The Rogue and His Hunter Mate

Chapter 7- First Fight

Khanna POV

After finally being released from slave duty, I was placed in the first party to go into the supernatural realm and see what other creatures there may be. At least, that was the brief that I was given. In hindsight, I should have known something was up when I was the only one given the briefing.

Turns out that the actual plan was to push me through the portal and then close it, leaving me on my own with no weapons and no idea of where I am supposed to go or what I am supposed to do. I have a feeling that the main plan was to push me here and then leave me for dead.

Whether this was decided by Bradley or not, I do not know, as the ones who approached me were everyday hunters. But they waited until Peter was out of the way and wouldn’t be coming back.

I am currently standing in the middle of what appears to be a forest, cursing myself for my stupidity. I always try to see the good in people, and every time, it costs me dearly. This time, it might just cost me my life. If I do make it back home, I will make sure that I work even harder and become stronger. Then, the next time they pull a stunt like this on me, I will be able to stand my own ground and see it coming.

Oh, who am I kidding? Like that will ever happen. It is obvious that I am just doomed to be the metaphorical and literal punching bag for the hunters. While a few over the years have tried to help me, they were eventually persuaded not to. At first, I thought it was normal, because I was young and weak so they wanted to toughen me up. But then I noticed over the past few months, especially, the hatred in people’s eyes. All because I was adopted by Bradley, they seem to think that I get special treatment. If only they knew the real truth.

I turn around and look for the thinnest part of the forest, figuring that might be a bit safer to travel, as I might be easier to see, but it also makes others easier for me to see.

I spend a few hours just wandering around the forest. I am surprised to discover how much I love being out here, but I feel an invisible pull, pulling me further and further into the forest. I just followed the direction of the pull, and I can see what looks like the mouth of a cave up ahead. But the cave looks lived in, as there are utensils and seats outside arranged nicely and welcomingly.

Before I can start to move closer to the cave, I hear a growl from behind me. I turn around and come face-to-face with a very dirty but humongous wolf. The wolf is covered in debris, its teeth are yellow, and it stinks so bad that I can smell it from three feet away. I did not even sense the wolf coming up behind me; if it was not for the growl, then I would not have even been able to defend myself before it attacked.

Panic runs through me, but then I remember the moves that Peter has taught me, and I take a defensive stance where I squat slightly so that my legs are shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. This position is best for either defense or attack: if attacked, then the bent knees allow me more room to duck and dive out of the way, and if to attack my opponent, then this position gives me a bit more power behind me when I move forwards into fighting.

As brave as I wish I was to make the first move, I know that against a wolf, I have no chance. So instead, I opt to defend first to see how this wolf will behave and move.

After what feels like hours, but was really only a minute or two, the wolf makes its move and jumps at me. As soon as the wolf takes off into the air, I duck down onto the ground while also pushing myself sideways with my legs. When the wolf lands where I was, I am now jumping back to my feet a few feet away.

We repeat this little dance for a few more moves until I make it to a tree where a long branch is poking out. While the wolf is sizing me up and getting ready for another jump, I grasp the branch and pull with all of my might.

The branch comes loose just as the wolf leaps at me again. Luckily, I was able to move out of the way quick enough, and with the branch in my hand. The branch itself takes two hands for me to hold; it is thick and jagged and perfect for swinging around and causing damage.

I watch the wolf, slowly moving closer so that it is within striking distance. Once both of us have moved close enough, I swing the branch around in the air before I bring it down onto the wolf’s back, striking the back of its head and also the top of its back. The wolf lets out a yelp, and jumps away. A bit of blood can now be seen running down its front paw on the right-hand side.

I smile internally to myself. As much as I hate violence, it feels good to know that with a branch, I can defend myself. It also helps to fill me with a bit of courage and hope that I might just make this out alive.

The wolf and I then dance around for a bit. I land a few hits on the wolf, and it doesn’t quite get close enough to me, as even though I am small, I am very nimble. But then the wolf does something that I would not have expected and makes me think that I am actually dealing with a werewolf and not a normal wolf.

The wolf feigns moving to the right and preparing to jump, which I think is odd as that side is bleeding. But I move to protect myself from a hit from the right, but at the last moment the wolf changes and he hits me from his left side instead, which means that I am unable to counter and take the hit full on.

The wolf collides with me, and I get thrown into a tree. The only thing between me and the wolf is the branch, which holds up for a few seconds until the wolf jumps up and body slams its whole weight down onto me and the branch.

The branch breaks in two under the weight of the wolf, and a part of it ends up lodged in my abdomen, causing me to scream. But the scream turns from pain-filled to panic-filled when the wolf lunges for my throat. Due to the branch in my abdomen, I am unable to move away or do anything to deflect the oncoming attack.

I close my eyes and scream, fearing that this is going to be my resting place.

But then an almighty growl is released from behind me, causing my eyes to fly open in surprise and curiosity. This causes the wolf on top of me to back up a few steps, giving me a bit of breathing room. But there is nothing I can do about it, as I can barely move.

All of a sudden, a great big black wolf jumps in front of me, standing over me and protecting me from the other wolf’s attack. The wolf looks so majestic. All of his body is black except for his ears, which have grey fur on them. For a few seconds, I am just mesmerized by his beauty, and I have a feeling that I have seen him somewhere, but I do not know where.

But then my attention is brought back into the present, and I start to panic again. Great, now I have two wolves with which to contend with, and considering I was barely holding my own against one, I am definitely doomed now.