Irai followed him into the clearing. Ren removed his backpack and laid it on the ground before opening it and pulling out a large blanket, laying it across the grass. He sat down on it, reaching into his backpack once again and taking out a few fruits and setting them in the center of the blanket. Once he finished, Ren smiled up at her before laying down and closing his eyes.
"You can wander around if you want, but don't get lost.... and if you hear anything strange, come back to me at once."
She nodded, walking away from the spot Ren had set up for himself. As she walked farther and farther away, she started to take in the sounds of the forest around her. The soft sound of the birds chirping around her eased her mind as the worries of being away from home slipped away from her thoughts.
Irai started to scratch at the shirt as it made her feel a little uncomfortable. She wanted to remove them right now and shake out her fur, but Ren had already warned her about that. Instead she continued wandering about, looking at the trees while occasionally catching the glimpse of a squirell or rabbit, making her mouth water.
Irai began to head back to where Ren was when she began to hear the faint sound of popping in her ears. After a succession of endless popping, it seemed to stop as her wonder started to fill her mind. She resumed walking back to the clearing when the popping resumed once again. This time, though, the sound was clearer as the sounds were a lot closer than before.
If you hear anything strange, come back to me at once. Panic filled her heart as she launched herself into a run as she hurried back to Ren. Irai ducked under and jumped over branchs as she continued in her run, but in her panic she tripped over an unseen branch. She didn't even bother cleaning herself off as she got up and running once again.
When she arrived at the small clearing, she noticed that Ren was asleep on the blanket. Irai didn't even bother thinking about what to do as she shook him awake. He mumbled and groaned, sitting up slowly while she continued to shake him. Ren let out an impassive yawn before looking at Irai.
"So..... did it sound like air popping or anything similar? "
She nodded. He must have been expecting it the whole time she thought to herself. Ren looked around for a moment before reaching for his backpack before standing up slowly. He shook his head before taking her by the hand and pulling her out of the clearing. Irai stumbled as he lead her behind some of the thicker bushs in the area.
Ren dropped his backpack and opened it before displaying a metal object with a container on it. He then pointed to where the container connected with the rest of the metal.
"There are people about who'll try to harm us. If you attack them, don't kill them.... they can't kill us. Instead cut the container off and take it."
Irai nodded slowly. She began to think when five men entered the clearing, each wearing a mask while holding objects similar in shape to Ren's. Ren muttered softly as she started to observe the group of men as the group searched around for a moment.
Then two of the guys pointed the end of their objects at the blanket still in the clearing before pulling a small lever. Instantly the popping sound that she had heard earlier filled her ears to a much louder degree as she noticed that paint started to cover the blanket. Meanwhile the other three were looking around, watching carefully for anyone else, unaware that there were two observers to their mischief.
One of the men started to near where she was hiding when panic filled her heart. Had Ren not kept his hand on her wrist, she would have broken and ran. Irai's gaze shifted from the nearby man to Ren, looking at his face. As she did, she felt the grip on her hand disappear as he whispered softly to her.
"Run."
Immediately Ren stood, the backpack on one arm like a shield and the other holding the object as the loud popping sounded out throughout the forest. Panic overtook her thoughts as she started running in a full sprint away from the clearing. Irai had barely gotten more than a few steps, however, when the first few rushs of pain shot through both her legs and her right arm.
She tumbled to the ground as she was struck rapidly in the back. Irai screamed out in pain as she struggled to get to her feet. She turned her head for a moment to see Ren in front of her. His teeth were gritted as the sounds of many of the small balls hit Ren or bounced off his backpack. She rose slowly as Ren rose with her, using his body to shield her as much as possible.
"Run.... Irai...."
Irai was tired of running away, however. She pulled the legs of her pants up and drew both swordbreakers before running to her left. Irai could hear the balls strike the nearby bushs and trees as she circled around the group of five. As she continued to circle, she moved closer and closer to the clearing, until at last she made her first move.
Irai changed her direction and charged at the first of the five. As he aimed at her she sidestepped in her run. The balls went wide as she jumped at him. The man fell back in panic as she slashed at the neck of the container. She speared the container itself with the other blade before continuing on her attack.
She ran to Ren's prone form, knocking the container off of her blade as wet paint dripped off it like fresh blood. Irai's gaze shifted back to the rest as she noticed that another was running away. She considered chasing him down as she circled, but she noticed that his hands were empty as she passed his weapon, giving the neck of the container a good slice.
The final three all turned their attention to her as the ball flied all around her. She found a tree wide enough to hide her as she ducked behind it, barely dodging the painful spray around her. Irai's mind raced as she looked up at the branchs above her. Immediately she started climbing the branchs as the attack ceased on her tree.
She looked downward as two of the three remaining men circled around her tree. Immediately she dropped down from above, landing in between both men and severing the necks of the containers. Irai speared both containers with her swordbreakers before running away from both men. Terror filled their eyes as they ran away, leaving the last man still in the clearing.
As she turned to start her approach on the last man, she saw that he was weaponless. Irai also saw that Ren was standing, his weapon aimed at the final man. She walked slowly to Ren, pulling the two containers off of her blades and putting them in the backpack Ren was holding.
" Nice try Mark. Figured you were practicing for the summer, so I came prepared." commented Ren.
"You freak loving son of a bitch. I'll kill you and your kitty whore." growled Mark.
Irai growled at Mark, enraged by his comments. She turned to Ren for guidance to only see him handing his weapon to her. She dropped her swordbreakers next to her before taking the weapon and firing the balls at Mark, who cried out in pain. He broke into a run as she continued to fire at him, her aim getting worse as he got farther away. Mark disappeared from her sight before she stopping firing at him.
Irai fell against Ren, pain overpowering her adrenline once again as her back throbbed from the sting of the balls. He picked up her swordbreakers as well as his weapon before helping her sit down on the ground. He then got the blanket, covered in paint now, from the clearing and put it in his backpack before returning back to her..
"Gonna be okay or do you need me to help ya home?"
Irai tried standing but her legs still felt weak from pain. She shook her head slowly as she leaned against a nearby tree while Ren switched the bag to his front before kneeling in front of her and indicating to get on his back. She slid her legs through the hole made by his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face into his hair and closed her eyes as he stood up.
As Ren began walking, pain and exhaustion overtook Irai's mind as she blacked out.
-------------------------------------------------
As Irai woke, she found herself in Ren's bed once again. She felt her fur against the blankets as she hugged her pillows. She didn't want to get out of bed until her senses returned, including pain, as her back and legs ached terribly. She moaned and grumbled, trying to roll around and get comfortable, but to no avail. Irai slowly opened her eyes as the door opened.
She saw Ren sit down next to her, shirtless with a pack of ice in hand. She gazed at his form at her eyes started to focus and saw why he wasn't wearing a shirt. Numerous welts covered his arms, chest, belly and back, so only pain could come from wearing a shirt right now.
Irai sat up slowly. Ren averted his gaze from her as the blanket fell from her upper body. He tossed the pack of ice onto the bed before he stood up, looking out the window into the night sky.
"How are you feeling?"
Irai pulled herself out from under the blankets and checked on her legs. "My legs hurt still... can you check on my back?" She turned around and covered her breasts with her hands as best as possible before she turned her head and spoke again.
"It's okay to look now."
Ren looked at her for a moment before he began to feel around her back with his hands. The instant he touched her caused her to shiver slighly before she leaned against his hands. Irai started to purr softly as he rubbed her back in search of any serious hurts.
"Your back is alright, Irai."
She almost fell backwards when his hands left her fur. Ren started leaving when she got out of bed,calling out his name softly.
"Ren?"
Ren stopped and turned to the window, gazing out of the window once again. Irai walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder. She pressed herself against him as she buried her face into his neck, crying softly.
"Thank you."
Ren continued staring at the starry sky through the window, saying nothing.
Anguished Heart