chapter 1
(WARNING some of the content within this story may be disturbing for some readers, there is mention of dark themes that delve into abuse and depression, but nothing too triggering (IMO) will happen i. do. not. write.non-con.)
–173–
sniffing the chilled air I could faintly catch the scent of something…interesting?
a scent I didn’t recognize, couldn’t recognize. it was so strange and unnerving, yet…familiar. It was unlike anything I had ever come across before. The scent was so faint that I almost didn’t even notice it.
staring out over the forest before me my mind wondered as to its source. part of me wished to seek it out but as I sniffed the air again, it was gone. carried away by the wind.
huffing I shook my head and the rest of my body followed suit as I shook out my fur, the familiar sound of my collar clinking filling my ears. opening my eyes I looked out over the horizon as the sun started to set.
I wish I could enjoy this sunset like usual but as my stomach continued to protest for food I knew I needed to get moving. jumping down from my rock perch I trotted down towards the river.
By the time I arrived at the water banks, the sun had disappeared, replaced by a bright moon that lit up the forest in a dim glow. Now that night had fallen I could hunt or scavenge for something to eat. It would have been easier hunting during daylight hours but going out in the daytime wasn’t ideal for a runt like me.
Should the sentinels see me around the area they would either bully me or chase me off or worse capture me.
I’ve watched the sentinels kill others for the smallest things so I tried not to go out during the day when they were more active.
I huffed at the thought but didn’t stop, these thoughts were unpleasant but I couldn’t simply avoid going near the facility. not now.
there have been so many times where I wanted to give up, where I wanted to roll over and just let the forest take me. but now was not one of those times, because now there’s more than just my life at stake. so I couldnt give in no matter what.
as I followed the river banks my dark fur was hardly seen in the river’s reflection, even with the strange white markings i bore. I suppose that was one thing I got lucky in when it came to my existence…my black fur. It helped keep me alive over the years and helped me to stay hidden as I hunted in the dark or snuck around the compound. but that is as far as my luck goes.
slowing down I whined a bit feeling my stomach cramp painfully. two days with nothing to eat when I’m already so weak, has been like torture to my small body.
It’s dangerous going to the facility for food so I try to avoid doing so, but tonight I have no other option, I barely have the energy or strength to hunt.
The closer I got to the buildings, the more alert my senses became. ‘I can’t get into trouble now, I can’t let them capture me now–’ I continuously reminded myself while using the darkness of night and the shadows to weave through the buildings. I tried to avoid any sentinels or cameras as I went despite how futile it was.
crouched down behind some crates I watched as two guards passed by while patrolling. They were too busy speaking to one another to notice me crouched down in the shadows. “They are still looking for the escapee. it’s been over a week, I doubt that it’s still around–”
I could faintly make out bits and pieces of their conversation as they went but paid little mind to it. I had to focus, only one thing matters right now. Food.
passing between a few buildings I stopped and sniffed the air, smelling food ahead. my stomach grumbled and my mouth watered as I crept closer to the open area where the feeling pit was.
unable to avoid the cameras in this area I trotted over to the pit and peered inside seeing fresh scraps that had been dumped recently. my mouth watered at the smell but I kept focused and quickly searched through it for something reasonable.
I could stay here for long or else the keepers might send some guards out to catch me and drag me inside. I shuddered at the thought of going back into the labs, the experience was always unpleasant but with my current situation, I couldn’t let it happen.
and considering how much I tried to avoid the compound i knew i was long overdue for more of their testing.
finding a bag with some fresh scraps inside, I quickly grabbed it and left the pit. As I made my way out of the area I heard a door opening and turned my head to see a guard stepping out with an electrified pole snare in hand. almost immediately his masked gaze locked onto my form and fear coursed through me.
I dashed through the Allies back towards the forest, with the bag in my mouth as I headed for my den. I didn’t dare to look back or stop until I had got to the river, only then did I slow to a trot with my body feeling drained. The keepers rarely sent the guards after us outside the compound. They used the feeding pit as a trap to catch those they needed to run tests on or sent sentinels out with equipment to forcefully bring us back to the compound.
Considering I had been relying solely on hunting small prey to sustain myself, I hadn’t needed to go to the compound the past few weeks, therefore lowering my chances of being caught.
my stomach continued to protest demanding that I stop and eat now but I couldn’t, not yet. not until I knew I was safe until I took care of–
a snarl from behind startled me and I looked back to see a mangy brown wolf growling at me. one that was drooling uncontrollably no doubt lured here by the smell of my food.
my ears folded back and my tail moved between my legs. as a second tan-colored wolf jumped out beside him dread seeped into my bones. I couldn’t fight two of them, not with how weak I was.
as they stepped forward I stepped back and glanced toward the direction I needed to go. One of them seemed to notice and as my body tensed to make a run for it he ran to block me. only that wasn’t the direction I went, instead, I dashed across the river towards the denser forest.
I could hear their snarling as they gave chase behind me. I needed to lose them quickly! most of the time I would use my small frame to squeeze into small spaces and evade and escape anyone chasing me but right now that wasn’t an option, not while I was carrying a bag of food, and I couldn’t just let it go either to avoid confrontation, this food wasn’t something I had the luxury of giving up–
we needed this.
so I pushed on, trying to run faster pushing my body as i went. but as the cold air burned in my lungs, I knew I couldn’t keep up this chase for long. jumping over a log I felt one of the opposing wolves tackle me to the ground. I yelped, keeping my hold on the bag as I tried to kick him off.
a deep bite into my hind leg shot pain through my entire being as a muffled yelp escaped me. The tan wolf caught up and grabbed the bag I held onto in my jaws to try and take it away, but I refused to relent and allow him to take it.
in turn, the cloth sack ripped, spilling all its contents across the ground. The mangy brown wolf released my leg and both wolves dived for the food, eating anything they could. Quick to get back to my feet I snatched a bread loaf off the ground, desperate for anything.
One of the wolves saw this and grabbed the other end of it before I could escape, tearing it in half. I didn’t stay to fight and took off running back to my den, ignoring the burning pain in my leg as I ran.
By the time I arrived back at my shelter, my legs were shaking from the strain I put my body through and I was panting even while carrying the food. every fiber of my being wanted me to collapse right there and just relinquish my mind to the darkness but I still couldn’t.
limping towards my den, hidden beneath a large stone arch and multiple fallen trees, I squeezed through the tight opening. internally wincing as my injured leg made it more difficult.
glancing back at the opening, I could barely make out the moon high up in the night sky shining down on me and my miserable existence.
closing my eyes I turned my back on the moon and stepped further into the den.
a small whimper had me opening my eyes once more and looking up. a pair of golden orbs gazed back at me as a small gray wolf pup approached at the smell of food and the sight of her made all the tension in my body fade away. I moved closer to the small pup, dropping the food carefully before her. She sniffed it hesitantly before her small tail wagged and she started eating the little bit of food I had brought her.
my heart sank in guilt as I thought about how little I had actually managed to get her. She deserved so much more…
limping past the small pup I laid down in my nest of old blankets and rested my head on my paws watching the small pup finish off the last of the bread. I knew she was still hungry but there was little I could do for her… my ears folded back as I curled up and closed my eyes.
After a few moments, I felt the pup squirming underneath my leg to get closer and cozy up with me for sleep. licking the top of her head I allowed her to get comfortable before relaxing and allowing myself to fall asleep.
I could only hope tomorrow would be better.
