damsel in distressin’

Redrum sat on the edge of one of the ridges, gazing out through his helm over the vast expanse of snow-covered wilderness that stretched beneath him. The wind howled around him, carrying the scent of pine and frost. He was the heir to his mother's pack now, a role he had to prepare for earnestly. The weight of that responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders, an ever-present burden that sometimes felt too great to bear.

He was expected to be strong, wise, and decisive. To lead with both strength and compassion, maintaining the delicate balance between the pack's needs and the nature of their environment. Redrum took this duty seriously, knowing that the pack depends on his ability to guide them through both times of plenty and hardship. At least… that’s what he was learning.

Yet, even as he tried to focus on his responsibilities, his thoughts kept drifting back to… Elara. It had been weeks since he had last heard from her, and the silence gnawed at him. He had visited her pack's territory, only to find it abandoned, devoid of any signs of activity. Panic had surged through him then, a deep, guttural fear that he might never see her again.

His insecurities flared in the quiet moments when he was alone with his thoughts. Had something happened to her? Had she been hurt or worse? Or had she simply decided that he was not worth the effort, that their bond was not true? The uncertainty was maddening, a constant, nagging presence that he could not shake. He hid it well. He ran from it, chasing prey and predators alike to keep his mind occupied.

Redrum's thoughts returned to the memory of their last meeting, the way her eyes had sparkled with joy, the warmth of her laughter, and the tenderness of their kiss. Those memories were his reassurance, but they also fueled his desperation. He needed to find her, to know that she was safe.

The sudden, piercing scream that shattered the stillness of the forest jolted him to his feet. Elara's voice, filled with terror and pain, cut through him like a blade. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a drum driving him into action. He sprinted through the snow, his muscles coiling with the urgency of his exertion. He’d never ran so fast in his life.

As he raced through the trees, memories of Elara flashed before his eyes — that smile, that voice, the connection they shared since they were pups. The thought of losing her now, after all that, was unbearable. He couldn't let her be taken from him. So what would dare to try?

Bursting into the clearing, Redrum's eyes locked onto the scene before him. Elara stood, trembling and bloodied, with a coyote stalking toward her. His mind raced, calculating the best approach, the quickest way to eliminate the threat. There was no time to hesitate. He saw red as he watched blood dribble down her cheek. All rationality ceased to be.

Any words he might have said were lost as he roared, his voice a thunderous mix of threat and fury. He charged forward, his powerful frame cutting through the snow like an avalanche. The coyote turned, its eyes widening in surprise, but Redrum was already upon it.

With a feral fluidity, he leaped, his momentum crashing into the coyote with the force of a landslide. The beast yelped, its cry a mixture of pain and shock as it was knocked to the ground. Redrum's teeth and claws became a blur of motion, driven by a singular focus: protect Elara at all costs. To fight, to kill. Kill kill kill. In his ears, the feline within screamed at him to act on his impulse.