Page 20 of The Barbarian's Claim
He clung to my arm even after his breaths slowed and his body relaxed in sleep. I’d never been someone’s source of comfort before. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I needed to train him since I didn’t want him helpless, but I didn’t know how to balance that with comforting him. I didn’t want to make him fear me.
I decided to let it go for the time being. No one would approach us out here. The segel trees were far from any towns or other clans. It was creatures we needed to contend with out here. And a dagger would do him no good against most. I would focus on teaching him the forest and handle his training later.
I never fully fell asleep while out here. It was too dangerous. My mind stayed partially awake, alert for the sounds of approaching creatures, while my body rested. The snap of a twig woke me before dawn, and my eyes flew open.
Whatever approached us was far enough away that I could slowly turn over, grabbing my sword and drawing it to my side. I always left the ties of the bedroll undone so that I could move quickly if needed. Rolling out, I listened for movement again.
A whimper caught my focus, and I turned in the direction of the sound, slowly pushing to my feet. I worried for amoment about leaving Matthew alone, but he must have felt my movement because he turned over to look at me, worry etched in his eyes. Putting my finger to my lips, I tipped my head toward the direction of the noise. He quickly slipped out of the bedroll, following closely behind me as we stepped through the trees.
A growl made Matthew stiffen and edge a little closer to me. I couldn’t tell him the growl wasn’t meant for us. Something was hunting nearby. I peered around a tree, seeking the source of the noises, and studied the creature dragging its prey farther into the brush. Normally, I wouldn’t get involved. It was the circle of life. But Matthew must have peeked around me, and the look of horror and heartbreak on his face did something to my insides. It would hurt him to watch this.
Squatting, I unsheathed my dagger from my ankle. The pup caught in the ithrak’s jaws whimpered again, and I heard a responding whimper from Matthew behind me. It caught the ithrak’s attention and its head whipped up, dropping the pup long enough to snarl at us. I threw the dagger before it could move to attack us, hitting it square in the throat as it lifted its head higher. It dropped heavily, but I stopped Matthew from immediately rushing forward to the pup’s aid. Ithraks were cunning and would feign death long enough to lure their attacker into relaxing before lashing out again. I aimed well, and I believed the dagger flew true, but I could never be too careful with Matthew’s safety on the line.
Sure enough, the ithrak jumped back up and threw itself at us, hissing wildly. It was merely its death throes, and I easily dispensed of it, using my sword to cut its head clean off, but it frightened Matthew enough to let out a shriek. Turning, I looked him over.
“Are you alright?”
He nodded slowly, his eyes still wide and frightened. He recovered from it quickly enough, his gaze dropping to the pup that was supposed to be the ithrak’s meal.
“I-is it d-dead?”
Pulling a rag out of my pocket, I cleaned off my sword before sliding it back into the scabbard. I tied it to my belt and moved to check on the pup. An ulvor pup, maybe four weeks old. Too small to defend itself quite yet. In the end, its age saved its life, as the ithrak had only managed to snag its scruff while dragging it off. It had a few gashes from the ithrak’s teeth, but from what I could tell, it would survive the night. Surviving without its mother was another story. It would be better to put the little thing out of its misery.
“W-w-what are y-you doing?” Matthew asked, alarmed, as I took my dagger from the ithrak’s body and turned for the pup instead. I frowned at him over my shoulder.
“It will starve without its mother. It is kinder to kill it quickly.”
He surprised me when he pushed past me, carefully picking up the pup and pulling it against his chest protectively. “N-n-no!”
I sighed. “You cannot keep it. It needs its mother’s milk. It is too young to survive out here.”
“S-s-so we b-bring it b-back. I-its m-mother c-c-can’t be far, right?”
It was a sweet notion, but I shook my head to dissuade him. “Ulvor live in packs. It is too dangerous to get close. The risk is too great.”
The pup whimpered again, and Matthew curled around it, giving me the biggest, most heartbreaking look I’d ever seen from another male. It should not have been as effective as it was at swaying me. I knew the risk was too great. But I couldn’t hurt him more by telling him no.
Making a tick sound behind my teeth, I stood and gestured back the way we came. “Get our things. We will need to move quickly to avoid the pack after we bring the pup back. We won’t have time to return.”
He nodded rapidly in agreement, keeping the pup cradled against his chest as he hurried back to our camp. He managed to pack his things without putting the pup down, keeping it warm with his body heat. He even ripped a small strip off his tunic sleeve, wrapping it around the pup’s injuries. I bit back the urge to comment that it was useless to do so. I doubted he’d listen right then.
After our things were packed and the smoldering fire put out, I led Matthew back to the ithrak. I took it with us, hoping to use it as a distraction for the pack as we put the pup back. This endeavor could very well kill us both. I needed every advantage I could get us.
Thirteen
MATTHEW
Einar was an excellent tracker. It didn’t take him long to pick up the trail the creepy bird-like creature had dragged the poor puppy. It was a little boy, so little he fit easily in my palms, shivering against me unless I held him against my chest. I did my best to soothe him, petting his fur and cuddling him. I knew I couldn’t keep him, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of killing him, either. He was just a babe. Someone had to protect him.
We didn’t have to walk far to find the wolf den. We stopped a good distance away and Einar put his hands up in a staying motion, pointing at the ground at my feet, silently telling me to stay put. I nodded to show I understood, hiding behind the tree as he crept away to find the best place to leave the puppy so its mother could find it.
He was barely gone a few moments when I heard a growl behind me. I turned slowly, swallowing hard when I saw the snarling wolf glaring at me. I wanted to call for Einar, but Iwasn’t sure if the wolf was the puppy’s mother, and I didn’t want him to hurt her. The puppy’s life depended on her.
Slowly, I lowered myself to my knees, keeping my eyes locked on the wolf. She didn’t lunge at me, but her stance said she was ready to do so at a moment’s notice. I was careful to project my intentions, holding out the puppy towards her.
“W-we b-brought him b-back. H-he’s o-k-kay.”
I didn't think she could understand me, but a part of me hoped she would. I just wanted to return the puppy. I meant them no harm.
