:[PRP]: Happy Hunting

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera continued her march until she reached the outskirts of the dangerous forest. She'd never been this close before and paused as she approached. She couldn't quite place it but something was very very wrong with this forest, she could feel it deep down in her bones.

The silence surrounding the gathering of trees was eerie and oppressing. It seemed almost as if the forest was waiting to pounce on her the moment she entered its domain. Second doubts started to enter her thoughts and she cast around feebly for an excuse.

But turning around she saw the male demon close behind. She sighed. She'd have to go in after all. She realized she didn't even know his name...if he had one at all that is. Figuring it was a good stalling tactic, when he got close she asked.

"What's your name, demon?"

 

[Teigra]

Kane still wore the snarl he aimed at the bat-creature when he whirled back to face the femme. Any other Pae'il might have been insulted by her tone, but not Kane. He saw no use for pleasantries in his life and expected none in return. In fact, he preferred if no one wasted his time with them.

"Kane,' he answered, pronouncing the two simple syllables and dropping the sneer, but still keeping his eyes narrowed. Something evil lurked in that forest and he didn't intend to let it take him by surprise if it were stupid enough to decide to attack him.

He turned his head, looking deep into the inky blackness of Dragnid. His eyes could see further into the darkness than hers could...but still, he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Not yet at least.

"You...whatever your name is. There's still time, you know. You can turn around and go back." He'd never forced her to take this...'dare' thing, or whatever she called it. He certainly wasn't going to go all soft on her either though. If she wanted to back down and leave, what did he care?  

[[chainedfaye]]

"My name is Alaera" the female demon retorted back. Contrary to her attitude she was kinda starting to like this guy. Not that she'd ever admit it, but it was nice to talk to someone else. Especially someone you weren't responsible for. And to have a conversation, er well exchange insults, without the mention of gardens or pumpkins. She sighed inwardly. This demon girl needed to get out more.

"Pft. I'm not going to go back on a challenge. Besides it's only three seconds. What can possibly happen in three seconds?" Cocky and full of attitude she stepped just inside of the forest, the shadow of the trees falling over her. She turned around and stared triumphantly at Kane.

"1....2...."

 

[Teigra]

"Fine then...Alaera." Kane was only half paying attention to the demon femme at this point. The tension in the air was almost tangible; in fact, he swore he could smell it. His senses were on high alert as he continued scanning the area. It was doubtful that anyone else could tell, but he was tensed and ready to react immediately to the least stimulus.

'What could happen in three seconds?'

Not a good question to ask when referring to Dragnid on a normal day, and this was far from a normal day.

As Alaera entered the forest, Kane's eyes darted back to her. But, it wasn't her he was watching anymore. The shadow of the forest fell over her form and she started counting.

Kane growled. He hadn't imagined it. He never imagined things. That shadow had moved.

The sound of cracking tree limbs confirmed his suspicions only a second later. Leaping forward with wings flared and claws bared, Kane snarled, "MOVE! NOW!"  

[[chainedfaye]]

{{I'm so sorry Teig, Alaera been a bit of a hollywood diva lately. She simply refuses to come and play. I had to call her agent and tell her if she didn't show up for work today she was fired, and well she did but her performance if obviously lacking }}

The word three had barely left her mouth when his shout stole her attention away. "What? Why?" Alaera asked while turning around in an attempt to discover exactly what it was that had the demon's undies in a knot.

 

[Teigra]

((*chuckles* No problem, Faye. I know what divas these Paes can be sometimes... wink ))

Growling savagely, Kane ignored Alaera's questions and leapt into the air, soaring on flared wings. He seemed aimed for Alaera if one didn't know better. Instead, he shoved her roughly aside and collided with a shadowy form in mid-air.

With a series of savage snarls and ear-splitting screeches, the two forms hit the ground and rolled deeper into the forest. Tossing about leaves, dirt, and who knew what else that lay on the dark forest's floor, the two creatures scrabbled and scrambled, each trying to get the upper hand on the other. To anyone else watching, claws and teeth flashed as the forms whirled in battle with nearly supernatural speed and agility.

For once...Kane was concerned. He hadn't even gotten a good enough look at his foe to know what he was fighting, and the smell wasn't one he recognized. He thought it resembled one he'd sensed before...some sort of monkey, but there was something wrong. There was a stronger scent, underlying that of a primate...something dark and musky...unfamiliar and unnerving.

That wasn't all that had the feral feline concerned. This foe hadn't seemed all that impressive at first, but now locked in battle, he realized that even his speed and agility were being matched. No one had ever matched him before. He'd never expected that anyone would. This could end badly if he wasn't careful...

Hissing as claws raked deeply across his back, Kane whirled around and instinctually sank his fangs into his attacker. Claws latched into his foe, he hung on for as long as he could stand, despite the foul odor and taste assaulting his senses. Just when he thought he was about to be sick from the disgusting creature's taste, Kane was thrown and the beast broke away. He hadn't gotten away easily though, as Kane's death grip hadn't been broken...merely torn away. Kane skidded in the dirt, landing on all fours with wings flared and tail whipping to stabilize his landing. Turning his head to the side, Kane spit a bit of the repulsive creature's flesh onto the ground, his eyes never leaving his foe.

His senses had been right on target, it seemed. The beast was some sort of monkey...a primate at least, though it seemed a bit...off. Almost if the creature were warped or...perverted by some sadistic twist of nature. Surveying its wounds, the creature screeched angrily at Kane before turning and dashing off to a side path. While it might appear that Kane had won the skirmish, he saw the truth in the creature's eyes and in its scent. It was scared. It hadn't come out of the forest to attack them directly; it had been running from something and they'd gotten in its way. In its panic, it must have mistaken them for its pursuer and put forth a desperate attempt to fight back. Upon realizing its mistake, it had simply decided it was more important to keep moving...though he'd obviously wanted to have the last word.

Kane's pride wouldn't allow him to admit it, but in all honesty, he probably couldn't have won an all-out fight with the thing anyway. Staggering a bit as he climbed to his feet, he glanced down at himself and snarled. He was covered from head to toe with deep, jagged gashes and bite marks. Blood dripped from his wounds...his claws...his fangs...

Darkness played at the edges of his vision and he grabbed his head in both hands as he closed his eyes against the dizziness. Something was wrong...  

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera watched the battle with horror in her eyes. She had never seen a creature so so bizarrely hideous before. What in the world was it?? Even more terrifying was the fact that she wasn't sure Kane was going to win! The two opponents seemed fairly evenly matched. Alaera stood ready with her claws out. She wanted to help but was smart enough to realize she'd only get in the way. Not like she even knew how to fight in the first place. She silently cursed herself for letting her cockiness get them into this mess in the first place.

Once the creature had run away, Alaera's eyes scanned the forest to make sure it didn't return. After a moment she clapped, jumping up in down in celebration. She turned to Kane starting to congratulate him on his victory, when her heart told her something was wrong with him. Sure he had wounds, but she didn't think that was something that would seriously impair the feral demon she had met. It was something else...perhaps the creature had been poisonous!! She rushed over to Kane, and placed his arm around her neck for support, ignoring the massive quantities of blood but trying to be careful of his wounds. "Come on, we need to get those wounds cleaned before they get infected." She paused to add "Or worse."

 

[Teigra]

The pain! Not only from his wounds, but his head...

Adrenaline pulsed through his veins, making it difficult for the feral male to focus. He was breathing heavily, struggling to deal with the pain and the strange feelings threatening to overwhelm him. Kane growled, fighting to cling to the last of his control...and watching helplessly as it slipped through his claws anyway.

Pain. Blood. Darkness. Fury.

An enemy! Kane tensed and snarled viciously, retractable claws shooting out from his fingertips as his hands left his head and he prepared to face his foe. Another one so soon after the last! Foolish creatures! They dared to challenge the great cat? No one faced the tiger and survived...

He lashed out angrily, shoving his new foe as far away as possible. He needed room...room to fight.

Hunt...

Crouching low, he flared his wings wide with claws and fangs bared, ready to fight.

Food...?

Would this foe be good prey? Was it tasty?

Fight...

No, it wasn't prey. Just another foe, challenging his strength. It would learn its mistake soon enough.

Kill...  

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera cried out as she was flung from the demon, her head swimming. She growled ferociously. What the hell was his problem? She looked up into his eyes, seeing a red glare that normal wasn't there. Something was wrong a tiny part of her mind screamed but she ignored it. No, she was mad now.

He was the one that attacked her in the first place. He was the one that challenged her. He was the one was making her prove her worth. He was the one who stole her fight from the creature - it wanted her not him. And now he was the one shoving her out of the way when she was just trying to help.

Well screw him! Why would she wanted to help that lowlife rodent anyway! No, better to just kick his a** and finally show him who's boss around here! Her hand clenched up into a fist. He was weak, injured. She could smell the blood even from here. Strangely her senses seemed intensified, she could hear him breathing from across the clearing, smell the iron in his blood, see the sweat drip from his skin. All at once it was so overwhelming, yet so wonderful. She swore she could even feel her claws growing, longer, stronger, and her fangs sharpening dangerously.

Power. It flowed through her veins like electricity. This was what she had been searching for, this feeling. This high. She took it into her and wrapped it about herself lovingly. Still that voice back there was screaming, sharply, shrilling, distracting her from her purpose.

"Dominate him. Control him" the voice in the front of her mind whispered lovingly as it caressed her thoughts. Yes. That was the voice she liked. The female demon cocked her head. "Hurt him?" she asked the voice.

"Yesssss" it whispered back. "Make him yours and you will be even more powerful. Stronger." The voice taunted her with images of what her future might hold if she were able to defeat Kane. Her, all powerful, leading the demon around on a leash while others bowed before her.

A wicked grin spread across Alaera's face. "I think I like that idea." With agility and grace she didn't know she possessed she picked herself up off the ground, lowering into a crouch, claws at the ready. She cracked her neck and narrowed her eyes, waiting.

Waiting.

 

[Teigra]

Snarling, the blue demon began to circle. The thing challenged him! He could smell it in her scent. Aggression. Fury. Anger.

That only fueled his own adrenaline rush. He'd show her...this was his territory. Not hers. No interloper moved in on his lands. Growling softly, he prepared to leap...

'NO!'

He froze; an odd look for a catlike Pae'il preparing to leap. What was that? A voice? Where did it come from? He looked around, searching for the source before he realized...it came from inside his own head.

'Stop that, you damned fool! That's not food! You're acting like a dumbass!'

He shook his head, snarling. Stupid voice from nowhere. Go away! He had fighting to do! The scent of blood was nearly driving him wild; even the scent of his own blood was intoxicating. He was nearly out of his mind...and that's when the pain set in again.

The pain was so severe...it distracted him from both the scent of blood and from his waiting foe. It went far enough...to clear his head, if only momentarily.

"N-no..." His knees hit the ground hard, his hands clutching his head tightly. His eyes were still bloodshot as slitted pupils darted towards the female demon. "A...lae...ra..." he managed to growl, as though it were becoming more and more difficult to form words. His voice was harsher than normal, sounding like it was being forced through his vocal cords. Almost...grating. "Run! N-now, you fool! C-can't...control...AHH!"

Normally, Kane wasn't one to be vocal, but in this case, his scream of pain was almost...unearthly, echoing through the dark forest. It sounded more like a sound that would come from one of the unknown beasts of Dragnid than from a Pae'il. Falling on all fours once more, he barely noticed that his hands seemed to shimmer for a moment...his claws emerging not from hands...but from paws...  

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera looked down at the demon in scorn as it feel to its knees. How weak. How pathetic. It didn't even put up a decent fight. It wasn't even worthy of being her pet, though she did rather like that it was bowing to her already.

It unsettled her though when the demon called out her name. That was her name right? Her mind seemed too befuddled to be absolutely certain but something about it spoke to her. "Alaera" she repeated almost emptily as if trying to remember who she was, completely lost now in her instincts. A shimmery image came into her mind but was immediately chased away by the soft gentle whispering voice. "Kill him, he is not worthy of your greatness."

Alaera shrugged "Ok." Might as well get it done while he was weak, she had better things to spend her energy on. "Run? Why would I run" she asked the creature, a cruel smile on her face as she looked down upon him. Now was the time. She raced forward with her claws extended, intending on slicing him from ear to toe when his cry echoed painfully through her head, splitting it in two. Some part of his cry retained the essence of humanity in it and it called out to the buried part of her mind, allowing it to resurfacing, as loud and shrill as before. Only this time the other voice in her head, the soothing, whispering one started screaming back at it. Confusing, she slid past Kane, claws still extended, scratching his face as she went by, before coming to a stop.

Her head ached for some reason she thought as she looked around her. Where was she? The smell of something foul reached her nose, and she looked down at her claws to discover blood. Blood? But who's was it? She looked around frantically afraid she had hurt someone. She spotted him just a few feet away, covered in blood. But something didn't seem right. "Kane?" She called out with hesitation. What was going on. Why did her head hurt so much?

"Run" the voice screamed out in her head, this time sounding strangely like Kane's. "Run" it repeated "Escape the forest!"

"Nooo, stay with here with usss " whispered the other voice, back to being soothing as before. But this time Alaera didn't trust it even as it eased the pain in her head - something wasn't right here. She looked back at Kane and knew the other voice was right. She had to get out of here - both of them.

Taking her unbloodied hand she slashed it deeply across her arm, letting the blood pool up before allowing it to drip onto the ground. She briefly wondered when her claws had gotten so long, but let the thought slip away. Hopefully he would follow the blood trail.

She started to run, headed toward the beach. She just hoped she got out of the forest before Kane caught up with her.

 

[Teigra]

The scratch barely registered in the demon's consciousness. Though it was deep, it was only one more wound on top of the numerous ones he already sported from his earlier battle. Plus, he had other things on his mind at the moment.

His screech echoed through the forest even as his vocal cords gave out. His throat was raw from his primal scream and wouldn't make another sound for now, though the pain was far from over. Suffering in relative silence, Kane collapsed to his hands and knees once more after a failed attempt to stand. He couldn't rise from all-fours, and while this stance was far from unfamiliar, it was growing increasingly more comfortable as the pain swelled. His tail lashed wildly in the air, losing its barbed tip and growing uniformly round. Fur seemed to ripple down his body, starting from his head and moving all the way down to his hands and feet...which soon became paws. His wings had long laid flat and simply disappeared into his back, leaving the demon completely earthbound. A vicious snarl erupted from his curled lips and slitted-eyes darted back and forth, surveying the forest. No longer remotely Pae'il in appearance, Kane had become the beast he'd always believed himself to be...or at least tried to convince others. While the process may have been fascinating for any observers to watch, it was painful as all hell. Kane was not happy.

Blood. There was prey nearby. Wounded prey.

Growling softly, the blue tiger sniffed the ground, quickly determining the scent of another mixing with the scent of his own blood. He focused intensely on this scent, pinpointing it among so many others and also the direction in which it faded. Crouching briefly, he tensed his muscles and twitched his tail before bounding off after the retreating figure. He could sense the nearby water. He had to catch her before she reached the water and he lost her scent. Much harder to track that way. He put on a burst of speed, aiming to close the gap quickly. He could smell her...hear her...almost taste her...  

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera had never been one for cursing but now seemed like as good as time as any as she repeated the mantra of "shitshitshitshitshit" as she ran for her life. Panting breathless, her heart beating frantically within her chest as she fled, her only hope to reach the water. She could hear barely hear him behind her through the battle going on in her head, the two voices now screaming at each other - one yelling in triumph as she got further away from the forest, the other demanding she go back to turn around and fight. The only thing keeping that part of her mind from winning was the realization that Kane had turned into something much more dangerous, something she had no chance against now. She hadn't dared look back, but she could felt the change in him. What was following her now wasn't Kane anymore. Not really.

And whatever he was now, he was catching up fast. Much too fast. If she didn't move it, she was really going to be that lunch he had first took her for. She just had to reach the lake! She unfolded her wings and spread them out, using them to glide her feet barely touching the ground. Scenery flew past her, branches frequently reaching out to grab her, slow her down, make her their prisoner. But she eluded them panic driving her onward though the female soon became scratched all over from their attempts. She was actually scared now, something she had almost never been before. The feeling was new and unwelcome.

She finally broke through the trees of the forest and onto the grasslands before the beach of the lake. The Lake! She could see the lake. So close. Just a few more feet. She was quickly running out of steam but poured all her remaining strength into that last sprint, desperate to escape.

 

[Teigra]

The tiger's anger and fury faded the further he ran, trying to close in on his prey. So close...and yet she pulled away again. Even he was growing tired and his many wounds weren't helping matters. Fueled only by his desperate hunger now, he bounded over a fallen log and plunged doggedly on. He had to catch her before she reached the water and he lost her scent.

He could smell her blood, her fear, her sweat...the scent grew stronger, nearly overwhelming his sensitive nose. Growling softly, he put on another burst of speed, closing the gap.

His stomach pained him greatly...but that was no match for the pain that was swelling again in his head. Beyond the call for violence, death, and therefore food, a small voice shouted, straining to be heard. It was as if the warring voices were causing the pain with their constant bickering and shouting.

Kill...

No!

Feed...

You damned fool!

The large feline's pace didn't waiver, though he blinked oddly. That last voice had been much louder than it had been before...and such a strange thing to say. He could see her now...so close...but he was distracted.

Don't slow...chase...leap...kill...

Stop this insane chase and listen to me, dammit! You're not an animal!

There was sand beneath his paws now, and despite the louder, more enticing voice that urged him to satisfy his hunger, the tiger slowed. Something about the second voice caught his attention...or at least his curiosity. He could still see his prey. He hadn't lost her and wouldn't...even if he waited a moment to see what this new voice had to say.

His head cocked to the side in obvious confusion as he continued listening to the warring voices, waiting to see which would give the more convincing argument as he kept both eyes on his prey.  

[[chainedfaye]]

Alaera was running blindly now, exhaustion overcoming her quickly. She had long ago used up the last of her remaining energy and was now only driven by sheer panic and the adrenaline. Thankfully the voices in her head had finally quieted down some, one disappearing almost entirely the closer she got to the water of the lake. The emptiness in her head left her feeling disorientated and dizzy though, not a good thing when running for your life.

"Water" her voice cried out weakly. She didn't know why she wanted water only that it was what the other voice in her head kept telling her to do. She obeyed meekly not sure what else she could even do.

The demon was still running, though without direction, lost in her state of confusion. She could feel the sand beneath her feet as she stumbled along and her mind sharpened for a moment. Looking down at herself she realized she was covered in blood. Blood? How did that happen she thought wearily. You should wash it off her brain added before the fog slipped back in place. She felt strange. So strange. Raising a hand up to steady her head, she noticed that her arm was not just covered in blood but actually bleeding. She blinked at it owlishly, searching in her mind for when it had been injured, though no answer came to her.

The sand beneath her feet felt wet now and she looked down in surprise. Where was she? But before she could discover the answer, her foot sand down deep into the wet sand and she fell, hearing a snap and her ankle starting to throb painfully. The waves of pain seemed to break her out of her fog and she cried out as her senses where returned so forcefully on her. Awkwardly managing to sit up, her foot still stuck in the sand trap, she looked about to see some sort of beast stalking nearby.

The memories flooded back to her and she recoiled from the strength of the hate she had felt. Had she really thought those things? Was she really going to hurt Kane? Sure he had been a bit rough to her, but she had meant to kill him. Or make him her slave.

"Kane?" she questioned almost hesitantly.