-------------------------------------------
Hazel blinked as she looked at the wolf.
"Why.. didn't animals eat raw meat?" she mumbled as she looked at him, chewing the meat elegantly. His actions are no less than a human even though she was looking clumsy in front of him.
The wolf did not give her second look as he continued to eat no matter what she mumbled. He had sniffed enough to know that the meat was edible and most importantly she had brought it for herself. She wanted to have all the delicacies for herself and raw meat for him. He snorted as he had all the meat. While she only had a piece of steak.
Hazel looked at him enjoying the meal and even though he had snatched the food from her. She was still feeling triumphant that the proud being accepted the food and even enjoying it.
She did not make a sound even when she was done a long time ago. But she chuckled when he finished his meal.
"Didn't you intend to avoid me and not eat what I had brought for you?" she asked, tilting her head. A smirk was formed on her lips making him choke on the last bite.
He bared fangs at her and she waved her hand in the air.
"You need to learn new methods to scare others. You are only howling and showing your fangs and claws to me since we have met.'' What was that supposed to mean? Were Not fangs and claws and howling was the way to scare humans! And shouldn't she be afraid that he would attack her. What was that carefree attitude and snorting!
He had never seen this kind of daredevil human all his life. He was at a loss of words on how to react to her statement.
Her eyes soften looking at him. She moved closer and roamed her hands in his fur again.
"It is alright. Though the start was on the wrong terms, we can be friends now." though she was talking normally. He could feel her voice trembling a bit and his eyes narrowed. Why was she nervous when she asked him to be friends and who asked a wolf who could not even talk to be friends.
He looked at her attire once again. There was no doubt that she was a noble. Did nobles have a lot of friends and followers? But when he looked at her eyes, they were clear. There was no malice in them so he nodded. After all, she was his benefactor.
Her eyes filled with joy when the proud being finally nodded after taking an eternity to reply. She moved and hugged him. Holding his neck in her arms, she whispered, "thank you." and closed his eyes.
He did not know why but he felt relieved too.
"My lady, you should not be this close to a wild animal." the voice shook her. She trembled and her eyes turned red.
She did not need to run to know that the knights had found her. But how? She was sure she had changed her paths many times to confuse them.
The wolf opened his eyes only to see two human aiming arrows in his direction and talking to the girl respectfully and he howled. It was so loud that the knights took two steps back. But continued to aim in his direction.
"You do not need to shoot the arrows. The wolf will not harm me." she replied as she turned to look at them and they frowned.
They were not trying to save her in the first place. They were trying to agitate the wild animal. When they saw hazel was so close to a wild animal, their happiness did not have any bound. This way her death would be natural and there would be no one to blame the mistress. It would make everything easier for them too.
But they had not thought that the animal could be familiar to Hazel. No! They looked at each other and shook their heads. Wolves did not have friendship with humans.
"What are you talking about, my lady? It is a wild animal. It is dangerous. Please be aside so that we could kill him." they replied adamantly as their faces filled with false concern.
"Are you defying my orders?" she used the strongest voice she could muster. She had never given orders but she needed to learn to control them.
Even she was aware that animals hardly trusted her. If they continued to show weapons to it, he would attack. But more than death, she did not want to be called a traitor as it reminded her of her sister who betrayed her. She knew how it felt when the person you trust was the reason for your death.
She did not know if the animal could feel that but she would still not let that happen because of her conciseness.
She could feel his agitation by the way he was roaring and how his heartbeat had quickened. He was agitated and growling continuously.
"We apologize, but we can not follow this order." they denied directly as they held the crossbow and shot the arrow. This was their chance and they could not let it go. so, they turned blind eyes to her orders which had turned into pleadings now.
"No," she shouted but it was too late as they had already shot the arrows. Now she did not have a choice. She closed her eyes with determination. If that was her end, then so shall be.
The wolf wanted to run but all his legs were still injured and he could only limp slowly but it was not needed. His eyes widened and so as of the knights.
"Aahhh" a loud scream filled the whole woods yet the spectators were still in shock.
Before the wolf could run away. Hazel had moved and sat in front of the aim. Both arrows had hit her in both of her arms.. And the blood had started to turn the brown land red.