The woods sat silent under a cold, blue night. No moonlight graced the trees, any stars that might have shone were layered behind gauzy gray clouds. The darkness was heavy and thick, so desolate it practically made the air thrum in anticipation. No crickets trilled, no creatures stirred. The forest was a quiet ocean, holding its breath as a monster danced its murky depths.
Large paws trekked over leaf-litter, skillfully silent despite their size. A creature prowled with long, even strides. Not quite man, not quite beast, but entirely animalistic. From its bloody, drooling maw to its impossibly sharp claws and soundless stride, it was driven by one thing and one thing alone: the hunt. It stalked through the woods, adept ears swiveling in search of its next meal.
At last, the monster found what it was looking for, the sound of a heartbeat thrumming mindlessly. The wind sifted an alluring scent through the trees soon after, and in an instant the beast's mind was set. He turned swiftly on his heels, dropping to all fours in pursuit of his prey.
As he neared, the heartbeat was louder, the scent stronger. More sounds began to bloom around him. Sounds of clumsy footsteps, branches snapping and leaves turning. Labored breathing. The scent of fear and sweat and tender flesh swelled until the trees gave way to a narrow trail and the monster found himself hardly a few paces behind his victim.
A human woman, small and plump. She wore the same clothes that many of the other humans who ventured this trail did, form-fitted and garish. The pack she was carrying was rather small, though it seemed heavy by the way her shoulder sagged.
The monster was close enough for his hot breath to fan the back of her neck, stirring at the hairs that were not stuck to her skin by sweat. The woman turned instantly, fully facing him. He rose to his back legs, standing at his full height to glower down at her. Though her expression morphed clearly to one of terror, she didn't move. Save for a stuttered breath, she hardly made a sound. She followed him with her eyes as he stood up and remained frozen in place.
And for the first time in his long life, the beast did not pounce. He too, became still, staring at the pathetic creature that was meant to be his prey. His muscles quivered with anticipation, wound tight and ready to lunge. He bared his teeth and rumbled a growl, but his hunger, the very thing that drove his existence, seemed to dissipate. The overwhelming bloodthirst did not bathe his tongue, and his veins were no longer cool with primal inclination.
The two stared at one another, tension blossoming in the desolate forest. Neither body moved, neither gaze shifted. Steadfast, the two of them leered in silence.
The monster took in its prey, glowing yellow eyes unphased by the overwhelming darkness. Instinct made him eye her like a piece of meat, unceremonious and analytically. He saw her round body, the way sweat beaded her exposed skin and how her clothes clung to her flesh. He could practically feel the phantom sensation of it giving way to his teeth. But something inside of him, something long forgotten, found her face. He took in her soft features and gaunt expression, but felt as though he could see something more than that. His mind flickered to recognition he had long since abandoned, and he almost thought he could see relief in her eyes. It was senseless and unfamiliar, all of this was. He found himself frustrated as his mind worked through depths of forgotten knowledge.
He growled, and at last, lunged at the woman. The tension in the air ruptured like lightning, sizzling between them where his large paw wrapped around her throat and shoved her down. She hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of her lungs with a staggered wheeze. The monster's face lingered inches above hers, teeth bared in a wretched snarl.
Her scent was strange, he realized. Closer to her now than he had ever been, he found that, though she smelled of fear, it was not an appetizing scent. It was not the scent he'd tasted countless times before. She was afraid, that was certain. But was she afraid of him, or simply the prospect of dying?
The woman turned her face away when his incisors all but grazed the skin of her cheeks. His hot breath billowed the dirt around her and made her eyes sting. Drool dripped from his tongue, quick to cool against her face. She whimpered as he growled down at her, and once again the monster stilled.
The sound that lilted from her throat shot through his body like static. Heat began to ball in his stomach, branching through his veins and tingling just under his skin. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her.
The woman dared to glance up at the monster above her. Her eyes were nowhere near as good as his, though her vision had adjusted during her hours wandering the darkness. She saw his canine appearance, thick fur and long, sharp teeth. She felt his claws digging into the sides of her throat, not enough pressure to prevent her from breathing, certainly enough to keep her pinned to the ground and draw blood. Her eyes fell from his and she looked at where his body hovered over hers, where warmth radiated over her like a blanket.
He saw her expression shift, her gaze snapping back upwards but not meeting his. He glanced beneath himself and understood immediately. The foreign sensation that burned white-hot in his belly finally clicked in the back of his head.
The fur on his belly is thick and tufted, but parting through the gray and black is the red, hardened peak of his cock. He stares at the evidence of his arousal, and a new scent draws his attention to the woman once more.
Her face is red, the skin on her neck much warmer now. He lowers his nose against her throat, processing her smell. He lifts the paw holding her throat and places it firmly against her sternum. The way her skin sinks under its weight sends another electric pulse through him, making his cock twitch. He nudges his nose against her throat until he finds where his claws were embedded. His jaw opens and his large, flat tongue slides out to press against the beading droplets of blood. He contemplates her taste, the feelings that linger in the blood. When his tongue laps again, the new scent swells. It is one he's never encountered before, but it captivates him like his hunger.
The beast sits back on its heels, dragging his nose along every inch of the woman as the new scent thrums to life. He travels down her throat and over her chest, moving his paw once again to drag his nose through the valley of her breasts. He pins her to the ground with a paw on either side as he investigates. He noses over her soft belly until he finds what he's looking for.
The scent, he realizes, is her own arousal.
His discovery urges a growl, low and mindless, as he presses his nose between her legs and inhales. The pressure makes her squirm, but she does not resist his grip. He tries to press his muzzle further between her thighs, but she makes a small noise of protest. He feels the muscles in her legs tense to prevent him from exploring further, and this upsets him greatly. He growls once again, a warning, but she does not budge. His grip on her arms relents and his large paws come down to her legs, taking hold of either knee and prying them apart roughly.
The woman yelps, anxiety churning as she's splayed in a much more vulnerable position. Even so, she does not attempt to flee. She trembles beneath the heated gaze of the monster, his curious nose immediately delving between her thighs.
