I scratched my right fang.
Unless… Ididneed to bite him?
Was it really that simple for the urge to fade away? Would he like it if I bit him? I had never bitten through the surface of his exoskeleton because, let’s face it, it was kind of hard. Instead, I only playfully gnawed at it, and the fur around his neck would stand up on end every time.
It was the cutest thing ever.
I rubbed my forehead as I continued through the forest. I had stopped running, already far enough away that the light of the cabin was too far gone.
Atlas was going to be so pissed, but I was really hoping for that spanking I told him about. He seemed pleased with the idea of punishment, but also worried he would hurt me.
Baby, you can’t hurt me. Have you seen the meat on my ass?
I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the look on his face. He was innocent, and I supposed I should have been, too, considering how inexperienced I was. Still, I’d had ideas for a long, long time.
I turned around to see if Atlas was coming; he should have been, I thought, but still, there was no Atlas.
Should I go back?
Yeah, really classy to go back. I shouldn’t have left in the first place. I did a total FMC thing and left thinking I was so smart and that I could handle things on my own.
Which, honestly, I thought I could.
Again, wrong type of attitude, but I’ve got a pocket knife, pepper spray and a butt load of confidence.
I took a deep breath, the scent of pine and damp earth filling my nostrils. Okay, so maybe I had acted a bit rashly, but isn't that what they say about hindsight? It's always 20/20. I couldn't just stand there, wondering if I should go back. I had to keep moving, if only to prove to myself that I wasn't completely idiotic for venturing out here alone.
It was nice to get some fresh air.
Also, a chance to see if I could lure TeaBagTitan out and Atlas find us both. Get this stupid thing over with.
The crunch of leaves under my feet sounded obscenely loud. Every snap of a twig echoed like a gunshot in my ears. The forest, once seemingly welcoming, felt like it was closing in on me.The trees leaned in, their spiky branches intertwining overhead, blocking out more of the already waning light.
I kept my hand wrapped tightly around the pepper spray in my pocket. The cool metal was a comfort, a reminder that I wasn't completely defenseless. Though against a fox shifter, I wasn't sure how much good it would do. Could you even pepper spray a shifter? Or would they just sneeze and laugh at you?
A rustle in the bushes to my left froze me in my tracks. My heart pounded in my chest, and I held my breath, listening. Another rustle, then a small, furry creature darted out from the underbrush. Just a squirrel. I let out a shaky laugh, my tense shoulders relaxing slightly.
But the relief was short-lived. A faint scent caught my attention, something different from the usual forest smells. It was an overpowering smell of cologne?
I immediately turned around to where I came from, but as many stories go, I had no idea where I was. Everything looked the same. I was too eager to put more distance between me and the overpowering scent. But with each step, the scent grew stronger.
Shit, shit, shit!
Then, I heard it—a low growl rumbling through the bushes. It was distant but growing louder, closer. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to run, but I froze on the spot. The growl continued; it was circling me, and knowing my cardio wasn’t the best, it was better to just meet the intruder head-on.
"TeaBagTitan?" I whispered. It had to be him. Had he finally come for me? But why would he growl like that?
Foxes don’t usually growl, do they?
What does the fox say?
The growling stopped, and the forest fell silent. Too silent. Like every creature was holding its breath, waiting. I strained my ears, listening for any sign of movement. Nothing.
Then, without warning, a tiny fox figure crashed through the bushes and stood in front of me. A beautiful, black fox with silver highlights stared right at me.
I yelped, stumbling backward, my hand fumbling for the pepper spray. Once the initial shock wore off, I squinted to see the tiny fox, and my fear instantly vanished.
Instead, my mouth widened into a smile until I fell into a full fit of laughter.
