The Mating Run by Leeka

Run

Darkness surrounds me.

I hear echoes, fragments of sound, and the world flickers in and out like a dying flame. Zeke’s voice, a distant murmur, reaches me like ripples in a quiet pond. I try to focus, to make sense of the fragments, but everything slips away like sand through my fingers.

I feel the rhythmic beat of Zeke’s steps, a steady cadence that carries me through the darkness. His arms around me, a secure cocoon in the disorienting haze. I’m aware, on the edges of consciousness, that we’re moving, running somewhere. Zeke’s growls, low and protective, punctuate the darkness like distant thunder.

In and out.

That’s how I drift.

Sometimes the darkness swallows me whole, and other times I catch fleeting glimpses of the world outside. Zeke’s growls become a familiar lullaby, a comforting melody that cuts through the confusion. I want to ask where we’re going, what’s happening, but the words remain trapped in the fog that envelops my mind.

I feel the jostle of movement, the sensation of being carried, and Zeke’s growls intensify. Are we running from something? Are we running towards safety? The questions linger, but the answers remain elusive. All I know is the rhythmic beat of Zeke’s steps and the growls that weave through the darkness like a protective

shield.

Zeke’s rumbling, a deep vibration that resonates through his chest, reaches me in the cocoon of his arms. It’s a sound both primal and comforting, a reminder that I’m not alone in this disorienting journey through the unknown. The darkness threatens to pull me under, but Zeke’s presence becomes a lifeline, a connection that anchors.me in the tumultuous sea of uncertainty.

I hear him muttering, the words a blend of reassurance and urgency.

“Hold on, Alina,” he says, his voice cutting through the fog. “Just, hold on!”

Hold on to what? I wonder, but the question dissipates like a fleeting dream. Zeke’s arms tighten around me, a protective embrace that shields me from the unknown dangers that lurk in the darkness.

In the moments of consciousness, I catch glimpses of Zeke’s face. His eyes,

focused and determined, meet mine.

“We’re almost there.”

He murmurs, and I nod, or at least I think I do.

The fog within me is thick, a swirling tempest that blurs the edges of reality. But Zeke’s words become a guiding light, a promise of sanctuary in the midst of

chaos.

We keep moving. Running, perhaps towards safety, perhaps away from danger. The darkness clings to me like a heavy cloak, and Zeke’s growls become a protective shield that guards against the unknown.

My arms feel heavy and limp, like they’re not really mine.

I try to lift them, but they resist, as if they belong to someone else. There’s a fog in my mind, a persistent haze that blurs the edges of everything. I long let of

pressed against the wound

disorienting fog. I can feel his movements, his hands working. He presses a new cloth against the wound, against the source of warmth that

in the haze, for the steady hands that take care of what I

can’t.

voice a distant echo. Words I can’t quite grasp.

woven into the fabric of his speech. My eyes flutter, the effort of keeping them open feeling like a monumental task. I

sense of it all–the wound, the blood, the fog that envelops me–but everything feels like

“You’re doing great, Alina!” he murmurs, the words a soothing melody in the dissonant symphony. Great at what, I wonder, but the question slips away like sand through

He’s pressing a kiss to the side of my head, a tender gesture that ripples through the darkness. Gratitude swells within me, a silent acknowledgment of the care he provides in the aftermath

a swirl of sounds, a cacophony of pursuit. Zeke’s arms around me, a steady cocoon in the midst of the tempest. That’s what they’re doing–chasing us. The footsteps are relentless, a reminder that danger is a breath away. Zeke’s growls, a symphony of defiance, punctuate the air. I feel the urgency, the need to

voice, a primal roar, cuts through the

us!” he screams, the words a fierce declaration that reverberates through the

Keep away. Mine.

possessiveness, a

time, in the midst of pursuit, I melt

Run

the periphery of our shared sanctuary. I feel Zeke’s arms

won’t let them hurt you, Alina,” he murmurs, the words like

words carry an unspoken promise, a commitment that I feel more than understand. In this moment, I let go of the usual frustrations, allowing myself to trust

that feels like a heavy cloak. My breath catches,

Where am I?

echoes in my mind, a persistent whisper

a sharp pain shooting through my neck. It

for the source of the pain, my fingers grazing against something unexpected. Leaves pressed against my neck, a makeshift bandage that hints at a story I can’t quite grasp. I press on it, feeling the texture of the leaves,

warmth beneath.

settles in, a foggy disorientation

“W–what…?”

sit up, the movement cautious and slow, as if testing the solidity of my surroundings. The fire dances in

TL-

lanung handaand

neck–they’re my only companions in this moment. I glance around, searching for any sign of life, any clue to the mystery that shrouds me.

say, I’m

the edges of my consciousness. I’m alone in a cave, my surroundings unfamiliar, and my neck throbs with

a constant reminder, feels like a puzzle piece I can’t fit into the larger picture. I inspect the

clue in its dancing flames. A bag. That’s what I see a bag placed by the fire. I reach for it, my fingers fumbling with the clasps. The bag feels heavy, and my curiosity intensifies. What’s inside? Will it hold the answers

the bag, revealing its contents. Items–a medley of objects that offer no immediate explanation. A water flask, a few supplies, and a piece of folded paper. I grab the paper, unfolding

A map.

a tidal wave, and I can’t help but flinch. I let go of the map, groaning in frustration as I massage my throbbing temples, huddled in a ball with my knees tucked tightly

tightening with each