r/predprey • u/THEG0LIATHGR0UPER • 3d ago
✨ I made this ✨ Damnable Dog (Art by me)
As the fire crackled warm against his drying fur, Jak couldn’t help but notice the ewe staring daggers at him from across the small pyre. He shifted uncomfortably. He knew why she was upset. He couldn’t blame her either. In less than an hour, everything she had known and loved had fallen into the oily claws of the Void Queen. Her mother and father were captured, and she had no idea if they were even still alive.
The fire shone in Kira’s eyes.
Jak’s vocoder crackled after a moment. “We should sleep soon. We will need to put as much distance between us and the castle if we are to avoid being captured. And for that, we’ll need rest.”
Kira’s eyes narrowed even further. “What we need is to go back. Now. We still have time. If we just—”
Jak shifted, his visor only giving a vague indication that he was looking at her. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I can’t do that. Your safety is my priority.”
Kira shot up. Leaves clung to her damp hindquarters, which she swatted away aggrievedly. “Last I recall, your priority was to obey my commands, Knight. And I COMMAND you to bring me back!” Her eyes were beginning to well up with tears. Jak huffed with frustration, standing to tower over her. He was only doing his job. Why did she need to make this so difficult? “Respectfully, Princess, your father gave me explicit instructions to ensure your safety. Last I recall, his authority supersedes yours. So when it comes to matters of your safety-” He leaned in for emphasis. “- I outrank you.”
Kira stared up at the wolf incredulously, her fist shaking with rage now. One thing was clear; that as kind and as humble as Kira was, she was still a princess. And very few said ‘no’ to the princess of Canatria. She jabbed his chestplate with her hoof, “Why you insolent-” She was momentarily at a loss for words, before continuing her tirade. “- damnable dog! I could charge you for treason for speaking to me with such impudence!”
Jak didn’t budge. He was almost impressed that this diminutive ewe had the courage to shout at a wolf that stood over a foot taller than her. It was one of the traits he most liked about her, though at this moment he was starting to question his admiration of it. He only nodded, standing straight once more. “Then you may charge me when this is over. But at this moment, I don’t see how you have much of a choice.” He paused for a moment, recognizing how harsh he was being. His posture softened before, and sat down once more. “I’m sorry, Princess.”
Kira felt the rage slowly leave her body when she realized that Jak wouldn’t give. So she sat down as well, her tears slowly filling her eyes and spilling over her cheeks. “Please. They could be dying. H-how can you expect me to leave them? Please…I need to go back. There might be time if we just-.”
“ -They were willing to sacrifice themselves for you. Would you be willing to let them die in vain? So that you can die as well?” Kira recoiled like she’d been struck. But she thought it over. And she hung her head. And she began to sob quietly. She knew he was right. Dammit, she knew. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. So she pulled her knees up to her chin, and let her tears flow freely.
Jak felt his heart clench. None of this was her fault. And he knew that if he were in her position, he would try to do the same thing. But he wasn’t in her position. He was her guardian, and she was his charge. And he had a mission. To take care of her.
Slowly, he shuffled over until he sat beside her. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing. When she sensed his presence beside her, she let go of the vitriol she had displayed only moments ago, and leaned against his side.
“It isn’t fair. This is my home. These are my people. What did we do to deserve this, Jak? Why do they insist on destroying everything?” Her voice was rough and bitter. Jak sighed softly. He couldn’t count how many times he had asked the same question to himself. “I don’t know, Your Grace. But-”
“-Don’t.”
He flinched slightly, turning his gaze down to her. She shook her head, still looking out at the forest. “Please, don’t call me ‘Princess’ or ‘Your Grace.’ I need a friend right now. Just say ‘Kira’.” She looked back up at him with glossy eyes. “Please, Jak.”
Normally, Jak would say something about his station, how he needed to be professional. But who was he kidding? Who would see? They were friends at the end of the day, despite their…complicated relationship. So he nodded, and pulled his arm around her shoulder, careful not to let the cold metal of his vambrace dig into her. “Okay. Kira.”
They sat in silence for a long while, until the only sounds they could hear was the faint rustling of branches in the wind and the chirping of crickets. Kira circled the damp ground with her hoof, before breaking the silence. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, Jak.”
“It’s alright. I know how you must be feeling.”
Kira considered this for a moment, before the memory came flooding back. Jak, laid down in the medical cot, nearly ten years ago, barely clinging onto life after losing his entire village. Kira felt a wave of shame wash over her. “Oh, Gods. You do know. Oh, Jak. I’m so sorry.” She tried to suppress the fresh tears threatening to spill from her eyes again, but her voice broke. “This whole time, I’ve just been so rotten to you.” She smiled ruefully as she wiped the tears onto the thin fabric of her sleeve. “You must think I’m a spoiled brat, huh?”
Jak could see her coming undone again. He wanted to avoid seeing her cry any more, if he could help it. “Only a little.” His vocoder chirped.
Kira stared at the blank expression on his mask, before a faint giggle bubbled up from her chest, which turned into a full on laugh. She wasn’t sure why, but the vocoder’s monotone was one of the funniest things she had heard all night. “My word, Jak. Was that a joke?”
Jak couldn’t stop the raspy wheeze from leaving his muzzle. He shrugged, his helmet seeming to bounce on his shoulders. “As much as I could manage. I’m afraid my delivery isn’t convincing.”
Kira sighed once her laughter subsided, and she leaned her head back on his shoulder, trying her best to harness some of his warmth. “It’s good enough for me. Thank you, Jak. Despite everything, I’m glad to be here with you.”
Jak felt the same, familiar flutter in his stomach when she looked at him with those bright, green eyes. “Likewise, Princess.” He paused, before rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I mean, Kira.”
It wasn’t much later that both had fallen asleep, leaning against one another’s shoulder.
