He had reemerged quite a while ago, and resumed life just as he normally would. Azazel knew that he was not dead, for he could feel. What was odd was that all of his scars were just... gone. No more burn scars on his back or a gaping hole in his windpipe. It was like he had been recreated.

The Bone King hoped that Kerberos had taken care of The Bonebound in his absence, and watched over his girls. Well, he had hoped. Liora came to him in a flurry of squawking feathers, teary-eyed and everything. With legit tears. In her screeching, he gathered that they went to find Cure. They snuck past Kerberos and now Ash was in the hands of the bastard deer Hasira.

Nothing burns quite so fiercely as a father's fury.

Azazel had flown to his nest and put on the armor that Cancer had brought to him before. It was the first time he would be wearing it, but he knew he needed it. Slipping on the obsidian-colored gem skull, the Ave flew through Tunnel K... to find a roadblock. He hovered, staring down to find Kerberos guarding the door once again. "Kerberos, move." he commanded. He had to get to his daughter. He had to free her. He had to--

table code © rasta 2015

@Kerberos

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos stood in the way of Aza'zel, the news long past his ears. There was a pain deep in his chest, a great ache from knowing he had let Aza'zel and more importantly, Ashtoreth, down. Retrieving Liora, saving her from Gertrude-- well, sort of-- would never be enough. Even when Ash returned home, safe and sound, if such a day ever came... He had failed, and deep down the usually short-spanned attention of the pup would not forget this moment in his life. He had tried to stop Ash and Liora from wandering off, he had, but Arkrael's call pulled him to answer. He could only be in so many places at once.

And now, in this moment, he had drawn himself to this point. The edge of Tunnel K, where the stone archway towered above even his height, where Life and Death held a careful balance with one another. All of Giggle's teachings flooded through the canine in the moment as he stood down his leader, a coldness in his paws that his magic could not fend back. He had tried. The cerberos was loyal to the end, and although Aza'zel could fly, the massive guardian could touch the top of the cold stone exit with ease and stop the avian if he tried.

"I'm sorry Aza'zel," the words parted from his teeth. As one throat clenched shut, another spoke up as though picking up without a single breath. "I cannot let you go--"

"Hasira has Ashtoreth, and he is not above killing her," he spoke softly, as though explaining the death of a parent to a child, though he was doing something of the opposite. "Our only hope--" "--Is that he will use her--" "--As a bargaining chip--" "--A hostage--" "--Against us, and thus keep her alive."

The dog's pink eyes bore into his leader. Ever word was a mark of betrayal, and he knew he would soon feel the wrath of his superior against him. He knew that there was no stopping Aza'zel from saving his child, not with words. There was a reason why his leader had been crushed to near death, only to return a cycle later. Aza'zel did not let things like this go... No father did. He knew the wrath of more than just his own Alpha.

But Kerberos could hope. He could believe, that maybe, if he listened and spoke, perhaps he could get Aza'zel to understand. He held back from trembling, just barely, as his body felt a swell of heat in his core that left his paws all the more numbly cold. His stomach felt buried deep under the stone, and he was not ready for Aza'zel's words. The only thing Kerberos was ready for was the battle to come. The canine knew that without reason, only physical might would stop his leader.

"Don't make me protect you."

He was beyond reason. Azazel only wanted to protect his daughter. If it meant getting past the mighty cerberos that guarded what could be considered the gates to Hell, he'd do it. The Bone King didn't even care if Kerberos had failed or not. Ashtoreth had to be safe... and she wasn't safe in the hands of that filthy deer. Azazel floated in the air, wings flapping to the rhythm of the winds that blew through the foggy tunnel. Carmine eyes glimmered from beneath the partially translucent mask. Keep her alive? From what he knew about that bastard king, Hasira wouldn't keep her alive for long. Azazel knew that she was too defiant. "Kerberos, she'll be killed. Let me go!"

The great dog rose up, and all three heads spoke as one. The Bone Guardian was not moving an inch. Then he'd have to make him. He almost hated doing this, but he was sure it was for the better. The Ave glided side to side and pulled at his Magicka, inhaling deeply. He hoped for success as he lifted his crown and exhaled at the cerberos in the form of a great blast of wind.

table code © rasta 2015

I II III IV V
No damage yet, first round

Attempting to blow Kerberos off his feet

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos winced as Aza'zel squawked at him, desperation in his voice. The dog couldn't help but see himself, desperate to protect even if it meant threatening someone. All too many times he has tried to help as a pup, back before he knew the right words, only to stumble and get hurt for it. There was just one thing-- the guardian would fight only to stop the Bone King. He would not hurt Aza'zel if he could help it.

Armor glinted in his eyes, flashing in the light of his own body. His hot, feverish glow lit up the usually dark, shadowy cavern, making himself a blindingly obvious target. The bird breathed in and Kerberos dug his claws in, summoning his magic in preparation. He was so, so sorry. This wasn't what he wanted at all. He would fight regardless. Wind hit him hard and his heads bowed as his body was shoved back, nearly knocking open a path for Aza'zel to escape in.

"NO!" Kerberos roared, snapping his teeth as he lunged forward, shoving forth his magic in a hard expell. Without anything to grip on to, Aza'zel would hopefully be tossed back with ease from the low level magic. "If you go, he'll kill her!" He frantically urged his leader towards reason. "He'll use your weakness against you, Aza'zel, he'll kill you both!" Then what? Leave Bonebound without a leader? Liora without her father?

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS v. AZA'ZEL
ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE

{ ATTEMPT }

~ push aza'zel back!

{ DEFENSES }

~ puffed up, legs apart, tail high-- defending the entrance more than himself

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• in good condition!

~ current injuries;;

• none yet!

@Azazel

With the somewhat successful attempt of magic usage, the Ave had dove for the small opening that had almost been created. He was thrown back by a dispelling force, one that threw him into the ceiling of the cave. Twisted his body as he felt gravity tug at his icon, Azazel flapped his wings. Clutching the edge of one of the pried open doors, the Avian regained his balance before calling force his magicka again. He let it build up. He let it boil. Hearing Kerberos speak once again, Azazel cried out. "Just let me try! I know I can save her! Please." The Bone King felt tears prick at his eyes, but they would be unseen behind his mask. "Don't you even believe in me? Have I fucked up too many times to be believed in anymore?"

He released another burst of magicka, hoping to summon forth a great storm with his breath.

table code © rasta 2015

I II III IV V
Bruises on back from colliding with the cieling.

Attempting to get Kerberos down again.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Wind shoved at him again and he felt pain in his claws as he dug down harder, refusing to budge.

Again.

Kerberos heard and saw himself in his leader. Desperately clawing his way to a dying sheep, standing over her, demanding others to back down. He could save her, he could. Just give him the chance. What good had it done? The lambs were led to slaughter all the same. He hated the inaction, but he knew that Arkrael and the others would be ready to strike soon. Together they could save Ashtoreth-- alone?

"I believe in you, Aza'zel," a whine escaped his throat. "More than I believe in myself." The canine's heads lifted, eyes sharp and his pelt practically aflame with his torchlight magic. "But sometimes the best thing to do is wait-- to stop, to listen, learn, and speak." He didn't want to hurt Aza'zel, but if the bird came flying at him, then he would be forced to lash out to protect his leader.

At the moment, he simply gathered his energy, waiting for Aza'zel to try and frantically go for the door. Quietly, he begged to ask if his leader trusted him-- but something about the words seemed wrong. This wasn't about Kerberos, the guard dog, the loyal right hand mutt. This was about Aza'zel and his family.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS v. AZA'ZEL
ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE

{ ATTEMPT }

~ stand ground while summoning magic (will roll phys comb next round)

{ DEFENSES }

~ puffed up, legs apart, tail high-- defending the entrance more than himself

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• in good condition!

~ current injuries;;

• torn claws

@Aza'zel

It wasn't strong enough. Kerberos was a formidable foe, more so than the deer. It didn't matter if he couldn't defeat Kerberos in a battle for death, because he knew he could obliberate Hasira. His recent defeat by Gertrude had not hurt Azazel's pride one bit. The Bone King screwed his eyes shut as he resisted the force of the sudden momentum that he had acquired. He flapped his wings fiercely as he was shoved back down the tunnel. Even from many feet away, he could hear Kerberos' booming voice.

To stop? But... that deer would kill her! He had to do something. He had to save his precious daughter. Magicka welled up in him, and he almost felt his throat tighten with anticipation. Azazel drifted forward, and he shrieked. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" Whether it was the shriek of a banshee (haha, i'm clever) thanks to magicka or not, he still cried out.

table code © rasta 2015

I II III IV V
Bruises on back from colliding with the ceiling

Screeching at Kerberos

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos' ears laid back as the noise pierced through his body like hundreds of daggers. It was perilous to fight his leader like this, to say the least, but even as he went deaf from the sudden clasp of noise he didn't dare back down. Although he couldn't hear his own words, he barked them out-- all three heads, layered over one another--

"I HAVE LISTENED
LEARNED
SPOKEN!" The cerberos roared, lunging forward towards his leader. The pain was devestating in his ears, and for a moment he was sure as hell that Aza'zel wouldn't be able to hear him even if he wanted to. Not over the ache that burned his ears. Surely the magic had deafened them both-- he had no reason to believe otherwise.

Which meant, until it wore off, he would have to try and pin Aza'zel down. This didn't stop him from trying to talk to his leader, from screaming with all three jaws. "FORGIVE ME FOR THIS. IF YOU WOULD JUST STOP AND LISTEN
I HAVE LOST TOO MANY LIVES TRYING TO SAVE THEM
TEETH CANNOT SAVE THOSE BETWEEN OTHER TEETH I'M SO SCARED." As he roared, he went in for his attack. First he reached up with a paw, using the magic of his stored transferred energy to unleash on Aza'zel. The spell was weak, but hopefully with it and the power of his paw swipe, he could knock his leader to the ground.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS v. AZA'ZEL
ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE

{ ATTEMPT }

~ bat the bird out of the air

{ DEFENSES }

~ puffed up, legs apart, tail high-- defending the entrance more than himself

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• in good condition!

~ current injuries;;

• torn claws
  
• damaged hearing

@Aza'zel

As the sound ripped through his throat in a defeaning screech, Azazel recoiled for a moment. The sound had broken the barrier and Kerberos pinned his ears back. He knew how sensitive the dog's ears were. For a moment, there was no sound. The Bone King had defeaned himself momentarily, but more so out of surprise than accident. The Ave was already tiring and he would soon realize that he best try and be as swift as he can and conserve his energy for the deciding clash between Hasira and himself.

Kerberos roared, all three heads speaking in unison and causing a cacophony of sound. The great guardian spoke, asking for forgiveness. The trio of doberman-esque heads all spoke together once again, saying completely different things and indecipherable words.

But there was something he could understand.

Kerberos was scared... but why?

As he stopped to think, a massive paw slammed into his back with built up momentum. Azazel barely had time to gasp as he was pinned to the floor by the polar bear-like foot. In an act of self-preservation, the Ave willed the air about him to rapidly expand, hopefully enough to throw Kerberos off him.

POST ATTEMPT
The magicka exploded from his gem far too quickly, the glow filling his form for a second before the air rapidly expanded in almost a shockwave effect. Azazel screwed his eyes shut, struggling to hold his breath, but then he realized...

He had none.

The Bone King's lungs screamed for air. He wheezed, struggling to push himself onto his abdomen and carmine eyes watering. He felt as if his lungs were going to explode. He'd deprived himself of oxygen on accident, and now he was left helplessly scrambling for air.

table code © rasta 2015

I II III IV V
Major bruising on back from colliding with the ceiling and Kerberos's paw swipe

Rapidly expanding the air around him to get Kerberos's foot off of himself
@Kerberos

ooc note: azazel goddammit why do you crit. fail every time you use this damn spell in an important fight?

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos was knocked back as the air exploded around him. He fell to the-- no, wait, that was a wall-- and then rolled, crashing against the floor. Pain blurred his vision for a moment but he shook it off as he slowly pulled himself away from the great aeonian tug of gravity. Wind spun through the air, coursing through his fur and making him shake.

The canine prowled forward, pushing against the air-- but he realized something was wrong. Aza'zel was trying to breathe, gasping for breath as though he was silently drowning. The dog let out a low, cautious whine as he shoved himself forward and found the dead pocket of air. The wind was twisting around them, making it hard to breathe, but hopefully it would settle down soon. Kerberos still had plenty of oxygen in his massive lungs, at least.

Aza'zel was in big trouble though. The cerberos guardian didn't know how to help, but he reached forward with a gentle paw, his crimson and gold stone shimmering as he tried to warm up Aza'zel as though that would help. He wasn't exactly trained in medical science, okay? He was doing his best. Don't be mean; he's just a doofy puppy!

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS v. AZA'ZEL
ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE

{ ATTEMPT }

~ gdi aza'zel (warm him up???)

{ DEFENSES }

~ defenses are dropped

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• in good condition!

~ current injuries;;

• torn claws
  
• damaged hearing
  
• bruised side

@Aza'zel