book 7: normalcy

The scent of her blood in the air creates a fury in him only the jaguar will feel. A snarl from him so loud it sends birds darting off into the sky. Its claw dig into him, a loud yowl sounding off. Desperate and regretful, Gil knows he's in control. Unfortunately for the cat, it won't live to see another day. It would pay for harming her. For thinking it could dare touch her without repercussions.

Forceful, Gil drives the jaguar backward. Paws slipping through the dense underbrush, tripping over roots and vines. Gil is on top of it, fangs sinking in everywhere they can until blood covers both of them. Soon the jaguar isn't even trying to fight anymore, but escape. More screeching yowls from it drive Gil forward. There's no stopping him. Not until its heart stops beating.

Grabbing around its shoulders, hunched over the feline, he clamps down on its neck. Shaking violently back and forth until its spinal cord is snapped, Gil still refuses to let go as it sinks to the ground. Its lungs slow to a stop, its heart fluttering for a few moments, and then nothing. Breathless and full of adrenaline, Gil spits the jaguar from his mouth, tongue licking up the blood and gore covering his lips. Turning to face the shore, back where Jael cowers in the sand, a switch is flipped in him the moment he lays eyes on her.

It was that first night all over again. Helpless and injured, she needed him. Rushing back to the shore, he collapses to the sand beside her, curling around her form even if they both were bleeding. Nothing as bad as that first night, right? Placing his muzzle near her thigh, he licks her wound a few times, a worried grumble resounding within him. "Are you okay?" His voice shakes, unable to hide the nerves that are far too frazzled.

Speech