Trigger Warning: Typical malarkey, but still a bit of the drug stuff just at the beginning. Nothing too bad.

When All is Quiet

December 27, 13,012 - Midnight

Everything was indeed a mess.

Blood painted the floor of the bar in large swaths. And Krista counted at least a dozen men.

At first, she wasn't sure how she was deaf to such a large fight. But… hmm… it might have been because she was a bit preoccupied.

And if she hadn't felt ill before, she certainly did now. Questioning her decision to follow the Hunter down. However, she was here. And she needed to see. Needed to be assured that Bella's death was… not unacceptable.

She'd wanted her to die. But she still needed the affirmation.

The floor swam beneath her. Spinning.

Multiplying.

"Do you need to go back?"

She turned to eye D. Tempted to say yes, but… Well. Everyone knows that curiosity killed the cat. So, lips drawn tight, she shook her head and kept her hold on his arm.

It was a bit of an excuse to just be near him and touch him, because he was warm and cool. Soft but firm. An utter delight to her fingertips.

But she was honestly having trouble keeping her balance.

Stepping out into the streets was little better.

Bodies were scattered about like discarded trash. And a few stood motionless. Eyes lifeless as they stared blankly ahead. Who they once were… gone.

It was as distressing as it was depressing.

D approached one. Pressing his left hand to the person's forehead.

Silence.

Eventually, D pulled back and cast Krista a soft look.

"Anything?"

He shook his head.

"That bitch."

So many lives lost.

And Krista felt like it was all her fault.

With no small amount of sadness and guilt, the red head watched as D pulled out a stiletto dagger and drove it through the man's ear. And with a quiet gasp, he crumpled to the ground.

If she had to describe the sound, it was much like a sigh of relief.

D continued much the same way with each static person. Searching for any sign of life and finding none. Attempting to command a few, but with no results.

There were a few. People who seemed to be shaking themselves awake. Looking about in terror before realization set in.

Very few.

Scattered amongst the crowd.

Sobbing.

Broken.

It was nice to see a few survived.

But any joy she had at such a thing was quickly stamped out.

Smothered by the soul crushing despair she felt at seeing the tiny body prone in the road.

Not moving.

Not breathing.

Mother at their side.

Hands still laced in death.

Bile bubbled up in her throat. And she felt like she was in a dream. Wishing to wake, but knowing it was pointless.

They pressed on.

And D did not object when Krista clutched his arm just a bit too tightly.

Erembour met up with them. Fur dripping with something that was not blood, but Krista couldn't give it a name.

It almost looked like oil. But it did not stain the ground. Evaporating almost instantaneously.

She needed to feel it.

It was… soft. But also… intangible.

Something her addled brain was having trouble understanding.

"… how're you holding up?" Erembour asked at length.

"I'm holding on to D." A small pause as her brow furrowed. "Wait…" Realization. "That's not what you meant. I'm… okay. I suppose."

Erembour sent her a look that clearly showed his disbelief. But he said nothing. And she thought nothing of it because she was enamored with the texture of his hair. One hand still clasped to D's arm, but the other was running up and down his back. Her hazy green eyes narrowed in with a catlike intensity.

"Krista."

She started with a gasp. Straightening and looking about as if she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

She made no comment and instead asked, "What've you been doing, Erembour?"

Slowly, the Demon looked off to one side. As if ashamed. And eventually he murmured, "… collection duty."

"What do you collect?"

"… Souls."

"Do you eat them?"

Now, he looked affronted. "No!"

"Then I don't see why you're acting like it's a crime."

Erembour huffed. "… I do not enjoy the work. But if another does not show up immediately… I'm driven by instinct to do it. For many here… it was not their time. They fight."

"I'm sorry."

"… not your place to be."

"But I am."

They had a brief stare-off. Neither saying a word. But it was over quickly when Krista squeezed her eyes shut and teetered forward. And then D was guiding her back to the tavern.

She didn't know if they'd gotten all of the people. But she reasoned that they were not going to search every house. Would not be as capable of handling the dead as those who lived in the town.

It's all your fault.

The owner of the tavern was among the living. Staring in horror and disbelief at the downstairs area.

Krista didn't blame him. She simply felt guilty.

As they passed, the Hunter handed him a bill larger than anything she'd ever seen. More than enough to pay for repairs to the scuffed and stained wood. But they didn't wait to hear the man's baffled and profuse gratitude. Nor his muffled screeching when Erembour followed.

Considering they didn't hear him shouting for help, she assumed the man realized the Demon was with them.

And Gods help her, she just wished the floor would quit crawling.

Wished that D would keep touching her.

"D? Are you gonna leave?"

"No."

"Okay." She flopped onto the bed with a sigh. Listening to the door latch with her eyes closed. Feeling the bed dip as Erembour crawled into the bed at her back and D settled at her front.

Out of the chill, she felt the alien warmth building again. And feeling every bit of the soft comforter and Erembour's fur against her sounded heavenly.

Before she could think better of it, she was pulling and kicking off her clothes. Deaf to any protests Erembour grunted. Deaf to D gently attempting to dissuade her.

And once she was stripped of her clothes, she attempted to unfasten her armor. Fingers fumbling with the clasps and protesting when D smacked at her hands. But it felt like being splashed with cold water when he said, "What about your no-no squares?"

"Oh…" She turned to look at D. "Well… you've seen them before."

The bottom straps fell loose, and D was attempting to refasten them as her hands moved on.

"I love you. But I can't ask Miss Haldwyn if my love is the love she meant."

The next straps were finished.

She didn't seem to notice D was undoing all her hard work.

"And I'd like to be around you for… forever."

Now, she was unhooking the metal breastplates.

D determinedly restrained her hands at this point. Shifting her until he could latch the first plate back into place.

"Considering all that, I don't see why it matters."

A slow revelation.

"Unless you don't want it?"

The Hunter sighed through his nose with his eyes closed. Eventually leveling another gentle look at the girl beneath him. Her eyes wide in confusion. Horror. Shame.

"You aren't thinking clearly," he eventually breathed.

"I should think I am!" She struggled against his hold. Pushing against his hips with her bare feet. "And it isn't fair that you can hold both of my wrists in one hand!"

"Krista."

He hadn't yelled.

Hadn't even raised his voice.

But the way he'd stressed her name was enough to still her in her spot. Staring at him in wonder.

And there came the soft scent of arousal.

Again.

"… for fuck's sake, girl."

She whipped about to eye the Demon. "What?"

But he did not respond. Shaking his head with a snort.

Instead, D guided her vision back to him and reiterated, "You're not thinking clearly."

"Why are you saying that?!"

"Because it is the truth."

"I was thinking about this shit back when I came out of my cat form and woke up nakey!"

Silence.

The Hunter seemed to blink a bit harder than normal, but perhaps she was imagining things.

"So maybe I'm bein' a little weird right now. But my thoughts then can't be given the same excuse."

To this, he could say nothing. But he could tell her, "Go to sleep."

"I'm not tired. And you're avoiding the issue."

"I am."

Another stare-off.

"You have pretty eyes."

D thought he might mimic Erembour and his vulgar exclamation. But he refrained. Releasing his hold on her wrists after a moment.

"I'm getting out of this armor and you can't stop me!"

He had stopped her.

After much fussing and struggling, of course.

In the end, she settled with curling up to D. Face buried in his side. Fingers buried in the Demon's fur since his head rested on her hip. And with her other hand, she thumbed the back of D's hand.

If she couldn't simply undress to be more comfortable and feel everything the way she wanted to, she was gonna feel them somehow.

Now, she was attempting to sleep.

Struggling, because everything felt so wonderful. So intriguing. Interesting.

And if she wasn't distracted by everything she could feel, she was distracted by the way the colors in the room looked. How the light from the window played on D's skin. The way the dust danced like fireflies.

She just wanted to look at everything.

Feel everything.

And the walls were crawling again. Spinning. Twisting.

Collapsing in on itself.

"Oh, fuck me."

That was something she'd rather not see.

She pinched her eyes shut and moaned. Shuddering roughly as she smoothed her thumb over D's hand.

Softly.

Then harder as she attempted to affirm that everything was alright.

Her stomach churned.

She moaned louder and clutched at D's hand.

"Please." Rubbing her face into his coat, she prayed. "Please, don't die."

D listened in silence as she quietly pleaded. Murmuring herself into a fitful sleep from which she awoke often. Jerking at the Demon's slightest shift.

Come morning, she was no longer under the drug's influence.

But she did feel like death warmed over.

"D, I think I'm dying."

"You're not." As she curled under the blanket, he gingerly uncovered her face. Watching her hiss and draw away. "Does your head hurt?"

"Yes. And my eyes. And stomach." She patted his hand. "It's okay. I'll see you in the afterlife."

"I highly doubt we would make it to the same one."

This time, she flapped her hand. "That's stupid to think. You're a good man. And I'm a… good girl."

She didn't sound so certain.

"Come on," he coaxed. "Otherwise, your breakfast will… spoil."

"My breakfast?"

She sat up to eye the very-alive critter in his hands. Wondering how it was in threat of spoiling. Wondering how he'd snuck it past the innkeeper. But then she noticed the breeze coming through the cracked window. How the bed really wasn't that warm.

"Oh… Thank you. Will it help with all this?"

"Perhaps."

She was game. Fingers gently coaxing the cute animal out of his grasp. "This animal looks more like a pet, less like food." But fingering its fuzzy little lips, she could feel the different segments to its jaw. The spines lining each segment.

The soft burn of its acidic saliva.

She squished its face. "Can't y'all just learn to be nice?"

It chittered and squeaked in response.

"We find a baby one, I demand we attempt to domesticate it."

"I highly doubt that will work."

"I can try."

Yes. He supposed she certainly could.

The meal helped.

Headache gone and body feeling better overall. With a stretch and a groan, she circled about the Hunter. Gently squeezing his forearm. "Thanks for taking care of me. I'll try to stop getting into so much trouble."

In response, D shook his head. "You did good last night."

"I got angry."

"And I don't blame you." When her mouth worked as she attempted to argue, D stood from the saddlebags and said, "We will find a way for you to shift in a healthy manner. Last night, you had little choice."

"Maybe so." She angled towards the bathroom before stopping. "D, I stand by what I said last night. But thanks for not letting me embarrass myself too much."

And without waiting for a response, she dipped into the bathroom to take care of business and bathe. Eyeing the clothes she'd snagged previously. Ensuring she had indeed grabbed a clean pair of undies.

Because something was… off.

Very off.

She pinched her thighs together and shuddered roughly at the alien feeling.

Without another moment to spare, she threw herself onto the toilet. Determined to pee and wipe away whatever was there.

And as she prepared to do just that, she eyed the crotch of her underwear. Perplexed.

Worried.

Staring at the moisture that shined in the light as if it could reveal its secrets.

She'd not peed herself. And to the touch, it was slick. Coating her fingertip.

Her concern intensified.

"D?" she called. Still staring down at her underwear.

"Yes?"

"I'm leaking!"

Quiet, and she heard him draw closer to the door. "Leaking?"

"Yes! Leaking!" A pause. "Am I dying?"

"Are you wanting me to look?"

"Maybe…"

"Are you decent?"

"I'm just sitting on the toilet."

Unless she was seeing things, she could have sworn the door opened the slightest bit, closed, and finally opened enough to allow the Hunter entrance. As if he were uncertain. But by expression alone, she couldn't tell.

He did not come closer than the doorframe. "Where are you leaking from, and what color is it?"

"Well… I'm not sure. My no-no square, because it's on my undies. And it's clear. I just don't know what it is, or… why it is."

She looked up at him. Eyes wide and concerned. Waiting. Trusting, just like the night prior. And while his left arm shook with Hand's mirth, D was at a bit of a loss.

Had she honestly never experienced discharge?

"Hand! This isn't funny!" she suddenly cried. "It's like slug slime! But it's all over my no-no square! It ain't natural!"

And just when she was preparing to stand, D approached her and pressed his hand to her shoulder. His eyes never straying from her face. "It's discharge. And it is normal."

"How do you know?! You haven't even looked!"

Oh, here came the urge to sigh and/or roll his eyes.

"Based off what you have described, it is fine. Or would you rather see a doctor?"

Now, under his piercing stare, she pinched her legs tighter together. Attempting to pull down her shirt. "No!" A quiet pause. "Please just look? You don't have to look at my no-no square, but please just make sure it looks normal. Because it's slime. And I don't typically slime."

And slowly, the underwear rose to the edge of his vision.

Now, D did softly sigh through his nose. Loosely gripping the edge of the plain underwear. Vision narrowing on the center.

There was…

Hmm…

A little excessive, but normal.

And he said as much on his way back out the door, depositing her underwear in the sink.

"The Hell do you mean by 'excessive'?!"

But the door was shut, and he answered no more.

She figured that was the Hunter's way of saying, 'Shut up and bathe. You're fine.'

Krista was pleased by how easily the substance washed away. She'd thought to discover the source herself. However…

She couldn't gather the courage.

That entire part of herself was an alien place.

Something she didn't much care for. But she'd never explored the area. And she was practically afraid to.

What if something wasn't normal?

And then she wondered how different each individual's was.

How different D's was.

Did everyone in the world have similar no-no squares?

Her brain was hurting. And considering she'd never really looked at her own no-no square, she couldn't even imagine it on another person.

Much less what would cause it to randomly leak.

Riding out of town was possibly more depressing than their walk through the night prior. The horse navigating around the bodies of the deceased that were lined up with the houses or shops they owned.

She still felt at fault.

But she also knew that nothing she did directly caused their end.

She wasn't the one who turned them into husks.

She wasn't the one who said she needed to be captured.

She was… just the reason other people said such things and did such things.

Sparring was going about as well as could be expected.

Which wasn't very well when the trainee was running on fumes.

Burning the candle at both ends, so to speak.

Periods of sleep came in fits and bursts. In part because sleep did not come. In part because she was terrified of what she might dream. Of what she might see or think.

It wasn't a good situation.

Not in the least.

Not when she knew she needed the rest to keep up with what the Hunter expected of her.

And in the periods she could sleep… she wasn't seeing just those men in the bathroom. She was seeing Bella. Seeing everything that bothered her that she didn't think should but still managed to keep her up at night.

She just wished she knew why.

But what bothered her most?

Something she didn't know how to stop.

January 18, 13,013

"Hey, D?"

The Hunter looked down at her from his perch in the tree he'd decided was a good vantage point. Saying nothing, but letting her know he was listening. Observing the way she dug at her arm and briefly wondering if she contracted a parasite. But remembering quickly that this was simply a nervous tick.

Although, he wouldn't be surprised if it was a parasite considering the region they were in.

And yes, she was entirely too nervous. Fingers digging into that spot as if ripping it open could release her burgeoning anxieties.

She swallowed. Throat feeling swollen and dry. "D, I think I'd like to talk to you about what's been bothering me."

He was down the tree before she could even finish her sentence. Not necessarily looking expectant, but… at least as if he'd been waiting on this conversation.

Perhaps he had.

Her stomach felt aflutter.

And as if it was twisting itself into a complicated knot.

"Hold up. I'm gonna sit."

She flopped down right where she was. Holding herself and taking deeper breaths than were probably warranted.

Maybe she was just making a little thing big, right?

But again… telling him would mean admitting it. Which meant it was a thing.

"Okay! So, you remember when we were on the roundabout after I freaked out and said I was just thinking too much?"

"Of course."

She watched as he squatted before her, feet completely against the ground. And for just a moment, her chaotic mind wondered how he was able to do it. "I was definitely thinking too much, but I definitely had something that started it. And you'll probably think I'm panicking over nothing or that I'm crazy."

"I highly doubt it."

Dryly, she snorted in amusement. Eyes closing tightly. "I think… y'all're gonna die." She wanted to vomit. The lump in her throat swelling almost faster than she could force the words out. "Or… life as you know it is gonna end."

Silence.

Her eyes flickered up. Briefly. Afraid to see what he thought.

He looked… well…

She couldn't really name the emotion in his eyes.

"Kid," started Hand. "There isn't much that could kill us for good. Unless you want to blast us with a nuke."

"It doesn't have to be heart-ceases-to-beat death. Could just be an end to living."

"Isn't that essentially the same thing?"

"No!" Her face scrunched up. Brows down and eyes watering. "People in comas can still have heartbeats."

D settled before her and curled one leg beneath him. "What makes you believe we will die?"

Now, her eyes flickered up and gave him the most unnerving stare to date. Pupils contracting into slits as she scanned his face. And he could admit he'd never seen such a look on her face.

As if she were attempting to dissect his soul.

"It's a mark. Dark. Dull. Gently churning." She reached forward and feathered her fingers across his forehead. Massaging as if she could erase what he couldn't see. "But I think about when you might die, and once I get close, it flares with (ironically) life. Swirling and collapsing in on itself."

He said nothing. Merely listening and allowing her to rub at the spot.

"And I'm terrified that there's nothing I can do to stop it. Or that it's all in my head because I haven't seen shit like this since I was… a preteen." And the way she breathed this made her sound so horribly downtrodden.

The Hunter wouldn't lie. He was intrigued. She seemed so sure. So terrified. "Why do you think it is a death sentence?"

"Because! The last times I saw it, it was!"

"Then tell me about them."

She did. Describing every time she'd ever seen the mark.

Every person.

Every death.

There were no more than a handful. But it had been enough to keep her from wondering about a person's death ever again.

Especially when she realized that she couldn't predict what would bring about the end.

Sickness.

Another's actions.

Consequences of their actions.

And the only thing she could think of that would help him avoid 'death' was to drop the job altogether.

"Yeah, that's not happening, kid."

She stared at the mark before snapping away. As if burned. "Why?"

"In too deep. Innocents are dying and being shipped off."

"I kinda feel at fault."

"None of this is your fault, kid. It's likely we would have run across this mess at some point."

She looked to the Demon. Eyes pained. "Please."

D ignored the quiet plea. Succinctly saying, "A person's fate is not always set in stone."

"I hope you're right."

And if she could, she would sure as Hell find a way to avoid their 'death'.

Krista found sleep coming easier.

Less fitful.

She wasn't entirely sure how, but she was sure talking with D had helped.

They'd sat beneath that tree for a while as D allowed Krista to vomit out her thoughts. What had been keeping her up at night. Listening to the whys.

And they'd sat for a little while longer while D explained that it wasn't unreasonable for her to be bothered by the events. That she'd been attacked in ways that were bound to scar anyone.

She wasn't sure why she'd not been traumatized as much by their night in Puregon. But she chalked it up to brains brain weird.

She was thankful, however, as she really didn't want to see more of that night.

Didn't ever want to revisit Miss Haldwyn's gaping visage.

But she wouldn't think of that now. Not when she was too busy attempting to skate on mud.

Because why not?

D was continuing to guide them through the more moist regions on their trek to the next continent. And she had to admit that it was much more enjoyable than a trek through the desert. Although, hills and mountains abound. So, there wasn't any escaping that aspect.

But at the very least, it was pretty.

And humid.

And chilly.

But only in the early mornings.

Then it was just comfortable to warm.

But at that very moment, it was perfect weather for stripping down to her armor to slip and slide about.

She'd yet to figure out how to push through a change that was healthy and not rage fueled. But quickly posing a query to Erembour, he was more than happy to roughhouse.

After he'd shifted into something a bit more appropriate (a fuzzy humanoid that'd garnered an obnoxious laugh), she had her ass handed to her.

She blamed it on a lack of kitty prowess.

But it ended with her finding the perfect patch of slick mud.

Tada!

Skating time.

From his moss-covered perch, D merely watched as she flew from one side to the other. Dark, greyish mud painting her slim body.

He wasn't entirely sure how she planned on washing off. The rain was a mere mist. And the area they were currently in did not have a source of water for her to take a dip in. Things he was sure she didn't account for before deciding to play in such a way.

He asked.

"Well, that's easy! I'll just…" Her eyes looked past the line of trees. Taking note that the rain was not conducive to rinsing off. And she sniffed. Brows furrowing in consternation. "Well… fuck! D! Why didn't you stop me?!"

"I figured you knew."

Even from where she stood, she could see the gleam of amusement in the Hunter's eyes. "Don't look at me like that, D! Or so help me, I will use you as a towel!"

"You will not."

"The Hell I won't!"

And without more warning, she was thundering across the small distance. Eyes wide and wild as she lunged for him. Missing when he stepped to one side and coming back up with a mouthful of wet earth.

He watched as she sputtered and laughed. Slicking back her hair before jumping to her feet. "We'll need to work on your ambush tactics."

She lunged at him again, this time at a considerably slower rate. Limbs draining of strength as she continued her cackling.

"Perhaps your stamina, as well."

Another failed attempt as he danced out of her way with a quiet, albeit amused, hum.

"Shush!" the girl squealed. "I need to hate you for a minute!"

He said nothing.

Did nothing but watch as she floundered in the mud and wheezed. Attempting to crawl towards him. Failing horribly.

And then, she froze. Shuddering roughly before the most excited smile crossed her face.

D felt the change in her. Felt the shift in her mood and energy as her pupils shrank in that catlike way. And after a quick glance towards the horse, ensuring the beast was tethered to the tree, he took off. Flying across the rocky and muddy terrain.

He wasn't sure if she was merely reenergized, or if she'd found her way. Preparing to push through her first shift that was not fueled by rage.

Either way, it was exciting. Prompting him to speculate what she might do. If he should simply attempt to outrun her. Or if he should attempt to hide.

How would she approach the situation?

If she did shift, would it hurt her?

Or had she ingested enough recently that it would somehow help? Give her the resources needed to foster a painless shift?

These were questions he, of course, did not have the answer to.

He slowed to a stop and listened.

In the distance, he heard the soft thumps of her footfalls.

All four of them.

Funny.

There was that tiny spark of pride again.

He listened for a moment longer before continuing his run.

Quieter.

Leaving no tracks for her to follow.

It would definitely be interesting to see what she would do.

It was in the fleeting rays of sunlight that Krista appeared. Dark fur glistening.

She wasn't in the form she'd first shifted into.

This was more gangly human than anything else. Her feet back to digitigrade but not equipped with retractable claws.

And as she crept across the dark ground, he had to admit that she was blending in fairly well. In fact, had he been anyone else, he might have missed her as she sniffed around.

Closer to the tree she came.

Closer.

Yet closer.

Until finally, she stood beneath his tree.

Slowly, her head tipped up. Hunting him out amongst the foliage until their gazes met.

Her feline face brightened with an excited smile before she began circling the tree.

He could see what she was doing.

Without objection, he climbed higher into the tree. Circling about it with her. Allowing her to stalk him without ever getting closer.

She was purring. Clearly pleased that he was entertaining their little game. Roles reversed from October. And just as she flew up the side of the tree to perch before him, he tipped backwards. Slipping between the branches with an air of grace that Krista envied before landing silently amongst the leaflitter and taking off. Continuing their little game.

Honestly, Krista did appreciate what D was doing. Well aware that he did not have to.

Aware that this entire situation was absolutely ridiculous.

Because yes. She did still have issues.

Was still bothered by things out of her control.

But times like these, when D broke the mold and catered to her more playful nature, made her forget about everything for just a little bit.

It was late in the morning when, curled around his lover, Anyd's voice drifted through the Doctor's quarters. Quickly rousing him as she said, "Lord Laun, we've news on the status of the bounty hunter and her targets."

He groaned and dragged his fingers through his tangled hair. Sapphire eyes flickering over to the eye bulging out of the wall. Simultaneously dreading and looking forward to what she would say. "Go ahead, Anyd."

The orb blinked at him. "Thralls have discovered the fate of one Bella Dredfel."

Dreadful name if one asked Laun.

"Her life came to an end at the hands of the Hunter in a town tavern, along with a copious amount of her Charmed."

Bitter relief flooded him. "Good. That's nice, isn't it, Eddie?"

The dark man murmured out a sleepy affirmation but spoke no more.

"The subject is still on the move. They seem to be in no rush to find us."

He couldn't blame them.

"Finally, the next bounty hunter has been dispatched."

There was what he was waiting for. And just as quickly as he was relieved, he felt dread settle like a lead weight in his belly. Wondering who it might be that was closest.

If they would succeed.

"The one known as Gif T. Ig."

The body at his side stiffened.

He knew that feel. Disgust swelling until he thought he might vomit.

Quietly, Laun prayed to a God that would rather see him dead.

D found a way.

Praise be!

He discovered the way to the girl's salvation!

And all it required was a bit of play.

A bit of roughhousing.

And a whole mess of Krista enjoying what was happening.

Technically, they were sparring. If she approached the session in a playful mindset, however, she treated it more like a competition. Doing everything in her power to push him back.

Studying his every move.

Enjoying the opportunity to learn.

Which fostered a better learning experience.

It was simply better overall.

She was becoming more adept at dodging his attacks and countering. Redirecting and flowing with force. Using his weight against him. More adept at using her petiteness to her advantage by slipping about. In fact, that was one thing she proved very good at.

As it was, they were darting about the rocky terrain. Krista hot on his heels as she clambered over obstacles and such to catch up. She was doing well, but he wasn't sure she would ever be able to keep up with him if he went all out.

She might surprise him.

With a soft grunt, she launched herself off her current rock. Propelling herself forward the remaining few feet needed to catch the Hunter.

He jumped.

For a moment, she flailed. Panicked. Able to see her upcoming and rocky demise. But she calmed. Catching herself on the following boulder and shoving herself backwards.

Head first.

Right into his groin.

But ever the unaffected one, D pushed her down to keep her momentum going. Intending to drive her into the ground using her own force.

Her small fingers slipped between his utility belt and pants, and she pulled with all her might.

Even if this resulted in her smooshed against the ground, at least he would be down. And with any luck, she could 'restrain' him.

Nope.

He braced himself before kicking backwards. Heel connecting with her ribs with a loud crunch.

The pain that followed, as she snapped loose and tumbled away, left her seeing stars. Disoriented and confused as she struggled to breathe. Struggled to move.

Blood painting her lips with each exhale.

Softly, but with too much weight behind it, D pressed the nail of his index finger into the nape of her neck.

With little more than a gasp, she waved her hand. Acknowledging her 'demise'. Pretty sure that if something didn't give in the next few minutes, she would die.

She'd yet to avoid the Hunter's 'killing blow', but she was getting better.

Gingerly, she ran her hand along her side. Right over the large bruise that was staining her skin. And snatched her hand away just as quickly. Visibly disgusted and distressed by the concave shape her ribs had taken.

Like modeling clay that'd been punched.

Panic flared.

Hands shaking.

Limbs feeling weak.

She grasped for D. Not immediately realizing he was still there. Hand now moved to her back as he reminded her to stay calm. To breathe slowly.

But Gods, it hurt.

Distractions were in order.

"I didn't… do… very good… today," she wheezed. Gritting her teeth as she attempted to do as D instructed. Chest convulsing briefly.

"Perhaps not," he agreed. "However, you're improving."

She needed to improve faster.

"Push yourself too much and you might regress."

Now, she grimaced. Wondering how he could read her so well. But she said nothing.

The quiet was broken by a loud snap, and with a wave of relief, Krista sucked in a deep breath.

And immediately choked on her own spit.

Or blood.

She wasn't sure which.

But she kind of wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

Because choking on spit was just embarrassing.

And wouldn't that be a fitting end? Death by spit a month out from the Southern Continent. Not taken out by anyone but herself.

Maybe D.

She was okay with that.

Maybe D would kill her quickly.

There was no telling what would happen to her if the creeps that wanted her got their sweaty little hands on her.

This.

This was more what she'd hoped for.

It was a different day.

Different terrain.

More tropical than anything else.

And regardless of the moisture clinging to and slicking their skin, she'd somehow managed to bind D's arms. Her elbows digging into his back and her legs wrapped around his waist. Despite the awkwardness of the position, she still felt incredibly comfortable.

"You're very nice to hug, D."

It almost sounded like he snorted.

"My only complaint is that if you were moving faster, I wouldn't have managed this."

"Are you ready to speed things up?" he asked.

She wasn't so sure. "Maybe."

But it was needed.

Things had been quiet the past month, but she could feel the upcoming trouble. They all could.

Erembour roughhoused more. On edge. Needing to release his nervous energy. D and Hand pushed for a bit more training.

Otherwise, they'd probably be on the other continent already.

Instead, everything was taking twice as long.

"Okay. Let's speed it up."

She immediately regretted saying such a thing.

Aside from the occasional bout of playful energy that fostered a shift, Krista still had not discovered the secret to shifting.

Sometimes it hurt a bit less when she had a full belly, but it was still painful. And did not take away from the fact that she could not always control how far she shifted.

However, no matter how much she tried to just feel her way to a shift, it did not work.

It always had to be brought on by a strong emotion.

She'd be happy when they found the tribe.

With a groan, Krista stretched out on the ground with Erembour. The furred skin on her back rippling in agitation. Thinking that she was, perhaps, a bit too warm.

It did not deter her from immediately crawling over to D once he settled.

She gently pressed her head into his side and waited. Breathing deep. Attempting to find the way to her Human form.

Being calm helped.

As she closed her eyes to find that calm, she found herself drifting. Eyes jerking about as mud filled her vision.

It burned.

Slicking her skin and filling her in ways she couldn't describe.

In ways she absolutely did not care for.

She jerked herself out of the sludge.

And immediately wanted to flee.

Maybe vomit.

Amidst all that muck was a person. Perhaps a woman. Skin bubbled and deteriorating. But not in the sense that her flesh was rotting. Just in the sense that the substance surrounding her (devouring her) was eating away at it.

And as the woman convulsed with a gurgling moan, the strange mud pulsing in thick ribbons from between her exposed teeth, Krista finally fled.

Attempted to memorize the town and its surrounding geography.

If she looked hard enough, she could see the mountain range they currently occupied.

Her gaze snapped up to the sun.

She had their next destination.

They couldn't avoid these people forever. Leaving them to their own devices was a death sentence for people such as that woman. And while she might be the cause (by proxy), she absolutely refused to stand by or run this time.

But why did things have to happen when all was quiet?

The moon was high in the sky when D awoke with a start. Lurid light coursing through his eyes as they snapped down to study the girl stretched across his lap. Her lips smooshed open as she softly breathed.

And while she looked very cute…

"… another memory?"

D could for certain say that was a negative.

The energy was entirely different. Nothing like those times.

It was wrong.

Worrying.

He called her name.

Lifted her.

Patted her cheek.

Rubbed his fist vigorously against her sternum.

But she did not rouse. Not even the slightest bit. Her body was slack in his hold. Head lolling back over his arm.

Without a word, under the Demon's concerned gaze, D pressed his left hand to her chilled forehead. Eyes distant as they searched.

Nothing.

"Damn it."

Did they dare to press further? Dig for her and risk injuring her?

Or should they pray to God that she wasn't gone?

Perhaps God would listen.

Just this once.