Pursue knowledge, not me.

Her words, striking out like a bell, had their desired effect. It brought the stranger time, and some of them turned their attention to her. It brought the wolf time, and gave him a chance. Of course, it also meant that suddenly there were multiple wolves looking at her as if she was prey. She would have much preferred to take her time and pick them off when the chance presented itself. Now, she had no choice but to go all in. She could only hope her unpolished skills were up to the task.

She couldn’t pay attention to the brown wolf anymore, her eyes were on the wolf that began to stalk her. He was bigger than she was, and was clearly accustomed to being the biggest, meanest wolf in the room. He grinned at her, and she had to fight her instincts. The tendencies beaten into her from a young age. She wasn’t a victim anymore!

She waited until he struck, and ducked to the side avoiding his first blow, and striking a glancing blow against his side with one of her antlers. In the brief opening, she saw the wolf she had intended to save was in trouble. She launched herself forward, intending to help him from the two wolves teaming up against him. Her own attacker stopped her before she could do much more than take a step. He swiped a heavy paw at her shoulder, claws extended. She felt the blow leave a bloody trail, and knock her off her balance.

She lowered her antlers, buying herself distance between herself and the bastard of a wolf. She tried to channel her inner Vanta. She rushed forward, striking his chest with her antlers, but his reach was long. He managed to dig his paw into her shoulder again, pulling her down to the ground. She could feel the bone of her mutation bending and she snarled, struggling against his superior weight. Flashes of memory, wolves on her. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let the memories swamp her. A cry above her reminded her of her falcon, the bird shrieked and dove for the man. She took the opening, leaping forward and skewering him on the point of her antlers. Blood mixed with the fiery reds of her adornment as she pressed it down, into his side. This time, he struggled to rise. Clear pain across his muzzle. She pressed her advantage and swiped at his face, his neck. She could see him starting to slow, blood lust from the wound her antlers pried open was wearing on him.

Suddenly, there was a wolf behind her. She could feel their teeth sinking into her back and she howled in pain, struggling to pull her antlers off the first wolf, but she had no room to move. All she could feel was pain, shooting through her skin and muscles as they were torn.

Wc: 488
Total: 1234

"Lia"