Occult Beasts: Steeljaw
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the author created characters and concepts. Thanks to Ranger Red 2.3, Mistycharming and SA June for their OC's used in this fic.
Rousing from where he lay, Joe shook off the haziness he felt with a quick shake of his head and tried to stretch out the sore muscles of his body which ached as a result of the prior lost battle to the Lycanthrope hunting party, only when he attempted to stretch his arms, he found his wrists bound with crude rope. Looking down his feet were also tied together, the rope extended out from his legs and as he followed it, he found his other three captive comrades bound in similar fashion to himself.
They too sat awake in what appeared to be a grassy campground where the Ranulfr Clans best patrolled, Joe found several more Lycans to be encamped than the ones they had faced prior, one prepared meals from small mammals they had likely hunted not too long ago while another pair guarded a huge caged of cast iron. Clearly there was something in there that they didn't want people getting to, or more worryingly, something slumbered inside that they didn't want escaping. A large rugged tarp had been thrown over the cage to hide that answer from view but as Joe looked to the edge of the tarp, he could swear that a glint of light from the nearby campfire bounced off a rather predatory looking eye.
Turning back to his friends, he could see that they were equally as dazed as him and then he saw someone else. Maxcine, they had taken Max's twin hostage too, then a sense of urgency came over him. Max and Sera, they weren't here. More so, before they lost the battle, the white ranger had collapsed and if she had been lost again and Joe wasn't able to do anything about it-
Joe gritted his teeth and shook the thoughts from his head. No, he couldn't let thoughts like that get to him, he had to keep his head on straight, unless he found her lying still back there, he's keep hope she still lives. For now they had to free themselves and turn the tables on the hunting party.
As he was about to turn to what remained of his friends, one of the Lycans prowled over to the group of captives. As he came into view however, he was revealed to be Hunter, though his face slightly betrayed the anger he currently held for the group and its absent members. "You're all lucky you know, after our Huntsmaster got hurt, Hunter wanted you all dead but the Huntsmaster wants you alive for Skuros. At least that little bitch that hurt him is drowning in her own blood now." He explained with a satisfied grin at the idea as the rangers tensed up at the thought that Sera could have once again fallen.
Hunter moved down the line to where Maxcine sat, staring off into the black of night. The Lycan squatted down in front of her. "Hunter bet you're scared you're brother's dead too aren't you?" He rightly assumed as her eyes flickered in their sockets and Hunter moved in closer. "Don't worry, he's still out there, we're counting on him coming along. When he sees we have you I'm counting on him wimping out and doing what we say. After all, a City whelp like him isn't a match for the mighty Hunter."
Maxcine turned to face Hunter, scowling slightly at him. "You sound pretty bratty you know 'mighty hunter.'" She started with a sarcastic undertone. "You were a lot more scary when you were stalking me as a wild animal you know, now you just look pretty petty. Did Max hurt your little pride when you lost to him? Well here's something else that'll hurt that little pride of yours." She shot her words at him aggressively as she raised her bound legs swiftly, striking the unsuspecting Lycan between his legs with brutal force.
With a high pitched yelp that stirred the rest of the camp to life, Hunter jumped back, yielding to the pain. As the patrolling Lycans moved in on the commotion, holding Hunter back as he tried to exact some form of revenge for striking him, the Huntsmaster emerged to find the source of the commotion himself.
"Pup! What is the meaning of this!?" His voice boomed, Hunter's head shrinking into his shoulders and his face softening to a shameful look as he ceased his aggressive behaviour.
"H-Hunter was attacked by the prisoner father… Hunter was trying to teach her a lesson…"
"Address me properly boy! When we are hunting I am the Huntsmaster! I am your leader, son or not you will treat me as such!" The Clan head exploded into a fit of rage as he berated his son. "Hunter, you're above this, keep your petty anger to yourself, use it as a tool for when you hunt. Now stay your hand from them, Skuros doesn't want them damaged." He lectured as his voice calmed and he returned to being the stoic wise sounding leader he appeared to be.
"U-Understood Huntsmaster. I'll keep away then." Hunter submitted as he walked away with stropped shoulders, the rangerswatching thought they could see fear and perhaps even disappointment in his face as he left to the far edges of the camp. As the area cleared, the Huntsmaster made his way over to the concealed cage, the two Lycans guarding promptly leaving as he arrived.
"Wow what a piece of work." Ellie remarked as they all looked over the the ruthless head of the pack. "I don't like Hunter much but just going off on him like that for not using his fancy title… God I hate guys like that."
Joe nodded. "Yeah, looks like he's the real reason these guys are with Skuros, looks like his own son's scared of him. No wonder the others don't ask any questions."
"Maybe they'd be better off without their Huntsmaster then." Nyssa suggested to the group. While the others froze, Saya gave a simple nod without hesitation.
"I agree, we'd be doing them a favour. It sounds like he's got a big ego too, that can't help matters if anyone tried to challenge him but he is injured right now, it wouldn't take much to deal with him."
"Hold on." Joe started to reason. "You guys can't be serious, we try anything and we'll likely get torn apart by who knows how many of these guys that are in the dark. Well I'd survive but you guys wouldn't."
Saya gave a shrug as she raised her voice for those nearby, namely the Huntsmaster, to hear. "It was just a suggestion, I doubt even Skuros would tolerate someone like that for long anyway, it'd be much easier if someone who was easy to manipulate such as his son took his place, after all Dark Angels aren't known to share power for long."
Ellie looked around, alarmed as a group of Lycans and the Huntsmaster started storming over. "Hey Saya, what's the big idea here?" she whispered to the demon.
"Killing time since I'm bored, maybe sowing some seeds of doubt if I do things right, the usual demon pastimes. Let's just hope Max gets here soon.. And that Hunter's wrong about Sera, she's too tough for something like that wound to kill her after all."
"Yeah… Let's hope." Joe added, silently praying for both of his friends.
[Occult Circle]
Daylight broke through the thin treeline near to the campsite both Max and Hano sat at. Having awoke not so long ago, Max now watched over the resting white ranger, anticipating the moment she'd awaken and the three would be able to move on the trail of the hunting party. He just hoped they were still close enough to track.
"I can sense she is getting to be well now.. She is strong, your friend, even when she nearly lost all her life power." Hano tried to convey his message to Max as best he could.
"Yeah I'd guess so. I don't talk with her much but I know she's been through a lot to get that way, guess her being a Celestial has its perks to keep her alive for a while longer. Hey Hano, how'd you end up around these parts anyway? You're an ancient Hawaiian spirit, so you're a long way from home, how'd you end up here on the east coast?" He changed the subject as he turned around to the Aumakua who quickly eyed the sleek black motorcycle nearby before returning his gaze to the ranger.
"It's a very long story I can't, um explain everything, your language is still hard for me… but I can say why I come here. When I died, I was stuck, trapped in rock on shore at home. I can't get out now still. I lived watching for, many years and one day I saw people. People like you and your friends. Use magic to transform and fought bad witch. She was from old story, told to children to scare them. But they save others for no reason. So when bad witch died, Kane came, he free me and let me be me again. I looked up to those people and wanted to help like they did, for no reason. I got my bike later and then I ride it around land and I help people. Then I come here and you know everything else." He summed up as best he could.
"Huh, you're on about other Power Rangers out there aren't you? Guess you found the right inspiration then. I know there were a few when I was a kid but I can't remember them well. But that's a good goal to have Hano."
Hano gave a firm nod. "I thank you, for kind words Max. I get scared talking with others so it is nice having someone say you're good. I have hard time talking because of it. I just want to make up for being failure when I was alive."
Hano shifted uncomfortably on his log seat. "Huh, what did you fail at back when you were alive?" Max asked.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to say. It's still hard to think it. Oh your friend, she is waking up." Hano noticed as Sera began to stir.
Max turned as the young Angel opened her eyes and looked around in confusion for a moment, pressing her fingertips against the side that had been stabbed into deeply by the Huntsmaster. The marks were healed, though she could still feel the soreness of the injury as she pressed against it. Sitting up to get her bearings, she looked to find Max and Hano with no sign of the others.
"What happened, where are the others?" She passively demanded as she rose from the sleeping bag and looked to Max for answers.
"The Ranulfr Clan have them. They left you for dead and me to take part in some weird tribal thing of theirs I think. You alright Sera? We nearly lost you again there." He expressed his concerns, only to be met with a half shrug.
"I feel fine, but when I collapsed, my whole body was on fire and I was trying to stay awake but I wanted to sleep. Is that what dying feels like, because this felt familiar." She explained the sensation to him as she stretched out her arms to alleviate some of the aching in her body.
"I-I guess only you'd know that. Don't think about that, you're not dead, that's what's important, right?" Max tried to change the subject, only to be met with another shrug.
"Maybe, but I didn't exactly choose to start living again either. At first things were fine, I did what I was told and trusted my people, but they hide more secrets from me than our supposed mortal enemies do. I think I'm wondering if coming back was really best or if I'm just being used. Maybe I should just die again, it wouldn't be all that bad right? At least nobody could use me again right?" She pondered her own existence and the prospect of death casually in front of the two.
"D-Don't-" Max started before he was interrupted by the distinct voice of Hano.
"You died once, nearly died again and now you feel like dying again? What is wrong with you Max's friend?" Hano asked calmly but with some strange assertive undertone that stopped Sera's thoughts momentarily. "You do not know who I am but I've died too. Don't say stupid things. If people who brought you back using you, then find out truth."
"And what if I find what I don't like, can I do what I want then?"
Hano couldn't explain how to get her away from thinking as such and was at a loss for words as he stammered to say something. "None of that matters Sera, not what they use you for or anything. Your friends are the ones that matter right, sure they might be seen as evil up in the clouds, heck I bet I'm not perfect either, but how do you think we'd feel if you offed yourself because your people aren't what you think? I bet we've all got problems with our own kind, god knows I do. But you can't be so casual about life, it's precious and you get to live it the way you want."
"That's not what the High Heavens teaches us. We're just another means to an end and if we die, so what? So why should I worry about dying if I'm no real loss?" Sera fought back slightly with the logic of the Celestials.
"You don't listen to everything they've told you or all that bull Michael keeps feeding you by the spoonful, right? Saying you're all expendable, that's pretty sick. Listen, they might be your kind but you're not like them, you're like us. Us rangers together, we're our own people, overcoming our issues being different species, fighting together and having fun in our downtime. We're practically like family now, so suck it up because I'm not letting any sister of mine, no matter who she is do something so stupid like that to herself." Max drew the line, quite assertive himself with his words.
Sera stopped, several moments passing. "You're right. Since I came back and I've learned everything. The other Celestials are different to me and Michael… He's keeping too many things from me and I'm not sure if I can trust him. But You, Joe, the others are all honest, the only people that are and I don't want to make any of you hurt like when I died before. I saw it on Joe's face when I first met him. I guess I was wrong because I don't want anyone to hurt like that again…" She trailed off before looking Max in the eyes and flashing a smile. "Thanks Max, I guess I was just taking everything I've learned badly and needed some sense knocked into me."
"Good!" Hano interrupted in a cheery voice. "Good job helping your friend Max. Now we can go help your other friends."
"Whaddaya say Sera up to showing the Ranulfr Clan who's top dog around here?" Max asked, turning toward the direction the Lycans had fled.
Sera giggled at his wording, it felt better thinking of them as a family than just allies, having something new she didn't have before now. "Sure Max, let's help the others.
[Occult Circle]
Making their way through the lightly wooded area, Max and Sera soon emerged into the clearing where the hunting party camp resided, Hano following shortly behind them. In daylight, the camp was illuminated, they could see the bound rangers and Maxcine. Max's attention drew to her, they had captured her too. Whatever game they were playing at involved using her to make him go along with it. The amber ranger tried to keep calm but the Ranulfr Clan's actions so far hadn't done anything to help that.
Walking out into the open, the group found themselves surrounded by a circle of Lycans, a surprisingly greater amount than those that had attacked them, numbering almost twenty. Clearly they didn't want the three to escape. Moving further into the camp, they locked eyes with Hunter and the Huntsmaster, both looked sternly at the two rangers as Hano moved off to the side.
"I believe they wish challenge you both. Judging by this circle. This was way my people settled things, maybe it's similar way." Hano deduced the reasoning for the setup as he stepped away. "I'm sorry, I cannot fight with you then."
"It's alright Hano, you did enough just helping us out. So Who wants who first?" Max asked, up for the challenge of fighting Hunter again and this time defeating the barbaric Lycan.
"Hunter goes first, we will fight as beasts and prove who is better once and for all City wolf." Hunter jabbed as he took on his beast form once more.
"Alright, let's go then. I'll prove to you that we don't have to be barbaric to be strong." Max agreed, removing his silver limiter glasses and letting the call take him.
Sera and the Huntsmaster moved to the edges of the temporary arena as the first fight began. Hunter took the initiative, giving a beastly roar as he dropped down to all fours and charged at Max. The ranger stood his ground as his opponent charged in, planting his feet and enduring the impact as hunter bore into him with force. Picking his moment to strike, the Lycan Max struck with a heavy handed claw to Hunter's face. Knocking Hunter off balance and sending him toppling to the ground.
Growling and rising to his feet, the tribal Lycanthrope charged with fury, frenzied and fit to burst with rage that Max had bested him with another attack. All out sprinting at the beastly ranger, Hunter bared his claws and prepared to strike. Coming into range, he swung wide, completely missing Max and opening himself up completely to any attack Max willed. Opening his maw, Max leant in and bit down into the flesh of his foe, Hunter letting out a howling scream at the pain as he reverted to his human form.
"H-Hunter yield!" He submitted dropping to his knees to wallow in defeat.
The Lycan Max let out a victorious roar as fresh blood dripped from his fangs. He was soon met with numerous howls from the Clansmen, it seemed as if they were rejoicing in his victory, perhaps a sign of respect that he bested Hunter. There was no time to question it though as a loud thump knocked Max to the ground, the shock reverting him back to his human self. The howls went silent, an air of shock over the area that the victor had been struck. Stood over Max was the perpetrator, none other than the Huntsmaster himself.
"Don't get so full of yourself whelp. And the rest of you! We only cheer once a wolf's been blooded, and this one still has a Huntsmaster to go through." He berated his Clansmen before turning his attention to the defeated Hunter kneeling shamefully at his feet. "And you, I expected more. Get up boy, you've shamed me enough today." He added, Hunter rising and shuffling off, the defeat still affecting him judging by the lifeless way he walked.
The Huntsmaster then turned his attention to Sera. "Before I get to dealing with the whelp. I've got a score to settle with you. Nobody harms the Huntsmaster and lives!" He declared, taking an offensive stance.
Sera stepped out into the circle, remaining calm. "Nobody harms my family and lives. Looks like you roughed up the others too, I can't forgive that."
"Haha, looks like you've got some fire girl, I'll enjoy snuffing it out! Come at me!" His voice boomed as he took the form of the white Lycanthrope.
"Celestial Breakout!" She called, morphing in a quick burst of Celestial energy. The white ranger looked down to the dazed Max. 'Don't worry, I'll win this and set everyone free from this monster.' She thought, wanting to say it, instead focusing on the coming fight.
Holding her hand out, she summoned a Combat Halo, clasping the Celestial weapon she ran forward, already meeting the Huntsmaster's charge and beginning to block his claws with it. Having learned from her earlier mistake which almost cost her life, Sera kept defensive. The wounds on his chest were unhealed and untreated, if she could keep up her defensive techniques for just long enough to find an opening-
But the Huntsmaster's arrogance and carelessness didn't leave long until she was given that opening. Overconfidence in his abilities, maybe it was just blind anger that she had managed to wound him, but now was her chance, if she could just keep her focus strong for long enough. No, to stop someone so morally corrupt, there was no guessing about it. If it meant putting an end to the ruthless Huntsmaster, she knew she could.
Thoughts racing through her head in a split second, Sera began focusing Celestial energy through her free hand while keeping the Combat Halo strong and her guard up, lunging her hand forward and shutting her eyes. A sharp stabbing noise soon pierced the air, followed by a short loud whine. Opening her eyes, she saw the Lightspear she had created, piercing diagonally upward straight through the Huntsmaster's heart before flickering away. Just from the blow alone, it was enough, there was no way he could survive beyond a minute now as white fur turned to red, he fell onto his back and reverted to his human self, the light slowly fading from his eyes as blood pooled quickly from the large cavity in his chest.
Silence again filled the air for a moment, then the Lycanthropes stood around unleashed an orchestra of mournful howls, the only thing they could do to cope with the sheer and abrupt shock of the death of their Huntsmaster. Hunter quickly rushed into the circle, dropping to his father's side and shaking at the sight of both his father and his Huntsmaster, the man who had ruthlessly taught him everything, dead.
Tears dripping from his eyes, anger soon took him as he scowled at Sera, his father's murderer. "You…" He said darkly as the Lycanthropes convened around him, returning to their human forms. Hunter tried to rush her, only to be held back by two of his Clansmen.
"We can't do anything Hunter, it was a fight to the death by our rules, we can't hurt her now. But our Huntsmaster is still dead…" One of the Clansmen stated, his voice full of despair.
"What do we do Hunter?" Another asked, waiting for advice from the mourning heir.
"I-I want them dead! Take his body, we're leaving. Let loose the Steeljaw, he can kill them all for us, I don't care anymore, about our rules or anything!" He exclaimed his orders, fighting over the mix of emotions coming over him.
"U-Understood, you heard the new Huntsmaster, get to it!" A third proclaimed, naming Hunter as successor to the title.
As the Lycanthropes fled the area, Hano and Max rejoined Sera. Watching the group flee, they watched as one broke open the huge cage holding whatever beast this Steeljaw was before fleeing with the remaining Clan. They may have fled and were no longer a problem. As Sera and Max braced themselves, Hano stepped forward.
"Don't worry Max. I can help in this fight. Leave it to me." Hano assured him as the door to the cage burst open and a huge wolf-like creature barreled out onto the grassy campground.
Brownish fur, grey in some areas, sharp golden eyes. Practically a giant wolf, however the features that set it apart from this was the somehow organically formed lower jaw, made purely of steel, both sets of fangs in its maw were also completely steel, it was of no surprise that it's claws were also composed of this organic steel. There was no doubt that this was one of the feared beasts of the realm of Wulfen. The Wulfen Steeljaw. If they were going to beat it, it would require a great feat of strength, a strength that none of them could likely muster alone.
Hano took a step back intimidated by the size of the Steeljaw as it stalked forward, the Aumakua in it's sights. Before any of them could react, the Wulfen beast pounced at Hano, lunging down and trapping him within it's jaw. Lifting the spirit from the ground, the Steeljaw ragged him around within his maw until it finally let him free, flinging far across the campground.
The spirit looked seriously injured and neither Sera nor Max could see any movement from him. A sense of urgency swept over the two rangers as it locked its eyes on its next two potential victims. "Damn, Hano didn't stand a chance." Max said grimly as he turned to the white ranger. "Sera, you need to free the others, I'll try and distract it."
"No, don't risk it Max, you saw what happened to him, he got completely wiped by that thing, you won't survive! Don't die on us, please!" She pleaded with him.
"Sorry Sera, but I think you understand by now. You've gotta do whatever it takes to protect those you care about. Even if you're doing something pretty reckless. Don't worry, I'll try come back in one piece." He jested a little with a grin, hiding the fear of facing off against one of the most dangerous creatures he knew of.
Transforming into his Lycan form once more, he took off on all fours charging the menacing beast. Sera wanted to make a move and help him, but even then, it wouldn't increase their chances of surviving by reluctant as she was to admit it, Max was right, she had to free everyone else, even if it was at a cost.
As she moved to free the others from their binds, Max leapt at the Steeljaw, bringing his arm back and sinking his claws into the flesh on the Steeljaw's face, cutting deeply as he was shook off by the Steeljaw. Skidding backwards as he landed, Max stood his ground as the beast took a step forward and growled, opening it's metallic maw and unleashing a bellowing roar that blasted a strong wind at it's Lycanthrope foe.
Max stood his ground and unleashed an equally menacing roar to mach the Steeljaw's ferocity as best he could before charging his opponent once again. Fearlessly pressing the mighty beast, Max leapt with all his strength to attack the foe, but cut short his leap as the creature before him did something unexpected.
Leaping backwards slightly to avoid him, the Steeljaw's expression softened as it sat down on the Grassy plain, stunning Max and the others around him at it's change in behaviour. As Sera freed the last of their captive friends, they watched with curiosity as to why the beast was acting differently.
Lifting its head high to the sky, the Steeljaw unleashed a deafening howl that lasted several moments. Once it had subsided, the Steeljaw lied down on its belly and stuck it's tongue out, panting as it looked at Max, almost like a dog would with its master. Reverting to his human form and replacing his silver glasses back on his face, Max stood dumbfounded at what was happening as the rest of his team and Maxcine joined him.
"Uhh, any of you guys know what's happening?" Max asked, the rest of his team shrugging.
"Maybe you tamed it somehow?" Nyssa suggested, the evidence of such a thing pretty present.
"Maybe you showed it you weren't scared of it and its respecting you for that. You know, the big guy looks pretty cute like this. Like he's a big cuddly, metal mouthed doggy!" Ellie enthused jokingly.
"Huh, maybe." Max agreed as he approached and stuck his hand out the the tame Steeljaw. The docile beast sniffed the Lycan's hand for a moment, pressing his snout against it. While not entirely expected, it wasn't surprising to the rangers that, upon contact, Max's Occult ring reacted to the Steeljaw's presence and acceptance of Max, quickly absorbing the mighty beast into the amber ranger's ring the same way both the Nightspawn and Yatagarasu had been previously.
As the form of the Steeljaw was sucked in and the rangers were left free of danger, they could only sigh in relief, then Max remembered. Hano was still out, perhaps even dead. If he could repay the Aumakua if he still lived after such a mauling, he would try his best to keep him from meeting such a fate once more. Rushing over he found a bloodied Hano lying on the ground. Kneeling down, worried he was too late, Max spotted something most peculiar. While he was covered in blood, there was no sign of any wounds, as if they had healed.
"Hano, are you alright?" Max asked, more curious than worried for his distant ancestor now.
"Yes." Hano groaned. "I am okay. My tiki isn't broken so I won't die. I just get hurt and wounds heal later. I'll be fine soon." He reassured Max.
Though this investigation had been surprising at every turn, it was now safe to say it had come to an end. Though their heads still span at the surprising events such as the Huntsmaster's death and the strange condition Max met to earn the Steeljaw's respect, they were relieved that the ordeal was over and that for now they could rest knowing that at least one of Skuros' allies was out of the picture for now.
[Occult Circle]
Returning to Hano's camp, while the other rangers chatted with the Aumakua and expressed their thanks for helping to keep their other teammates alive as he prepared to leave, Max headed over to Sera, who sat some distance from the rest of the group on a felled log.
"Hey, you holding up okay? I know you didn't have much choice with killing the Huntsmaster and I doubt it'll make things any easier if their Clan comes looking for revenge, but if it's bothering you then you should tell someone." Max suggested to the white ranger, taking a seat beside her.
"That's the thing, killing him isn't what's bothering me. It's what I felt; or more what I didn't feel." She started, something in her voice sounded off but Max couldn't tell what it was. "When I made a hole in him with my Lightspear, when he dropped back and started pooling blood, even when Hunter was on his knees, grieving because of what I did, I knew exactly what I should've felt. Regret, remorse, like I should've done something else. I should've had another option, but I chose the easier one. But even when I knew I should've felt remorse for killing someone like that, without much justification, I didn't feel anything, I just knew what I had done and accepted I'd done it. Is there something wrong with me Max? Am I broken?" She asked him, it was a surprising revelation indeed and the Lycanthrope wasn't sure how to react, nevermind try and understand how her absence of remorse could come about.
"I-I don't know… But you said it yourself right, you knew what you should've felt then, you didn't feel it. So does it matter? If you know what is right or wrong to you, happy, sad, whatever. Then it doesn't matter what you feel or can't feel, right? But the fact you're asking that has to count for something. If you're asking stuff like this, it should mean you're not completely devoid of regret and remorse. Come on, Hano's about to head off, we should wish him well." He changed the subject, allowing her some time to think over what he's said.
"Alright." She nodded and put on a reassuring smile. "Thanks Max, I guess you're right. I feel better knowing I can count on you and the others out of everyone." She said as they headed off to join their friends. 'But still… Could it be because of what I am, did Michael do more to my head than just erase it? I need to know…"
|Occult Circle|
Occult Beast - Wulfen Steeljaw - One of the most fearsome and deadly creatures to roam the wilds of the Lycan homeland. Many of the strongest Clans capture and try to tame these beasts for hunting and are prized by the Lycanthropes because of their effectiveness in hunts. The more Steeljaws a Clan tames, the more highly regarded they are. Certain Clans with more spiritual beliefs claim that they originated from these mighty beasts and highly revere them as ancestors who passed down the wolf blood to humans who once sought to settle the hostile land long ago. Though there are many tales and rumors surrounding the majestic and deadly Steeljaw, one thing is for certain, the threat of one is not to be taken lightly.
And that's Chapter 26. So this was mainly focusing on a Max and Sera dynamic and seeing what I could do with it. I feel like I've lent toward Max being a pretty strong moral compass here which works pretty well given he has the strongest morals and the least internal conflict of the group right now. Showing the different side to Sera who's still coming to grips with thinking differently and showing her perception on life through Celestial teachings and not wanting to be used anymore was also interesting to explore and wasn't entirely planned either, though after this she definitely has a new outlook on things. As for the Ranulfr Clan, with their ruthless Huntsmaster killed in a duel, their future is definitely uncertain. I went about the beast for this one a bit differently too, the last test of strength with the Steeljaw was more on terms of courage, for Max to overcome and I liked it even if it was a short fight. I enjoyed writing Hano for these past two chapters too and giving him a little more backstory and motivation as to why he had travelled all the way there, so thanks to Taiski once again for creating the OC and maybe he'll appear again in the future. Kudos to anyone who got who he was referring to when explaining his 'encounter' with another ranger team.
So only two chapters left in the Encounters and Beasts arc and then one more to bring it all together. Coming up next and I'll probably start working on it in a couple of hours, is a focus for Saya and I'm really excited for this one and you'll see why hopefully soon. So without further ado, here's the synopsis and thanks for reading.
Next Chapter: Occult Encounters: Porcelain Knight
Synopsis: With the last of the cases finally solved and proof a spy is somewhere in their midst, the rangers lie low for some time. That is until Saya is contacted by an old friend and inhabitant of the magical realm Arcanaeum. A refugee being hunted down by forces unknown after recent events within the magical realm, this old friend contacts Saya asking her for aid in escaping these pursuers and asks she comes to the ruins of a Colonial fort near Numin before it's too late. Can Saya and the others rescue them before it's too late, or will the pursuers succeed in their goal? Find out next time on Power Rangers: Occult Circle.
