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"Breathing underwater must kick a**. You can go swimming with me now." She felt a tinge of happiness about this thought and sighed. Did she really want to be friends with someone, why didn't Awen run away when she pulled out the knife. Anyone else would drop her then and there.

Awen was different now, she looked odd too. Lauren didn't know how this would affect their friendship if at all. "I don't feel at peace anywhere." She revealed.

((sorry to interrupt, but continuation))

This was bad. Julian was growling at him. All Ian had done was try to help, or so he had thought he was trying to help.

He backed away from Julian slowly. Where was Cernunnos?

Ian looked to Emerwyn, she didn't appear to be doing very well either.

What would he do now? He closed his eyes and scrunched in fear, what else was there to do?

"Ian? What would be so cool about having antlers?"

"Well," the older brother responded. "No one would mess with you for one. And two, they could defend you from the bullies if they did decide to mess with you."

"Oh," James looked doubtful of Ian's sure tone. "If you say so, I personally think antlers would be horribly inconvenient as well as impossible to obtain. You go ahead and live in your dream life. I have to go study."

Ian watched as James went to their bedroom and sighed. He knew it was impossible, but one could dream right?

Defend himself. . . Ian's eyes snapped open and he looked right at Julian, perhaps these antlers could defend him, as he had once so proudly said to his younger brother.

Emerwyn didn't know what to do. She couldn't let either of them get hurt.

She sat there, legs weak, voice completely shot.

Her eyes travelled to Ian. He was thinking of something. Panicked.
He had to defend himself somehow... He was very capable, in his new form. Those rock-hard hooves, those sharp, long antlers...

And Julian. Poised as he was, ready to pounce, to strike. His claws and teeth bared.

Both were dangerous. Dangerous to each other. But Emerwyn wouldn't have it. She wouldn't let either of them get hurt.

With a look of strern determination on her face, Emerwyn forced herself quickly up to her feet, and rushed between the two of them, not facing either one of them, standing still, her arms slightly raised. Her face was grave, and it was not afraid.

But Julian backed up a pace, his head lowering. He...he didn't want to hurt Emerwyn.

"...I don't want to rend your head from your shoulders...please...move...."

He stood up a bit, hunched over and balanced on the balls of his feet.

"...rend your head from your shoulders...please...move...."

Ian felt sick. The leaf he had eaten earlier churned uneasily in his stomach.

Emerwyn didn't move, she stood there, trying to protect both of them. Ian lowered his arm and stared at her wondering what the heck he was doing.

His breath came easier and the smell left his nostrils. He would still fight Julian of need be, but as long as Emerwyn was in the way he would do nothing.

Confused, the deer instincts in him made him roar in distress and he staggered backwards a few steps, staring at Julian all the while.

"Julian, what is wrong?" human sense won out for a brief moment, but for how long?

Emerwyn felt secure that Ian would stand down, however reluctantly, but... Jul- The... Jabberwock.

Through his words, his gruesome face caught the corner of Emerwyn's eye. Though she tried to remain resolute. If she moved, Ian might even change his mind.
But, her head turned slowly as the fearful curiousty won over, and she turned to look at him.
She was terrified at his bloody teeth.
It did not seem that this creature would hold back from her feeble defenses.

"...had his heart torn out."
It was Emerwyn's fault. Her arms began to lower slightly, as her own heart sank down. It was Emerwyn's fault. She had hurt Julian worse than Cheshire ever did.

She had lost the will to fight. Her head turned away once more, and drooped down with her arms.

She spoke, mostly to herself. She was hardly audible.
"I didn't want this... Why... what have I done?

What have I done?

What have I done?"

Ian watched the exchange between Emerwyn and Ju-, the Jabberwock (whatever the heck a Jabberwock was) and frowned.

"Emerwyn, let us go." Ian's voice was quiet, scared. "He obviously does not want us here, and it is getting late. We shall need sleep soon and I do not trust him not to maim us while we sleep."

He shuddered at the thought of being murdered in his sleep and took another step back.

"Please Emerwyn, for your safety." then to the Jabberwock. "I wish no harm upon thee. Thou is letting us leave and for that my thanks to thee."

In silence, Jabberwock watched Emerwyn walk away.

His eyes slid slowly off to the side, brushing over Ian.

"...If you don't take care of her, Ian...." For a moment, his voice and gaze were mostly normal...sad.... But it didn't last.

"...I'll enjoy snacking on your innards."

And with that, he was off into the brush.