The invader ran through the forest; notebook in hand, hoodie tied around his waist, backpack on his back, and with one shoe. He nearly tripped over the uneven terrain a couple of times. He slowed down and looked behind him. Surely the village was far enough away now. Out of breath, he stopped and leaned against a tree. He pulled his bag off his shoulders, opened a zipper and shoved the notebook in. He closed the zipper and let the bag hang over one shoulder. He rested the back of his head against the tree. He closed his eyes and let himself catch his breath. 

He opened them, he heard footsteps. He jumped and yelped when someone appeared beside him. He stared at him. The other stared back, also out of breath. The invader looked him up-and-down and let out a soft “Oh?” 

From his light but tanned skin; messy, rich brown hair; chin and jaw full of stubble; golden eyes; the scar on his lip—down to the plain, grey shirt and dark green flannel he wore and the muscles hidden underneath. The invader raised a curious eyebrow as one corner of his lips crept up. “Hello, stranger.” 

The other looked at the invader’s feet. Then at his face, pissed off. “You’re the thief.” 

“Oh”—the invader snapped out of it—“that.” He turned to run away, but yelled as he had his arm grabbed and was thrown on his back on the ground. He hurried back to his feet and grabbed his pocket knife. He pointed it at him. “Don’t make me stab you.” He was too pretty to be stabbed.

The other leaned closer to him, backing him up against another tree and while making intense eye contact. His golden eyes glowed, his pupils became thin like needles. “Don’t make me shift.” 

The invader stared back with his own raspberry red eyes. “Oh, that’s how you found me.” 

The other squinted. 

“What do you want from me?” 

“The notebook.” 

“Why?” 

“It doesn’t belong to you.” 

“What’s so special about it, anyway?” 

“If you don’t know that, why did you steal it?” 

The invader groaned. He dug the back end of the knife into the other’s gut, he cried out in pain and folded over. The invader ran away. 

Hyde stared him down as his irises grew so big they nearly covered all the white in his eyes. His ears grew longer and hairy, like a wolf’s ears. His teeth turned into fangs; his nails into claws; all his facial and body hair grew longer and thicker, like fur. He growled and bolted after him. 

The invader still ran. He screamed as Hyde tackled him to the ground. Hyde sat on his back. The invader tried to crawl out from under him, Hyde pushed his claw on his neck, he stiffened up. Hyde pulled the bag off him and threw it aside. He leaned down to his head and sniffed. 

The invader reached into his pocket, grabbed his knife and flicked it open. He swung his arm at Hyde. Hyde cried out and let his neck go. The invader turned on his back. He grabbed Hyde’s shoulder and pushed him off. He sat up and moved onto his knees, pointing the knife at him again. He saw he had cut him on his upper arm. Hyde covered the wound with his claw, he growled. 

“Well,” the invader started, “shouldn’t have grabbed my neck like that. Now, if you’ll excuse me”—he grabbed his bag and began to stand up—“I’ve got a package to deliver.” 

Hyde jumped on him again, knocking him over. He yelped, the knife flew out of his hand. Hyde had him pinned down. The invader looked at the knife and tried to grab it as he hissed, “Bloody hell!” He looked at Hyde, he pushed his head away. Hyde growled again, annoyed. He only pushed harder. 

“Get off!” 

Hyde bit his hand, the invader screamed. Hyde released it. The invader curled up on his side as he grabbed at his bleeding hand and whined. Hyde pushed his head to the ground. 

He shifted back to normal. All the extra hair shedded, his ears returned to their regular shape, his fangs and claws retracted. Lastly, his eyes were back as they should be, still glowing with annoyance.

“Shouldn’t have pushed my face like that,” Hyde mocked him. 

The invader gave him a scowl. 

Hyde reached into his pocket as he grabbed the wrist of the other’s injured hand. He grabbed a pair of handcuffs. The other’s eyes widened as he fully realised what was happening. He cuffed his wrist, then grabbed his other hand and cuffed them behind his back. Hyde panted after the struggle. “Game over, fucker.” 

The invader glared up at him. Hyde got off his back and stood up. He pulled the other to his feet. He picked the bag up with one hand and firmly held the invader’s arm in the other. 

They made their way to the village. 

“Do you have any idea how exhausting the last few days have been for me because of you?” Hyde complained. 

“Oh, so sorry. I didn’t mean to inconvenience you, good sir.” 

Hyde shot him a glare. 

The invader slightly tugged at his arm. “Could you stop pinching my arm so hard before it falls off?” 

Hyde groaned and only pinched harder, making the other whine until he loosened his grip again. 

“You petty little shit.”