Panther

Luca POV:

After a lazy day, I was out on my usual hunt and luck really seemed to favor me today as I spotted half a dozen of wolves which would be more than enough for me to eat and even bring back for my village.

It was not every day that one would spot so many preys to hunt in one place.

Killing them was easy and of course, bloody as usual. I was drenched completely after the slaughter, but all the blood disappeared inro my pitch black fur.

The around seemed different from usual. There was a sweet scent in this area. Sweet enough to overpower the smell of blood on me.

I lazed around in that area after killing those little wolves being in no rush to return to my cave and started eating them leisurely.

Even with the bloody scent surrounding me, I could smell a sweet scent somewhere nearby. It was faint and kept me on edge but I was too lazy to follow it.

I could hear small footsteps, probably of a female since a male's footstep would not be so light and delicate.

I continue my meal looking at the direction of the footsteps, my view blocked by the bush ahead.

Soon it starts moving and a small face peeks out.

The female looks scared seeking the blood around.

'What is a female doing out in the forest? Don't her males know it is dangerous!'

Soon, her eyes reach my majestic form. I break the wolf in my mouth into two parts and sultrily lick my paw.

I stare at the petite female and watch her face get filled with horror. I look at her in confusion.

'Why's she scared?'

She takes a step back. Followed by another. And then soon she sprints off.

I slowly get up and shake my fur before following after her.

I see her foot get trapped in the spiky plant and watch her fall. I sprint faster and stay a few feet away as I see her face filled with fear.

I can smell her blood in the air and finally know the cause of the sweet scent in the air here.

'She is hurting herself.'

I tilt my head. Taking a step closer, I see her struggle harder making the spiky plant dig deeper.

After a short contemplation, I walk over break the spiky plant before pushing it away as gently as possible so as to not hurt her more than she already is.

I see her look at me with her teary, moist eyes and peek my tongue out and lick her blood off her leg.

I transform into my beastman form so that I can ask her to allow me to take her to a healer in my village.

She looks shocked when I shift and freezes. She stops crying and looks at me blankly, as if she could not believe what just happened.

'Even I don't know what happened that she cannot believe.'

She looks so cute with a red face, but it saddens me to see her crying. If I find her males, I would make sure they learn how to treat a delicate female. Especially one as beautiful as her. And pitiful.

I lean closer and poke the little female's nose with mine. It startles her and she leans her face back and looks at me pitifully, blinking her eyes slowly.

Her hand stretches out and gently touches my cheek, making her flinch.

She gulps, "Wh- who are you?"

Her voice is so soft and pleasant to hear. I think I could listen to it my entire life.

I blink, 'what the hell am I thinking?!' I mentally scold myself.

"I am Luca, little female. Where are your males and why are you wandering in the forest alone?"

"Luca…" She whispers my name in a very low voice which makes me shiver in delight.

She looks into my eyes, "I am lost. I don't know how to…"

She looks confused and keeps looking at me fearfully but curiously, "What are you?"

"Little female, I am a panther beastman called Luca. My village is close by. Can you allow me to carry you to the healer to tend to your wounds?"

She looks down at her hands and leg, where there visible bleeding and slowly nods her head.

I stand up and give her my hand. She looks at the fur wrapped around my waist quizzically before she takes me hand.

I pull her up and she hisses in pain from her cuts and injuries. I notice her foreign furs that she is wearing but say nothing as getting her treated is more important lest she dies from blood loss.

I shift back into my majestic form and lower myself for her to climb on.

She looks at me in shock again and backs away as tears fill her eyes once more. I look at her in confusion and was going to shift back when she took a step towards me and slowly grabbed my fur and climbed on while hissing.

I slowly make my way to the village as I can feel the little female shake on my back.

Many of my fellow village beastmen give the little female of my back curious and lovestruck looks making me growl.

I feel my little female stiffen and grip my fur harder which makes my growls stop and I just quietly glare at them as I make my way to the healer's cave.

I lower my back to the ground and wait for her to climb off me before shifting into my beastman form. I cover my waist with my fur and hurriedly knock on the healer's cave before gently holding the shaking little female's small and soft hands in my large ones.

"She's bleeding" I state when the door opens, and Mathew looks at us.

"Come in" He ushers us inside and shuts the door behind us. I gently sit her on some hay and kneel in front of her, looking at her with gentle eyes.