He’s definitely not a field guy. I just hope he keeps his cool.
“Hold your fire until you have a good shot. Narrow in on that gap between those two trees.” I point over his shoulder to the spot.
That keeps his damn flashlight out of my vision and lets me focus better.
A growl circles us in the blackest section of the brush but I can’t see where the animal is.
I can sure as hell smell it.
Their dank fur seems to hold the rotten odor of the rancid meat they eat.
Except it’s drowned by the overwhelming rank of Ash’s fear boiling from him in waves.
He might as well be yelling “eat me” at the top of his lungs.
The slinking dark gray form of a wolf darts out, charging towards Ash.
Gunshots ring in my ears, buzzing over any chance I’d have at listening for the approaching animals.
But then his scream cuts through the sweltering night as he’s ripped from his feet.
Following the blur of movement, I manage to fire off two rounds myself before a second animal leaps at me from behind.
Jagged canines as long as a knife blade pierce my bicep, twirling me to tangle with its clawing limbs in the dirt.
Pain radiates down my arm. Luckily it isn’t the one holding my pistol, so I’m able to turn the barrel and land a direct hit through the neck towards its back.
The creature’s cry as it lets go almost has a human shrillness.
Don’t think about that now.
Pulling myself up, I drop two more rounds into the brain of the huge beast, then take off as fast as I can in the direction of Ash’s voice.
I reload while I sprint, thankful for the years of training I’ve had. And it’s nice to not have to pretend that an injury like that is debilitating.
Acting hurt is a nuisance when I can heal quickly.
Nothing like Jenny though.
Blood hangs so heavy I can practically taste it in the air, but I’m getting closer.
Ash’s frantic calls have dwindled to low groans when I finally catch up.
Shit.
He’s in a crumpled pile while the wolf gnashes on his lower thigh, ripping a chunk of flesh off to swallow it down.
I take steady aim before I pull the trigger, waiting until its nose is pointed at the sky.
It drops, soundlessly, into a heap over Ash.
“Ash? Can you hear me?” Shoving the dead animal off him exposes the mangled gore of his leg.
Fresh bone gleams in the dim starlight as the shredded muscles twitch in a failing effort to move.
“Hud—” His fingers clutch at the ground as he tries to open his eyes weakly. “—I’m so fucked,” he rasps.
Falling to my knees next to him, I rip off my belt and wind it just below his groin in a makeshift tourniquet. “No, man. I got you.”
