The Lycanthrope Tails. Chapter One.
The Lycanthrope Tails
Chapter One
By Roofles
It was a late October night, the full moon up high in the sky when a sound of a howl tore through the silence that had set. Like a hacksaw it ripped through the air before, with a sickening thunk, it was silenced.
"There are still more," a voice spoke into a black radio. There was static on the other end before they got a reply. "Understood... The hunt continues."
The earth beneath his paws shook, the grass getting caught between his claws and toes, wet from the downpour still falling from over head. Yet it felt like he was walking on glass. The rain was thick and sheets fell from the sky obscuring his vision of the trees as he darted past one and weaved his heavy body between them the best he could do in the state he was in. His shoulder hit one, cracking the bark and ripping it apart as he slammed into it and kept going. A searing pain flashed in his shoulder but it only fueled his need to run. It was the pain in his hind leg that made him run so fast and so uncontrolled.
Heavy labored pants filled the air, misty breath fogged before it's snout as the beast, eyes wide with alarm, tore through the woody mountain side with an alarming speed. Heart thundering in his chest as the massive wolf turned his head to look back, if only for a second, hitting it's side hard into a tree as it veered off course suddenly every instinct in his body screaming loudly, ordering him to do so. A jagged, metal bolt skewered the tree he had been next to a half second before. The metal shaft quivered, the tree tilted to the side from the impact, a large chunk had been ripped out of its side; soon it caved under it's own weight falling to the ground. As the dust settle, silence once more fell over the world. Even the heavy panting breaths had quiet down until there was only silence but the heavy rainfall still soaking the whole mountain side.
A loud growling rumble filled the air as a truck bounced up over the mountain side, skidded on the dirt path and twin headlights illuminated the metal spear still sticking out of the side of the tree. The thick forest made it impossible to move any further down this path. The front of the truck had a metal, jagged railing that still had chunks of fur and flesh, dripping from it's teeth.
"Missed." A female voice spoke up, her appearance hidden behind the brights of the large truck. A mounted harpoon gun had been installed into the bed of the truck. Bolted down onto it. Large handle bars of a Harley bike had been rigged on the sides of the makeshift weapon. "It headed down the cliff side." She spoke into the radio. She didn't even wait for a reply as she shouted loudly into the night. "Run while you still can, little doggie! We're coming for you." And with a laugh slapped the top of the truck motioning for the driver to continue the chase.
The massive body of russet red fur had dove with all it's remaining strength to get out of the way, right down the mountain side. It's large body toppling over the small cliff and down the rocky, tree covered side. It tried to brace it's fall, to slow it's descent but time and time again it just hit rock and tree alike, breaking them like pebbles before it's path. Head over tail it rolled until finally it landed hard on the smooth, cold pavement of the road.
It's body rested on one side. Grunting, panting heavily it forced itself up on one shaking leg. Dakota could taste blood in his muzzle, his whole body aching and the adrenaline finally beginning to give out. Whole body shaking, every muscle burning and only pure instinct keeping him from just closing his eyes and giving in to the sleep trying to take him. Then those twin headlights blared. And before it could even open it's muzzle, it tasted blood once more as it ran smack into it.
Body lurched as wheels screeched in the dead of night, the truck slamming to a halt as the canine was knocked back several feet, rolling over several times and laying motionless on the ground. Blood stained the rain slick road as the wolf massive form went limp and lifeless in the light of the truck.
"Fuck." A female voice said loudly as someone quickly jumped out of the passenger seat. "Fuck, fuck." She continued to curse running over to look at what they had hid. "Oh please don't be dead, please don't be dead." She begged before turning around to the driver who was just getting out, leaving the truck head lights showing forward. "Jared!" She called over to him, waving at the man in a raincoat. He brought one over for her as well.
"What did we hit, Tess?" Jared asked quickly heading over to the woman who wore an identical gray raincoat. "Oh, shit." Was the first thing he said seeing past her and to the massive body of fur and flesh bleeding in the middle of the mountain side road. "That's one ugly bear."
"Didn't you even see it jump out?"
"I barely had time to hit the breaks let alone try to avoid it!" Jared shot back with a glare. "Dumb animal..." And the two looked at it.
The massive russet red wolf laid on one side, unmoving. It's chest barely rising and falling with it's faint breaths. Each one seemed strained and neither of the two knew if it was dead or alive until Tess laid her head on it's side to hear the slow heartbeat underneath.
"It's alive," Tess said slowly standing back up. "A few broken ribs. It's leg is busted up something good..." She muttered looking over everything. "Shoulder's most likely fractured as well."
"Leave it to the vet in training." Jared teased walking over. He kept his hands in his pocket looking the whole thing over. He whistled softly. It continued to pour down around them soaking it's muddy fur and washing away the blood. "Damn, it's a big one." He just muttered looking off to the side and up the hill it had seemingly fallen down from. The thing had made a rather large impression on the side of the road and it was clear it had fallen down from there.
"He." Tess corrected with a chuckle. Jared rolled his eyes.
"Ah, yes of course that's the first thing you'd check." Jared chuckled some more. The two fell silent for a moment as Tess continued to look the wild animal over. "This isn't your forte is it?" Jared had to ask. Every time it twitched or moved he flinched, wanting to take a step back but also not wanting to appear cowardly in front of his sister.
"I usually help cats and..." Tess hesitated before touching one of those massive paws and turning it over to inspect it's bloody nails. "Dogs. Normal, four legged dogs. Not wolves."
That took Jared aback. "A wolf? As in an actual wolf? We hadn't had one of those West of the Rocky mountains in years." He looked at the thing, finally taking his hands out of his pockets. He wasn't sure what to do with them though. "In the wild I mean." He corrected himself. "A wolf." He said again. Then looked at her. "Are you sure? It looks more like a...bear."
"It's large enough to be one." Tess agreed standing up again. "He's been running. Running for hours, days maybe..." She muttered looking back at her brother. The look she got made her elaborate. "His very paws are bloody. His front, the shoulders chest and head, are an utter mess. Cuts and bruises under the fur, it's wet and muddy." Tess rolled one hand. "All of which is predominantly in the front of his body. Other than the wound," and she motioned to the large chunk that had been taken from it's hind leg.
"Cool." Jared just nodded along. "So should I kick him over to the side of the road..." He jabbed a thumb over to the side ditch that was pooling with water. "Or want me to just run him over?"
"Jared!" Tess spun around tossing her hands down and glaring at him. "How can you be s-so cold! So insensitive!"
"Because it's a huge ass wild animal that..." He turned and pointed at the front of his truck. "Dented the front of my truck! That's how!" He glared back. Sparks flying between the two. "Give me one god damn good reason why I should bust my butt trying to help that...that...mongrel!" He jabbed a finger at it. "My poor baby..." The man in his twenties said looking back at the front of his truck. It looked like it had ran smack into a tree, it was a wonder the engine wasn't smoking.
"Because I'll tell mom." Tess threatened, folding her arms over her chest and lifting her chin up. The rain soaked her long dark brown hair over her face.
"...What do you need me to do?" Jared said in defeat shaking his head, shuddering at the very thought of bringing their mother into this.
"We need to load him into the back of your truck. We'll take him to the clinic and go from there." She said already moving back around towards the truck.
"What about the party though?" Jared asked following after. He jumped in the driver seat and was already beginning to spin the truck around, slowly and carefully on the already narrow road. "My baby can handle this..." He gritted his teeth as the back wheels fell into the ditch before pulling themselves up and out. The engine made, another, funky sound and Jared just prayed it'd be ok. It had been through a lot worse than hitting a "dumb animal" after all.
"Already texted them." Tess said stashing her phone, she stayed off to the side directing and guiding him until the back was facing the large, unconscious creature.
"Of course you did." Jared rolled his eyes getting out, only to hop up on the back wheel and into the truck bed. He turned the back over head lights on and began going through everything that was tied up. Most of the things were for camping and it was easy to rummage up ropes and twin boards, creating a makeshift pulley with the junk and using the pieces of wood as a ramp. It hadn't been the first time Tess made him take an injured animal to the clinic. Admittedly this one was far larger than the raccoons, squirrels and even stray dogs he had helped transport in the past.
"Careful with the leg." Tess examined the makeshift brace she had fashioned using Jared favorite red black checkered scarf as a bandage. Jared never took the thing off and barely washed it as it was but the medical kit didn't have any bandages large enough for the animal. Tesa used the rest of the materials from the emergency kit stashed in the truck to try and clean the wound the best she could. It seemed to be doing better but maybe it only looked that way.
"Every time." Jared grumbled giving the crank another turn. There was a growl from the creature as it was shifted up onto the boards. "Every single damn time." He continued to mumble giving it another turn. "Every fucking animal we come across. Oh Jared please," he mimicked her the best he could flexing his arms and tightening his muscles and he pulled harder. "This bird injured it's wing. The raccoon looks innocent, it won't claw your face off. Oh look is that a bear? Lets go introduce ourselves... You sure this won't cause any more damage?" Jared looked at the creatures, tied up in ropes and being pulled up onto the boards like the stump he had helped get rid of for a friend over the summer. He used the same process he had then. Even trying to take into account it was a living creature rather than a dead stump, it looked rather... uncomfortable, to say the least.
"Probably." Tess just said without concern. "Be far worse if we leave it here in the middle of the road." She just said as if validating any more harm they could and would be doing. "I set it's leg, which is my greatest concern, it'll be fine. Once we have it in the truck we can get it all nice and comfy before I drive home."
"You?" Jared asked looking over at her. The rope loosened and he quickly had to give it another crank to stop the heavy creature from just hitting the road. He muttered a bit, flushing at his lapse. "Why are you driving?" He asked straining to pull the canine up the rest of the way. Jared used the same slabs of wood he used to get his quads up into the truck. Still the wooden slabs bent under its weight.
"Well someone has to ride in the back to make sure it doesn't wake up and rip us apart." Tess just smiled at him.
"The same thing with the raccoon?" Jared was the one to just smile before his face twisted into something ugly. "Fuck that." He turned away, moving for the driver seat after the wolf had been dragged up into the bed of his truck. He ignored putting up the back, not even caring if it just slipped out on the way home - it'd make things a lot easier for them both. "That thing was like no bigger than a football and nearly ate my face. This thing is as big as a foot ball player! I rather not be eaten by it." He shuddered at the thought.
"Wouldn't be the first time a foot ball player mauled you." Tess countered quickly. Jared just gave a blank look at her.
"Really? Gay jokes here?" And he shivered a bit at the ice cold air wishing he had brought his sweater with him. "I'll keep an eye on him from INSIDE the vehicle, thanks." And at that the two switched spots, Jared hopping into the passenger seat and his twin sister Tess taking the driver. Jared slid the back panel window open just enough so he could keep an eye on the slumbering creature. "Can't believe it's not dead." He muttered, frowning as it bled on his truck. The back door had been pushed up and Tess had done a rather good job strapping it in for the ride. It did look somewhat comfy with all the towels and makeshift pillows added to brace it during the ride.
"They don't make 'em like they used too." And Jared wasn't sure if she was talking about the animal they had hit or the old pick up truck that was choking on it's own fumes, chugging like a tug boat to life before purring loudly in the night air like a lawn mower that was on it's last leg.
She turned the car back up onto the road, straightening out and began heading back in the very direction they had come from. The two spoke little on what had happening, talking more of what they were going to do within the week to come. About the party they were going to miss. And about what Jared was going to buy for dinner; caring and knowing even less about the other truck that pulled up to the spot they had hit the massive wolf.
The other truck turned on it's side, skidding in the road and in the same motion a woman jumped out of the back, landing on all fours before standing up. She wore a heavy black coat and leather boots. She looked over at the muddy wall that looked as if someone had dragged a whole tree down the side of it, back to the road and then inspected the black stain on the ground covering one of the yellow lines. The thick blood clung to her fingers as she rubbed them together.
It was nearly an hours drive back along the mountain road, the road nearly zig-zagging the whole way down as the two college students chatted on. The forest was dense and with the sun set neither of them could see anything further than where the brights showed them. Jared was grabbing the side door at every turn and cursing loudly as they skidded around one of the U shaped loops down the mountain side.
"Fuck, can you drive a little more like a sane person?" Jared growled not taking his eyes off the road for a second as if afraid it'd disappear out from under them.
"Oh hush, you pansy-boy." Tess laughed, resting back a bit. "Just because I don't drive like a granny," she shot him a look. "Doesn't mean I'm going fast." And Jared just yelped as she spun the wheel around another turn and the two found themselves pushed to one side.
At the edge of town, over looking it just next to the mountain road, there was a small building with a large paved parking lot. A tall chain link fence boxed the double story building in and lights had been mounted on top of the fence bringing life to the otherwise closed veterinarian clinic.
"You sure he won't mind?" Jared asking, talking about the owner and the actual vet of the clinic.
"Yeah." Tess said and gave a wink. "So long as we do a great job, he can't say no." She made sure to use the back parking lot however so if someone drove by they wouldn't be seen. It'd be problematic if the cops got involved... and informed the veterinarian about the trespassers.
"Oh, only?" The man groaned a bit shaking his head and holding the side of it. He could still feel his brain rattling around from the drive. "If he decides to pay a nightly visit to his home away from home, you do realize... We're dead, right?" And his face fell a bit. "Dudes fucking scary..." He just muttered aloud to himself staring off into the distance.
"Yup." And with that Tess practically skipped over to the back door, pulling out her keys and slid the key card on the number pad. This was soon followed by a series of digit her fingers had memorized before her brain even did.
"Get a gurney." Jared called to her, who had already disappeared inside the building.
Tess popped her head back into the front door to glare at he man. "No shit sherlock, who the hell do you think i am?" And with that disappeared once more inside the building, humming softly to herself and skipping.
He opened the bed of his truck and looked at the massive creature wishing he hadn't been left alone with it. Jared wasn't afraid of dogs, no. He was afraid of things that could easily take one paw and swipe your face off with it. The wolf twitched every now and then, it's good leg jerking before it whimpered in its unconscious state. Jared frowned before looking away a bit.
"Damn thing's bigger than I am," he muttered trying not to stare too much at it's groin. He only did as Tess had so kindly pointed out that it was indeed a he, and it had one leg stretched out and open. Hard not to notice. Jared figured its leg needed the support and also that his sister was a perv. "Dumb animals," he muttered beginning to undo the ropes holding it down.
He hopped up on one tire before jumping over the side and standing in the back of the truck. It moved, twitching once more and Jared froze watching it closer before letting his breath out. He didn't want to get mauled by something this big. The raccoon was bad enough; specially the rabies shots. Jared bent down on one knee and began undoing the ropes wrapped around its neck, making sure the boards underneath were still firmly placed before beginning to slide it down and towards the end of the truck.
Tess came back out, from the side garage door, with a gurney in toe. There was a large blue plastic sheet over the top of it. Both were just glad the head of the stretcher was nearly the same height as the back of the truck, once they cranked it up a bit higher. It made the already difficult task somewhat easier, as they both slid the massive canine down onto the metal stretcher. It creaked and groaned a bit. Jared was more than happy to let go of the good leg he had just pulled the beast down with. It's fur was caked in mud.
"How old is this thing?" Jared asked not about the canine, wanting to just forget about it, and kicked the side of the gurney. It dropped a half-inch at the motion making both of them jump.
"It was here when I first began working." Tess just shrugged a shoulder beginning to use the straps to make sure the beast was both stabilized and that it wouldn't just fall off. Much as she had in the back of the truck. Jared was unnerved by how skilled Tess was about tying up helpless males...
Jared locked up his truck, shut everything before jogging over towards the garage. He looked back out and around to make sure no one had seen them before shutting the garage; just in time as a pair of headlights brightened up the road and slowly drove by the clinic heading back into town.
Tess moved the gurney over next to the table bench that was used for the animals. It had been built in mine for household pets and possibly an alligator; not the great bear-sized wolf. They each got on the other side and grabbing the blue plastic sheet moved the massive canine over onto the bench.
"Damn," Jared rubbed his back a bit. "Things fucking heavy."
"Yeah. Wild animals always are far heavier than their domestic cousins." Tess muttered bringing the light down. She had a pair of plastic surgeon gloves and had gotten a rather large apron on. There was still blood stains on the front of it.
"You look more like a butcher than a healer." Jared teased resting back against the wall, crossing his arms and legs and watching his sister work. He made sure if it did wake up he'd have more than ample time to get to the door and out while it mauled his sister to death.
Tess didn't reply as she examined the patient. She turned one of it's bloody paws over inspecting the bottom of it. "There seems to be some sort of metal object embedded into it's feet."
Jared scratched the fuzz on his chin mulling that over. "There is an old steel mill on the East side of town. It's closed these days but maybe it got into there?" He shrugged a shoulder. "Need a hand?" He asked giving a stretch and already heading over. Jared figured he might as well do what he can, seeing as how he wasn't about to do anything else this weekend.
"Sure." Tess just muttered grabbing a pair of tongs, a cotton swap and some alcohol used to disinfect wounds. "Grab me that metal tray," she pointed off to the side not even looking. Jared did as he was told and set it close by.
Tess moved her long dark brown, almost black hair back tying it up with a scrunchy Jared was sure she had just made appear out of thin air. She proceeded with the work. Using the tongs to gentle grab one of the pieces of metal lodged into it's front paw. Once she had a good grip she gave a soft tug and pulled it out.
The wolf kicked one of its front legs and baring it's fangs snarling at the pain.
"Big pussy." Jared noted moving the tray over as she set the metal piece into it. He looked down at the metal barb. It didn't click, at first. Until there were several other pieces along with it. "Don't these look like...jacks? That old people game with the little ball and such?" He picked one up, only after putting a glove on, and inspected it closer into the light. "Damn sharp though." He noted dropping it back into the place. He wasn't an idiot but still almost cut himself on a piece. "Bloody sharp..."
"Don't need to be." Tess said looking down at the paw. She gave it the once over before satisfy that it was free of metal. She grabbed the swap and dabbed at each spot. The wolf snarled once more, flexing it's toes each time. "I can't believe this." She shook her head side to side.
"What?" Jared asked.
"I think someone did this to him." She said moving to the next paw. It wasn't as bad but she still found one wedged between it's toes. "I've heard about cruel animal traps used to cripple pray so they can't even run away."
"It seems a bit... inconvenient." Jared frowned moving down a bit to help work on his hind paws with his sister. "Why not just a trap? Or one of those... what do they call them? Bear traps. With the pointed teeth that snap on your leg when you step in them." Jared said using his hands to describe what he was trying to recall.
"I think there was one." Tess said moving the fur back on one of it's hind leg. There were several teeth marks on it's ankle that were already healed mostly, leaving just scars. "It might've been chained up by someone." She noted at the fur, most of which was missing around the other ankle.
"It didn't just chew off it's own foot?" Jared chuckle looking at his sister who frowned at him.
"That's coyotes, you idiot. God, you can be just... just so ignorant!" And she moved around to inspect it's thigh. There was a nasty gash that was still oozing thick almost black blood that stained it's fur. "This is what I'm worried about..." She said slowly wishing to put this part to the end. It was even worse though in the light.
"Wow... What can do that?" Jared asked looking at it. He moved his gloved hand over and nearly placed it in the wound before Tess swatted it away. "I could fit my hand into that."
"Yeah, well don't!" She puffed up her cheeks. "You can be just so insensitive!" But she looked back at the wound. "It looks to be some sort of puncture wound."
"Someone stabbed it with a nail?" Jared asked lifting an eyebrow having stepped on a nail as a kid once.
"Or a harpoon." She said looking at a rather nasty cut next to the hole. "It probably ripped it out with it's teeth." And she brought the light down. "It made a mess though. There are still pieces of it in here."
"You don't think..." Jared began. Tess nodded.
"Yeah. Whatever it was, was made to break apart in the wound." And she sighed heavily, shaking her head side to side. "This is out of my comfort zone. I mostly treat the light stuff. Nothing like this..."
"Didn't you once work on a cougar?" Jared asked. "Or were you just lyin' to me?" He shook his head, teasing her but placed his ungloved hand on her shoulder anyways.
"Yeah, but it was heavily sedated and Morris," she said the name of the vet who owned the clinic, "was there with me the whole time. Coaching me, guiding me, telling me what to do..." She said slowly taking her gloves off, re-washing her hands and putting new ones on. He didn't say anything until she came back over.
"Look, just clean the wound. We can go from there." Jared said looking at the pieces of metal again. The flesh around each one had become burned as if each piece of metal was scorching hot. It was warm to the touch but not hot enough to burn him. "It's silver." He finally said looking over at his sister. "The metal is silver." He only confirmed washing a piece off under the sink and inspecting it in the light; more so just out of his own morbid curiosity.
"Creepy." Tess said moving back over to the wound. She took a breath and shook her head. "Some crazy person using silver on the big bad wolf?" Tess took a slow breath. Letting it out and then just stood there looking at the wound.
"Hey." Jared said over to her. "You got this. It's nothing. Just cleaning another wound. Once those metal bits are out I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing from there. We can call Morris tell him about all this and then he can deal with the rest."
She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks." She added looking up with a smile.
"You've been here every day after school, before work... You spend nights here for fuck sake." Jared chuckle. "If anyone other than good old Morris could do it? It's you." Tess gave another nod.
"Ok. Sponge." She said offering her hand. Jared rolled his eyes before passing it over.
The process was far less work than either of them thought but the wound was far worse than either had seen. It still oozed thick blood as she took a tool that looked like a pair of tweezers and pulled out a long sliver of metal. It gleaned in the light and the blood on it seemed to bubble and boil. She dropped it into the metal tin with the other pieces of silver.
"At least most of these pieces are solid." Tess spoke slowly pulling another needle out.
"They look like porcupine quills." Jared said resting against the table. The beast twitch a bit, teeth showing as it'slips twitched and he hoped it wouldn't wake up. He placed a hand on it's chest. The steady heartbeat underneath drummed against his fingers; that chest rose and fell heavily. And if only for a second it seemed to calm down and Jared smiled at that.
"Something like that." Tess muttered a bit, cursing as she accidentally grabbed a piece of muscle than the silver shard lodged into it. The wolf growled loudly and moved. "Just a few more... that I can see." She looked over as she said the last part.
"You got this." Jared just smiled in turn, keeping his hand on the wolf's chest. "It'll be alright." He said both to it and her. "It'll be alright." He whispered down to it, looking over at Tess. "I got this... so you get that." He nodded at the wound.
"Right." And she did.
It took almost an hour in itself just to clean up the mess after. "It's lucky." Tess made sure to say, sounding humble. "The blood itself seemed to be trying to push the metal out of its body. It had healed mostly other than around the metal. Some kind of... allergic reaction?" She just shrugged however and shook her head on the matter. "Way beyond my level. I called Morris. He'll be in early tomorrow."
"Should we strap it down 'til then? Muzzle it? I wish we knew the proper dosage to use to sedate it." Jared said sitting up on the counter and looking at his sister who was cleaning everything else up. She ended up just dropping the whole tin into the sink..
"Yeah." She grumbled looking down at the tray with all the silver shards. "This is just sick." She finally spat the words. "Who could do something like this?"
Jared shrugged a shoulder. "Hell if I know. I hate animals and still I find this whole thing messed up."
"Get mauled once or twice," Tess rolled her eyes.
"Can you blame me?" Jared laughed jumping down and walking over. He looked over the wolf before stopping. "Damn, it's just...messed up." He shook his head as his sister had. "What do we do now?"
"It just needs plenty of rest." She said but helped him strap it down. Sliding the largest of the muzzles they could over it's snout. Jared had to let her finish, shuddering at those teeth that couldn't even fully fit into it's snout.
"Like a year?" Jared chuckled.
"Hopefully not!" And Tess joined in lightly. "Let's grab a bite to eat."
"I can get on board with that!" Jared clapped his hands together. "Be ok if we left it in here?"
"Be fine." Tess waved it off. "It won't wake up for hours, at the earliest."
Jared nodded following after before stopping. He looked back at the large canine and his face fell a bit. He sighed, shaking his head and walked over. It shuddered, shivering, twitching it's now bandaged leg. A soft whine escaped it's muzzle. They had tried to wash off most the mud from it's paws and legs, and dried its fur with a towel and still it felt cold to the touch.
"Poor thing." Jared placed a hand on it's head. He frowned at the bloody scarf that Tess had used as a bandage on the road. "You can keep it, big guy." Jared said softly taking it and placing it lightly around his neck hoping it'd at least keep it somewhat warm. And turned around heading out, turning the lights off and not even aware of the golden eye watching him leave.
Dakota opened both eyes just in time to see the man leaving. That made his whole body tense. The smell of blood hit his nostrils and he quickly sat up. His whole body protested loudly at the sudden movement and his head swam tilting downwards an off the side of the table. Soon it retched puked his guts out. Gagging he looked back up to make sure he hadn't been heard. His eyes were wide, breaths heavy and every instinct he had was telling him to get up and run.
Even before trying, a stabbing pain ran up his whole leg. His eyes quickly looked over at the cause and only saw the bandage leg and it took his mind several minutes to catch up to what it was. A bandage? That wasn't right, wasn't something they do. Where was he? What did they want? Hundreds of thoughts and worries ran through his head, a spiral storm of chaos that only made the splitting headache he had ten times worse. A combination of confusion and fear hit him. Hunger and pain made him evacuate his guts once more.
And his head laid back down with a groan, his eyes darting to every corner and every shadow. The overpowering smell of bleach and cleaner hit his nose but his eyes settled on the medical equipment just an arms reach away. Even from where he sat, his eyes could see a metal shards glinting with his own thick blood on the counter next to the sink. The side of his muzzle lifted up, baring teeth. He snorted before shaking his head.
Calm yourself, Dakota. His thoughts were muddled, unfocused. The pain made it hard to think. He wanted to get up, to run but every fiber of his being was telling him he couldn't. He needed too, but couldn't. It was safe here, if only for the time being. Just a few hours, that's all he needed. Then he could get up, get out of here and back to the woods where it was safe. Find the others, meet up and get out of here before they were found once more. How they were they found to begin with? He wasn't sure. That was an issue for another time.
So he rested his head back down on the edge of the table, eyes remaining open and unaware until the exhaustion finally took him and the adrenaline he had been running on for the past several days finally gave out and sleep took him, pulling his eyelids shut. The last thing he recalled was a scent in the air. Of a male he hadn't smelled before, of the scarf wrapped over his neck and Dakota wouldn't recall pressing his nose against it. As soon enough a heavy, dreamless sleep took him.