A Hunt. (Pt.4)

A terrifying legendary beast lies on its tiny paws in front of Lucian

"Hahahaha!" A fit of psychopathic laughter erupts from Lucian.

"I'm dead!" Lucian shouts, throwing his blood-covered fist into the air.

"I'm dead..." A sad whisper falls from his lips.

"meow." the panther calls out, curious of Lucian.

Lucian's eyes regard the panther, or should we say "Cub" with distaste.

A tiny Panther Cub lies on its belly. Its yellow eyes look to Lucian with wonder. The Cub is young, not quite infantile, but a few months older. Its Jet Black fur reflects the setting sun as it slows bounds towards Lucian.

"meow."

The Cub nudges its soft fur against Lucian's bare and bloody left arm. Giving it a gentle lick, the barbs of the Cub's tongue tickle his forearm.

A tear drops from his cheek.

The noise startles the Cub for a moment. Before it nudges against his arm again.

Lucian's voice whispers against the cold cavernous air.

"I guess going home is just a dream now."

"What a dream..."

"Who takes a Demon's word at face value...It was probably just a sweet lie."

"Something I could tell myself every night as I stepped ever closer to ruining this world..."

"This world...I should be calling it my world. I've never been happier than the happiness I've felt here."

"Did I really think that some kind of dream, like having a happy childhood back in that world would make me feel better? It would only be a dream. None of it would be real."

"It was all just a lie. But I still told it to myself every day."

Lucian takes his only hand and pats the Cub's head.

"Sorry, I'm a little wet..."

"meow."

The Cub pushes itself further into Lucian's hand.

"I'm sorry you're forced to spend your life with a guy like me."

"I'll make sure you don't suffer. I won't let the big bad bear hurt you." Lucian coos to the Cub. His whispering voice cracking with sorrow.

"Thump. Thump. Thump."

Paws tread ever closer to the den. To Lucian.

"Thump. Thump. Thump."

Lucian picks up the Cub holding it tight against his chest.

"I'm sorry we don't have much time."

Lucian's grip tightens further as he squeezes the Cub to his chest.

"Thump. Thump. Thud."

The bear appears at the cave entrance and begins to sniff the air, sensing something off. Unnoticing of Lucian.

Lucian looks up at the bear with terror in his eyes. As a sense of the end fills his mind for the second time in his life.

A feeling of warmth pours against his chest.

Then suddenly, the world turns a tint of black as shadows begin to close around Lucian's eyes.

'I guess the blood loss finally got me. At least I won't die being eaten alive.'

Lucian closes his eyes, waiting for the end to come.

"Thud. Thud. Thud."

The bear walks further into the cave, sniffing further. As moments pass by.

...

'Huh?'

Lucian opens his eyes. The world is as clear as before, just tinted black.

"What's going on?" Lucian whispers.

The bear's ears perk up to the noise as it searches the cave for the source.

Irregular Heat continues to pour into Lucian's chest.

Lucian's eyes dart down to the Cub.

Its eyes glow bright gold.

Shadowy black mist emanates from its fur. As it stares ahead at the danger within the cave.

"This is yo-?"

Lucian cuts his whispering short as the Armoured Bear looks directly at him.

'Shit.'

The bear cautiously treads forward, continuing its sniffing.

Its snout stops inches from Lucian's face. Causing Lucian's eyes to bulge out of their sockets. The air in his lungs freezes with fear.

"Sniff. Sniff."

The bear turns its head in confusion staring directly into Lucian's eyes. Then it suddenly turns around and slumps down to the cave floor a few feet away. Contorting its body, the bear begins to lick the wound on its underbelly.

'Can it not see me? Is this part of the Cub's power?'

'It must be. I killed that thing's child. There's no way it would let me live.'

The bear continues to lick its wound. While Lucian continues to hold his breath, holding still as he can.

'There might be a way out of this after all.'

...

Hours pass as Lucian's muscles begin to cramp from the strain of holding still for so long.

The bear is fast asleep and has been for the past hour.

'It should be fully asleep now. Maybe I can sneak out while it sleeps.'

Lucian begins to slowly rise.

He slowly tiptoes towards the exit, attempting to make the smallest and quietest movements possible.

A minute or so passes by. Lucian now stands at the Cave's Entrance.

'I'm alive.'

Lucian's feet trudge through the snow. With little to no sound.

Now 100 meters away from the cave, he takes a deep breath and rests himself against a tree.

"I'm really alive."

"All thanks to you." He says, patting the Cub's head a few times for good measure.

He looks at his surroundings.

'I have no idea where I am. I can barely see my hand in front of my face...'

Lucian trudges onwards in the hope of finding a way out of the forest. A small trail of blood follows him as he goes.

...

An hour passes as Lucian trudges further and further.

His eyes widen at the sight of a clear plain in front of him. The village now a few hundred yards away.

"Just a little further." He whispers to the Cub.

Lucian takes his first step onto the plain.

His balance off, and his legs weak. His head hits the snow.

"Thud."

Lucian lays in the snow for a moment as he feels the icy chill of the winter seeps into his bones.

"Just a little further."

Gripping at the snow, he struggles to rise back to his feet. A slow but steady stream of blood drips from his arm.

"We can make it."

...

Lucian's feet crunch against the snow. Closer and closer.

...

"We've made it." He whispers.

His body collapses underneath him.

He lies face down in the snow.

The strength to go on, no more.

He turns his cheek to the snow as the light in his eyes begins to fade.

"We're home..."

...