The Last Lycan
Set in an old, enchanted world, a young mage stumbles upon a reclusive Lycan, who has lost her powers of transformation. The Lycan distrusts humans because of its past and thus, the mage finds herself thrown into the topmost tower as a prisoner for trespassing.
Chapter 11
Italics – Thoughts
It was late into the night by the time Shizuru returned to their bed. Not wanting to wake her beloved, she silently padded across the cold floor, finding relief for her freezing feet as she clambered under the warm sheets. Her head hit the soft pillow and she let out a soft hum of contentment, feeling very much relief now that she was back with Natsuki. She turns lightly to check if her love was still asleep, but instead, her eyes met bright emeralds that were wide open. "Ara," she breathes, masking her slight surprise to find Natsuki awake. She had prepared herself for Natsuki finding out about her nightly escapades, but the intensity of Natsuki's gaze right now caught her a little off guard.
"Shizuru," Natsuki's voice came out huskier than usual, a norm that Shizuru had gotten used to after many mornings waking up with her. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I really.."
Shizuru quickly silenced her by pressing her soft lips on Natsuki, pulling away only a while later. "I'm sorry, Natsuki. For worrying you."
Natsuki wraps an arm around Shizuru's waist, pulling the brunette closer when she feels her cold skin. Shizuru always knew what to do to alleviate her concerns and she was truly thankful to her for trying so hard to reverse the curse. She had been awake each night Shizuru left, but she decided not to say anything, for she knew the brunette was not easily dissuaded. However as the days went by, Natsuki could see the toll it was taking on the young magus and she was troubled by it. She feels Shizuru relax into her arms and she gently replies, "Don't be, sweetheart. I know you want to help, but I don't want you to over exhaust yourself."
"I know how much Natsuki misses her family. I want to do everything I can to help."
"I do miss them, Shizuru. But you've been sneaking off in the middle of the night to practice for the past week and it pains me to see you so drained."
Shizuru dips her head into Natsuki's shoulder, snuggling into her warmth – her silent comforting apology. She had made Natsuki worry all this time. "I guess that's a downside of having a wolf as my love, that hearing of yours is just astounding."
Natsuki chuckles, twitching her ears, "You'd to live with that, darling. These babies aren't for nothing."
Shizuru pushes herself upwards, nipping Natsuki's ears playfully before resettling down on the bed with a smirk. There was a moment of peace between them as they lay there, taking in the sound of each other's steady breaths. "Natsuki?"
"Mmh?" Natsuki stops her lazy twirling of Shizuru's hair.
"I promise I wouldn't sneak out in the middle of the night to practice anymore."
Natsuki nods, glad that Shizuru seen her point, "Good! Now you should get some sleep."
Shizuru shakes her head, "I wasn't done yet, Natsuki dear." She giggles at the confused tilt of Natsuki's head. "I would not just give up like that, Natsuki. Not when something is this vital to you. I only promised to stop sneaking out in the middle of the night to practice."
Dark brows furrow – another play with her words. "Shizuru!" Natsuki huffs in indignation at being tricked. It was late and she wanted Shizuru to get her rest. Time to fight fire with fire. Even in the darkness, Shizuru could see Natsuki's pressed back ears. Her lips pulled back into a lopsided pout and those sad darling emeralds peering intently at her. Shizuru melted on the spot. This was a face only reserved for her, she knew that. No one else ever had that opportunity to see Natsuki like this. "Okay, my dearest. You win," Shizuru murmurs gently, nuzzling Natsuki. "I promise I won't overexert myself. I'll train during the day and rest once it's dinner time. Alright?"
Pleased with the outcome, Natsuki drops her 'cute' pleading look and beams brightly at Shizuru, "I'm glad. I don't want to risk anything happening to you. Besides, we still don't know if you're carrying little Shizurus." Natsuki rubs Shizuru's belly lightly, her dark green orbs gazing tenderly at Shizuru. She was so happy. She had never thought she would ever experience happiness like this, ever since her family was taken from her. It was all thanks to Shizuru. "I love you, Shizuru," she whispers with all sincerity.
Shizuru places a warm hand on top of Natsuki's, recognizing the raw honesty in her confession. She was aware of what Natsuki felt, but what Natsuki didn't know was that the feeling was mutual, because she too, had never felt so fulfilled. They complemented each other perfectly; two interrelating people that resonated with one another; and Shizuru would go through hell and back again to protect the most important person in her life now. "I love you too, my Natsuki," she whispers back, threading her fingers though Natsuki's fur. "Also, don't worry, about our children, Natsuki. We will know in about two weeks' time."
"Mmmhm," Natsuki cast her gaze upwards at the ceiling, a fraction of a smile tugging at her lips – 'our children' sounded pretty good right about now. "Shizuru.."
"Yes, my Natsuki?" she coos gently, noticing the pleased look on Natsuki's face. So, Natsuki likes children.
"Have you thought of any names?"
Shizuru lets out a light, melodic tinkle, "Ara, ara. It seems like Natsuki's pretty eager to be a parent." A devilish smirk on her face, she dexterously repositions herself on top of Natsuki, purring, "Does Natsuki want to make sure we're parents?"
"...!" Natsuki's jaw dropped but there wasn't a sound. She gulps loudly before finally getting her voice back, "Shiz.. uru.. It's late and.." she pauses to catch her breath as she feels Shizuru grinding her lightly. "A-a-and you.. have to rest.."
Shizuru doesn't respond, continuing her ministrations over the soft cotton of Natsuki's sleepwear, biting back a moan, feeling a familiar slickness form as she rubbed against her lover's now semi-hard package. She lets out a small gasp as she feels Natsuki's arm wrap securely around her waist and her eyes flutter open to gaze down at her lover, whose green eyes were tinged with lust. Shizuru's lips pull into a wry smile and she unconsciously bites her lower lips in anticipation. Bending over Natsuki's frame, she whispers into her beloved's ear, "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Days later, outside the Castle
"Tomoe!" Ubel bellows, removing his plated helm, "Where the hell is this castle of which you speak about? I see nothing!" His temper was on edge after travelling for four days and he was still unable to catch any sight of the castle's towers through the forests.
"Uhm," Tomoe mutters, "I swear.. it was right here!" She begins to run ahead, searching frantically for the barrier that kept the castle hidden.
Ubel glares at his daughter, "If this is just a fucking tirade of yours, I'd skin you alive myself!"
"No!" Tomoe whimpers, knowing her father's viciousness. She scampers off and suddenly, her form disappears.
"W-what.." Ubel exclaims in shock.
A split second later, Tomoe reappears with a triumphant sneer on her face, "It's here, father. I told you so." She watches as her father lumbers toward her, practically swelling in pride and was totally caught off guard when his armored fist hammered against her cheek. She gasps in pain, reeling backwards in shock and humiliation as the rest of the soldiers looked on.
"You didn't tell me that there were mages in the castle! You foolish whelp!" He growls, running a hand through his messy locks that mirrored Tomoe's own and fitted his helmet on. They would have to act fast and hopefully catch them off guard. Without waiting for Tomoe, he strides off and the men follow suit.
Within the Castle
Natsuki jolts up from bed, her ears cocked. She'd heard something. She was sure of it. Pulling her shirt over her head, she strides across to the windows and threw them open, sniffing the air. She growls when she picks up the scent and her emerald eyes flashed with rage. It was the smell of humans. Many of them. The dank stench and the smell of metal meant they'd come here armed and ready.
"What's wrong, Natsuki?" Shizuru had also awoken. They had just lain down not a few minutes ago. She climbed out of their shared bed, padding silently across to her beloved. She runs a hand through Natsuki's bristled fur lightly, knowing it was the best way to calm her down.
"Intruders, Shizuru," Natsuki breathes heavily. "A lot of them. I.. I need to," Natsuki clenches her fists, "They cannot get to the backyard. My family.."
Shizuru's eyes quickly scan the horizon, but there seemed to be nothing out of place. She, however, trusted Natsuki's senses thoroughly and moves over to where her weapon lay. She turns back around, facing Natsuki and their eyes meet for a brief second. There was a silent understanding between both and there were no longer words needed. Shizuru picks up her weapon and disappears through the doors swiftly, headed for the rooms of the fire mages. Natsuki didn't need to look behind to know that Shizuru had gone. Instead, she opens the partition doors to the balcony silently. The scent of grime and sweat were much more distinct now that she was outdoors. She narrows her eyes at the thought of her Aunts, Mai, Nao, Shizuru and her family. She had to keep them safe, as well as her lost family. Though small, the remainder of her family meant so much to her and she would protect them whatever the costs. With a low growl, she perches herself on the parapet and leaps off the balcony.
Landing with a soft thump on the preened lawn, she starts to move towards the source of the stench, picking up speed as she started to sprint on all fours. The intruders' scent was getting stronger now and she starts to slow her pace, flitting through the trees skillfully. She catches the first glimpse of them, still grasping onto her advantage of her stealth. They had no idea that she was there.
A quick count told her that there were close to eighty of them, armed and armored. They came here prepared. Damn greedy pigs, she scowls to herself as she moves to the rear of the squad. The stragglers were trudging slowly, possibly from the exhaustion of climbing through the mountains and she easily singled them out. The last soldier disappeared in a split second, the gargle of his dying breath quelled effortlessly under her large paws as her claws dug into his throat. No one seemed to notice his disappearance and she continued her guerrilla tactics, easily downing a tenth of the invasion force.
They were soon approaching the castle gates and the alarm was soon raised as the soldiers started to get jittery, sensing that something was amiss. Natsuki dropped her cover, scaling the trees rapidly, carelessly rustling the leaves to make them skittish.
"There's something in the trees!" someone cries out.
She snorts, barely giving the rest of the troops time to react, charging down from the treetop at breakneck speed. The men could only make out a dark blur as it engaged their comrades, clearly powerful as bodies that dropped to the ground were mutilated and very clearly dead.
"Aaaugghh!" a soldier's scream dies as his body is flung mercilessly against a broad tree trunk, followed by a sickening snap of both bone or branch. They weren't paid enough for this shit!
Natsuki's gaze shifted to a group of men that had decided to make a run for the hills, but before she could give chase, small, directed purple missiles hit them straight in the chest and they dropped to the ground. Natsuki searches for her beloved and her gaze locks onto the brunette, who was a distance away. Thanks were transmitted when emeralds met rubies and without hesitation, both swiftly moved off, taking covers under shadows.
Stealth broken and the attackers were on alert, starting to gather in groups. Amidst the scramble, Tomoe spots Shizuru standing in the background and she immediately shrieks for her second in command, "Miya! Shizuru! Get her!"
The girl turns to follow Tomoe's gaze and locks onto the brunette who had turned and moved off. She nods, beckoning for two men to follow her and Tomoe.
Ubel who was in front of the squad had clashed head on with the family of mages. "Shields up! Shields up!" he hollers the command, lifting the thick plated alloy to cover himself from an incoming inferno. "Tomoe!" he bellows when he sees his daughter running away from the heat of battle and turns to his faithful follower, "Push forward and get as close as possible. Mages are powerful from a distance but wilt when cornered."
"Got it, Sir!" he nods and quickly takes control of the soldier as his officer strode off after his wayward daughter.
XXX
"Shizuru!" Tomoe screams into the night, "I'm here to save you!" There was no sign of young woman anywhere and Tomoes grits her teeth in frustration, dropping her weapon onto the ground in exasperation. They had lost sight of the fleet-footed brunette and had been aimlessly running around, in hopes to find the missing beauty. Glancing up, they realized that they were now facing the rear of the castle. Through the canopy of leaves, they could only make out the topmost tower. With a defeated sigh, Tomoe turns to the rest of the small party, "Since we're here, let's just get in through the back. I guess we can meet with Father." She casts another glance upward at the castle before moving off.
They had barely moved ahead five steps, when a clear crystal voice speaks out, "Ara. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to take another step ahead."
"Shizuru?" Tomoe recognizes her voice and her face immediately lights up and her eyes start scanning the area for the source of the lyrical voice. Fate was definitely on her side today! "Shizuru, it's me, Tomoe! I'm here to rescue you!"
There was a pregnant pause as Shizuru sighed internally. How was it that Tomoe could remain so perpetually deluded? Was the slap I gave her too hard, so much so that it erased her sanity? She steps out slowly into Tomoe's vision shaking her head, "Tomoe, I'm not in need of your rescuing. I live here now and I'm perfectly happy. Please head home and take your soldiers with you."
"Happy? How can you be happy here, Shizuru? I saw a ferocious beast when I followed you back here. It's holding you hostage! I'm here to liberate this castle for us."
Shizuru mentally berated herself. She had spent too much time enjoying herself with Natsuki that she had forgotten all about Tomoe. And now she has unintentionally revealed the location of Natsuki's castle. How foolish of her! "Ara!" she exclaims in surprise when her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a firm hand grasping on her wrist. Her vision zooms in on the offending appendage and her gaze meets emotional gray ones.
"Come with me!" Tomoes starts to pull her forward, much to the chagrin of the manhandled brunette. Without another word, Shizuru firmly wrestles out of Tomoe's grip and puts a distance between them. "Shizuru!" Tomoe raises her voice in annoyance, "Why are you making this difficult?! Are you drugged?"
"She isn't! And she doesn't want to go off with you because her allegiance is with them, you fool!" Everyone's eyes shifted to a dark figure standing by the trees, his face shadowed. He chuckles as he steps out from the shadows, an arm raised as he beckons for the two soldiers to slowly encircle Shizuru. The brunette had already shifted her stance and her long naginata was now wielded, causing Ubel to raise an eyebrow, surprised that she was able to maintain her steadfast stance. He shrugs, unsheathing his sword and taking slow steps toward Shizuru, "It appears that you are trained, though I don't think you can take on five of us at a time."
"That I am, Mr. Marguerite. Though I would not make irrational assumptions, if I were you."
Ubel Marguerite nods, a wicked smile playing on his lips, "That's what I've always liked about you, Shizuru. Always that air of arrogance. We'll have better use for that smart mouth of yours soon." In a flash, he had raised his weapon, slashing in a wide arc in front of him.
Shizuru deflects the first strike with the long handle of her naginata, before leaping sideways to avoid the two soldiers who had followed their boss's cue. Ubel charged again, raising his shield this time and pummeled into her. Shizuru narrows her eyes as she exhales heavily because of the weight, but quickly sent the three men flying once she uttered a spell. As soon as it appeared, the purple energy dissipated. Ubel and his men had been blasted a couple of feet away and into the bushes. Shizuru's gaze met Tomoe's, before shifting to Miya's. The look in their eyes was similar – full of bewilderment and fear.
"Shiz-uru..?" Tomoe manages to stammer, "You're a magus?"
"Of course she is!" Ubel spat a tooth out as he picked himself up from the ground, swaying as he tries to regain his bearings. "Didn't you see that? She'll never be yours! Now get her!"
Tomoe snaps her head back to Shizuru, "Is that true, Shizuru? You'll never love me? But-but.. I'm Tomoe! I have everything you could possibly want! … NO! Father you are wrong! She never said anything like that! She loves me! Tell me that, Shizuru! Tell me! Tell me!"
Shizuru eyes Tomoe carefully, sensing that the woman before her was about to lose her sanity. The telltale signs were evident and indisputable – Tomoe's gray eyes had constricted and she was swiveling her head to and fro Ubel and Shizuru.
"Answer me!" Tomoe screams into the night, her face now contorted with her lips pressed into a crooked snarl and her thin eyebrows twitching.
The tawny female's right hand naturally shifted along the naginata's handle, prepared for the onslaught that she was about to face. She refused to blatantly fabricate lies, just for the sake of getting away. No, she would rather die than to do that. Natsuki was her lover and she was proud of her. It could be a fifty versus one fight and her answer to Tomoe would still be the same. "I'm afraid my love belongs to someone else. I love her and I always will."
Tomoe appeared to have not heard correctly, as she turned back to her father, "You see, father! She loves me and she always will!"
Shizuru hears the wavering in Tomoe's voice and her sharp wit immediately told her to get ready for a lunacy-driven fight. As expected, when Tomoe turns back around to face her, the derangement in her eyes was confirmation enough. Shizuru's words had sunk in and Tomoe was not taking well to it. The hand that was holding her large mace was trembling and in fact, her whole body was trembling. Shizuru subtly shifts her weight on her other foot, and just in time too, for Tomoe lunged toward her, raising the menacing weapon high above her head, ready to pummel her with its full brunt.
Cold steel grated against each other, sending a sharp, piercing pitch as Shizuru pulled her weapon from under Tomoe. She had deflected the girl's blow with relative ease, but was unable to take the offensive as her opponents took Tomoe's cue to start attacking her all at once. Making use of her weapon's length, she managed to use its handle to crush a soldier's nose, sending him stumbling backwards. She could keep on the defensive, but not for long for she barely had time in between the flurry of attacks.
"How could you?! How could you, Shizuru?!" Tomoe screams, wildly swinging her studded mace with ungodly speed, that Shizuru barely deflected the last shot. She feels an incoming presence from her right and instinctively moves to shield herself from a fatal blow. She looks up defiantly at Tomoe before casting a quick glance at the impending impact that was about to send her flying.
Instead, a split second between the mace colliding with her ribs, it shot off in the opposite direction.
"Tomoe!" came Miya's frantic voice and she sprints off after the teal-haired girl. Recognizing Natsuki's familiar hue of blue that shot past her, Shizuru makes use of the opportune distraction and quickly regains her bearings before quickly zooming in on her next target – Ubel Marguerite – and his lackeys. The man had already readied his stance, approaching her cautiously. His eyes narrowed as he eyed Shizuru from the short distance.
The trio was taking turns occupying Shizuru with the fight, so much so that she wouldn't have any time to cast spells of any sort. Moreover, the young magus also had her mind somewhere else, which did nothing for her cause. Shizuru's scarlet swept across the area but she couldn't spot Natsuki anywhere in sight. Ubel took the minute distraction as an opening and he lunged forward, hungry for blood and his eyes gleaming with eagerness.
Shizuru reflexively dodged the thrust sword with a short twirl and used the momentum gained to bring her naginata sideways in a counter. Ubel, though, was a skilled enough swordsman and he deflected her blow, leaping backwards to obtain a safe distance from the lethal woman. "I see you're not as easy as you look, tramp," he spat in disgust, peeved that the fight was not as simple as he expected it to be. Shizuru Viola had always portrayed herself to be a gentle and calm lady – he had not foreseen that she would be as skilled as, if not better than he was with a weapon.
"Ara, ara. Big words for such a small man. Now if you're quite done with talking and running away, I would like to get on with putting you in your place and returning to my Natsuki," the brunette responded to Ubel's derogatory remarks with an equally vicious taunt, complete with a pleasant and calm smile on her face that one could almost call devilish.
The result of her jibe was as the sharp woman expected. Ubel, the misogynist that he was, was extremely perturbed by her taunt, especially in front of his soldiers. Both of them now sported a pursed smirk on their faces, doing a very poor job of holding back a chuckle. "Kanzaki! Masashi!" he practically screams at them, "Do you think it's that funny?!"
"S-sorry Si-rr!" Takeda Masashi stammers immediately the minute Ubel's gaze fixated on him and he quickly bowed his head. What he least expected was for his leader to unexpectedly bring his blade down upon him. Takeda was barely able to dodge the attack, leaving him with a cut across his left cheek and a deep laceration that almost severed his left arm. Collapsing onto the ground in agony, he fumbles with himself, desperate to stop the gushing blood.
Even the usually unfazed Shizuru had widened her eyes in surprise at Ubel's sudden lashing out. Was he that demented to attack one of his own, just because of a few goading sentences from her? But she quickly leveled with the idea that this must be a trait in the Marguerite family, for Tomoe had a very much similar vain and egoistical disposition.
Kanzaki was already by his comrade's side, his sleeves ripped off as he used the fabric to try and stop the bleeding. "How could you do that?" he snarled in anger at Ubel's inhumane treatment of his soldiers. Takeda was his friend and fellow soldier! His gaze shifts onto Shizuru and he picks up on the silent message her gaze carried – I'm sorry, I shall do my best to avenge your friend.
Shizuru's worried crimsons leave Kanzaki and refocus on Ubel, shifting into a piercing, deadly gaze. This man was dangerous and his unpredictable tendencies merely amplified it. However, with his own silliness, he had taken out the two most useful assets to him. Shizuru did not wish to underestimate him, but the fact that she was now fully focusing on him alone, certainly made the battle that much easier.
XXX
"Gyahhhh!" Tomoe screams as she tumbles to a stop. The large 'monster' was gripping tightly onto her armored shoulders after it had smashed head-on into her. They come to a stop and she frantically stumbles away, trying to regain her bearings after that awful tumble. They had come to a stop in a large and quiet part of the castle after they had wrestled their way out of the woods. With the trees out of the way, the moonlight now revealed the monster she was grappling with, which sported a deep blue coat and piercing emerald eyes. "You!" She hisses in rage as she glares at it furiously, "You're the morbid creature that cast a spell on Shizuru!"
Natsuki cocked her head, wondering what on earth this crazy woman was talking about, but then quickly remembered that she was the one who was raising her mace and about to take out Shizuru. She had picked up on Tomoe's frantic screaming and immediately bounded off towards the source once she was done with taking out her portion of invaders. She had arrived just in the nick of time too, for she spotted a group of five outnumbering her beloved. Natsuki was a rather good strategist but seeing the imminent danger that Shizuru was in made her charge and tackle the perpetrator straight on. And so here they were.
"Die! Filthy creature!" Tomoe bellowed at the top of her lungs, her heavy weapon raised with both hands, ready to club right into Natsuki's side.
The dark blue lycanthrope leapt backwards to avoid it but Tomoe charged again without pausing, this time spinning on her heel to amplify her weapon's brunt force, surprisingly quick for someone wielding such a massive two-handed weapon. It connected, the tips of the spikes tearing into Natsuki's flesh, leaving the lycanthrope with a bloodied forearm. Natsuki snarls in pain and retaliates with an equally well-placed swipe of her own, knocking aside her helmet and sending her sprawling backwards.
"Tomoe!" came a cry of worry.
Natsuki turned, eying the new adversary warily. The brown-haired soldier scrambled down the slope that they had barreled through, sprinting toward the fallen form that was Tomoe. "Tomoe! It's me, Miya!"
"Nnngghh.. Miya..?" Tomoe wheezed, "G-get that creature!"
Miya nods rapidly, "Aye, ma'am!" She stands up, swallowing audibly before unsheathing her weapon – a spear.
Natsuki sniffed the air a little – the girl before her reeked of fear – she snorted in disdain. She was used to the scent of people who feared her. Still though, she'd have to subdue the threat as fast as possible before returning to Shizuru. Moreover, they were dangerously close to where her family was at. She needed to get these intruders out of here as soon as possible. Her deep viridians followed Miya as the brunette stepped gingerly around her, the tip of her spear wavering as she tried to ascertain an optimal time to strike at the large beast.
Miya took the chance when the beast looked a little distracted and took the plunge, a foot forward as she thrust the spear as hard as she could at the beast. However, Natsuki was not like the opponents she had faced in the past. Sure, she and Tomoe had their fun at bar brawls and random the oppressing of the villagers. But they won mostly because they had the strength in numbers – fully paid for by the Marguerites. This fearsome beast before her was nothing like that.
Swiping the offending weapon aside, Natsuki easily whittled it down to what it was; a long and crudely carved stick. With the pointed and most dangerous part of the weapon gone, Miya was akin to a sitting duck. Unlike Tomoe, who had the 'best' training money could buy, Miya was merely a simple follower who had all her hopes and dreams pinned on her secret love. "Tomoe! Run!" she screamed into the night as the hulking lycanthrope approached her slowly, its green eyes blazing with chagrin.
Natsuki heard Miya's final cry and swiftly turned, to find the teal-haired soldier bolting off, nary a glance at her friend who had just sacrificed herself to distract her foe. "Fuck!" Natsuki cursed under her breath, hastily returning to the task at hand before chasing after the perpetrator. Miya fell, down for the count and the vision she last saw before hitting the ground was the wolf bounding on all fours, as swift as the wind and hot on the heels of the bearer of her heart.
Tomoe had been cursing under her breath the minute she had seen Miya fall. It had amplified to a full fledge scream as she realized that there was a gargantuan wolf hunting her down. She had started running off toward the castle, in the hope of meeting up with the main invasion force. Hopefully then, would she have a chance of getting out of here alive! Stupid Miya should have bought her a little more time instead of howling out her position!
She comes face on with a massive gated fence that had fearsome spikes at the tips. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, she finds Natsuki charging at her with all her gloriously bared fangs. Tomoe instantaneously decides without a doubt that a probability of piercing herself while climbing over was better than a certainty of being torn apart alive. Mace secured around her waist, she starts to scale the walls. "Nnghhh!" she grunts as she hoists herself over the top, nicking her shin in the process. A superficial scratch, she notes as she stops for a second to examine it before clambering down.
The garden that she had found herself in was very well kept – manicured lawns, trimmed bushes and pruned trees. It even had a working fountain, she thinks to herself as she sprints across the cobblestone path. If I could just get back to the main force, that'll show this nasty beast and all this will be mine! She flicks her head back, searching for the creature that was hounding after her, but finds nothing. Puzzled, she slows down and turns fully, eying the horizon carefully.
"Uaaaghhh!" she screams in agony as she feels herself being knocked off her feet and flying through the air. Her back smashes into something and when she picks herself up, she finds the dark wolf towering over her, claws menacingly close to her face. She lashes out instinctively with her mace in a wide arc but the wolf leaps back easily to dodge. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" she screeches, swinging her weapon wildly as she tries to take on the offensive.
Natsuki takes a few steps backwards to avoid the lethal weapon, but she backs up into something instead. Narrowly avoiding Tomoe's spikes, she rolls and the heavy mace connects with the stone statue that was behind her instead. It crumbled under the impact and Natsuki watches, her eyes wide with horror. It was Elsi, her favorite sitter when she was younger.
Tomoe sees the alarm in the wolf's eyes and her gray eyes immediately land on another statue. She smirks as she starts to run towards it, raising her weapon over her head.
"Stop it!" Natsuki snarls, leaping to its defense. A sickening crunch was heard as Tomoe brutally sends her weapon through another smaller statue. This was the stupid creature's weakness, she notes in glee, seeing that there was a large number of statues that were around. Perfect! She would destroy each and every one just for the thrill of it. They were so hideous anyway. She sprints off.
Natsuki bounds after the intruder in her private sanctuary, furious beyond words that she had allowed her to desecrate her family. Spurred by adrenaline, she catches up to Tomoe and tackles her to the ground.
"Get off me!" Tomoe shrieks, frantically kicking Natsuki in the face. Bleeding from the jaw, Natsuki snaps at the offending appendage, tearing off a chunk of flesh off Tomoe's shin in return. Tomoe raises her mace despite the pain and slams it down onto the werewolf's back, her teeth set in a demonic grin as it roared, making Tomoe force the jagged spikes in deeper. Claws clench onto Tomoe as Natsuki peels the woman off her shoulders before flinging her across the floor.
Battered but refusing to lose, Tomoe picks herself up and finds herself next to a pair of nearby statues. She'd wreck them all, for all this pain she had suffered!
Green eyes follow her every move and the lycan's body reacts instinctively. There wasn't much time to give any thought to her next move. Protection of the only remains of her family had been so ingrained into her for years that her body just naturally moved in defense of them. Her stance was open, leaving her vulnerable to the viciously lethal spikes that Tomoe sent pummeling through her ribs, as she stood in front of Saeko and Rolf.
She let out a deafening roar of anguish.
"Natsuki!" Right after her outcry when she watched her beloved collapse, her ruby eyes immediately hone in onto the teal-haired woman that had caused this.
Tomoe had yet to notice her presence as she was laughing cruelly as she stood over the downed werewolf. Blood had pooled around Natsuki, so much that it matted almost her entire body. There were millions of emotions that were coursing through Shizuru as she took in the scene before her, but when she spoke, it was icy, soft and deadly. "Do you think you can get away like this? After what you have done to my Natsuki?"
The laughter was abruptly cut short when Shizuru's voice cut through the air. Tomoe felt her hairs stand as she spun around and met cold, emotionless cardinals. "S-shizuru!" her voice came out in an involuntary stammer, feeling fear slowly grip her as Shizuru stepped forward. Tomoe tightened her grip around her bloodied weapon.
Without another word, Shizuru struck swiftly. Unlike her battle with Ubel, there was now a blinding flash of white that accompanied her first strike.
XXX
A/N: Hi dear readers! Apologies for the delayed update as I've been pretty caught up recently. In return, it's one of the longest chapters I've done in a while. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Once again, thank you very much for all your reviews and support. Please keep them coming, it's great to have some feedback on how the story & plot is going.
Happy Easter all!
