by the skin of our teeth

He knew he needed to move, but first he needed a moment to catch his breath. He struggled to fill his lungs, and weakly began to roll, trying to get out of danger. He would have been too slow, far too slow if the stranger hadn’t intervened. The form of the black wolf was suddenly between him and the bear, as he shoved the grizzly over. It fell backwards, landing on the wound Strai had ripped into its back.

He realised then that the stranger had opened another in its stomach. It was dying, but it was taking its time doing so. Thrashing in its death throes. That made it dangerous, but Strai didn’t care. Sucking breath back into his body, he got to his paws, and lunged forward. Diving between the paws of the taller wolf as he went for the bear. He jumped on its stomach, and then over its muzzle. Landing on its forehead. His momentum (and luck) kept him from getting swiped. Once there, he leaned forward and pierced both it’s eyes with his claws.


"Speech"