Chapter 4.
She shrinked back, slowly crawling away from it, it saved her from her husband, taking her love down in seconds, he was one of the best hunters, rusty as he may be, still a force to be reckoned with, yet it disproved that by taking down her husband in seconds. A single punch to her love's head and he slept like a babe, it's fist fiercely surrounded by blue sparks as it reared a fist back.
And it was looking at her.
It was a large creature, a beast, tall & gray, horns, two on each end of the skull, beset on the beasts head, as if it were the spawn of Satan (or the devil itself), a long black cape imposingly covered it's back, the beast's skin (if it even was skin) was gray and hard like, it resembled stone in color, perhaps the beast was wearing stone armor? Yet it did not seem to be hindered by it, it's chest was straight and proud, there was no hunch to indicate the weight was taking a toll, proudly, on it's chest was the shape of a bat, black and sharp, if she stared at it too long she feared the Bat may fly off the beast's chest. And it's hands, the weapon that took out her love in seconds was as fierce as she imagined it to be, three sharp spikes that curved backwards were on each gray, stone-like hand, it's knuckles had circular discs on them, they were closed.
On the beasts waist was a grey belt? There were rows of pouches on it's waist so perhaps it was a belt? A belt she's certainly never seen before. And below the waist, the legs skin were also gray and stone like in color, however it's feet were black and smooth, an interesting contrast to the stone skin (perhaps the beast's feet have hardened?)
And finally, it's gaze, the look on it's face was… angry, two blue orbs of rage stared at her, yet, curiously she sensed no anger aimed at her. However she noticed that the beast's face… contrasted the grey color of the beast's body, it looked human? (Or perhaps the beast has worn the skin of a man) the skin was no longer gray and unhealthy, now it was lively and bright, despite the dark moonlight, she could even make out a stubble.
And finally It's breaths were soft and long, it was odd, compared to it's kindred, this beast's panting was not aggressive, it's were not shallow and short, spittle and saliva did not drip it's mouth, it did not let it's teeth bare, snarling and growling as it did.
It was different.
"You're safe now."
Her eyes widened, her mouth agape in horror, surprise, & fascination.
Clear words.
It spoke 3. Clear. Words. They were not slurred, the voice did not rasp them as she had heard beasts random cries from public executions that the Healing Church held in the morning for Beasts captured.
It could talk.
Fluently.
That terrified her more.
It spoke again.
"I won't hurt you." Stepping forward as it spoke.
She crawled back faster.
"p-please!"
"Y-you can understand me!? Right?! Then please stay away!"
It stopped walking, obeying.
That surprised her.
Then it raised it's hands, palms spread, open.
"Miss, please, calm down, all I'm worried about is your safety, the streets are filled with scum, patrolling the streets, you're not safe here…"
It looked up to the darkening sky.
"No one is…"
It looked back again. It offered a hand to her.
She looked at it, then-
It's eyes?
The blue orbs became soft, gentle, she could see no rage in them.
Human, it almost looked like Human eyes.
And foolishly, she believed it.
Had someone came up to her in the past to inform that she would encounter a beast that would not only save her, defeat her husband In seconds and be sentient enough to talk.
It… would also gain her trust.
She would've thought that person to be drunk and asked her husband to escort the man to the nearest clinic.
I Guess I am that person.
And she-… and she raised her hand.
It grabbed her, gently pulling her up, like a gentleman, it placed a hand on her shoulder, it spoke again, tone soft.
"Are you injured?"
"N-No." she stuttered out.
"Good, I need to bring you back home, I can't let you go out there alone, where do you live?"
It asked where she lived.
Our daughter! She could be in danger-
Yet as if lulled by the softness of it's voice, she spoke again.
"I can show you."
"Alright…"
It paused.
"I should warn you we're not walking back."
"We shall run back?"
"No."
"Fly."
She raised her eye-
"I need you to trust me, hold on tight, and do not panic"
She did, and she would.
Grabbing her waist tightly, it pulled out a pistol, but it's design did not have a hollow barrel and was instead was replaced by a claw with three pongs, it was also larger than any pistol she ever saw.
It fired the pistol.
Instead a loud bang, and the release of smoke and ball, the claw launched, into a nearby rooftop.
"Hold on."
And she flew.
It was fast, too fast, the world was a blur, she felt something push against her face and chest as she rised.
And it was over, they stopped on a tiled rooftop, it pulled her into the center of the tiled roof, asking if she was dizzy.
She puked.
Onto the roof, the contents of her lunch being spilled out, eventually falling off the roof.
She stopped, using her wrist to wipe away any bile.
She took a deep breath, then spoke.
"My husband-"
"Will be handled, I need to get you to safety first."
And perfectly, Gascoigne left his world of dreams.
GRAHHHRRRRRRDRRRRRRDRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
It turned around, cape facing her, staring at her husband, who was thrashing in the white, sticky web like material wrapped around him, while being hanged upside down by a rope.
And with another grunt, he broke free, arms spread like a crow, axe and blunderbuss in each hand.
Gascoigne stared at the both of them.
It, seemed to twitch at her love's awareness and speed at which he spotted us.
Gascoigne then looked to his foot , tied up by the (Remote Claw) rope used to hang him, with a mighty grunt he swung at it, it hit.
It did not come undone immediately.
He swung again, and again, and again. Frustration and growl increasing at each failed attempt, he stopped.
Aiming his blunderbuss instead at the base of the tree, where the rope supported his weight.
He fired, the tree snapped, he fell back first. Letting go of his weapons to untie and loosen the rope.
Gascoigne would be free soon, I need to get his wife to safety now.
It, turned back to look at her, speaking.
"We need to go, point the direction of your house now"
"Ah! it's-"
VIOLLLAAAAAAAAAAA
Gascoigne was free?
The Dark Knight turned around, indeed he was.
And he was sprinting to the tower.
He's planning to climb it.
"Get back" ordered the Dark Knight.
Reaching into the utility belt, The Dark Knight used a glue grenade to halt his advance.
Gascoigne dashed forward.
Reaching again, The Dark Knight threw a smoke pellet to daze him.
Gascoigne, seeing the motion swatted away the projectile with the blunt end of his axe. The pellet exploding behind him.
The Dark Knight pulled out multiple Batarangs, however Gascoigne with a growl jumped onto the base of the tower, axe forward to be used as a improvised climbing tool.
He latched on, he howled
VIOOLLLAAAAAAAAAAAA
The building vibrated from the intensity of the howl, Viola covered her ears in the closer howl.
The rioters will be here soon.
The Dark Knight threw another glue grenade.
Gascoigne shot it midair, however the contents still landed on his face. He growled, attempting to remove it with the blunderbuss.
The Dark Knight growled at the not so effective effect.
Damn it, Gascoigne's pursuing us, if he's willing to climb a tower to get to Viola, I can't risk bringing her back home while being pursued, not while simply grappling, and especially with her not being used to it, I'd have to deal with him, and patrols of rioters on the streets.
I have to stop him now, and quick, Gascoigne's noise will attract rioters and thugs to this location, Gascoigne's agile and strong, fighting him won't be easy, having rioters assist him won't help me or Viola.
Gascoigne reminded the Dark Knight of Croc in some ways, only lacking in crocodile appearance.
The Dark Knight turned around to Viola again.
"Wait here."
The Caped Crusader turned around, walking to the edge of the roof.
"Wait!"
The Caped Crusader turned his neck.
"Are you going to kill him now?"
"No."
"That's not how I do things."
And the Caped Crusader dived off the edge, right fist pointed forward and roaring as Electricutioner's shock gloves came to life.
Gascoigne saw this, and leaped upwards, using his axe to propel himself.
He roared.
So did the Dark Knight.
And so Predator and Hunter met.
The fight had begun.