Busted my gut to get this up. It's a bit longer and I appologise so much for the wait. I'm trying to balance everything so yeah. Next update won't be for about a week I'm so so sorry :((((

Gus had never been so scared in his life. He could never remember a time he felt so helpless and vulnerable like he is now, when he felt like a part of him would go missing. His heart was beating rapidly, his palms were sweaty and even his knees felt weak. He wanted to be strong, he wanted to protect her but at the moment even he doubted himself. It was like a raging war in his head. His instinct told him to pull her back to the safety behind him but his knowledge told him that acting irrationally would only get them both killed.

Evelyn was in shock. She was frozen to the ground, her feet glued to the dirt jungle floor as her eyes were wide, unblinking staring at the one thing that tore Angus' life to shreds.

A marozi.

It stood hunched, a low growl rumbling in its chest as it sized Evelyn up. The animal was like a spotted tiger, some giant cat that would tear her to shreds before she would even understand what's happening to her. She knew Angus was behind her, she knew he grew up here and could face every challenge there was but she also knew that there was no taking this animal down, or at least not by mere human strength. Evelyn had never been a fan of hurting animals, but right now she wished for nothing more than some huge gun so she could rid them of this animal and actually live past 23 years old.

"Evy." Gus called out, his voice traveling the small distance to where Evelyn stood frozen, some of her body obstructed by the tree behind her. "When me say, go to home."

He was on edge. He knew that if anything happened to his Evelyn, something at all he would never forgive himself. She was in his protection and he would be dammed if she died, and he would make sure she wouldn't leave him just as his parents had. Too early and at the claws of a marozi.

"Get dagger." He instructed. Angus knew that she understood the instruction as he saw her whole body tense. His eyes were now trained on the animal watching its every move. He had a plan, one that if executed could keep both of them alive, otherwise his Evy would be safe and his fate would be the same as his parents.

The morning had been going so well. After waking up from last night, Angus felt even more connected to Evelyn even though the only thing they had done was kiss however he enjoyed how it was last night. He got to show his dominance over her in a sweet way. He had her go breathless when he trailed his lips over her body and got to watch her squirm from the bliss he had caused her and nothing brought him more satisfaction than knowing her body reacted that way to him. Their whole time in the jungle this morning was one full of pure love and stolen, passionate kisses that has Evelyn shuddering and Gus fulfilling his dominance and he couldn't have been happier, because Evy was happy.

But now, now his dominance was fading as he had room for no errors.

"Promise." His husky voice demanded, low and raw with vulnerability. Slowly he saw her nod her head and he sighed in relief. Slowly, he moved. His feet padded gently around to the other side of the tree and his eyes stayed set on the animal in front of him. The slick fur sat on the skin, reflecting in the sunlight from the orange and brown spotted fur. Its eyes were narrowed with precaution as it took everything in. Evelyn still stood still, not moving or making any threat whereas Angus was moving around clearly the more threatening of the two. It snarled, baring its teeth at Angus taking a small step forwards.

"Evelyn," Angus said quietly, not looking at her as his eyes stayed trained on the predator. "Home, now." His tone let no room for argument but Evelyn still didn't move, instead small whimper left her lips wondering why she was leaving but he was staying here.

"Evelyn." He said, his voice irritated as she didn't move bluntly ignoring the promise she had just made.

"Angus, please."

"Go!" He snapped. His patience was wearing thin especially knowing that this marozi was not going to stay still any longer. From the corner if his eye he saw Evelyn retreat before her heavy foot falls thud as she ran away. As the marozi growled and went to chase her, Angus brought its attention back to him by moving.

He needed to buy time for Evelyn to get home safe and get the dagger but he couldn't tempt it for too long to provoke and attack. He slowly started backing up and although the marozi didn't follow him, its eyes stayed peeled watching his every move. But his foot back onto a branch and a small snap echoed around the space and for whatever reason, it caused the marozi to pounce and Angus' heart to drop to the pit of his stomach. His last thought was of his precious Evy and he prayed to the women in the clouds she was safe and that she wouldn't do anything stupid.

Evelyn fell to the ground with a thump. Her heart was beating uncontrollably and her breaths were jaggered. Her legs burned but she kept pushing on. Her whole being was filled with worry and there was a sinking feeling in her stomach. What was he thinking, how the fuck could he defend himself against a marozi? It killed his parents, you'd think he'd avoid them at all cost and get himself out of danger!

Thankfully they weren't far from his home and the only thing stopping her was the wobbling bridge. The walk was only about 10 meters but still she had never walked on it after her near fall. Gus had always swept her off her feet but now it was up to her. The task was to cross a bride, but so much else was depending on this.

If she didn't cross she couldn't get the dagger and without that Gus could die. Taking in a deep breath, she stepped on the bridge, immediately under her weight sunk it slightly, wobbling so she dropped into a crouch, her hands secured on the edges as she took a deep breath and started crossing. The further into the middle she got, the further it sunk and groaned. The vines and tree branches looked unstable so she finished the last bit quickly.

She stood up, to panicked to feel proud as she ran. Her wild black curls fell in her face as she pushed them back as she ran, the knotted strands catching and pulling in her fingers but she couldn't care. Up the tree stairs and into the house and the next problem was what dagger to get. A long one, short one, extra sharp one, a spear? Evelyn acted on impulse and grabbed some of each, purposely avoiding the ones she made knowing they were shit and would break easily.

She raced back down the tree and waited on her half of the bridge not knowing what to do. She was instructed to stay here, so jumping up and down on the spot she did so. Minutes passed and Evelyn was worried sick as she hadn't seen a sign from Angus. Nervous tears filled her eyes and as she blinked they rolled down her cheeks. He couldn't be dead, he was alive he had to be. She couldn't let herself sit anxiously but she had to.

She couldn't put Angus in any more danger then he already is.

Angus couldn't help the groan that left his lips, the blood from the slash of the marozi claws cut open, blood seeping between his fingers. He felt weaker but he knew he could keep powering on with little difficulties. He had to get to Evelyn. The marozi wasn't moving at its full pace and he wondered why. Usually it was like them to pounce and relentlessly attack until dead or incapable of doing so. With only himself to worry about, Angus most times climbed a tree and waited it out but he couldn't risk it following Evelyn or going near the camp so he stayed down on ground level making sure he knew its location at all times.

The only choice for the unfortunate marozi was death. Angus should have killed it a long time ago, back when he killed the other cubs so he wouldn't end up like his parents fate. He should have gone after the runt as is ran away scared. It had no mother, no father or sibling so it shouldn't have survived but now he was paying for his consequences and inability to kill the threat.

A growl snapped him out of his self-loathing as he turned to the side. His heart was thumping and his right hip where the claws had caught him after the initial ponce stung as a tree branch angrily poked the fresh wound. A blur of orange appeared from nowhere, the blur moving between the trees with ease before jumping out, claws bared. Just in time Angus stopped, throwing his body backwards as he fell to the ground with a thump, a stray claw catching his right shoulder opening his skin. A cry left his lips from the pain but he pushed himself up.

He has been lucky today, two close escapes and he knew for a fact that there wouldn't be a third. As the marozi crouched on the ground behind him, Angus climbed a tree. His hip and shoulder ached from the physical pain of the wounds but he didn't let it faze him. It wasn't long before he was on sturdy branches and moving his way on stable pieces of wood towards the direction of home.

Like a money he moved, swinging from branch to branch careful not to stumble and to predominantly use his left, uninjured shoulder. He couldn't have himself falling down to the ground where the marozi trailed confusedly behind him wondering what game Angus was playing.

Resting just outside the jungle, he saw Evelyn standing there, a pile of daggers at her feet moving nervously on the spot. He could hear the marozi behind him looking lost snapping a few twigs, alerting Evelyn go his presence will only create noise to invite the marozi over and he didn't want that yet.

He sat patiently for a few moments, his arms pressing onto his hip wounds to minimize the bleeding. When he was sure he had enough space, he took a deep breath, opened his eyes and softly thudded to the floor.

Dropping from the low branch, although quiet, was enough to alert the marozi. Angus ran as fast as his could, Evelyn discovering him yelled at him and the marozi bounded after him, violent snarls escaping the predator's mouth.

"Angus!" Evelyn cried he bounded across the bridge and before she could make a fuss, Gus picked up a dagger, shoving one into Evelyn's hand.

"Cut bridge."

No more had to be said. Together, they cut through the many layers of vines as fast as they could eyes never leaving the marozi nearing closer and closer to them. The vines were thick, strong and it took to long for them to hack through. The marozi was at the ledge now, only the bridge distance away and Evelyn let out a choked sob.

They were taking too long, they wouldn't be able to cut it down and it would cross. Her heart thumped and the tears blocked her vision making it fuzzy. The dagger scored her hand, a bright red seeping out of her middle finger but she was numb. She kept cutting, muffled sobs escaping her lips as she looked up.

And she froze.

The growling was low but dangerous. The front paw of the marozi was on the bridge, its movements stilled as the bridge wobbled but once it gained balance it edged forwards.

"Angus." Evelyn cried in warning but Gus was fully aware on what was happening. He mumbled under his breath, scared the marozi was almost half way but relieved when his end of the bridge was cut, half of the support giving way as the thick vines flew around in the breeze above the fifteen meter drop into the freezing ocean, rocks littered just under the surface to kiss the unfortunate bones who fell to their death or severe injuries.

He sprung quickly, his dagger precisely cutting at Evelyn vines just as the marozi pounced at them. They were crouched, Angus body leaning over hers protecting her first as it lunged in the air. Just as it was about to propel forwards, the vine snapped from the force as the weight gave out, and they watched in silence as the snarling animal became submerged under the water 15 meters down.

It was now silent, the couple not saying a word as the last few slashes and growls sounded from below until the only thing to look at was the choppy water lapping up and down at the base of the cliff.

A shaky breath was released for Evelyn as he body fell backwards into Gus as he grabbed her from behind, his arms around her stomach and his face in the crook of her neck. He felt her body tremble as he held her but he didn't know what to do, so he just held her. Relief flowed throughout his entire body as she sank into his embrace, thanking the woman in the sky many times over for counting him lucky enough to not only protect his woman but stay alive to continue being with her.

All of his pain was pressed to the back of his mind as he held her. He needed to make sure she was okay. He shuffled the both of them away from the edge and she spun around facing him. Immediately her hands were at his face, poking and prodding making sure he had no scrapes. She reached down and picked up a hand intertwining their fingers but she froze when she saw the amount of blood on them.

"No," she whispered and her eyes fell to his right arm. An angry singular gash was bright red, blood trickling out from it. "Gus are you okay? How can I help you?" She asked, pressing her own hand on the wound to stop the bleeding. She looked down at her hand and only then did she realize how oblivious she was to his other injury.

His right hip was smeared with blood, three long, deep gashes sitting on the once tanned skin.

"No," she whispered. "No, no, no." The first aid course she had taken years ago had been lost and she just stared at them, grabbing his already blood coated hand and pressing it on the wound to apply pressure. She looked up at his face to see him wince from the sting and she immediately apologized.

"Gus, I'm so sorry." Another tear leaked from her eye as she thought on how useless she felt, and how he only got hurt because he was looking after her.

"It okay," he murmured, his spare hand rising to wipe a stray tear from her cheek. "Gus okay." He reassured her. Or at least he thought he did.

"No, you're not Gus. Look at you." She cried with a whimper. In her state she hadn't realized they weren't as bad as she first assumed them to be with her imagination running wild and the shock in her body, however it would take a while for the gashes to close over.

"Evy." His husky voice snapped. He cupped his hands on her face as he looked into her eyes, neither of them caring about the red liquid now staining her face. "I'm good." And with that, he leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.

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