One inhaled, hanging by her back claws from the branch. She scanned her surroundings, before her eyes narrowed. Something pattered against the forest floor; quadrupedal, by the sound of it. One held her breath and stilled her muscles, waiting until a deer began to step out from the trees. The creature walked daintily across the fallen leaves; One's ears twitched in time with each step. She tried to keep her breathing quiet, but the scent began to drive her mad. One scolded herself, waiting until the deer was directly below her, close enough to hear its heart beating.
She dropped, her claws lodging into flesh within seconds after impact. The deer cried out, but One sank her teeth deep into its neck, and it groaned, before all went quiet.
One pulled her head back, and inhaled the scent. Her head swam, a drunken dizziness fogging her senses. She licked her teeth, and ripped a chunk of flesh into her mouth.
Five watched as One tore into the deer. She knew the feeling well, the euphoric high that came right after a kill. Five also knew just how dangerous it was to approach those beneath that influence; she herself would lash out in the same situation. They all knew better after the first few hunts, and they would wait for the victor to eat their fill before moving in. Five thought back, remembering the last deer. She had been just about to close in, but Vanille had somehow gotten there first. Five closed her eyes; the little ones didn't seem to fall prey to the violence as the others did. She heard a series of clicks, and Five opened her eyes.
One wiped a wrist over her mouth, her carapace sticky with blood. She moved back a bit, before leaning back on a tree trunk. Five approached slowly, each step taken with caution. One sniffed, lowering her gaze. Five tore a leg from the deer, and sat on her back legs to eat it.
One watched Five from the corner of her eye, examining every action she took. Her teeth pulling skin from the muscle, the blood trickling down her face; her eyes, a ring of green haloing the orange.
One swallowed, and took a deep breath. She concentrated, and felt her neck shift and extend beneath the carapace. One exhaled, a sliver of noise escaping her throat.
Five froze, and looked up.
One panted, unintelligible sounds spilling out from her mouth in short bursts. Five moved next to her, examining her neck. One hissed, and her eyes closed, tears welling up at the sides. Five sank back a bit, but One opened her eyes and leaned forward, her claws grasping at her throat as it swelled.
Five sat in place, completely unsure of what to do. She considered reaching out to One, anything to interact with her, but thought better of it. There was just no predicting what she would do in this state.
One moved her tongue around her mouth, slowly forming a cohesive sound, but her throat closed up, and a hacking cough rattled through her body, and she slumped back against the tree.
Five tilted her head, before resting a hand on One's arm.
Noel pulled the car to a stop within a field, leaning forward to squint at the horizon.
"That's the place?" Serah asked, "Doesn't look much like a lab..."
"All the better to hide them." Noel said, "Let's get ready."
Mog hopped into the front seat, slipping out from the door right as Serah opened it. Noel sighed, and walked back to the trunk, before opening the hatch. He tossed Serah a skintight suit, slipping into one of his own, his regular clothes beneath.
Serah donned her mask and suit, strapping a satchel of bolts to her waist. Noel handed her a knife and a pistol, which she clipped beside her quiver.
Noel attached a variety of weapons to himself, before locking up the car. He turned to Mog, and knelt down.
"You are going to stay here..." Noel said, "You hear me? Stay."
Mog wagged his tail and lay down in the grass.
Noel stood, handing Serah a pair of goggles. "Ready?"
Serah nodded, and they began to creep through the field.
Noel exhaled, flipping a switch on his goggles. His vision came to life; the field became a bright green in the darkness.
"Serah..." Noel took a deep breath. "Have you ever had to take a life before?"
Serah flipped her own night vision on, and bit at her bottom lip. "No."
Noel paused for a moment, before shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
They continued on in silence.
One calmed her breathing, her spikes slowly lowering to a relaxed position. Five chirped at her, rumbling in a soft series of clicks. One ears twitched.
Something rustled in the forest, and Five turned to see Snow peering over at them from a distance. Five called out, and he walked a bit closer. One fought back a hiss, turning to look in the opposite direction.
Snow looked down at the deer, and gestured at it. One didn't respond, so Snow slowly reached for it, watching for a reaction. None came, so he tore the head from the carcass, and walked away with it.
Five watched him leave, before turning back to see One stand up, her legs shaking slightly as she walked away. Five followed her, but left enough space between them so that One wouldn't feel crowded.
One pressed her tongue against her teeth, the tang of blood still fresh in her mouth. They walked until the trees had stopped, giving way to the clearing with their favorite boulder. One jumped, landing atop the rock. She sat down, and stared up at the sky.
Five looked up at the boulder, before tensing her muscles, and leapt to sit beside One.
One inhaled, the scent of rain heavy within the air.
Although the horizon was partially blocked by the building complex, One could make out a line of dark clouds in the distance. Five followed her gaze, and her spikes bristled.
One stared at the clouds, her vision keen even in the dead of night. She watched them roil and churn, and her hair stood on end.
A flash of light illuminated the clouds, and One inhaled. Every fiber of her being came awake, her muscles alive beneath the carapace.
One counted in her head, before a roll of thunder rumbled in the distance. Her throat clenched, and another flash forked through the clouds.
"Why did you choose it?"
There was silence, before another voice answered. "Power. Raw, natural energy."
One stood on her back legs, her tail curling in anticipation. She opened her mouth, and inhaled as deeply as she could.
Another flash, and the whole sky brightened. One's throat opened, and she roared into the air, just before a peal of thunder crashed against her eardrums. One ignored the pain, her eyes wide and invigorated.
All was silent for a while, before she spoke, her voice nearly a whisper. "Light."
Five tensed, and looked up at her companion.
She said it again, testing her tongue against each letter.
Five opened her mouth slightly, and her eyes widened.
"Light..." Her face was illuminated by another flash. "My name is Lightning."