"My sweet baby" I smiled down at the bundle nestled in my arms.
"Mama" she groaned out with a smile back to me.
I couldn't be happier. After waiting all this time, I had a growing baby to snuggle and hold, not just one that taunted my dreams.
Being a blessed beast came with its curses. People wanted what I had and were willing to rip it from me.
All my life, I was protected from them. I was blessed with a disease that burrowed itself into my own bones and killed the colour of my fur.
Nobody could touch me. They were too fearful that they would be tainted or face the death that lingered for those who didn't survive the fusion.
My disease didn't even protect me years ago when i held my first baby for only minutes before it was pulled out of my arms. Too weak to pry it back, the people who had gathered around cruely took its life.
My Sage. All because they believed the death of a newborn in the house above my dug-out pit of desperation had its life stolen from it by me.
Cruel lies. Heartless retaliation.
I believed I was cursed after that horrific night to be childless.
I couldn't carry. I turned to all sorts of desperate measures, but none worked.
I believed the disease flowing through my blood was the cause. That I'd never see that happiness again. The first time had been a fluke.
Through my struggle, my life was seen as a blessing to others who believed that my strange appearance gave them health and fortune.
I don't know how white fur or colour-shifting eyes contributed to that, but I accepted whatever kept greed off my back and away from my family.
Towns wanted to keep my luck close, but I preferred the seclusion further out. It was safer that way with my little family.
I'd been blessed to have this baby only last year. Already she was exploring the world through innocence. She hadn't learnt danger yet. I wasn't going to allow it to get that close and take her life too.
Little Ester. My only one this time. I couldn't be too lucky or greedy.
Through years of tears, I had three other children, all grown and on their own paths now. I couldn't be prouder to have successfully raised three of my own before I had the chance to hold a baby like this again.
The little clearing I had chosen for our home was quiet. Nestled in a halo of trees and wildflowers was blissful safety. Just the two of us and the mouth of a cave I had scouted out.
It wasn't deep, but it had enough ledges and dips to feel safe amongst. The curve at the bottom was already padded with blankets I had stolen and dragged back to layer the rock with.
"You need to stay close" I warned Ester still trying to squirm free, giggling "there are all sorts of things out there."
"Like the flowers?" she flopped upside down over my arms to look at them surrounding us "or the trees?"
I sighed at her, peering around at what she scanned.
"Maybe you need to be careful of my teeth!" I cried out and brushed them over her little tummy that tensed as Ester squealed in laughter and tried to drag herself over my arms.
She tumbled over them, still squealling, as she bounded away amongst the flowers dwarfing her.
So tiny. I could barely see her white fur amongst them when she snorted and snuggled down to try and ambush me.
Her head poked up, laughing when I spotted her immediately.
I rose at the little head resurfacing again.
"I'm going to get you!" I teased as I crept towards her location.
I heard giggling and saw the flowers parting as Ester scurried away from me.
I pounced on her original spot, looking around dramatically.
"Where could she be?" I pondered loudly, glancing to the giggling flowers to my left.
Searching dramatically, I slowly walked towards the next location only to see the flowers push aside again when my daughter wound past me.
Silly little thing.
Shaking my head, I gasped when the second spot was empty.
"She's too good for me!" I called, looking widely "she's too sneaky!"
More giggles told me she was to my right, towards the treeline.
I faced it, smiling.
However, my smile slipped when my ears caught the sound of the undergrowth shifting. Something was creeping closer, trying to remain stealthy.
Eyes darting down, I saw Ester still hadn't moved. Her little head poked up once more.
"Darling, to me" I whispered.
"But, Mama" she chuckled "that's not how the game goes."
She had no idea of the danger stalking closer behind her. I couldn't see it either, but the acidic sting of metal and scent of dried tobacco mixed with dirt flitted across my flared nostrils.
My heart hammered. My throat choked me as I slowly stalked towards Ester who laughed again, bounding around to my left.
At least she was closer. She still thought it was a game.
I glanced to the cave and ran over the possibility of hiding there until whatever lingered had passed.
It had already seen us. There was no use trying to fool a predator locked onto its prey.
Our only hope would be to run.
Years ago, I would have fought for my patch of sanctuary. I'd stand proudly and risk my life for the thrill of the kill. There would only be exhilaration and blood dripping over me.
Now, I had everything to lose. I wasn't going to gamble the life of my precious daughter for a time long dead.
Frozen, I remained locked on the trees ahead.
Ester poked her head up again, this time triggering a slow, snapping click.
I heard each notch bite back as metal ran over it. Coiled springs were ready to release whatever was aimed at us.
Instantly, I leapt into action.
Scurrying to the left, my ears rang from the shrill whistle that sliced through the air. Dirt and flowers were thrown into a shower behind me where I had been standing.
Snapping up my daughter in my jaws, I faltered and scrambled to my feet again to bolt for the trees furthest from our hunter.
I heard the whistling shriek over my pounding heart hammering in my ears. It lodged into the trees around and above me, narrowly missing my skin when I twisted against the bark in my desperate attempt to shake the persuer off my trail.
I would have been more methodical about it, but my mind was buzzing from the threat crashing after us. All I could think about was my terrified daughter shaking between my teeth trapping her.
I needed to get out of the trees. Find somewhere familiar to hide until it was safe again.
Town was a few kilometers away. If I arrived there, I was sure the occupants would rise up to protect thier hunted prophet.
A scream snapped through my panting breaths to shiver down my spine. It warbled as it demanded the rise of growling barks fanning out behind me to keep on my trail.
Dogs. They were vicious things when they hunted a scent. Ester would be torn between thier snapping teeth in seconds.
Thier barks surrounded me and overlapped each other. I couldn't pinpoint where exactly each beast was as the paws thundered through the shaded forestry.
Which way was the town? Was I even going in the right direction?
More whistling and snapping of metal lodging into wood. One sailed past me, making me lose my footing as I forced another sharp turn.
I couldn't let them reach me! They couldn't take my baby away!
I heard crashing ahead as the dogs sprinted to cut me off. Realising I'd be running straight into thier jaws, I dug in my claws and stumbled to a stop.
Frantically searching, I dropped Ester down and nudged her.
There were only trees around us. Leaves and trees. Her white fur would stand out in a scenery so void of colour.
"Stay low. Go" I pushed her desperately.
Without a word, Ester bolted. I heard her little claws crushing through the leaves on her path to somewhere safer.
Turning around, I flared and bared my teeth at the dogs peeling from the trees to trap any escape.
They snapped when I lunged, waiting for the order from thier master stomping closer.
I could hear his exhaustion when he approached. I could smell the blood on his sawing breath and see the glint of a crossbow slung over his shoulder.
Pelt hunting? Or just after the thrill of hunting something that would have once snapped his bones between its teeth?
Growling, I kept my eyes on the dogs while he kept distance between us.
"I want the little one" he snorted and snapped his fingers "find it."
Three dogs peeled from their positions. Instantly, I was clashing teeth with the first and lunging for the second that darted past, shredding the tip of its tail. The third bolted, unscathed.
I went to hunt them down, but the man snapped again to force my snarls on him instead.
"SHE'S NOT YOURS!"
"She?" he chuckled, rubbing his stubble "a female could get me much more. Make a good breeder."
My blood boiled and crackled through my bones. I lunged for the man, but was thrown back instantly.
A bolt pierced the side of my throat that gushed burning blood over the leaves coating me. The skin gaped with my shallow breaths fighting for the strength to keep this monster from my baby.
Finding my feet and feeling more blood spill when I hunched there, I mustered up the strength to try again.
I was thrown back with a dribbling scream that rattled through my chest when another bolt tore straight through my arm.
Holding it up from the spreading pool of darkness drowning my fur, I bit in each breath that whimpered out.
Fire destroyed the arm that remained suspended. It burned up my shoulder blade and gnawed into my ribcage.
I hobbled forth, still panting and baring my drooling teeth. I couldn't reach the man and he knew it. He snickered at my pitiful attempt before his smile grew wider at the sound of my daughter screaming out.
Her voice was so distant, but it tore my breath out in a scream so raw and choked with fear that I had to gasp for air.
"P-please" I begged as my arms wavoured "le-leave h-her alone."
I'd only ever begged like this once before, when I lost my first daughter so long ago.
The man's growling breath turned into a frustrated yell as he raised a whistle to his dry lips and brought forth the screaming I had heard earlier.
The dogs crashed through the forestry at the command, eager for praise.
"YOU FUCKING MORONS!" he booted the nearest one in the ribs to make it yelp "I can't have it damaged!"
Whimpering and another yelp followed the man who snarled and watched the dogs cower around his authority.
"I'll find another rarity" he muttered as he turned "come."
One by one the dogs followed after thier master. As they trickled away, I limped in the direction of my daughters scream.
I wanted to run and pull her close to my shaking heart, but all I could do was drag myself so uselessly. Blood spilled a trail behind me while I fought to find my baby.
"ES...." I choked, faltering "ES...TER!"
"Mama...."
I heard her weak breath just ahead. It whimpered and sobbed when I dragged the bolt across the ground in an attempt to reach her faster.
The path behind me grew thicker and soaked between my toes slipping through it.
"ESTER!" I warbled as I searched in panic.
"Ma.."
There!
My heart seized when I saw her white fur laid across the leaves. Blood smothered her to glue leaves across her curled body.
I heard every shallow breath beat through her. I saw each fight for air pump more blood from her mutilated neck.
Collapsing next to her, my tears blinded me when I dragged my baby closer to comfort her.
Her eyes fluttered and she pressed her little body against mine. Her trembling hands grabbed me before I planted a shaking kiss on her forehead.
It was just us again. Nothing could take her from me.
"My sweet baby" I smiled down at the bundle nestled in my arms.
"Mama" she groaned out with a smile back to me.
ns 15.158.61.54da2
