Hey everyone :D

I'm sorry for the long wait. But I really had a rough time the last couple of months. Trust me, you don't want to know about it.

But, whatever! I really hope this chapter was worth the wait! (If I still have some readers X'D)

Enjoy the chapter! ;D

Disclaimer: Left 4 Dead isn't mine, but my OCs are.

Chapter 13_Dark memories

It was quiet, dark but warm nonetheless and a flavorsome scent crawled up his nose every time he took a breath. The perfect conditions for a peaceful sleep during the hateful day.

But suddenly his deep slumber was rudely interrupted by a light weight jumping up and down on his back and a happy sounding squeaking.

Grumbling to himself the small hunter tried to ignore that small nuisance on his back – even though he knew out of experience that this was a futile task in itself.

It wasn't long before the little thing on his back stopped its jumping and instead crawled further up to his neck. A squeaky growl sounded right next to his ear, before a wet tongue started to lick his chin and cheek.

With a playful growl of his own the small hunter in the dark red hoodie finally opened his eyes and looked up at his little girl, who was giving him a toothy grin.

A quick glance out of a very small window on the other side of the hall told him that it wasn't quite night yet, even though it seemed like it was sundown outside. He couldn't stop the exhausted sigh that left his lips upon this discovery. Why did his pup had to wake up so early nearly every day?!

The small hunter was pulled out of his thoughts as something or rather someone started to stir in his arms. Purring softly he looked down at his mate, who was blinking sleepily up at him and their little girl.

The huntress looked really adorable when she wasn't fully awake yet. Cackling softly he bent down and licked her lips before he pressed his face into the curve of her neck whereupon he inhaled deeply.

His mate's scent was so sweet. In his opinion the huntress smelled really good. That was probably the reason why he started to refer to her as Flavor shortly after he met her the first time in his life. He didn't exactly know what the word really meant but he just knew that it was fitting for her.

The small hunter had only few seconds left to relish her scent, before Flavor gripped his shoulders in a surprisingly strong grip and pushed him swiftly down, so that he was lying on his back with his mate on top of him and his pup clinging to his chest.

Flavor grinned happily down at him. With a purr and a rather loud mewl she sat down on his stomach, before she picked their pup up and cradled the little girl in her arms, who made some delighted gurgling noises in exchange.

The cute family moment was interrupted by an annoyed sounding growl near by, which sounded more like a warning than anything else.

The small hunter turned his head slowly in the direction from where the sound came from only to spot his alpha staring at him and his family with his not existing eyes. Scarface snarled out of anger and slight disgust, before he turned away from the sight and started to wake up the rest of the pack members, who were scattered in the old warehouse and resting.

The hunter in the red hoodie frowned, while he tried to figure out why the bigger hunter was acting like he did. He would never understand his alpha. What was his damn problem anyway? One moment he was almost nice to him and seemed to care for the smaller hunter and the next moment he ws acting like the biggest bastard in the world. Come to think of it, Scarface was just nicer to him when Flavor wasn't around.

He was pulled out of his thoughts yet again when his mate let herself fall on top of him and huddled against his chest while still holding their little girl in her arms. Both his ladies were purring happily and obviously ignoring their alpha's bad mood.

He couldn't help the amused smile that stretched his lips and the warm, fluttery feeling that bubbled up in his stomach as he regarded his mate and his pup warmly. He really could call himself a lucky guy to have such beautiful ladies by his side. He wouldn't want to trade them for anything else in the world.

The small hunter just enjoyed the company of his family and the warmth and happiness that came with them, while he slung his arms around his mate's lithe body and closed his eyes briefly.

Not till a big shadow fell on them and a harsh growl sounded right next to him, was the hunter in the red hoodie reminded of the fact that they weren't alone and that they angry alpha still existed.

With a barely audible sigh he opened his eyes again only to look directly into Scarface's scarred and scowling face. What did he want now? Biting his bottom lip lightly to prevent himself from making any annoyed sounds he would probably regret right afterwards, he glanced behind the big beefy hunter. Some other big, muscular looking hunters and a few lean ones – who the small hunter recognized as the usual party for a hunt – were crouching right behind their alpha and watching the spectacle in front of them. It seemed like Scarface wanted to go out for a hunt and as usual the bigger hunter wanted him to go along.

The hunter in the red hoodie nodded slightly, before he sat up carefully and gripped Flavor's shoulders, who was now sitting in his lap and didn't look like she wanted to move any time soon. The small huntress was even glaring accusingly at their alpha for interrupting their precious cuddling time.

In any other situation the small hunter would have tought his mate's reaction to be cute, but in this instant it definitely wasn't. Not if the angry snarl on Scarface's lips and the quiet growl that quickly got louder by the second was anything to go by. Flavor wouldn't look cute anymore after their alpha would be done with her.

In order to prevent his mate from being brutally mauled by the bigger hunter he quickly licked Flavor's lips and gave her an reassuring smile, before he gripped her shoulders a little bit harder and pushed her off of his lap.

A displeased whine left the huntress lips and for a short moment the small hunter feared that she wouldn't give up that easily and would cause a scene. But fortunately she merely leaned forward again and licked his lips, while his little girl jumped out of her mother's arms and on his shoulders in order to huddle close into the curve of his neck.

The sweet temporary farewell from his family was cut short as Scarface growled in an impatient fashion and grabbed the smaller hunter's neck roughly, so he could drag him along and away from his family.

Flavor quickly snatched their pup from his shoulder as she watched them go and waved after the group of hunters, while a big pout was adorning her beautiful face.

Outside of the warehouse the small hunter noticed that the sun was barely visible on the horizon anymore. So it nearly was night time.

Holding back an annoyed growl he glanced at his alpha, who was still tightly holding his neck through the material of his hoodie like the bigger hunter was afraid he would go back to his mate the instant he would let go of the smaller one.

The hunter in the red hoodie really didn't like it to be manhandled like that – disregarding the fact that the hard grip on his neck was a little bit painful.

After a while – during that time Scarface was sniffing the air to decide which way to go first – he couldn't stop himself from squirming lightly out of discomfort. Not only got the grip on his neck more painful by the second but also the amused and scoffing stares of the other hunters around them were too humiliating for his liking. He really felt embarrased right now. He wouldn't be surprised if his alpha enjoyed his little suffering. Why couldn't the bigger hunter just leave him alone? What did he ever do to him? Nothing, he did absolutely nothing! At least nothing that he could remember.

Sometimes he really hated that sadistic bastard who was calling himself their alpha.

The moment Scarface made his mind up where to start with the hunt, he finally let go of the smaller hunter, who couldn't suppress a relieved sigh – which also sounded a little bit angry.

The hunter in the red hoodie didn't miss the sadistic smile on Scarface's lips, that was directed at him, before the big beefy hunter leaped on top of the rooftop of the warehouse and started to lead the small group of hunters to wherever his destination was.

With a deep growl out of pure frustration the small hunter only hesitated for a short second before he followed their alpha – hoping that the rest of the hunt would go more smoothly for him than the start of it.

By now it was completely dark and the middle of the night. No sun was visible anymore. Just like there was barely any light filtering through the thick treetops from the moon.

For hours they had searched the city for some prey in vain. They wouldn't find any survivors today. And now they were scattered all over the park of the city in hopes of finding some animal or some other prey that was remotely edible.

With a deep sigh the small hunter – perching on a thick branch high up in the treetops – looked around him and sniffed the air for the tenth time. He still couldn't pick up anything. He could just smell the usual stench of death, gore and dirt around him.

He had the feeling that they wouldn't have any luck tonight. Sometimes they just couldn't find any food no matter how hard or long they looked for it.

It wasn't like he never had to go without food for some days, but he still didn't like it. He didn't want to see his mate and especially his pup being hungry. But the way things were looking he didn't have much choice in the matter.

Anew he sighed deeply and shook his head slightly. He briefly wondered how his other pack mates were doing, before distant noise catched his attention. Curious he cocked his head and listened closely for the sound, whereupon he frowned thoughtfully. If he wasn't mistaken than it sounded like shrieks, a deep roar and some crashing sounds in the distance. It sounded like someone was screaming bloody murder.

Even though this shouldn't concern him his curiosity was sparked. He swiftly leaped from one branch to another, closer to where all the noise was coming from, until he reached the end of the treeline. He quickly climbed up the tree, so that he had a higher and better vantage point.

The moment he looked at the direction where the noise was coming from a strong wind blew in his direction and the scent it was carrying with it nearly caused the small hunter's heart to stop in horror. He would recognize that scent everywhere! Flavor! Flavor's blood! She was hurt!

The big cloud of smoke that was rising in the distance – where the warehouse they resided at the moment was located – didn't help neither to calm him down.

What happened to his mate and pup?! He was about to warn the others of what he found, when another scent in the air brought him to freeze up in pure terror. No… that couldn't be! That definitely was the stench of one of those big, hulky monsters with their little head between their beefy shoulders. That thing stood for death and destruction.

No, no, no, no, no! This wasn't happening! His family had to be okay! They weren't dead!

With a loud desperate sounding shriek the small hunter leaped from the tree and back towards the warehouse where he left his mate and pup. He didn't even wait for his other pack mates or his alpha to show up, so they could come along with him.

If there really was a tank – he once heard a survivor calling that monster a tank – then he could never hope to defeat that mountain of muscles all by himself. Even with a group, including their strongest pack members, it was a hard and sometimes a nearly impossible feat to accomplish. But even so he knew that, the small hunter just couldn't wait for his pack mates.

The only thing on his mind was the wellbeing of his mate and pup. They had to be alright!

It wasn't long until he arrived at his destination. And there the tank was. Standing in the middle of all the rubble of the partly destroyed wall of the warehouse.

Fleetingly he noticed some hunters – members of his pack – scattered about the place. As far as he could tell just a few were dead, some were hurt but most of them seemed to be well and kicking. The healthy ones were even trying to drag their hurt pack mates further away from the danger without alerting the tank in the process.

But the small hunter's main focus was on the destroyed warehouse from which he could smell the strong scent of blood. Flavor's blood… Was she hurt? She had to be hurt. She couldn't be dead!

Trembling out of fear and distress he quickly crawled towards the warehouse. He pressed himself as close to the ground as he could while he tried to be as silent as possible. The last thing he wanted was to attract the attention of that beast, who seemed to be in some kind of trance for the moment.

He successfully sneaked past the tank and further into the partly destroyed warehouse, while he glanced consistently at the hulky form of that monster to make sure he was still not being noticed.

Slightly panicked and deeply terrified for his loved ones he hastily looked around him and sniffed wildly in order to locate his mate. It didn't take long till he spotted something pink between all the rubble. He quickly leaped over to the spot – still minding to be quiet. As he crouched in front of his mate's motionless body – which was half buried under the rubble, her legs probably crushed – he couldn't stop the distressed whine from escaping his lips. With trembling hands he reached out for the huntress and grabbed her shoulders, before he started to shake her desperately. She had to wake up!

The small hunter nearly cried out of joy as Flavor stirred and a miserable sounding groan sounded from her. The huntress looked up at him with blurry eyes and a pained face, while a whimper passed her bloody lips.

Before he could do anything – like pulling his mate out of the rubble – she grabbed one of his wrists firmly, before she shoved a blue bundle from under her into his arms. He instantly recognized it as his little girl, who seemed to be unconscious . He swiftly put his free arm around the little form and pressed his pup securely against his chest. Flavor must have protected their little girl from the falling debris with her own body.

The huntress looked relieved the moment she knew her pup safe in the arms of her mate, whereupon she let go of the small hunter's wrist and instead pushed weakly against one of his legs. She was urging him with a frail sounding mewl to go and to bring their pup to safety.

But he couldn't do that. He couldn't leave her behind like that!

He promptly shook his head hard and whined out of distress. He wouldn't leave without her. Determined to also safe his mate he grabbed one of her arms with his free hand and started to pull with all his might, but couldn't move her even an inch. The pained scream of the huntress pained himself, but he wouldn't give up yet. He couldn't! Again he pulled and again Flavor screamed, whereupon a deep rumbling noise sounded behind the small hunter.

Panicked he whipped around only to see the tank staring at them, before the giant roared loudly and charged at them.

The small hunter's whole body stiffened out of fright and his eyes went impossibly wide. But even so he tried to ignore that fear and instead snarled and growled furiously, while he clutched his pup even closer to his chest and crouched protectively in front of his mate.

He had to protect them! Somehow! They couldn't – they mustn't – die!

Behind him Flavor was screaming and hissing, while she didn't stop to push weakly against his back. He couldn't leave her to die! He couldn't live with himself afterwards if he did!

Out of reflex he squinted his eyes tightly as a giant fist was about to smash them into bits and pieces. It seemed like that was the end…

His eyes snapped open again as suddenly a heavy force collided with his side and shoved him and his pup out of the way.

The small hunter could only watch in horror as the tank's giant fist smashed into Flavor's broken body on the ground. A horrible wet sounding squelching noise coupled with the cracking of bones reached his ears as blood and even some organs were splattered from under the big fist.

He barely noticed that some of the blood even reached his face and was now dripping down from his chin, while his alpha's muscular arms were tightly wrapped around his shaking form.

A heart-wrenching scream was ripped from his lips as he tried to lunge at that beast. But Scarface wouldn't let him, whose hands were still forcefully holding him in place.

This was a nightmare! This couldn't be happening! Flavor wasn't dead! No, no, no, no, no, NOOO!

Shark woke up with a start, wheezing and crying loudly while he clutched something warm under is hands. He needed some long seconds to register that it was a body – a living breathing body that was embracing him. Shortly after a purr reached his ears and he felt how a pair of warm hands was stroking his back a little bit too rough but still in a comforting manner.

For a short moment he wanted to believe that those horrible memories were just a nightmare and that his mate was still alive. He desperately wanted to believe that everything was alright and that it was Flavor who was holding him in her arms and trying to comfort him.

But too soon the reality catched up with him. The body next to him was too big, the purr sounded too deep and the smell was all wrong, not sweet in the slightest.

Startled he looked up with tear-stained cheeks, only to stare into Scarface's grinning mug. What was he doing here? Why was he trying to comfort him? And how could he even do that while he still seemed to find his suffering amusing?!

The smaller hunter was still too shocked to do anything, so that at first he didn't react as the bigger hunter leaned down and licked his tears up with a rough tongue.

As the action finally registered in his brain Shark snarled furiously and tried to shove his former alpha away, but he instantly paused with a pathetic sounding whimper as the crippling pain rendered him useless.

Suddenly he remembered everything again that happened before he lost consciousness. The horde, Chiara and her father, Scarface and Runner, the chase, the fall and the bone-crushing landing.

No wonder he was still in pain and couldn't move a muscle even if he desperately wanted to.