"Here, Mousebrain." Freya's hooded eyes glanced up at the voice. It had been a few hours since the sun had fallen, and they had found their place at the pond. The bath had made her muscles lax, comfortable. Sleep would not come to her though after the night before. The images of the fish were still burning in her mind, along with the confession of the bird. The same bird that she knew was still out there. Turning her attention to Mouse, she reached up to smooth a hand down her shoulder and arm. She had not pulled her shirt back on. She was cold, covered in goosebumps, but she was enjoying the feel of the air brushing against her skin. She had taken clothing for granted until she came here. Wearing skins, furs, and feathers were by no means comfortable after awhile. Mouse did not wait for her to answer before he plopped himself right beside her. She said nothing to him as he folded his legs and frowned at the scar on her shoulder.
Freya almost covered it up however held herself back. The idea that Mouse had not been there bothered her, but why she did not know. He could do whatever he wanted. Why would she stop him? Why care? Yet, she found herself bothered at the idea he had disappeared. When she was not so tired, she would be sure to have him tell her why. Mouse placed a half log in his lap before dipping his fingers in. "What is that?" She scrunched her nose at the sight of it. The coyote did not answer, but rather proceeded to mix the paste.
When he reached up with a hand, she yanked back. "No, what is that?" Freya demanded.
Mouse grunted under his breath. "Stop being a pain." Snatching onto her arm, he yanked her back painfully.
"That hurts!" Freya snapped back.
"Then stop moving." Mouse snarled. She could feel it vibrating in his chest. Freya clenched her jaw while he spread the cold substance along her shoulder to her elbow in a three stripe pattern. He did well to cover up her scar before shoving her away. Muttering under his breath, he stood up and threw the log to the ground.
She examined her shoulder to find the paste was a deep blue. It did not hurt or burn, rather it was drying. Was it henna? They were the same marks she had seen many of the Bellaroos pack wear, however she knew nothing of the meaning. Rather, she looked to Mouse to explain only to find his back. The back of a coyote that never had anyone until Alec. A coyote that had to fend for himself since a pup. A man that knew nothing of kindness or depending on anyone until recently. For a male that supposedly cared for no one, he treated her well. It was obvious, however, he would not be explaining his actions or the meaning of the marks. What would he had been like if he had not been outcasted? What would he be like if he had grown up with his pack with no bitterness and no fear?
"Can't even do what you're ass is told." Mouse muttered low in his throat.
"Never." Freya chuckled. A twitch of a smile slipped on the coyote's lips before both of them went tense. Ice slithered through her veins as goose bumps invaded her flesh. A vibration of a snarl crept along Mouse as his tail flickered restlessly. Something was out there.
"Freya, get on Rose." It was the first time Mouse had spoken her name. That was the only reason her body sprung into action without question. Her hand snatched up her shirt before starting her way towards the steed. "No sudden movements." The coyote commanded as he stepped towards her slowly. Blazing pink eyes narrowed above a sinister smirk as his fangs begun to sharpen. His claws extended as he fixated on the pond. Freya dared glance over to the water. Moonlight had blanketed the pond creating a reflection of small bumps along the surface... bumps of black beady eyes that stared right at them.
"Go!" Mouse roared just as the creatures launched themselves towards the shore. Snouts and teeth flashed, while the sound of awful screeching echoed in the air. Freya did not dare argue as she forced herself forward. Rose had reared up as she tore at her binds. They had tied her to a rock to keep her from roaming. Now, they were chains to stop her escape. Her razor sharp teeth ripped at the air as she too yelled and cried for freedom.
"Rose!" Freya called to the beast, however it only caused for the creature to fall forward. Slamming onto her hooves, Rose bucked backwards at her rider before swinging around to kick again.
"Rose, stop it!" Freya tried again as she came to the other side of the rock, yet stopped cold at the yowl of pain. She dared to peek to find the coyote's white fur colored in crimson. Limping, the canine stepped back slowly, but refused to back down. His tail still stood proud and tall, however his ears had curled back to press against his skull. Mouse's muzzle was parted with his tongue hanging down as he panted through both pain and tiredness. Freya could see why. Large fish started to ascend. One after another they gathered around the single white canine. The massive bodies slithered and dragged against the dirt. The moonlight hit them just right to show the white stripes and glossy black scales. Their jaws parted to reveal several rows of teeth, ready to shred their prey apart. Just like a pack, they moved together. They gurgled and grunted, snapped and hissed at each other. They were the same large fish that had attacked her the night before.
Freya's eyes widened just as one parted his jaws and released a blood curdling screech that she felt to her toes. Mouse whipped his body around before jerking forward. She turned to Rose and cursing the beast she grabbed the reins of the longma Rose cried out again and threw her head upwards, but Freya was having none of it. She jerked the horse's head down. "Stop it! If you don't stop acting like a freak we are all going to die!" She was not sure if the creature understood, but she quickly untied the reins from the rock. Once doing so, she grabbed the saddle to yank herself up.
Freya pulled Rose around to look for Mouse, but the canine was nowhere in sight. Most of the fish seemed to have followed him, but she was not going to stick around to find out. Yanking Rose again, she kicked the beast. Rose launched herself forward. Freya held on with one hand while the other reached down to open the sac on her saddle. She had left her bow behind at the camp but inside was a knife. It was made of a canine tooth that had been sharpened and tied to a wooden handle. She had wrapped it with leather to make it more comfortable for handling. Freya pulled it close to her just as the fish came on either side of the horse. Rose threw her head up in distress. Her nose flared, and her eyes bugged out. Her jaw parted as she grunted in fear. The predators screeched as they snapped. One pounced upwards towards Freya, however it never made contact. She threw her knife downwards against the creature's skull. Twisting the knife, dark green blood splattered across her.
The fish fell just as another one jumped up. She slashed at the creature's face. She caught its eyes with a wet sound that made Freya sick. The beast hit the ground with a thud. Screeching out, it flopped and dragged its face against the ground in obvious pain. Apparently, this was enough for Rose to declare enough. The longma roared and reared up. "Rose!" Freya called out as she grabbed the horse's neck. Clinging for dear life, Rose pounded her hooves down to crush the fish below her. Freya screamed out as the horse then threw herself before to buck. Rose kicked the school to send them flying back before she bolted off again. Behind them, Freya could hear the screeching and hissing of the strange fish. The sound penetrated the night making shivers creep up her spine. Faster and faster they ran. They tore through the thicket. She had no idea where she was going or how far they had traveled. She heard only the howls of the strange creatures, yet they were further away. It was only then she begun to feel her chest clench in worry for Mouse.
Freya slowed Rose as she glanced along the darken forest. It was hard to hear past the haunting screeches knowing any moment they could catch up. Reaching up, she clenched her pounding chest as she forced air through her lungs. Mouse had to be okay. He had to be. The coyote had been bleeding, and she could only imagine the bite strength of those... things. She clenched her jaws as the longma restlessly stomped her hoof. Freya glanced back at her. After a few moments, she signed and rubbed the knife against her pants. She wiped the slimy blood away before dropping the weapon into the bag. Damn it. She had just gotten washed up. Now, she was covered in only the Gods knew what. It dripped down her like rain. The smell of salt and iron burned her nose.
Rolling her tongue along her dry lips, she guided her steed forward once more. She could not stay here, and she could not afford to look for Mouse yet. She just prayed the coyote was okay. Their attackers were not speed demons, but they were powerful... mainly in their large numbers. She should know. She had the pleasure of fighting one alone.
---
Damn it! Mouse swore by Hel if he got a hold of one of those fish, he would rip them to shreds. Pulling his lips back, he roared in frustration. He should have known better. They were still in Bellaroos territory.. their capital. There was a reason not many got close. They first had to pass Snakehead cove. There were waterways placed throughout this territory. At night... the fish came out to play.. hungry... ready to tear anyone to shreds. He had not been away from the main territory for so long. It had slipped his mind. Snakeheads... Fish that could walk on land with a blood thirsty hunger. Like canines, they roamed in packs. They fought like hyenas with bone crushing jaws. He had been lucky that his leg had not been crushed. The pain, however, burned through his system. The injury itself was not horrible, but hundreds of tiny needles inflicted in one spot-
Mouse caught movement in the corner of his eye just in time. He twisted away and leapt back to face the attacker. His hackles rose as he stretched his lips back. His muzzle wrinkled as he released another booming snarl in warning. His ears folded back nervously. He had no intention of fighting. Even he knew if he faced them all at once, he would die. Damn it! "This is why I hate women!" Mouse declared as the fish parted its jaw. It released a long drawn out hiss. Spit dripped from its lips as it started a slow walk. Its eyes glancing about. Mouse smirked at that. The fish was looking for an opening or at least help. The creature would find neither. He did not plan to wait that long. Launching forward, the coyote snapped his jaws onto the side of the fish's neck. Instantly, the creature started to flail about, but he refused to release. Instead, he sank his fangs deeper and tasted the salty blood on his tongue. It was sticky, thick. It almost made him choke, but he refused to release as he shook his head. He tore as claws ripped at the gills.
The fish was huge, much bigger than he thought. He had to brace himself on his hind legs to even reach the back of the neck, however it made it hard for the fish to turn to bite. Twisting, Mouse ripped and tore the flesh away. His foe yowled out in pain, but Mouse did not wait. The second he felt the ground he kicked off his heels. He ripped through the thicket as he dropped the flesh. His jaw tingled from the blood making him sick to his stomach. He was not sure if it was from the taste or maybe something in the blood. Perhaps it was the aching muscles. He chuckled at the idea as he perked his ears. He could hear hooves echoing off the ground. Freya was close. Good, she got away. The male smiled proudly, yet he erased the expression. A coldness swept over him at the thought of his mission, their mission. She was a fighter, however was she truly ready for the consequences of that action?
Breaking through the underbrush, the male shoved from his paws and leapt upwards. A scream echoed in his ears as he landed on the back of Rose just as the coyote skin striped from him. Human again, he twisted and threw his legs on either side. His arm wrapped around Freya's waist while the other took the reins from her. "You scared me half to death!" Freya snarled at him. The twitch of a smile slipped onto his lips, but he held it back. Instead, he welcomed the warmth of her back as it laid against his. He ignored the discomfort from it. The anxiety of being touch ate at him, yet he could not smell her blood. He sensed no injuries. That kept him sane as he set his jaw.
"Shut up." Mouse grunted.
"Mouse, you're hurt." He winced back at the touch of her hand. The pain erupted along his arm as she scanned the injury.
"Leave it." He snarled at her and glanced back as he searched for company. He could smell them. He could hear them. They were still following, but they were starting to lose the scent.
"What the hell were those?" Freya was finally asking the right question.
"Snakeheads. They guard the outer ring of the capital. When it rains or after it rains, they go into a frenzy." He grunted before glaring back down at her. "Lets get the hell out of here."
Freya frowned at him as he forced his eyes away. Damn it all.