She caught a glimpse of blue from the corner of her eye. Her attention was forcefully torn away from the horror in front of her as she heard a loud sound, not a sound any human could produce. It was the savage roar of a wild enraged panther.
She saw him leaping from a tree, aiming straight for the horror in front of her. His speed was unbelievable, she only saw him flying through the air as a blur, right until the moment he hit the horror in the flank.
The impact was so forceful that it sent the horror flying straight into a tree. Then he stood before her, his back against her facing the horror. He glanced back at her, slightly turning his head to the left, looking at her with only one eye;
- Get up! Now! He growled at her, fangs bared.
She shakily got to her feet, her knees would barely support her.
- Why am I so weak! She thought to herself.
The beast in front of her; Grimmjow. His body was covered with white, bone-like armor, except from his face, neck and middle section of his chest, down to the edge of his breastbone. He was armed with a long sharp blade on each leg and arm, same color as his armor. His forehead was covered by the same bone like armor, adding the effect of a crown. His hands were black and each finger had a long sharp claw. His hair had grown long, all the way down to his knees and from his back emerged a long white tail, whipping through the air.
He was of a special bloodline which had origin in a land far away from hers, one that possessed the ability to form a bond with a wild animal, and thereby obtain certain combat skills, all depending on the animal the person chose to make a bond with. He had formed the bond with a panther. When one possessing that bloodline formed a bond with an animal, the human would merge with the animal, body and soul. In the process the mortal shell of the animal would be destroyed, or rather absorbed by the human binder, leaving only the soul behind to follow the binder for as long as he or she lived. The binder could thereby draw on the power of the animal soul who followed them in order to manifest its former body around the binders own, acting as weapon and armor. The animal spirit rarely manifested itself in front of other people than its binder.
- Such barbarians! If only they treated their companion like we do… She thought to herself. Her thoughts had wandered off, but only for a second. It had been so long since she last had seen a binder merge with his animal.
- I thought you'd been training your whole life for a situation like this, Ohime-sama. Yet there you are, helpless, waiting for your precious Nii-sama to come and save you. Or even worse that servant scum! He mocked and spat in contempt, not even bothered to look at her. Instead he turned his attention to the horror.
- Oooy! You up yet, horror? C'mon it was only a little warm-up kick. He confidently yelled at the horror, which was still struggling to get up, slightly disorientated by the impact to its neck.
He looked back at her over his shoulder again, when a sudden cat-like smirk crossed his face;
- You know what, Rukia? I better show you how a real man fights!
Grinning he faced the horror again. It was back on its feet.
- Desgarrón. He said, his claws starting to glow a bright blue.
The horror sensed his growing kill-intent and let out a loud shrill scream. She covered her ears from the sound, its jaws wide open she could see nothing but dark shadows. It really was a walking dragon skeleton covered in shade. She had never seen one in real life before, only heard grim tales about the beast.
- Tsh, trying to scare me away with your voice alone? Sorry mate, but you will have to try harder, or fall before me.
He leapt again, aiming straight for the horrors skull with his claws still glowing, but it dodged his attack at the last second. It ducked, turned its head upwards and slammed its jaws shut around Grimmjows torso. But its fangs couldn't pierce his armor.
Grimmjow let out a muffled hiss in anger. Not triggered by the fact that the horror was holding him like a dog bone, no, he was angered by the fact that his attack had missed. He threw his elbow backwards splintering the upper jaw of the horror, so it no longer was able to hold him. The horror screamed even louder this time, as it started to realize that it had lost.
- Oh shut up! Grimmjow hissed as he leapt for the horror a last time, his claws hit and splintered the cranium this time, as first intended. Bone splinters flew everywhere, an eye socket, still intact, landed near Rukia. She observed as the purple spark of life slowly faded.
She looked back at Grimmjow, who was now wearing his usual clothing. He was walking casually towards her.
- T..Thank you for saving me, Grimmjow. She looked ashamed at the ground as she spoke.
- Oh come on now! Who wouldn't save a beautiful little bird caught in the claws of a horror? Especially if that little bird belonged to a very important person? Who probably would be Really happy to reward me, for bringing his little bird home, safe and sound. Grimmjow laughed a self-satisfied laugh.
- I knew you only did it because it would benefit yourself! You selfish bastard! She yelled angrily, not afraid to look at him this time.
He lifted a hand and patted her roughly on the top of her head.
- Easy now… You never know who I did it for, or for what reason. Now follow! He commanded as he turned his back to her and started to walk.