Author's note: This chapter includes what happened right before Fang showed up, so more or less it's in Vanille's perspective for the time being.
The red-head screamed, as she threw her hands up and to catch the Silver Lobo's muzzle in both of her palms, pushing back as the large, clawed paw on her torso forced a few strangled sounds from her throat. It felt as if her midriff had been set to flame in three long gashes across her pale stomach, and she fought the tears that stung in the back of her grassy green eyes. The wolf resembling monster threw its neck side to side, in an attempt to rid its maw of her arms, and she held on, letting out a loud wail as long claws dug in slightly, sending white hot jolts of pain across her abdomen.
Vanille did all she could think of, slamming a clenched fist into the Lobo's eye and across its snout desperately, an arm wrapped around its muzzle as she attempted to daze it. Stumbling, the feral creature released her from underneath its paws, and with a throw of its neck threw the petite girl to the ground where she rolled, winding up on her back.
The Oerbian threw her head back and kicked, wriggling and folding into her side, curling in as if to hide her wounds, a groan broken up by sobs and gasps for breath passing lips white with pain and fear.
"Fa-ang…" She let out a chocked sob, her heart beating a panicked rhythm against the wall of her chest as she stared down, pressing her hands against her stomach in a desperate attempt to slow the blood that fell through her fingers, and began to color the grass around her. "No…" She gasped, swearing at herself.
It almost didn't seem real, as crimson bubbled through her fingers and coursed over her cream colored skin, the small Oerban fighting for air to breathe but unable to force it to her lungs. She didn't fight the tears that flowed freely down her face in rivers, her thoughts a mangled knot of fear and grief and panic and Fang.
Fang.
The one person who had stuck with her through everything.
Who hadn't been stolen by an early grave.
Who hadn't shoved or kicked or bullied, like her schoolmates.
Who had pulled her into tanned arms when she cried, patched her up when she fell, and had protected her so many times in the past.
The one person that she trusted with her life and, as she was realizing, her heart.
And the same one she had screamed at not even hours before.
She choked on tears as she hit the grass of the clearing, narrowly evading the lobo as she rolled to the side. Fang… 've got ta tell her that 'm sorry… She thought, her mouth tasting of iron, the edges of her vision growing darker as she climbed back to her feet.
She couldn't die.
Not yet.
Not with the single most important person in her life thinking she was hated.
Copper ringlets bounced as Vanille searched her surroundings blearily for some sort of refuge, her breath coming in short gasps.
The Pulsian saw it- a tree. Their tree, no more than five yards off and sturdy enough for her to hide in.
She gave it no further thought, sprinting towards her refuge. Her vision flashed with flecks of white and the gashes over her stomach screamed- but she wasn't fast enough.
With a low growl the lobo caught up, lifting a clawed limb and swiping her sideways, her form landing hard and bouncing to halt with the girl on her side.
The world stopped. Vanille's sight going black as she felt herself hit the ground a second time, her head popping back and against the hard earth as she felt her heart hollowly thump against her ribs. All she could hear was a high pitched whine, a screaming in her ears that was joined suddenly by a growl and the screaming of something… or someone else- Fang. Her heart skipped a beat, green eyes closing as she let out a soft whimper, trying to move in vain as her leadened body refused to budge. Her breath came in short gasps now, and the pain was slowly dulling.
It can't be the end.. She thought, grassy eyes wet with tears, blood wetting her hair where she lay on her side. I need ta tell her, ta tell her-
"V-Vanille?… Please… no," Her heart fluttered, as shaking hands touched her shoulder and moved over her forehead, pushing hair from her eyes which she fought to open.
"F-Fang…" It was a soft word that was cut off as her world was jostled, green eyes meeting their just as teary opposites as she was moved. Tears flowed again, and she tried to make out what the huntress was saying, unable to understand her words. She was warm, now. Those arms carrying her close, she was safe and she knotted a hand in Fang's sari, letting out a soft sound as she felt herself fall, though she hadn't moved an inch in her arms.
It was getting too late.
"I-I'm sorry," Vanille cried softly, leaning her head against Fang's chest, her heart laboring, "S-so sorry." She pulled in a rough gasp, memories flooding her. Vanille didn't want to leave her. She loved Fang, and all of their mischief. Late night star gazing and sparring, tickle fights, and those precious moments when they'd curl up on the couch, and she would be held as she fell asleep. "I-" She pulled in a jagged breath, fighting back the urge to rest, "I-I… I love you, Fang. O-okay?"
Darkness swallowed the red-haired Oerbian as the final word slipped past her lips, her body limp where it hung in her partner's arms.
Always...