++Smooth Criminal++

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus jumped off his horse, walking through the lush grass in search of something, anything and finding nothing. It was unerving really, being out in the open. It was the opposite of claustrophobic. There was no corner to back into. No shadows to melt into. No where to hide. "There's nothing here," he called. "It's just...empty."

Myfi slid from the horse slowly, landing in the grass. She leaned against the horse, stroking it softly and not looking up at anyone else.

[DemonicFox99]

Kette watched her nervously eye the empty landscape. "What is this place?"

Sylryl didn't look back at him as she unsaddled her horse, "These are the wastelands... the barren equivalent of a desert. Just outside the rim begins the outskirts of the city. Another two days ride should put us there."

The demon began to unsaddle his horse as well letting it graze close by. As the sun continued to lower in the sky, the wind picked up causing a cold chill to spread through the group. He sighed muttering to himself, "...so not gonna get any sleep out here."

Sylryl allowed her horse to graze as well, "We'll have to take turns playing look out for the next couple of nights." She glanced at Myfi and Casticus becoming more serious than was normal for her.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus nodded in agreement. "I'll take the first watch if you want. I'm not that tired." He returned to the group, quickly unsaddling his horse as well and taking blankets from his pack. He held one out to Myfi who took it listlessly and began to lay out a bed for herself...far away from Kette. She sat down on it, wrapping her cloak tightly around herself and looking at the grass around her. Very carefully, with patience and skill, she began weaving the grass together boredly.

[DemonicFox99]

Night fell on the group fast. Sylryl restlessly wandered the makeshift camp only stopping to sit and sharpen her axe every few minutes. She figured she'd stay awake with Casticus since she wouldn't be about to sleep.

Kette slept several yards from the group directly on the grass with his head leaned against his saddle. He absentmindedly drew circles in the dirt feeling isolated.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus sat cross-legged, eyes darting around nervously at every small movement inthe dark grass. One of his hands was constantly on one of his prized sickles. Every once in a while, the kelpie would find his eyes wandering to the elf pacing about the camp and he wouldhave to shake his head to keep his focus on the task at hand. He sighed, arching and stretching his back to hear it crack with a distinct "pop!"

Myfi slept in fitful burst on the opposite end of camp from Kette. She had her cloak clutched tightly in her hands and her eyes were shut tightly in panic. Strange dreams of emptiness and breathlessness plagued the selkie, as though she were falling and right before she hit the ground she would jerk awake.

[DemonicFox99]

Every living creature in entire area seemed to vanish. There were no sounds of tiny lizards or toads, or even midnight bugs chirping their eerie songs. The elf suddenly stopped pacing, "That's not good.." She whispered picking up her axe. The silence was almost too painful to bear.

Kette was sleeping very lightly, oblivious to everything.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus stood up slowly, trying not to make a sound and drawing his sickles. He softly crept to the other side of the camp, circling it with the elf like a vulture to carrion. Or perhaps more like a lion protecting its young. "I don't hear anything..." he whispered. His eyes were trained on the still grass, even the breeze seemed to be fearful.

[DemonicFox99]

"Exactly." She continued to watch as far as her vision would allow her. "Stay quiet." She glanced between Kette and Myfi making sure they were alright. Suddenly hearing a noise she held up her axe, body still as stone. Slowly she backed towards Kette trying to protect him but froze instantly after looking at Casticus. Panicking slightly she touched his thoughts.

Dont... Move....

A burning cold huff of air brushed against the back of the kelpie's neck followed by a low grumble. Behind him a pair of glowing red eyes pierced the inky darkness high above his head.

[Rikku_Feline]

Caticus did as he was told, standing perfectly still. Every muscle in his body was tensed, as if poised to leap away or take a blow if necesary. His eyes were wide as his fingers twitched on the handles of the sickles. What...is...it? he thouight, breathing heavy as he felt the burning breath run down his spine. Terror gripped him as he realized he was at whatever it was's mercy.

[DemonicFox99]

Two more huffing breaths could be heard on either side of the group, beside Myfi's sleeping form and above Kette's. Two pairs of red eye followed the breaths of air, they towered over the sleeping ones, one would occasionally stomp impatiently all three shrouded in darkness. Sylryl frantically touched Myfi and Kette's thought.

Wake up and don't move or make a sound...

Kette only opened his eyes looking up at the creature above him biting his lip to keep from making a sound. A long silence passed before the one behind Casticus spoke in a deep ominous voice.

Brothers.... we have stumbled upon a feast...

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi's eyes flew open as all the breath was ripped from her lungs. The terrifyingly bright, terrifyingly close red eyes were over her. She was shaking, trying to keep her breathing even as she tried to convince herself it was a dream.

Casticus was still in the same position. His eyes darted to Myfi and the eyes nearest to her, fearing for her safety. His instincts were to run to save her, but he knew that movement spelled death.

[DemonicFox99]

Sylryl gripped her axe tightly.

Casticus... get Myfi to safety... I've got your back....

Kette could hear the conversation as well and readied himself to escape when she gave the signal. He tensed his hand ready to grab his gun at any second.

Now!

She sprung towards Casticus hoping he would duck out of the way in time and swung at the creature. However, it lept out of the way watching her skid gracefully through the grass.

The demon somersaulted upwards slamming his foot into the jaw of the creature and barrel rolled away from it into the grass. It screeched horribly shaking its massive head back and forth as if it were stunned.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus sprang away, scooping the selkie into his arms without missing a beat before throwing her over his shoulder in the most dignified way possible and using his free hand to wield his sickle. Myfi, in a rather awkward postion, managed to draw her shortsword fromt he belt hanging onher waist. She held it with both hands, watching behind Casticus incase one tried to leap at him from his blindspot, not that she could really do much good from his shoulder.

[DemonicFox99]

The creatures watched each of them chuckling to themselves before one stomped its feet and let out an awful whinnying sound fire erupted from its mouth, setting the dry grass a blaze around them. In the orange glow of the fire the creatures could be seen for what they were.

Standing nearest to Sylryl was a fiery red horse, slender but still twice as large as any normal horse. It's eyes still flickered red with hunger as and it's teeth were more numerous and sharp than those of a shark. Scars littered its body and spikes grew from its hooves.

Closer to Casticus and Myfi was a similar horse only a pale yellow. It breathed raspily as though it struggled for air. It flung its head restlessly staring down the much smaller beings.

Stomping angrily the third horse stood before a horrified Kette, shinning a brilliant white in the light of the fire. Its awful breath wreaked of rotting flesh.

The elf spoke her voice almost giving away her fear, "Podagros..." She spoke it with awe and disdain. The creature's voice was evil and deep as he laughed.

You call me by name elf... as if you know me... how disrespectful...

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi looked around at the horse, reminded suddenly of the kelpie. These horses' twisted forms drew up images of the sickly, deranged looking Casticus in his other forms. Suddenly she felt that she could breathe easier, despite knowing they were still in danger. Casticus also looked a bit more at ease, knowing what he was dealing with now at least. He growled low, savage blue eyes moving from horse to horse.

"What are they...?" whispered Myfi, voice shaking with her still remaining fear.