The temperature had risen a few murderous degrees by the next day,
discouraging any activity amongst the pack. It was far too hot to do
anything but sweat and try to move as little as possible. D had found
himself a coveted space under a rare patch of shade. Leaning back against
the sheltering rock, he thought over yesterday's incident… Things would
have to change. D did not appreciate being mocked, especially when mating
season was so close at hand. He absolutely had to get his new body before
that time came. The females would no longer accept the ratty old skin that
hung around him. That kill was made long ago and only a fresh one would be
able to renew their interest in him. Not that there had been much in the
first place…
Another reason for the others to taunt him. He had never been popular with the females of the pack, mainly because, underneath the wild dog skin, they could still make out the strange scent of the hairless pink thing… None of them were attracted to that scent. Silently, D still wondered why his mother had taken him in when he was only a small hairless thing? He /must/ be a Wild Dog… A dog, trapped in the body of a man.
D toyed with his new weapon, fitting the pointed shell over his palm and slashing at the air. Did the hairless pink men bleed the same color? He wanted to test this theory and find out, for it wouldn't be much fun if the blood wasn't red. The color red excited him… It had to be red… He could try it on himself, but he was far too afraid. What if he bled a different color then that of his pack mates? They'd drive him away, just like all the other pink men who'd ventured into their territory. D lowered the shell and looked up at the sky, squinting in the blinding rays of the sun.
That's when they all heard it. Ears perked and growls bubbled in the throats of the others; their lethargy disappearing as soon as they realized that something was coming. The sound was a steady beat on the sand, something with four legs and tough feet. D recognized it at the same time Yasir did, and they were both the first to react. The intruder was a horse, hopefully alone. One horse would be easy to bring down, and it would be sure to feed the entire pack. D ran after Yasir, trying to keep up with the other's easy four-legged gait. He was handicapped by the fact that he ran on his knees, which had no toes to help dig into the ground and propel him forward. The shell was an extra burden as well, clenched precariously between his teeth by the horn. D fully intended to kill this horse himself, without Yasir's help. The stunt would be extremely impressive to the pack and extremely pleasurable for him all at the same time.
The horse was not alone, much to he and Yasir's dismay. The equine had a rider- a tall biped dressed in a long black cloak that covered his face and body. Yasir snarled as they approached. The rider dismounted and stared down at both wolf and boy, his gaze oddly chilling. D decided instantly that, whoever he was, he did not like this person.
"Look! It is your long lost father!" Yasir cackled in Dog tongue, "The pink thing has come to get rid of your stupid hide."
D's eyes flashed fire, his hand becoming a blur. All at once, the shell was in place, and this arm came down, the spike aimed at Yasir. A feral snarl of rage ripped from the boy's throat as he slashed the dog three times upon the flank. Yasir was too stunned to block any of his blows, yipping in pain and anger. The stranger watched with obvious amusement as D pulled back in triumph. The wounded dog was preparing for a counter attack, and might have well succeeded in snapping his teeth down around D's throat if the stranger had not spoken.
"Come."
Yasir hesitated at the sound of the deep voice, his mistrust returning for the intruder. D, on the other hand, was fascinated with the sound. He glanced at the red blood on the spike of his shell- Yasir's blood- and then up at the black-cloaked man. Time to test his theory. D jumped at the same time the man's hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm. Startled by the grip on his arm, D struggled in the air, dangling like a pup from its mother's mouth. The stranger laughed. His arm alone was strong enough to lift D off the ground, and the boy's wriggling was doing nothing to dislodge him. The man merely thrust D onto the back of his horse and remounted it.
"Your talents are wasted here. It is time for a new life."
D had no time to struggle before the needle of a syringe pierced the flesh of his neck. Once the substance was injected he felt instantly weak and exhausted. Flopped across the broad back of the stranger's horse, arms dangling helplessly, D was witness to a snickering Yasir before he blacked out.
Another reason for the others to taunt him. He had never been popular with the females of the pack, mainly because, underneath the wild dog skin, they could still make out the strange scent of the hairless pink thing… None of them were attracted to that scent. Silently, D still wondered why his mother had taken him in when he was only a small hairless thing? He /must/ be a Wild Dog… A dog, trapped in the body of a man.
D toyed with his new weapon, fitting the pointed shell over his palm and slashing at the air. Did the hairless pink men bleed the same color? He wanted to test this theory and find out, for it wouldn't be much fun if the blood wasn't red. The color red excited him… It had to be red… He could try it on himself, but he was far too afraid. What if he bled a different color then that of his pack mates? They'd drive him away, just like all the other pink men who'd ventured into their territory. D lowered the shell and looked up at the sky, squinting in the blinding rays of the sun.
That's when they all heard it. Ears perked and growls bubbled in the throats of the others; their lethargy disappearing as soon as they realized that something was coming. The sound was a steady beat on the sand, something with four legs and tough feet. D recognized it at the same time Yasir did, and they were both the first to react. The intruder was a horse, hopefully alone. One horse would be easy to bring down, and it would be sure to feed the entire pack. D ran after Yasir, trying to keep up with the other's easy four-legged gait. He was handicapped by the fact that he ran on his knees, which had no toes to help dig into the ground and propel him forward. The shell was an extra burden as well, clenched precariously between his teeth by the horn. D fully intended to kill this horse himself, without Yasir's help. The stunt would be extremely impressive to the pack and extremely pleasurable for him all at the same time.
The horse was not alone, much to he and Yasir's dismay. The equine had a rider- a tall biped dressed in a long black cloak that covered his face and body. Yasir snarled as they approached. The rider dismounted and stared down at both wolf and boy, his gaze oddly chilling. D decided instantly that, whoever he was, he did not like this person.
"Look! It is your long lost father!" Yasir cackled in Dog tongue, "The pink thing has come to get rid of your stupid hide."
D's eyes flashed fire, his hand becoming a blur. All at once, the shell was in place, and this arm came down, the spike aimed at Yasir. A feral snarl of rage ripped from the boy's throat as he slashed the dog three times upon the flank. Yasir was too stunned to block any of his blows, yipping in pain and anger. The stranger watched with obvious amusement as D pulled back in triumph. The wounded dog was preparing for a counter attack, and might have well succeeded in snapping his teeth down around D's throat if the stranger had not spoken.
"Come."
Yasir hesitated at the sound of the deep voice, his mistrust returning for the intruder. D, on the other hand, was fascinated with the sound. He glanced at the red blood on the spike of his shell- Yasir's blood- and then up at the black-cloaked man. Time to test his theory. D jumped at the same time the man's hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm. Startled by the grip on his arm, D struggled in the air, dangling like a pup from its mother's mouth. The stranger laughed. His arm alone was strong enough to lift D off the ground, and the boy's wriggling was doing nothing to dislodge him. The man merely thrust D onto the back of his horse and remounted it.
"Your talents are wasted here. It is time for a new life."
D had no time to struggle before the needle of a syringe pierced the flesh of his neck. Once the substance was injected he felt instantly weak and exhausted. Flopped across the broad back of the stranger's horse, arms dangling helplessly, D was witness to a snickering Yasir before he blacked out.