The Mating Run by Leeka

Safe

So, here I am, watching Victor scratch his head in confusion, wondering out loud why his claiming bite didn’t work.

“Something’s not right.”

And honestly, I can’t help but laugh. It’s like watching a magician who messed up a trick, and now everyone is left wondering what went wrong. But in this case, the trick was supposed to be some mystical bond, and all I got was a painful reminder of my naivety.

He mutters something about it not working as expected, and Zeke, always the voice of reason, asks if Victor even bothered to read the pamphlet. I can’t contain my laughter at this point. The pamphlet, the one that probably no one reads until things go south.

Classic.

But then Zeke drops a bombshell. The trackers inside us aren’t just trackers- they’re pheromone inducers. And apparently, every single thing in the field was a pheromone inducer. I try to wrap my head around it.

I can’t decide whether to be relieved that there’s no mystical bond or irritated that Victor literally took a bite out of me. It’s absurd, and I find myself laughing again. Maybe it’s the sheer ridiculousness of the situation or the fact that life has a way of turning expectations into a chaotic mess.

Victor looks like he’s about to say something, but Zeke beats him to it.

“You’re a f**king idiot, that’s what you are.”

Zeke declares, and for a moment, I appreciate the simplicity of his words.

No sugarcoating, just a straightforward assessment of the situation.

Safe

I look at Zeke, and we share a moment of understanding. The absurdity of it all hangs in the air like a punchline to an inside joke.

Victor finally speaks, his voice a mixture of frustration and confusion.

“But the claiming bite is supposed to create a bond!”

He protests, as if the universe owes him an explanation. I roll my eyes. The universe doesn’t owe anyone anything, especially not an explanation for failed magical bonds.

Zeke shakes his head, a bemused smile on his face.

“Did you even read the pamphlet?”

He asks, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. It’s a rhetorical question at this point. Who reads the pamphlet until everything falls apart?

Zeke explains the intricacies of Hunters and Hiders, and how Victor’s claim was nothing more than a physical act with no mystical repercussions. I feel a strange mix of relief and irritation.

at me, his expression a mix of confusion and

again, as if the act of biting should have automatically triggered a cosmic connection. I can’t help but shake my head. The simplicity of his logic is almost

her flesh, Victor. That’s all you did.

and absurdity. Victor’s face contorts with a mix of embarrassment and anger. It’s a priceless reaction, and I

tears of laughter, realizing that in this moment, I’ve found a

cosmic bonds and magical connections. Liberated from the weight of Victor’s failed attempt at claiming. It’s like

bit woozy. Zeke tears a piece

pressing on it,” he says, his voice steady. “But

etched on my

world seems hazy, the edges blurred by the persistent pain and the growing sense of faintness. But Zeke doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stands up, his expression hardened, and grabs Victor by the collar.

of impact echo in the air, sharp and jarring. Victor stumbles backward, his hand flying to his nose, blood trickling between his fingers. I blink, trying to make

and menacing. “Lucky that I have

of her first.”

that adds another layer of tension.

a strange mix of gratitude and confusion.

turns back to me, his eyes softening as he sees my bewildered

wound. The pain intensifies, but Zeke’s presence is a reassuring constant. I steal a glance at Victor, who’s still

care.

Safe

twinge of vulnerability. But then he returns with a water bottle, offering it to me. “Drink.” he instructs, and I obey, the cool liquid soothing my

Zeke watches me, his eyes a mix of concern and determination. “We need to get you out of here,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

blood, the world around me blurs, edges fading into a fog of confusion.

keep your eyes open.” he says, his words a lifeline in the disorienting swirl of sensations. “Come on, I need

but everything feels heavy, like I’m sinking into a dark pool. The pain in my neck throbs, a persistent reminder of Victor’s reckless actions. Zeke’s hand is on my shoulder, a steadying presence in the midst of chaos. I want to ask him what’s happening, why there are growls and sirens echoing in the distance, but my words get lost in the fog.

voice is firm, a lifeline in the growing storm. I

growls intensify. It’s a cacophony that mirrors the

hear Victor scoff, his voice

declares, dismissive and callous. “Just f**k off and leave me alone this time, you f**kers

awake.” His words guide me through the disorientation. I try to nod, but it feels like a heavy effort.

the ominous sounds in the distance. The world is dimming,

through my fingers. But i cling to Zeke’s voice, the anchor that

chaos, each note playing a part in the disorienting melody that surrounds us. I want to ask Zeke what’s happening, why everything feels like it’s

travels far. I’ve heard about certain animals being attracted to it, drawn to the metallic tang that hangs in the wind. And now, as I feel the warmth trickling down my neck, I can’t help but

alone. I know it. The forest seems to hold its breath, and I can’t shake the feeling of being watched. The scent of

a flame. In those stories, the protagonist is warned not to bleed, not to become prey to the unseen dangers that roam the