Thread: Nevermore: Neither Here Nor There (Haru & Mally)

Straton had chuckled. It's just a disguise girl, a cover story. Besides, if anyone sees under that cloak to what you're wearing, then it's all for nothing. Those people are liable to burn you alive or hang you. If you're lucky. Vivisection is more likely. he had told her, his gaze serious. You only have to stomach it while we're in the city. Maybe hang on my arm in the right circumstance. he had told her. Though now those words echoed hollowly if he was not able to return. ---------- Straton had little choice but to confront the hellbeast. They were not known for their intelligence, instead relying on instinct. Or command. They were powerful though, and he bared his teeth, snarling as he invoked his change, fur sprouting along limbs as bone and muscle shifted and grew. Internal organs changed and shifted as well, perceptions already more than human sharpened even further. In mere moments Straton had changed, the blade that had been so large before seeming much more fitting for his size now, and the hellbeast paused. It had raised its head as he'd changed, sensing something in the air, and it circled now, the girl forgotten. The hellbeast didn't rattle Straton. He could handle it. Even two. Much more than that and things might be different, though what concerned him was that they hardly ever wandered this close to the cities. The villages and smaller towns perhaps. Snag a cow or two, maybe a stray dog. But this close to Bladecrest raised questions, and most assuredly the beast was on a leash. Not waiting for it to close he leapt, sword flashing dully under the light of the burgeoning moon, and the blade landed true, driving deep through the carapace of the beast, which howled in pain and fury, shaking violently. It managed to dislodge Straton and the shifted animorph wrenched the blade free, ichor dripping from the beast, the ground smoking and hissing where the blood fell, grass dying. The enchanted blad Straton wielded was immune to such effect, the blood dripping from the blade without marking the metal, though still had the same effect as it hit the ground. Normal swords would melt under the abuse - another reason the beasts were so dangerous. Best to attack from a distance, though good luck getting an arrow to penetrate that armor. Drawing the shorter sword at the small of his back Straton charged the hellbeast, and steel drew sparks along its flank, failing to penetrate, though the beast whirled quickly, tail snapping out and trying to flay open Straton's flesh. The animorph saw the strike, dancing back from the blow and in retaliation thrust the smaller sword into the face of the beast, impaling it through one of its 'eyes', the sensory organs it used to see and smell with. A shriek of pain this time, and it was cut short as Straton twisted the blade and the beast fell, the constant smoke it emitted slowly dying as the literal fire in it was quenched, pouring out through that pierced opening. Straton withdrew his blade, wiping off the blood on the grass and sheathing his large sword to use the smaller to slice opn the beast and cut out its heart. The heart of a hellbeast would fetch him a pretty penny, and no use letting it go to waste. Now that the fire within had been quenched it could be handled like any other animal, and Straton was soon trotting back down the hill and toward the city. Though in the heat of things, and in his haste to be rejoined with the girl lest any harm come to her, he'd neglected to change back and showed up at the gate in his alternate form. Standing at the gate Straton looked up at those on the parapets and they recognized him, opening the gates to let him in. Casting his gaze about for the girl, Straton spotted her and moved to her. I told you I would come back for you. he told her. The close to eight foot tall feline figure held Straton's voice, and wore his bright blue pendant, though had physically changed.