Puppy Love

Chapter 4

Rudina sat near Canagan's hospital bed. He looked alot bigger then she remembered yet vunrable as he slept. He had apologised, given her a gift and honoured his bond by saving her life. He rested peacefully and healed well for a new Werewolf. She looked over to his shield and sword. It was propped up against the wall nearby his bed.

There were deep gashes in the metal. The shield would need two humans to carry and was heavy and strong. Rudina traced the lines with her fingertips. This wasn't a weapon that caused the damage and the size of the creature's claws were huge. She couldn't trace it to anything by touching it. It meant it was too long ago or that there was little humanity in this being. 

A doctor came in to check on Canagan. This was a special hospital. The Imperials supported the local Animal Rescue Centre heavily. In return they employed Werewolf staff to handle these types of cases. People didn't look twice when a wounded wolf gets carted in. Especially not when they rescue Bears and Foxes too. 

" The Foxfires." The doctor said as she watched Rudina examine the shield.

" What are they?" Rudina turned to the doctor and asked.

" In short Vampires. You see as a Werewolf we turn into a supernatural wolf. The rest of the time we look like you and so do they." The doctor checks on Canagan as she continues.

"Foxfire are their transformation. The first of their kind were kind and lived off the land in these very forests. They helped free a Phoenix from a cruel water trap." The doctor winces at the thought and focuses of administering anti biotics into the drip.

"The Phoenix gave The Vampires the ability to become a cunning and quick fox. They are a very close rival in this form. Equal in size and speed they are regenerative like The Phoenix and manipulate fire as well.

" Why would they attack us now? I don't even know they exist, I thought the Vampires and Werewolves being at war was a feud settled long ago. How is he?" Rudina asked the doctor when she seemed finished with her exam. 

" He's a fighter and alot stronger then he looks. The venom from The Firefox claws are painful and leave slowly. Once it clears he will be alot safer." The doctor said as she was about to leave the room.

"Why couldn't we see The Firefox and Artair could?" Rudina said to stop the doctor leaving.

" Now that I can't tell you because we just don't know." With that the doctor gave a wry smile and left. Rudina walked over to Canagan and kissed him on the cheek. She wished he would just open those sarcastic green eyes of his. Here he would be safe but she couldn't leave him. She would stay here the whole day and school was only tomorrow anyway.

+++

They all stared at her and kept looking at their phones. From the school entrance right till she got to class, they whispered. By the time Rudina sat in first class she was all out of patience. Why did people care so much about what was going on in other's lives? 

" So he FINALLY noticed what a total loser you are. Took him long enough." 

"Stacy Brent the token mean girl and silver spoon recipient." Rudina turned to face Stacy with a snarl" What delusional rampage may I rid you of today? 

" Just wondering what happened to make Mr. Delicious run screaming." Stacy said with barely concealed joy.

" I don't know what the hell you're on about you tragic tramp but get out of my face and my business." Rudina said feeling her blood run hot. 

" Oooh touchy don't worry little bow peep I'm not looking for sloppy seconds." Stacy said and sat down as the teacher arrived. 

Rudina slumped into her seat and already felt dead with boredom. If teachers didn't care and just droned on then what was the point? Rudina only had to wait a few more classes to see her friends. She had nothing in common with people her age. She had never really fit in and that was before becoming a Huntress.

Later while finally sitting in peace she caught up with her five besties. There was Henry who wouldn't notice an explosion thanks to his gaming addiction. Tammy who looked like a broken nail would upset her but loved working on cars and raced every weekend. 

Then there was James who landed hotter guys then her and Tammy could pull off together. Lana was nowhere to be seen with Rachel, her blonde 'hype girl'. They hadn't spoken to her since the rumours had bumped her social status down a few notches.

" You look like you're having a great day." Tammy said sitting down next to her. 

" Stacy she's her charming self." Rudina said as she took a bite of her sandwich. 

" She must be having a field day with all the rumours. Also why didn't you tell us you and Hunter were done for?" Henry asked between bites of his crisps. 

" Is that what everyone is whispering about? We are NOT over, not at all." Rudina said and then wondered how to deal with this. Her friends knew nothing of her world. She couldn't tell them what had really happened.

 ' Oh guys guess what Hunter is a Werewolf and we were supposed to be together forever but Artair ruined it!' That would NOT work at all.  Maybe she should just go with the rumours, it would just be alot easier.

" Well I don't know about you but that looks a little over to me hon." Tammy chimed in as she spotted something. They all looked to where Tammy was looking. 

Hunter climbed on his bike and handed his Helmut to STACY!WHAT! She got on the bike behind Hunter and smiled before he roared away without even a glance. 

" How can he even talk to that creature! And then he doesn't even have the balls to tell me. I have to hear about it from people at school!" Rudina said as she watched with disbelief as he left with her nemesis. The rest of the day dragged on even though most of the school day was already done. 

When school was finally done she walked home with James and Tammy. They had grown up together on the same street. They had gone to each others birthdays and mocked each others ugly Christmas sweaters for years. It was nice for once not to fear for your life on a noisy bike and just hang out like old times again.

" You sure you OK?" Tammy asked Rudina as they got to her house. 

" I'll be fine guys I just need a hot shower and a long rest." Rudina said with a tired smile.

" Phone or message me if you need to talk or something." Tammy said as she hugged Rudina goodbye and walked further up the road with James her next door neighbor.

Rudina had a quick shower and then headed out to see how Canagan was doing. She entered the room to find him arguing with a nurse over stolen dessert.

" I left it right there! I can't even go to the bathroom without something going missing." He says as the nurse takes his blood pressure impatiently. " And it's not the first time. Last time someone took my watch and it was my grandfather's."

" Look I dunno who took it I'll get you another one when the food trolley comes by again." With that the nurse storms out without even looking at Rudina. 

" You seem alot better." Rudina said trying not to laugh at how angry Artair was because of dessert. She should probably start calling him Canagan. 

" They treat me like a dog. I'd be better off letting them experiment on me in a government hospital." Canagan said bitterly. 

" I'm just glad you're awake. Uh...thank you for saving me I...don't know what would have happened if you weren't there. Rudina said as she took his hand.

" Touching reunion." Hunter said from the doorway.

" You've got a nerve coming here Hunter. And after what you did at school? Get out!" Rudina said without even turning towards him.

" I didn't do anything but give that Stacy chick a ride. They all just flapping their lips coz you didn't come to school with me this morning." Hunter said as if explained to a child.

" Exactly you didn't do anything. You didn't tell anyone the rumours weren't true and you sure as hell didn't have my back on the battlefield." Rudina spat at him.

" Look do we REALLY have to have this discussion in front of The Puppy?" Hunter snarled at Canagan. 

" This ' Puppy' didn't turn his back on me the moment he could. You wimped out the moment things went wrong!" Rudina  almost shouted and went quiet. She had to remember there were sick and injured people and animals around them.

" I love you and I've stuck by you for three years you stupid human. I'm an Adolphus second ONLY to The Imperials. You choose to stay with the runt of the litter, so be it." Hunter said through clenched teeth, shook his head at her and turned to walk away. 

She thought she had known Hunter. He had been kind and thoughtful to her. Had made her feel like the only girl in the world. How could she have been so wrong. She just hoped her heart caught up soon. She still loved him and missed having him around. The cruel way he had turned on her shocked her to her core. 

Then there was the problem of Canagan who she dreamt of and couldn't get out of her mind. Who she had almost kissed and still wondered how he tasted. 

 

"