It hurts, it hurts and I feel so sick! Arden’s mind buzzed and itched, his face hurt, even his tail hurt. He moved slowly through the trees, trying desperately to scratch the itch below his eyes, only to draw blood again. He burned and thirsted, but would touch no water. He couldn’t figure out what it was.

He roared in sheer frustration, but began to whine shortly after the sound shook the trees. His ultra-sensitive ears perked at the sound of movement in the forest, a glade not too far from here. His eyes narrowed, and he snarled. People in my forest? He charged into the clearing, startling the three humans huddled around a cookfire. He growled, raking the air with his claws.

The one in the middle, it was she who was causing him this pain, she who was forcing him to feel this way.

“No, no!” He muttered to himself, “No, she can’t possibly be-”

“Yes, Arden, yes… she is the one. Kill her!” His mind crackled with an unknown electricity. The other humans ran, but she froze.

Arden leapt and tore.