Page 96 of Wild Like Us
Every piece of flesh I can find, I sink my knife in and pull out. The sound the cougar makes is guttural, brutal, and I use my forearm to block him from biting my face.
His teeth are like blades puncturing through my skin. Pain radiates in my elbow, and I feel Banks trying to physically wrestle the animal off me.
He’s been trying since the moment it jumped. My stomach sinks when I realize he doesn’t have a gun.
Since he didn’t have a band for his, I’m carrying his gun in my pack. I had more room.
My call.
My mistake.
A fatal fucking mistake.
And then the cougar lashes at Banks as he drops down to his knees.
“NO!” I yell, sitting up to see the cougar raking its claws at my friend. Banks tries to throw him off, but the cougar is close to his throat. I sink my knife into the cougar’s breast. The animal writhes. Blood is everywhere.
Banks quickly reaches for my waist.
He’s going for my gun.
His hand slips up my shirt, grabs the firearm from the band, and without hesitation, he rotates and fires three quick rounds.
Thepop pop popis layered with a growl. It takes me a second to register that the limp,deadcougar on top of us isn’t the one growling.
The animal has already gone slack on our bodies. The weight crushing, oxygen-stealing, and I turn my head to find Sulli.
I see what made that noise, and blood rushes out of my face.
A second cougar.
And it’s charging after Sulli.
22
SULLIVAN MEADOWS
Standtall and big and loud.
Don’t let it have access to your neck.
Never run away or turn your back.
A second cougar isn’t casually stalking me. He or she is springing towards me, and I know not to turn my back to the animal. But I have nothing to defend myself. No rock is going to stop the attack.
My eyes dart to the Patagonia backpack that flung out of my hand.
My gun.
I need the gun my dad gave me.
Heartbeat in my ears, I can’t hear anything or anyone as the cougar lunges.
Instinct takes hold.
I.
Just.
