Antlers of the Nightmare part 2

That night, the usual silence was shattered by the bear's hoarse roar. His body was covered in wounds after being continuously torn apart by the deer's claws and fangs.

As the deer prepared to pounce, a small shadowy figure lunged from the bushes, biting the deer's right neck.

“Grooookh!”

The deer groaned loudly, thrashing incessantly. He flung his neck repeatedly, trying to dislodge the wolf's fangs sinking deeper.

With his body being swung around, he didn't give up, instead he strengthened his bite. His front legs weren't idle, his claws dug deep into the deer's flesh.

He tried to pull his claws out, but the skin and flesh felt as hard as steel. Instead of inflicting a deep wound, he got stuck himself.

Hkh... his body is like iron, he snorted in annoyance.

The deer staggered to a tree, then slammed the small wolf, who was still stuck, against the tree repeatedly.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

Once, twice, three times, he kept doing it to him.

Ugh...

The wolf grimaced, his entire body ached and felt sore. But he was more stubborn, sinking his sharp fangs even deeper. Blood trickled from the deer's neck.

The deer intensified slamming him against the tree. Then, his neck curved sharply. The wolf's pupils widened, his instincts screamed, but his body couldn't react in time as the deer swung his neck with immense speed and force.

Crack.

The sound of a cracking bone came from his back. His mouth began to vomit blood. Slowly, his jaw weakened before finally going slack, and he fell sprawled on the ground.

His vision faded, his breath rose and fell.

How naive.

He began to regret his decision, he shouldn't have charged based on sheer recklessness. Weak, that was what he was now. Not enough to fight the monster deer before him.

His calf throbbed intensely again, as if reminding him of his helplessness against the wound it had once given him.

Thud.

The deer kicked his stomach once.

No reaction. Not because he was unconscious, but because his body was too pained even to react.

Faintly, his eyes stared at the deer. The deer's snout approached, his warm breath felt on his skin, as if intimidating him.

The deer opened his jaws, flaunting his long, irregular fangs. The tips of the fangs scraped the wolf's cheek. The deer then licked the seeping blood with his coarse tongue.

His grin widened, as if mocking his helplessness.

So this is my fate. To die by the hands of a psychopathic deer. Even before I get to meet her... damn.

The deer's jaws gaped wide, enough to swallow him whole.

He glanced at it briefly, there was nothing he could do but surrender. But before it happened, a wave of air shot straight towards the deer's face.

Slash!

His one remaining horn was finally severed.

“Grooookh!”

The deer groaned, as he turned his head, two more wind slashes shot towards him. One hit his face and another his waist, causing him to stagger and finally collapse.

Before he could rise, the bear from earlier ran and charged him. Then pinned the deer down with the weight of his body.

His claw rose high, then plunged into the deer's body, tearing flesh and bone without mercy. Blood splattered wildly, painting crimson arcs in the air. Its drops fell irregularly, as if nature was showcasing its painting talent.

The metallic smell filled his nostrils before he finally closed his eyes, heading towards the threshold of boundless darkness.

He didn't know what happened next. Whoever survived, he was sure in the end, he would just become a meal for one of the survivors.

I give up...

******

Darkness, that was all he could feel besides the unimaginable pain after the fight, or more accurately, the embarrassing massacre.

Darkness.... so that's it... I must be dead.

That was what he thought after realizing his inability to move his body. Slowly, he felt a cold wind caress his body.

Ah... so this is what death feels like. Can I be resurrected? I still really want to meet her.

“Guuuh... guuuh...”

Huh?

For some reason, he felt something touching his body. Warmth crept across his stomach, then rose to his neck.

What is this? Is my body being preyed upon by scavengers?

The warmth was slowly replaced by a strange, uncomfortable sensation. Then, he began to realize something coarse was touching his skin directly, tickling him.

Okay this is starting to get ticklish. Stop it!

Slowly, his eyes opened, finding the bear from earlier rubbing his fur with the tip of his nose, an unnatural movement for a wild beast.

He jolted in shock. His breath caught as his eyes scanned the bear's body from top to bottom. The bear's muzzle was smeared with fresh blood, dripping slowly from his large fangs. He thought it was his own blood.

He stood up straight, looking left and right. He didn't see his own corpse. There was only blood splattered everywhere. His head was still trying to process what happened.

Am I... still alive?

He looked back at the bear to confirm. But instead of attacking him, the bear sat casually in front of him. His face was innocent, like a curious little child.

“Woof... woof...”

“Guuuh... guuuh...”

He tried to communicate, but it was futile, they couldn't understand each other.

With a slow movement, the bear grabbed something from behind him, then offered a blood-smeared thigh piece.

The wolf glanced sideways, and the sight beside him made his pupils narrow. The deer's body was torn shapeless, destroyed, its flesh mangled.

The bear won?

His gaze shifted back, staring at the bear.

But the bear just stared at him with innocent red eyes. Then, with a faint smile that strangely seemed human, he pushed the piece of meat closer.

The small wolf opened his jaws, biting into the fresh piece of meat. Blood flowed from the corner of his lips as he swallowed slowly.

His eyes widened again.

This is...

In an instant, a hot surge flowed violently through his veins and muscles. His body enlarged, his fur bristled, his muscles hardened.

Tremendous power gushed from within, making his claws unconsciously dig into the ground beneath him.

The power from that deer! I've acquired a part of it!

But... his expression faded slightly. No fire. No blaze. None of the deer's burning red power had transferred to him. He only gained physical strength.

Again, is it really that difficult to obtain their unique abilities?

He lowered his head, a faint sneer gracing his muzzle. Feelings of happiness and annoyance collided in his chest.

He glanced briefly back at the bear.

The two of them fell silent. The wolf's eyes met the bear's.

A moment of stillness, then from within their chests came a heavy sound that exploded into low laughter. A laughter that was alien, wild, and strangely warm amidst the smell of blood and meat enveloping the night.

The two then sat side by side while devouring the deer's corpse.

Not long after, the sun finally awoke, revealing golden rays that tore through the darkness of night.

He stared at the dawn with a radiant smile. Then he glanced beside him, the bear was still enjoying his late-night meal. The arriving morning didn't stop him at all.

The wolf shrugged.

Maybe... we can be good friends? I don't know, I hope so.

The wild is often unpredictable. Predators can sometimes coexist, or instead fight over prey. In the end, perhaps this is just a brief relationship before they return to their respective lives.