The Wild Ones (Chapter 5)

With a loud metallic snap, the padlock was broken and fell to the ground. For a moment Bill tensed, but the poachers remained asleep. However, if he had listened harder over the low crackling of the fire and the snoring, he would have realized there was a small pocket of silence which meant one of the poachers was awake and listening carefully to what Bill was doing, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. As it was, Bill was more concerned with setting the cervitaur free, stepping backward from the cage to allow the creature room to step out as he stood up.

But just as the cervitaur reached forward to push open the cage door, his brown eyes widened, and Bill realized a moment too late what was so alarming as a voice spoke from behind him.

“Just exactly what do you think you’re doing?”

Bill froze, every muscle in his body becoming rigid as he felt the cold end of a gun jab him in the back.

“I might ask you the same thing.” Bill spoke quietly, aware that the other poachers were still sleeping. If he was careful about this, hopefully he could take this one down without waking the others. “Threatening a park ranger with a gun isn’t a smart move, pal.”

“Maybe not, but if I kill you right now we’ll be long gone before your ranger buddies show up.”

He was speaking quite loudly. Bill clenched his jaw with frustration, realizing that he could hear the other hunters waking up. Looking at the cervitaur, he could see that the creature was staring at him intently; his brown eyes reflecting the light of the dying flames.

For the briefest moment, Bill felt as though they had come to an understanding; reached an unspoken agreement about what must be done if the cervitaur was to escape.

He had really hoped to avoid this, but it seemed there was no other way. He sighed.

“Well then, I guess that leaves only one option, doesn’t it?”

Before the man behind him could react, Bill spun to face him, grabbing the hand holding the gun and wrestling it away from the poacher. In the struggle it went off, the bullet embedding itself in a tree several yards away as the other men around the fire woke in an instant; two of them charging forward to grab Bill from behind just as he managed to knock his first opponent to the ground.

But just as they began to wrestle Bill to the ground - with one of them landing a hard punch to Bill’s face - just as quickly Bill felt the weight of their bodies leave his own as both were sent flying backward with cries of pain. Struggling to regain his breath, Bill looked up in bewilderment; wondering what could have happened - and immediately found himself overcome with awe and terror.

Having seized the opportunity the fight had provided, the cervitaur now stood over Bill, his pale form rendered soft gold and ebony by the light of the fire; his expression one of imperious loathing as he looked briefly upon the two unconscious men on the ground.

His brown eyes flickered briefly to Bill; and he, still kneeling on the ground from his shortness of breath, was made painfully aware of how small he was in comparison; how easy it would be for this mighty creature of the forest to end his life if he so desired. For this reason Bill sat motionless, not daring to move as they looked upon each other for what was only a moment in time, but seemed to Bill an eternity.

Then in the blink of an eye, the cervitaur had turned from him and was bounding away, moving with impossible grace and speed. Only when he reached the darkness of the trees did he stop; his head turning to look at Bill one last time; before his pale form disappeared into the murky darkness of the forest, the sound of his retreating hooves vanishing seemingly in an instant.

Bill remained on the ground, numb with disbelief, aware that his heart was beating far too fast against his ribcage. Everything had happened so fast - too fast - his head was spinning. He couldn’t make sense of it all. Had he really just seen a White Cervitaur? But why would he choose to help Bill, instead of simply running when he had the chance?

But Bill didn’t have long to be confused by the impossible event which had just happened, as a moment later, he was seized roughly by the collar of his shirt - and found himself face to face with the same hunter that had threatened him before.

“You son of a bitch!” he snarled, and Bill had to resist the urge to gag - the man’s breath reeked of alcohol. “Do you have any idea how long we’ve been looking for that cervitaur?”

“Nope,” Bill said, grinning despite the pain in his jaw. There was definitely a bruise forming there. “And honestly, I don’t care.”

The last thing Bill ed before he blacked out was the man’s fist heading directly towards his face.

Author's Note: Fun fact, this chapter was inspired by the song Lioness, by Daughtry. So I've included it here just for fun. :3