico, and the US. I found myself fascinated by the differences in the natural surroundings of each place, though I was often too lost in thought to truly appreciate what was around me. I wasn't sure where I was, nor did I much care. I was alone, the only one of my kind in all the world, for all I knew. I stayed near the cities, watching other people, human people, run around, living their lives and wondered how I'd possibly fit in. I always retreated to the outskirts of the cities, finding forests, rivers, mountains, anything but the concrete jungles inhabited by those who were my enemies for so long.

I followed the sound of the river, my padded feet stepping soundlessly on the dirt and pebble banks as I watched the rapids smooth out up ahead. Some animals ran from my presence, a leopard not the usual for these parts. Others seemed curious as to my nature, sensing somehow that I wasn't merely a leopard. I bothered none of them, my appetite long since forgotten. I ate when nessecary, usually when I was on the verge of collapse. I used to love the thrill of the hunt, I lived for it, but now, it was only habit that kept me alive. I took no pleasure in the hunt anymore, it was merely survival.

I'd circled around a thick crop of trees, moving back toward the water's smooth surface when I saw a glimpse of a woman, walking near the river with ease. A small rabbit hopped near her, unafraid until it heard my approach. I didn't bother to slow, not did I heed her call. Though the sound that ushered from the woman was more animal than anything else. I paused for a second, tilting my head as I peered through the undergrowth at this cat woman. I was shocked to find someone so like myself, though her cat smelled different, I was taken by surprise. I watched in awe as she seemlessly melted from human woman to a cougar, teeth bared in warning. I huffed, a small cloud of dirt poofing in front of my face. What would it matter if she took offense to my presence and killed me? I was nothing now.

Her mewl took me by surprise yet again, and I stepped forward, quietly, making only enough noise for her to heard my approach. Her second meow was clear with meaning. I sighed, moving from behind the shelter of trees and growth, to see her lying on her belly, whimpering softly. I sat back on my haunches a few feet away, not daring to move closer. I was slightly curious, the first feeling other than pain I'd felt in a long time. I sniffed the trail left by the rabbit, who'd run when it sensed me. I had to admit, the cougar before me was a beautiful specimen, but I had no desire to converse with her, if she meant to kill me for invading her territory, for her scent prevaded the area, that was fine by me. At least then the pain would end. I lay down, rolling over to expose my stomach, stretching my throat long, leaving it open for the kill. It was a submissive manuever, but it also clearly stated my intentions. I was ready to leave this world behind, it seemed there was no place for me in it anymore. If this cougar would dispatch me, all the better.

[Aliya]

Lying on my stomach would be a dumb move if I was a normal animal. But this gave me the perfect view and not to mention, I would appear weak, a mistake others would have if they tried to attack. My nose twitched as the creature came from its hiding place, my breathe caught in my throat. My parents taught me about wereleopards, how a whole pard was killed, it was a thing they taught me so I would distrust humans more. It worked by the way, I didn't trust many humans at all. From her walk, I knew something bad must've happened, my mewling got louder and more worried for this other creature. I started quivering, wondering what had befallen this great creature, and my desire to help another shifter, and cat, etched within my head. I sniffed again, realizing this creature was older than I.

Waiting for her, for it was unmistakable a female, to move, I looked at her with topaz colored eyes and when she lay down, exposing her stomach and her throat was wide open for the attack I jumped up to all four feet. I mewled, padding closer with liquid movements, grace only a cat would ever have, before I look down at the wereleopard before me. There were two options. Kill the creature and end its suffering, or not kill. I chose the not kill because I couldn't bring myself to deliver the final blow. Instead, I lowered my head, snout touching her belly, sniffing at her fur, before moving up to her throat. I bared my teeth, carefully closing over her throat but I did not pierce skin. My rough, sand paper like tongue slid from my jaw, cleaning her throat before moving up to her neck and face. Again it was the kitten in me.

Hopefully my meaning was clear. I wasn't going to kill this wereleopard! If she wanted to die so badly she would have to choose someone else. I wasn't about to spill blood, especially one from kin. We were different shifters but still, we were part of the cat family. I nuzzled into her neck, feeling her warm fur and mewling again. My paw pressed against her side as I was fully on top of her, staring into her own eyes. I may not kill her, but she was submissive. In my family, those that were submissive were not leaders, and I pitied this creature. She was older, wiser, but probably because what had befallen her was the reason she wasn't going to show dominance. Among other things. Technically, I was the leader now. To be honest it scared the heck outta me. But if she needed help, I was going to help her.

One more nuzzle, and a lick to the cheek, I shifted back, now a human sitting next to her. Running my fingers through her fur, and staring around the river beds, I touched her ear ever so lightly. "Listen. I am NOT going to kill you. You hear me?" I felt confident enough that I would be attacked so I continued. "You were submissive, so technically I'm your leader. But I was never much of a leader so lets settle for being friends okay?" Smiling softly, I lay against her stomach, listening to her heart beat. It was soothing, and if I wasn't waiting for an answer, I think I could have fallen asleep. "My home is your home. Don't you ever think your invading my territory. And uh, sorry for getting all growly before." I tilt my head, sitting up and folding my legs so I was sitting Lotus style. Again I let my fingers run through her fur, its something my whole family did, a comfort thing. If she wanted me to stop I would, but right now, I wasn't. Besides, her fur was different to my own so I was curious.

[Kaliah]

She mewled again, a sound so familiar and heart wrenching, I squeezed my cat eyes shut. I felt the slight vibrations of her moving closer, though her steps were nearly silent. I stretched my head further back, bracing myself for the death blow. I couldn't help the twitch that came as her nose touched the fur on my stomach. I hadn't expected that. The feel of her breath ruffling my fur was a feeling I'd almost forgotten, it felt...good! I whimpered, stopping the sound only as I felt her mouth close over my throat. END IT!!! Every fiber of my being yelled for it all to be over. But it did not come. She did not offer the sweet release I so craved. Instead, her tongue dragged across my fur as she cleaned my neck and face. I opened my eyes slowly, my amber orbs fixing her with my gaze. She would not be my killer, something that confused me more than anything else. Shouldn't she be worried about another large cat, another predator in her land? Shouldn't she be defending her territory by at the very least threatening me? And here, instead, she showed such care, my heart wept.

She nuzzled into my neck again, mewling, but I found I had no answer to her call. I was stunned into silence as her topaz eyes found mine and held their gaze. I blinked, clearing the building water that threatened to over flow. Believe me, cats can cry. By placing her paw on my belly while she looked at me, she'd accepted my submission, taking the dominant role. I was dominant once, long ago with my pard. But that was another lifetime. Perhaps cats did have 9 lives. If that were true, I'd lived at least 3. My life with the pard, my family, was my first life. My life with Zahara after, my second. And this would be my third. The life of a nomad. I had no home, no family, no purpose. I desperately hoped that another 6 lives would not find me.

She licked me again, and shifted back to her human form. It had been months since I'd last been human myself. Her hands running through my fur brought me such comfort, I thought again I might cry. I tilted my ears, turning them toward the sound of her voice as she spoke. I only licked my lips in answer. I heard her, I was listening. Friends? She meant to be my....friend? I rolled over at that, moving to my side as she continued to stroke my coat. I faced her, fixing her with a curious stare. She had not only offered me friendship, but a place within her home. I contemplated shifting, for the first time in months, so that I could speak with her as freely as she spoke to me. But what would I say? And the feel of her fingers moving through my fur was undeniably heaven sent.

I let my gaze wander to the river, it's gentle rippling over stones lulling my torn spirit as much as her petting. A soft rumble began deep within my belly, and moved up to my chest as I began purring. I couldn't remember the last time I felt content enough to purr. I let my eyes drift closed again, simply enjoying the brief moment of peace. As her hand stilled, I opened my eyes, and moved back from her. I blinked twice, regarding the woman who'd shown me kindness for no real reason, and decided it was time for me to shift, for me to speak to her with my voice as she had with me.

The spots I'd grown so comfortable with receeded along with all my other feline traits. Dark hair fell around my face, cascading down my back. My nails were long, over grown from lack of care. I hadn't bothered with my human form in so long, I'd neglected to even trim my nails. I might have once been concerned with my appearance, but now such things had left me almost completely. I looked at her again, with human eyes. Bowing my head, I finally spoke. "My name is Kaliah. Thank you for your kindness, though you should have, by rights, killed me. I'm not....like you." I moved my gaze back to her, staring into her eyes once more. I saw no threat there, only the same kindness she'd already shown me. But why? What would prompt her to treat me in such a manner? I sat hunched, holding my knees close to my chest. Not in modesty, but almost as if I were holding myself together. If I let go, I felt I would fall to pieces entirely. "Whatever you will have of me, is yours." Again, I cast my eyes down when I spoke, a habit I'd grown used to with Zahara. It mattered not that this woman was not Zahara, she spared my life when she needn't have. I would treat her as a dominant cat, though she'd already said that being dominant was not her intention. What then, would she have of me?

[Aliya]

Her eyes seemed to hole unshed tears as I watched her blink, the pur that came from her made my heart swell. This is what I knew, and I smiled softly, watching the leopard before me with kindness in my brown colored eyes. In my cougar form, my eyes were always topaz, but human, they were brown. There was no hatred, but love and gentleness etched within. The fur was real soft and I wanted to lie in it again, like a kitten with its mother. But then she shifted herself, and I wasn't staring at a leopard anymore, but a woman. My mouth opened in surprise, shaking my head free from all thoughts that started blocking my brain. She told me her name, Kaliah, and my smile grew. I knew her name which would make things a little bit easier now.

"Kaliah, its nice to meet you." I speak, listening as she speaks a little more. "My name is Aliya." I introduced myself, unable to stop my hand from pushing her hair behind her ear and staying close. "Kill you? For what, coming into my home?" I shake my head again, not wanting to hear that I should have been her killer. "I can't kill someone thats of kin. Your a shifter and a leopard, a big cat. Just like I am a shifter and a cougar. Big cats in the cat family." I speak animatedly, remembering that she may not be used to humans so I toned my enthusiasm and actions down. "Wait, so I could like, command you and you'd do it?" I ask, eyebrows arching in confusion. A leader was judged on how he treated his equals and others, besides, I didn't want to be a leader. Yet somehow she had it in her head that I was. Okay I did say but I also said I didn't want to.

A purring sound came from my throat as I look deep within her eyes again, using my fingers to tilt her head upwards to look at me. "A leader takes care of their kin." I lowered my own head, underneath her neck and nuzzle into her, which was hard since she was holding her knees to her chest so I had to move a little to be able to do it. Fingers gripped at her shoulder blade, nails slightly digging as I held onto her, giving her a one armed hug. Her skin felt warm and it reminded me of home, with my parents. "If I am the leader, I'm going to take care of you. At least until you are of the right mindset to take care of yourself." It was like when a cat was hurt, you look after them until they were better. "Your family." I mewl, in human form it didn't sound quite right but the notion was there. I didn't want her to leave, I wanted her to stay.

"And if I am a leader, then I ask that you don't bow to me. We are equals, no more, no less. Although since I know these parts, I do ask if I say run or hide, you do so." My heart squirmed as I thought about my parents, wondering if they were okay. I hoped so, I didn't want them to do. Besides, they would take Kaliah in as their own too! "Are you hungry?" I ask, knowing I could shift and taken down a deer that was eating grass on the other side of the river bank, hidden by bushes. I knew these parts too well without anything escaping my notice. And if Kaliah was hungry, I wasn't going to let her starve. We were friends and now, pack mates. Didn't matter if she was a leopard and I was a cougar. Besides, to leave her know when she was obviously so broken, I would be putting shame upon my family and abandoning who I was.

"I can hunt." I offered, still clinging onto her, not wanting to let go just yet. It mattered not that she was older and our roles should be reversed, it mattered that she could count on a friend to help her through. Again I purr, a low sound errupting from my chest as I held onto Kaliah, trusting her with everything in my body. If she meant harm I would have seen it already. Right now I needed to be the friend and leader she would need to help her get through this. If I was her, I would want help, and besides, if I didn't then karma would come and kick me in the tail for it. Then I would be Aliya, the werecougar, but something mean, almost like a human. They were mean and nasty and cruel, and I promised myself I would never be like them. All I had to do was to listen to my instincts, and trust in myself. Then I would know what to do and how to help Kaliah. If I just listen.

[Kaliah]

"Aliya." I nodded as I spoke her name, staying tucked in a ball, squeezing my knees against my chest. As she moved my hair, a simple gesture, I fought not to flinch away. The contact felt good, something I was devoid of for far too long. Weres need the comfort of another, touch is extremely important to us. Having gone so long without any kind of physical contact, other than with my prey, it felt alien. Yet some part of me knew it was instinctual, like hunting. That part sighed within me, a sliver of peace peeking out of my soul. I stared at her as she spoke, mesmerized by her manner of speech, her subtle movements. She seemed so comfortable in her human skin. I had that once, long ago.

My brows knitted together in confusion. "You would not see us as rivals? Both predators in the same territory, feline or otherwise. Family?" I chewed on my bottom lip as I mulled this over. I'd shyed away from other shifters after Zaharra's death, and finally approaching one, I was sure my death was imminent. I had assumed wrongly. Her brows twisted in confusion as well as she asked if I would comply to whatever she commanded. I met her gaze evenly, no expression on my face. "Yes." I quickly cast my eyes down again. A rumbling purr came from Aliya as she righted my face once more, looked me in the eye, and nuzzled into me. She'd repeated the word again, family. My heart sped upon that word, latching onto it with vague familiarity. I had a family, my pard, before the humans took them all, shot me and I'd found Zaharra.

I relaxed my posture, leaning into Aliya, uncurling my arms from around myself. I let my hand find her hair, rubbing the soft strands between my fingers. She would take care of me, this gentle, kind cougar. I nodded at her words. I would do as she asked, if she told me to hide or run, I would, without question. As for being equals, I'd work on that. I stayed leaning against her, slowly becoming more comfortable, the tension easing from me. "Hunt? I can hunt. I should bring you food." It was customary, when I had been with Zaharra, that I'd often go fetch food for the both of us. Perhaps I could change that, however, unless I was too weak to hunt, or injured, I couldn't let a dominant bring me prey. Her purring started up again, giving me the courage I seemed to lack in order to voice my thoughts. "Can we...would it be alright, I mean...if we hunted together?" I pressed myself closer to her, rubbing my cheek along her arm, my own purr beginning soft and low in my chest.

[Aliya]

Rivals? Why would I think of her as a rival, that perked up curiosity, which I fought hard to quell the thought. I instantly shook my head at her words, speaking softly. "No, not rivals. You didn't hurt me when you entered my territory, hence, no rivals." I doubt I make much sense, but to me I made perfect sense. "We are both predators, but theres enough prey to last." I know that for a fact, since this was pretty much my home so I had spent many days wandering, learning the land. I couldn't eat all the prey in this land, and eating a meal did get lonely, so another one to be near me would make me pretty happy. One thing I disliked was being alone for too long. As a werecougar, I grew up with family, we stuck with each other, travelled, roamed, anything. But we stayed together. So being alone was different, nights were colder, dreams turned into nightmares. But no longer, I had a friend! A friend who was broken from the past, but that didn't matter. She was a friend now, family, and that alone made my heart soar, and the nights and dreams could only get better.

I nod as she tells me she can hunt, then I wanted to snarl at her next words. No, she shouldn't. A family hunted together, they didn't let one go off alone, unless it they had too. Besides, I wasn't about to let her go out of my sights in case something happened. Call me paranoid, but she was my protection now. Friend, family, whatever. I was dubbed the leader because of her, so I would do what I could to keep her safe. And that meant no hunting by herself unless she showed me she was capable of going by herself. I didn't think she was weak, no, more than she needed a friend by her side. Judging from her actions, she had been alone, like I had been, but for much longer. To send her out on her own again wouldn't be very kind of me, so I would refuse. Yet I should never have worried, for her next words made me smile both inside and out. A smile that was plastered to my lips and I guessed I looked like an idiot.

"Of course we can hunt together. No need to ask." I kept hugging her before letting go, looking at her deep within her eyes. My arms were still around her body, but I had let go enough to move a little bit more. Hearing her own purr made me smile more, my own purr followed suit until both of our purrs were in unison. Cats normally purred when they were content and happy, and in that case, it proved true right now. I was content, and happy, and I really hoped Kaliah was happy too.

[Kaliah]

I rubbed against Aliya one more time, then separated myself from her. I admit, I was reluctant to leave her embrace, the first contact I'd had in a few years. But I wasn't about to shift while she held me. I moved only a couple paces away, crawling on all fours. I closed my eyes and willed myself to change, to become the leopard. Bones snapped as my joints popped out of place, reformed, then jammed themselves back into the sockets. My skin rippled as flesh changed to spotted fur. My ears moved toward the top of my skull as my face reshaped itself into that of a feline. I felt my tail flicking behind me as my paws dug into the dirt. I shivered, the last feelings of the change fading as I licked my jaws and padded back to Aliya. Again I rubbed against her, my purring resumed, turning a circle around her as I scented her by rubbing my cheek along her arms and back. I pressed my head into her chest, a soft, subtle head-butt, before nuzzling her neck, then licking her chin. Each motion was a sign of devotion to her, a symbol of my growing affection.

I knew now that if anything happened to Aliya, I'd be lost once more. Instead of being alone, I'd chose death. I was tired of being alone. Aliya seemed to understand, and she was so caring. My tail whipped behind me, showing my eagerness to hunt with Aliya. Hunting together, for shifters, was a way of bonding. You didn't share your food unless they were family. Aliya would be my pard now. I'd found some small piece of happiness that I'd thought was lost to me forever. I owed Aliya my allegiance and much more. I mewed at her, then moved away so she could shift as well.

While I waited for Aliya, the excitement of the hunt built in me. I crouched down, hunching low, my rear end up in the air, tail flicking. I wiggled my hindquarters, imagined a rabbit sitting a few strides in front of me, and pounced. I spun in a circle as I landed, then flopped down on my side and rolled. It felt right to be in this form, I was much more comfortable like this than I was as a human. I danced nervously around Aliya as she changed, eager to begin the hunt. This was her territory, so I'd follow. Though I could smell prey in several directions, from small mammals to larger deer and elk, I would hunt only what and where she said I could. When she sat before me in her cougar form I moved back to her, licking her face and ears before settling in at her side. With a small noise in my chest, I let her know that I was ready when she was.

[Aliya]

Kaliah rubbed against me before leaving my arms to shift. That was fine, and when she was back into her leopard form, I smiled softly. This was the form I had first seen her in, and it was a fine form indeed. Golden tan fur, with black spots all over her body, it made my cougar form look scruffy compard to her beautiful leopard. Then she was back, rubbing against me, pressing her head into my chest as I reached up and scratched behind her ears, feeling the soft fur once again. Then it was a nuzzle, and a lick, and I grinned, hugging her feline form and rubbing her chin. She held more affection now, and that was good. I promised myself, as I rubbed her fur with my fingers, that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. Even now I couldn't imagine life without Kaliah, although I must admit I got attached way to quickly. But this was fast, even for my standards, and I knew what it was. Kinship, down to its most finest detail. I wasn't in love with her, but she was under my rule, I was her leader. Gosh, just thinking about that made things seem surreal.

When she mewed and moved away, I sat upon my legs, my hands touching the ground as I shifted myself. White fur on my underbelly, with light brown, dark brown, and even some gray coloring, fur spread out on the rest of my body. My ears rounded more, taking their place on top of my head which had reshaped itself. Light golden/yellow eyes peered around, my body muscles taught and ready to spring and run for the hunt. Tail flicked out, a sign of me being ready and eager to hunt with a fellow feline. I had never seen anyone else, apart from cougars, hunt before so this would be a new experience. One I was eager to let begin. I watched through my change as she moved about, putting a smile on my features. Then a shock as I feel a tongue along my cheek and ears before I realized it was Kaliah. One glance, and hearing the noise, I knew she was ready, just as I was. It was time to hunt!

Nuzzling into her, I start walking away from the river. The forest here on this side held a few deer, wild deer which tasted amazing. Sometimes they were hard to catch, it depended on the energy levels of both parties. But with another feline with me, I was assured we would catch one, if not two. With liquid like movements, I move fast, peeking my head through the trees. It was clear, so I move forwards, glancing backwards to see if Kaliah was following. Satisfied she was, I am quiet upon my paws, so I didn't alert the deer to their approaching death.

Sure enough, the next time I poked my head though a bush, I spot a herd of deer. Looking back at Kaliah, I try and convey the plan with body actions. We would each run, I would run right, she would run left, towards the male deer with a broken horn. I hoped Kaliah had gotten the message, otherwise we would need to improvise. That was okay though, I was good at improvisation.

[Kaliah]

Aliya was a beautiful cougar, the first I'd ever seen of her kind. I felt at home in my skin once again, now that I'd shifted back to my leopard form. I purred again when she nuzzled into me and followed her away from the river bank. She moved fast, a sure sign she knew the land well. I peered through the trees, scenting deer in the distance. I nodded once as Aliya turned back, making sure I was still with her. We moved silently, nearing the herd. When she had the herd of deer in her sights, she turned to me again, signalling her plan. Her body language was easy enough to understand. She gestured toward a large male who's antlers were broken, nearly half his rack missing on one side. She wanted me to run left, while she took right. I nodded my understanding and moved up beside her.

Our crouch was almost identical, our hind ends raised, tails up in the air as we readied to spring. On Aliya's signal we burst from the bushes, alarming the herd. They ran, scattered, but we paid them no mind, we had our target. I flanked the buck on his left as Aliya cornered him from the right. The other deer had fled, scared as they ran for cover, away from the two predators in their midst. The buck glanced from side to side, seeing no escape but to push forward. His eye glinted, wide with fear. I swiped a paw at his back leg, aiming for the tendon that ran just above his hoof. Blood spurted from the wound, yet the buck pushed on, limping when he tried to put his weight on that leg.

I met Aliya's eyes for a moment, and knew the time was right. I charged the leg I'd injured, locking my jaws around muscle and bone. As I pressed my teeth together, I heard bone crunch as the deer shrieked and fell to the earth. I left the leg for his lower stomach, tearing with teeth and claw at his tender hide. Entrails spilled under me as I buried my face into the bloodied cavity. I pulled out his liver, jerking my head to yank it free. Keeping it tenderly locked in my teeth, I dropped it before Aliya, licking my jaws before nuzzling into her. There was plenty here for the both of us, I was simply so used to feeding my mistress the choice cuts that I'd given Aliya the liver. Leaving her to it, and whatever other parts of the deer she craved, I chewed at the meat that rested under his hide, ripping great chunks out with my teeth before swallowing them whole.