Chapter 9 - Winter woes
---Felix's POV---
"Now remember Felix, if you get cold or hungry, you come straight home." Mother murmured as she handed me a thick scarf, which I instantly draped around my throat. I focused on closing my jacket and tucking into the warm clothes, rather than looking at her face.
I knew she meant well but... after years of being talked to like a baby or simply ignored, it was kinda hard and strangely annoying by how quickly they changed to treating me like an adult.
And they say I'm unpredictable...
The door opened and a blast of cold air rushed through the room before I quickly walked out. Every time I exhaled, a puff of white smoke left my mouth before it was blown apart in the wind. My ears were rather sensitive to the loud crunch of the snow beneath my boots but I was relieved that it was mostly quiet outside.
At least the birds weren't present to make much noise... no leaves either...
I looked up and smiled as I heard paws trudging through the snow, Milo's muzzle opened in a toothy grin as he ran through the snow. As he grew closer, I could see his tail wagging rapidly, a low whimper slipping past his lips as he approached and nuzzled my leg and hand.
"Hey Milo. You're looking happy today."
He yipped and darted away, dipping down in the snow as he took awkward leaps to push ahead before he turned back. I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling bloom in my chest at the sight of his dark nose covered with white snow.
He pawed at his nose, most likely to get the snow off but only managed to dirty it even more with his snow-covered paws. Eventually he just snorted and shook his head before panting happily.
Silly pup...
I grinned and looked up at the dark clouds, the snow swirling down on my face. Winter was such a lovely season; the light was dim, the birds were gone and there were no leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.
Just tranquility. The only sound out here was made by my feet and Milo's paws trudging through the snow and the occasional whistling of the wind. We've been going through the wintery landscape for days now, walking around the forest and the surrounding fields.
My fingers twitched inside the gloves as Milo leaned against my leg, arching his neck to look up at me. I grinned happily, brushing through his fur, feeling slightly sad that the gloves stopped me from feeling the soft hairs.
Milo...my sweet pup.
I chuckled as he yipped softly and darted ahead, tripping over a hidden branch and toppled through the snow. Silly pup, he was a grown wolf yet acted like a pup at times.
A bird flew up with a loud squeak, making me look at the critter with a frown. My eyes tracked through the woods, lingering on snow falling down from branches and Milo turning around in the distance.
"Felix!"
My head shot up at the voice, a voice that seemed to come from inside my head. Eyes widening, I saw snow kicking up behind Milo as he growled deeply, teeth baring as he ran for me. My heart thudded sharply as I backed up and tripped.
What's going on? Is Milo going to attack me?
What did I do wrong?!
I closed my eyes when he leapt but gasped as he toppled me over, jumping over me with a loud bark at the same time I heard a deafening yowl pierce the air. A thick, bushy tail smacked against my throat, brown fur swishing by as I frowned.
Milo's tail is black...
Something warm sprayed over my face, a sharp whine echoing through my ears as my eyes landed on the mess of fur a few feet away from me. I recognized the distinct posture of the cougar as it snarled, baring extremely long and dangerous canines as Milo struggled in its hold.
Both were kicking and clawing at the other, rolling in the reddening snow and snapping their teeth. I shot to my feet with a shout as the cougar sank its teeth in Milo's shoulder, ripping a pained howl from my wolf.
STOP!
Leave him alone! Stop attacking him!
I grabbed at a stick, hitting the cat with it but it didn't let go, only biting down deeper and snarling as I swung again before the soaked branch snapped in half.
Please let him go...
My heart thudded in my throat as Milo retaliated, clawing at the cougar's face before snapping his teeth on the feline's muzzle. I didn't know why but I could tell Milo was struggling. Even if the big cat looked a lot thinner and weaker than the images in the books I read, it still overpowered my pup.
We need help....help.
My feet started running, my scarf loosening and flying away as I ran as fast as I could towards the house. I knew my dad had a gun and hunting permit and had always been afraid he might've shot Milo on accident.
The front door was within sight as it opened, mom stepping out before her eyes widened. "Felix! What happened? Why are you covered in blood?!" Her shriek was hurting my ears but I pushed past her, pausing as my hand left behind a red print on the white door.
Blood.
Milo's blood.
Tears burst in my eyes and poured over my cheeks as I dashed through the house until I made it to Dad. He seemed shocked, eyes wide and searching over my body while I signed rapidly.
"Help! Dad, help! Milo needs help!"
Of course he didn't understand me and stood there, frowning as he spoke. "Felix, calm down. I don't understand sign language that well. Show me what you want. Are you hurt?" I shook my head, frowning and rammed my fist against my temple in pure frustration, crying out.
I hummed deeply, hitting myself a few times before running for the locker which held father's hunting gear. He followed and stopped me when I was about to open the door, releasing me in an instant.
Milomilomilomilomilomilomilo-
Reaching out, I yanked at my father's clothes and slammed against the door before running to the front porch. Liquid dripped down my face and I cried when I rubbed my hand over my cheeks, wetting it with a combination of tears and my pups' blood.
"...."
"What Felix?"
Father was dressing himself, casting me worried looks before stumbling as I opened my mouth. "Pup." Rubbing my hand over the blood while tugging at his shirt. "ood...mio pain."
"F-Felix..." Mom's voice whispered before I ran back to the locker and this time, father reached in and got his rifle out, following me as I dashed outside and ran back to my pup.
We heard the whimpers and whines long before we arrived and I gasped, letting out a pained shout as the cougar stood in the middle of the red snow, holding a weakly kicking Milo by the throat. It snarled around the mouthful of fur while dad cursed sharply and took aim.
I didn't know which pain was worse... the pain of the gunshot piercing my ears and making me slap a hand over them as I cried out, or the pain at seeing Milo drop to the snow, panting.
---Milo's POV---
Everything hurt.
Every breath I took was a bolt of searing pain, blood frothing at my nose as I panted sharply. I couldn't feel my front leg after the cat bit into my shoulder, nor could I move it. I did feel several deep bites burning with each breath I took.
My head lolled in the snow as I heard voices approaching.
Felix... I thought tiredly. Did my boy make it out?
When I had turned around and spotted the big cat stalking my boy, I had been frozen in fear for a moment. For a painful moment, I had been so sure that I wouldn't make it in time, that the big cat would've pounced on Felix.
"He's safe..." I thought to myself as familiar hands scratched through my fur, the soothing scent of Felix curling in my nose as he held my head in his lap. I could hear another deep voice after a series of beeps but found it hard to focus.
"Puppy..."
My eyes widened as I panted, realizing that the throaty and oddly spoken phrase came from my boy. I whined softly as the pain grew worse, my strength leaving me with my blood as it poured freely out of my wounds.
Their voices were growing faint and I blinked as I suddenly found myself heaved up in a pair of strong arms. I blinked tiredly, whining softly in pain.
Why...are we...moving?
A door slammed and I was laid down with Felix huddling up close before the car started moving. Dark spots were slowly covering my vision as I grew more and more tired. But I needed to hang on.
My boy needs me.
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