Blood kept flowing with every pump of my heart, forming a line of red snaking down to my right leg. A warm itching gradually came over the wound as the long gash started to close.
Healing.
The three animals that had attacked me had now taken positions around me, bodies hidden by a coat of feathers shifting as they kept pacing. Two were pacing front, one lingering in the back, only occasionally glimpsed at the edge of the peripheral view granted by my secondary eyes.
Every few steps, that long dagger for a claw tipping their feet would pierce into the soft forest soil. An odd mix of bird and reptile as raspy hisses would escape their tapered jaw covered in fine scales. Their breath passed through pointed fangs, carrying a hint of blood and decay into the sappy air of the pine forest. Tilting their heads every so often as they gazed at me.
As if they were waiting.
The blood flow stopped. Yet when I tried to turn and take the first step to leave the encirclement, the two in front jolted. Their strong legs keeping them in front of me as they stopped with a skid, tail raised high behind when their bodies dropped lower to the ground with a snarl. The cracking of branches and scattered leaves behind told the same of the last one.
Deep black eyes twitching as they roamed over my form, pausing multiple times at my side. My lack of outright reaction seemed to embolden them when I took that single step to leave.
A few short barks pierced the silent forest, echoed in a cacophony from the other two. There was a depth and variety to it I couldn't make sense of in the moment of silence that followed— No time.
—SCRIEE
The two I could see burst into action, arms ending in shorter claws opened wide as they rushed forth. Jaws open with a screech, rapid footfalls as they came closer. Diving to my sides as they passed by, ducking under the scythe-talons sweeping through the air.
But not again.
Taking a step back, the long tail extending from my lower back arched through the air, long-bladed tip flicking when the tail impacted with an audible crack against the body soaring through the air behind. Completing the one-eighty turn, the raptor swatted from the air tumbled on the ground to the side of the two others, its heavy body sending forest debris flying. A painful whine escaped its maw as it swayed standing up, one arm now limp at its side and dazed eyes trying to regain focus.
Growing bigger in my eyes.
Despite the barks getting back its attention, its body froze. Explosive steps had already taken me close, dust and dirt slashed by the talons on my feet as I jumped at its body. The tackle had us both rolling once again across the ground. Maneuvering for its back as the raptor struggled wildly in my grasp, terrible claws ripping through the empty air. Before one of my arms circled around its abdomen, the other sliding up between its claws across its pectoral muscles. Firmly in my embrace, its body twisted as the back of its neck kept jerking from side to side as I gradually stood, supporting myself on the scythe-talons embedded in the ground.
One of the others finally reacted.
Dashing forwards, its legs compressed before its leap. Claws reaching forward and curved talons raised in anticipation.
Disregarding the impact, my jaws opened as they approached the neck.
The bone-grinding slide of a talon raking the carapace on my back. Then the left flank, where a burning pain came repeatedly when the other talon drew long gashes.
Yet the jaws closed around the feathered neck.
Squeezing, fangs piercing through the scales beneath.
Ever tighter, as blood started to run between fangs.
—Crack.
Until the body struggling in my arms went limp as bones snapped.
Releasing the body, it made a dull thud when its mass hit the forest floor.
Weakened breaths coming to a halt as one of the scything-talons lifted then plunged back into the ground beneath it.
—Schlick.
Pain.
The other raptor still hung on my back.
Talon ripping at the side as its claws held to the top of the carapace shielding my back.
Rotting breath hissing in my ears.
Dazed when a claw struck its jaws as it tried to snap at my neck.
Thrown off as we both went through a nearby pine tree.
Trunk snapping under the combined weight.
Scythe-talons pointing at it, a low vibrating scream escaped my mouth.
Leaving it frozen in place when my skin rippled out of existence.
Standing there seemingly alone in the dim light of the forest canopy.
A tentative bark echoed out.
One remaining eye twitching wildly in all directions.
The other, blinded by the claws that ripped its cheek out.
Head low to the ground as it took a deep sniff to gain scent.
Jolting in place when a drop of blood fell before its eyes.
The shimmer of light as the raised scything-talon dropped.
Skewering it standing, blood blooming beneath it.
Looking around.
The third raptor was already long gone.
Retracting the scythe-talon, its body fell to the side.
The forest blurred for an instant as I braced myself on one knee.
Pain. Terrible pain.
The dark gray skin of the left hand covering my flank came up crimson. Warmth escaping my body as the itch seemed to be fading.
Cold as the heart-pumping excitement disappeared, empty and tired after the bloody brawl.
My other hand reached out, nails piercing the still warm body that laid just a bit further. Pine needles formed a small pile as the body was dragged closer.
I did not resist — eating would be necessary to keep moving.
Without time to waste trying to light a fire.
***
Wiping the edge of my jaws, I rose. The mangled carcass at my feet lay torn open. Hands stained dark red as my face no doubt was. Not clean work, but it kept my head out of the body.
The long tongue slipped between sharp fangs, clearing a few remaining bits of meat while a lingering taste of iron occupied my mouth. Blood flow from my flank had slowed to a trickling ooze under the warm tingle in my side.
Even if the false sky above the trees had dimmed as night started to set, it might still be possible to reach the compound I had spotted.
But it only took a few steps before I stumbled to the ground, catching myself on the scything-talons plunging into the dirt. All feeling had been lost in my feet — all except a strange discomfort.
Clutching the elongated bones making the lower third of my legs, no wound could be seen.
Then the bone-crunching pain. Cracking and re-arranging, muscle rippling under the skin as it took a new shape.
The inner and outer two of the five toes on my feet enlarging while the nails fell out.
Raising at a new angle while something else grew within.
Sharp black tips started to emerge from the now empty digits, curving gradually along with my groan.
The sickle that had torn through my sides, and left new whitened scars on the dark gray skin.
Now two of them bordered each of my feet, leaving three toes tipped by ordinary nails in their middle.
Body drained from the physical change, a low hum rose from deep within.
Satisfied.
Before a low rumble shook my core.
The sweet aroma that drifted in the air from some distance away, from where the other carcass waited to fill the returning hunger.
Every few steps, I could feel the sickle talons sinking briefly into the soft dirt, piercing through the forest ground.
Just as it had when the raptors paced.
Before venturing on to the League compound still hidden beyond the pines.