She crouches down behind a bush. It will never hide my bulk, but I try one last time to convince her before seeking better cover.
"Please get back on."
Her eyes are wild, like something is haunting them. More than just the danger of an approaching slime, something far more terrifying.
Part of me is screaming to grab her and run, just like I threatened. The other part knows that it would skirt far too close to true confinement, nothing like our playful interaction near the thicket. I don't know how to proceed if both options could harm her.
I let out a low growl and scramble to the other side of a tree.
The slime keeps coming our direction, the squeaking and squelching of their wet limbs very distinct.
I consider trying to climb a tree, but I'm uncertain of their exact trajectory and I can't risk being too far away from Ree if they see her first.
If I was alone, this would probably be fun, but I'm panting and blood is pounding in my ears as I imagine all the ways Ree could get hurt. I'm feeling lightheaded by the time they come close enough to see.
As I suspected, it is a solo hunter, but he is well-equipped and holding a rifle in both flipper hands.
His bulging eyes are scanning as he walks.
He won't be able to miss Ree if he keeps walking that way, even in the fading light.
If I show myself now as a distraction there's no way I could get in range before he shoots me between the eyes.
Tremors pass through me as I make myself lie in wait.
My legs are twitching with the need for action by the time he gets within ten sticky paces of her. Bile rises to the back of my throat as I make myself wait for three more.
My haunches are wiggling in preparation when Ree bursts up out of her bush.
I spring forward the moment I see her.
The genali has just enough time to yell out as she swings her handgun up and fires. She misses and the only thing that saves her from his answering shot is the kickback of the gun making her fall backwards.
I roar out a challenge as he takes a lower aim, relieved when he moves the gun my way instead.
Another shot from Ree's bush makes him duck, which gives me just long enough to close in on him.
My claws tear into the turf, letting me gain speed quickly, then help me swing my body in an arc.
My tail sings as it whips toward him, but he raises the rifle to block me. The spike shatters against the metal, splashing venom across his oozing flippers. He shrieks when it makes contact, but it isn't deadly in those concentrations.
I'm still repositioning myself when he abandons the rifle and slashes across my side with a long knife.
I roar and strike out with the claws of one hand. He twists to the side and I only rake long scores into his non-dominant limb. As he screams he stabs forward into the meat of my shoulder. I pivot away, and it rips the knife out of his flipper.
From there it only takes one more swipe to his throat to end it.
I'm still standing there panting when Ree moves over to me. She's clutching her side and dread makes me harsh.
"Were you shot? We should've left!"
She's shaking and her face is twisted in an expression I've never seen. "No. I fell back on a sharp stick. It's just a puncture. It'll be fine."
My shoulders slump in relief, but I'm still angry. "You could have died. You nearly did."
"I know. I'm sorry. Actually . . . No. I would do it again. I'm sorry I scared you and I feel terrible that you're hurt, but I needed to stay."
My whiskers droop and I tremble. She would do it again.
