The smell of blood lingered, thick and heavy in the deep, luscious forest aroma, disturbing its tranquility. Adon flickered his eyes open from a blackout to total darkness and a single lamp placed by his side, that he nearly knocked over when the misery of his injuries hit him like a tidal wave and he rolled where he lay, groaning and whining.

He could feel nothing in his arm except sharp tenderness and his knee was equally busted. So much for standing up and getting out of there. At least he wasn't dying this time, he hoped. Once again, his zeal, or stubbornness as some would call it, had kept this battle from ending ideally.

Déjà vu struck Adon and he felt as if his life was beginning to enter a bad, evil circle. If anything, the days with Sagat would make up for it but that was just sad, wasn't it? Ideally, the night would end up two ways; Adon would mysteriously survive, get healed, get loved, and then encounter Oni again, rinse and repeat. Or that blue-skinned asshole would skin him alive for a fresh winter coat somewhere in moderately rural Thailand.

Adon closed his eyes, drawing a series of quick breaths, easing himself into the pangs of ache that would occasionally remind him of his injuries, catch his breath and turn it into an anguished strain. Something warm and fuzzy brushed up against his functional arm and a warm, rough tongue licked his face. The smell of bad tiger breath aimed right at his nose, but he welcomed the gesture, scratching Willa Maiu by the jaw and ears.

"Sorry, beastie. I fucked up," he whispered, and the tigress chuffed in response, laying down next to him.

As much as he hated this cretin at first, her presence now was beyond comforting. Around them, it was mostly quiet except for the sound of a scuffle nearby. Someone was fighting Oni and Adon prayed to the gods that it wasn't who he imagined it was. Footsteps closed in on them and the tiger growled in response, rising to her feet as if to defend a wounded jaguar, and then she stopped. It soon became apparent why.

"Adon," that someone called out to him and in the pale light of the lantern, Adon's worries were realized. Sagat, with bruises and cuts all over his face, stood above him. His brow was thoroughly furrowed, tinged with worry. The way he snapped his eye to the darkness made it clear that the fight was not over. Sagat, the fool, had just taken over.

"Dumbass," Adon clicked his tongue, gritting his teeth when he dared to twitch a muscle in his injured leg, "It's not your battle so run away while you still can…"

"And watch you die? No. But I will need you to forgive me for this,"

"For what?"

"As I am, I won't be able to win but like this, I just might," as the old tiger spoke, a purple aura surrounded him, glowing in the dim light. Just in time for Oni to arrive from the depths of the forest, with a blue aura of his own. In the blink of an eye, the two men leaped into battle, taking trees, rocks, and river with them, kicking and punching. Blood and dirt sprayed all over the ground, over Adon and Willa Maiu as the men fought, destroying everything within their path. Adon tried to roll over and watch the battle ensure but it became a challenge as Sagat and Oni descended deeper into the forest. Somewhere from deep within the depth, there was a blood-curdling scream that sent the birds scurrying.

And then, silence.

Minutes seemed to drag on without an end, putting time itself to what seemed like a standstill. Then, from beyond the trees, a figure appeared. At first, Adon felt like his life was moments away from ending until he realized that it had just been Sagat. And yet, something was not right. A purple aura surrounded the hulking figure like a thick veil.

Something was very wrong.

It was enough to make Willa Maiu growl at her own master as he stepped closer, ignoring her completely and kneeling before Adon, who gulped at the aura that seemed to burn through the old tiger's sensibilities like hellfire. In the dim light, his face was completely devoid of emotion, like he was a victim of a deep trance. Slowly, his hand reached over to Adon, brushing against his cheek, before instantly snapping around his neck like a beartrap.

Sagat's grip was tight and unforgiving. He didn't need two hands to do the deed. Gasping, and choking, Adon flailed his healthy limbs, feeling his throat burn and twitch, desperate for air. His eyes began to water, his consciousness fluctuating. Nearby, Willa Maiu began to whine as if she didn't know what to do, conflicted between saving a jaguar who was only nice to her recently or respecting her owner.

If Sagat wanted to, he could snap someone's neck with his hand alone. Adon was aware of this; shit, he almost felt the pressure of it. For reasons, he didn't feel comfortable remembering, he knew that it took five minutes for death by strangulation but less than a minute to lose consciousness. In a last bit to save his life, Adon used the last ounce of strength within him to raise his fist and strike Sagat. The impact of his fist slamming against the old tiger's bottom jaw was enough to stun him for a moment, giving Adon the chance to punch him again. And again.

This time, Sagat swayed, though the punch shouldn't have faced him. The purple aura still engulfed him as he caught Adon's fist, squeezing as if he was trying to crush it. His expression remained void and blank as if the Hado had completely erased who he was. Adon hardly formed any theories as to why before a fist swung against his cheek. Its stinging and throbbing was enough to make his ears ring and stars float in his vision.

His anguish must have been enough to affect the literal predator and the tigress jumped into action, digging her claws into Sagat's back and chest, over the diagonal scar that marred his skin. Instantly, he began wrestling with the beast, knocking the lamp over.

Adon hiked himself to sit with his healthy arm, jerking his torso forward while balancing with his leg until he could moor his hand around Sagat's neck, past the claws of a tiger. This entire process wouldn't have been so difficult if he wasn't also crippled but fuck it, he thought, headbutting Sagat in the nose. Adon couldn't tell which one of them felt the most pain though he was certain, he did the most damage, as blood spattered from Sagat's nose.

"Sagat, you big dumb idiot! Snap out of it before I crack your skull open!" Adon's throat burned with every word he shouted, his neck ached, just as badly as his head. Insane that he probably was, he went for a second headbutt, almost blacking out from the impact. His energy seemed to be siphoned out of him and he had to fasten himself by holding Sagat's neck lest he collapsed onto his back.

By the time, he tried to go for a third strike, he could only weakly put his forehead against Sagat's chin, barely aware of the purple flames vanishing into the darkness.

"I'm awake," the old tiger announced, grunting at his nose being broken again as he cupped Adon's face. Willa Maiu retracted her claws and pulled back, chuffing at seeing her master back to normal. He didn't pet her, busy with the barely conscious Adon in his arms.

Cautious, he pulled him close, and they sat there, in the darkness while the adrenaline of almost dying continued its march. Against the broad chest, Adon rested, drawing short, quick breaths, healing, adjusting to the pain. Sagat let him because he probably didn't feel like it was fair to do anything else.

"I…" Sagat began softly, vulnerable. It almost didn't sound like him; being wounded and ashamed of his lacking self-control. Disappointed that he had to descend into the Hado. Horrified that he almost killed a jaguar in his daze.

"I told you. I'll beat your ass until you come to your senses. This time, I gave you a headbutt instead but my point still stands," Adon whispered, relaxing at the slow drum of a heartbeat in his ear.

A deep, voiceless sigh came from Sagat. He was careful in tugging Adon close but tugging he did, nuzzling his face into a mane of red hair, practicably brimming with debris and forest dirt. He trembled, still afraid, still stricken with guilt.

"…I'm sorry," he said at last. Hearing those words come out of him, deep and quivering left Adon with a wholly odd feeling. It was like seeing one's parents cry. His father had done so when mom died, crying over her grave. Little Adon had found the visage strange if not a little upsetting but he never thought any less of his dad. He didn't think any less of Sagat either from this as the old tiger was above all else, just human. He knew this already. He felt it too in more ways than one. It was just so rare to meet with such heavy proof of that fact.

"Don't be, silly," Adon's voice trailed off, finally free of the panic and terror from fighting tooth and nail to live.