Hunted

When Nova woke, the dull ache in her side reminded her of the boar's tusks. She turned her head and saw the wound, now scabbed over, with crusted blood matting her fur. The pain had ebbed, but the sensation of filth clung to her. Her coat was streaked with blood—some hers, some not—and the stench of death surrounded her.

The sight made her stomach twist. She needed water. Cleaning herself wouldn't change what she had become, but it might help her feel less like an animal.

She rose on shaky legs, her wolf form still foreign and awkward to control. The scents of the forest filled her nose, but the one she needed most stood out: water, and it was close. She followed it instinctively, weaving through the trees and ignoring the occasional pang of pain in her side. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and soon she reached a stream, its clear surface reflecting the pale morning light.

Nova stepped into the shallow water, the cold biting against her paws. She knelt awkwardly, lowering her body to rinse the blood from her fur. It clung stubbornly, a reminder of the fight she had barely survived. Her golden eyes caught her reflection in the water—a massive wolf with fierce, glowing eyes and a coat that was marred with dirt and blood.

As she cleaned herself, the forest around her grew eerily quiet. The usual hum of birdsong and rustling leaves faded, replaced by the faintest sound of something approaching. Nova's ears twitched, and she lifted her head, her instincts sharpening. Something was wrong.

A low growl rippled from the shadows. Nova turned sharply, her body tense as her eyes scanned the dense trees. The scent hit her first: sharp and musky, and then she saw it, a mountain lion.

The large cat emerged from the underbrush, its eyes locking onto Nova. It was lean and powerful, its muscles rippling beneath its tawny coat. Nova snarled, her hackles rising as her body shifted into a defensive stance. She was injured, exhausted, and still unfamiliar with her wolf, but the mountain lion didn't care. All it saw was lunch—an easy opportunity.

The mountain lion lunged, its claws outstretched. Nova dodged clumsily, her injured side slowing her movements. She countered with a snap of her powerful jaws, narrowly missing the cat's leg. The fight was fast and brutal, a blur of teeth and claws. Nova's inexperience showed as the mountain lion scored deep gashes along her flank. Pain flared, but her adrenaline masked the worst of it.

This can't end here, she thought fiercely, her mind racing despite her exhaustion. But maybe this is what I deserve, she mused bitterly. For everything I've done—my parents, my life, the blood on my hands—maybe this is justice. Yet even as the thought crossed her mind, another part of her screamed in defiance. No. Not like this. If she could survive this, maybe—just maybe—she could figure out what she was meant to do. But right now, survival was all that mattered.

Desperation drove her. Just as she braced for another attack, a blur of dark fur leapt from the shadows, colliding with the mountain lion. A massive wolf, larger than Nova, tore into the cat with ferocious precision. The mountain lion yowled in pain and scrambled to escape, retreating into the forest with its tail between its legs. Nova staggered back, her legs giving out as her strength waned. She collapsed by the stream, her vision dimming as blood loss and exhaustion claimed her. The last thing she saw was the other wolf standing guard over her before everything went dark.