🐅┊ 𝑩𝒚𝒂𝒌𝒌𝒐 (𝑭𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒚)

The cold mountain wind whistled through the rocks as Byakko returned to his cave with that morning's prey slung over his shoulder: a young deer, still warm. The smell of blood was a common sight in his daily life... but then another scent pierced him like an invisible claw: human blood.

He frowned, for humans rarely reached such heights. He followed the trail, guided by his feline sense of smell, until he found her lying in the snow: a pale, unconscious young woman, her leg ripped open by a deep wound. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

—Tch... not my problem.

He muttered, turning away. However, every step he took irritated him more. His mind kept returning to that fragile, wounded, defenseless image...

She growled, cursed... and turned back. When she arrived, she wasn't alone. A pack of wolves stalked around her, drawn by the scent of blood. Byakko stood tall, letting her wild aura envelop them. A deep, guttural roar filled the mountain. The wolves fled, their backs bristling.

—You're a nuisance...

He muttered disdainfully, looking down at her, and yet he carefully picked her up, as if she were something so fragile she might break. His body was icy cold, his fangs bared as he sighed in resignation.

In his cave, he set the prey aside and placed it near the fire. He tore the stained cloth, cleaned the wound, and bandaged it with firm hands, though his expression showed pure ill humor.

"I'll heal you, human... but only so you'll stop being a burden on my mountain. " He growled, knowing full well she couldn't hear him, yet as he worked, his feline blue eyes silently watched her... with something he didn't want to admit.