Thank you for the comment! Again!
Trigger Warning: Same shit, new chapter. But it's mainly just gore and such!
Pussyfooting Around
The crowd was still.
Watching, doing nothing.
Collectively in disbelief.
They'd been prepared to shoot the Dhampir and his companion.
But to shoot a Human that had a chance at being saved?
"Mary, I think that was too far."
"Bullshit!" she cried. "How many more people are you willing to lose to these monsters?!"
"You're the only monster I see here!" Krista shouted. She had never been so bloody horrified and so tremendously incensed at once. Watching as the blood pooled around the man with a sense of morbid fascination that she hated.
But she was disgusted.
Irate.
Heat filled her chest, and it felt fit to burst.
Just like in the bathroom.
But this time, her ribs felt like they were breaking. Spreading apart to contain all her rage. Her heart beating far quicker than it typically did.
It was uncomfortable.
She thought it might be attempting to escape. Perhaps to beat the woman to death.
She could hope. Because at this point, she realized what this was.
A lynching.
To Hell with proof.
She pitied the poor souls that didn't stand a chance against something like this.
Mary, face twisted in contempt, chambered another round and watched as the Hunter pulled Fieri close. "I won't stand idly by as you get away with everything you've done! And if that means pruning a few weeds, then so be it!"
Her back tensed uncomfortably. Because how dare she compare people to weeds?
How dare she think that Krista wouldn't ruin her day.
She didn't realize she'd started forward until D's hand clamped down on her shoulder. Tight and uncomfortable. Perhaps painful. But she could hardly bring herself to care.
"No, no!" the woman tutted, a sort of desperate air about her. "Let her go, Hunter! Let her reveal her true self!"
D maneuvered Krista backwards, wholly ignoring Mary. "Calm yourself," he breathed, voice commanding despite the soft tone. "Killing her will accomplish nothing."
"I wouldn't kill her."
The look in her eye said otherwise, and when she attempted to pull herself away, D's grip hardened. The bones beneath his hand cracking and popping in an unpleasant way.
He wasn't entirely sure it was because of him.
"Fieri is still alive. Only unconscious."
This gave her pause. If only for a moment.
"I'd still like to slap her around a bit," she admitted.
However, she did not move. Slumping beneath his grasp in defeat as D said to the woman, "I suggest you look closer to home for your killer."
Affronted, Mary looked about the crowd. Down the street. At the man in black. "I still don't see anyone that is closer than you. More capable than you."
"Humans are far more capable than you realize."
"I absolutely refuse to believe that!"
"Alright!" Krista suddenly snapped. "We get it! Humans can do no wrong in your eyes! So can we at least have Fieri taken to the clinic?!"
At her gesture, a handful of men rushed in and dragged Fieri's large form away.
Well… that was one problem dealt with.
And while Krista was somewhat calmed by this, she was still incredibly frustrated. Body aching with a vengeance. Head pounding and teeth aching.
And horribly drained.
As if each limb were weighted and her head was too heavy for her neck to support.
She felt terrible.
And the scent of Fieri's blood wasn't helping.
She ran a hand across her face, no longer hearing the woman speak. Mind drifting off into another place. "D, I don't feel too hot."
The man turned his gaze upon her, and he had to agree. She looked rough. Skin pale and clammy in appearance.
"I need to go. Please."
At this point, some of the crowd was beginning to thin out. Wanting nothing to do with what was happening. Attempting to locate the sheriff. Search the house of the deceased one more time.
But Mary… Mary was determined. "That's it. I'm done with this back-and-forth bullshit."
The end of her rifle belched fire.
A second shot rang out.
One aimed at the Hunter.
One at the girl.
D sidestepped the shot, and as Krista went to her knees with a gut-wrenching scream, he turned his gaze up to one side. Eyeing the man with blond hair as he attempted to duck back into the shadow of his perch.
At the same time, Mary looked absolutely petrified. Staring at Krista as if she couldn't believe she was actually crippled by a bullet. And as she turned to stare at the house D had seen the man in, he could see the earpiece she wore.
And never once did her rifle waver from D.
Her lips barely moved as she breathed, "Please don't kill them."
"Perhaps you shouldn't have missed."
She spotted D. Watching as the Hunter held a slim finger to his lips and crept inside.
"Liam, what the fuck has come over you?"
"Well, y'know how I said I was going to the tavern for a drink?"
"Yeah?"
Clack.
"I ran into this pretty little thing there. Turns out, she's a total bitch. Made a fool of me. And I found out she'd rather play stupid than have sex with someone who isn't that Dhampir fucker."
Clack.
"So you were going to fucking cheat on me?!"
Clack.
"Baby, please. I've had side girls for a while. Whores there keep their pretty mouths shut and know how to pleasure a man."
Mary felt her eyes burning. Heart hurting. But she said nothing. And the ring wrapped about her finger felt more like a shackle.
Clack.
She kept her eyes on the house as the sheriff tapped her shoulder and leaned in to listen.
"Anyways, that's not important. We were talking about the bitch. Dressed like she was just waiting for someone to come over with how much thigh she was showing. And when I found out she'd rather be that creature's whore, I figured I'd hire some boys to teach her better."
She looked down at Krista as the girl whined, hands clasped against her bloody belly. Yes, she'd pulled the trigger on the merchant. She didn't like it, but it'd been necessary.
But watching Krista attempt to staunch the flow of blood, tears dripping down her cheeks, she felt horrid.
"And one of those boys was my brother."
"Yeah! Who knew he'd be down for such a dirty job, huh?"
She wanted to vomit.
She loved her brother, but supposed he wasn't as innocent as she first thought. So, she couldn't blame the girl for fighting back.
"But Clark told me last night, when I visited him in his cell, that the girl wasn't Human! Fuzzy little ears! And everything made so much sense! So… why not set them up?"
She closed her eyes, ashamed that (to an extent) she'd known about this plan. Willing to frame them for an attack because of her brother.
Had she known then what she knew now, she wouldn't have been so angry. Wouldn't have wanted to deal with any of this insanity. But she hadn't known it would involve his already deceased mother. And that once she tried to dip out, everything would go to Hell.
Obviously, nothing was turning out in her favor.
He'd pulled out her younger brother and threatened to kill him.
Threatened to kill them all if he spotted anyone coming after him, because he'd be watching.
How could she refuse?
But now?
"Is my family still alive? Ma and Pa? Little Billy?"
"For the moment. I still haven't heard you try to kill the Dhampir, again."
"Because I'm hoping he kills you!" she screamed.
"What?!"
And inside the house, the Hunter dropped Erembour to the floor. Watching as the tiny puppy waddled up to the now frantic man.
D had long since released the three family members on the bottom floor and told them to stay put. Merely waiting in the shadow of the hall. Listening to the idiot explain his motives in a very cliché way. And now he listened as the man laughed at the tiny hound.
"This? This was your big plan?! You really think a puppy is going to do more than cute on me?"
The cutest, tiniest bork.
"Great plan, Mary. I'm so proud of you."
There was an explosion of cold, rancid wind. Darkness flooding the room as Erembour swelled. Shadows and space around him rippling as he towered above the man.
If the Demon wanted to deal with this sociopath himself, so be it.
D made his way through the house. Ushering the family out into the streets as the man began screaming. And there, waiting for him, was Krista. Fingers digging into her belly. Sinking into her flesh. Pulling and tugging.
If she thought she felt bad before, she was certainly thinking she'd rather feel that way now.
Mary stood at her side, apologizing profusely. Attempting to help Krista up.
But Krista was having none of it. Snarling, "Bloody hell! I forgive you! But don't fuckin' touch me right now!"
The woman recoiled as if burned. Staring in horror at the smaller woman. And D could see why. The teeth she bared at the woman were far from normal. Canines extended beyond their typical range. And eyes that were previously grey flared with an angry light.
The Hunter stooped and pressed his hand to the nape of her neck. "Calm yourself."
How many times would he need to remind her?
"I'm trying!" she hissed. "But my insides feel like they're melting and I just wanna leave!"
"We need to tend to your wound."
"Not here!" She stood, hunched but up. New clothes on the mend, but the red of her blood had yet to rinse out with the rain. "I'm done with this damn town! And I'm leaving whether they like it or not!"
He believed her. Could see the promise in her eyes as she turned her sights towards the gate.
The gates opened for the travelers without issue. Astride their dark horse, oversized Demon close behind, they fled the city.
To the west, the mountains were ending. A barely visible, jagged silhouette. And for a moment, D considered the possibility of angling towards the coast. But quickly decided against it. Knowing that it'd be faster to travel as the crow flies.
Well, assuming the mountains they'd be heading into soon enough didn't hinder their speed.
Perhaps it'd be smarter to cut through to the east and go through the plains.
Either way, they didn't stop until the city walls were out of sight.
Until tall trees loomed above them and rain struggled to seep through the canopy.
And Krista looked like death warmed over. Skin a sickly pallor as she heaved and shook. But any suggestion that was made regarding stopping before reaching the forest was out of the question. At least, it was once she spotted it in the distance.
In reality, it hadn't taken long for them to cover the distance.
But it was long enough for smoke to start curling out from beneath her hand and a red rash to begin splotching her skin.
"How you holdin' up, kid?" Hand enquired.
A rather unladylike snort erupted past her lips as she clawed at the skin around the wound. "Feel like hammered shit. And the hammer's still hittin' it."
"Understandable."
"But aside from 'my guts are meltin' and itchin' like I got fleas', I'm feelin' really sleepy."
At least she was not attempting to play it off.
Further into the grove they went. The large redwoods soaring in height.
Once upon a time, redwoods wouldn't have grown so far out. However, eleven thousand years and plenty of meddling and scientific engineering in the Nobles' behalves had effectively given the ancient trees new life. A broader range of biomes in which they could thrive.
"Who just carries silver bullets around? Aren't they expensive?!" she suddenly shouted.
"Since silver works well against Shifters, some towns make it a point to carry silver ammunition and blades," said D. Pausing as Krista leaned over the side of the horse and vomited. "Especially if they have a particular problem with Shifters."
Although she appreciated the tidbit of information, Krista grumbled in disgust. Shivering violently as she sniffed curiously. "I smell water."
"Well, it is raining," Hand remarked, wriggling under her lax hand to press against her wound. She was burning up.
It took a moment for her to register the sarcastic words. But when she did, her upper lip curled. "Har har… No, I smell water."
"I got that."
She grunted. "No, I smell water. Like, water."
"Rain is water."
"No!" she whined. If she could, she might've stomped her foot in a childish display of agitation. Instead, she lifted Hand away from her belly and pulled him close to her face. "I. Smell. Wa-ter."
The countenanced carbuncle chortled. "D, help me out."
"She smells water."
"Of all the times you could develop a sense of humor!"
There was a short pause before Krista's eyes brightened. "Water! From a pond!"
And now, Hand felt utterly dense. "Water." Yes, he could smell it now. It smelled a bit like a lake turning over, although not as pungent. "How did you even smell that, kid?"
No response. Krista was slack in their hold. Eyes closed and breath a tad too shallow.
Perhaps it was for the best. D didn't figure she would much appreciate him digging around in her belly for the bullet and any possible fragments.
Once the Hunter found a relatively dry area, he pulled the limp girl from the saddle and stretched her out on the thermal blanket. Working quickly to remove her shirt and damaged armor.
Much like her hand, the fetid wound belched smoke and blackened blood. Skin around the entry point beginning to slough off.
One could only imagine the effect it was having on her guts.
Admittedly, removing every piece was a chore. But capable hands meticulously prodded at every plausible inch of her stomach. Probed at the viscera in the immediate area until he was certain. And as for the dead flesh? He would keep an eye on it. If the need should arise, he would cut it out.
For now, he had some faith that her body would cycle it out on its own and simply dressed it as best as he could.
"Maybe digging her a hole to rest in isn't the worst idea," Hand murmured. "No harm in burying her for a bit."
The Hunter agreed. Fingers easily clawing up the damp earth. And cocooned in the blanket, he buried her. Wondering if he'd ever needed to care for one person as much as he did her.
Not that it mattered.
Within an hour, her fever was on the decline.
Krista woke slowly, foggy mind chasing the remnants of a soft voice that seemed to be fading too fast. Trickling like sand betwixt spread fingers as her head pounded. And Gods, she wanted to understand what it was saying.
But…
It was gone.
Overshadowed by the all-over ache, wherein she felt as though she'd been put through the wringer.
No, she didn't feel right at all.
Perhaps it was her belly?
She pushed herself up and blinked stupidly at her body.
Is this my body?
It didn't look right.
It looked… too large.
Too dark.
Too… too…
She scrambled out of her hole. World spinning as she lurched to her feet. Breaths coming in short, gasping squeaks. Because damn it all, she shouldn't be this tall!
A loud crack ruptured the silence, the ensuing pain forcing her to her knees amongst the damp leaves. Every bone feeling twisted and broken. Every muscle and tendon stretched and swollen.
Crimson hair dropped to the ground in large tufts.
What is going on?!
Bile flooded her mouth and tears left tracks down her cheeks.
And the one name she attempted to scream rasped in her throat until it died with an ugly yowl.
The Hunter capped off the canteen after dropping in a small tablet. Turning his attention to the five ugly-as-sin fish he currently had skewered by the tail. At his side, the horse drank heavily from the stream. And the Demon had stayed behind to watch over the girl.
There wasn't much in the forest. Miscellaneous wildlife. Not many predators. He had no real cause for concern. But considering the stream was a few minutes from her, he would rather she be watched.
God forbid her state suddenly deteriorate.
With a soft sigh, he pulled up the two needles and fish.
In the distance, there was a low, distressed howl.
He pricked his ears.
He didn't hear it, so much as he felt it. A prod for him to come back. And looking at the surrounding shadows, he could see slim tendrils of darkness writhing in agitation.
With a cluck of his tongue, he was off. Trusting that the horse would follow.
Within a matter of moments, he could hear the wailing. A shrill noise that had him on edge. Prepared to kill without a second thought. But all he found when he arrived at the small camp was an empty bed of soil and one very distressed Krista.
One very… misshapen Krista that smelled wild. Untamed.
She was an absolutely wretched sight. Skin that jumped and twitched cracking open as her slim body swelled in size. Face disfigured and twisted in agony as she cried. Seams of her breeches strained by the change.
At her side, a man he did not immediately recognize ran a hand along her rippling back. But it was almost too obvious. With skin the color of obsidian and eyes a startling violet as they turned up at him, and he looked understandably worried.
Erembour said nothing. Likely could not. Merely attempted to comfort Krista as she continued to scream in pain.
This was something he could admit he wasn't expecting to come back to, and he wasn't entirely sure how to help her through the transformation.
An hour passed.
One very long hour.
And at the end of that hour, he could (with confidence) say that something was not quite right.
Yes, everything had come to an end. No longer did her bones snap, crackle, and pop like a good rice cereal. Nor did her muscles writhe like snakes beneath her flesh. He'd managed to remove her pants before they succumbed to the strain. And now, staring at her form as he ran a hand along her scalp and through the small shock of red hair, he wondered if he should have done the same with her replaced armor. With each quick pant, he heard it groan. Leather squeaking in protest. And he'd loosened it as much as it could.
But…
Once upon a time, the Hunter stumbled across a village. A tribe of sorts, really. The homes built of the forest's natural resources. Clay from the river to build anything they desired. And people who walked around in custom armors and simple leathers. Some with tails coiled about their bodies. Others with stubs that flicked from side to side.
Some with pointed ears sitting high on their heads. Others with elfin ears.
And there was such a wide range of skin tones. Pale as alabaster. Dark as ebony.
The village had a very homey and welcoming feel to it. But he could remember being approached by the Chief, the older woman concerned about the reason for his visit considering how secluded they were. However, he'd merely explained he was passing through. Observing the tight-knit community.
And eventually, a gaggle of children scurried past them. Some appearing the same as many adults. And some appearing outwardly Human, or with very little deviation.
He'd enquired. Curious.
Mix-breed children. Remarkable. Loved. But unable to learn everything they could. Forced to wait until they were in their late teens before their first transformation. And the way the Chief stressed the importance of waiting for the Spiritual Leader made him believe it was for good reason.
The Chief brought him to the current Leader. An excitable man who explained, with no prompting, how the children practically needed to put a cap on their emotions. Reminders to calm if too excited. Too stressed. Too angry.
"Shifting can be such a fickle thing. Some change because they sneeze. Some change because they become overjoyed. Each person is different. Each beast is different. And some things that draw out the beast for one may keep the beast at bay for others. It's difficult keeping an eye on the little ones, but everyone has a little help."
And Krista? She'd been under so much stress. So many emotions assaulting her.
But where he had expected her to fully transition into a beast form, he was left with something in between. And that is where he knew something was wrong.
Having witnessed the forms that tribe could take, and having dealt with plenty of shifters in his life, he'd never witnessed such an incomplete shift.
The knot at the base of her spine did not extend into a full tail, and instead, she was left with a stump that did little more than twitch from side to side in her sleep. Not even a true bobtail as he'd seen in the tribe.
D softly snapped his fingers above her exposed ear.
Yes, it was now covered in silky black fur. But it sat far too low on her head. Had changed minutely in shape but did not possess the ability to swivel. Merely twitching at the sharp sound.
To his surprise, her face was fairly complete. A bit anthropomorphic, but very cat-like. Her nose sloping down into a slim snout. Eyes, one lined with grey fur that stretched along the path of her stitches, set a bit further apart. No whiskers, but perhaps they were just hidden beneath the fur.
And her hands.
Erembour intently studied with the Hunter, her hands being his current obsession.
They were Human, fingers still petite and slender (despite their increase in size). But covered in more soft fur and little pink pads on the underside. Confusing, but adorable.
Despite everything wrong with the form, they could both say that she made a very gorgeous 'cat'.
It was night before Krista started to rouse. And all D could think was he'd need to catch fresh fish.
The Demon devoured the five fish with little hesitation once he saw Krista would not be waking up before they spoiled. And he'd promptly thrown himself onto his belly at her side. Content and sleepy until Krista bolted upright. Yowling in alarm. Confusion.
For a moment, she forgot where she was. What had happened.
But staring down at her enlarged form, still stiff and sore, made it all come rushing back.
The pain. The terror.
After a moment, she ran her clawed hand through what remained of her crimson hair. Silently wondering if it would grow back and cover more than just the top of her head. Wondering if she'd ever look as she once did, or if she was cursed to look like this for the remainder of her existence.
D crouched before her. "Can you hear alright?"
Her mouth opened, but instead of 'yeah', she was embarrassed by the kittenesque 'mroaw' that came out. Deeper, but still on the small and squeaky side.
But D seemed to understand nonetheless. "Has your eyesight changed?"
After a long pause with her looking about through (blessedly) both eyes, she shrugged.
"Do you hurt?" Her hand wobbled from side to side before she extended one arm and pointed to the muscle on her bicep. Then her elbow. He nodded, and with a gentle grasp, he said, "Stand with me."
Good Lord, she looked positively disgusted by the suggestion. However, she still lurched upwards. Standing as tall as possible with her hands clasping D's. And found herself startled by her increased height, almost able to stare directly into the Hunter's dark eyes.
Although, she doubted she'd ever be as tall as him.
But it wasn't so bad.
Rumble-rumble.
D cocked a slim brow at her. Watched as she glanced about in confusion before staring horrified at him. Rubbing her throat.
Big cats don't purr. At least, most don't.
Without a word, he studied her legs and feet.
Digitigrade.
Her metatarsals were stretched out. However, standing on just her toes didn't seem to be bothering her. But slowly, he released his hold on her. Backing away only once she was steady. Slightly hunched, but balanced.
"May I check your bone structure?"
An uncertain nod.
"We don't have to do anything you are uncomfortable with."
Relief, but still, she grabbed for his hand and pressed it to her sternum. Closing her eyes and huffing out a soft breath. Because she understood why he wanted to do it. Knew that something must have been a cause for concern with the man.
So instead of denying him, she decided to enjoy the poking and prodding. The soft touch of his fingers as they trailed down her spine. Blessedly avoiding the nub of a tail as he went on to her hips. Feeling of the arch. Tilt. Position.
She was legitimately enjoying it.
In fact, she felt as though she could fall back asleep.
And then, he was carefully manipulating her arms. One hand pressed to her scapula, feeling of how it shifted.
She was purring again.
Alright. She no longer cared. After everything she'd been through, she'd purr if she wanted to. But by the time he was done, she was sore in the back and her hips. Body gradually sagging forward until she was more hunched than before.
"Need to rest?"
She chirped out her affirmation. Stretching out on the forest floor. Writhing a bit as her armor pinched her flesh and restrained her chest. She attempted to reach around and unfasten the straps, just for a bit more breathing room. But whatever was going on with her shoulder blades affected her ability to stretch in such a way.
As such, her fingers could barely catch on the bottom-most strap.
She didn't need to vocalize more than a discontented huff before D was carefully popping the latches. And with a grateful sigh, she shrugged the armor down. Wriggling against the ground contently.
There she stayed as D finished his examination. Or perhaps it wasn't an examination. He was walking his fingers down her spine. Gently touching, but some spots just plain hurt. Tender. And he could tell. Although, she wasn't sure if it was because she possibly reacted or if he could simply feel a difference.
"Deep breath."
In it went as he situated his hands (thumbs up and touching) on either side of her spine.
"Hold it."
She did.
In a sharp movement, he pressed down and out and tore the most pathetic yowl from her mouth.
But it hurt good.
He was moving down, her back popping and cracking as he went. And with a bit of maneuvering, her hips were doing the same. And…
Well…
She definitely didn't feel so sore anymore. Which was incredibly pleasant.
"I don't believe this form facilitates bipedal movements," D eventually breathed as he moved one of her legs. "Nor do I believe you can comfortably walk on all fours."
The look she sent him easily said, 'Then what the Hell should I do?'
"Try whichever causes you the least discomfort."
In the dirt, she wrote out an obscene curse.
He didn't blame her. Everything about the situation, everything about her form, was rather abysmal. So, if she wanted to grouse and pout, he wouldn't judge her.
There was a moment of silence. Broken only by the steady drip of rain.
A gentle prod.
D watched her finger dig into the dirt. 'Hungry.' And with a tip of his head, he headed back towards the stream. Watching her slowly rise to follow. Attempting to walk on all fours. Stumbling. Standing on her hind legs. Lurching about. And eventually, she settled into a slightly hunched posture. Arms folded over her midsection.
She walked a bit like a chicken.
She seemed to realize this. Her lips pulled back in an ugly show of sharp teeth, and she started overemphasizing the bobbing gait. Chirping and yowling her discontent.
"She is a very angry pussy," Hand whispered.
To this, D could agree.
Krista had her fishies.
She'd only managed to fall on her face a dozen times. And only five were due to her childish fit. But she had them. None were caught by her. In fact, she probably hindered D's ability to hunt them.
But she had them.
And despite her stomach rumbling in anticipation, she couldn't bring herself to eat them raw.
Back at their camp, she watched D start a small fire. And while he tended to it, he asked her to gut the little fishies.
She wasn't sure she wanted to.
She already felt bad enough because they were still alive.
Even if they were the ugliest little fishies she'd ever had the pleasure of seeing.
Even if all D heard was a crap ton of meowing, she voiced her displeasure. Wondering if she could cut off their stupid little heads before she gutted them. Wondering if they really needed to be gutted.
Any fussing she'd been doing turned into terrified screeching when one fish fell still. A long, black wormesque creature slithering out of it and onto her.
Yes, it definitely needed to be gutted.
Although, she wondered if they were safe to ingest even after being gutted.
Her nail pierced the fish's belly and sliced it open. And with little hesitation, she began digging out its innards. Practically crying when more nasties came pouring out of it. Wriggling about on her hands. And if she didn't know any better, she'd say they were attempting to burrow into her flesh.
Something pinched her hand.
With a panicked yowl, she threw everything into the fire. And it wasn't until afterwards that she realized she'd stabbed herself with a fishbone.
If she didn't know any better, she'd say the Hunter looked rather amused.
No. He definitely had that small twinkle in his eyes.
Without another sound, she continued her gutting spree. And balked in horror at all the worms that came spilling out.
If she listened really hard, she could almost hear the little bastards scream as they burned.
Sksksksksks.
D started spearing the cleaned fish as she (what he assumed) chuckled deviously. Listening in delight as the parasites burned. But with a small pop, one of the creatures burst and sprayed her with its juices.
And they were back to her yowling in disgust.
Perhaps the next time they acquired food for her, he'd be a bit pickier. Perhaps it'd be better to find warm-blooded mammals. However, there wasn't much to do at that moment. And the fish would tide her over.
He angled the fish over the fire and waited. Gingerly turning it after a bit of time. And quickly had to bat at Krista's reaching hand.
Oh… oh no.
She looked so wounded.
She was giving him the most pathetic look, and he wasn't sure she was doing it intentionally.
Krista was fed.
She wasn't satisfied, but it was something. And now? Her energy returned with a vengeance.
It was late. Their only source of light being the lantern. But the only way she could describe her current mood was by saying she had the zoomies.
Which left D and Erembour sitting to one side, watching her scramble and flail on all fours from one end of the camp to the other. Her mad running tearing up the ground. Eyes wide and wild as she made tiny little grunting noises.
Too suddenly, she threw herself to a stop in front of them. Chirping. Small tail twitching excitedly behind her. Pupils blown wide.
"What's up, kid? Cat got your tongue?" Hand joked.
Sksksks.
Her shoulders continued quivering with mirth as she wrote in the soil. 'Can we play?'
"What'd you have in mind?"
Up her shoulders went with a quiet meow.
Despite her zipping about like a maniac, D seriously doubted that she'd be able to outrun him. But… perhaps if he gave her a head start and a chance to hide?
The bit in him that loved a good hunt rose to the surface as he considered the prospect.
"Oh," the countenanced carbuncle chuckled. "Feeling hide-and-seek?"
Krista watched raptly as the Hunter, with his arm still resting on his propped knee, held up three fingers. And despite his relaxed posture, the air around him churned. Charged with energy as he said, "Three minutes to run and hide."
The hair along her back bristled. Had she ever seen the Hunter look so… wolfish?
No.
Not when he circled the tree when they first encountered one another.
Not in the town she fled to.
Not one instance came to mind in which she'd seen this (justifiably terrifying) expression on the man's face.
That's not to say he was snarling or frowning, nor was he glaring or grinning. However, something in the way his eyes gleamed in the dim light…
He truly looked like a Hunter.
A predator.
She felt her muscles start to bunch in anticipation as the Hunter lowered one finger and stated, "Two minutes, 50 seconds."
There was no need for more prompting. Krista turned tail and ran. Muscles straining to give their all for just a moment. But in a matter of seconds, she was speeding across the forest floor with all the zest of a cub. Legs flailing in her excitement.
Strange that being hunted would excite her.
How far should she go, though?
'Need to do somethin' soon,' Rhea suddenly whispered into her mind.
Voice wrapping around her thoughts like a thick fog until Krista found herself stumbling. Sprawled out in the dirt as panic, sudden and intense, took hold.
'Calm down, idiot.' She sounded so tired, but Krista didn't care. Just wanted her gone. 'I've barely got the energy to talk. I hate only observin'.'
This did calm her some, but she was wary. Eyeing her left arm with no small amount of trepidation. And slowly, she breathed. Digging her fingers into the earth as she reaffirmed that her body was her own.
If Rhea was truly too weak to do anything at the moment, then… she had no reason to worry.
And she was wasting time.
She needed to hide her scent, and she rolled about in the loose soil and leaves. Her memory suddenly making much more sense as the debris clung to her fur.
A small sniff.
Yup. Smelled like nature.
Now, she proceeded a bit more carefully. Attempting to move swiftly, but without leaving a painfully obvious path for D to follow. Attempting to not thunder about like a drunken behemoth, because hiding her scent would do no good if D could hear her from the campsite.
'I can't believe we're a giant fuckin' cat.'
She rolled her eyes, continuing to weave around the large trees. Hunting for a suitable hiding spot.
'Did you get to see the change?'
'Pfft. Duh. Shit hurt.'
Silence.
She wasn't sure how long she ran, but she knew that her three minutes were long gone.
Maybe she could hide in the trees.
With this in mind, she scanned the towering plants. Wondering if she could climb well enough to reach the branches. And really, there was only one way to find out.
Her nails sank into the wood with ease. And she could easily say that it was odd that her feet had retractable claws. Strangest feeling ever. But, at least they gripped just as easily.
She was a bit clumsy, but she managed to skitter up the tree in a matter of seconds. Climbing up the branches until she was certain she was fairly well hidden. And with a small huff, she settled in to wait.
Contrary to what the girl thought, he'd not been able to hear her after half a minute. Left to listen to the pitter-patter of rain and the soft song of nighttime birds. But once those three minutes were up, D rose to his feet and gestured for Erembour to follow.
He took a deep breath through his nose.
Through the rain, the scent was faint. Fairly reminiscent of puppy paws and sweet flowers.
Wet fur.
Death.
His nose wrinkled and he eyed Erembour, to which the Demon gave him a rather sheepish look in return. With a sigh, he took off into the forest. Following the first scent that hung low in the air.
Sweet. Earthy.
Gone.
He froze, taking a deeper breath.
Her scent was gone. All that surrounded him was the smell of wet, turned earth and the local trees.
Dark eyes glimmered. Searching. Observing the ground as he pivoted on his heel.
There.
He could see the skid marks from where she'd tumbled. Where she'd dug her fingers in. And at the center of it all, the ground was disturbed and wallowed out.
"Clever girl."
Something was wrong.
Krista, with her knees to her chest, gingerly cradled her head in her hands.
The pain had struck like blue lightning. A sharp, throbbing pain that curled around her head and sank into her eyes.
The cave.
She wasn't sure she was ready to deal with such pain. Not again. And if the pain was a prelude to memories…
'If it's okay with you, brain, I'd rather not remember anything right now!'
Another angry throb.
A slow build.
It burns.
Her vision blurred. Twisting and warping until she wasn't staring at the bark of a tree.
Instead, she stared at an olive-toned man, his eyes like polished emeralds. Auburn hair framing his strong jaw. He grinned broadly, teeth a tad too sharp to look normal. But it was a beautiful smile.
"There you are!"
His voice was warm and deep. It wrapped around her like a blanket and reminded her of home. And softly, he knocked on her noggin.
"Come back to Earth for a minute!"
She blinked owlishly at him. Confused. Eyes watering. "It hurts, Daddy."
"Oh, I know, baby." He scooped her up out of her hiding place (a closet, to be exact) and cradled her against his chest. Cupping her cheek as she listened to his heart beat out a steady rhythm. "And it's hard. When I was your age, I had the same problem."
"You did?"
"Yup!" His fingers trailed through her hair. Pulling loose tangles and rubbing her scalp. "I was an excitable boy. I can't imagine how hard it is to contain the emotions of two very different little girls in one very small body."
"But why does it have to hurt?"
"Your seals just might need a bit of tweaking. That's all."
She huffed, digging her fingers into his tunic. "And you think Grandpa can fix it this time?"
"Of course!" He stood now, carrying her through the hall, into the family room, through the kitchen, and out the back door. "Grandpa has been… studying. Very hard. Learning as much as he can. And we'll go visit him tomorrow."
"Grandpa's funny."
"I know, baby. So, even if he doesn't know how to fix your seals yet, we'll still have a nice time. Won't we?"
Now, Krista gave a small smile. Mumbling a soft affirmation as she pawed at his gently waving tail. Something much softer than the stubble he was currently using to scrub off her skin with as he nuzzled her cheek.
She was laughing. Pushing at his face as his frame rocked with his belly laughs.
It was nice outside. Warm. But then, it was always warm, wasn't it? Pleasant. Good for their garden.
She wiggled out of her father's hold. Springing for the fragrant flowers and herbs that blanketed the yard. How her parents kept the plants looking so healthy all year round, she'd never know. But she loved it.
"Can we take Grandpa flowers?"
"I think that sounds wonderful."
There were so many flowers. And almost every type had an assortment of colors to choose from. So many, in fact, it was daunting.
"What should we pick?"
"Well…" the man huffed, crouching at her side. "I'll tell you a secret that Grandma and Grandpa taught me."
Slowly, his large hands covered her eyes.
D was still in the midst of tracking Krista when he felt his hair stand on end. Skin prickling in a familiar way.
He didn't like it.
Erembour froze on the path. Hackles raised as he turned a curious gaze upon the Hunter. "… strong magic."
At a quicker pace, they pressed on.
She couldn't see.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think to tell her body to move any quicker because she needed out of this damn tree!
She was probably over a hundred feet above the ground. Attempting to shimmy her way down because she figured that a 90 foot drop was easier on the body than what she'd been at.
Honestly, neither was good. And she was sure that either would kill her.
However, if she did survive a 90 foot drop…
She hissed as another stabbing pain shot through her skull. Spine tingling. And with a quiet whine, she dug her claws into the wood with as much force as she could muster. Praying to the Gods that she didn't lose her grip and fall to her death.
Second verse, same as the first.
"There you are!"
The Hunter's skin crawled uncomfortably as he eyed the area. Scanning the trees. Knowing she was near.
Not for the first time, he threw his aura out across the area. And like a type of echolocation, he felt her energy radiate back. High up in a nearby tree. Unmoving.
Worrying.
When he approached the tree and called out to her, he was met with no response.
Not even a little twitch.
With a barely audible sigh, he began his climb. Watching Erembour fly past him with a soft trill to gingerly land on her shoulder.
"… girl."
She didn't answer, but sitting on her, he felt wholly unsettled. Feathers fluffing up in agitation. He didn't need the Hunter to know that a powerful seal was placed upon her mind. But what piqued his interest was its… strangeness.
"… who chained her mind?"
D situated himself at Krista's back. Holding her steady and to the tree as he coaxed her fingers loose. And quietly, he told the Demon what he knew of Riedikke.
By the end, as they both stood at the bottom of the tree, Erembour found himself wishing that he'd been around to eat the bastard.
He'd have done it slowly. Thoroughly.
"Well, I'll tell you a secret that Grandma and Grandpa taught me."
Her vision went dark.
"If you listen hard enough, sometimes you can hear the Earth whisper back."
A giggle bubbled out of her. "Daddy, the Earth can't talk!"
"Sure it can!"
She was suddenly flying through the air, loud peals of laughter startling the nearby birds as the man tossed her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. Bouncing around the garden without ever seeming to trample the plants.
"Mahisuta!"
Everything froze.
"If you flatten the begonias again, we're going to have words!"
Yes, his feet were precariously close to the white and pink flowers. Although, she wasn't sure why they were more prone to trampling than any other plant.
"Why is it always the begonias?" he whispered. With his tail ramrod straight and bristled up like an angry cat, the large man carefully navigated away from the flowers. Pulling her small body down until she settled on his hip.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"When will we see Deedee?"
Now, his face screwed up. Eyes drifting to one side. "I don't rightly know, baby."
"Will we ever see Deedee again?"
He didn't answer. She supposed that was all the answer needed.
Mother opened the back door, standing in the shadow of the small porch as she waggled a slab of meat. Unminding of the blood still dripping from it. "Come wash up and tell me how you want this!"
An excited grin spread across both of their faces. Because a recent, successful hunt meant painfully fresh meat. And it was something she dearly looked forward to.
D pulled back from Krista as she rubbed at her eyes. Prone on the ground, but calm.
She'd woken up and immediately sought him out. Meowing in a way that conveyed her desire to talk. But frustration mounted once she realized there would be no conversing unless she wanted to write it all in the dirt.
So, the Hunter offered two alternatives. Proffering Hand while explaining what would happen if she did not wish to wait.
Honestly, he hadn't expected her to be so willing to have the creature delve into her mind. While awake, it could feel very invasive.
But now he knew who the Shifter in the family was.
It did, however, also leave him with something else.
A niggling sense of nostalgia.
Yes, he'd seen the parents before. But now… something just didn't sit quite right.
Perhaps he'd seen the father in the tribe?
It would make sense.
In fact, it made a lot of sense.
"I believe I've met your grandfather."
She suddenly perked up with a sharp meow. Sitting on her haunches. Waiting.
"It might be wise to pay him a visit."
Her finger dug into the ground. 'Still alive?'
"Only one way to find out," he replied as he stood. Clicking off the lantern. "However, even if he is not, it wouldn't hurt to visit your tribe."
"Guess it's a good thing that we're already headed to the Southern Continent, eh?" said Hand.
To this, they could all agree.
Ash clouded the air.
Blackened her hair and stained her skin.
Skin that warped and twisted into something unrecognizable.
Beneath her, the ocean of blood was still.
But far beneath its glass-like surface, the winged demon still slept.
Far off on the horizon, fires burned.
There was a sound of metal armor shifting. Softly clanking as its wearer drew near.
The Tarnished Knight.
Perhaps a bit more tarnished.
But no less magnificent in appearance.
His adorned head dipped briefly before angling down to watch the glass.
Krista stared at him. Perhaps longer than was necessary. And eventually turned her gaze down. Staring in shock as she realized the winged demon was closer than before.
Still asleep.
But even more threatening than before.
His black-as-pitch armor seeded the blood. Blackening the ocean inch by inch.
Was she perpetuating it?
Feeding it?
A puppet.
… listen.
There was nothing.
… Listen.
Nothing but the voice.
Listen.
Deep. Surrounding.
Consuming.
Listen!
That's all she could do.
Good dolls do as they're told.
November 14, 13,012
As the morning light filtered through the canopy, Krista found that everything remained the same.
She was still a giant, deformed cat.
Still unable to talk.
Still… everything.
The Hunter was, predictably, already awake. Meticulously grooming the horse as it munched on stray plants. Its metal plates and mane shining beautifully.
The beast had three days in the stables. Being cared for and groomed.
Yet… D had him looking even more magnificent than before.
Perhaps she should ask him to make her fur just as healthy looking.
'That'd be weird.'
'But I'd be so pretty!'
Nothing more was said.
She didn't want to stay in this form forever. But if she could go back, it wasn't like she knew the secret to getting there. So, until that time, she was stuck. Forced to adapt to her current form.
She groaned. Frustrated.
Hungry.
Again.
However, she didn't think she could handle the black parasites. Not again.
A loud rumble broke the quiet.
"Damn, kid!" Hand exclaimed. "Hungry already?"
A defeated meow.
"Well, you'll be glad to know that the stream is filled chock-full of fish!"
A disgusted yowl that dragged on for a solid ten seconds.
And Hand merely guffawed as her hair bristled and she started spitting and hissing. Wholeheartedly voicing her displeasure as she hobbled closer. As D loaded everything up, she dipped a hand into the bag containing her spoils from Fieri. Pulling out the jerky.
She was terribly hungry, but the thought of the merchant instantly put a sour taste in her mouth.
As if reading her mind, D calmly stated, "Fieri will live. He was just in shock."
It was comforting.
It did not change the fact that she absolutely did not like how the past few days had turned out.
She ran her fingers across her feline face. Glad that her face was healed. That the stitches had popped during the change. But she'd seen her reflection in the water. Had seen the streak of grey marring her face. She'd been too afraid to look close enough to see if her scarred eye was indeed narrowed or if it was just a trick of the water.
With a grunt, she stuffed some of the dried meat into her mouth.
Mmm. Tasty.
In the end, it still didn't satisfy her. It was just good tasting.
She nudged Erembour. Offering a bit of the meat with a chirp. He ate it, but he didn't push for more.
She couldn't blame him.
It wasn't long after she replaced the meat that D suggested they leave. Carefully tightening the straps on Krista's armor before hoisting her up into the saddle. Tucking the tiny Demon into his coat. And eventually, after another look over the camp to ensure they'd gathered all of Krista's currently unwearable clothes, he straddled the saddle and snapped the reigns with a quiet click.
He'd had a moment of insight during the night.
Assuming he'd heard correctly, or rather remembered correctly, there should be no need for them to angle towards the coast. Nor shoot east and cut through the mountains. Instead, they should be able to continue on their current path.
They would deal with the standard hills and plateaus for a while. Nothing they hadn't dealt with in the desert. And then they would eventually hit a valley to travel through for a while.
It was nothing groundbreaking. They would still need to cross more hilly and mountainous areas. But that was later. And if he could avoid traversing goat trails for a bit longer, he would.
Through the day and into the evening, they traveled. Pushing through the forest and its small hills and rocky paths.
It was peaceful.
And any threats they encountered were easily dispatched by the Hunter.
And the Demon.
And Krista was jealous.
She was kind of wishing she could eat whatever, whenever. Just like Erembour. However…
Hrrrrrrrrrgh.
She wasn't sure she was prepared to just chow down on a creature that looked like it was covered in slime. Nor that had enough teeth to eat her from the inside out.
Perhaps she wasn't as jealous as she originally thought.
Surprisingly enough, however, D wanted to stop for the night. Despite having made them travel much longer in one sitting.
If he were honest, it was because he didn't want to push her. He'd expected her to shift back into her standard form by this point, and the fact that she hadn't was a tad concerning.
Nothing had changed.
She wasn't shedding.
Wasn't talking.
And now that they were settling in for the night, she was stretching much like a feline. Bobbed tail sticking straight up in the air as she let out a tiny squeak with a curl of her tongue. Fingers kneading the ground for a brief moment.
He watched her eventually curl up with a quiet chirp. Fur fluffing as the chilled evening air brushed over her. He would admit that the night was more chilled than the previous night, so as she dozed, he pulled the thermal blanket from the saddlebags and set it down at her side.
Perhaps the next day would be different.
November 15, 13,012
It was different.
Much different.
Somehow, despite how light a sleeper he typically was, he, Hand, and Erembour had all managed to sleep through Krista sneaking off into the forest.
Well, D dozed.
But somehow, he did not hear her!
Without a sound, D leapt to his feet and disappeared into the forest. Entrusting the horse to Erembour.
Surely, if she'd escaped without his notice (which was extremely unheard of), she had to be calculating her every move. Which was surprising. And something worth celebrating, in a way.
Not much farther out, he came across a rut much like the one she'd made the day prior. A sure sign that she was purposefully attempting to mask her scent. But surely, she hadn't wanted to play without his knowledge.
To do such a thing could very well end in disaster.
But he followed her path. Tracing it as it weaved between the trees. Almost deliberate in how it shifted.
Perhaps she'd not been playing.
In fact, it seemed as if she was…
Hunting.
If that were the case, why had she opted to go alone? She was very obviously not confident in her form. So what would drive her to such a thing?
'Hungry.'
Of course.
She'd been abnormally peckish (famished) the past few days. Even before the change. And with the change, he could understand why. Such a transformation would severely deplete the body's energy and resources. And if it wasn't getting what it needed, she wouldn't be satisfied.
The Hunter tracked her for a solid half hour before he had his first sign of Krista that was more than an errant leaf or scuff mark.
After coming to his conclusion on why she might have left, he was prepared for what he saw. And he knew the girl wasn't all there when she dipped her head and shoveled a handful of offal into her mouth.
The medium-sized creature was skinned, strips of flesh laid out to one side and belly split open to the sternum. From his spot, he could see that the heart was long gone. And what she currently chewed upon was the liver.
In fact, the only thing truly left by this point was the digestive tract still heavy with freshly eaten grasses. She'd stripped it of all else.
Should he step in? Or let her have her fill?
There was a crack.
She tipped her head back. Working her jaw until another crack broke the silence. And to one side went a handful of skull fragments. Clawed fingertips already working on stripping the muscle from the bones.
He stepped closer.
The hair along her back briefly bristled before settling. A loud rumbling filling the sudden quiet as her hands worked. Allowing him to creep ever closer without another sign of aggression. Continuing her eating as D slowly sat on his haunches at her side.
Was it possible to look innocent with blood dripping down your maw?
Somehow, she was pulling it off. Her pupils large and round as they focused on him. Seeming to smile as she chewed.
Still, there was something distinctly vacant about her gaze. Even if she was happy to see him.
"Seems you'll need some work on self-control."
With an inquisitive chirp, her head tipped to one side.
"Krista, it's time to wake up."
A slow blink. And gradually, the fog cleared.
Another drawn-out blink as she turned her gaze down. Licking one finger clean.
Sudden realization.
Horror.
Revulsion.
She covered her mouth with a loud retch. Throwing herself back from the mauled creature. Frantically scrubbing her hands in the dirt in an attempt to rid them of blood. Still retching.
But nothing came up.
"Calm yourself." God help him, he sounded like a broken record.
Her head snapped from side to side and, without looking at him, she held up her forefinger with the back of her hand facing him.
"If you're telling me to 'fuck off', at least use the correct finger."
Everything froze.
Tears still left tracks down her feline face, but slowly, she turned the most bewildered look upon the Hunter. Eyeing him as if he were a new creature.
Her dirty hand covered her mouth one more time. Eyes alight with awe. And her panic seemed to fly for the hills.
Sksksksksksks.
D supposed that, if all else failed, baffling her was the thing to do.
But he pulled her up by her shoulders and guided her away from the mess, walking at her side as they wandered back towards their camp.
"You've said you aren't satisfied."
Warily, she nodded.
"Are you now?"
Her lips pulled back over her teeth, but she still nodded another affirmation.
"Then as much as you may not like it, kid, this may be what you need to do," said Hand. "At least, sometimes."
They could see in her eyes that the idea did not please her. Not one bit.
"Would you rather attack Humans?"
Now, she looked affronted. Horrified. Yowling in a way that sounded eerily like a 'no'.
"You lose control in a town, and that is what will happen."
She looked truly disturbed now. Thinking long and hard about what they were saying. Her eyes going distant as she frowned the best she could.
It made sense.
Every bit of it.
She still didn't like it.
But maybe that was more because she did feel satisfied. Once D managed to get her out of the 'this is so wrong' mindset with his terribly out-of-character moment, she found that it still bothered her. Not enough to feel physically ill, but enough to not want to do it again.
Then again, she didn't really want to wake up with Human viscera between her teeth.
She would rather not personally kill period, but she'd rather consciously do it. Be in full control of all her faculties.
She'd rather learn how to hunt from an expert Hunter.
The Hunter knew her answer without her saying anything. Could see the resolve in her eyes. And as she roughhoused with an over-sized Erembour, rolling about in the leaflitter with plenty of growls, barks, and chirps, he plotted how to best teach her.
It could be fairly simple. Teach her the way he hunted. Using every resource available. Powers of observation. Sense of smell. Be quick but quiet. And perhaps, much later on, the aural pinging.
He was sure she would also appreciate pointers on how to quickly and painlessly kill whatever she caught.
But should he wait until she was in her normal form to start? Or seize the moment and get her out there now?
What if this became her normal form?
She'd be irate.
It would certainly make communication with her a bit more interesting.
November 18, 13,012
It'd been a few days.
Nothing changed.
They'd been making pretty good timing through the redwood forest. But Krista being unable to verbally communicate in a way that was more than chirps and such (while definitely interesting, as he thought) was becoming a bit of a hindrance. And she was, indeed, incredibly irate.
He couldn't blame her.
She seemed acclimated well enough, but it was obvious she was ready to be who she once was. And she was actively trying to change but had no idea how. Which caused her more distress.
She looked rather consternated.
And constipated.
He would just keep that to himself.
It did not change the fact, however, that neither of them knew how to get her back. As such, they'd agreed that waiting for her to change to learn to hunt at this point was not the smartest idea. Surprisingly, she'd been quick to catch on.
Of course, they'd yet to kill anything, opting to only capture and release. But simply because she had no desire to eat at that time.
If the look now sweeping over her face was anything to go by, that might soon change.
Her finger dug into the soil. 'Do I have to?'
At his minute nod, she huffed out a sigh and pushed up to her feet. Rolling her shoulders and shaking out her tension. She wasn't ready, but she was.
She was gonna murder critters good!
She was sobbing.
And D was attempting to reason with her.
It wasn't working.
The creature she'd captured, medium in size and painfully fluffy, sat calmly in her arms as she cradled it. Yowling and keening as she meowed out her reasons for not being able to kill the critter.
How could he get her to understand that creature was much more of a danger than it appeared? That slaughtering for sustenance was sometimes necessary? That it was an invasive species?
But then… what creature in this world wasn't?
He sighed through his nose. Pulled the white-coated fluffball away from her. And gave her a very pointed stare when it began snarling and snapping at him. Acrid acid dripping from its suddenly fragmented jaw.
"You must learn to get past this portion of the hunt."
She looked so heartbroken with her kittenesque eyes wide and watery. Afraid to go in for the kill, but understanding that what he said was rational. Sane. Necessary.
Slowly, she retrieved the creature from D's grasp. Sobbing openly as it immediately stilled in her arms. Staring up at her with the most trusting expression she'd ever seen. But with a grim sense of finality, she grasped its soft head and neck.
Crack!
Skinning and gutting proved harder than she imagined once she was able to get over killing the creature. The eating part came almost too easily.
She kinda hated it.
Rhea was content with everything and seemed to be gaining her strength once more.
Krista really hated it.
Hated the feeling of helplessness that swept in and attempted to drown her like a rogue tide.
Why couldn't the other just accept that this was her body? Why did she have to be so nasty?
At least, if she requested it, D distracted her from it all with more knowledge and tales from his past.
The only good thing to come of all this.
Too bad she couldn't tell him more about herself. Or rather, her time spent at the orphanage. Time spent with Miss Haldwyn.
If only she wasn't a giant fucking cat.