Just Another Day
He had managed to bring down an old doe with the help of his companions. Winter was nearing its end, he could feel it, each day that passed was getting a little warmer and he could smell the new plants as the earth started to sprout new growth. He licked his lips, clearing away some of the blood from his recent kill as he turned his sightless gaze towards the horizon. Though he couldn't see, he imagined what the world looked like now. Summoning the images in his mind from when he had seen the world before he was blinded. He was halfway through his life, his blindness so far had been a part of him for a long time now, and he was so accustomed to it that he almost felt like it had been a part of him since birth. "Well, we should bring this back to share with the others," He nosed the fresh carcass, seeking to grab the doe's throat while Shiva picked it up by the haunch. He was sure the others were hungry, and even they weren't, at least this would last them a day or two. It had been a while since he participated in a hunt, usually letting his companions do it themselves, but he was feeling rather bold and that boldness led to a good kill.
They started down the path they had used to get to where they were, proud of his accomplishment as they half carried and half dragged the carcass. Kimahri had forged on ahead, marking the path to make it easier for Dragon to follow since his nose was full of the scent of blood and fresh prey. Ears twisted atop his head as he tried to keep aware of his surroundings as best he could. Tattered ear remained as erect as possible, while his still intact ear leaned back to listen to Shiva's steps. Her soft footfalls were heard easily enough. To him, at least. His other senses had grown stronger since his blindness nearly two years ago. He could hear the smallest of sounds and smell the faintest of scents, and every touch was practically amplified. So far, the only thing he could hear was his steps along with Shiva's as they walked in unison. Sightless green gaze stared ahead, though they moved slowly to avoid his tripping over rocks or other obstacles.
It wasn't until Shiva uttered a low warning growl that Dragon stopped, ears twisting to and fro as his nostrils flared. He stood still, head turning as sightless gaze scanned the area. He felt the weight of the prey drop to the ground, and at that point, he knew Shiva had let go of the deer because there was likely something wrong. He dropped his hold on the doe and turned towards her. "You sense something, don't you?" He murmured in a low voice. "Yes." She hissed, her tail lashing as she lowered her body to stalk towards their left. As he listened to her even, quieter steps, he suddenly picked up the sound of several not so quiet steps. They sounded hurried like there was a group heading their way. His hackles rose as he smelled them. A pack of coyotes heading their way, most likely attracted to the smell of the prey they had caught. A low growl bubbled in his throat, eyes narrowing out of reflex as opposed to needing to. Scarred visage wrinkled as he lifted his lips in a snarl, posture held dominantly and protectively as he stood before his kill.
He could hear them as they approached, their growls and panting growing louder as they neared. He picked out about four different coyotes, a small pack hungry and ready to try to steal from him. He listened carefully to their footsteps as the small pack began to disperse around them. He could hear Shiva growling and hissing, a loud 'thwack' on the ground and a yelp from one unlucky coyote that had gotten too close to her. Dragon issued a warning bark, but it didn't seem to deter them. They were far too hungry, and he rolled his shoulders as he prepared to fight. When he heard them start to rush, he waited for the first one to make contact. Once he felt a smaller body and teeth connect with his right side, Dragon twisted around and snapped at it. He felt his teeth dig into its ear, the earthen male ripping his head away and tearing the ear with it. As he attacked that one, another came after him from behind. It launched itself at his haunches, teeth digging into the base of his tail that caused Dragon to yelp from surprise and pain as the coyote's teeth embedded into his body. Like a raging bull, Dragon twisted and turned to throw it off, succeeding only when he managed to get his hind feet up and kick it away like a horse throwing off its attacker.
He could hear a couple of them skittering away, and he could hear Shiva scuffle with another. Ears twisted as he tried to determine the location of the fourth, but he was far too distracted with what Shiva was doing and listening to the other two that he hadn't noticed it was already upon him. An angry, guttural growl escaped him as he felt teeth grab onto his left hind ankle as the mad coyote tried to bring him to the ground. Dragon tried to twist around again, but he was already tired from chasing down his prey earlier and then having to fight off the other two. His jaws snapped at the coyote, though he couldn't quite get the grip that he wanted. A wild roar erupted nearby, and before he knew it, the coyote's teeth were ripped away from his leg and he could hear the ripping and tearing of flesh. Kimahri's scent flooded his nose then, and he realized that now there was no way the coyotes would continue their assault. And of course, he was right. They were thinking twice now that one of their own had just been ripped apart, and he could smell the stench of fear as they ran off.
Exhausted and hurting, Dragon slipped onto his rump and glanced in Kimahri's direction, "Better late than never I guess, eh?" He joked. Kimahri grunted as he stood there, watching as the coyotes sped off into the distance. "I saw them heading this way, but they had too much of a headstart by the time I realized." Dragon chuckled, "Don't worry, nothing Shiva and I couldn't have handled, anyway." He winked, then sat back sighed. Well, at least he was alive. It could have been worse...luckily, coyotes weren't as dangerous as most other animals. He could feel blood trickle down his leg, and he knew he'd likely be sore and probably get a scar from one of the coyote bites. But it didn't matter much to him. He was alive to live another day. |
Dragon never goes anywhere without his Dragon armor, assume he is always wearing it unless otherwise mentioned! He also has a pair of seeing eye jaguars, assume they're always present unless otherwise mentioned.