14 A Beast in the Alley

A low growl woke me up from a deep sleep that originally shouldn't have been more than just a nap. I had been exhausted by just running for a few minutes, as this body of mine was pathetically weak, but I would never have guessed I would sleep for hours after just closing my eyes for a second. It was already getting dark.

Dejected, I raised up from the dirty ground and shook my body to at least get rid of some of the filth sticking to my fur.

 

«I bathed only hours ago ...»

 

Another growl cut of my thoughts. I turned around, towards the voice that had disturbed my sleep only to be greeted by a big jaw filled with sharp teeth. My body immediately became petrified, unable thanks to my overwhelming fear.

I had never liked dogs, they were too loud and prone to bitting without a notice, this one, however, was a whole different story. Compared to my new body, the black-furred beast was as large as a dragon, which, together with its yellowish eyes and the dagger-like teeth, made it far scarier than most monsters I had seen or heard about in my life.

 

«What- what does it want?!»

 

It was a stupid question, beyond stupid even. Looking at the beast, it was obvious it was starving, as I could easily make out rips when it began circling me. It was only searching for the right moment, a weakness it could turn into a hearty meal.

 

«FUCK!»

 

「GET LOST!」 My panicked voice rang in my ears. 「LEAVE ME ALONE!」

 

The dog wasn't the slightest impressed. It instead came near, as if my pathetic voice had given it the last bit of courage it needed for its attack. It lunged forward and gone for my neck immediately. I only managed to avoid its teeth by a hair's width.

 

«It will kill me! It will kill me for real!»

 

Panicked, I searched for a weapon, a tool I could use to lose him or at least a temporary hideout that would buy me a few minutes to think about a way out.

There was nothing. The alley was dirty and garbage piled up higher the further away it got from the street, but it didn't look usable in any way. There was no metal scraps, no wood and no box to hide in. I had no way out.

Running wasn't an option, either. Judging by the size of the beast, it would have reached me before I had even set foot on the street.

 

「Fuck! It is all that guy's fault! Why doesn't he just die?!」

 

«Screw it. Blaming him will do nothing! I have to fight back. There must be a way!»

 

Fighting back alone wouldn't do much, so I started yelping too, as loud as I could, as I prepared for the dog's next attack. Maybe the girls would hear it, maybe it would scare the beast away, I didn't care. As long as it would save me, wasting a few of my gasping breaths was just fine to me!

When its attack finally came, I was long prepared. Just at the moment it tried to attack my neck again, I already had bitten the dog's nose, using all the strength the little body of mine could muster. It whined in pain and shook me off, against one of the walls that had become our arena.

I wouldn't give in. I pulled up my battered body and jumped at the beast once again. This time I went for its eyes, again and again, using both my teeth and my claws. They weren't sharp as those of a cat, making them bad weapons to get rid of the hero with, but if it was eyes, they were equally efficient and cruel.

A pained scream numbed my ears as the claws of my right paw found their target, but the dog didn't fail to retaliate. It bit at the leg that had attacked it, catching it between its overmighty jaws. Now it was me that screamed, first in panic, then in pain and even more panic.

 

«IT HURTS!»

 

「LET ME GO! LET ME GO!」

 

It didn't let me off. Instead, it even began shaking its head, trying to tear off my leg. I was tossed around like a bag, unable to even think about fighting back.

 

「HELP! ANYBODY! IT HURTS!」

 

Suddenly, as if my pained outcry had triggered some kind of trap, a heavy rod came down onto the dogs head, immediately letting it drop to the ground. My leg was free again, battered and most likely broken, but free.

When I was suddenly lifted up, not by drolling jaws of dagger-sharp teeth, but by gentle and warm hands, I could only answer with a weak whimper. A woman's face appeared in front of me, it was framed by blood-red hair and almost unrecognizable behind the veil of tears that had gathered in my eyes.

Cathrina pressed me against her chest and carried me away, toward the street that was now lit by the faint lights of candles and lanterns. She didn't even give the dying dog as much as a single glance.

 

«Scary...»