The smoke exhaled by the new pack of canine company threatened to overwhelm my sight and senses. I was caught in the middle of a very unfair stand-off, seeing as all the five, dark-haired matted, fur-filled flame embodiments faced off against the blonde-colored one in a soon-to-be feral battle.
The new group bared razor-sharp, snarling growls while the lone wolf seethed in anger, making a vivid veins of flame lick harmlessly and travel up and down its taut muscles.
A collective bark from the assailing group caused their backs to light aflame with vigor.
The loner didn't look the least but intimidated, stepping forward in front of me and showing no single intent at backing down, even tho it was obviously outnumbered.
Nature wasn't allowed another moment of silence as a commanding bark from the biggest of the group sent one of the smaller bunch in a rabid pounce, bounding towards us.
The single beast let out a guttural bark, replacing its very pupils with pure, hungry flames, releasing a large burning projectile that engulfed the first one in a writhing mass.
Even tho it already had fire decorating its features, it let out a shattering whine as it writhed and keeled in obvious pain until it was nothing more than a burning mass, immediately which died down into nothing. Not even ash.
I sat gaping at the event unfolding, seeming to be the only one, as the now one-less pack didn't even spare a glance at their fallen friend.
Another commanding bark sent two more of the group bounding towards us at the same time, coming tactically from opposite directions.
My defender wasted no time in rushing for the one leftwards, gaining the speedy advantage and sinking its teeth deep into its jugular. A few more struggling twists ended the life of the attacker, making it fizzle away like scattered ash.
This however, left the one on the right side enough time to hurl a vicious fireball my way.
I stared on in horror, having not even a single memory of where I was or WHO I was. How was I even to defend myself against gigantic mutts spitting up flames with each bark and smoke with each breath?
Suddenly, just as I thought I was gonna have to say goodbye to this world before I even got to know it, I was heavily tackled out of the way, sprawling unkindly on the rough, harsh sand.
There's no way that hound could have killed off its second attacker and still had enough time to make its way down and shove me out of harm's way.
But that was indeed the case as I shook off the dust from my hair, trying to clear my vision. With a sickening crunch and another well-delivered bite (not particularly in that order, but I'm too disoriented to bother), it was nothing but a pale heap, turning quickly to the fate of its fallen comrades.
The pack leader, watching this whole disadvantaging chaos unfold, finally stepped forward with its pupils trained on the lone survivor. It sent a quick glance my way, as if almost forgetting I was there and jerked its head at its last underling.
Said underling circled around its leader and prowled my way, taking quiet advantage of the final face-off about to happen between its leader and the last beast standing.
I blinked my eyes again, having just realized that I hadn't uttered a single word since my awakening and throughout this entire battle.
"Uhhh" Was all I could manage to mutter, but it didn't fail in alerting the blonde hound of my dilemma. Its ears perked and its head swiveled my way, sending me a worried look for the first time that actually made me have faith that it was OK my side.
It let out a bark, and somehow a message was relayed into my heart, giving me a feeling I couldn't quite place.
It was that slight uplifting feeling you had when someone managed to inspire hope inside you. Or when your heart held an anticipation of a sure outcome.
My eyes widened slightly at the psychic exchange, leaving a familiar tinge inside of me. I think it's trying to tell me to defend myself, it must believe I'm capable of doing so.
The alpha wasted no time in jumping at the given advantage, tackling its opponent head on into a deadly roll of fur and flame.
Approaching footsteps alerted me of my own coming predicament in the form of an unkind, drawn back snarl. I managed to get on my feet, legs shaking and ready to abandon all and run when a surprised whimper rang through my eardrums, causing an unpleasant pang in my chest.
I set my eyes to the source of the chilling sound, this whine was coming from MY hound and it left a different effect on me. I could feel my memories beginning to swim, flashing in a kaleidoscopic array of images at least ten at a time.
I reeled on shock, never having enough time to grip onto a single one, not that I felt much familiarity with any either way. A faint sound began to surface to the light, hitting me with what I could only assume was nostalgia. I needed to grab it.
I clutched at my temples and pushed back, forcing the distant sounds to surface faster as my own attacker was mere feet away now.
Another painful whine emitted, sending a reactive vibration from my chest down to my feet, causing the very earth to shake beneath me... Or maybe I was on the verge of a collapse.
The hound in front of me wasted no time to advance to a full-impact pounce, barking all the way. If I ever needed those words it was now.
As if struck by lightning, I felt my heart set aflame as the words finally revealed themselves, already making my tongue heavy with anticipation. It was a bunch of jumbled words but still managed to sound oddly familiar and very well used.
Without another moment's hesitation as if ready to throw a punch I opened my fists and eyes and could only yell at the top of my lungs...
"Otedotum...." I blurted, feeling something building up within. "Erejus!!!"