chapter 10

                                    

                                          
The sound of birds chirping in the trees was the first thing I noticed. Along with sound came feeling...the feeling of being cold... tired...and in pain...

                          
I didn't want to move I didn't want to open my eyes... I wanted the noise to go away, I wanted to be warm, and I wanted the pain in my leg to disappear.

                          
As if my wishes were starting to come true the birds finally went silent. Something seemed to move against me, and I could feel something cold and wet pushing against my shoulder. I only groaned, too tired to shoo it away or speak up.

                          
The nudging stopped for a moment before I was picked up off the ground. At this point, I was ready to voice a complaint or resist but once I was pulled against something soft and warm, I relaxed again.

                          
Pain continued to flare in my leg as whatever held me, started to move, luckily it wasn't as intense as before. After a while, I managed to crack my eyes open.

                          
Everything seemed fuzzy at first but I came to realize it wasn't just my vision, it was actual fur i was seeing.

                          
I knew what it was, but I was too tired to care... Closing my eyes I continued to rest. Eventually, we stopped and I peeked my eyes open again to see we were back in the cave.

                          
The beast set me down on the ground and curled up around me, keeping me warm. I didn't resist and simply continued to rest for a bit longer.

                          
Eventually, I opened my eyes and started to wake up completely. The beast moved from its former position, and went to the cave entrance, away from me.

                          
I watched it confused and it looked away as if ashamed. It was no longer bloodthirsty and trying to kill me...

                          
Looking down at my leg I could see the dried blood and the wounds left behind by its claws. They weren't bad but it would definitely hurt to walk around on.

                          
The creature continued to sulk at the entrance...could a creature like this even feel emotions like guilt?...

                          
I sat there in deep thought...


                          
I dont know what happened to it but that was not the same creature that I had been dealing with before. What suddenly changed? What caused it to lose control? 
                          
Looking up, I could see it hadn't moved from its spot, it was keeping its distance...did it truly feel guilty?

                          
Getting to my feet, stepped towards it, and its ears twitched at the sound of my approaching footsteps.

                          
I jumped a little as it shot up and twisted around to face me and growled. But its growl was quieter than before, with less malice.
                          
Taking a moment I let my erratic heartbeat calm down and limped closer to the beast. I dont know why I suddenly thought this was a good idea, it had attempted to tear me apart the night before, not to mention the last time I tried to touch it before it went ballistic it nearly bit my hand.
                          
As I got within a few feet of the creature, it started to step back, continuing to growl. It still had its boundaries. And only seemed to feel comfortable near me when I was asleep... As I looked into its eyes I could see the emotions swirling around in them.

                          
This thing wasn't a monster...at least... Not like I thought it was... Whatever happend last night was unnatural... No animal or creature should act that way...

                          
Even now as I push its boundaries it isn't attacking me like it did before... It didn't want to hurt me...

                          
I could see it visibly relax as I stopped my approach. Maybe I was wrong...