Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 176 – A thing I like I love.
Raptor's POV, 6:00am, Alaska.
Sitting on the edge of the bed I looked over my shoulder to see Cody still asleep. Looking to my phone I saw it was really early. I managed to rest but it was different. I can't explain it. Like someone hit my pause button. Wiping my eyes I looked to my left to see Molly with her head up and staring at me. With a smile coming to my face I asked.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Braf!" She replied as I nodded my head once to look back to the ground under my feet. With my bag there I wondered what to do now that I was up. I'm sure Zeta and Pepper were knocked out if they managed to get to bed and god knows how Blitz is right now. Judging by how he was on the plane I'm sure I won't be seeing him up for at least a few more hours. Then I thought about Cody. This kid didn't slit my throat so I guess that makes him trustworthy enough to have around.
"Braf!"
Looking back to my left side Molly stood up to approach my leg. I sat here as she began to bang her head into the side of my arm. As I continued to smile, I began to really notice the difference some food these passed few days had done her. She was getting her figure back and still managed to maintain her puppy side through it all. Beginning to pet her head, I came up with an idea. Looking to the good girl I asked with a soft voice.
"You wana go outside for a bit with me? Check out this snow first hand?"
"Braf!" She replied as I chuckled and urged back.
"Ok then. Let me just get this on."
Molly stepped off my leg to let me stand up. Reaching down for my bag, I grabbed onto my Glock and holster. Placing the weapon in it's spot right alongside my combat knife, I pulled out the first piece to my armor. I stopped to stare at it and letting out a small breath I began to put it on piece by piece. And as I did I began to notice the small difference Zeta must have made. It was sleek and for some reason it felt reasonably lighter. Almost like my old vest. Which was laying right next to my bag. Leaving it there as I was soon geared up, I reached over Molly to grab my cloak. Once around my body I got on my boots and looked back to my girl to ask.
"Ready?"
"Braf!"
Jumping on my side, I waited till she was in position on my shoulder and stood up off the bed once more. I took one last look at Cody and then unlocked the door to get going. If I was smart I would wake him up. But fuck it. If he's worth twenty million he'll find me when he decides to wake up.
Exiting out into the main hallway to see no one around, I began the hike to the main room. As I entered Roman was sitting there in one of the chairs. His body turned to greet me with a lax tone.
"Up early huh? Sleep at all?"
Nodding as I got in the seat next to him I replied.
"Yeah. Won't lie to you. A bed like that could make me paralyzed."
"Comfortable yeah? Better be." He replied as he reached over to pet Molly who let him without much fight. Curious enough he asked.
"What's her name?"
"Molly." I stated back as he got his pets in to pull back and reply.
"She's adorable. Where'd you get her?"
"Long story." I said back as I looked behind him towards the one of many windows. Roman on the other hand stood up to wonder.
"You hungry? The servants got breakfast ready. Good stuff I promise."
Letting out a small chuckle as I stood up alongside him I replied.
"I'm good. I had other things in mind for the morning."
"Like?" He then asked as I replied with a question of my own.
"How large is the area you guys and those mercs keep covered outside? A few miles?"
"It's a mountain commander."
"I'm serious." I said back as he then stated.
"Twenty clicks. In all directions around the mountain. Why?"
Lifting my hand up to pet Molly on the head I replied.
"I wanted to go for a bit of a hike. Bought time I started to train her."
"She's not trained? Could have fooled me commander."
Keeping my smile I replied.
"No that's all natural. But she's a coyote if you couldn't tell. So I'm willing to bet she's a good tracker."
Catching on Roman then said back.
"Ahhhh I got ya. I mean yeah your free to wonder the estate if you want. The guards won't bother you."
Shaking my head I quickly said back to the man.
"I want to train her. Not play the sit and stay game Roman."
The blue furred cat then changed his soft tone to one full of concern as he replied.
"I...I mean we can arrange for you to go out deeper sir, but I have no men patrolling the mountain. So out beyond the perimeter is a free for all. You can get lost if you go too far and this time of year the snow gets heavy. There is already a good ten inches out there alone in some spots."
"I can manage." I told him as he then asked.
"Can I at least send a team with you?"
"Why? So they can hold my hand?"
The cat grew embarrassed as I then said to him with a confident voice.
"I'm a soldier Roman. I know what I am doing by this age. Just point me in a decent direction to get started and I'll be back within an hour or so. I'm not going far. Just enough to try and find something she can sniff."
"There are plenty of deer and rabbits around commander."
"What?" I asked back in confusion as he widened his eyes to reply.
"Oh shit that's right. You probably never seen one of those living in the middle east all your life. Rabbits are small game. No natural defenses so they tend to hide and run if spotted. Easy for a dog like her to catch. A deer is a bigger piece of game out here. Alongside elk they are four legged and pretty much our size in height and weights. Though depending on the gender you might have one heavier then you out there waiting. Their not dangerous unless put in a corner and they tend to run on first sight. All an all; easy game to chase after."
I was lost to what he was saying but I could put it together. Nodding my head I then asked.
"Anything dangerous?"
Scratching his head he replied.
"Just bears. But they're probably all hibernating this time of year. Maybe wolves if you go too far out. They tend to stay near the east side of the mountain but I'd still keep an eye out. A pack can be...?"
Quickly stepping to his side to head for the door I replied.
"I know all about what a pack of wolves can do to a man. If it makes you feel any better I'm armed if something happens. But like I said I'll be an hour or so."
"What do I tell the others if they wake up?" Roman then wondered as I reached the main door to reply.
"I'll be back before that even happens Roman. I know those people. They will be asleep for at least another two hours minimum. Just relax."
"Yes sir." He replied as I opened the door to be greeted by the cold air. My eyes had to adjust cause the light coming off the white snow was blinding almost as I stepped outside and into for the second time in my life. Taking a few steps forward I approached the main gate to be stopped by a set of GenSec mercs. The pair of humans both looked to me as I stated with a heavier voice.
"I'm going out there for an hour. Is that cool with you guys?"
"Hunting?" One asked as he looked to Molly who was still on my shoulder.
Smiling I replied.
"Gonna try."
That's all it took for this man to hand me his rifle. I widened my eyes as he handed me it by the sling to state.
"Car-4 rifle. New and ready to go. You'll need this if you find something. And here."
Handing me an extra clip from his jacket he urged.
"Never know."
"Thank you." I replied as I wrapped the gun over my shoulder. With the rifle soon resting along my chest I took a step forward and out the front gate.
"Bring back something good if you can. Cooks need all they can get." The guard who handed me his gun stated as I nodded my head and began to walk off towards the woods. Molly kept on my side as the walk I knew was going to be a bit. I wanted to get away from the estate a bit before trying anything. Soon finding myself in a small clearing I stopped in my tracks to reached for Molly.
"Alright girl. Let's get a feel for the environment first."
"Braf!"
Placing her down in the snow I watched as she was able to run through it pretty easily. It wasn't too deep and as she was clearly excited by the new surface I asked.
"Feel good?"
"Braf! Bra...!?"
My eyes widened when all the sudden her front feet went through this patch of snow she just reached at full speed. Her whole head went right with her as I stopped what I was doing to just laugh. It didn't take long for her to start wiggling to try and get free. And once she was back on her own four legs I asked.
"You good?"
"Braf!" She replied as she approached the same spot she went in. This time she took her time sensing it was deeper and I watched with care as she began to walk through it without going through. Accomplishing a problem like a trooper I shouted.
"Good girl Molly! Come here!"
Turning back around she came to my legs and I began to pet her head and back. Looking back up I knew tracking was going to be easy. I could feel just about everything around us and I knew where to go, but I wanted her to try it first. So starting off in one direction I ordered the small dog who kept next to my right leg as we walked.
"Start using that nose of yours girl. Can you smell anything?" I asked as I knew we were on the right track. I remained still as she began to sniff the snow. Almost half her face got buried as she did it. And after a second she began to follow what I assumed to be a trail. I was basing our direction on energy as she followed off scent. And soon I came to the conclusion that she was in perfect working order. Cause in no less then a few minutes I spotted what must have been a rabbit. This little gray ball of fur with two long ears aimed up at the sky as it was bouncing around this set of thin trees. Molly quickly stopped to see it and looking over to me she waited as I knelt down quietly to think about the next move. I knew I had a rifle and I could just shoot it now since it had no idea we were hear at all, but that wouldn't leave me with good meat. A thing that small will get blown to bits with a rifle round. So looking back to Molly I whispered.
"You think you can get that thing?"
Her head looked right back to the rabbit and back to me as if questioning my own question. Almost confused even as I kept my hands away from the gun to whisper to her.
"I'll be right behind you. Okay? It's not dangerous. I promise."
Looking back to the rabbit I put my hand out in front of her to wait as it went back to hopping around a bit. Maybe fifty meters out or so I waited till it was once again stopped in place. Then moving my hand out from Molly's face I ordered with a still whisper like voice.
"Go."
It wasn't long before Molly took off. The rabbit must have had good hearing cause the second she started to run it turned it head our way and immediately started to book it in the opposite direction.
"Braf! Braf! Braf!"
Molly was barking her brains out as I started to run after them. Maybe twenty meters behind her I shouted.
"Quiet Molly! No barking! Just focus and catch it!"
I swear this dog was human at some point. Cause she stopped immediately and just picked up her feet to try and close the difference. Using all my speed to keep up we soon crossed over a knocked over tree and into another clearing. Molly at this point was getting right up on the rabbit and I watched with wide eyes as it jumped into a hole it must have made home in the ground. Molly stopped right above it as I soon reached her side to ask.
"You lose it?"
Sniffing the area around it Molly waited and I turned my head to the right. The rabbit was still running. And it was trying to sneak out. There had to be another hole in that direction and Molly must have figured it out too cause soon she flicked her head to the right and began to run. Then a second after the rabbit hopped out and ran as fast as it could. However in due time Molly got maybe an inch behind it. Then with all her small body could muster up she lunged and wrapped her teeth around it's neck. I smiled as she dragged it through the snow a foot more before pinning it there. Getting behind her I watched as the rabbit began to kick it's back legs. Molly just started to twist her neck to compensate for the sudden jerking. Then after a minute it shut it's eyes and died there. Molly knew she got it and released her grip as I knelt down to say.
"That's my girl. Good job baby. You got it first try."
"Braf!" She replied as I got a good look at the rabbit. This thing was small. I could probably eat this myself but that wasn't the point. I wanted her to catch it just so she knew she could. That way next time she won't hesitate when I give the order to go. Petting her head I then took my care to pick up the body. Holding it by the neck I questioned if we should keep going. That took maybe fifteenth minutes. I knew we could get another one cause the area around us was littered with life. No shortage of targets for Molly to try and get. But part of me wanted to go after something a little bigger. Maybe one of the deer Roman mentioned. But I knew that was a step up from things like rabbits. I'll roll the dice and see what happens. Looking down to Molly who was licking her mane I asked.
"You think you can find another one?"
Her eyes looked right to me and then back down to the ground. Starting to sniff she soon looked up to reply.
"Braf!"
Starting to walking to the north I followed her. She was on something's trail but god knows what. There were so many possibilities. From birds, more rabbits, maybe a deer, or a wolf if we were unlucky. But for now I let her lead the way. As we walked I took notice to the shear temperature around us. It was freezing and I knew it was getting colder the further up we traveled. Thank god I don't need to worry too much about freezing to death. But Molly was another concern. Can't have her dying on me if we're out here too long.
"Braf!"
Widening my eyes Molly began to run.
"Wait up!" I urged her as she must have ether seen what she was tracking or knew she was getting close.
Keeping a few meter back again I soon stopped to see her get behind a tree. In confusion I decided to wait as I soon found my eyes resting on another rabbit that was going through a bush just south of her.
Keeping down I watched as Molly waited for it to get closer. Then when it managed to reach the other side of the tree she jumped out to try and get it the same way she did the other. This time however the rabbit dodged out of the way and began to run east. Molly tumbled over some broken branches as she missed her attack, but immediately got up to run after it. Starting up behind them I followed as we soon were presented to another small clearing and a few large builders. The rocks looked connected to the mountain itself and Molly and the rabbit went right towards them at full speed. And as the rabbit soon found itself in a corner it tried to jump up towards the rock just feet away. But it slipped and came tumbling back down giving Molly more then enough time to wrap her face around it's neck. Letting out a deep breath I remained a few feet away as it slowly died like the last. Then as I got to her side I noticed she got a cut on the left side of her muzzle from what I assumed to be the fall she took. Placing my hand on it I focused and fixed it right back up as she managed to release the rabbit's neck. Wiping my hand in the snow to get her blood off, I began to refocus. Molly was panting but that was to be expected. Grabbing the other rabbit by the neck I stood up and took a look around as she caught her breath. All I could see was trees and rocks in all directions now as it was clear to me we were a good distance in the woods now. Fixing my cloak I asked Molly who soon was looking up at me for her next set of commands.
"You want to keep going?"
"Braf!" She replied as I smiled and looked back to my right as I felt something new just appear. My eyes caught the side of what appeared to be a much larger animal. Molly saw it too and too a step in front of me to get a better look. I knew it wasn't a wolf but so it had to be that deer or elk Roman mentioned. The thing was massive compared to the rabbit I held and I knew that thing as going to be a lot harder to take down. But Molly seemed ready to try and with that in mind I whispered.
"Go."
Molly wasted no time and began to prance over to where it was at. I slowly followed behind and within seconds of getting closer I could tell without a doubt that this thing was heavy. Had to be my size if not a few pounds under and without much thought Molly soon ran right at it. Grabbing my gun I readied myself for a shot as she soon found herself within feet of it's legs.
The deer had no time to react and with full presence Molly clamped right into one of the back legs. It let out this scream that sent shivers down my neck. But keeping calm I took aim and panicked when all the sudden it managed to get Molly off and start running. It was losing small amounts of blood and once recovered Molly went right after it. I just followed behind as it was clear this deer was screwed. Molly was just faster then it and in seconds she got right back into it's rear legs. The deer instantly struggled to keep moving and with the pain getting thick it tripped over it's front hooves and into the snow. Crouching down to aim my gun the deer managed to get up one last time and with Molly hanging on I pulled the trigger.
"BANG!"
The round went clean through the neck and without a second passing it fell to the left and didn''t move. Molly kept her grip however. Probably because she knew this thing was bigger then her and figured it would be harder to kill. So when I got back to her I placed my hand on the top of her nose to order.
"Let go."
She obeyed and smiling again I stated.
"Good girl. Now that's some real game to hunt. What you think?"
"Braf! Braf!"
Petting her head I looked back to the body as blood was painting the white snow red. Then all the sudden I panicked as I heard howling coming back from where we were with the second rabbit. Molly heard it too and turned right around as I knew what that noise was. I knew that howl in my dreams and god as my witness I sensed it had to be a pack. Five I think. Grabbing back onto my gun I whispered to Molly and myself.
"Guess someone's hunting us now. Not like we made it hard."
Molly kept calm and at the ready as I knew it had to be the blood trail we were leaving in our wake. And I could probably guess they were going to be here within the next few minutes. Cause they were moving slow but in the right direction. Standing back up I ordered Molly.
"Stay close by. We're going to get heading back before this gets ugly."
Walking right into my leg Molly and I began to move back towards the direction of the estate. We had to be at least three miles out but if we were quick that wouldn't matter. But with our distance getting better I began to feel something else. This time however it was much larger in energy then the deer was. Looking in the direction it was at I slowly took aim with my rifle and began to strafe right. Molly with me the whole time as I soon spotted something brown moving through the trees maybe a hundred meters out. Lowering my weapon I asked myself quietly.
"What is that?"
Then all the sudden shit changed cause the wolves behind us let out another loud howl and whatever that thing was out in the distance heard it and began to start jogging towards our direction.
"Holy shit that thing is big." I stated aloud as it was clear we couldn't stay here. It was fast for it's size and without a thing holding me back I ordered Molly.
"Stay with me Molly. We're getting out of here."
As we both went to move I panicked when all the sudden that lumbering beast began to full on sprint at us. It's eyes locked on to me as it must have seen us from where we were trying to escape. And with my body shifting stance I had no choice but to open fire.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The rounds hit this thing right in the chest. But it just kept running and soon released a heavy roar of it's own accord. Keeping my sights on it I began to move right as the distance between us soon was getting very dangerous.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
With three well placed rounds the beast tumbled over it's front legs and rolled forward. Taking my chance I reached down to pick up Molly and start running.
"Braf! Braf!" She screamed as it got back up to keep moving. The running was a tad slower now thanks to the wounds I gave it but it was still faster then me. Reaching a clearing with a couple of downed trees sprinkled about it, I took my care to hurdle over one and look back once again. The animal was still on our trail and as it entered the clearing I positioned myself to take more shots. Molly let out this panicked scream as I soon found out why. I wasn't paying any attention to the wolves cause all my focus was on this monster chasing us. And looking left I widened my eyes when five white and gray coated wolves could be seen sprinting out from the woods. All eyes on me and Molly as we soon found ourselves pinched.
mT Shadow.