He was hurt as he ran, and worse, he was bleeding red into the snow behind him, leaving a clear trail for the wolf at his tail. Having lost some of his speed and more of his nimbleness there were fewer tricks Jigano could try, and no time to think of new ones as he sped after Remi's captors.
This was the last place he'd wanted to be when he'd started off - wounded, between the small pack, having to worry about another. If only the blasted boy had stayed with his mother and Rory! Jigano still didn't know what had brought the hawk down, but he could hardly leave him to become lunch. At least the wolves had been drawn away from the humans and their kill, and he felt a quick rush of relief that he didn't have to worry about Rory and Vai as well.
He didn't glance back - didn't have time to do more than keep his ears tuned for the one who had wounded him - all his attention focused on the scent of blood in front of him, Remi's blood, a brilliant coppery tang in the air. He skimmed over a fallen log, three legs bounding swiftly and the fourth dropping only occasionally for balance, still bleeding as each move flexed punctured and torn muscles. The two wolves were right before him, glaring at each other as they walked, and Jigano's sharp eyes quickly found the one who had Remi.
He was small, but he was fierce - though that limited his targets. Still, if the wolf wanted to retaliate it would need to drop Remi to do so. Hoping he had the element of surprise, the quick white fox would lunge at the left rear leg of the female wolf - keeping most of her body between him and the male - in an attempt to lock sharp white teeth onto the ligament behind her knee and tear or damage the ACL there.
This was the last place he'd wanted to be when he'd started off - wounded, between the small pack, having to worry about another. If only the blasted boy had stayed with his mother and Rory! Jigano still didn't know what had brought the hawk down, but he could hardly leave him to become lunch. At least the wolves had been drawn away from the humans and their kill, and he felt a quick rush of relief that he didn't have to worry about Rory and Vai as well.
He didn't glance back - didn't have time to do more than keep his ears tuned for the one who had wounded him - all his attention focused on the scent of blood in front of him, Remi's blood, a brilliant coppery tang in the air. He skimmed over a fallen log, three legs bounding swiftly and the fourth dropping only occasionally for balance, still bleeding as each move flexed punctured and torn muscles. The two wolves were right before him, glaring at each other as they walked, and Jigano's sharp eyes quickly found the one who had Remi.
He was small, but he was fierce - though that limited his targets. Still, if the wolf wanted to retaliate it would need to drop Remi to do so. Hoping he had the element of surprise, the quick white fox would lunge at the left rear leg of the female wolf - keeping most of her body between him and the male - in an attempt to lock sharp white teeth onto the ligament behind her knee and tear or damage the ACL there.
