I started this chapter two weeks ago. I haven't had much ambition to work on it, and I've been sick for the past week. I'm not sure if the lack of ambition is just because I feel like shit, or if because staying too long with the pack of actually boring me. All I want to do is get to Storm's arc, but I have to get all this bullshit out of the way, first.
Oh, well.
Not the best chapter, but at least it's something.
When Bravo and Winter finally returned, skulking back into the light from the shadowed foliage, Blue could tell something was wrong. Something was not okay. Because Winter smelled like Bravo, and Bravo smelled like Winter.
And worst of all-the evidence that was seeping between Winter's legs was damnable.
The pair either did not care about being discovered in the middle of their tryst-or, rather, the aftermath, or perhaps did not anticipate their packmates to return so early from their hunt. Or, a third option, that they were simply comfortable with their romance, and simply did not care if Blue discovered the aftermath of their shared union.
But Blue most certainly cared.
Because Bravo was her mate.
Her male.
Not Winter's.
Because Winter was not the dominant female.
Winter did not get to chose her mate.
Only Blue got to chose her mate.
And Blue chose Bravo.
No one else could have Bravo except Blue. It did not even matter than the green scaled male and white female had a clear sexual history, even prior to Blue becoming a part of the pack. The grey scaled sister did not care about that.
All she cared about was the feelings from before-the negative feelings of jealously, envy, and betrayal-were returning. Swelling and welling in the very pit of her breast, chest becoming thick and heavy-filling with pressure and rage that made it difficult to breathe. Blue's chest heaved in deep, raging breaths, nares flaring and spewing forth mucus, scaled lips upturning and peeling back to reveal serrated teeth, shimmering and displaying their piercing contour under a film of saliva. Her muscles tensed and became rigged, breath heated and heart pumping, beating in fury to the demands of her body, baying for blood to be drawn.
The blue stripped sister's amber eyes focused onto Winter, pupils dilating and rimming red with wrath. Winter and Bravo noticed the tense body posture of the grey female.
They stared, golden and blue eyes glued upon the seething, simmering female.
Tense.
The air pregnant.
Time seemed to still, and each raptor anticipated what would come next.
With a scream tearing from her throat, Blue lunged towards the white sister upon powerful, muscular legs in one feline leap, talons poised to reap. Faster than Winter could react, Blue was upon her. In a flurry of talon and teeth, the grey and white females thrashed and rolled upon the ground, grunting and snarling in a writhing and twisting in a ball of scales.
Storm's throat puffed in irritation and rage, a hiss riveting from his throat. The grey male barked and snapped his jaws, taloned feet skittering around the scuffling females and their thrashing tails. Storm's powerful, muscular forearms then extended, clawed hands gripping upon the scales of Blue, running along the white and blue stripes upon her body. Trying to get a grip upon her thrashing form, and get her off of his sister.
The nasally, hawk like scream of Bravo signaled the green male with golden accents into action.
Before Storm realized it, he had the breath knocked out of his lungs in a sudden, strangled rasp as he hit the ground. Bravo's jaws were swift to clamp upon the other male's own. Storm's body twisted and struggled, feeling the teeth of the other male pierce his scales and threaten to crush his jaw, the breath of Bravo heated and swift.
The sound of the dueling males caught the attention of the females, Blue and Winter ceasing their squabble.
Upon seeing her brother being attacked by Bravo-mate or no-Storm was her brother.
And no one attacked her brother.
Even if the attacker was her mate.
Winter's throat puffed in rage, and her muscles shot into action, rising from the ground and vaulting into the air-and onto Bravo. Bravo grunted as he was knocked off of Storm, and fell to the ground. White and green scales rolled along in a scuffle, Winter grunting as she was slammed back against the rough bark of a tree.
Bravo's maw opened wide to release a nasally scream, shaking himself to get his bearings. His nares flared, and saliva welled in his maw, pupils dilated. His gutting claws were animated, and at the ready, posture ridged and wooden. Tense.
The green male looked upon Winter, debating as he breathed, deep and heavy.
He did not realize Storm's approach from the side until it was too late.
And it came in the form of teeth crushing his throat.
If there is a reviewer named 'Exactly' asking about the origins of my username-No, I have never read or even heard of Hardy Boys. Joel Cox Riley is the name of an original character I made, but never use because he's so offensive. A parody version of him is used in an old work titled 'No Remorse Holds No Recourse', however.
But, no, Bravo didn't die (probably...maybe).
Okay, maybe.
This is why non functioning packs die in the wild. This pack is a prime example.
Thank you for reading this crappy chapter. Originally it was going to be this chapter, then the next would be Storm's chapter, but I just don't feel up to it, yet. It almost feels like writing the pack feels more like a chore. So that's probably why I keep fracturing the chapters because I find them to be-'Meh'.
Either way!
Stay safe!