Chapter 14 - Extra One (1/2)

Pov:???

I could understand the look in that creatures eyes while it's gigantic and tight collar shone, as if a reminder of the contract that bounded it, and the control it had over the creature by squeezing its air pipe.

A whip clicking on its back would fit the frame perfectly, but it wasn't needed. The creature - half fox of the desert, and lower half lion - didn't emit a sound; it's pride wouldn't allow it, even if he knew that freedom was now a mere dream.

I could understand, that hopelessness. After all, I was here, at the window, watching one of my friends been strangled only for disobeying an order, unable to do nothing, yet again.

It's ”owner” stopped once the creature passed out, than it went closer and kicked it. My hands were in a tight fist by now, but still, what could I do?

”Young Master?” My maiden, and the only kind human soul in here, asked preoccupied as it has been a long time since I turned a page from the book in front of me. ”Is there something wrong?”

She them looks outside, spotting the scene, and murmurs. ”Would Young Master like to change sits?”

”No.” I just answer. Kind woman, but stupid. How could I turn my eyes away to the suffering of my friend?

She and the others leave me alone until nightfall, and after giving my goodnights to the servants I slip from my window to the stables.

There is a stench in the air, one typical from animals and bad ventilation. I pass every single stall, giving quick pets here and there, preoccupied with my proud lion.

The skin wounds are easier to heal them the ones of the hearth. I have already lost many of my friends for that.

His was the last and most damp and dark one stall. His cage bars were made of a special metal, but after the collar it was a little redundant. I sit close to them, embracing the bars with my tiny hands, and, as the coward I'm, start crying, silently, always silently, without changing my expression.

I feel I tick tongue pass my fingers behind the bars, coming from the dark space, making me giggle between my tears.

”Sorry, for been such a coward.”

Another lick than I take my hands off.

”No, don't try to comfort me… What did they do to you?”

…

”…I stole bread for you” He tends to forget to give him food, even more after a beating.

I clean my tears quickly, reaching for the bread in my clothes. A soft paw comes forward, trembling and weak, and that almost brought me down to tears again as I clench my teeth.

He ate silently and fell asleep, tired and bruised, I suppose. I stand, not wanting to go back, knowing that when I wake up all will repeat again; the beating, the mistreat, the scorn even from my servants, the…

”Have you heard? A Hound gave birth to two pups close to here”

I hide in the shadows, closer to the others animals cages, receiving a lick on the shoulder that gained a stretch on the creature nose, as I listen.

”Yeah, the first group wasn't able to capture them, and even killed the mother, do you believe it? Master must be livid, I'm sure.”

”Yeah, even more pups, they are much more easier to tame, uhm.” They stopped close and started whispering.

”So, some of the hunters contracted a few adventures and, from what I know, it seems that they manage to capture one of them!”

”But? That's the face that there is more to it.”

”Of course! There seems that the other one is a rare! It can even speak! They are mounting a trap for it right now, using the other one as bait.”

”No shit! Finally Master will get off of our asses for a little them, that's good news!

They keep walking until I couldn't hear them anymore, but what I got was enough. A trap? To pups?

Why wasn't I surprised?

I was ready to go for bed, not before passing one more time in front of my proud lion cages, when his soft paw touched my hand, and our eyes meet.

I knew the reason why he kept suffering this treatment, the order he refused to obey.

Procreation.

They order him to do a trap lioness so they could have more pups for their sick greed. But he refused.

Every.

Single.

Painful.

Time.

He moved his eyes to his back, were two enormous scars stayed were once his beautiful wings were.

He was born in a cage, created to serve, and he didn't need wings that could easy his escape, or at least his master thought not.

He was just a pup when they cut it.

He never felt the wind with them.

I knew what he was trying to say, but what could I do? They were groups of grown man going after them, I wouldn't be able to even leave by the front gate.

He touched my hand with his wet nose and blinked his brown eyes. I took a firm grip of his paw.

”I don't know what difference you think I can make but… I will try. I will give my best.”

I swear I could see him smile, then he turned to sleep again. I quickly went to my room; from the looks of it they expected the other hound tonight. I needed to hurry.

I put some things that I may need and soon I was fast passing in the woods. I wasn't afraid of it; I'm used to escaping to the forest from time to time, feeling more at home here them there, for sure.

It wasn't that difficult to find them; they always made camp in the same spots, and the talk from minutes ago gave me enough information to pinpoint were.

When I arrived there, sweaty, the fight had already break down. I changed places to see the Hounds; specially the one who fought so vigorously to protect his sibling, even if he was outnumbered, even if they were stronger, he kept evading the attacks, keep protecting his brother, kept his stance.

I was… enchanted.

For what seems like hours I could only look at him, how his sharp silver eyes kept its focus, how he bend his muscled legs while thinking of his next move.

When the shields barricade closed around them, I was as outraged by the situation as him; and once again, unable to do anything.

My nails draw blood on my palm as I thought, together with the hound, ways of getting them off that situation. He said something to the other hound and them his features went wild.

It was like the personification off all his hatred. Something I could connect somehow; our weakness, our limits, those red eyes and vicious attacks said one thing;

Break them.

Surpass them.