My Predator System

Hounded 2

Maks looked around the meadow and wood fence, then watched his dad sign something to Marshall who looked impressed with Kirsta behind him.

Elvis was sitting with the black dog who seemed delighted to meet his new friend. It nuzzled his face but he was indifferent.

While a help disinfected his ear.

"Not." His vision went back to him.

Victor shook his head and sighed. "I should have known. We have to keep our families safe. We are a stronghold, we also stand a big chance of being disputed. The beans bring good luck but they also...slightly, positively might probably...attract hunters who could actually kill us if we don't get stronger."

Maks laughed bitterly. "Okay, what?"

"Relax. Everything will work out." Victor said.

Maks paled. "Work out. Ho ho. Oh no." He gripped Victor's shirt.

Victor blushed and raised his hands. "You stand a chance. How do you think we survived? My grandmother held them off all this time. Chyou Lee."

"You've ruined my life!"

"I did not and point of correction. I saved you. Now, just keep doing what you're doing, I'm sure you will thank me later." He patted his shoulders.

Maks clenched his teeth at him.

"There are also hunters after you aren't there?"

"Evil spirits, precisely..." He looked nervous. "Sometimes I get confused. Besides rituals. They obscure everything I do. It's the price I have to pay."

Victor turned to the wraiths glaring at him outside the meadow. One's eyes narrowed at him pointing bony fingers. YOU...DEAD.

Given that they had no trachea to make sounds. He still heard their whispers.

"They're the reason behind the animals going crazy around here."

"Really? You think it's not just an adrenaline rush or..."

"You can tell the difference if only you look closer."

Maks scoffed. "Keep dreaming."

Elvis barked beside him and Maks gave attention to him. Then he glanced at the gate veering open slowly and then a monster appeared.

"Holy shit."

It had sharp long ears, dishevelled black fur, canine features, gills on its neck, eyes that glowed purple, and its legs smoked on the ground. It looked gnarly.

"Victor!" Both stepped away slowly.

"That one of yours?" Maks asked gaping at the fiend.

"Nope." Victor answered. "You?"

{ Smite the demon dog }

Gulp* "Hold still." Maks announced and Victor's knees buckled.

The fiend sniffed around and howled.

Maks's forearms burned.

They were the only ones who could see it. Marshall, Kirsta, Melvin and the help had left the meadow.

"Whatever you do. Don't look back."

Maks checked his panel, he shuffled to the tree and it caught sight of him.

It barked and charged while Victor ran away with Elvis.

Maks stayed up in the tree and chattered thumping his foot. His bushy tail swirled and the demon dog growled climbing up.

RUFF!

[ Gotta get outta here fast. I'm screwed, totally screwed! ]

His squirrel senses peaked, and his heart raced as he scurried vigorously across the field. [ This is not what I had in mind. ]

He spotted a horse stable in the distance and drifted in its direction.

He huffed and chattered.

The demon dog appeared in a haze of shadows before him growling. Its fangs bared. Drool falling out of its mouth.

Here lies Maks Anderson

Son, Half-brother, step-son, apparent son to a woman he might never meet or know and crappy friend.

[ Ah! ] He ran under the hound in between its legs and it growled spinning and in its violent struggle to keep up, it nudged against the iron door to the stables.

Victor wore field hockey armour.

"Die demon!" He sprayed salt and it screeched staggering and smoking up, the salt was explosive. It hacked and fell sideways snivelling on the grass.

Maks chucked frantically on the gate. His squirrel senses clouding his view. To make things worse, the other black dog barked up at him in a frenzy. Pawing at the gates. It rattled.

Maks chucked back angrily and leapt on Victor's padded shoulder running down to the bottom and he morphed.

If Victor had not been wearing pads, he could have scarred him.

Maks came out of his squirrel form. He touched his scalp, glad he was out of that haze and the black dog leapt on him, searching for the squirrel.

"Ugh." He pushed its head away. Nervous. "I swear, this is still getting out of hand."

Victor lowered his hockey stick. "Well, yes. Salt and iron are one of several weaknesses of the hellhound."

He helped Maks up.

[ A hellhound? ]

"Oh Victor, that was monstrously brave of you. Having my back there." He sounded angry.

He smiled.

"A hellhound? Do they just_"

"Maks, we're leaving,"

Melvin yelled waving.

Elvis bolted for the car. He was pleased to revoke his playdate with Victor's clingy pet.

Victor sighed. "Until next time."

"See you around, Vic." He softened at Irma coming.

His face reddened.

She possessed luscious blonde hair, almond-shaped blue eyes, white skin, a cute nose pointing up like a pixie's, an oval face and a short chin she wore a wine shirt that said GIRLZ ROCK, leggings and sneakers, and his grin widened drowsily.

"Hi, Irma." His eyes dilated.

"Hey...Maksh." Her eyes were crinkled.

Maks blushed.

She sounded ridiculous in her new braces but he couldn't help himself.

He blushed in embarrassment and given how smitten he was about Irma Barnsley, part of his mind forced him to focus on the issue at hand. Demon dogs, dog, dad, dad, Doreen, dad...

He huffed and shook his head.

"I'll go this way."

Irma Barnsley brushed her hair behind her ear. Maks was one interesting guy.

She was coming from the dentist's office in town and she already felt insecure about her new braces.

Most people were bewildered by her appearance but immediately they spotted her buck teeth, she was a fucking squirrel. It was easy enough to be undervalued with her blonde hair.

"Hey, Victor." She said.

"Hi Irma, how's it going?" He said with his back to her, preoccupied with dissembling his hockey costume. He had blood on him.

"Terrific. Uh..."

"Ah!" He screamed at her braces.

"What'sh wrong? Is it that bad?" She touched on her braces. Her eyes nearly watering.

"Nothing, um...I've been hunting for uh... squirrels." He reddened.

She gasped in horror and reddened covering her mouth.

She looked at the loose patches of grass in the meadow, the scratches on the tree, the dented gate and his hockey stick.

"What happened here?" She posed to keep her weight on her hip.

...

Maks hopped into the car. He let his mind rest and his body heat linger, putting on his seatbelt.

Victor would never look at him the same way after ogling at his girlfriend.

She was unique and fascinating. 'Don't get me started about those blue eyes' His snider inner voice said and he mentally slapped himself.

"Ok, I'm ready." He managed to say.

Melvin huffed. "The Lees are...interesting."

He started the ignition.

"Yeah. They're good people. You can start the car now."

He did an A-okay sign and his system came on. He swiped it down quickly and relaxed focusing on the road.

He decided to focus on something else. "So, about mom..."