The Bonding Chronicles Ch. 17

Karen shook her head while they dressed in silence, not sure if she enjoyed the new game her mates had invented; sure, she was their teacher, but did they need to bring it up every time she tried to give them advice?

The love-struck couple tried to hold onto the lingering pleasures that The Glade had given them while they dressed, and just as they went to leave that magical place, Karen turned to Andrew and said, "Try and enjoy these quiet moments, Andrew. You have dinner with Sara's mom tonight, and school tomorrow. The craziness of this weekend should not prevent you from appreciating the mundane existence you're entitled to."

Andrew looked at her with confusion in his eyes, and he could see Karen, his teacher, looking back at him. He had no idea what she was talking about, but reminded himself to trust her, because her wisdom had always been without parallel.

***** A Matter Of Perspective *****

The cool nighttime air glided across Sara's body as she and Thunderfoot ran from The Glade, her fur protecting her from the chill that declared that fall was right around the corner. Andrew and Karen were not far from her thoughts, her mates' happiness calling back to her from the magical place she had left them in.

With every step she was reminded of the power of her new body, every footfall a graceful declaration of efficiency and strength that carried her forward. A flick of her tail and twist of her body would send her moving in new directions. Each adjustment a balletic performance that seemed impossible, even to her. Yet, she could not shake the memory of the wolf, and how easily it had discovered her patterns and overcome her agility.

Every fiber of her feline form ached for combat as her instinct screamed out against the indignity of that battle. She almost laughed at that word, 'Battle'. She hadn't been in a battle, she had been in a desperate bid for survival, against a foe that had spent its entire life honing its skills and learning how to kill.

The truth Sara was forced to admit to herself, was that she had never truly learned to fight. Not in the same way as the wolf, not in a way that really mattered. She had been playing pretend, just as she had all those years before with Bruce, Steve and Zack as children. Her natural gifts had always made fights easy for her, and gaining access to her full Therian potential had made her sloppy and overconfident.

While Thunderfoot continued to run off ahead of her, she was surprised to discover that she was grateful for the experience that the wolf had given her. His dominance of her had taught Sara a small semblance of humility and respect for what she didn't know. She yearned to discover how to utilize the strength and lethality of her feline form, recognizing that she had a long way to go before she could be a worthy opponent to the likes of the wolf. In many ways, she felt like she had been handed a gun, but never shown how to use it. Its power was clear just by holding it in her hand, but without training, that power was worthless, posing as much a threat to herself as to others.

Her cravings to spar were growing stronger, yet the jackalope continued to flee into the forest, periodically slowing down so it could peer off into the distance, before taking off at a breakneck pace once more. Sara managed to keep up with Thunderfoot, even as the creature darted and dashed between trees and over obstacles. She lavished herself in the exertion, not having been challenged during a run like that since she was a child, and finding the sensation intoxicating.

She was pretty sure she could catch him if she wanted to, but chose to pace him instead, her curiosity getting the better of her as the miles continued to slip by. Wherever the magical creature was taking her, it seemed to know its way there by heart, because it never faltered or seemed to take a misstep. The longer they travelled, the more convinced Sara became that their destination was moving.

Their course had a slight curve to it, and the deeper they went into the forest, the tighter their turn became. Until, after nearly thirty minutes of sprinting between the trees, they began to run in a straight line. A short time later, Sara realized what the rabbit had been chasing, recognizing Tani'm's musky, feminine scent in the breeze.

As the druid's fragrance tickled her nose, Sara focused her will and caused the woman's trail to light up, a dim green fog forming in the air and glowing a few yards away, leading in the direction they were running. She could see it skirting bushes and arching over obstacles that had stood in the small woman's path. Sara recognized the agility required by the course that Tani'm had taken, and was impressed as she reminded herself that Tani'm had made those maneuvers with only one arm.

A few moments later, Sara caught sight of Tani'm through a momentary gap in the trees, the diminutive woman sprawled out on the mossy ground of a small clearing, moonlight bathing her and making her skin seem far too enticing. While Thunderfoot continued forward unabated, Sara slowed down and focused on being stealthy. The slight sound of her paws on the sodden ground vanished as the dark spots on her body began to shift and move, obscuring her from sight as her coloration began to mimic the shadows that danced around her.

Sara prowled around the clearing, catching glimpses of Tani'm from time to time as she reunited with Thunderfoot, who seemed overcome with joy. The difference in their moods could not have been more clear, and with every passing glance Sara saw more and more how despondent Tani'm had become. The small woman wore a sulky pout, and her eyes were heavy with worry, moving about in slow sweeps across the night sky as she tried to ignore the large rabbit that pressed up beside her.

There was a lethargy to Tani'm's movements, as if her body was weighed down by some great burden. Of course, Sara knew what bothered the druid, and shook her head and released a soft growl as she continued to make her way around the clearing. How could Tani'm think that Andrew would want to control her? What would it take for that alluring and yet frustrating woman to realize the gift she had been offered? So many questions rattled around in Sara's mind as her feline eyes maintained their vigil on the young friends who were laying together in the clearing.

Not long after, Thunderfoot stood and seemed to share a moment with Tani'm, and after a short exchange the jackalope once again took off into the distance. Sara almost chuckled, a slight purr forming in her feline throat as she saw how slow the rabbit was moving, trying to be kind to his injured companion. Despite the small woman's remarkable agility, the loss of her arm had most certainly slowed her down. A minute later they arrived at what Sara assumed was Tani'm's house, a faint scent of the wolf clung in the air, and Karen stood beside the door.

Sara wanted to run over and rub against her wayward mate, marking the woman so all would know who she belonged to, but with a purr-rattled huff, Sara instead skirted the forest, resigned to chase after Thunderfoot. The rabbit sprinted across the clearing, vanishing into the tree's at the far side, and as Sara made her way through the brush she saw signs of the wolf's attack on Tani'm's house.

The bedroom window had been shattered into the room, and as her eyes narrowed she could see dark-red stains on many of the glass shards that remained on the edge of the broken portal. A shiver ran up Sara's spin, realization that everything had happened exactly as Tani'm had described settling in, reminding Sara how strong and determined the powerful druid was.

She was almost to the far side of the clearing, and once again found herself frustrated by Tani'm. The small woman had such amazing potential, and would be an amazing addition to her family. A mate she could play with and explore the forest beside. Someone who shared her love for their home, and all the wondrous mysteries it contained. Unfortunately, none of that mattered in the face of how the small woman felt about Andrew, and the distrust that seemed insurmountable.

For one last fleeting moment, Sara watched Tani'm as she approached Karen, hope fluttering in her heart that her mate might be able to talk some sense into their potential peer. "Why do I care of she joins us?" Sara wondered as she turned her eyes from the two woman, knowing full well that she cared for the same reason that Andrew did; because it mattered to Karen.

Sara moved deeper into the forest, and found the place where Thunderfoot had continued his journey. Her gift made the subtle impressions of his paw's stand out against the various shades of green that coated the ground. Activating her power, she watched as each of his paw-prints lit up, and a familiar dim fog took shape above his trail, declaring his scent for her to follow. The distance in the creature's stride was impressive, and Sara realized that Thunderfoot had taken off at full speed the moment he entered the treeline.

After a minute of following the rabbit's course, she began to notice that he was doing odd things; pausing to rub against trees, or roll through patches of plants and moss, and most suspiciously, slowing down to walk up streams. At first, she was confused by his actions, but as the magical signs of his trail started to dim and obscure his intentions became more clear.

It was in that moment that Sara realized the hunt was on, and that Thunderfoot was ready to fight. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, instinct screaming to her of danger. Her mind raced as she backed into a bush, her coloration shifting and making her meld into the shadows contained within. A memory came back to her, of chasing and tracking the wolf through the forest earlier that night, and how it had used its magic to obscure its trail.

Her lips pursed in an attempt at smiling, knowing that Thunderfoot was capable of the same thing, and with that knowledge came the realization that he was leading her into a trap. The trail she saw was bait, and at some point in the near future he would attack.

Thanks to her own gifts, Sara was able to follow the glowing trail from a safe distance, and just twenty yards later she saw the point where Thunderfoot had intended to ambush her.

There was a wide gap in the forest where trees had been removed to make way for power lines, tall metal towers rose up from the grass and rock covered terrain, supporting a freeway of electricity that ran through thick black cables far above. The clearing was only five yards wide, but ran off in both directions as far as Sara could see. A small, seldom used road ran along the side of the towers, the faint scent of rubber and oil attacking her nostrils as she scanned the broad opening. Every detail jumped out at her, moonlight casting long shadows and creating countless places for the rabbit to hide.

Sara had spent many hours as a child stalking through the brush, hiding in dark places and cornering birds and small animals during countless mock-hunts. As she slunk between cover, searching for Thunderfoot, she understood how much those experiences had prepared her for the task before her.

Her pulse quickened as she settled onto an elevated section of ground, shrubs shielding her in darkness while her eyes scanned over the clearing. Seconds ticked by as she looked for any sign of Thunderfoot, her muscles twitching, eager for action. There was a nervous energy that build up within her, begging her to move, pleading with her to hunt. Despite that instinct, her mind was blanketed in calm, her body adhering to the control she exerted over it, and Sara's patience was rewarded when a small shift in a shrub drew her attention.

It looked like any other bush, resting beside one of the metal legs of a massive tower, but the longer she watched, the more she could see slight movements in the mundan looking plant. Thunderfoot was in there, she knew it, and in the distance she could see the faint glow from his trail which ran across the clearing. That was where he had expected her to exit the forest, and where he was hoping to spring his trap. With little effort, Sara skirted the edge of the forest until she was hidden beside a tree, positioned behind the bush, well outside of the peripheral vision of the jackalope that hid within.

There was something funny about the subtle movements of the bush, as if a secret language was spoken by the gentle shifts in the branches and leaves. Thunderfoot was growing restless, his little heart was racing in anticipation of his ambush, and every second seemed an eternity to the herbivore turned hunter. At least, that was what Sara thought the slight vibrations within the bush were trying to say.

Sara's body moved as if by a will of its own, quickly descending into the clearing where she took cover in the tall untamed grasses that dominated the large open space. Her movements were silent and efficient, magic helping to ensure that no stones moved, and no plants broke as she made her way closer to the rabbit.

As Sara drew close, she could hear the measured breath of her prey as it laid in wait. Unfortunately, the bush was on the far side of the road, and to get to it she would need to cross the short opening. Normally, that would not have been a problem, but Sara was unsure if the magical beast had some strange sense that might alert it to her presence if she came out in the open. So, while she wanted to turn the trap on her adversary, she instead chose to wait, recognizing that timing was vital if she wanted to capitalize on her advantage.

From her small gap in the tall grass she could see the bush clearly, and identified a few of the branches as actually being antlers from the jackalope. The rabbit seemed to be shaking, with excitement or nervousness Sara could not tell, but there was so much energy built up within that large bunny that it was forced to move and shift from side to side.

There was a sound off in the distance, and for a brief moment the jackalope pushed out from the shrub, springing forward ready to attack. It immediately realized its mistake as nothing appeared from the edge of the forest, and wiggled back into cover, settling further into the bush while it waited. Its tail was just visible at the back end of the bush, and Sara had to stifle a purr of laughter as she was forced to watch it wiggle in excitement.

Sara's ears perked up, there was something moving deeper in the forest, making its way towards them. She wished she possessed Tani'm's druidic abilities, so she could confirm her speculation that the noise was being created by a small herd of elk. Whatever it was, her Therian gifts made her aware that they would be exiting the forest a bit further out than where Thunderfoots trail cut across, and that there was one animal in the lead.

Her body coiled like a spring, and as she listened to that distant animal, she measured the time she thought it would take for it to appear in the clearing, how long it would take for Thunderfoot to dash out, and just how fast the rabbit was likely to be moving. She wanted to try and catch him as he dashed out of the bush, but realized it was too difficult to predict, and left far to many avenues for failure. So, with a sly, sharp-toothed grin she decided to wait.

Sure enough, the moment the lead elk appeared in the clearing, Thunderfoot took off, taking two powerful strides before skidding to a halt and turning around. The rabbit's sudden movement spooked the elk, and she could hear the entire herd shift their course and move further away from the potential threat.

Sara waited for Thunderfoot to get back to the bush, and it was not until the bunny turned around, preparing to back into the shrub again that she lept into action.

Her body hugged the ground, and even Sara was surprised by how much speed she had been able to achieve with such small strides as she closed the distance to the unsuspecting rabbit. Sara's senses were as sharp as a razor as she neared her prey, several of the jackalopes veins and arteries standing out to her as she made her approach.

Thunderfoot never saw Sara coming, releasing a terrified and heart-wrenching cry as she lifted him into the air before slamming him onto his side. Her mouth was around the left side of his throat, and her left paw was on his antler, pushing his head to the side and giving her a more open target.

There was no doubt, Thunderfoot would have been dead if Sara had wanted it, but instead, she just held him down and licked his neck. For several seconds he kicked and jerked ineffectually, Sara slathering the vulnerable area of flesh along his jugular, and by the time he settled and she pulled away, his fur was matted with her saliva.

Shock and defeat rested on Thunderfoot's face as he rose from the ground, and for some reason Sara took pride in the shaming she had given him. Immediately upon rising, the jackalope brandished its horns and began to circle her. Sara purred with amusement as she saw him make slight movements to try and offset the discomfort caused by her saliva as it cooled, reminding him of what had just taken place.

Thunderfoot lashed out, attempting to hit Sara in the side of the face with the broad side of his antlers. For as quick as the rabbit was, his movements were telegraphed by his body, which pulled back before unleashing his attack. Sara took a step away, watching each deadly point of the jackalopes formidable weapon as it drifted passed her, and was grateful that despite Thunderfoot's frustration, he was not trying to kill or injure her.

Unfortunately, the rabbit had not learned its lesson from its fight with the wolf, and the broad sweep of its horns pulled its head far to the left, giving Sara easy access to creatures right jugular. Again, she tackled Thunderfoot into the grass, clenching her jaws across his throat while holding his head and shoulder to the ground with her front paws. Several kicks and flailing paw strikes did nothing to stop Sara, and his chirruping cries only served to make Sara purr while she slathered the other side of his neck with saliva.

A moment later, she jumped back, her large, ocelot body bouncing in a zigzag pattern onto the road. Thunderfoot was incensed, standing with speed and closing in on Sara with almost no hesitation. He jumped high into the air, driving his horns towards Sara, frustration simmering in his eyes. Sara growled with delight, the rabbit had made yet another costly mistake, and as she moved to the side, she saw him realize just how much it would cost him.

By leaving the ground, Thunderfoot had set himself into a predictable and exposed course through the air, one that Sara intended to exploit to her advantage. The moment his front paws touched the ground, she was again attacking him from the left side. She swept his paws off of the ground and rammed into his shoulder, sending his momentum into a crazy and unexpected direction. He whipped his body, trying to keep his legs under himself, but it was too late, and his hind legs struggled to do more than further his unfortunate situation.

With one paw, Sara forced his antlers to the side, yet again exposing his neck, and with the other paw she proceeded to slap the sloppy wet section of fur from her previous attack, making clear his most recent defeat.

She could almost feel the anger welling up within the traditionally timid animal, and as she moved away she kept her eyes trained on the jackalope as it rose. There was murder in its eyes, frustration having given way to rage, and Sara was forced to wonder if perhaps she had pushed the once friendly critter too far.

For several minutes Thunderfoot lunged and dashed at Sara, attempting to find some angle that would provide any form of victory against the formidable ocelot. If not for Sara's gifts, she never would have escaped the assault, but as it was, she found it easy to avoid the rabbit's overly telegraphed strikes, and seemingly clumsy attacks. While Thunderfoot fruitlessly chased after her, Sara studied her situation, trying to reconcile how capable the wolf had been, against how inept her new friend appeared to be.