Sickles and Scythes

Chapter 6: No War Is Ever Won

On my slow walk back to the others, I couldn’t stop worrying. A scar on his face- what was it from? Was he here? How did he kill those humans? And that Rex? What if he was in our pack? Or if he killed someone? By the time all these thoughts had flooded over my head, I was back at my pack. Despite their drowsiness, they saw my worry.

“Hey… Serena,” one managed through a yawn. “Are you alright?” My nervous looks contrasted my reply.

“Yeah… I-I’m fine.” I wandered off to a rock a little further away from the crowds, but not too far from the others. I sat, worrying my feathers off.

It was dusk, sunset. I hadn’t taken part in a hunt. I was hungry but that didn’t matter. I was too nervous and tired for it to matter. I was staring out to the setting sun, it’s orange and rusty-hue easing my eyelids to close. Barely visible, I noticed a little lump, or rock in the centre of the sun. Slowly, it got larger. Clearer. I saw, through my heavy eyelids, a swishing, swaying tail… a steady, constant pace… a feathery, reptilian body… and a long scar across the right cheek of his face. About 50 metres away, and holding his ground as the top of the sun set over the horizon. He was there. It was him! I panicked, my eyes flew open and I sprung to my feet. He started to sprint towards me, his teeth bared and his claws outstretched, I ran back at him, my teeth gritted together, my claws ready to plunge into my attacker’s chest. I leapt up towards him but he leapt higher, pinning me down by my neck with one arm and my tail with the other, putting a claw over my feet so I couldn’t kick him. I snarled and tried to bite him, but I was helpless. Then I got a decent look at his face, and I stopped. I couldn’t believe it.

“I guess I’ve got some explaining to do.” I saw the look of shock on Serena’s face. I let go so that she could stand up, and she scrambled to her feet and rushed to hug me. I felt her tears in my side, dampening my feathers and turning this already cold night colder- but the warmth of her chest was all I needed. All I wanted was to spend this moment with her forever. Through sobs, she managed,

“Tyrone! Oh… Tyrone!” But I silenced her gently, hushing her. She wept into my side the whole night. By the time it was morning, my side was soaking and she was huddled up, nestled in my side. When she finally woke up, she asked one word:

“How?” So that’s when I guess I started to tell her about what happened. What I had been through.

-Hope you liked! Hopefully I’ll be able to put out the next part soon!

-Nightfall