#ouada

A not so good first solo hunt.(word count 1'404) Ouada's appearance.

Ouada took a deep inhale of crisp early winter air as he finished stuffing his clothes into his rucksack, he was both nervous and excited, this was the first time he would be going on a hunt alone.

He had snuck out after mama had gone to sleep, Oauda wanted to have a night of freedom he was a young adult he didn't always need his mother to watch over him anymore, as much as he loved her, she could be a bit smothering when it came to going on hunts.

Ouada had been born a werewolf, he was certain he had more than enough skill and understanding of what he was to be safe out alone, he and mama had no real trouble with any rogues, vigilants or Silver Hand for quite a while now.

He doubted much could go wrong, other than maybe a bit more difficulty at taking down an animal.

Ouada tucked his rucksack into some bushes to retrieve later.

He flexed and stretched as he felt the first tingles of the change rove across his skin, letting it ease its way through him, the stretch and twist of his bodies changing a welcomed ache.

It took no more than mere seconds for the change to be complete, it was no more difficult than changing clothes for Ouada.

Ouada shook out his coat, distracting himself from the swelling urge to howl, he did not want to be heard by anyone or anything after all.

Once the urge left him he made off into the forest, the snow crunching beneath his paws as he trotted through the trees. The Pales snowy pines were beautifully lit with the colours of the aurora, Ouada could stay out all night and just admire the landscape, but he had to spend his time wisely if he wanted to get home before mama woke up as she tends to sporadically most nights. She always slept much more restlessly than him, maybe because she had been made and not born a werewolf like he had.

He stuck his nose into the wind scenting the air as he swiveled listening for anything that could be nearby, this area tending to have healthy stock of elk and hare so it shouldn't take too long to find something to track.

And he was right! The bugle of an elk cut through the air, filling Ouada with excitement as he picked up speed into a light gallop towards the direction of the call.

Soon after he reached the elk, it was roughly three or four from the look of its rack.

But something was off, the angry bull was stuck, struggling to yank its leg free from a.. A rope.

Oauda's hackles raised and he lowered himself down close to the ground, maybe it's just a hunters trap, glancing around he felt unsure of that, the area around the elk was too well cleared, too open.

Then he heard the snort of a horse not far down wind and he bolted, crashing through bushes and mounds of snow as a roar of excited shouts went off behind him, " we got a runner!" he heard a man shout in a sickly jovial tone.

He could hear two sets of hooves clomping in his direction quickly catching up to him and the crunch of others on foot, five altogether it sounded like but more could be hiding nearby.

He heard the whizz of an arrow and heard a thunk as it sank into the trunk of a tree next to him, he might be able to out pace and out maneuver a horse in the forest. But one good shot is all it would take for that to change.

Ouada listened to the riders jeer and joke with each other as the chase continued, mocking each other's archery skills as they continued to shoot at him.

They were nearing the southern end of the forest close to the road that lead to Whiterun, running onto the tundra could spell the end for him so far the trees kept his pursuers and their arrows at bay, but if he changed direction he'd be met with a mountain side where a giant resides or lead them in the direction of home and he refuse to let his foolhardiness put his mama in danger. 

He felt he only had one way to go at this point.

The trees started to thin and he knew it might be over soon, his eyes watered at the fear of what they might do to him if they do not kill him straight away and with the guilt of how mama's heart will break.

As he burst out of the forest it felt like he also left his body, he could barely hear the men on horseback as his mind just seemed to shut off.

Oauda ran straight, his body was getting tired.

Then a searing pain went through his back, as an arrow had finally met its mark.

His pace faltered from the pain and he crashed to the ground.

The riders circled around him, mocking him.

"Fast beast, but not fast enough." one laughed, an nord man, then the other a breton man jeered at him " A coward too, never seen one take off so quickly!"

The other three caught up, one exasperatedly complaining " All that running and the beast goes down with one shot.."

The nord man dismounts and pulls out a dagger "Fine by me. Means I didn't have to tatter that pretty pelt, look at it, never seen a coat like that before." Ouada tucked his tail, laying flat on the ground wishing he would sink into it, he bared his teeth as they stepped in front of him. 

"Look at that! Pretty little puppy is trying to be scary now!" the man gestured with the blade, "Little late for you to grow a pair now puppy."

They lunged at Ouada, grabbing him by the ear and pressing the dagger to his throat," Can't help wondering what you look like under all the fur and fang, you've got some elf's blood in you." he said in a hushed tone as he stroked Ouada's ear in between his finger and thumb, "Ears give that much away." 

Ouada didn't like the look in his eyes, "Bet you're just as pretty, hm." their breath grew a little husky "You'd look so cute in a nice little silver lined collar, wouldn't you puppy?" Oauda's gut churned at the dizzying smell coming from the man.

The man pressed the dagger firmly against Ouada's throat as he pulled his head back by the ear, "Change back now and I won't slit your throat puppy."

Oauda growled only to have his ear yanked on making him yelp, "Bad puppy, Do as I say."

Ouada was scared and in so much pain, he wanted to stay defiant but his transformation was running out anyway and there was no way he could hold it any longer or fight back with the arrow still in his back. So he let the transformation slip away.

The man grinned in triumph as Ouada's form shrank, he watched with delight as his body shifted with pain making Ouada cry out, the man pushed him down on his belly and straddled Ouada's hips, "Good puppy~" he gripped Ouada's long hair and forced his head to turn, "Well, look at that the puppy is just as pretty under the fur."

He looked over his shoulder to the three on foot, motioning to a bosmer woman in the middle of the trio, "Get the rope from my saddle!" She nervously scampered over to do as told.

"Torge, what are you doing? I really don't want the fuss of dragging the beast with us."

Torge's eyes snapped to the breton "Remember your place!" he growled, "This ones special, I can feel it." He took the rope and started tying Ouada's hands behind his back "Aren't you? Puppy?"

Torge pulled the arrow out of Ouada's back and shoved a healing potion in his mouth, forcing it down his throat.

Ouada was put on to the front of the saddle then Torge mounted his steed, "Be good and don't try to wiggle off the saddle." He slapped Ouada on the rump then gripped it, making him yelp in shock, "Or I'll make sure you regret it."

And with that they turned and headed north.

- Wrote this in one go, honestly surprised I wrote more than a few hundred words.