The sun had vanished due to the intensity of the oncoming storm that was beginning to fill the unlimited skies and shift the emotions to an over expelling feeling of dread and discomfort. The constant thunder and lightning shocks dashed and roared throughout the atmosphere, brightening the area for literal flashes of seconds before dimming back down to its darkened shades of dusk that illuminated the dull and abandoned landscaping of the once luscious plains. The reminiscences of the beautiful lilies and gorgeously hued grass blades that were once graciously blowing within the summer breezes had now disappeared, only leaving behind the small evidences of shrivelled up blades and dead brown pieces mixed in with overgrowing soil and dirt. In the overflowing anxiety and constant panic that the nature alone was already creating on the plains that housed the memories of a beautiful majestic area now having vanished, we were adding the pressures in with a few built in of our own.

Within the shadows of the dusk and black clouded sky, we both remained hidden. I could only see his silhouette, but I knew he could only see mine as well. Within the few flashes that were seemingly gliding and shocking just above us and following with an overpowering roar of anger, small glimpses of our beings were able to be depicted out and scanned. However the distance that we both made for each other proved to be more than an easy task. Being a good few metres away, it was only possible for me to know that there was a being standing in front of me. Even better to know, that it was him standing in front of me.

Soon light and gentle rain began to pass by and lightly fall along my skin. I could feel the trickling of the thin, microscopic sprinkling as it gathered in large enough pacts to slide down and off of my hide. Everything taken into my account done by nature, I could instantly tell was happening to him as much. Not an importantly needed fact to know, but doing so was helping to keep my mind focused. I needed that. I desperately needed that at this point. My body shaking and trembling from many things and my brain beginning to slow itself from the ability to process were only two of the many major issues needing to be dealt with. And now a breeze. A very soft, yet spine tingling breeze. That was definitely helping my current situation. The water was lightly coating and gliding along my body more with the winds help, able to lead and guide its way through scales and the recent scratches and moderate wounds. Great. That stung.

However, my eyes never were taken off of that silhouette, as if my life depended on it. For it did. The overdramatizing experience that I was being able to witness first-hand was just that, but for all the right reasons instead of all the false ones. To think that there was more than just my life on the line during this. To think that I was protecting more than just myself at this exact moment in time, despite just being the only one here with this… Thing. To have the trust flung at me multiple times as flashes of instantaneous memory splotches and blasts deep within my brain was entirely unsettling at best, but it helped me remain focus on my goal. To exterminate this being.

However, he just remained dead still and quiet. His figure never moving, but with another recent lightning strike, I was able to easily tell that he was doing the same thing I was. Staring right back at me, but with a grin so devious and horrifying, that it didn't look natural. It didn't look real.

Then again, how can something that isn't real look real?

This isn't real…? No, it has to be. It looked real. 'It' was right in front of me! How could it not be real? Anything that you can see is real, isn't it?

No. It's not. It can't be. It isn't.

I was beginning to become sucked into my minds horrible tricks as it attempted to convince me for the sake of my sanity's level dropping to a horrific low. My mind raced, and slowed. It quickened, and stopped. It throbbed, and relaxed. The process would only continue to happen as I stared at this being, and so it did. Time just seemed to freeze, but the actions around us continued to move. Rain softly dribbling, wind gently blowing, body movements still except for the naturally flowing ones, such as my ears that seemed to flop and wave softly with the wind's patterns, and the somewhat hard-to-control gentle breathing as I caught my breath, my constantly fast-paced heart unable to aid me. I felt frozen, against my will, as if stuck in a picture that had come alive for the outside viewer's enjoyment.

Another lightning strike. My eyes squinted gently to shield away from the brightness and focus further on the figure in front of me. The being in front of me had the instant illusion that I was staring into a dimmed mirror, only with a few very small details being different. Body was the same, as well as all the features. The only significant and, truthfully very tiny, changes that were present consisted of the change in colours of his eyes, markings, and above all, the complete aura that he seemed to release from his presence of just standing a few feet in front of me. That alone was enough to send me into a taunting frenzy of complete remorse and regret. The power of his stares and the feeling that he was constantly exposing me to, even at a large distance, left me feeling unsafe and nerve-wrecked. I was partially frozen in fear besides the obvious scanning that was being performed on him. The evil gaze that he was constantly giving off was one of the reasons I hated him so much.

It was one of the reasons I hated myself so much.

Amid the mist of all of the emotions and constant silence, nature's sounds were the only noises being heard and playing for us. The ambiance of the minute played with the loud crashing of thunder and the gentle trickling of rain mixed in the sounds of wind. Still, my eyes were never taken off of what was lying right in front of me. The shadow of a being so evil and horrifying, that just the being standing in front of you send chills down your spine and your blood running cold. I could only say that from experience. But there was something else odd about this reflection of my own being. There was something else that was a little shocking about the presence that was making it known to me. Within the rain, flashes of light and shading of the darkness that it stood in, it didn't seem to be exactly there. It faded and flowed with the wind and movement, out and back in again, like a mirage. Like it was fake.. Like it wasn't real.

Because it wasn't real.

My brain just throbbed again, and my eyes squinted from the pain, still locked into the area where the mirage-like figure, watching it fade more into my view the minute the pain surged, and returning as the pain disappeared. It continually shifted constantly with my vision's adjustments. In and out it distorted and shaped, disappearing for fractions before reappearing for minutes longer. What was going on here? Was I crazy? Well, I already knew the honest answer to that question, but being able to ask my own being that just helped with the clarification that there wasn't too much entirely wrong with me. But, enough to witness the misunderstanding events of the constantly disappearing and reappearing figure in front of me was just about enough evidence to prove that my already declining brain was reaching points of critical danger.

After a long matter of a few minutes that drifted apart like hours, the sound of an entirely new type was enough to make my ears perk up slightly in surprise at the completely different noise from the natural sounds that we both were adjusted and used to for the tensed period of time. The sound that was distinguished from the rest of the natural nature sounds was just another reason to make my blood freeze to a complete stop. A voice. His voice. It was crass and bold, and at an extremely unnatural octave, about two levels lower, which produced a very deep and almost demonic type of sound. However, the voice was clear and powerful. It spoke out one word to me and grabbed my attention entirely.

"Nightclaw."

My head was perked and now more attentive on the figure in front of me. My eyes locked onto the figure as it spoke just two syllables to have gained my entire focus. My eyes softly squinted to block the falling raindrops, and they immediately widened as the voice continued its thought.

"You still have energy to stand. I am impressed."

The wording seemed to sync perfectly with the thunder as another one lightly clapped above us, leaving a gentle thrum echoing throughout the atmosphere. Staring in the direction where the figure was, I opened my maw very slightly, attempting to form the words ready in my mind before finally widening enough to stutter out a few, my normal octave sounding high pitched compared to his, but actually being a decently low tone. "I… I always… Seem to find the energy."

The voice chuckled at me, and a small flash of light shown over his face to reveal his even more devilish smirk as he began to talk. "Heh Heh… So it always seems to be. I have yet to understand your extreme persistence."

I eyes blinked twice as I shaped and arched an eyebrow, now feeling a little risky in my tone. "How could you be confused? You know me more than anyone else."

The voice grew quiet, the silhouette looking down a little at my wording. "Yes, that is a true statement." His shadow then looked his head back in my direction, the tone literally forming his grin in my head as he answered with a cocky expression. "Kind of an ironic statement, at that."

I slowly backed down, becoming more serious in my reply. "Yes… Very ironic…"

His head tilted to the side a bit, now actually beginning to take one very slow step at a time as he spoke. My heart fluttered nervously. "And how it is ironic to you?"

I backed up only one step, knowing I could not get away if I ran, and instead held my ground. "Why are you being the one to ask? You know it as well as I. Don't force me to hurt myself by saying it…"

"Oh, don't worry. I have another way for how I can do that." His voice softly exclaimed as he continued his light steps towards me. Another heart skipped in my chest. Now only 10 metres away from me. It seemed as if he was approaching fast. However, I wasn't focused on the distance of his steps and his position. I was more or less focused on the words he was speaking. "However, I like hearing when you explain about things. It makes me… Smile."

"It's probably one of the only few things that does make you smile honestly." I spoke back in a sort of harsh tone. That probably wasn't smart in the position I was in myself.

He only chuckled slightly as he blew my words clean off his shoulders, and only made another light step in my direction. 8 Metres now. "Now, now… Come on… Explain it. For me. I want to hear it again because I'm such a nice guy. Now, why would you say such a statement as that?"

My head shifted a bit downwards, looking at the ground as I lightly murmured out the words. "Because… Because… You're crazy?"

He snarled, and seemed to take a more powerful and longer stride. 4 Metres now. "Don't play retarded with me. Answer my question correctly, please. Why…?"

I flinched lightly and agreed, only saying the answer bluntly. "Because… You know me?"

"And why's that?"

"Because… Because you… Are…"

"'Are…'? What? Speak up. I can't hear you…" His voice was light and attempting to sound innocent, but was only playing the response of his evil benevolence.

".. You, are me?"

His movements finally slowed down slightly as he exhaled out once in satisfaction. "Aaah, there it is… Just the words I wanted to hear."

My lips were gently clenched by my upper teeth as I softly nodded. My brain was beginning to remind me during the panic. The figure was… Me. But, the area was outside in the real world? Or was it also my imagination? Blood was running down my neck. I could feel it. No, most likely it was real. I was going to stick with that until I was given more proof. Then the thing in front of me was… real? No, fake. He was an illusion. A very bad one. My mind was in critical condition, so it has to have been just my imagination. But, how can imagination hurt so badly? How can it leave real scars? But.. Did I really want to figure this out on my own right now? Especially now considering that he was right in—

My eyes quickly scooted and stared in front, his silhouetted body right in front, and our snouts were connected very slightly. I could finally make our his features from being so close, the only differences being the bloody eyes that stared deep into mine, and the devilish grin that was portrayed. He was right in front of me. His breath wasn't warm, it was… Cold. Freezing, actually. All the better to have me shivering. Great. Nevertheless, he only continued to talk, but his words were becoming beautifully threatening. "You want me to make those wounds larger to become identical to the one on your face? I'd be happy to oblige…"

My throat tensed as I forced a small gulp of saliva down into my stomach, tensing more from the situation and from the intense stare that he was giving me. I could be brave. I could be strong and not fear the things outside of me. I could protect myself from the outside. However, how could I do the same to the things that were happening on the inside? How do I protect myself from… Myself? The only thing that was more terrifying than the fact that I couldn't do a thing to protect myself, was the truth of now being just a twitch away from having my neck sliced, and having to remain entirely still. My quivering body was not cooperating. Still, he smiled, as if he was mentally and physically possessed by the devil. Or perhaps, already was a demon to begin with. Oh, wait. He kind of was.

The lightning and thunder continued to sound and shoot sporadically, as the precipitation had now reached a light rain. My voice and my courage were beginning to pick up after being drastically reduced by his one comment. If I couldn't protect myself, there would be no use to try. But there is always a reason to try, so I obviously could. Could I defeat it entirely? Not sure, but I know I could hold him back long enough to not attack me once again. So if I held him back successfully, that counted as a victory, right?... I don't know, but however that worked, it sounded plausible. The way to win this victory, was to be able to defeat him enough to hold him back if I was unable to do much else. It was definitely worth a good shot. That or try defeating him entirely. That was also a good idea. Finding whatever courage that was stashed away back through my body, I perked myself up slightly, and answered in a tone and answer that was probably never supposed to be said. "I wouldn't touch me unless you want the same fate for you. In fact, it would probably be better for you. If you were broken enough, others wouldn't have to be discriminated with such an ugly sight."

The entire area seemed to suddenly freeze in a slow motion stop. All the rain ceased, the wind instantly calmed, the storm and thunder cleared. And there we stand, in utter silence. The time that was given for me to recap what the hell I just said. Oh… Oh great. No. I didn't mean that. No, I did. I meant every word. As bad as it sounded, I had to stay strong with this.

His eyes scrunched up, as he just uttered very lightly under his breath, a very angry side becoming known. "What the hell did you just say to me?..."

Mine also scrunched, but not for the reason of being angry. But, I had to make it assume that way. I had to be strong. No more. This would end and be put to rest for another day. I snarled slightly, my fangs becoming bare at the faintest area on the very end of my lips, as I replied back to him. "You heard me…"

It was that point I knew I passed the point of no return. There was nothing else I could say that would help calm him down if I wanted to escape. I had made my choice and I was going to proudly stand to it. He nodded once, gladly accepting my challenge that was hidden within my language, as he slowly lifted a paw and rubbed his sharpened claw down my neck in a fidgety fashion, the ends buffed to be sharp like talons. His voice was calm, but truthfully mischievous. "You do realize, if I wanted to, I could slice your neck open in two at this very moment… Why make a stupid decision to say such words?"

"Because someone needed to tell you them…"

"So you volunteered yourself… Great to know…" His claw was soon moved from my neck, and I breathed a very heavy sign from inside. But his words didn't seem to give. "Tell you what… Why don't you prove those words into action, then."

My heart skipped four beats and exploded once before somehow rebuilding itself from its pieces. This was the opportunity laying itself out for me. He was giving me another invitation for a final decision. I eyed him with a glare of acceptance. "Why don't I, then…?"