Page 44 of Tears of the Wolf
“Kalen.” Cenric kept his voice level, not taking his eyes off the animal. “She’s going to lunge again.”
The dyrehund pinned her ears, head crouching low.
“Easy—”
The dyrehund leapt, but not for Cenric. She shot past him, barreling for Snapper.
Hurt!Snapper yelped as the female crashed into him, her teeth finding the scruff of his neck. He pinned his ears, tail going between his legs.Nettles hurting Snapper!Whining, he dropped down low, trying to show submission.
Nettles wasn’t having it. The female latched on, yanking her head from side to side.
Snapper and Nettles had known each other for years, slept around the same hearth and run in the same pack, but none of that seemed to matter now. Nettles attacked him with a crazed fury.
Cenric rushed over and smashed the pommel of his sword down on Nettles. She let go and spun, lunging for Cenric.
Her body was thin, but she was strong and in her prime. Her teeth clamped on his left arm tearing into his sleeve.
Cenric let off a shout at the same time Kalen did.
Snapper lunged for the female even as she bit Cenric. The dog hadn’t defended himself, but he leapt to protect his master.Bad Nettles! Bad!
Snapper nipped the female’s haunches, and she let go of Cenric, spinning back to Snapper.
Kalen was on the dyrehund the next instant, stabbing at her side. Kalen was fast, efficient.
The dyrehund let off a yelp of pain. She jerked back to Kalen.
Cenric had dropped the torch—in the dirt, not the straw—but his sword arm was fine. He jabbed straight for Nettles’ neck as she twisted on Kalen.
The dog’s body seized, and her paws clawed at the empty air. Nettles let off a strangled snarling, gagging sound.
Kalen pulled back and speared her in the neck. He drove her to the ground, her body flailing like a fish.
She kept fighting, even with her blood soaking the ground. She struggled, getting weaker and weaker, then went still, mouth still open in a snarl.
Nettles hurt?Snapper’s ears pinned back. He stepped toward the dying female.Hurt?He looked plaintively up at Cenric.Help Nettles?
Cenric shook his head. He’d wanted to help Nettles, but the choice between Snapper and this feral dog hadn’t been a choice at all. Things had escalated too quickly, too violently.
Kalen and Cenric looked at each other, both panting. The dead dyrehund lay before them, seeming much smaller now. Cenric ripped his sword out and Kalen freed his spear.
“Good fight.” Cenric smoothed the dog’s coat. “Rest now, girl.”
“She bit you.” Kalen gestured to Cenric’s arm.
He grimaced, raising his arm for a better view. His sleeve had been torn open and he had several bruises in the shape of teeth, but shockingly no broken skin. Pain still throbbed through his entire arm. “Good thing my new wife is good at mending, isn’t it?”
Cenric looked over to Snapper.Hurt?
Snapper whined, coming over to Cenric with his ears flattened.
Cenric looked his dyrehund over, not seeing any blood on him, either. It seemed that the thick fur around his neck had come in useful. Dogs usually sustained wounds on their faces and forelegs in fights, but Snapper had dropped to the ground as soon as Nettles charged.
“Forgive me, lord.” Kalen cleared his throat awkwardly.
Cenric shook his head. “You did well.” He wiped his sword blade on the dog’s pelt. “Exactly as I taught you.”
“Still, I—”
