"Why…" I broke into a series of coughs. The taste of rusted copper swirled within my mouth. I gazed upon the night sky covered by a curtain of unwelcoming clouds. "Why does that freak…have a thing for bondage…?" I spat, blood escaping through the gap of my lips and stained the soil beneath my feet.
"You said something, Miu-sama?" Jorogumo asked from the above branch, tilting her head down at me with a mocking gaze. "I said it's better than being hung by the wrists." I shot back. When a gentle breeze blew by, I felt my body swing with the movement as the branch I was hung on creaked to my movement.
"Gaining a little weight aren't you?" Jorogumo laughed at the sight of me.
"Weight?" I chuckled softly at the lack of brain this spider has. "Anyone with a little knowledge should know…that birds have a lightweight structure for flight." I laughed as I narrowed my eyes towards her.
"Our bones are less dense than some spineless spider who wears her skeleton outside."
"You–!" Jorogumo hissed. She looked as though she was ready to pounce on me, but stopped once she caught the sight of the other youkais' gazes. To my amusement, she actually got herself under control – in a shorter amount of time than I had anticipated.
Having absolutely no interest in analyzing the extra wrinkles on her face, I trailed my eyes uninterestedly around the magnificent garden I was in.
Dead tree, grassless ground…rocks…patches of crimson soil, sand…bones of something's or someone's remains…
"A lovely garden you have here…" I made sure my voice was loud enough to be heard. I didn't know why I bothered. I didn't find the silence quite to my liking – something that the old me wouldn't have mind.
"Kuku, it's an honor to hear that from you, Miu-sama." A Hannya* who stood beside a withered willow chuckled. My eyes slowly scanned the area to count the numbers of youkai that filled this garden.
I tried counting their numbers, but soon gave up after somewhere after entering the 3rd digit.
With a soft sigh, I slowly lowered my head – my neck too tired to support my head's weight as my body fell limp. My head was still spinning from that impact against the iron bar, along with that slap.
Is this alright…? I found myself asking as I slowly opened my eyes at the spider web that bounded me, attaching my body to this tree.
"He–…! He came ugh here for me…if you use me as a decoy…argh!"
I coughed at the hand that tightened around my neck by the seconds.
A wonderful, classic wake up call.
A routine I found myself stuck in every time Mouyou is around. From the looks, he has no plan to leave things as it was when I fainted half way through our last conversation.
I slowly grabbed the cold hand around my throat, gently clawing it in useless attempt to breathe.
"Trying to escape?" Mouyou's voice whispered into my ears before I felt the hand around my neck loosened. Once Mouyou's grip completely loosened, my body was pulled by gravity as my back hit the stone floor. I rubbed my throat with my painless hand. The chamber was filled with echoes of my coughs and gasps. I gulp down the air, feeling my throat stinging with pain.
"Of course…You'll be using my clone." I gasped. The pain throbbing on the side of my head increased.
"Make him come alone…I'll be the bait. When he comes, you can ambush him with your servants." I said with a faint smirk on my lips. I couldn't find myself the ability to put on such confident mask over my heart. I felt my heart began beating faster as time became sacred.
"You can break me here…break me in front of him. Anger him…make him watch in agony at how powerless he is…and by the time he realized what he dug for himself…kill him."
Say yes...
"You can sit back…enjoy this game while erasing the Nura Clan. It'll be killing two birds with one stone."
Say yes already…
"What are you planning?" Mouyou asked after a moment of silent. I slowly looked up to meet his narrowed gaze.
"I…" I whispered softly as I felt my face soured.
"…Just once more…"
Please…
"I want to see him…just once more…" I lowered my head limply. Through the bangs of my hair, I saw it…a wide smile glistening behind his human skin.
"You won't escape…my bride."
My eyebrow furrowed after refreshing that memory for the sixth times since I got hung in this tasteless place. That smile back then…something wasn't right.
If I had declared my feelings for Rikuo to him, then thinking on Mouyou's perspective, he would definitely go along with my proposal. From my speech I made, Mouyou should believe that I purposely lied because I believe Rikuo would save me. He would think that I think Rikuo would win…but instead, he will send some unexpected youkais, or come out himself to kill Rikuo in order to put me into agony…
'But…' My eyes scanned around the youkais once more.
All of them were weak.
Nothing but weaklings hoping to defeat an opponent by ganging up in numbers.
I stared as a strand of my white hair swayed by my sight.
I had lost a quarter of my hair's original length after using them for this clone. Although I did use as less feathers as possible to create this ragged clone, he shouldn't have known that.
I bit down at my lips in frustration as I quickly tried to sort my thoughts. He knew I was trying to do something…but what does he think I planned to do? Or could he have…
Realized my plan?
'That can't be…' For a youkai who didn't know about Doji's ability t clone, he couldn't have known about the thought was cut off short when I heard chatters began running in the air.
I slowly pulled up my sore neck. The minute I gazed up, my eyes instantly caught those crimson eyes that were slowly emerging from the purplish mist afar.
"He's here!" From above me, I could hear Jorogumo hissing in delight.
But something was wrong. Something isn't right.
There wasn't a single nervousness or tenseness within these third rate youkais.
…Or were they convinced that they could overwhelm Rikuo in numbers, even if he is the Supreme Commander?
"You seem tied up there." Rikuo's suddenly voice sliced through my thought as I quickly looked back to suddenly find Rikuo before me. He stood with back straight; completely compose while the youkais seemed just as surprise as I was.
'When did he…?' I stared at him for seconds before I felt his nostalgic voice finally sinking in. I huffed and faintly smiled towards him.
"I don't need you to tell me–ugh!" I choked, unable to finish my sentence as I felt a furred hand mercilessly grabbed me by the throat from behind.
"Stop." Jorogumo hissed. I could feel her voice vibrate to the tips of her fingers.
"One step closer and I'll strangle her." Jorogumo commanded as Rikuo's feet immediately took root into the ground. He stood, eyes narrowed at Jorogumo who had rudely interrupted our conversation.
I coughed softly as I managed to shoot Jorogumo a glare from the corner of my eyes. I could feel her other disgusting hand stroking my bruised cheek.
"Don't try anything funny…don't forget, we have Miu-sama's real body." Jorodumo snickered and dug her nails into the cracks in my cheek. My eyes widened at the stinging pain as she tore her nails through my skin – shattering a proportion of my clone. I watched the parts that Jorogumo ripped off scattering into feathers and carried away by a gust of wind.
"Don't touch me…!" I choked as I roughly swing my head back in attempt to break her skull. Unfortunately, Jorogumo evaded my pathetic attempt by leaning out of my reach.
"As you wish, Miu-sama~" Jorogumo sang as she gently slide her nail by the web that was bounding me. "What…?" I whispered as the web snapped in two. Before I knew it, I was falling, the web around me already loosened to the extend where I could move my arms.
I quickly balanced the center of my weight as I landed onto my feet. I quickly gaze up to see Jorogumo humming from above me. 'She freed me?' I thought in confusion. When I took a look at my surrounding, I suddenly discovered how the youkais had all stepped away from me.
"What is this?" I whispered in confusion. I shifted my gaze to Rikuo who had his eyes focused against me. I quickly looked up to Jorogumo who was sitting above me with her spider webs tangled in her fingers.
"What's wrong? I did as you told, Miu-sama." Jorogumo chuckled as she made a gesture to Rikuo. I narrowed my eyes at her, then to the other youkais. I looked around them, my feet never taking a step.
"What are you up to?" I whispered softly, but only received a mere laugh from the spider as reply.
"Miu." I heard Rikuo called as I turned to see him gently extending a hand towards my direction. I blinked in confusion as I stared at his gesture.
"Come." Rikuo said with a straight face while I on the other hand I stared, baffled. Was he blinded to the obvious trap that was taking place before his eyes?
"What are you–?" I was about to protest and lecture him, but when I caught his sharp gaze, my lips unwillingly sealed against each other.
"No matter what happens, I'll protect you. Come, Miu." Rikuo spoke again in a softer tone. I stared at him, then to the youkais around me. I slowly took a step forward…but the youkais didn't move.
They didn't do anything at all as I slowly walked away from them.
I kept my steps small, observing them until I walked out of the circle of youkais. I cautiously glanced back before finding my steps growing larger.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I was running…running towards Rikuo
I didn't know why, but my heart was pounding. My ears became deaf towards the surrounding sounds, only catching the sound of my own heartbeats and footsteps. I felt a strange suffocation in my chest as the distance between us loosened.
But things didn't go that easily…I knew that.
I expected that yet…
"Ah!" A blur of white flashed into my view as I felt something tightly wrapping around my throat. A burning sensation was melting into my neck. I gasped and quickly raised my hands to my throat only to realize that it was Jorogumo's spider web.
"You– uhn!" I gave out a dried cough as the spider web yanked me back. My body flew back from the force as I felt my wrists captured by the same burning substance.
"Miu –" I saw Rikuo was about to come towards me but had his path quickly intercepted by countless youkai.
"Ugh!" I winced as I fell against the hard ground. My body slid a couple meters against the uneven soil; further tearing my already torn dress. "What did you know? Your body's light after all." Jorogumo's laughter echoed as my eyes widened to see thousands of spears raining down from the sky.
"…!" I quickly tried to move, but only to discover the spider web at my wrists had hardened against the solid ground. I thought of using my fear, but stopped myself when I remembered what little energy I have preserved was for.
'I can't…!' I told myself, as I watched the spears grew closer and closer.
"No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
I remembered those words as I felt my body relaxed. "Rikuo…!" I unconsciously spoke as I watched the spears grew closer towards me. Just when the closest spear was only a meter from skewering my neck, I suddenly found my vision swallowed by darkness.
"You finally called my name." A soothing voice spoke beside my ears.
By the time I opened my eyes, I found myself within Rikuo's arms; away from the group of youkais. Jorogumo's spider webs were freed from my wrists and neck as well.
"What–? He's over there?" I heard one of the youkais shouted as they stared at Rikuo in surprise. From the look, it didn't seem like Mouyou has done any research regarding on Rikuo's ability. "That fear…were you the one who killed my baby?" Jorogumo shrieked as Rikuo gently sets me onto the ground.
"Wait!" I quickly grabbed his kimono just when he was about to turn away from me.
I got him.
He's here right now.
I can do it…but with these youkais here, I couldn't.
He'll be killed.
"…Why did you come?" I found myself asking, even though it should be the least of my worries right now.
"You're the one who came up with the deal of submitting to me if I find you. I won't let you back out after coming so close to you." Rikuo said in a teasingly manner as my eyes widened.
"You're…stupid." I whispered softly.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hide it…the smile that was naturally forcing its way to my face.
That is…until I heard the sound of a loud snap.
"AAH!" A scream forced out of my throat as I felt a sharp pain erupting from my right knee.
Rikuo, with swift reaction, spun around and slipped his arm around my waist. I panted heavy. I grasped his arm tightly as I slowly part my eyes.
"Urgh!" I forcefully swallowed back another scream that was on the verge of exploding.
"Breath slowly Miu. Calm down." Rikuo quickly spoke; trying to calm my tensed muscles as he slipped his left arm beneath my laps. His other hand gripping his sword, Rikuo stood up – pulling me with him as I sat upon his forearm with my body leaned against his.
"It's alright. Relax."
I wanted to.
I wanted to but I couldn't. I clutch onto his kimono as sweats rolled from my forehead. I gritted my teeth, fearing that if I didn't I could release another scream.
"Now!" Jorogumo's voice boomed within the silent air as I snapped open my eyes to see attacks of all kind headed towards us. However, none of them were aimed at Rikuo.
Those attacks…they were directed towards me.
"What…?" My vision suddenly blurred for a second. When I found myself the ability to see again, my eyes were staring at the group of youkai from a different angle. In the path of their attacks was another image of Rikuo and I.
A fake image, created by Rikuo's fear.
"Are you alright?" Rikuo asked softly. From the way he held me, he seemed to be cautious as to avoid further harming me. "Yea–" I wanted to reply when an invisible force grabbed both my wrists.
I inhaled sharply. I didn't need to think twice to know what was coming.
"Miu?" Rikuo whispered the grip over my wrists tightened.
"Don't look…!" I choked just as my left arm spun clockwise while my right arm counterclockwise. With a forceful twist and a pull, I felt the joints in my elbow twisted against each other and tore apart.
I wasn't given to time to react when dozens of sickening cracks and snapping sound began emitting throughout my body.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!"
It was then when I remembered – this reality I was in…
"–iu…"
How naive I was in believing how things could simply go my way…
"Miu…"
"Miu!" A voice repeatedly called out to me as the darkness as my eyes began to clear.
"Wake up, Miu." I heard Rikuo's voice called as I slowly pulled my head up to see a blurred vision of Rikuo's face.
"Miu." Rikuo called again as I tried to blink the blurriness away. But at each blink, I felt something cold trickling down my cheeks. I tried to speak, but my trembling lips wouldn't obey. My throat felt glued together, my breathing at an unusual fast rate. When I tried to move, I felt the wetness over my cheek increased.
My vision was blocked by heavy, transparent fluid.
"Don't move." Rikuo quickly commanded when he realized what I was trying to do. I didn't understand, but my body hurts. My arms, my legs…aside from the fact that I couldn't move them, I've began to discover the immense pain that had was stabbing through my bones.
"What are you doing you useless pigs? Get him already!" Hearing Jorogumo's impatient scream, I slowly looked away from Rikuo for the first time. It was then when I saw…the circle of bodies lying around us.
Rikuo's arm beneath my legs tensed as his hand pushed me further against him. Barely keeping my consciousness, I stared as everything before my eyes moved so quickly that before my vision was only a blur. Through my ears, I could hear the screams of youkais followed by the tearing sounds of flesh. However, the sound that caught my interest most was the sound of a single blade dancing through the air around us.
I gathered my strength and forced my eyes to focus.
I observed the youkais that crowded around us – weapons and claws thrusting out to attack me.
'So that's it…' I thought to myself as realization hits. "Stop…Stop!" I shouted before both the sound and movement stopped at the same time. My eyes slowly readjust as I found us hiding within the shadow.
"He disappeared!"
"Where did he go?"
"What are you morons standing around for? Find them!"
Voices ran from a distance, but I didn't care.
"Are you alright, Miu?" Rikuo's gentle voice asked, though he knew that I wasn't near alright. He was just trying to comfort me. I didn't reply. I slowly trailed my eyes to my numbed arm that I could no longer feel aside from pain.
Just as I expected…I looked down only to find my arm twisted inhumanly at each joints. My bones were snapped into bits, making my flesh stuck out in a hideous way with my skin gravely swollen.
I shut my eyes.
I don't want to see my own hideous form, but I needed to make sure. I needed to make sure exactly were did my pain came from. With those thoughts in mind, I forced my eyes open again.
I slowly looked down to my legs and discover it to be in the same state as my arms.
Now it all made sense…
The reason why Mouyou went along with my proposal wasn't to get rid of Rikuo.
He was trying to show me…
"You won't escape…my bride."
The reality.
The broken limbs are the representation of my reality.
The fact of no matter where I am; I will always be chained to him. Chained to that cage.
Since the beginning, it was all part of his game.
He broke my limbs to immobilize me and ordered his servants to attack me. That way, Rikuo would be force to fight them while protecting me.
It was a game to show me how useless I am.
How I couldn't do anything.
I gritted my teeth as unspeakable heat rushing through my blood. I held back the heaviness that threatened to spill from my eyes.
"It's alright." Rikuo's voice shattered my through my thought. A large hand suddenly wrapped over my eyes and blocked the sight of my ugly limbs. "There's no need to force yourself." I felt my back pressed against Rikuo's warm chest.
His gentle breath softly caressed my hair.
I felt myself unwillingly relaxed to his touch.
"Rikuo…" I whispered his name softly. Rikuo didn't answer to me, but I knew he was waiting for me to continue.
Waiting for those words…
The words he always waited for, but I could never tell him.
"Can I…trust you?" I hesitantly asked after a moment of silence. I knew I was being selfish. I pushed him away so many times when he asked. It was shameless for me to suddenly ask for something as this, I knew that.
I have no right to speak of something like trust when it never existed in my vocabulary.
"I told you didn't I?" Rikuo whispered softly beside my ears. I stared into the abyss casted by his large hand. I felt a sudden shortage to my breath. My heart began pounding faster just like before. It was exactly the same sensation as I had when I tried to reach him…only this time, it felt stronger.
"I'll protect you, not as part of my Hyakki Yakou but as my woman."
Hearing his response, I couldn't help but feel a smile upon my lips as I forgotten all about the pain itching within my bloodstream.
I knew his answer.
I knew it all along but somehow hearing it straight from his lips reassured the unstable emotion rampaging within me.
Just a single word…and I suddenly found myself regaining my previous courage. "Heh…" I quietly laughed. I didn't know exactly what I was laughing at, but I didn't feel unpleasant.
In fact, I liked it…
This feeling…
"Your woman?" I laughed softly as I shook off his gentle hand. I opened my eyes to see the dreadful garden.
Strangely…the garden seemed to have changed.
Not as depressing as I first found it to be.
Being Rikuo's woman…it didn't sound bad.
"Found them!"
A shriek erupted in the air as I quickly looked up to see youkais dropping down at us. Rikuo's hand slipped behind my head and pressed me against his shoulder. His hand kept my head pinned against him while his other hand grabbed the hilt of his katana that was lying beside us. With a swing of his sword, Rikuo's blade tore through the first youkai. He spun, thrusting out his katana and jabbing the second youkai through the throat.
My eyes stared at his blade, watching almost in awe at how swift his movements were.
It was then when I realized how much I might have underestimated this man.
"Got you!" I heard Jorogumo shouted as I turned to see a stream of spider web flung towards me. My sight was then overshadowed by an arm – Rikuo's arm. His arm acted as a shield for me, intercepting Jorogumo's attack and making himself the target in my place.
"Stupid, stop!" I choked, but was too late as the web captured Rikuo's forearm. At the contact, a thin layer of smoke rose from Rikuo's skin. The acid on Jorogumo's spider web was beginning to burn his skin, just like it did with mine.
"Rikuo–uhn!" I tried to reach for the spider web that bounded his arms, but was immediately reminded of my condition by the pain tearing through my muscles. I took a sharp breath as my body fell back against Rikuo's chest.
I panted heavily as I quickly try to relax myself again to cease the pain.
"Game over, quarter breed~" Jorogumo sang. With a harsh pull against the web, Rikuo slid a couple inches against the dusty soil.
Taking their chances while Rikuo was bounded, the youkais surrounded us. I tried to move my muscles again, but only brought more pain upon myself. My arms and legs wouldn't stop trembling.
"It's fine, Miu." I looked up to Rikuo. Hearing the sound of the web tightening, I turned to Rikuo's hand to find that he was bounded so tight that his entire hand is turning red. With the acid covering the web, his skin was beginning to wrinkle. With how the web was bounding his arm, Rikuo couldn't swing his sword.
"Rikuo, let me go." I quickly demanded as the spider web tightened again. If only he wasn't holding me, then he could easily switch hand over his sword and cut the web.
"Hey quarter breed." Hearing Jorogumo's arrogant call, I shot a glare towards her direction. At the sight of my glare burning against her skin, Jorogumo snickered.
"There's no way you'd drop Miu-sama, right?" I stared at Jorogumo and was faced with that wide smile across her face.
"He won't drop you, Miu-sama. He couldn't."
"What are you talking about?" I stared at Jorogumo, unable to hide the confusion displayed in my eyes.
"Your broken limbs…did you ever look at them properly?"
I stared at her, before slowly at my limbs. Though I hesitated, I finally focused my eye on my wrecked arm. "You don't need to look, Miu." Rikuo spoke in a commanding tone as my eyes immediately snapped to his face.
When I looked up to Rikuo, I discovered that he was glaring at Jorogumo. A glare that was sending out a pressure rivaling Mouyou's.
"Your limbs may look fractured, but truth is, they're still connected~ Even if it's by bits of fragments. If he is to drop you, Miu-sam, do you think your broken bones can withstand the slightest impact?"
I quickly scanned over my arm at her words, then back to Rikuo.
He knew.
He knew as well, that's why he stopped me when I tried to analyze my limbs.
"Rikuo…you–"
"So?" Rikuo spoke calmly. He completely ignored me with his eyes only focused on Jorogumo.
"Is there anything problem with me holding my woman?" Rikuo asked, a faint smirk playing on his lips while a frown turned upon Jorogumo's.
"Are you stupid? I can easily rip your arm off," she tugged upon her web, "right now."
"Looks like you're the one who doesn't get it." Rikuo's words flowed out of his lips like a whisper just as a gentle breeze passed by, caressing my skin.
My eyes widened upon the contact to the wind.
This wind wasn't like any previous wind that I felt.
It was different. This breeze…it has a completely unnatural flow to it.
'This wind…!' I quickly turned just as a sudden blast of wind shot past me and slammed right against Jorogumo's chest.
"Augh!" Jorogumo screamed as her back slammed right against another youkai that was standing behind her. Another blast of wind came from the distance, wrapping around Rikuo as I watched the wind tore Jorogumo's spider web to shreds.
"Miu!" A familiar voice called my name as I caught the sound of a pair of wings flapping just above us. I trailed my eyes after the source of the sound and soon found myself staring at a familiar face of my kin.
"You're late," said Rikuo as he waves his freed arm to allow blood to re-circulate.
"Another…Doji?" Jorogumo whispered in shock once she pulled herself back to her feet.
"Miu, are you–…" Nobuyuki was about to ask, but stopped when he saw the state of my limbs.
He quickly flew down and landed beside us. His silver eyes trailed around my broken limps, my tore wrists, the wound upon the side of my head and finally to the bruise at my cheek. His eyes were wide in shock at my pitiful state, his jaw hanging with no words from his tongue.
Knowing that time was being wasted by Nobuyuki's meaningless staring, Rikuo shoved the hilt of his katana into Nobuyuki's face. "Haven't you stared enough?" At Rikuo's voice and the object pushed against him, Nobuyuki quickly leaned back. He blinked slightly before finally relieving me from his intense gaze.
"I'll ask for an explanation later." Nobuyuki said, giving Rikuo a look before turning back to me.
"What…when were you here?" I asked softly, confused at his sudden appearance here. It was unthinkable that Mouyou would allow anyone to interfere with his game. "I'm not the only one." Nobuyuki said, gesturing behind us as I turned.
I stared into the contaminated air…finding nothing out of the ordinary.
"What–" I quickly shut myself when my eyes caught a faint movement in the distance.
I stared for a moment longer just as silhouettes of moving figures began to come into view.
"–sama…!" I caught a faint voice from within the distance.
"Rikuo-sama!" The voices grew louder, overlapping and echoing into the garden. It didn't take long before the silhouettes became nothing but a stampede of Rikuo's Hyakki Yakou charging out from the miasma.
"What is that? I thought we scattered all of them!" Jorogumo gasped as the youkais under Mouyou's command screamed and howled the members of the Nura Clan.
"Miu! What are you doing?" Nobuyuki shouted as I quickly looked back to him.
Confused by everything that was taking place, I almost forgotten my own situation.
"I'll look after his body, hurry and transfer him." Nobuyuki snapped as I suppressed a look of surprise.
'How did he…?' My thought was cut off when I felt Rikuo's grip tightened over me. "Miu." Rikuo whispered as I watched Mouyou's servant and the Nura Clan clashed.
"I'm in the tower. The tower under the only clear sky." I said as Nobuyuki quickly glanced around the swirl of thick clouds over our head. It didn't take long for him to find it the hole within the cloud and the tower that stood beneath it.
The hole in the sky Mouyou had opened to purposely let me witness the light of dawn and dusk. One of his favorite game – to let me painfully kneel there, using the light to count the days I've been imprisoned for.
"Miu." Rikuo spoke softly beside my ear as I smiled – faintly. I leaned my weight against Rikuo, my forehead against his shoulder. My hair began to flutter within the motionless void as the tip of my hair began morphing into feathers.
"Mouyou-sama!" Jorogumo's scream jabbed into my eardrums as I felt a chill crawling down my spine.
"A-Ah!" I chocked as my head threw back.
A hand.
I could feel an invisible hand – cold, hard hand grabbed onto my face as though trying to tear off my skin and flesh clean from my bone. "U-uhg…Ah!" I choked heavily as the grip on my face tightened.
I could feel the surface of my skull, beginning to crack. A heavy pressure wrapped against me at the same time, pulling my soul and trying to drag me back into my original body.
"Miu–…!" I could hear someone calling me…
Rikuo's voice was calling me, but I couldn't hear. His voice was completely muffled. I couldn't hear a word he said.
"R-Riku…o…!" I choked out his name his grip tightened against me in response. My hair broke off at my shoulder's length, scattering into feathers as a twirl of wind surrounded us.
"–ick…! Kick…Rikuo!" My voice and the cracking sound of my body overlapped.
With a melody of shattering glass, my clone was broke apart…followed by a howl of a beast's.