My Wild Beast
Chapter 56: First Mark

Chapter 56: First Mark

Content Warning: This Chapter contains a scene involving the mercy killing of an injured animal.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Crouching behind the reeds and tall grass of the marshlands, ignoring the ickiness of mud squelching between her toes, Nova watched in awe as Atia’s usual light-hearted grins and charm fell away, eyes sharpening on the hunt before them. It was like a storm passing over a sunny field as his eyes locked on his target. His focus was so steely that not even the loose strands of his plaited hair brushing against his cheeks could pull his attention away from his prey.

Nova had stopped breathing. The air was still, broken only by the chirr of crickets and the wind stirring the leaves. Atia’s bow was drawn, the curve of the string held steady between his fingers as he slowly pulled it back, the arrow glinting like vapour’s fang under the sunlight. His lean frame was coiled and taut. Not even a tremor passed through him as he took aim at the prey grazing ahead.

Nova’s heart pounded in her ears, her gaze flicking between Atia and the deer beyond the tall grass. This one had strayed from the herd in need of water. Though it had been cautious at first, wary of the dangers lurking in the shallow depths of the marshlands, it relaxed somewhat, deeming it safe enough to drink.

Hidden among the bushes elsewhere, Aiyana lingered. So quiet was the feline that even her presence had vanished. With one slow, measured breath, Atia released his arrow. It sliced through the air and hit its target with a thump. The deer grunted, and then its legs buckled beneath it, splashing murky water around.

The sound of its distress caused the others to flee. The arrow stuck out from its neck, and it tried to move away. Aiyana leapt out of thin air and tackled it further to the ground. Nova released her breath as her heart twisted at the pained sounds the animal was making.

Atia lowered his bow. "I will teach you how to shoot with a smaller bow," he murmured, his hand going to Nova’s back, guiding her gently to walk ahead.

Nova’s fingers clenched tighter on the blade held between both hands. Her palms grew sweaty as she approached the deer, now lying on its side. Its breathing was ragged, legs slowly moving like it was still fighting to survive, but its opponent held it down firmly.

"I don’t know about this," Nova whispered, her voice trembling as tears pooled in her eyes. She couldn’t look away from the deer. Her hands shook, the grip on the knife almost slipping.

Atia’s large hand wrapped around hers, tightening the hold on Firstmark. His expression was softer as she forced her gaze away from the animal. "This is part of the rite. It will get easier," he said calmly and crouched into the murky water, placing his large palm on the deer’s side. In that steady voice, he stared at the deer. "Thank you. You may die so we can live on."

Atia’s voice was low as he tried to soothe the dying deer.

Nova released another trembling breath as Atia reached back for her arm, his eyes still locked with the deers as he tugged Nova to her knees. The water reached over her hips as she tried to control her breathing.

"The longer you take, the more she will suffer," Aiyana snapped, her voice harsh with a low growl stirring the waters around them, causing a rippling effect.

Nova’s heart wrenched even more, like squeezing water from a rag between her hands. She took another breath, staring at the blood pooling from the arrow in its neck. It was suffering, and it was up to Nova to strike the final blow. With a sniffle, she pressed her hand gently to its body with a soft whisper, "Thank you."

"Where is its heart?" She asked Atia, her gaze still locked on the animal, her voice surprisingly calm and steady. She didn’t want it to suffer any longer, so it was time to stop crying like a baby.

Atia guided her hand that held Firstmark. The blade was long and especially sharp, and now, as she focused on it more, she could see its name carved into it. Two symbols: Firstmark.

"Strike hard and fast," Atia instructed beside her. "I will only guide your hand until I know you hit your first mark correctly."

My first mark... Nova released another steadying breath and nodded. She was ready.

Atia guided her blade higher. "3... 2... 1..." STRIKE.

The blade pierced the correct spot. Nova’s breath whooshed out as she stared at the deer, whose breaths slowed. Blood trickled over the knife handle and onto her fingers.

"Well done," Atia praised her. "You did well."

"I just killed something..." Nova murmured in shock and disbelief.

"You put it out of its misery," Atia reminded her. "If not us, another would kill it. Crocs can be much harsher in their kills."

Nova nodded to his supportive words. Aiyana had no intention of doing that and instead, dipped her fingers into the blood at the animal’s chest and smeared it on Nova’s forehead. "What are you..." She gasped at the warm liquid then trailed off, realising the symbol Aiyana wrote.

’Courage.’

Nova stared back at Aiyana in shock. The girl’s eyes softened slightly before they became guarded again. "It takes great courage to push past your fears." In other words, Aiyana was also proud.

"Now, we need to take this back before others can smell our catch," She added, casting a sharp glance to the waters behind Nova where there were no doubt crocodiles lurking nearby, among other creatures that probably wanted a piece of the deer.

Nova’s attention flicked back to the animal whose body was still warm and had been alive only moments before. She’d really helped kill it.

"This will sustain us for a few days."

"A few days?" Nova frowned. This was a deer, surely, and it would give them a week of meals. Meaning they wouldn’t need to hunt for at least a week-

Atia’s hand patted the top of her head, a new habit, Nova realised. "That’s right. We eat a lot. I’m a big boy, ya know."

Aiyana snorted. "That doesn’t sound as mighty sexy as you thought it would."

Atia frowned. The moment relaxed her shoulders as a strange sense of belonging was starting to settle in, and it was all at the expense of a deer’s life. It was strange though, watching how Atia thanked the animal for dying was oddly sweet. She could tell it was part of their tradition.

Small bubbles started to float up the water, gradually moving closer to them. "Times up," Aiyana hopped up, grabbing her spear with a vicious, sly smile directed at the reptile beneath the water.

"Don’t take long," Atia muttered before hoisting the deer over his shoulder like it weighed nothing.

"Oh, I won’t," Aiyana’s smile broadened as she prowled past Nova.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

On the western part of Isla de Tayun, Yoa raced through the forest, following the cries and panic thrumming along the earth. The forest was dark here as if the sun didn’t dare try to streak through the parting of leaves. This part of the island shouldn’t be so gloomy. The air shouldn’t be constricting his lungs and pushing the scent of seaweed down his throat, smothering him.

That’s what he followed as the forest floor was damper than usual, the ground soaking up seawater. Large pawprints of another kind. One he had yet to familiarise himself with the scent. Seasalt and brine.

Droplets of blood trickled along the ground. It was mostly in disguise, so dark against some of the uplifted roots that most would not see or scent it. It was yet another injured animal, one of many that tried to survive on Isla de Tayun.

The forest was quiet—far too quiet—but fear seeped into the leaves and trees themselves. Yoa wanted to ask the trees, speak their language, and grasp the situation he still didn’t know much about besides the scent of terror in the air.

Leaves whipped past his whiskers as he leapt and weaved through the jungle, the scent growing thicker, the bloodlust almost sickeningly sweet in the air. Yoa stopped. A few bats lay dead on the floor before the slow parting of the trees leading to the beach. Their wings were slowly fizzling from the sun cast over their bodies partially.

Some of the others had their wings missing.

What manner of creature could attack not one but multiple vampiras. Sure, they were groggy during the day, but they were fast. So fast, even Yoa would have trouble fighting them, especially when they remained in their large groups.

That wasn’t the last bit of the gruesome act. On the sand, it looked like there had been an altercation. The beast who won had dragged it back into the water.

Yoa frowned. No... It couldn’t be... That was only a legend. But so were the other ancients that had started to show up since his birthright had been claimed as the guardian of this island.

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