Visyn
Rage tore through him with such intensity it would have alarmed the man had he been able to think clearly. His thoughts hardly seemed like they were his own. Deep down he knew that he was not this violent without a reasonable cause. He would never suddenly attack a human without having been given a reason to. So why had he? Why?
He had control over his human body but recently, his wolf one seemed to have a mind all of its own. And unfortunately this new wolf mind was hostile and vicious. Even more vexing was this...dilemma was not constant. No one understood it. Every time he transformed from man to wolf, his mind did not always go into hysteria. The Problem started approximately two months ago, when part of a pack had gone mad and attacked humans needlessly. He and his kind normally held no ill will towards humans; his kind kept themselves hidden and lived amongst them in secretive peace. The humans still were ignorant to the shifters but believed the wolves in the area were rabid and dangerous. They wanted to either capture or kill them. In all honesty, the man knew most of his kind would agree that death was probably the better option. Being captured could cause so many different troubles and potentially expose them and the many other different species that kept themselves hidden. And the tests the humans would undoubtedly do on them...
The rather recent worries were scaring his kind so badly that many of them decided to avoid changing despite the consequences. They preferred ignoring their wolf side and aging as opposed to possibly going mad and being captured or killed. Kai could understand, of course. However, he had embraced his ability many years ago and was proud. He couldn't just cage the wolf and go about his life like it didn't exist. He wasn't that kind of man. He wouldn't be that kind of man.
Even now, in this crucial situation, he held no regrets for his decision to be man and wolf.
Kai sprinted, his legs propelling himself forward soundlessly. The foliage around him was both friend and foe. While they quieted his foot steps and hid his whereabouts, the taller greenery rustled when he went by, making the hunters aware of where he was. He moved quickly, hoping to avoid their bullets. Even when shot blindly, a few had managed to graze him or hit his body directly. He felt the sharp pain course through him each time, he felt his muscles twitch in response. Before long, he would be incapable of running. He thought of calling to the others but that thought was quickly smothered. He was part of no pack. He'd left them long ago. Even with some connections to his former pack and old memories still in place, they were in no position to feel the need to help him. If anything, they would realize it would be putting themselves in danger as well. And for what? And if he did call for help, he knew for without question the individuals who would run to his aid – Kai wouldn't put them in that danger.
So he continued running, crimson blood made his obsidian coat slick and damp. His right thigh ached, as well as his left flank, his left side just below his ribs, and his abdomen. Despite having only mild injury to his head, it filled with merciless pain and confusion. Why was this happening? Why did he attack a random man like that? The hunters arrived right before he fled into the woodlands, chasing him. Their first shot had hit his flank, causing him to have collapsed. Before he had been able to stand, they had been on him, their knives digging into skin. He'd bit and clawed, growling viciously the whole time until he could will himself up and into motion. They had pursued, and still did, swearing and firing, promising death to him.
At this time, Kai did feel the adverse effect of being so large. It made it difficult to hide, to go unseen. He could run as gracefully and swiftly as a gazelle but that meant little if he couldn't find somewhere to suppress his presence. He had no choice but to keep running for as long as he could possibly manage.
Leaping over a fallen log, he kicked his hind legs against it – despite the protesting of his body – to push himself into moving faster. Kai was quickly tiring, he could feel it. His ears twitched, listening to the footsteps of the five men behind him. All armed, dangerous, and angry. He'd thought phasing in the woods would be safe, especially if he avoided the paths hikers took. But his mind had gone immediately this time, making him attack. It was his fault he was in this situation even though he had no clue how or why it had come to this.
Making a sharp right, Kai bolted ahead. Their footsteps were sounding farther away, he seemed to be losing them but now was no time to take a rest. He continued on until his eyesight went fuzzy. Attempting to avoid hitting a tree, he tossed his body to the left, growling when his flank grazed another tree. A few minutes more of running, he felt the exhaustion and pain explode – his adrenaline was ebbing away. Slowing down involuntarily, he panted, glancing at the area around him. Slowly, the wolf limped forward a few more feet until the end of the forest exposed buildings ahead. They were across the street however, his energy left him then, forcing the wolf to collapse. He struggled, attempting to hide his body underneath a bush. Curling his tail around to his front, Kai placed a paw over it. He closed his eyes, not wanting any passerbys to see the reflection of the sun in his eyes and give away his position.
His breathing slowed, his ears twitched, his nose twinged as his senses worked – listening and smelling the world around him. Kai figured he was safe for now but still refused to lower his guard.
After all he had been through, he refused to die here.
