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How Not To Become Lunch: 52 - Don’t Let Promises Break
“Anyone feeling lucky today?” Arthur asked.
Tensions were a bit high, but only as high as the excitement, as the students of Mr. Gold’s advanced predator class walked, slithered, and sometimes hopped along their path from the main school building toward the waiting battlefield that was the school’s hunting grounds. And among them, Arthur, Fiona, Chelsie, Pyre and Mortimer formed a tight pod- a pack, if you would- psyching themselves up for the challenge ahead.
No one seemed to jump at the chance to make any bold predictions at Arthur’s invitation, not even Pyre, but after a moment, Chelsie did comment.
“Best to hunt in the moment, and save your pride for when your belly’s full.”
“Eloquent advice as always,” Arthur complimented.
After all, despite the spectacular display that Arthur had put on last time, a catch during A.P.E. was rare. The advanced magic class held some of the most formidable prey a predator could hope to claim- not to mention more than a few of those twisted ‘human preds’ who were more than happy to claim a meal for their side.
But, of course, any predator who would let themselves become the meal of a human was no real predator at all. Certainly not one that belonged in the advanced class. And for the rest of them, the true predators at the top of the food chain, the lofty challenge only served to fan the flames of their instincts and stoke the waiting fires in their bellies.
Fiona, walking right alongside Arthur, could feel her heart pounding in her chest as they passed through the gates, her tail ticking back and forth in quick, curt little wags. It still felt so exhilarating to her, being there with them- with him- on the hunt together; watching his deft skill firsthand, feeling him watch her…
Yes, she did have her nerves- she hadn’t exactly done perfectly last time, and had even ended up having a pretty close call with one of the mages- but despite that, as her whole class lined up at the edge of the trees, her toe-claws pitted the ground in nervous excitement for this week’s ‘hunting games’ to begin. This wasn’t her first time anymore; this time she intended to show Arthur what she could do.
“Predators, prepare yourselves,” Mr. Gold instructed. He did not have to speak very loud.
All conversations quickly faded out, and you could feel the shift in the air as the combined keen senses of everyone present, the tangible potential of the hunting prowess of the entire class, focused down to a fine point.
“The students of the advanced magic class have already moved to the far side of the grounds and are preparing to begin. I trust you will put my teachings to good use. Good hunting to you all.”
The air was deathly quiet for a moment, say for the birds in the trees, the one or two minute shifts of paws against earth, and the breathing of the hunters, lined up and awaiting their signal.
Mr. Gold’s ear twitched.
“Begin.”
…
Ozzy continued to take deep breaths as he trekked stealthily through the greenery, clutching his wand tight. Though his nerves were still on fire, he was actually doing a remarkably good job at keeping his mind focused and his hands steady.
“Hey,” he whispered, “should we be worried about the pred-mages in our class?”
“No,” Zach replied from right by his side, “During A.P.E. they’re only allowed to hunt students from the other class; Mr. Erlin’s rules.”
“Good, that’s a few less people to worry about.”
“Better than that. I’ve actually been saved by one a couple times in here. But we should keep our talking to a minimum, the preds will definitely hear us.”
Ozzy nodded silently in reply, holding his lips shut and suddenly realizing just how loud his breathing seemed. A moment later, though, Zach did speak again.
“This is a good spot,” he uttered almost inaudibly. “You stay here and cast an invisibility spell; I’m going to be over there.” He pointed to a large rock a short distance away.
“What!?” Ozzy replied, doing his best to express his concern as quietly as possible. “I thought we were supposed to stay together.”
“We will be, just not right on top of each other. A predator could pin us both at once. If they only see one of us, they probably won’t look too closely for another one, especially one who’s invisible. If you stay right here, I’ll be able to see this spot from there, and you’ll be able to see me from here. If one of us gets attacked, the other will be right there to help.”
Despite his spiking anxiety at the idea, Ozzy nodded in agreement. Zach’s strategy was sturdy and sound; he clearly knew what he was doing. And Ozzy very much appreciated being given the less dangerous role.
Zach smiled at his friend. He couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of Ozzy for keeping so calm, he’d seen more than a few others lose it their first time and almost end up lunch.
Ozzy pointed his wand toward himself. “Videre celare.” And he disappeared from view.
Zach nodded and turned. Keeping low and quiet, he began to step away, casting his eyes over the trees and bushes, wary for any sign of predatory presence. He arrived only a few seconds later and settled in, preparing himself for the long wait ahead, working over his strategies and repertoire of spells in his mind.
…
“Pellere!”
Fiona heard the syllables split the air, just as she watched Arthur taking his last step toward the mage. The short-haired girl had seen him coming just a moment earlier than they’d hoped, and that fraction of a second very well may have been the difference between human being and writhing bulge.
She didn’t hit Arthur with that spell, though. He’d twisted and pivoted at the last moment, just barely dodging the magical impulse as it sent some unseen object tumbling over in the distance. And while he was no longer in a position to pin his prey, he was in a position to-
*riiip*
“*gasp* Flurr!”
It happened almost too quickly to be seen. Arthur’s claws tore through fabric as he dodged by, and the next moment the mage had pointed her wand groundward, cast her spell, and then both human and werewolf had disappeared in an opaque cloud of airborne dirt.
But the girl hadn’t been counting on Arthur’s plan B.
Fiona made her move the instant she saw the mage emerging into view, fleeing- very correctly- like her life depended on it. Fiona charged to intercept, but before she could get close enough, she heard the human already casting another spell.
“Vegeto!”
Wand pointed selfward, the incantation seemed to give the mage a sudden burst of strength. The human only saw Fiona a moment after completing the spell, yet by that time she had already picked up considerable speed, and seeing the second attacking predator only spurred her on. The mage pressed her body to the limit; Fiona reached out a clawed hand and-
*riiiiip*
She only managed to snag a bit of trailing fabric as her prey whizzed by, disappearing quickly into the cover of overlapping greenery. She stared off after the girl with mild frustration as she panted lightly for a moment.
Eventually, she glanced to her hand. She was holding the tattered remains of what was once most of a shirt, and in passing she found herself hoping that the girl had been wearing something underneath. Having to battle or be eaten alive was one thing, but having to do it topless with everyone watching was just cruel. She cast the ruined clothing aside along with the thought as Arthur walked over, dusting bits of dirt from his fur.
“We were quite close with that one,” he said approvingly.
“Yeah, she got lucky,” Fiona agreed. “Come on, let’s find another one.”
Arthur smirked in response. And Fiona’s tail fluttered at his smile.
…
They’d been lucky so far, Ozzy and Zach. It couldn’t be said for sure if any predators had spotted them (or specifically Zach, most likely), but none had attacked them yet. They were far from relaxed though. They could hear the distant- and not so distant- cries of spells, and the roars and growls of predators. One skirmish had even broken out close enough for them to watch, and much to their relief the empty-bellied pred had simply moved on after his prospective prey had escaped.
Even after sitting in wait for this long, every little sound they heard nearby still sent jolts down Ozzy’s invisible spine, and jerked Zach to attention. They’d both lost count of the number of times a squirrel or a bird had passed nearby and knocked against a stick or a bunch of leaves. But that was a large part of defensive spellcasting, remaining vigilant enough to cast your spell in time. Predators could strike in the blink of an eye- sometimes quicker. It doesn’t matter how strong your magic is if you never get the chance to-
*crack*!
Attention once again snapped abruptly to the nearby sound. Something- or someone- had broken a stick underfoot. But was it just an animal? Another mage? Or was it a hunter?
Zach scanned the brush silently, wand at the ready. They’d all been false alarms so far, but he knew eventually- Wait, something just moved.
What was that? …Where did it go…? A few seconds passed. Zach continued to stare into the area where he’d seen the motion, gradually broadening his search as it came up empty.
Then, suddenly, as if from nowhere, a furry form leapt out right in front of him. He felt a burst of adrenaline and fear, asking himself how he’d managed to let a pred get so close, while simultaneously thrusting the thought from his mind, because there were much more pressing concerns now that he had.
Those fierce, determined, hungry eyes locked with his. Wand trained in an instant, he opened his mouth to declare his first spell.
…But then he hesitated.
…
“There he is,” Fiona whispered.
“Indeed. Good tracking, Fi.”
She’d noticed the scent a couple times as they’d passed through the woods. It had always seemed to be coming from the same area, and now that they were close enough to see, it was clear that this human had been staying put and was obviously planning to continue that way. A still target did have its advantages, more time to survey and plan out their attack, but it also meant the mage had had even more time to prepare.
There was also another scent in the area, one that had been there for just as long, and that was oddly familiar to her- though she couldn’t quite place it. Not that she was giving that last part much thought in the midst of her hunt.
“I think we should adjust our tactic a bit,” Arthur advised. “You smell the other one?”
Fiona nodded.
“We need to draw the hider out,” he continued. “I suspect if they see one of us make a move alone, they won’t suspect a second predator.”
“And when the hider comes in to help our first target, the ‘second predator’ will ambush him, creating an opening for the first to strike,” Fiona replied, quickly understanding the rest of the plan.
It was an excellent, flexible approach. And one which could even net them two meals. Imagine that! Sure, it was risky taking on two at a time, but the risk only added to the excited flutter in Fiona’s chest, knowing that it would be her and Arthur charging in together.
“Are you going in first again?” she asked.
“Hm… well, if the first move is a distraction, it should probably be you. You are far more eye-catching than me, after all.”
Oh, that had done more than cause a little flutter. Those words sent a jolt straight down her spine all the way to the ends of the fur at the tip of her tail.
“Ah-” Fiona realized with a start that that very unintentional reaction had just made it out of her mouth, and quickly managed to turn it into words. “-And you’re a bit quicker than me, so it makes sense for you to handle the ambush.”
Arthur smirked. “Alright then, you ready, Fi?”
She nodded firmly in response.
Those were the last words they exchanged. The pair began together, moving stealthily as one through the brush, pressing in just to the edge of where they could remain unseen. Fiona glanced along the forest floor and noticed a fallen twig.
*crack*!
That got their prey’s attention. The boy’s head instantly snapped in their direction, peering through the green with his objectively inferior human eyes.
That’s when they split up. Arthur went off circling to one side as Fiona continued her approach. Without even having discussed it, Arthur skillfully made a few slightly exaggerated movements, just enough to draw their prey’s attention in his direction, allowing Fiona to creep closer more easily. And it worked- ironically- like magic. The boy’s eyes snapped toward Arthur, and though they lost him just as easily, they stayed pointed away from the much closer werewolf, who was only drawing closer still with each breath.
In those few moments of deafening silence, as Fiona reached the edge of her cover, only one thought persisted in her mind beyond her meticulous attention to the hunt itself. This was her moment to let Arthur see just how good a huntress she could be, and she was going to show him.
Fiona leapt from the brush and let herself land hard and conspicuous in the open. Her eyes were locked with her prey from the very start, every muscle ready for action, prepared for any move the mage might make. She watched him point his wand at her, and she braced herself to dodge whatever spell he was preparing, just as they had planned.
…But then he hesitated.
Quite un-according to plan, the boy faltered. He looked startled and confused. And Fiona realized in an instant that this was her chance. With him hesitating, she suddenly had an opening. She did not falter, she did not hesitate. She stared the human in the eyes and pounced.
Down went the mage, and down went Fiona on top of him. She pinned his arms to the dirt, wrenching the wand from his hand in what was now a well-practiced motion. And then she braced her gullet for a meal, and she brought her jaws to her lunch’s face.
…
Ozzy had still been gazing out into the trees, seeking out the source of the snapped twig, when the werewolf had leapt from the brush in front of Zach. The moment he recognized the furry form, his tension shot through the roof. He had to stifle a shaky gasp and steady the almost convulsive grip on his wand.
To his credit, it only took him a moment to regain his control and his senses, but in that same moment, the werewolf had already pounced and pinned his companion to the ground. And just as he became clearheaded enough to prepare his next move, he also became clearheaded enough to recognize Fiona.
A flurry of emotions and impulses, on top of the incredible stress, overwhelmed him with confusion for a second moment. His impulse to defend himself and his friend, reinforced by his natural fear, crashed against his more recent, trained response to the now-familiar canine predator. This was the same girl who had so innocently sat with him and Jack at the lunch table, but yet she had Zach pinned and now she was-
Ozzy couldn’t help but gasp as he saw the werewolf’s maw splay wide and engulf Zach’s head. The sight forced him into action, but despite his instincts and his teachings he didn’t attack. Some part of him still held tight to the promise she’d made, that Jack’s friends were safe from her belly, and that part of him held him back. So rather than attack, he called out.
“Fio-!”
And that was when Arthur made his move. True to the plan, the moment Ozzy had revealed himself, he’d pounced to claim their second prize. Ozzy was swept from his feet and slammed into a nearby tree. He felt a fur-covered hand cover his mouth, claws pressing close to his neck, and a second furred grip at his forearm near his wand.
Instincts flying into a rage, he was thrown into a fit of struggles and screams, but the screams were muffled to near silence, and the struggles were reduced to pitiful wiggles. He’d been pinned. Turning his head the small amount he could, he could just see the predator who held him. His whole body shook in fear when he recognized the other werewolf.
It was a response Arthur could feel. He eyed his prey with a satisfied smirk. Ozzy’s breathing quickened to a dangerous pace, he knew what came next: yawning jaws, a terrifying trip down a dark, tight throat, and a horrible end buried inside a hungry stomach.
But Arthur did not part his muzzle to swallow the boy whole, at least not yet. Instead, confident that his prey was secure, he turned in Fiona’s direction, and he watched her, his smile broadening.
*gulp*
The sound wrenched Ozzy’s eyes to the scene. And the poor boy whimpered. Zach’s head was pressing out Fiona’s throat, with his shoulders well on their way, saliva dripping down over him from the werewolf’s hungry maw.
The sight filled Ozzy with horror. She was eating him. She was really eating him! He fought and wrestled as hard as he could, but Arthur’s firm grip kept him well in place.
*gulp*
Zach’s shoulders sank into her gullet, along with most of his chest. Ozzy could see the twitches in the other boy’s arms and legs, but Fiona’s deathly grasp, much like Arthur’s, kept her prey pinned exactly where she wanted, hardly able to move, let alone resist.
*gulp*
Ozzy cried out in desperation, ignoring the fact that he knew it would be useless. Why!? Why was she doing this! She’d said Jack’s friends were off her menu! She’d promised!
*GULP*
But what were promises in the jaws of a predator? Ozzy watched helplessly as Fiona fed the waist of her latest meal into her waiting throat, lifting Zach off the ground in the grip of her maw, his legs flailing and kicking futilely in the open air, as the rest of him was squeezed and buried into the werewolf’s empty belly.
*GULP*
Zach!! NO!! ZACH!! Ozzy screamed in his head.
*GULP*
“Mmmmmmph!!” came desperate pleas through Arthur’s grasp.
…*glrk*… *sigh*…
Zach’s feet disappeared into Fiona’s jaws, sealed with a quiet clack, and the wiggling form of his body slipped down into hers, pressed down by her throat, enveloped, consumed, and packed tight into the bulge of her taught, fur-clad gut.
*urp*
Ozzy stared at it, with wide, teary, terrified eyes: the belly that had just swallowed up his friend.
Fiona turned to Arthur, and in doing so met Ozzy’s eyes. Arthur seemed to take that as his cue to fill his own belly. His parting jaws stole Ozzy’s gaze, sending the boy into a renewed panic as he watched the werewolf’s tongue slide across his teeth before the shadowed red void that was his greedy throat.
“Wait!”
Panting wildly, heartbeat pounding in his ears, Ozzy saw the approaching muzzle pause, before sealing itself once again and then pointing away from him.
“Something wrong, Fiona?” Arthur asked.
Ozzy had been so gripped by his impending death, he’d hardly even registered that it had been Fiona’s voice that had called out. But he looked to the familiar werewolf as Arthur did, and saw her approaching them with a mildly concerned expression on her murderous muzzle.
“That… that’s Ozzy!” she said with surprise. Arthur shot him a sideways glance.
“Can’t say the name means much to me,” he replied.
“He’s one of Jack’s friends,” she explained. “I didn’t even know he was in this class,” she added.
That’s when Ozzy finally realized. He’d met Zach when he’d moved into the advanced class. But Fiona had moved into her advanced class before he had, and she hadn’t really been around since. She hadn’t been with them when he’d introduced Zach, Jack had only pointed her out and said he’d introduce them later. The way things had been going between her and Jack, he must have never gotten the chance to mention Zach at all.
Zach had hesitated because he recognized her! But she had no idea who she’d just eaten!
“Mmmmmmph! Mmm! M-hmm-mmph!!” But Arthur wouldn’t let the remaining boy make a single intelligible sound.
Poor Ozzy, Fiona thought. He never was comfortable around preds. Not that I blame him. He must be scared out of his mind in here.
“Seems he’s ended up our prey at this point,” Arthur replied.
“I promised Jack I wouldn’t eat any of his friends.”
Ozzy gave another series of desperate, muffled pleas.
Arthur’s expression shifted in some unreadable way as he looked into Fiona’s eyes. It went without saying that she wouldn’t be the one eating him in any case. She was asking Arthur not to eat him, to give up his hard-earned prize, his meal.
“This isn’t a normal hunt. This is A.P.E.. It’s expected that prey who are caught become meals. He’s failed as a mage, after all. If I don’t claim him, he’ll just go to another.”
Fiona looked to Ozzy. She could hear his pulse, and even see it in his eyes.
“…I owe him the chance. He helped save Jack when I couldn’t. Please, Arthur…”
There was quite a long pause following that, but eventually Arthur spoke again.
“Well, I suppose we already have one prize to show for our work. I’m sure I can catch something else later.”
Ozzy practically melted with relief at those words- though perhaps that’s not the best metaphor given the circumstances. The feeling didn’t last, though. The moment Arthur’s eyes left Fiona to look at him, the silent, fierce fire within sent a new jolt through the boy’s tired body.
“If he makes so much as a sound when I let him go, he goes down my throat. Agreed?” He asked Fiona, but with his eyes still locked firmly on Ozzy. “No spells, no calls for help, no sudden moves, nothing until we’re gone.”
“You hear that Ozzy?” Fiona asked, much less threateningly. He glanced at her; her face was infinitely more sympathetic. “Just stay still and quiet and you’ll be okay.”
No! I have to tell you!
“Mmmmph!”
A low, bone chilling rumble from Arthur’s throat snapped Ozzy’s attention back to the other werewolf, and put such a tightness in his own throat that he couldn’t make a sound if he wanted to. That warning was clearer than any words could have been. One more peep, and he was dead.
Seeing as his catch had gone quiet. Arthur slowly removed his hand from the human’s mouth, still watching with unblinking focus.
His eyes wide and pleading, Ozzy looked to Fiona. He looked her right in the eyes, hoping somehow she’d understand.
Poor guy, Fiona thought, hope he makes it through.
Arthur took a step back, and then another. Fiona took a step back as well, her stomach writhing and jiggling.
Ozzy bit his lip.
Arthur motioned for them to go and turned.
Fiona gave one more look to Ozzy, and before she followed, offered these words of encouragement:
“Good luck. Don’t give up.”
Then she dashed off into the green with her hunting partner, taking Zach with her.
Ozzy collapsed against the tree. He couldn’t go after them. The moment Arthur caught his scent again he’d be dead, he wouldn’t even have a chance to speak. It was over… And Zach was gone…
…
*guuurgle* “mmmmmph” *glrop*
“Hey, um, Arthur?”
“Yeah, Fi?”
“Thanks for letting him go back there. I know making two catches at once would’ve been really impressive. And I feel kinda bad that I got a meal and you didn’t…”
*grlurk*
“Don’t mention it. And you definitely earned your meal, you hunted very well. As for me, well, I suppose you’ll just have to help me catch another one, won’t you?”
Fiona smiled.
“Think you can manage with all that food slowing you down?” he asked.
“Not great, but I can still do a few things.”
*glrk* *glrk* *groooan*
“Maybe not with him kicking around, though. Even a human would probably hear me coming a mile away like this. Hold on a sec.”
The pair paused, and Fiona took a moment to focus on her belly, her stomach walls lightly massaging the freshly caught meal within.
Sorry, I still have hunting to do. Can’t have you making me do something stupid in front of Arthur.
“Mmmmph! Mmmp!! MMMHP!!”
*guuuuugle-SQUELCH!*