Justin pressed himself against a tree as he peered out from the shadows. His heart pounded in his ears, but he forced his breathing to calm. He feared they would be heard, yet it was unlikely. The roars of the clash of armies. The sound of their screams... their snarls and the pounding of paws drowned out any sounds. Blood soaked their jaws and painted their bodies. Corpses lined themselves against the barren wasteland. The grass had been torn away and the smell of rotting flesh brought disease. It was a sickening sight that had Justin's ears pulling back. His head perked up as he watched the flank bend away to regroup. The Calthion followed them with confidence they could take them over. A large shepherd lagged behind. His once long lush brown fur was now soaked with crimson liquid of his foes. It was torn away revealing skin and wounds that wept from the agony. Blood dripped from the loss of an ear, which in turn clouded his vision. Slashes scattered across his muzzle and chest. Yet, no pain showed in his eyes. No light shinned in his eyes any longer. He limped after his unit, but luck was no longer with him.
He soon became pinned by a group of felines. A large leopard pulled its lips back to flash its canines as it stepped forward slowly. The paws moved silently as its tail whipped behind. The canine turned to the feline, however he did not even show his fangs. Instead, he took his stance and faced the feline. His tail curled upwards, and his ears perked. He would fight, fight to the death. After all, they would all die soon. When the shepherd rushed forward, Justin looked away. Among the cries, he was unable to drown out the high pitch yowl of the canine. Slowly, it ended in a wet whine that had Justin's chest clenching painfully. Justin turned back to find the three cats standing over him. Their teeth tearing into the body of the canine. One around his throat, another on his leg and the other on the back of the canine's hips. They shook their prize before yanking on the body. Crimson spluttered from his throat, until a sickening rip sounded. The leopard twisted its head and with a series of pops tore the body into three. Greyish entrails fell from the once living dog to spill on the earth. They dragged along like snakes as liquid and chunks of flesh fell behind.
"Justin." A voice hissed beside the general's ear. It tore him from the sight to turn to Mary at his side. His ears curled back against his skull. He could taste the metallic on his tongue. He had not realized his jaw had clenched down. Low rumbles of anger vibrated through his throat. "Focus." The pit bull curled her lips. She felt the same, but there was much to. They could not lose sight of their mission. Their people were dying. The faster they acted, the more they could save. Sickness crept through him as he stepped back and turned with her. Justin nuzzled against her side for comfort. Mary did not reject him. Her eyes usually so cold, softened at the sight of him before lapping at his head. She knew he did not wish to be apart of this war any longer, but once more they were caught in the mist of it. There was no longer their often. They were weapons.
"Lets go." Justin forced from his lungs. Glancing back, he scanned the small group with them. He knew it was not everyone. They had decided to split up in hopes of not being noticed. He was starting to regret it. What if... The husky shoved down the thought as he looked to Mary. She had started walking. Breathing in deeply, he begun his way forward. A thousand thoughts crossed his mind. Could they actually do this? What if they failed? What if.. What if his unit was destroyed again?
"Have faith in us Justin." Mary perked her ears at him. Her tail wagging softly. "We want this to end too. We want to be free again." Justin's eyes became sheltered as he turned away. He knew that. He had faith in them, but... why this war? Why this death and destruction? Perhaps, they should have given Freya up. Then his brothers and sisters... they would not be dying. A bitterness gnawed at him as they followed the tree line. They did their best to remain out of sight, which was why they took shelter along the top of the hills. Gabriel and Soren had pulled the battle away to give the unit a chance of breaking away. The Calthion army had followed behind them with only a few lingering behind to watch the area. The canines just hoped they would not be noticed.
Thus, while the battle raged on below, their shadows danced under the tree line. Soon, the moon started to overtake the sun. The stars' eyes opening to be a guide within the darkness. There was no peace though. There was no silence or stillness. It was too soon when lady luck gave her favor to the other army. Flashes of shadows escaped from the trees with a roar followed by a yelp.
"We are under attack!" A voice yelled as Justin whipped himself around. Blood exploded on his tongue as his jaws found flesh. His body rolled and tumbled until he was ripped from his prey by gravity. It pulled him out of the tree line and down the hillside. He dug his paws against the grassy hill to stop his movement as a hiss shredded through the air. Wasting no time, the husky forced himself onto his paws and perked up. He twisted his ears towards the attacker as his crimson lips pulled back. A snarl vibrated through his chest. It bubbled past his jaw and thundered in the empty space. Spit dripped from his tongue as it snaked out to lick the blood from his chops as if proud of the wound inflicted. Proud and strong, Justin stepped forward with fur on end, a tense body and his form posed with attention.
Yellow eyes crafted with a black outline glared down at him from the hill as he came face to face with a bobcat. It had been awhile since the delta had seen a bobcat. They often were used as messengers or spies. They were powerful cats with a determination that matched his own. They were one of the few felines that Justin envies of. A proud and noble family with close ties. They once sat beside royalty as guards until they were kicked out. Their temper was famous, which also made them dangerous. Flesh hung from the cat's shoulder from Justin's attack, yet it did not seem to bother the creature. Unlike most bobcats' grey fur, this feline had dark red fur. It almost looked gold. A white belly was spotted with black which disappeared along its legs. Large patches reappeared on its ears, and another blotch on the tail. The only interruption to the colors were clear blue stripe on the feline's round face. A mark of a warrior, of a beastman ready to die for his clan. However, it did not hide the hunk of flesh from Justin's attack.
"Move." Justin snarled as he stepped forward. His voice a mere hiss against the chaos.
"Protect the injured!" Mary's commands rang out.
"Stay together, do not get separated!" Another command.
Justin's mouth twitched into a smirk. Mary was a born leader. She knew better to have anyone follow him, and she knew to not let anyone wonder off. Good. He had nothing to worry about. They had to keep moving forward, otherwise help would come.
"You think I'm going to let you cross this line?" The feline snickered at that as it stepped forward slowly. The feline was much bigger than most of his kind. His paws large... powerful... and battle ready. The feline seemed completely in his element. There was no need for a flash of fangs or a hiss of warning. He relished in battle. "I'm going to enjoy tearing your throat out."
The bobcat bolted forward and leapt off powerful hind legs. His claws extended as he reached forward with full intention to sink them into the husky's flesh. The canine, however, saw it coming. The husky threw himself to the side careful to not slip down the hill. Grass was kicked up leaving behind slippery mud. The cat landed a few feet around and turned around to launch once more. Justin twisted out of reach again. Bobcats were faster, however the husky was smarter. Smaller movements were quicker and easier. He had years of training. This cat was a mere kitten in his eyes. A snarl of anger left the cat as he landed. He stumbled as his paw tore at the grass. A frustrated hiss left his lungs as he flashed his fangs.
With that, they turned to begin circling slowly. Their eyes locked and teeth bared as they searched for an opening. Justin's hackles raised as he whipped his tail wildly. His body buzzed with energy, yet he felt cold. There was ice in his veins. Most associated battle and war with heat and fire, but to him... it was cold... dead... and still. It was not about hatred. It was not about rage or fury, rather it was instinctive. There was no emotion. Only actions, only muscle memory, and the intention to hit a target.
The husky smirked slightly. This time, he darted forward. The feline was quicker. With a sidestep, the cat dodged him and twisted itself. A swipe of claws had Justin howling with pain on his side, yet he rolled with the impact. The damage left blood coating his coat, and his fangs as they found his mark. Blood erupted onto his tongue as he sank against the cat's shoulder. The bobcat gave way as it threw itself onto his back. Claws shredded against the canine's belly. It was enough to send agony through his form. Still Justin refused to release his prey. He used the twist of the cat to, in turn, yank his head to the side. A satisfying scream pierced his ears and left them ringing. It echoed like thunder as the shoulder gave way with a sickening pop.
"You bastard!" The bobcat reached up to catch his claws on Justin's eye. Crimson colored his vision as a yip escaped his throat. He threw the cat away onto the hard ground. The beast rolled for a few seconds before coming to settle at the bottom of the hill, where the bobcat trembled with effort to move. Justin shook his head and rubbed his face against his leg. His eye burned from its wound. It made it almost impossible to yet, however through a blurry haze Justin turned back to the cat. Pure anger found root upon the feline's face. A fire had consumed the golden eyes leaving behind a raging inferno. The auburn fur was now darkened by liquid and a protrusion of his shoulder blade. Like a razor, it had tore with flesh and muscle with no mercy. Soon, it had broken through the last barrier of skin. Pure and utter pain struck the bobcat causing him to tremble and sway. One step had him nearly crumbling to the ground.
"You lost, now back down." Justin hissed through clenched teeth. His entire being tensing. It was obvious who won. Any solider could see it, however Calthion was a proud clan. The bobcat family even prouder. They were born and raised to believe fighting to the death was honorable. It was encouraged. He, however, did not wish to kill another being that could not even fight back. Guilt could gnaw at him. No, rather he was unsure his pride would allow it. In distress, he folded his ears back and allowed his tail to lower. The feline did not answer. Maybe he could not answer, but either way he fell to the ground. A low hiss poisoned his voice as ferocious eyes glared down the general. If looks could kill, Justin would have dropped dead.
The feline smirked.
A body slammed into the husky sending him crashing into the ground. Fangs found his neck as his jaw whipped around. Justin snapped at the fur and skin in an effort to rip the feline away. He roared out in frustration as he missed and instead rolled. His body slammed against the dirt and grass. They skid down, but not before he ripped his paws into the mud to stop from falling to the bottom. It did little though. The back of the feline's claws shredded into the husky's back hips in an effort to hang on. Fur protected him, but it did not stop the pain that vibrated through his being. Rage colored his vision as the canine threw his head back. Teeth snapped at the air and spit flew from his mouth. They tore at any scrap he could find, yet claws clung to him. It lasted only a second before the body weight was ripped from his form. Jerking around, the canine folded his ears back. His lips pulling back to flash rows of sharp teeth. A snarl vibrated along his cords only to become silent. Justin narrowed blue eyes as he stared down the pitbull that stood before him. Mary stood before him while the feline now laid at the bottom of the hill.
"Stop messing around. Lets go." A command purred from her as she stepped forward and passed him without so much of a glance back. Justin frowned only briefly glancing back at the first cat. His head had lowered to the ground, trembling as a soft sob broke through his jaws. The wind brushed against his fur softly, silencing the sob that rose from the creature. For an instant, his chest tightened before he followed away the other canine. Tonight, many lives would be lost some by his jaws. It made him sick to his stomach.