Chapter 9: Rise and shine
Annora shifted in her sleep, enjoying a feeling of warmth encasing her. She enjoyed a warm safe dream, and savored it, while starting to wake to the real world. She attempted to stretch, still half asleep, when she felt something restrain her movement. She opened her eyes, confused. She looked up and saw the black face of a male wolf, with green stripes, still sleeping. Annora panicked, and jumped out of his arms, kicking off him, and running. She pounded the ground with her paws, as she ran, heading for a thicket of ferns, when something hit her, and pinned her to the ground. She was spun around, and on her back, looking up at the black and green striped wolf. He brought his face close to hers, still pinning her, with all fours. He pulled back his lips, to reveal long and sharp, white fangs. He opened his mouth, letting out a deep growl, and stared intently at her, angrily. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth in her face, snarling ferociously. Annora screamed, and struggled to get away, pulling her face away from him. He jerked forward, shoving his face right in hers, roaring, trying to intimidate her, and scare her. Annora squirmed underneath his weight, trying to struggle free. It was useless. She wasn't going anywhere, unless he let her. Fear washed over her in powerful waves, and she started crying. She closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face. She let her body go still, giving up. What was the point of fighting, if she couldn't win? She trembled in fear, waiting for the wolf to make another move. She felt his hot steaming breath wash over her face in spaced waves. Her whole body shuddered, as it waited for pain to strike it. The wolf had stopped growling, and she opened her eyes, to see what he was doing. He stared down at her, curiously, and hungrily. She tensed as he suddenly moved his mouth closer to her face. He sniffed her, licking his lips. His mouth stretched into a wide grin. Annora panicked and tried struggling again, to get away. Then he growled, signaling her to stop. He too, knew it was no use. By giving her that signal, he was saying to save my energy. Most likely in his mind, to save him the trouble. I accepted the signal, and fell silent. I awaited my fate. I didn't know what he'd do to me. But whatever he chose to do, I knew I couldn't stop him. He brought his mouth closer to me, and aimed it down towards my neck. His tongue slid out, and contacted my skin, at my throat. He dragged his warm, wet, tongue, slowly, from the base of my neck, up, smiling. He was tasting me. I shuddered, terrified. He was going to eat me. He opened his mouth, and closed his lips around the side of my neck. He had his teeth lined up, while he tongued my neck, in that one small area. He gripped his teeth on my skin preparing to bite down. I cried more. I looked up at him pathetically, tears streaming down my face, one at a time. He looked at me, with my throat in his mouth, and my life in his hands. His smile disappeared, and he suddenly looked concerned, or sad. He slowly let go of my throat, and pulled back. His ears went back, and he looked me right in the eyes, staring. His stripes began to glow, and his eyes shone bright. He got up, and watched me carefully, as I rose, slowly afterwards. Neo stood up, on his back legs, and looked down at me, still sitting. He was wearing tattered jeans, and had a bow around his chest, with a strap that held an arrow case on his back. He reached a hand forward. Annora skidded back slightly. He had just been about to kill her. He should know she wouldn't grab his hand, for Pete sake. "Come on.... It's okay, I won't kill you." Neo told her firmly. "..... Y... Y-you...... Y-you speak English?..." Annora stuttered in awe. "Uhhh.... Ya... Here, come on..." He held out his hand again. I looked at his hand, then up at him. "Why should I trust you?! You just tried to eat me!" She shouted shakily at him. He stood silently, staring awkwardly at the ground. "I...." Neo didn't know what to say. "I... Was hungry... You look tasty..." He tried to explain. Annora shivered. "Wh-what stopped you?..." She asked, her body quaking in fear. He looked up at her. "You did..." Annora stared back confused. Neo growled. "I don't have the patience for this... GET UP!" He shouted at her. Annora jumped back, curled up, and hid her face in her paws, crying. "Please don't hurt me." She begged. "Hurt you? I'M GONNA KILL YOU AND EAT YOU, IF YOU DONT SHUT UP!" He yelled back. He stepped towards her growling deeply, while she took her paws off her eyes, and watched him come closer. She looked over at a hollow under a tree. She launched forward, and dove under an archway, into the hollow. Neo followed her in angrily. She backed up against the back wall, and sat there shivering and crying, watching Neo come closer. She watched, terrified, as he came face to face with her, and roared. She closed her eyes, by the surprise of the sound, and cried heavier. When she tried to move her arm, he nipped it. She cried out and whimpered as the sharp pain, convulsed through her. Her arm began to bleed where he bit her, and she pulled it close to her chest, and shivered, thick with fear. Neo pinned her to the wall, and barred his teeth, snarling. His eyes were red, and glowing like a deep flame. His teeth held a few drops of her blood, on the sharp tips, dripping down onto her blue fur, clotting in it. She turned away, not looking him in the eye. He licked his teeth, tasting her blood. It stopped him from growling. That wasn't good for Annora. He smiled. "Not bad.... You taste sweet, hehe." Annora shivered, starting to feel light headed. She swayed where she was, running a hand to her forehead. Neo almost nipped her again, until he saw she was actually going to fall. His smile disappeared and his eyes returned to their green color. He grabbed her gently, and steadied her with his hands, and she righted herself. He became concerned. "Are you okay?..." Neo asked softly. She looked up at him, yet again confused. But she didn't complain to his kindness. "I'll be okay... I think." She told him. Annora attempted to stand up. She got to her feet, and fell backwards. Neo caught her, and pulled her close. She caught her balance again, but he didn't let go. He stood there holding her. She pulled her ears back, frightened. "Please don't eat me..." She started crying again. Neo tensed, and wrapped his arms tighter around her. "I'm not going to eat you." He whispered gently. "But you bit me...." She looked down at her arm, starting to bleed more. Neo's ears went back, and he looked ashamed. "I'm so sorry, I got carried away." He leaned his head down, and licked her wound. He wiped away the blood, and unhooked his belt packet. He pulled out a bandage, and wrapped it gently around her arm. "There... All better." He said gently. Annora looked down at her bandaged arm. "Why'd you do that?" She asked cautiously. "To apologize for hurting you to begin with. I'm sorry, I'm not usually this way around strangers." He explained. "Not normally so horrid?" Annora pressed. "I'm never this kind to anyone..." He pulled her into his arms and held her. Annora strangely felt safe in his embrace. He sat down, holding her, to let her gain her strength.












