The Hunter and The Hunted

Author's Note: I know I'm still writing another story, and will be updating that one (For those who don't know it's The Demons Within Me) but I got inspiration and couldn't suppress it (or redirect it) hope you like it,

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The days grew shorter and I could barely think past knowing I had to get away. My breath came in short gasps and sharp pains jolted through my sides with every step I took through the maze of trees. Finally, I had to stop. The pain was too much. My feet ached, my chest hurt and there was no way to stop the throbbing that paced throughout my body if I didn’t stop for even just a moment… my moment passed before I could catch my breath as the howls echoed around me. In the dead of the night, I was hunted…

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I didn’t know how long it lasted. I don’t even know how I managed to survive the horror I was in that night, but as images flashed through my mind, my breathing slowed as I recalled where I was. In an apartment just fifteen minutes away from the veterinary office I now worked at, and twenty minutes from the local park. I put my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes, forcing my thoughts to slow before I checked the time. It was four in the morning, my shift started at eight that day, and I briefly wondered if I should risk trying to go back to sleep for a while longer. I bit my lip as I thought weighing the pros and cons of it, but my restlessness got the better of me so I stretched.

Moments later I was in the kitchen pouring some milk in a glass. As I closed the fridge I noted the moon phases on the calendar and grinned, ‘That’s why I feel for a run’ I chuckled putting the glass to my lips, ‘That would also explain the dream…’ suddenly I wasn’t feeling to eat. I sighed and finished the milk without tasting it and heard something upstairs. It sounded like a moan, so I tuned it out, going instead into the little living room I had with the treadmill and turned on the television and found something I could watch while I ran.

The smell of something burning invaded my senses, which confused me briefly as I glanced to my kitchen, not breaking my stride before I realized someone was burning breakfast in another room. I sighed as I turned the treadmill off and stopped running, somewhat pleased with my progress, but irritated that my focus was no longer on my own motions and was now free to divert to the other sounds and smells that permeated from the rooms surrounding me. I groaned and resisted the urge to open a window, as the fumes from the cars outside might just affect me more. I sighed and went for a shower thinking ‘Full moons always make these things harder to tune out…’

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“Who’s a good boy?” a young woman gushed as I gave her young golden retriever a required shot. “You’re a good boy aren’t you? Yes you are.” I rolled my eyes as I turned away to get rid of the used needle and came back with an oral vaccine in a dropper

“Alright I need you to move back for a bit, they usually don’t like to have more than one pair of hands on them when I give them this.” I said motioning for her to move aside a bit. When she complied I bent my head to look him in the eye, and put one hand on his head “Okay big guy, open up.” I moved my hand and pried his mouth open without too much effort and squeezed the contents of the dropped in his mouth and rubbed his throat so he swallowed it. He gave me a disgusted puppy face after which cause me to chuckle before looking back to his owner “Bring him back in six weeks for another shot.” I said backing up slightly as she came forward. Her perfume was threatening to overpower my senses, and not in a good way as she continued to gush about how he was a good boy. She paused only to ask where she should pay.

“Out front.” I said simply. She flashed me a smile, nodded, picked up her dog and left. Turning I started to wash my hands before the next animal and owner came into the room. I was still drying my hands when a husky that smelled more wolf than dog came in followed by her owner. I turned around to see the husky sitting at the feet of her owner, a very athletic looking female, judging by how her jeans clung to her hips and shirt fit her torso, with long dark brown hair that was littered with red streaks and eyes that reminded me of the ocean. I blinked briefly before getting the steps that I used for grown dogs. “And what seems to be the problem with her?” I asked ignoring the growing pull I felt when I looked at her owner.

“She stopped eating a couple days ago and I’m worried about her.” she replied softly. I coaxed the husky onto the table and got her to lie down “They weren’t kidding when they said you were the best when it comes to dogs…” I heard her mutter, more to herself than me. I let it slide and looked the dog in the eyes. She looked at me dolefully.

“Do you have any males in the house?” I asked looking up as she nodded

“I have three males and another female.” she replied

“Quite a pack you have on your hands.” I muttered straightening myself “What’s her name?”

“Misa.” she replied somewhat stiffly. I nodded, gently running my hands along her back, slowly turning her over to inspect her belly. My eyebrows came together slowly and I sighed.

“I may have to draw some blood, could you hold her head for me?” I looked up to see a small frown come across her face.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I’ll tell you when I get the blood.” I said smoothly, not liking the anxiety that was beginning to surround her. “Misa’ll be fine. I just need to confirm something.” I assured as I went for a fresh syringe and needle. As Misa’s owner held her head I found a not so difficult area in her leg and pierced the flesh to draw a minimum amount of blood to run a simple test. She waited anxiously and I turned to her. “How against puppies are you?” I asked with a small smile. Her face lit up and she picked Misa’s face up in her hands

“Alright missy, who was it?” she demanded, the anxiety dissipated. “I thought you and Drake seemed to be getting too close you know.” I laughed and walked towards her and rubbed Misa’s neck. “I’m Marina By the way.” she said letting on hand leave Misa’s head to shake mine

“Selena, though you should know that when you came here.” I let her hand go and made Misa get up, “You should bring her back in a few days to see how she’s progressing.” I said, almost sad that she was going to go

“Do you make house calls?” she asked as they walked to the door, I looked at her curiously

“I don’t really make a habit of it… but I might make an exception to see the puppies.” I said with a bright smile. She laughed as I opened the door for her and followed her out to tell the receptionist she didn’t have anything to pay. Somehow or the other I felt drawn to her, and as I watched her write her address on one of the blank pages we had for appointments I felt myself heat up just a little…

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After a routine day I packed up and got ready to leave. Most of the other vets had already dealt with their patients (or animals as they would put it) and gone home to their lives. Me? I was contemplating going for a run in the park near here. It was more of a forest really, which was one of the reasons I liked being there so much. More freedom to be who I was, without really being who I was…