Fur and Scales

Warning: Blood/gore later in chapter

Thunder rumbled above them and lightning crackled across the skies, and for not the first time Corrin wondered if there was always a storm in the Bottomless Canyon. Lilith had been able to put them out of the astral plane into Valla and Azura's basic knowledge of the kingdom was able to keep them hidden well enough from enemies to reduce their time greatly. Bringing her along had saved at least a day if not more and she found herself thanking Azura once again for forcing herself along. They had made it to the surface world safely now came the harder part.

"Where can we find the Snowin plant, Keaton?" The wolfskin was on all fours beside her and sniffing the ground. He ignored her question and instead shuffled forward to lift his nose in the air.

"Hm... I need to get deeper into the territory to get the scent. This storm is making everything too heavy." The noble nodded and called out her dragon the same moment Keaton transformed. She heard Silas's horse whinny at the sudden changes and his voice soothing the beast.

"Climb up, Azura," she stated as she knelt down beside the songress.

"She can just ride with me, Corrin." Her gaze drifted to Silas and if she had brows they'd be raised at the protective tone in his words.

"The less weight on your horse the better as it will need all the strength it can get."

"It is fine, Silas. Are you sure though Corrin? It won't tire you out?"

"I can't afford to be tired." Azura stared at her for a moment, searching, before nodding and climbing up onto her back. Her arms wrapped around her neck and she was careful as she stood. "Are you secure?"

"Yes," came the reply.

"Good. Alright Silas lead the wa—"

"What?!" Keaton snapped at her and his nostrils flared. "I'm the one that can sniff out the plants!"

"You're also the one that can get lost all the time. I don't have time to argue this so let's move!" The Wolfssenger blinked at her before lowering his head submissively with a huff.

"Whatever..." Silas hesitated before giving her a nod and snapping his horse into a gallop with a 'Yah!' She and Keaton immediately took off after him and she allowed Keaton to overtake her. Judging by the way the horse seemed to speed up upon seeing a giant wolf on its tail it was a smart move. It would also give Keaton a chance to take the lead if he were to spot the herb before Silas or herself.

They had spent a day getting just to the canyon. She was allowing them three days to travel within Nohr and to get back.

Four days.
Hopefully only one day to find the rest of the army again.
Five days.
That left two days of breathing room. One if she wanted to be on the negative side.
It would be enough. It had to be.

Two days passed with them traveling and no sign of the herb they needed.
They had to stop for long breaks for both Silas and Azura. While she and Keaton had the stamina to keep going the two of them did not. Silas had told her to go on ahead and she had taken the advice. The dragon was following the wolf who had his nose close to the ground as he swiftly ran. She was amazed by the way he could go around those trees without crashing while she was struggling to keep up with his pace. Her tail kept getting tangled with roots while her horns caught on low branches. He really was at home here in the forest that they had come into.

They had moved far from the canyon, yet if she looked hard she could still see the thunderclouds looming above it. Being in Nohr territory was making her anxious. Hoshido hadn't been as bad because at least they didn't have King Garon looming over them as strongly. She didn't want any spies reporting back to the King telling him they were here. Anankos didn't need to know that she was out of Valla.

"Corrin!" Her thoughts shattered at Keaton's cry and she hurriedly bounded towards him. He was crouched down near a trench but coming to his side she could see it actually was a crack that opened up to a cave. It was hard to see too deeply inside but she could hear the distant sound of water dripping.

"I can smell it!" Keaton hissed at her, his claws gripping the sides hard enough to crumble the ground beneath them. She frowned and lowered her head to see inside it yet it made it only darker.

"Can you see it?"

"No," he answered honestly. "I can see in the dark though! So I know if I get down there I'll find it!"

"How far is the drop?"

"There's a staircase of sorts. I can lead you down it and then we can search together." Corrin frowned at him but nodded and swiftly shifted back to her human form. She shook herself like a wet dog and scratched at her armor at the odd feeling of skin over her muscles again. She had worn the dragonskin so long it almost felt wrong being human again. Keaton seemed to have no qualms though as he shifted and he quickly snatched hold of her hand. There was a far greater determination than she had ever seen in him and she felt her whole body warm with the strength of his grip. "I'll lead you good, Corrin. Just keep close." She nodded as he released her hand and watched carefully as he lowered himself into the hole. He was quick yet cautious as he descended down, grabbing hold of stray roots and scooting across the dirt to slip down feet first. Almost immediately he was swallowed up by the darkness and only his glowing crimson eyes could be seen.

"C'mon." His hand extended from the gloom and she grabbed hold of it while attempting to follow his steps down. "That's it, step down. I'll catch you." His hand suddenly left hers to slip around her waist instead. He lifted her down easily and once more his hand found hers. "Feel this wall?" He led her hand to the stone of the cave. "Just follow along it to keep away from the edges." With them down now she could see a little more of the cavern with the light from above. It was straight down almost like the blade of the sword. Pieces of rock seemed to randomly jut out at times and she was concerned if they would have to jump around to move. There was obvious greenery growing around in the cracks and she gave a sniff at the mildew stink that hung in the air.

"Are you sure it's down here, Keaton...? N-not that I doubt you!" She added quickly. "Just... I thought you said you'd find it in a field?"

"They grow everywhere," he replied already moving and tugging her with him. She could hear him sniffing as they moved. "The first place I thought of was a field but we can't afford to be picky now right?"

"Yes, of course. I trust you, Keaton." His fingers tightened.

"W-well it's not like I need you to! I know what I'm doing!"

They progressed slowly, mainly because of her, and she only went slower the darker it became. There was no adjusting to the darkness with the fleet amount of light they had to work with. She had to press close to both him and the wall to avoid tumbling down. At times he even had to hop across certain sections and reach back to help lift her over.

"The smell is getting stronger now... Here! I think I found it!" He lifted their intertwined hands to the wall and she felt her heart stutter at the leaves that brushed her fingers. This could be what saved Kaden's life... The noble tugged her bag over to her side with her stiff hand while the other pulled free from Keaton's grip to start clawing the plant free. She didn't even care if she put dirt in with it.

"I think I sniff out some more further down," his voice said beside her and his presence suddenly left her side. She continued dragging the plant out from the wall to stuff it into the bag, reaching upwards to see if she could feel anymore. There was a sudden hiss and she went stiff as something slithered across her skin. Scales clicked across her armor as it slid up her arm.

"Ok I got a whole handful I think—"

"Keaton. Snake." She bit the words out. Corrin felt his hand slip under her arm to put the herbs away. His chest pressed against her back as he leaned in close.

"Stay still," he instructed quietly in her ear. There was a sudden breeze, a startled hiss, and the weight lifted from her arm. There was a sharp crunch and a whiz by her as he sent it hurling into the cavern.

"Don't move, let me make sure there aren't any more." He moved around her and took her arm to run his face against it then scanned the rocks over carefully.

"I don't see any marks. I think you're ok." Corrin nodded and checked the bag.

"Thank you. Sorry I'm relying on you so much..." She leafed through the herbs collected. "Do you think this is enough? I'm not sure how much he needs..."

"He'll be ok, Corrin." Her hand clenched. Keaton's face was suddenly against hers in a brief comforting nuzzle. It was different than Kaden's touch and she felt herself craving a different fur against her skin. "I'll lead us out."

They were able to find Silas and Azura easily and after cleaning up the campsite headed out. They had already wasted a day finding it and now they only had one day to get back to keep with her three day schedule. She pushed them hard and nearly ended up carrying Silas's horse herself. Silas had to lead because as much as Keaton hated to admit it, his sense of direction failed. The knight was the best leader in this sense even if it cost them time. They abruptly pulled to a stop as rain started to fall and she paced around them crossly.

"Why did we stop?" She questioned.

"Something's not right..." Silas muttered and she noticed how his horse skittered under him. She frowned as she called her dragon back after allowing Azura to slide off and gestured for Keaton to do the same.

"Vallites?" She asked as she checked the bag on her hip for the millionth time. She didn't want to take the chance of the undead soldiers reporting back to Anankos about seeing a dragon topside.

"No... I don't think so but we should be cautious all the same," Azura murmured. Corrin nodded her agreement and watched as Silas pulled Azura up with him, and take the lead. She and Keaton flanked him as they continued on.

They emerged from the forest with the canyon in sight, thunder rumbling above them. There was a flash of lightning when she caught the movement. People slunk out of the shadows almost as if they had been living in them and within seconds they were surrounded by a circle of enemies.

"Don't you know how dangerous it is to travel by night...?" She frowned as a bearded man stepped forward. He was slightly hunched with a wicked looking set of daggers dangling from his fingers. "You look rather determined to get through but I assure you," he gave her a grin full of crooked teeth. "We are more determined than you to fill our bellies." There were snickers around them and Keaton growled beside her. His claws scraped against her armor.

"You don't want to do this," Corrin stated quietly as she saw Silas pull his silver lance free. "I'm on a schedule and you are in my way. Things don't do well when they're in my way." The man snickered at her.

"I could say the same for you. Get 'em." The people suddenly surged forward and both she and Keaton quickly transformed, the latter letting out a bloodthirsty howl. They faltered for a moment before continuing on their path towards them. Apparently he was correct in their level of determination. Yet their hesitation had provided the two shape-shifters time to shift into a more offensive attack and land the first blows on the shaken thieves.

Fury at this situation surged through her veins and for the first time since she took this path she felt only the need to decimate the entire field before her.

"No quarter!" She roared and launched herself forward, ignoring Silas's look of disbelief at her order. She couldn't find it in herself to hold any mercy or pity for them.
Not when time was ticking down on the kitsune's life. They had already had to spend four days here—one too long.

"You are the ocean's gray waves..." Energy flooded her body as Azura's song lifted up through the din of battle. Keaton roared and cut through one man with one clawed paw while sending another one flying with the second. She ignored the screams, ignored the blood splashing her scales, and ignored everything around her except her goal. Bloodlust clouded her vision as they fought on and soon the pain of inflicted wounds was forgotten. She nearly impaled Silas by mistake so lost in her anger only to see his face as she charged at him. Ally, her mind reminded her. The noble quickly leaped over him to instead crash her body into an archer behind him, crushing his spine with her weight. The thieves had the upper hand number-wise, but skill wise her small group trumped. It also helped that Azura's song effectively powered her on, keeping her mind and body steady by drowning out the dull throb of pain and exhaustion that echoed through her limbs.

She had to get back. She had to get to him in time. If she lost him... If she lost that warmth...

The dragon let out a shriek of rage as she slammed her horns into the bearded man who she assumed was the leader. He was propelled into the air only to be brought down by Keaton's claws. He stabbed both of his clawed hands into the man's belly and ripped them to either side, effectively pulling the man's body apart with a sickening scream and gurgle of torn flesh, muscle, and splattering blood. The dragon shuddered as the wolfskin didn't stop there and tore into the body pieces with his teeth, ripping great chunks of flesh free. The sounds alone were enough to bring her out of her haze of bloodlust.

Around them there was silence other than the rain that was pouring down. There weren't enough bodies for the number that had been at first so there must have been some that valued life over determination and fled after seeing their leader fall.

"Keaton that's enough!"

He snapped his head up at her and crimson stained his fur while entrails looped around his teeth. She resisted the urge to shudder at the hunk of heart that fell from his jaws as he snarled, "Don't tell me when it's enough! I'll end the bastard how I want!" However she stood her ground and lowered her head defensively. She'd knock him back into sense if that's what it took.

"They're already dead and Kaden needs us to go now! Not waste time fulfilling your angry bloodlust!" Corrin roared with her tail lashing. "I will leave you behind!" She saw the black of his eyes slowly reduce to flicker with understanding. He was still panting heavily but he shook his head and pulled himself away from the corpse.

"R-right..." he breathed out. She nodded and examined the area swiftly. Even though she was sure the thieves that had ran wouldn't come back, it'd be better to move out rather than offer the chance to pick them off.

With that, she led them back towards the canyon sluggishly. As much as she wanted to jump straight back into Valla she knew they needed to rest first and recover. They had wiped out the thieves with a precision and swiftness that should have scared her yet at this time she couldn't bring herself to care. Once they were far enough away she quickly called back the dragon only to gasp and stumble to her side. An arrow had caught her in the thigh and looking over herself there were more wounds than she had thought. Without the anger and focus of the battle to dampen the pain it suddenly was coming back full force. Her arm had still not recovered completely and it throbbed with every beat of her heart. Her fingers would barely respond to her wishes.

"Corrin!" Azura was beside her and her golden eyes were swimming with concern. She ignored the songress for a moment to assess her other two companions.

Silas had an arrow in his shoulder which caused his arm to hang limply, and a gash in his side that had soaked part of his saddle with blood. The horse also seemed injured as it continued to lift a leg rather than keep it on the ground, and it leaned at times against its rider who had slid off it. Keaton was back in his human form and his right eye was closed as blood dripped down the side of his face. His clothes were in tatters and there was so much crimson she couldn't tell what was his and what had been his prey's.

"We have to rest here..." She grimaced as she forced her body to balance on her hip, twisting her legs straight to better reach the arrow. "If we were to get to Valla only to be ambushed we'd be killed on the spot." Corrin unhooked the staff she kept on her belt and caught herself looking at Azura again. She seemed unhurt aside from cuts across her legs where stray blades had glanced across her skin. It seemed Silas had done a good job protecting her—perhaps too well considering all the guilty looks she kept flashing him. "I'm going to need you to help us most, Azura... I know you're tired from the song but—"

"I would be happy to do whatever you need, Corrin. Let's start with the stray arrows you were all hit with..."

Two days left...


A/N: Honestly it probably didn't need the warning up top but I know how some peeps are about the whole fight scene thing. We're just gonna ignore the fact that there'd probably be Hoshidans guarding that border base thing… Nothing to say but thank you for the support! :D

AnnoymousGeek: Pft you're probably right! And he'd most likely be doing it on purpose…

Until we meet again~

- Zehava