CHAPTER EIGHT
Vincent looked at the hunters around him. The females all stayed behind the males, in a showing of submission but he wasn't fooled for a minute. They would try to herd Little One into a corner and show dominance over her. Females were odd. They fought to the death over a position of subservience. And they didn't appreciate Little One skipping the rites of passage. He stood in front of her protectively. A growl escaped his throat before he silenced it. He didn't need anyone to see him not being entirely in control. He didn't need additional challenges.
Little One stayed behind her mate. She had hoped the other females would show her respect because her mate was the strongest male within hundreds of miles. But she could see they did not. They viewed her as weak, unworthy. Had they always been this big? They looked enormous and so strong. She would not survive a fight with these females. She backed away. She wanted them to go. Go now. Fear. Fear fear fear. Anger. They needed to go. This was her mate's territory. Their territory was far away. Go go go now.
He sensed Little Ones panic and he knew the others did too. The females inched closer, eagerly. He let out a snarl, warning them to back off. They stood defiantly, trying to go around him. One darted around him, pursuing his mate. He turned to chase after the female threatening Little One and was abruptly slammed into. He jumped up. The other females mate was issuing a challenge. Vincent snarled. His opponent was small but stopping to fight would mean leaving Little One to fend for herself. He had no choice. He screamed and leapt at the other male.
Little One raced down the street as fast as she could a pack of females was on her heels and gaining on her quickly. Why were they so fast? Fear fear fear. Breathing was hard. Air harshly ripping out of her lungs in gasps. She was going to die. She didn't want to die. Fear fear terror. Didn't want to die. No no no.
Violet heard a chorus of screams and snarls and smiled. What were they doing now? She went to look outside and see what her hunters were up to. She gasped at what she saw. The small hunter was surrounded by a small group of hunters. They weren't being amiable small hunter was screaming in terror. She had never seen special infected turn on each other like this. Was food getting so scarce that they were cannibalizing each other? Where was Vincent? Surely he was going to protect her? Unless he was already eaten. She shook her head. She couldn't watch this. Only the strong survive.
Estelle started to whine quietly and Violet walked to her side. Estelle wasn't strong. She was helpless. But she had her to protect her. Because Violet loved her. Just like Vincent loved the small hunter outside. God damn animals. Absolute pain in the ass. She readied her pistols and strapped Estelle to her back. She threw open the sanctuary door and started firing.
After he was done with his opponent Vincent tore off looking for Little One. None of the others followed. He could smell her and he could smell blood. So much blood. Where was she? Was she dead? So much blood. She must be dead. He screamed angrily at the sky. His beautiful joyful mate. They had taken the beauty from his world.