FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Therian Dreaming II

Chapter Twenty

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

7th May 2023

All Rights Reserved.

It had been five months since that night... come morning, both Kelsie and Pete were sick, heads pounding in agony, their bodies slick with scent of their wild, tempestuous night...

It'd taken Pete and Kelsie a few days, to sort through their confusion - to reaffirm their bond of love and trust with each other, both swearing to never again, touch alcohol - ever...

*

Pete lay spooned in against Kelsie, rubbing her swollen belly gently, as the fearful Doe whimpered and shuddered. Every so often, one of the fawns would kick painfully, making Kelsie cry out and twitch.

"Kelsie, my love - I never dreamed - " Pete murmured, kissing her neck tenderly.

Kelsie swallowed and tried to look back at him, turning her head slightly.

"It wasn't your fault - I don't even..." Kelsie winced as one of the fawns within her kicked savagely again.

"Soon, soon little one..." Pete sighed, placing his hand on Kelsie's belly. "I can't believe it - twins..."

Kelsie began to speak, before her ear twitched and a half second later, Pete's cell phone vibrated and trembled on the bedside dresser.

"Urgh...who..." Pete picked it up, rolling over onto his back before he looked at it, his face going white like he'd seen a ghost. "No..."

"Pete..." Kelsie suddenly stiffened, her sensitive nostrils flaring as she inhaled his adrenaline-laden scent.

Vet flashed on and off as the caller ID on the phone.

"No, please, not that...not...now - " Pete began to sob. "Five months of peace..."

"Pete...no, don't answer..." Kelsie sobbed. "Please my love, do not..."

Pete had no choice - his finger reached down and hit the green phone symbol...

*

Seated behind his desk, the leader of the Hunters sat, his fingers steeped on his blotter, adjusting his suit cuffs with a cool demeanor. His second in charge began to speak, but the boss cut him off, tired of the formalities.

"I'm through playing with these fawns," he declared, his tone ice-cold.

His second-in-command looked confused.

"Alert Team Bravo and Echo, have Foxtrot and Gamma as a backup. The gloves are coming off," the boss continued. "Whoever helped them is as good as dead. These beasts will see the iron gauntlet beneath the velvet glove."

The second in command still didn't quite understand. "Sir, if I may ask-"

"I have my reasons," the boss interrupted. "Operation Nightfall will commence in one day. There will be no more delays, no more mistakes. I want their heads on my desk by moon rise the following night. Do not fail me again...or it'll be your head I'll mount behind my desk. Do I make myself clear?"

The second in command snapped a quick "yes, sir" before leaving the room. The boss seethed in frustration, cursing his team's incompetence. He spun his chair around to face the mirror on his liquor cabinet and stared at his reflection.

He struggled to control his anger, clenching his jaw and his fingers until the pain subsided and he uncurled his fingers. He knew what was at stake, and he would do whatever it took to achieve his goals. Operation Nightfall would be a merciless assault, and he would stop at nothing until these therians were vanquished.

"No more playing little ones - playtime...is over..."

*

Kelsie stared wide-eyed at Pete, who looked at the message on the phone.

"No, they can't..." Pete murmured, sick to his very core.

Sierra, Operation Nightfall commences at 1800 tomorrow. Warn Alpha and Bravo, imperative! Get the target to safety, repeat, imperative! Multi-force strike team assembled. No further information is available at this time.

Kelsie whimpered, looking at Fawnie who lay curled up on the end of the bed, blissful and asleep.

In the past five months, Fawnie had grown, instead of losing her fawn spots as was expected, she somehow retained them. Pete had slowly weaned her, with Kelsie's assistance - not that Kelsie didn't enjoy the occasional moments nursing Fawnie - but she knew it was the right thing to do for herself - and her fawn.

"Kelsie...what - we got to hide her, send her away... Protect her..."

Kelsie sniffled, then awkwardly rolled over, tucking her legs close to her belly as she looked into Pete's eyes.

"You know the risk - of who she is - what - she is... What if..."

Pete shuddered, then gently stroked his lover's cheek, his thumb trailing down her damp cheeks.

"Patrick will know someone, who will protect her, I'm sure - even if he just hides her, somewhere where we do not know - if they take us, torture us..."

"No...I'd rather die, than fall prey to them!" Kelsie sniffled.

Pete shuddered, hearing the truth in Kelsie's words. "My love, I would end your like myself - before I let them lay a single hand on you - I would imagine you would do the same for me..."

Kelsie stared into Pete's eyes, before she swallowed convulsively and nodded. "I would my love, I swear... Call... call him, you trust him, but warn him - a single hair on our fawn's head gets touched..."

Pete shuddered and nodded, seeing in Kelsie, how close she was to losing herself to her darker nature with this dire warning. Pressing call - Pete held the phone to his ear and when it was picked up on the second ring, Pete spoke quietly and intently.

"Protect Fawnie...please."

Before Patrick could answer, Pete ended the call. It was all he could do, his mate heavy with fawn, he knew, instinctively, it'd hamper her ability to fight and defend herself - yet he swore he'd do anything - to protect his lover - even at costing him everything...

*

Patrick met Pete, who placed Fawnie in the back of Patrick's car, then looked at the crying, terrified fawn.

"No go - " Fawnie sobbed heart-brokenly, gazing up at her father.

"Fawnie, my love - " Pete spoke, feeling the hot tears in his eyes. "I need too - I can not explain it, how you will understand, but I need you to be brave my dear, sweet daughter - he will hide you, protect you - keep you safe..."

Closing the door, Pete turned away and hung his head, the tears flowing, as he waved a hand at Patrick, unable to watch as the shrieking Fawnie was driven away...

*

With his men around him, hunched down on the ground, the leader's voice was low and deadly serious as he addressed his forces, his voice quiet, ensuring each of them understood the gravity of the situation. Their images were cast with a greenish-white glow, from the night vision goggles each of them wore.

"Make no mistakes," He began. "These aren't just ordinary animals - but you all know that. These are Therian's, and as such - they're beasts that can shift between human and feral form - at will. They have proven themselves to be quite cunning, intelligent and incredibly - dangerous. Yet, they are still beasts - and we will deal with them as such!"

He paused, once more looking over his men, who looked at each other, nodding in agreement, their gloved hands tightening on their high powered but silenced rifles.

"We are at a disadvantage - they no doubt know everything that transpires in these woods - this is their home range! Our mission is to flush them out - to put these godless beasts to death - preferably slowly and painfully..."

This was met with a few light chuckles and some muttered oaths and suggestions as to what some of them would do with Kelsie...

"Enough!" Snapped the leader. "Focus up! They have no morals, no conscience, no morality - they'll not hesitate to kill you, to rip you apart with fangs - or worse... You get bitten by one? Do yourself a mercy - put a bullet between your eyes... or one of us will. Stay alert, stay focused, and watch each others backs - because believe me - your lives will depend on it..."

As he watched, the men triple checked their weapons, making sure everything was in working order. There was the slap of magazines into receivers, the click/clack of the bolts being set and each of them double-checked the body armour of the one next to them, who in turn checked the next person.

Holding up a hand, the leader splayed out his gloved fingers indicating five minutes. Each of them felt the nerves, the fear of what they were about to face - they couldn't deny it, but they'd trained for years. Not all of them would survive - but thirteen men, armed with silver bladed knives, high powered AR-10 rifles, loaded with silver bullets, and their training in hunting and killing Therian's? They felt reassured and confidant...

They were trained, skilled and cunning - as they watched their leader hold up one finger, they knew they were as ready as they could be - they would fight - possibly die - but their hated and feared enemy would be no more...

With the ratcheting of their rifles, the Hunters split into two by two, spreading out into the dark, intimidating forest...

It had begun...

*

Pete gently shoulder bumped Kelsie, who glanced fearfully at her mate beside her. Both of them stepped as light as a summer breeze, their keen senses alert for any signs of danger. They knew the human Therian Hunter's were out there, somewhere, stalking them - as they themselves - stalked them.

As they moved deeper into the forest, Kelsie froze and Pete trembled - knowing Kelsie's pure blood senses were far superior to his. A look passed between them, and they split apart, their eyes instantly going almost pure black. Kelsie winced as one of her twins kicked her, her own fear and stress impacting her twins.

Kelsie crouched down, her heavy belly almost on the forest floor, as she glanced into the clearing beyond.

Ware, sister - Spoke her inner therian. Two are to your right and left - left one is distracted, has brushed against a nettle, I can hear him scratching... take him...

Kelsie flanked around behind him, her eyes wide as she smelt the silver blade at his hip, the magazines in the pouches, likewise tipped with deadly, poisonous silver.

A brief voice whispered something, even Kelsie struggled to hear, as the Hunter swore softly and scratched at his arm, obvious that death was less than a single hoof step away behind him...

*

His companion heard nothing...

*

Kelsie killed without remorse, quickly, cleanly and as quietly as she could, gently lowering his body to the forest floor before turning and fading back into the woods like a wraith.

*

It was the first - it wasn't going to be the last...

*

Kelsie heard a bleating scream of Cervid terror, her heart breaking as the shriek was mercilessly cut short - a feral doe or stag, meeting its end at the bullets from the Hunter's...

*

Pete's own Therian, barely held at bay by Pete's self control, worked with him, stepping as light as a falling leaf, ears swishing too and fro and nostrils flaring as he scented the air.

Danger - Come the voice of his Therian in his mind. Hunter, alone, twenty paces to our right - he's alert, but looking the wrong way - let me take him...

Do it - quietly - Pete mentally sent back. We can't risk him crying out - or alerting others...

Tension hung in the air, as the Therian took over Pete, forcing him into a silent witness for what was about to happen. Pete felt its almost_pure_ hatred, the Therian directed towards the Hunter who seemed to be almost oblivious. Pete's heart thundered in his chest, before the Therian took two steps, then dropped its head and charged full speed towards the Human.

Some sixth sense made him spin about - as he struggled to pull his rifle up into position - but it was too late. With incredibly powerful muscles and tendons, the Therian's power smashed into the Hunter and propelled him three feet backwards - his spine and ribs shattering as he collided with the tree.

Pete looked on, helpless and powerless, as the blood exploded from the human's mouth, instinctively, Pete realised the Therian's antlers had punched through the vest - and into his very lungs.

It was gruesome, and Pete felt nausea wash over him. This was the reality of what he had been forced to become - Therian vs Hunter - a battle that had stretched for thousands of years...

"Fuck...you..." Gurgled the Hunter, pulling his glock from his holster, holding it in a shaking hand as he lifted it. "I'll die...I'll take..."

"Not...my...type - " Snarled the Therian.

As the Hunter's finger tightened, the Therian's twisted its antlers, driving them deeper then it screamed as the glock went off...

Agonising pain shot through its left ear, as the bullet tore through it and vanished into the sky...

Silver... It burned worse than anything the Therian had ever experienced, it was nothing short of unimaginable torture! Its intense, searing pain caused it to write and convulse, tearing its antlers free as it stumbled away, the _pain_threatening to drive it mad.

With each passing moment, the pain grew more excruciating, more unbearable - if it could, it'd have torn its very ear off - anything- to stop the burning sensation that filled its mind. Gasping and shuddering, the Therian stumbled, smelling the Hunter's blood spilling onto the ground - only serving to amplify its own agony that coursed through its veins as blood flowed freely from the wound in its ear. It's own pain was a small glimpse - a bare hint- of what its victim's last moments were - its anger and hatred only growing stronger within it as it hung its head and endured...

*

Kelsie and Pete slowly whittled down the forces against them - using their natural speed and agility - but not without suffering pain and injuries to themselves. As the sun began to set, the forest grew strangely quiet - like Nature Herself - was holding her breath. Pete and Kelsie reunited, Kelsie taking one look at the hole punched through Pete's ear, her own hide not entirely free of deep scratches and bleeding wounds.

"My love - " Kelsie gasped, her breath raw and panting. "There's too many of them..."

"We'll find a way - " Pete shuddered, then nuzzled his mate's bloody shoulder. "I promise - "

A suppressed bullet whizzed between Kelsie's ears - burning the tips off her forehead as it passed by and thwacked into a tree behind them. Without a word, both Therian's split apart and their hoof-beats vanished like smoke into the woods.

"Delta six, eyes on primary and secondary targets, request backup!" Snapped the Human into his radio.

"We have to stay hidden!" Pete hissed, as the two Therian's circled back and rejoined, a good hundred yards away. "Let them come to us - there has to be somewhere we can - "

Kelsie's flanks heaved, slick with sweat, as she panted and struggled to draw enough breath to answer him. Adrenaline and fear fought a battle within both Therian's, as they heard the crackle of radios and knew they Hunter's were closing in, trying to coral them - herd them - like they were wild Deer.

"Outnumbered - " Kelsie panted. "My mate... what..."

Kelsie's scream echoed through the forest, as a sudden barrage of gunfire erupted behind them. Caught unawares - the Hunter's moved with the confusing gestures and wildness - - their movements like those of a demented puppeteer controlling its marionettes. Blood spattered like crimson rain, as large calibre bullets tore through flesh and bone with equal ease.

As bullets flew above the cowering Therian's heads - some close enough to almost sear their ear tips off - Hunters dropped like flies. Some screamed and writhed, some were dead before they hit the ground. One or two of the Hunter's, their fingers glued to the triggers, unleashed wild streams of bullets - that spattered into the trees around them.

"Kelsie..." Come a voice - a voice the terrified, ear-ringing Therian struggled to comprehend. "Now, come - run!"

"_Pat..."_Pete squealed, then he turned and bit Kelsie savagely on the rump, breaking her paralysis that had seized her. "Run you bitch of a Doe!"

Kelsie shrieked and ran, tears streaking down her muzzle as she fled, praying she was going the right way, hearing the thundering of hooves behind her - a dozen paces back.

Her heart pounding in her furred chest, she prayed as she dodged and swerved around trees - leaping over fallen ones, instinct rather than sight, driving her.

Bullets whistled like angry hornets over her - around her - one ploughing from hip to shoulder, cutting a furrow that instantly turned crimson with blood and Kelsie stumbled and fell, screaming in agony as the pain of getting grazed was instantly seized by the silvers terrible suffering.

"Fuck you - " Patrick snarled, popping up behind a fallen log, and in one movement, switched from semi-automatic, to full auto as he held down the trigger. Bullets flew from the end of his AR-10, shredding leaves, branches and flesh and bone - as four more Hunters were dropped to the forest floor.

"Kelsie...no!" Pete screamed, as she slid on his knees, then nuzzled his mate. "No, my love - get up, please, please get up..."

Kelsie shrieked and trashed, the sickening pain tearing at her and threatening to force her into premature labor.

"Fuck off - " Pete snarled, as Patrick dropped down on the other side. "Leave her alone or I swear - "

Patrick glared at Pete, then before Pete could stop him, he pulled a needle and syringe from his vest, then slammed it home into Kelsie's shoulder. Kelsie squealed and flinched, before Patrick was knocked flat, Pete standing over him and pinning him down, Pete's eyes an inky black - his dewlaps curled back exposing his bloodied gums and powerful teeth.

"Get the fuck off me - " Patrick shouted, grabbing Pete by the right ear and nearly twisting it clean off his head, Pete shrieking and rolling away. "You want her to die? I'll do it Pete - I fucking swear, I'll put a bullet between her eyes, right fucking now!"

Pete shook his head, feeling sickening pain from _both_ears - but something, some inner voice, stayed Pete's jaws - that shut with a loud snap inches from Patrick's face. His eyes still black, Pete glared at Patrick, before he looked at Kelsie.

"Save her - save my mate...please..."

Patrick withdrew another syringe and needle, once more stabbing it down and injecting Kelsie with powerful pain relief.

"That's all I can do - get up Kelsie, get up - you have to fight, now get up!" Patrick sighed, then smacked Kelsie's rump with a sickening slap, making her kick out and struggle to her hooves, before she wobbled and nearly fell.

"I don't have time - or ammunition - to play wet nurse to a pair of fawns - " Patrick growled at them both, Kelsie and Pete visibly flattening their ears at the _dominating_voice of Patrick - a whole new side they'd _never_seen in him before.

Patrick stood over both of them, his AR-10 clutched in his hands, as he dropped the spent mag and slapped a new one home with skill and precision. Pete nuzzled Kelsie gently, trying to soothe and comfort his mate, as best he could.

"Kelsie - we have to find a way out of here - out of this nightmare!" Pete whispered hurriedly. "Wehave to go!"

"Go where?" Kelsie suddenly wept, her resolve shattering as she dropped her head. "He's right - it'd be kinder just to end it - here and now... They'll never stop, never give us the peace we want!"

"Kelsie, my love," Pete wept unashamedly. "Please, do not speak like that my dear, sweet lover! Think of our fawns, our twins! Of Fawnie...she needs you my love...I need you..."

Kelsie whimpered, the sickening _burning_from the silver, still affecting her - but the double pain-relief injections just took the slightest edge off her injuries. Her body felt like it was on fire, every hoof-step sending waves of excruciating agony through her body. Kelsie drew deep of the Therian within her - deeper than she'd ever dreamt possible - it giving her strength and resilience in response.

"We have...to keep fighting - " Pete gasped, then stumbled and shook his head, his own injuries draining his vitality.

Kelsie stumbled after Patrick, who picked his way through the forest, Pete keeping a rear-guard behind them. Kelsie paused - sensing the edge of the forest head of them - nothing but open fields and fences beyond.

"No...turn - " Kelsie began, before she squealed and dropped like a stone to the forest floor.

A hail of gunfire erupted - no longer silenced - but the loud, explosive bangs coming so loud and fast - it threatened to rupture the Therian's eardrums.

"You're surrounded - " Snarled a human voice. "Twitch a single hair and we'll hang you from the forest branches by your hind hooves!"

Kelsie whimpered, backing up so her tail was pressed against Pete's rump and his against hers, standing back to back, Patrick quivering with rage, a hand on his knife in its sheath.

"Leave us alone!" Kelsie wailed in fear. "We never wanted this - any- of this - we just wanted to live our lives in peace!"

"Peace?" Come the mocking laugh. "You beasts_don't know the word - you're dark, cruel - predators! You wouldn't know peace if it bit you on the tail! Give up, we'll be..._kind..."

Pete shuddered, sensing the lies in the humans voice, his antlered head turning left and right as he sought desperately for a way for them to escape. His plans turned to ashes, as the Hunter's emerged, each of them armed with their AR's and glocks in holsters. Carrying their rifles in a read position,but not actively pointed at them, the the Therian Deer knew they'd reached the end of their road.

"Your kind are abominations! You have any_idea - how dangerous you are? You act sweet and innocent and harmless... Pretend you're in control and wouldn't hurt a single soul... I _know what your kind are - how the world live is fear of you! No, it ends tonight, beast... one of us will walk away - and it _won't_be you..."

Pete stood, his head back, looking as regal and majestic as he could, before he took a single step forwards, hearing and seeing the rifles snap into the ready position, all pointed at him.

"Stand! Let this beast get a last word, before his end - "

Pete shuddered and glanced back at Kelsie, who sniffled and shivered.

"You? You're not like these others - I sense it in you! You are honorable, and would give a prisoner a chance - a way if it were, to ask forgiveness. Now, no, I see it in your eyes, there will be no forgiveness - for we_have committed no crime, to ask for such! It wasn't _us_that hunted _you- came to your home, terrified and forced you to kill to protect yourself and your loved one - your mate! We lived peacefully, quietly, we never hurt you or any of your people! Yet because we are different - strange - you seek our hides and our heads? What did we _ever_do to you, personally? Nothing... your _people_have been lied too - for centuries, if not longer! My kind don't see you as food! We evolved and moved on from our dark, cruel ways - centuries ago - why can't you look into your hearts - and do the same?"

Their rifles still raised, directed at him, Pete sighed and shook his head sadly.

"So be it, you want to challenge - you and me? I can _see_it in your eyes, your hatred and blood-lust for me and my kind... I have only my natural weapons - my antlers, my fangs and my cloven hooves - you? You got weapons that could drop me in less time than I can tell you..."

Seeing the expression on the leader, Pete felt a glimmer of hope...

"You will not use these, I sense you're an honorable man, loyal, true to your beliefs and convictions. I respect you... but I will not fear you..."

"You think..." Snarled the man, as he glared at Pete balefully. "You really think - you- "

Pete merely looked at him, then as if dismissing him, looked away at one of the others.

"If your leader is unwilling..."

"Fuck you!" Come the angry growl. "You want to man up? Let's go! You and me - when I'm done with you, you'll be sobbing at my boots - then you'll watch what me and my men will do to your fuck toy over there..."

Pete's ear flicked, and a convulsive shiver ran through him, as he glanced over his shoulder - his expression turning almost pure black as his dewlaps curled back.

"There is it..." Taunted the Leader. "I knew that beast was in there, just got to draw it out..."

Pete's baleful glare spoke volumes, his antlered head lowered, his eyes black, as he scraped at the ground with a cloven hoof and trembled in rage.

"Let's go Bambi, I don't have all night..."

He grinned, passing his own rifle and vest off to one of his men, before he rolled his shoulders and pulled a wicked knife from a hip sheath. Circling Pete, he flicked the knife back and forth between his hands, Pete's eyes tracking his every movement.

"Bring in lunch meat!" Snarled the human, then laughed contemptuously. "I'll have my way with that bitch of a doe then..."

Almost faster than he could see, Pete darted in and his antler's slashed across the humans right thigh as he spun away and launched a devastating kick. His cloven hoof crashed against the human's leg - eliciting a mocking grunt as the human staggered and dropped to one knee, then got up and held his arms out in a mocking gesture at Pete.

"Stupid beast - think we're_that_ easy to take out? Our body armour absorbs a lot of kinetic force... You can do better...right?"

Pete stood, head bowed and glaring at the human, his hackles from tail to back of his head standing upright.

"I haven't begun to fight...yet - " Pete growled warningly. "You want to see the_real_ me? I'll tear your heart out and serve it to my mate as a gift..."

"Are you going to talk me to death? Or are you afraid I'll beat you? I won't kill you, it'll be much more entertaining - to smack you down like the overgrown fawn you are - then - you can watch us really show that slut what a real man can do..."

"Pete - " Kelsie screamed. "Don't listen to him, he's trying..."

"Shut up doe, or I swear, I'll have one of my men shut you up..."

Kelsie shuddered, as Patrick placed a warning hand on her shoulder and trembled, but she went quiet.

"I'm tired of talking fawn - shall we finish this? You and me, show me what you claim you got...So far? I'm not impressed..."

Pete shook his antlered head, circling around and around, watching the human intently, Nothing else mattered - if anything - his Therian side blocked out anything else, except for the human before it.

"I know your kind," Pete's Therian spoke, barely above a whisper. "You have a streak in you, a dominant, assertive side, that seeks to control and conquer - you're not unlike us in a way. You wish to prove yourself in battle? So be it, I will gladly show you the arrogance of your thinking... human..."

With a mocking salute with his knife, the Human crouched and made a 'come get me' gesture. "What makes you think I'll fall to the hooves and fangs of a beast like you? You really think...I helped murder that sluts entire herd! They cried and pleaded and even begged - for mercy! You're no different, I'll make you submit, down on your knees, pleading for mercy - before you even lay a single cloven hoof on me again."

Pete trembled, the human's words enraging the Therian within him, it knew it was being bated, yet its own pride and anger, the thoughts of what they'd do it's mate, was clouding its ability to think clearly.

"I can see it in your eyes, human," Come the low, threatening growl. "You do not hunt us because you have to...no... you hunt us... because you _want_to. To test yourself, to prove something...to yourself..."

"Think what you want, beast- you'll linger for years, oh, believe me, you'll wish I killed you... With what you'll suffer at our hands!"

"Pride cometh before the fall - you will fall..._I have killed others like you - you are no unknown to me - your kind, your tactics - take away your silver bullets and weapons and armour - what are you? Nothing, you're _less than nothing!"

Hesitation come and went in the Hunter's body language, almost imperceptible, but the Therian saw it_smelt_ it in his sweat. Taking a single step forwards, the Therian smiled a cruel, mocking smile, then bowed his head in a mocking salute.

"Challenge me human, prove your worth and claim your prize - if you dare. I will show you what it really means to fight one like me... I'll..."

A gunshot rang out, and Pete shrieked in unimagined agony, as the bullet tore through his body. Dropping to his knees, he writhed and squealed, hooves tearing at the ground. As the bullet glanced off his hipbone, the projectile shattered into fragments - each feeling like acid was suddenly flooding into him. Everything a fragment touched, sent pain beyond comprehension as the sickening, soul crushing agony of the silver bullet fragments seared and burned.

Whirling about, staring at the grinning Hunter who lowered his smoking gun, the leader walked over - then in front of his shocked men, turned then slashed the Hunter's throat open with his knife... His victim gasped, then dropped to his knees, before falling over onto his face and chest, bleeding out.

"Nobody - " He raged, wiping the blade on his armoured sleeve. "Touches this stag..."

Pete's Therian choked and shuddered, slowly getting back to his quivering cloven hooves, then dropping his head as he choked up dark, frothy blood from deep inside him.

"Coward..." It gurgled, slowly lifting its antlered head. "You - you think... a single... bullet?"

"Really?" Come the contemptuous laugh from the Hunter. "I do enjoy it when the prey refuses to lie down and just die..."

Pete stood, head bowed, flanks slick with sweat, as blood dribbled from his muzzle as he panted heavily. Blood oozed from the bullet wounds, tracking through his beautiful fur and dripping to the ground - but with strength of will, he lifted his head and tossed it, letting out a blood curdling roar.

His opponent stepped forwards, meeting the challenge, his silver knife switching from hand to had, his smug grin spreading across his face.

Pete lunged, antlers glistening in the moonlight, aiming for the human's chest. With a swish of his head, he felt the sharp antlers merely rip through the edge of the vest.

Pete shrieked as the sharp knife slashed across his shoulder, biting deep before it was torn out again. Fresh agony seared through the Therian, who snarled and staggered away.

Twisting about, Pete's hind leg shot out and slammed hard into the ballistic vest, the sound of at least two ribs snapping like dry sticks, brought pleasure to the Therian's ears.

Gasping, the human stepped back, wheezing and holding a hand to his chest, before his own adrenaline spiked and he circled more warily.

Again, the Therian roared, powerful, dominant, angry, and charged almost recklessly towards its hated enemy...

This time the knife switched hands, slicing from nose, through the cheek and back up across the Therian's neck.

Blood sprayed as the artery was nicked, but the Therian dropped and rolled, coating the wound with dirt and stemming the worst of the blood before it rolled back to its hooves and shuddered.

With a bestial snarl, the Therian threw itself at the Hunter, fangs slashing, antlers tearing as it savagely ripped and tore at the ballistic vest, almost all trace of self-control and rationality lost.

It's jaws closed around the hunter's neck, then it suddenly shrieked in agony as the silver neck guard seared its tongue and mouth - forcing it to snap its head back.

Stabbing upwards, the Hunter grinned and tried to drive the blade into the Therian's chest - only to pierce the thick pectoral muscle them felt the blade glance off the hard shoulder bone - it still opened a terrible gash, from which blood sheeted down the Therian's right leg.

Squealing, the Stag limped away, shaking its head as if swarms of angry bees were stinging it. With a convulsive shudder, the Therian choked up more blood and dropped to his front knees, his antlers slapping the ground and holding it upright.

"Get up..." Growled the human, coughing and choking up bloody phlegm, before he wiped his mouth with the back of a tactical gloved hand.

Struggling to its hooves once more, the Therian shuddered and wobbled - the silver and blood loss greatly weakening it. It began to circle again, staring at the human.

"I'll tear your entrails..." Gurgled the Therian, then stumbled and slammed a cloven hoof down. "I'll wear them... like decorations on...antlers..."

With surprise and speed, the Therian charged, intending to impale the Human - but instead found it's head twisted, the human having side-stepped and grabbed an antler that punched through the torn and shredded vest.

"Urk..." Gurgled the Hunter, feeling the sharp tines tear through the vest and into his chest.

"Die...already..." Snarled the Therian, twisting its powerfully muscled neck, trying to pin the human to the ground.

With a strangled moan, the Therian snatched its head back, blood gushing from its throat as the Human stabbed at it again and again, the blade with its deadly silver punching through fur and flesh.

Scrambling backwards, the Hunter rose on shaking legs, then he screamed as the Therian snarled and reared - a cloven hoof coming down and slamming on his shin - the explosive crack as it shattered almost deafening. Slumping to the ground, writhing in agony, the Hunter dragged himself away, before he lifted a hand and cried out.

"Shoot...shoot this..."

More dead than alive, driven purely by the Therian's dark will, Pete's body staggered forwards - intent on crushing this human to a chunky red salsa beneath his cloven hooves...

It screamed, as first one, then another, then three more bullets tore into its body, dropping the Therian to its knees, then onto its belly. It began choking on blood, dark, almost black blood - its lungs filling not with air, but its own blood. Each bullet struck with sickening thuds as they shattered within him almost more than even his Therian could stand.

Turning away, the choking words of their leader reached Pete's ears.

"Just fucking die already..."

"Pete- " Kelsie squealed, as she twitched and felt Patrick's warning hand on her neck give a squeeze.

"Kel..." Pete gurgled, forcing himself once more to stand - somehow - staggering and falling to his knees, choking on his own blood.

Patrick snarled and stood before Kelsie, unsheathing a vicious looking knife, his gun empty and facing the remaining Hunter's, watching as their Leader choked, then with help from his subordinates, stood and leaned heavily on the man helping him. With a blood choked cough, he spat on the ground and as Patrick watched, he reached up and unbuckled his helmet, then pulled it and the balaclava off.

"YOU..." Patrick gasped, his face draining of blood. "Omega..."

Patrick's eyes went wide as he recognised his former comrade - and commander. What hurt the worst - was Omega was the one who'd let Patrick know the Hunter's plans.

"Sierra - stand down!" Snapped his former friend and commanding officer spoke.

Patrick, code named Sierra, stood frozen, his knife clutched in his hand. He had served under this man for years, before leaving the Hunter's Organisation, turning from that life. Seeing his former Commander, here, now, leading the attack against himself and the Therian's he'd sworn to protect - come as a shock.

"I grow tired of asking, so it will- be the last time. Sierra, stand down or you'll be put down..."

"Fuck you - " Patrick growled. "You fucking traitor!"

With a gesture, the team leader ordered his men to stand down, their guns held with the barrels lowered, but ready and more than willing to kill on command.

"Patrick," Sighed the squad leader. "Put down the knife, its been too long - lets talk..."

Patrick almost fell for it - almost - hearing Pete's laboured, agonising breaths - breaths that bubbled up from his throat, Pete knew there was nothing he could do to save him. He looked at Kelsie, who crawled on her knees over to Pete, resting her head on his shoulder, her tears sluicing down her cheeks as she cried piteously for her dying mate.

"Kel..."

Pete gurgled, rolling his eyes upwards, before the Squad leader sighed. Then snatched his glock from his holster and fired... Pete flinched, the bullet tearing through fur, bone and out the other side - dying instantly from the head shot.

Kelsie shrieked - really - shrieked - then stood up, her body shaking with rage and horror.

"One fucking twitch Doe - " Snarled the squad leader. "Just..."

Kelsie shuddered, then bowed her head as she silently whispered something, before her tear filled eyes lifted up, gazing up at the moon that shone with an intensity and brilliance, Kelsie felt the tears sliding down her cheeks, as she whispered two words...

"I believe..."

A hollow cadence began - quiet - louder, more intense - the Hunter's slowly turning away from her and Patrick, turning around so they faced outwards rather than inwards...

As the Hunter's raised their rifles, an eerie sound of cloven hooves that grew louder and louder, sending shivers down the spines of the remaining Hunters. These were no ordinary hooves - they sounded hollow and ominous, like the tolling of a church bell at midnight, warning of impending doom. Their rifles held in shaking hands, the Hunter's scanned the woodland, trying to locate the sound, a surreal sight unfolding before their now terrified eyes.

One by one, skeletal deer emerged from the shadows of the forest, forming a semi-circle around them and glaring at the Hunter's with their empty eye sockets. Human faces went white, one or two dropped their rifles and sank to their knees, wet patches forming on their tight hunting pants as bladders let go in shock and fear.

Two - one a doe - one a stag, stepped forwards, both bending one knee to the ground, the other leg stretched out as the bowed their heads to Kelsie.

"Daughter..." Come a sibilant voice, cold as a glacier and implacable, merciless, chilling.

Kelsie's ears went flat, refusing to believe what they heard. It was the combined voices of her dead parents...

"I...I didn't know what else to do - " Kelsie sobbed heart-brokenly.

Standing back up, the skeletal deer's heads lowered, as they stared at the Hunter's, an eerie blue light blazing brighter and brighter in their empty sockets - it spread across the whole skeletal herd, who took two steps forwards on their cloven hooves.

"No..." Gasped the Squad Leader, his mouth falling open. "You're dead - all of you... We killed you..."

Ignoring him, the Stag tossed his antlered head and looked _through_him, towards Kelsie.

"You will summoned us, child." His voice was as cold as ice, chilling all who herd it. "We will avenge your mate - and that of our deaths - those who harmed you and ours... will know our vengeance..."

"Fire, fire!" Squealed the Squad Leader.

Gunfire erupted from the Hunters, their bullets sparking and spattering against the bones of the skeletal deer, who merely stood and endured until the guns clicked empty.

Raising his head, the Stag let out a haunting, over-worldly cry that caused the Human's to drop to their knees and clutch at their heads. Images, terrible, sickening images, assaulted their minds - driving more than one of them irrevocably mad. Without warning, the herd charged...

Screams come from beneath the herd, who trampled, gored and stomped, hooves, antlers and jaws tearing and shattering. Bones snapped, blood sprayed and the Hunter's screamed for mercy or forgiveness. Kelsie was sickened, even her inner Therian turned her head away, tears sliding down her muzzle.

At last, the last cries faded, the skeletal deer turning one by one and walking back into the forest, until only her mother and sire remained, their eyes glowing brilliantly - until fading to a low, dim blue.

"It is done, Fallowen, now..."

Kelsie sniffled, shuddering as she looked down at her mate, her fresh tears siding down her cheeks as she nuzzled him gently. Pete's cold eyes stared up at her - lifeless and unseeing - all warmth and life in them having fled the moment he had been shot through the skull.

"Please - one last..." Kelsie began, before she looked up at her parents.

"As you ask, so will it be - " Silverhoof's gentle voice, itself cold, reached Kelsie's ears.

Kelsie stepped away, as a ghostly Stag materialised before her, proud, noble, her beloved... he looked into her eyes, then dropped his head in a deep bow, before he shook his antlered head and turned away from her, coming to stand between Silverhoof and Shadowmane. Here, he turned and looked back at Kelsie, his love and warmth filling her one last time.

"Thank you..." Kelsie sniffled, then lifted her eyes to the moon, giving a silent prayer to the Goddess for her mercy.

Bowing her head, Kelsie couldn't watch, as the two skeletal deer mournfully turned, then walked back into the forest, Pete's ghost looking over its shoulder before he too dissapeared forever...

Patrick slumped to his knees, holding his head between his hands, as he wept unashamedly. Kelsie knelt beside him, Patrick wrapping his arms around her neck, before Kelsie pressed her head against his chest...

It would be a long, long time, before the human and deer made their way back to Kelsie's home - their hearts forever broken...

*

As they walked home, hours later, Patrick resting his hand on Kelsie's neck, he couldn't shake the images of the final battle and the skeletal deer, it kept replaying in his mind like a nightmare he couldn't wake from. Kelsie's eyes remained downcast, fixated on the ground, her expression a mix of sorrow and suffering.

Finally, Patrick spoke up, his voice hoarse and broken with emotion. "Kelsie - I'm so sorry... I couldn't protect him..."

Kelsie trembled, then paused, her left cloven hoof slowly lowering as she drew a quivering breath.

"It...wasn't your fault, Patrick. You done your best - we were outnumbered - "

Patrick fought the hot, bitter tears that surged within him, his hand gripping Kelsie's nape tightly, she endured the pain, her own eyes welling up as she looked back down at the ground. Both of them returned to Kelsie's home, but Kelsie knew, it was no longer _her_home - she couldn't stay here - too many scents, that in time, would fade - the memories of what she and Pete had shared - would also fade...

Kelsie turned to Patrick, her lips quivering, before he crouched down and cuddled her tight, his arms around her neck as he tried to soothe and comfort her.

"We'll get through this Kelsie," Patrick whispered, feeling the sting of his wound as it was pressed against Kelsie's bleeding neck.

Kelsie didn't realise what he'd done, she merely leaned in against him, tears streaking down her muzzle, oblivious and lost in fresh grief and fear.

"We'll get through this...together..." Patrick shuddered, feeling the first fever-like symptoms as the virus burned through his veins...

END