The cold brought shivers creeping down Justin's back. The cold assaulted him, nipping and crawling under his skin. The deerskin robe he wore did nothing for him while his jaws parted in a powerful yawn. Talking to Scarlett always wore him out, well more than he already was. He could barely keep his eyes open at this point. With his female alphess having decided to patrol the area instead, it left the healers and his unit to defend for themselves. She agreed to send a messenger, however, to ask for Alec to return. It did not sit well for him. It left them open for attack. Thus, he left two men to watch over them while they rested. He just needed a few hours. Justin had not even bothered eating or arguing long with her. He was used to her moods. If she said she was not going to do something, it simply did not happen. He agreed with her in a sense. There was no backing down now. Not that he would, even if told. Justin smirked at that. Mouse's words meant nothing to their reality. One night should be fine.
Brushing the tent flap aside, blue eyes peeked in to glance over at the sleeping form. Alissa's form was illuminated by the dying embers. She must have lit the fire while waiting for him. Now, however, the female was trembling under the bear skin covers. Justin's eyes softened at the sight of her curled in on herself. Her face was buried against her bare arms where goosebumps had risen. She did not tolerate the cold at all. He probably should not have brought her. This was no place for someone gentle as her. Smiling slightly, he walked forward and leaned down to pick up a dry log from the corner. He was careful to lay it on the fire while he moved to his knees. Blowing at the embers, he breathed life into the flames until they started to take root in the dry wood. The crimson spread like a disease as it came to life once more. Within seconds, the room was starting to gain back its warmth, and his mate's small form started to relax. He, however, was not satisfied.
Justin sighed as he came to her side, and careful to not wake her laid his robe on top of her form. He moved to brush it along her body before grazing his fingers up her body. He moved his finger along her cheek until he came to a strand of hair there, which he tucked behind her ear. It was only then he noticed the unfocused teary green eyes. "Shhh, go back to sleep." He mumbled before his mate registered someone was there. He had long promised to protect her, which meant he would always be at her side. She seemed to believe that because her eyes closed again.
"Join me." A whimper left her as a warm hand covered his. Alissa intertwined her fingers with his own, but he needed no encouragement. He was dead tired. His only wish was to curl up against her, bury his body against her, and never leave. Smiling once more, Justin pulled the fur aside to slip his clothed body against her. As always, she wore a furred shirt that belonged to him. She claimed it smelled like him, but truthfully he knew it was just more comfortable to sleep in. Nudging close to her, he growled low in his throat at her scent and warmth. Her tiny body fit perfectly against his own. Burying his face against her hair, he threw his arm over her side and pulled her tight to him. His hand then moved to graze up her until he found her flat stomach.... the stomach that one day would be round with his pups. This women... his mate... he could not believe he had ever lived without her.
"Mine." He growled out without thought. Alissa's tired eyes peeked at him with a slight smile. Slowly, she turned over to face him. Eye to eye, a smirk formed itself on her lips. Justin narrowed his eyes at her. Anytime she looked at him like that, she was planning something. He felt the nip of her teeth before he saw it. "So, that is how you want to play it." The male challenged.
"Justin, wait!" It was to late though. The male had already pinned her hips down with his weight while nipping and licking at her neck. His fingers round her ribs causing laughter to fill the room. She shoved against him, but to no avail. "Justin, stop it!" His own laughter blinded with hers. He could not stop himself though. He loved the sound of her voice. It brought join back in his bones and chased away the worry from his mind. Not to mention, he was enjoying her flailing body grinding against him.
"Why? I'm having so much fun." He purred playfully, but suddenly he was staring at the ceiling with Alissa straddling him.
Her hands splayed against his chest while the two stared at each other. While Justin could not wipe the grin from his face, she was frowning at him. "You are such a child."
"Love you too."
Alissa snorted before flopping back down beside him. She nuzzled against his side before throwing her leg around his waist. Pulling him close, the male finally closed his eyes. His body was at its breaking point as he dragged him under. The darkness took root, but before unconsciousness took him her words once more reminded him that he was no longer alone... that he had something to fight for.
"Goodnight Justin."
---
Justin jerked awake, but it was not a noise or touch woke him. A sense of urgency poisoned him while blue eyes snapped about. His body tensed as he pressed closer to Alissa. The hum of her breathing told him she was still asleep, yet the fear still gripped him. Grinding his teeth, the male peeled himself away before moving to creep across the dirt ground. He came to the edge of the tent to listen closely. It was quiet though. The only sound was the whistle of the wind and the crackling of embers. It was too quiet. He could not even hear the guard. Justin parted his jaws to breath in the scents around him. The smoke from the fire and Alissa clogged his senses, which made it impossible to pick if anything was there. No, there was something wrong. He could feel it in his gut.
Glancing at Alissa for a second, he debated on his next move. He either could wake her or leave her while he expored. Perhaps he was just overreacting. Yes, that must be it. Justin was not settled with that assumption however. The canine slipped over him like a second skin while he pressed the nip of his nose out of the tent. It moved the flap just enough for him to peek out, yet he saw nothing. The husky folded his ears back against his skull in concern. His head lowered, and his tail tucked. The canine kept himself low as he begun to emerage. He could not keep his eyes still as he searched the danger, but once more he found nothing. Even as he breathed in the night air, there was no trace. Perhaps, he was just freaked out over nothing. Pressing himself straight again, the male perked his ears forward and raised his tail. Yes, that must be it.
However, just as he begun to settle again that was when he noticed it. The sweet smell of blood coated his senses. "Alissa!" The canine snapped. He did not even check if she was awake as he pulled his lips back. "Find Scarlett, go!"
Justin did not even have to tell her twice. The powerful command of his voice had the female brusting from the tent. The second she was gone, fire engulfed the camp. Impossible! He had not even detected someone was there, let alone close enough to attack their camp. "We are under attack!" The dog raised the alarm, but he did not need to. Canines broke from their tent as howls sounded in the air.
"Healers, put out the fires!" The general snapped the instant he saw a fox healer.
"Yes sir!" The red fox responded as he turned to issue the command. He knew the healers would remain together, but under an active attack with so few he needed everyone to be reacting. Yet, there was little time to think as the yelps and yowls begun to sound. Black felines burst from the shadows and slammed into his soilders. With only five in his unit, not counting the healers, they became overwhelmed in seconds.
"Stay together!" The delta declared as he kicked off his hind paws. Rushing forward, the lowered his head. He slammed his skull against a black feline to send it flying off a large Staffordshire
Terrier. The once white dog was now stained red from its own blood. Yet, the mighty dog refused to back down. Instead, it turned with its delta and came to stand beside the husky. Weighing an impressive 80 pounds, he towered over Justin. Together, both of them revealed their teeth as their hackles rose. Their tails buzzed, and their bodies shook with energy as the feline collected itself onto black paws. Golden eyes turned to the two while howling in anger. The general was shocked to see the black cat. He had thought it was maybe a panther, yet what stared at him was a black Serval.
There was little time to think, however, as the feline moved to begin circling the two. Justin refused to allow the cat out of his sight. The other large canine, however, remained still as he watched the feline from the corner of his eyes. That may have been best, because as Justin moved the horrors colored his vision. Blood soaked the once quiet camp. The fox had had commanded laid on the ground with his throat ripped out. No, rather his head had been torn from his shoulders to leave fur and blood scattered along his body. Many of the healers had meet the same fate or close to it. He was sick at the sight of one still gasping as the poor greyhound choked on its own blood. His eyes were beginning to roll in the back of his head as he begged the Gods to put him out of his misery. Their killers, however, were no longer in sight. The fire still contiuned to devour the camp around them as smoke rose to choke the oxgyen in the air. Justin's eyes and nose burned at the smoke grew in the air as it hit the grass. Once living bodies were now turned into food for the flames.
Justin curled his ears back in the realization that this may be a losing battle. The enemy had come out of nowhere, burned their tents, and gave them hardly any ability to regroup. "Damn you!" The husky snarled as he twisted himself in the feline's direction again. His eyes roared with rage as he parted his jaws. Spit dripped from his mouth as he ripped his claws into the ground.
"What's wrong child? Can't han-" Justin bolted forward and found his mark. A sickening wet gasp broke through the feline's gasp. The delta slammed the body to the ground before placing his paw on the cat's side. Pleasure coarsed through his veins as he yanked upwards to rip the windpipe from the feline. The blood, that now coated his tongue, tasted sweet, yet he was unable to enjoy the rush of excitement for a new scent caught his attention.
"Sir!" The terrier called for him, but the husky's blue eyes did not turn to him. Standing to attention, his ears pointed forward. The ground felt as if it had been ripped out from under his paws. His body, before ignited by battle, was now doused in ice. It slithered through his veins, freezing his nerves, and leaving the canine numb. The screechs and cries became nothing but humming in his ears. The glow of the battle field blurred his sigh to leave him staring into nothingness. A void sucked him into the world of darkness as his heart came to a complete stop. His lungs no longer worked. Everything had stopped for Justin expect for the horror that licked at his flesh. It taunted him, laughed at him, and rendered him powerless. Justin had smell Alissa's blood... and there was a lot.