ORIGIN

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos' massive form shifted, placing himself over the fallen lamb, shielding her body with his own, his glowing white fur bristling with fury. They were not leaving. The bird was squawking at him, and while one single head leaned down-- the orange nosed, floppy eared one-- to make sure the lamb was still alive and at least breathing, the others continued to snarl and snap, threatening to snatch anyone who came too close. He would protect her. He had to get them all away, however.

He was used to using his magic to push others away from him, but he had never practiced pushing away from not only himself, but a creature he was shielding. It would be risky, but he had to try. Surely they would see he was dangerous if he could slam them all away with just one push.

"You WILL back away!" He barked, his tail slamming into the wall with a resounding thump, the glow of his inner fires flickering ominously inside his furry frame. "I will CONSUME you all! Gobble you all up! Leave now before I do! This is my LAST WARNING! Three! TWO!" The orange nosed head tilted up to peer at all of them, snorting softly. His last voice came out as a deep rumble, echoing his magic as it pushed out of him in a great, powerful wave.

"Now--"

The spell rushed through his blood, a thundering pulse that seemed to ripple through his skin. As he spoke, he heard the words of another bird-- an owl-- and his ears perked. He had no idea if she was alright, but it was too late to turn back down. They would see him as a monster, an enemy, something to fight after this was all said and done. Which meant he had to flee with her and hope, somehow, that he could save her. He could take her to water, perhaps.

Pain shot through his leg, however, at the last moment. The creatures before him did not get pushed away, he only could let out a whimper in response, nearly falling over the lamb. His foreleg buckling, the rest of him struggled to keep his weight held above her. Frightened, he continued to snarl, though one head let out a terror-filled whine, "We need help." Giggle, or the healer that had seen to Bones, or someone. He didn't know a healer. He just wanted to make sure she would be okay. "Promise you won't hurt her, and help, please."

They were running out of time. He could feel it.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

... It happened so quickly that Kerberos could only stand for a moment, witnessing it as though he was outside of his own body. One pair of teeth snapped at Gertrude-- but it seemed almost half hearted at this point. He was processing the death of the sheep. His brains churned slowly, trying to accept the concept as it happened under his own protection.

Willow spoke to him, abruptly, and then the owl was gone-- and he was more or less alone in the blackness, the glowing of his internal flame snuffed out in the emptiness. Her words and their meaning were as fleeting as her presence, perhaps some other time his minds would recall them and find strength... But for now, he had no attention to give them. He lurched blindly after the green bird, five moments too late, and his hind leg burned with pain. He stumbled, his body slamming into the wall, and he fell over the dead body of the lamb as it became nothing but a memory.

Grief hit the dog hard, so he did the only thing he knew how to do. He howled, a three pitched cry of sorrow, a family of three singing a dirge in the dark tunnel. It echoed around him, the loss of a creature he didn't know, one he had failed to protect, to save-- now lost forever to him.

As the song died, the lights in the tunnel seemed to flicker back on. He blinked his pink eyes up at them, the brightness almost more painful than the ache in his leg-- but nothing compared to the agony in his chest-- and he curled up on the now-grave of the lamb, putting his huge forepaws over his muzzles, and slowly drifted into sleep.

;; kerberos exit