[For Derek]

[theduff]

It's not like I'm an idiot, you know.

I may have grown up in the suburbs, but I'm aware of my surroundings all the time, especially during the night. And I have a can of mace on my key chain -- which, yes, I know how to use.

So I'm not completely helpless.

I just thought I could get through the park before the sun went down, but apparently it doesn't even take full nightfall for assholes to come out of the woodwork. There was a small group of other teens on the path in front of me, and I hadn't even lost sight of them around a bend ahead before this guy asks for spare change.

And then when I tell him I don't have any (we're in a digital age, why would I even have any cash?), he pulls up in front of me, trying to make me stop. I try to play nice, say excuse me and try to walk around him, but no. Nooooo, the asshole has to grab my arm and suddenly nice isn't an option anymore and my heart starts racing, my throat closes up, and my hands start to shake.

"Give me your money," he says, and I'm scared as hell, but also? Kind of pissed off. Who the fuck does this guy think he is? Just because I'm small and alone, he thinks he can do this? No. Fuck him.

"Get off me!" I'm on the verge of screaming, and I only fumble with my keys briefly before the mace can is in my hand. In one go I somehow break his grip and stumble back, putting space between us, my hand outstretched with the mace pointing at him.

"Get the fuck away from me," I yell, hoping someone can hear me, still moving backward and putting more space between us until I can turn around and run.

Only he's pissed now, and he growls something about me being a bitch and when he starts toward me, his long legs covering more ground than mine can, I push the nozzle down, close my eyes, and spray.

Comments

[triskehale]

The full moon was a week ago, and while Derek knows that blue moons are no different than any other full moons, they always feel a little stronger. They take a little longer to shake, so when the sun goes down Derek slips out of cabin on four paws and takes off into the woods. He's tracking a rabbit, for fun more than anything else, when he suddenly hears someone shouting from the direction of the park.

He turns, ears perking up and eyes flaring red, and breaks into a run. Once he nears the park and realizes that's Bianca's terrified heart that he's hearing, he snarls and breaks out of the trees just in time to see a man get maced. He cries out and lunges for Bianca, but Derek is quicker. He tackles the man from the side, pinning him down with two giant paws on his chest as he snarls in his face, jaws snapping.

"Holy shit!" The guy tries to scramble out from under him, stinking of fear, and Derek lets out another deep growl. He points his muzzle at Bianca and huffs angrily, and then pointedly shakes his furry head at the guy. "What?"

Derek huffs and digs his claws into the guy's chest, and he shrieks and tries to scramble away again. "Fine, fine! Let me go."