Bonedust

his hands reaching out helplessly to ward the wolf off. The beast was snarling, his fangs inches away from Urban’s face. For a moment, in his mind, he saw Urban drowning in his own blood, his throat torn out, his hands grasping at air as blood bubbled up. He could see the agony, the desperation in his pale eyes, and it ripped his heart in half. No! No, he wouldn’t let that happen! Raising his gun, he knocked of the safety and cocked it, but Pandora was faster.
    She gave a shriek and barreled towards her master, light on her paws, a streak of rusty fur. The wolf snapped at her, ears flat against his skull, but Pandora wasn’t afraid: She was born for this moment. She slammed into the werewolf with all the power of a freight train and threw him off balance. They stumbled. Her fangs buried into his fur, ripping and tearing, a silent battle as they scrambled on the forest floor.
    “Halcion,” Gabriel gasped, aiming at the writhing ball of lupine and canine, snarls and snapping fangs. Pressing one eye shut, his hands trembled as he lined up the shot. Pandora, as if knowing what he was about to do, flung herself away just as the gun blasted into the night air. The wolf staggered as the bullet hit it, jerking backwards. He snarled, lips pulled away from deadly fangs as he turned his sight to Gabriel.
    He didn’t give it a second thought; the gun jerked in his grasp once more and the final silver bullet sank in between the wolf’s eyes. His eyes rolled up in his head as he collapsed onto the ground, legs twitching as he bled out.
    Gabriel rushed the last few feet and dropped to his knees at Urban’s side, grasping his shirt. “Damnit, Urban, please! Be alive. You can’t die on me, you just can’t!” He reached shaky hands to the man’s throat, feeling for a pulse and heaving a breath of relief as he felt it pattering strong underneath his skin. Pandora limped up, favoring her left foreleg, and began to nuzzle and worry at Urban’s face. Her pink tongue stroked across his cheek until his eyes fluttered open, clouded with confusion.
    “…Gabe?”
    “Thank you, Halcion,” Gabriel grinned despite the tears burning behind his eyes. He would not cry, he told himself, but as Urban managed to sit up, he wrapped both arms around the man and kissed him again and again, his breath hitching as tears bled free. “Goddess, I was so scared. You’re okay? The wolf didn’t bite you? Halcion, please say it didn’t bite you…”
    “I think I’m alright. Seriously, Gabe. I’m alright.” Urban’s voice was tired, wary. He staggered to his feet and Gabriel followed, reaching for him. Urban stopped, holding him by his shoulders out at arm’s length. “I need space. I can’t breathe.” He gave Gabe a little push back and Gabriel’s heart skittered. He took a step back and Urban rubbed his head. “What a fucking headache. Well at least you killed the bastard,” he said, kicking the dead wolf with the tip of his shoe. “Unfortunately, we got here too late…”
    Gabriel followed his gaze to the motionless girl, her gut torn open, entrails splayed around her like tinsel on a Christmas tree. Urban stood there for a moment, as if saying his goodbye to the nameless woman and apologizing. Gabe dropped down to one knee, gut churning but he knew what he had to do.
    Wiggling his fingers, he called for the dirgehound. Pandora’s ears pricked up, and like Urban had so many times, he scratched her behind the ears. “Thank you. You saved him. Good girl. Good dog.” Her fur was silky against his fingertips and he stroked the fur down on her head.
    “Ready to head back?” Urban looked at him. Gabriel nodded and the two of them took off towards the city. Although there was nothing but the sound of their breaths to keep them company, Gabriel wasn’t terrified to be out at night. He could’ve lost Urban… Halcion, the man could’ve died. Pandora limped along at their side, her pink tongue lolling out of her mouth. Gabe smiled and reached for Urban’s hand, but as their fingers brushed, Urban pulled away. “I can’t…”
    “What?” A low ache settled in his heart as he watched the confusion glimmer in Urban’s eyes.
    “I can’t. Not right now. I-I need time to think. I’m not ready for this, Gabriel. Goddess…” He rammed his fingers through his hair, catching on snarls and jerking them out. “For us. You said you loved me, but I just can’t do this right now.”
    A pause, their eyes locked for the briefest