A short story offering from Laura Austin - Hunting One Another

 

The low branches of trees and undergrowth swished noisily as they were roughly shoved aside

with callous disregard for their tender leaves. The furious face of a man emerged, his glare of hostility as hot as the sun that tried in vain to worm it's way through the heavy canopy. He had a rifle slung haphazardly over his shoulder as he sought the one who'd wronged him. He hunted her.

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Two weeks ago, Manuel had been slouching in his favorite bar stool in his favorite hangout, Quirky's. It came by its name honestly and managed to attract the oddest clientele, but the beer was good so most people overlooked the idiosyncrasies of its various patrons. This was not a good place, however, to pick up women. Most women avoided it in favor of more popular, hipper clubs. They wanted to dance and meet young men. Quirky's had a nearly non-existent dance floor and the youngest man here was nearly 50. When she had strutted through the door it had been like a breath of new life, and Manuel had immediately strategized on how best to approach her. She was tall, with long dark hair, caramel skin, and was way prettier than any woman who ever dared set foot in this man cave of bars. Her bright green eyes had seemed to glow with vitality and every man there had openly stared. If Manuel had had any clue that day about what he was getting himself into, he'd have left his just-opened beer on the bar and ran out the back door.

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Leaves crunched under Manuel's heavy boots and he knew he was giving away his exact location. That was his intention. Let her come to him, if she wanted. It wouldn't save her. He wasn't really sure the bullet would be enough to kill her, but maybe it would slow her down enough for him to get closer and finish her off. Monsters need killing, he told himself. Wiping his sweat from his forehead, he plundered his way deeper into the forest-  her hunting grounds.

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The irresistible allure of the stranger seduced Manuel into forgetting his shyness and he had found himself sidling up to her. “Uh. You, uh, wanna dance?” he nearly whispered. He was pretty sure if her stunning beauty was enough to make even his voice box go limp that he'd never get the nerve to do anything else with her, but he found- to his embarrassment- that as soon as her emerald gaze met his that he could have kept pace with a wild stallion. Praying she wouldn't look down,  or maybe praying she would, he cleared his throat and spoke again. “I'm Manuel. What's your name?” Her lashes swept down and she seemed almost bashful, but when she looked up at him he felt like he'd been punched in the sternum. He had to have this woman, whoever she was. Her bold eyes held his and when she finally spoke, her voice was like velvet on his, uh, ears. “I'm Honi.”

“Honi?” It was an unusual name and he knew he'd never forget it.

“Honi. It's Arapaho for wolf.” At Manuel's blank stare she rolled her eyes but smiled to take the edge off. “Arapaho. I'm part Native American.”

**************

Hearing a low pitched howl, Manuel stopped to get his bearings. It was nearly seven o'clock and the sun would set soon. He hadn't planned on the hunt taking so long. He had expected Honi to want this confrontation, to crave the aggression, the excitement of the fight. Instead, he felt like he was chasing his tail while she played in the shadows. Shrugging the rifle strap off his shoulder, he checked the action and made sure the safety was off. There wasn't anybody out here to get caught in the crossfire. He needed to be ready. She was dangerously fast, as he had already found out. Huffing a breath of pure frustration, Manuel put one large boot in front of the other, continuing his pursuit.

**************

Honi had guided a bemused Manuel to the minuscule dance floor and had begun subtly gyrating in front of him in a slow, sexy dance that he had been helpless to resist. He had danced with her for awhile- he hadn't been sure for how long- and then she had guided him to the nearest exit. He had followed her blindly, his beer and jacket forgotten in the bar. They had gone straight to his car, though at the time he hadn't understood how she had known which one was his. Looking back, he supposed it had been his scent. She had held the car door open for him, in a role-reversal of etiquette,  and then she had taken his keys and gotten in the driver's seat. Manuel hadn't cared a bit. All he could focus on or think about were her long dark legs curling into his small Toyota. His blood pounded through his body in a pulsing rhythm. She glanced sideways at him, her lip curling into a smile, as though she knew exactly what he was feeling and approved. Completely captured by her charms, he was simply along for the ride, wherever it took him.

**************

As the sun streaked orange and red across the horizon, Manuel realized he might be in some trouble. He was vulnerable in the dark, but was too deep in the woods to get out before full dark. He had to find her and deal with her, fast. He saw the dim glow of a pool of water, and headed that direction. Maybe he would get a drink and have a look around.

He crept closer to the water's edge and looked all around him. Seeing movement directly across the small lake, he ducked into the tall weeds and brought his rifle up. He looked through the scope and saw her. His prey. She was on all fours, thirstily lapping water with her wolf's tongue. Her dark coat and lithe form mocking him with it's beauty even now. He had been her prey once, but never again. He would either kill her, or die fighting like the rival predator he was. He had her in his crosshairs. All he had to do was pull the damn trigger.

**************

When the car had stopped, Honi had urged him from the vehicle. Laughing playfully, she had danced around him and teased him, trying to tempt him to give chase, or so he had thought. He had looked around, seeing the empty field with the vast forest in the distance. He had finally given in to her and tried to chase her, but she hadn't run. “No.” she ordered. “You run. I chase.” Her demand had caused him a moment of apprehension, but looking at her delicate beauty he'd scoffed. She was built strong for a woman, but he was inches taller, at least twenty pounds heavier, and a man, so fear was really laughable. He'd decided to give her the chase she wanted, and had lived to regret it.

She'd given him a head start, only following slowly, giving him time to get to the tree line. She'd chuckled eerily at him from time to time and he thought he'd heard some soft growls. He had hoped there wasn't a dangerous animal nearby. He hadn't been armed.

Once he'd hit the edge of the forest, she'd circled around, and he knew he had made the biggest mistake of his life. She had begun to change, right in front of him. Fur had sprouted from her skin and her face had become canine in appearance. The only thing that had saved his life that night was the fact that, unlike the fools in the movies, he had run back to the car, not deeper into the woods. His legs had pumped faster than they ever had and he didn't look back, not once. She had been furious at his logical move and her rage turned into a howl mid-scream. He'd kept running, hoping her change would slow her down just enough. If he could just get to his car! He prayed she'd left the keys dangling in the ignition. He couldn't accept anything else and still have the hope needed to drive his flight. He was within twenty yards of his car when he'd heard her heavy paws hitting the ground behind him. He'd given one last burst of effort, ripped his car door open, lunged inside, and slammed it shut. He had been too late. Blood ran down his right leg and pooled into his shoe. She had scored him with her long fangs. Shaking with adrenaline, he'd checked the ignition and wept. The keys were there.

************

The sun was so low that Manuel struggled to see Honi, the large she-wolf, through his scope. Readjusting the position of the rifle, he tried to use the open sights. She wasn't there! Gasping in near panic, Manuel twisted his torso first one direction, then the other, desperately trying to relocate his deadly quarry. Fear-sweat ran into his eyes and he swiped at it with his shoulder. His only warning was the vicious snarl only feet behind him. Swinging his rifle around, he tried to pull his weapon up for a shot but it was no good. She was too close and his only chance at killing his attacker was knocked out of his hands as easily as if he were a small child. Luminous green eyes glared at him. He refused to look away and glared back. “Honi, you bit-” Suddenly, he couldn't speak! His mouth and teeth ached so badly he was unable to use them. His skin itched and burned in turns and to his horror he found that she had won. His face lengthened and his throat swelled with a howl struggling to be released. He could see her as he changed- her and her laughing green eyes. His bones broke and reformed and he became the creature he had attempted to destroy. His massive body was covered in thick gray fur. He could hear, smell, and see so vividly that he was captivated by the beauty that surrounded him. He finally lifted his nose and gave a long, full-throated howl that somehow set his spirit free. He was no longer angry. He was Wolf. He looked at his mate, searching her expression- seeking her approval and acceptance. To his utter joy, Honi trotted up to him, laid her ears back, and licked his jaw with affection. He knew then that she had lured him here with intent. He had ceased to be a meal to her with her failed hunt, becoming so much more. She wagged her lovely tail in gentle invitation. Hunt?

 He curled his lip, showing her his sharp fangs, then huffed at her in agreement. Hunt.

The two wolves glided silently through their forest, together at last.