The Oasis

Wrapping her forelegs around the tree branch, Clove held on for dear life, trying to ignore the pulsating, stinging feel of the bite on her forepaw. Blood kept trickling from the wound, splattering on the ground but Clove didn’t notice it- she was occupied with keeping herself in the tree, knowing the dingos would eventually tire out and leave her alone. But dang, they were relentless- throwing themselves against the trunk, causing the branch to bow and sway, leaping up and snapping at the air just beneath her perch. What has she done to upset them so badly?

Another slam against the trunk and Clove was almost dislodged from her perch, her claws scraping against the mangrove as she struggled to keep herself upright. A wave of panic shot through her, the impulse to call out for help rising in her mind. Right now, she needed a knight in shining armor, a gallant hero who could protect her from the vicious beasts! And behold, the perfect boy for the job appeared out of nowhere, like a white knight riding in on a stallion.

A flash of grey emerged from the underbrush, diving into the fray and grabbing a dingo by the scruff. “Akito!” Clove yells, astonished to see him but grateful all the same. They start to circle him, taking turns leaping in and biting him but Akito is fierce and relentless- but he’s only one man. He couldn’t do it all alone. Clove needed to be brave. She needed to help Akito. She couldn’t watch him be eaten away by the dingos.

“Ahhhhhh!!!” With a little battle cry, Clove was leaping down from her perch, landing on top of a dingo with an oof. It broke her fall, one of its legs breaking beneath her weight - she didn’t weigh that much! It just fell at a weird angle. - which made it release a loud, ear-pricing yelp. Scrambling to her paws, Clove backpedals and watches the dingo limp away. One of its companions whirls around, sees her, and lunges at her. And Clove freezes.

"Clove Carpathius"