(DAY 15 & 16)
Sword ran and ran, pushing through the punishing wilderness. Each snapped branch or rustled bush gave you more and more opportunities to narrow his location down.
Where he found fear and flight, all you saw in this chase was an opportunity for domination. A chance to prove something to yourself, if nobody else. You sprinted after every panicked sound that reached your ears, not allowing the exhaustion that's attempting to creep in a chance to discourage you. You had your sights set.
The forest was dense, you were far away from the trail, no doubt. The grass reached all the way up to your knees, leaving you hindered as you tried to get through the tall patch.
In the distance, you could still hear him, rustling through bushes and grass. And that was more than enough to make you move as fast as you can. In wide steps, you proceeded, further and further until you were out.
And for a moment, there's nothing. You couldn't hear any signs, any movement. Sword was long out of earshot already, bolting at an impressive pace to try and get out of the situation he had found himself in.
You couldn't lose now, you thought to yourself. Taking off in a random direction, you headed west, hoping you had made the right call...
After a while, even you got tired. Leaning against a tree, you huffed deeply, your entire face and chest burning hot. It was clear you had exerted yourself to your limit already, and there was still prey to be caught. Desperately, you tried to catch your breath, to continue searching and hunting down your current number one target.
But it seemed all hope was lost. You hadn't heard a sound from him in far too long, and the forest had gone eerily quiet.
But even that didn't last. As soon as you saw the faintest glimpse of red in the distance, you threw yourself at it. A sudden course of adrenaline and serotonin entered your body, your aching legs carrying you towards the ultimate goal.
"...!"
As soon as Sword saw you, he jolted away before sprinting off himself, turning and swerving in-between trees in hopes of losing you.
And at last, you had him in your hold. Both of you were absolutely drenched in sweat, exchanging scents as you hold him close by his clothes in an iron grip.
Your breath fanned across Sword's face, hot and rapid. A moment later, you shove him to the ground as hard as you can.
Fear visibly filled Sword's eyes as he instantly sat upright, kicking at the dirt-covered ground to back up, driving himself back against a hard, old tree, clothes staining with the brown pigment of the dirt. For a moment, he could do nothing but sit there, frozen and absolutely mortified. And he could tell you were far from done.
"Nnggh..."
Sword let out a strangled sound of fear, staring wide at you.