Chapter 4

Gunner ran as fast as he could through the streets of the city as he tried to calm his mind enough to observe his surroundings. Up ahead he could see a massive tree that had grown to surround a large company building. It's body had wrapped it's way around the building as it grew like that of a snake. At the top towering over the city it's leaves and branches stretched out wide. As he headed straight for the tree he could hear the hell hounds gaining speed on him.

Reaching out as soon as he got to the tree he began to climb as fast as he could. Gaining height from the city street he could see the hell hounds as he climbed. They were jumping and trying to forcefully climb after him. Their sharp claws dug into the trunk of the tree as they tried to force their way closer. Snapping at his heels they could almost reach him causing him to climb higher and higher. With no choice but to move on up he climbed his way clear to the top of the company building roof.

"Is that the hound of Abaron?" He heard a couple of people whispering to each other about him as he landed on his feet on the roof of the building. They watched him cautiously as they tried to understand why he had climbed to the building's rooftop from the tree. He was not sure if they were camping out in the building or scavenging for supplies but they were of no need to him so he left them be.

"Hell hounds on ground level. Take care~" Gunner winked in their direction as he took a rope from his bag and lassoed it to another company building that was built next door to the one he had climbed on top of. He did not care if the people lived or died because they were irrelevant to him but the least he felt he could do was warn them before he left.

"What is he-?" They questioned before panicking at the sight in front of them.

Holding on tight to the rope in his hands he dove right off the roof of the building he stood on. His body flying downward the rope held firm to the roof he had lassoed it to. Feet stretched out in front of him the rope swung him straight for the building in front of him.

Glass shattering from the impact of his feet he released his hold of the rope. Tumbling straight forward he caught his stance as he slightly knelt where he had landed. Gazing around he could see that he had successfully landed in a room of the company building. A few drops of blood dripped from his arm that had got cut on the glass window he had just broken through. Using a piece of cloth that was in the room he tied off the wound to stop the bleeding til he could get safely back to the mansion.

He could still hear the hounds out side but if he was careful and quick he was certain he could avoid them. Running to the other side of the building he found a fire escape that he used to work his way down floor by floor until he was closer to the top of the next building in line before jumping to the next roof top. Almost missing the jump he caught himself on the ledge and lifted himself up onto the rooftop. Nearly out of breath he considered resting but quickly forced that thought away. If he was going to rest he would do it when he was safely resting on his own bed.

As he ran across the roof he could see the sight of a lone hell hound standing on the roof top. Just as it's head lifted to catch sight of Gunner he was already at his limit of patience. He did not have the room to run from the beast on the rooftop when he was already heading to jump to the next building. Pushing every fear he felt for his life into the pit of his stomach he continued to run dead straight for the beast in front of him. It's body was spinning around to run straight at him in return with it's sharp fangs bared and drooling from hunger.

Barreling into the beast with his body they both collided with one another. The breath of the beast was hot and fowl to the nose as it tried it's hardest to catch hold of him with it's fangs. After a moment of brutally trying to bring each other down with their own brute force Gunner and the hell hound stared each other down with their eyes narrowed.

Oooo!

The hell hound called out but there was no response. In front of him stood a beast that had already been either abandoned by it's pack or chose its own solitary life on it's own. It's body had already started to become frail compared to the other hell hounds as if it had been starving for a while now. It was clear to Gunner that the beast in front of him was not making as many successful hunts as the other beasts that were chasing him earlier. Considering his options he slowly and carefully slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a sharp pocket knife, flicking it open as he prepared for the beast's next attack.

"Whenever you're ready." Gunner smirked under his muzzle as he knelt down slightly in preparation.

Ooo!

The beast howled at him once more before lunging right at him. Returning the motion Gunner jumped forward with his knife in hand. As the blade impacted into the side of the hell hound it released a deafening cry of pain as it desperately tried to escape the Gunner and the blade. Pulling the knife back from the beast he jumped away as the beast limped off to the side and glared at him as if it had been wronged in some way. Blood poured from the wound as it desperately tried to clean its own wound while shivering from the pain the knife had caused it.

"Don't give me that look when you're the one who tried to eat me first." Gunner laughed slightly at the look the hell hound was giving him.