++Smooth Criminal++

[DemonicFox99]

Sylryl spoke without moving her eyes from those of the one called Podagros. "They are the demon horses of Diomedes.... They thrive on humanoidal flesh." The red one flung his head back half whinnying half bursting with laughter. "And... we're on their menu."

Without warning the pale yellow horse galloped towards them, half crazed with hunger and snapped its jaws at the kelpie.

Also the white horse raced towards Kette knocking him to the ground stomping his already injured ribs. He curled up in pain scrambling to his feet trying to get out of the way.

Podagros lunged for the elf who managed to tumble out of the way while still keeping her grace. But before she could recover the horse had bitten down on her shoulder and began to toss its head trying to rip the flesh from her torso. She gasped in pain clinging to the horse's head hoping to keep her arm attached to her body.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus jumped out of the way at the last second, being knocked off balance by the sudden attack. He stumbled, thankully not falling and turned his attention to the others. "SYLRYL!" he cried, seeing the elf being flung to and fro like a ragdoll. He sprang into action, running forward as fast as possible in hopes of at least distracting the creature. He slashed as hard as he could as the creatures shoulder, feeling the blade at least tearing through some flesh, though probably not injuring it much. "Try someone of your own kind!" he cried, turning to face the creature.

Myfi, still perched on Casticus's shoulder, could only hope for the best at this point. She glanced around the impromptu battlefield, catching sight of the demon.

[DemonicFox99]

The horse screamed horribly in pain and released the elf backing away to regain itself. Sylryl dropped to the ground clutching her shoulder which bled profusely.

Unbeknown to Casticus the wheat colored horse has approached him from behind with it's eyes on Myfi. Kette noticed the horse's approach as gasped, "Myfi.." He desperately grabbed his gun to race towards the horse firing several shots into it's side hoping to draw it away from her. It screeched and flailed as if only chasing away a bee as the white horse charged the distracted demon.

[Rikku_Feline]

"BEHIND YOU!" cried the selkie, pointing her sword at the fast approaching horse behind the fire demon. Her eyes were wide in fear as she watched the white horse move closer.

Casticus rushed over to the elf, kneeling down beside her placing Myfi on her feet. "Are you alright?" he said worriedly, eyes constantly flicking from her to the horses to watch if one neared them.

[DemonicFox99]

With Myfi's help he managed to dodge the white horse jumping and scrambling between the two trying his damnedest to keep from getting bitten. They cried out full of blood lust as his bullets did nothing more than sting them. They were wearing him down fast.

The red one thrashed until it regained his senses, as if it had gone temporarily mad. His sights where now on the elf who's blood had tasted irresistibly sweet to the demonic equine. Suddenly another large horse tore through the two fighting over Kette kicking them hard in the chest and jaw causing them to back down. Shimmering black with a long black mane that draped its face, it stomped and reared furiously at Podagros. Suddenly the three horses calmed down seeming to be in awe and terror. Snapping it's sharp teeth it drove the others away from the group. After the threat had passed the beast stood still watching them flee. What was left of the moon glimmered across his coat like a black water fall, and the breeze tussled its mane and tail gently.

Terrified as he was, the creature seemed familiar to Kette. He opened his mouth to speak but Sylryl beat him to it. "Deinus the terrible," She whispered. She sounded so sure of herself, Kette suddenly thought it silly that he recognized this horrid thing. There was no way right? He hadn't even heard of these man-eating horses, so how could this one be familiar to him. He needed sleep was all.

After the elf had spoke its name the beast galloped off to be swallowed by the darkness. Silence came over them again. Kette broke it, "Is every one alright?" He stood up clutching his ribs.

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi nodded soundly, assuring the demon that she was alright. She was worried for him, but she wouldn't let any emotions show. She didn't want to be broken again. Casticus was busy fretting over the injured elf, putting pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding at least until Kette could try to help. "I'm fine," he said, not looking up. "Are you okay?" he asked Sylryl, slightly panicky.

[DemonicFox99]

Kette shoved Casticus out of the way as nicely as he felt like, feeling that all his fussing was unnecessary, and knelt in front of her. She didn't make a sound the entire time allowing the demon to drag his finger tips delicately across her pierced skin. The healing was slower and more painful than usual but it did the job. He didn't speak wanting to seem focused on the wound but he was thinking of Myfi, of how badly he wanted to press her to his chest and reassure her that he would protect her. But he was terrified she would reject him.

Sylryl showed little sign that she was in pain, she focused on her breathing to block it out fingers burrowing only slightly into the dirt.

[Rikku_Feline]

Casticus looked coldy at Kette for being shoved roughly out of the way, but said nothing. He instead turned to Myfi, asking her if she was hurt. "No," she answered simply, a lifeless quality around her words. She sheathed her sword wordlessly and looked down at the ground. She was undeniably tired, practically sleeping on her feet. She swayed dangerously to and fro until Casticus steadied her with one arm, allowing her to lean his weight on him.

"So what the hell were those things?" asked the kelpie, arm wrapped around the sleep-deprived selkie.

[DemonicFox99]

Once Kette had finished doctoring Sylryl, she glanced up at the kelpie, "They are the demonic horses of Diomedes, they roam the wastelands, attacking any one from merchants to priests, they do not discriminate nor do they seem to only like human flesh. They say that their diet of flesh is what makes them so aggressive and violent, and is the cause for their abnormal size and ability to breath fire. There are four in total, Podagros the fast, Lampon the shinning, Xanthos the blonde, and Deinus the terrible. Parents of Ighnan tell their stories to children to scare them into staying away from the wastelands. I've heard of them numerous times. Though the stories do tell of Deinus being the more horrible of them all, it is said that there were once five horses, but Deinus became angry with one of them and devoured him alive. I've heard that on nights with a full moon he grows huge leathery wings and horns, i've heard that he's the steed of the devil, no matter the story he's always the worst of them all."

"Then why would he drive the others away?" Kette tilted his head curiously.

"I dont know.. it doesn't make any sense." The fire demon stood up and began kicking the dirt beneath his feet to dig a shallow hole. In it he piled any small twigs and dead grass he could find and lit it on fire.

"I'll keep watch the rest of the night. You need to rest." He was talking to Sylryl but it intentionally was implied for Myfi as well.

[Rikku_Feline]

"Whatever they are, they're weird as hell." In reality, he was just trying to block out how much they were like him. His true nature. Before he met Myfi. Myfi made an indistinguishable sound before Casticus deftly picked her up. He laid her on a blanket, closer to the group this time, and tucked her under her own cloak. The selkie was asleep almost instantly, her soft breathing a gentle din in the silent night. Casticus looked up at the demon, asking, "You sure you want to do it alone?" He moved closer to them, offering, "I could probably stay up as well if you need me."

[DemonicFox99]

The demon only stared at him through this black and red bangs, the look on his face warning him of how painfully awkward it would be if Casticus where to stay awake with him. Sylryl tugged his shirt a little, "They probably will not attack again for tonight, and if they know we'll have a head start on them." She was still sore but managed to relax against her horse's saddle comfortably, looking up at Casticus. Kette felt a jealous knot twist tightly around his stomach every time she looked at Casticus like that. Blocking it out he watched the fire dance, glancing at the selkie every few seconds from the corner of his eye.

[Rikku_Feline]

"...alright," conceded the kelpie, laying down near the elf. He gently drew her into his arms, hoping silently tha she wouldn't push him away or something of that nature. He removed his coat, using it as a sort of makeshift blanket before laying his head down to rest.

The selkie was fast asleep, oblivious to the demon's stare. It wasn't exactly a restful sleep, but not a fitful one like before. It was simply dreamless; hollow. Her only movement was the soft rise and fall of her chest and a few locks of her hair that had fallen into her face moving with her breath. She looked like an angel in the moonlight, though slightly dissheveled. Her white dress only enhanced this effect, her silvery hari spilling over her back. Her face was calm, lips slightly parted and eyes shut.

[DemonicFox99]

The night hours passed and the demon had come to realize that the reason he had volunteered to stand guard, was that we was more afraid of his dreams than hundreds of man eating horses. Annoyed with his own patheticness he shifted restlessly but was far to pathetic to actually do anything productive. He pointed a finger towards the fire, to watch a stream of it leap casually towards his palm. He shaped it in the form of a stick and sent it to the dirt beside Myfi, it slowly drug through the grass that had been squished into the ground burning the words "I'm Sorry" next to her.

Soon the sky began to turn a lovely shade of purple signaling dawns approach, the air was chillier than it had been and the fire had gone out. He watched the selkie solemly before draping his coat over her torso to give her extra warmth, and wandered a few yards away from the camp to watch the sun rise.

[Rikku_Feline]

The selkie's eyes slowly flickered open, finding a familiar scent of ashes entering her senses. She pushed herself up with her hands, a drowsy look still on her face as she glanced at her surroundings. Looking at her covers, she noticed the coat, taking it gently into her hands as if it were fragile. She examined it before her eyes caught sight of the words burned into the grass around her. Myfi's fingers gently traced one of the letters before lifting herself to her feet and walking silently over to the demon, the coat draped around her shoulders. She stopped behind him and lowered the jacket back down over his arms. "This is yours..." she said softly, her voice soft and caring, though there was still pain from unanswered questions in her tone. She sat down beside him, gazing off into the distant horizon.

[DemonicFox99]

Kette felt his muscles tense involuntarily when the coat touched him. He slid it from his shoulders letting it fall to the ground next to her. "Keep it..." His voice was far from confident, it was soft almost weak. He forced himself to stare at sky, fearing of what would happen if he looked at her.