The cat had been asleep for a full day's turn, silent and unmoving. When finally he did wake, it was with a blood-churning yowl of agony, and the whole cave would know of his change. Carcino heaved himself up on front paws, hind quarts still slack against the stone, head hanging and jaws gaped in a pained expression.

He tried to recall what had happened, why he hurt so badly. Why it felt as if his face had been dragged across the stone of all of Origin cave. The only memory that came, jarring him cold, was that of his tiny bird disappearing into a beam of blinding purple light.

Bevy! His chest clenched painfully, he couldn't breath. The cat slumped back to the floor with a choked groan, as if too tired to cry. In too much pain. My Bevy... My Enna... My perfect little bird... why...? Why? WHY!?

With his waking, subtly at first, his horns and eye took on a faint red glow. As his memories came flooding back, that glow only brightened until it remained steady, blinding from his empty eye socket, where the base of his stone now illuminated the inside of his skull freely for all to see...

...and all around him across the ground began to split and like a spiderweb of shadowy cracks, spread out for a few feet around him. Those cracked filled with red and yellow stone, redder the closer it spread to him. His claws dug into the stone as the cast ebbed, unintentional, tiring. The call rolled in his agony, to his feet, and stood still, silent. His jaw hung open, his gaze blind in his agony. The pain of his wounds were paled in comparison to the pain in his chest. How could he have lost her? How could she really be gone?

Could you come and change me?

Take away everything I am.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Heavy, broad paw steps carried the massive white beast through Canis. Bones cracked under the crushing weight, a grim silence letting them echo perfectly around the Guardian. The great cerberos drew closer to his worst fears, pale pink eyes picking out the pinpoint of darkness in his home.

The ground splintered into golds and reds at his approach, crystals shattering under the wake of the ebony feline. Carcino was suffering, and though Kerberos wanted nothing more than to hide away with his sins and avoid the retribution to come, he knew he had no choice.

Cancer was his family now. He could not stay away from Canis, from Aza'zel and Bones, from Cure and Remedy. He had already lost Ashtoreth and cast his sins across the caves. His fate was an eternal slow burn to ashes, destroying everything. Once, his mother had promised him a future as a gallant hero... But now she was gone, and he had done the unthinkable.

"I have come," the ivory carnivore spoke, laying his paws in front of the jet black lump of fur, holding himself high above the much smaller gembound. "Please... Allow me to listen," "Speak." The center head of the canine inhaled, gathering his courage. "... And learn."

The cerberos' illness churned away in his guts, but the feeling of unease and guilt ran deeper than the pain the diseases had given him. In fact, Kerberos was incredibly vulnerable in a number of ways... But he still came, still loyally returning to one of his master's sides. He would do anything to repair what he had done to Aza'zel, and to Cancer.

@Cancer

There was a stirring in the nearness of his web, and the crunch of stone under claws, and Carcino stiffened. A red crackle slipped across his pelt, his horns glew brighter at a steady ebb, his fur slicked flatter rather than stand on edge, his muscles completely relaxing as he slouched on his haunches, face dipped.

.̟̗̱͙̙̏ͯ͌̃͑̃̍̽ ͮͪ̃̎ͦ͌͏̦̗̹͍̖̙̼̹͡ ̧͓̑̋̓̑ͤ̉̎͢ ̥͔͙̞̙̩̂̓̏̇ ̴͓͎̞̯͍̃̈̍ͪͨ͛ͮ̀́ͅ ̨̮̫͎͆̆̀̽̓ͭ͒̓͘͞ ̟̪̩̳ͦͤ̂͐͝ ̦̤͚͙͔ͯ̓̑̐̆͗ͣ͘͡ ͓̤̤̙͍̒̉̃̽ͥ̌̊̋ ̋̌͂͐̀̓̆ͣ͏̮̝̦̮ ̷̻͔ͨ̃͒̅̔̇ ̢̬̫̦̬̣͉͊ͤͫ̎̉ ͈̮̬̻̣̻͙̝͚̋͊̒͋̚-̦̟̟͈͉̱̖̤ͮͯ̑ ̩̗̲̦͙̬͒ͫ͐͌̑̾͞ ͍̲̈́ͦ͡͝ ̨̙̝̹̳͔̝͍̮̐ͣ̾́͡ ̰̯̦̤͈̤̳̪̈́̇ͣͅ ̶̝̜̫̟͕̝̙̉ͬ̂͠ ̸͚̼͈͎͓̤̪̀ͭ̽͂͘ ̌ͨͣ̂̈́͏̝͇̩͓͎̖͝ ̷̢̽̆̂̉̓ͤ́ͬͫ͏̼̞̗͔̪͕̞ ̣̗̰̮͛̽̎ͧ̊ͪͪ ͙͍͇̲̟͋ͪͨͦ̍ͯ͛͊̊ ̯̣̖̦͎́̈́͒̈́ͨ͂͡ ̴̞̜̥̫͔̬̖̲͉ͥ̌͗̋̾̅͡ ̴̹̟̲̙ͯ̌̓ͮ͡͝ͅ ̢̪̪̗̣̮̬ͭ̌̒͢ ̼̼̼̰̰̣͔͙̃ͪ̀̕͝ ̧̧̝̳̱͔̱͙͖̦͊̀̊̃̇ͮ̃͟ ̸̧̜͓̼͈̜͎̮̞͚ͪ̋͝ ͎͈̤̮͚͙̤̰̞̋̉͒ͭ̔ͯ͟.͇͓̮̯͇̫͚̦̀͐̊͑ͥ̄̌͢ ̶̴͚̭̦ͥͮ̋͆ ͦ̎͏̹̟̦̻̤̠ ̷͎̳̜͇̟̩̹ͧ̍̒͑ͪ̃͂̍ ͔̤̺ͦ͌̋ͪ͋͗ ͙͙͓̌ͮ͐͛̔ͩ̀ ̢̜̙̜̮͍̰͙̰͓̇̑ͫ̂̕͞ ̶̢̢͓̠̖̟̘̝̄̅̇̀̿͋ͭK̶̖̞̍̇͢ ̪͖̞͋͑É̻̼̮̱̊̎̌͠ ̵̢͈̣̞̯́ͣ̀R̈́̽̔͂̇̈̉ͣ͏͓̙̬͇̞̮͈̫ ̵̙̟͇͉̖̫͇̝̔̏͌̆B̧̧̛̖͔̟͐͛ͭ͋̓ͮ ͙͉̓͑͐̂Ē̵͇̤̻͔͙̮̙͛ͭ̓̐̈́̋͂̏ͅ ̜̥͈̫̘̇͟͢R̷̢̫̰̦͇ͯ̅͌͆ ͧͪͭ̊̽̍҉̼̗̗͎O̵͚̩̅̊ͫ͜͝ ͙ͥͥ͆̄͛͜S̛̓̐͌̆̃̐ͯ҉̛̰͕̯͔͕̻͎ ̷̝̥̳͖͖̃̅͑̐ͮ͘ͅ ̲͔̈́ͨͦ́ ͚̱̞̝̟̯͌̃ͦ͋͛̊̆ ̞͇̯̱͇͌ͩͫͯ̄̕͡ ̶̩̱͈͇ͭ͗͑̈́͆̄ͥ̚ ̬͙̀ͯͤ̒͒͛̾̋͡-͕̥̼͚͆͐ͫ̍̓ͪ̈ͣ ̡̖̹̜̼̉͆̓ͮ̊ ̡̙̤̟̹̤̣̘͑̊͆ͨ̊ͩ ̪̲͓̈́ͥ̆͒ͤ͑̒͢ͅ ̌͋͊̊ͮ͏̞̪͓̹͍͍ ̝̜͓͕̪̟ͧͭ͂̏͞ ̧̛̥͈̲̑̒̒̒͠ ͒͊͌̓ͭ͡҉͈̺̲ ́̓̐̆̌̒͜͏̴͈̺̟͍̲ ̸̴̞͎̣͉̖͊̽̈́ͅ ̨̠̲̯̝̥͗̐ ͙̠̝̑ͮ̉͒ͩ̄̕ ̩̹̹̗ͭ̎ͅ ̸̸̠̰͖͂ͭ̋̂ ̴ͨ͐ͥ̐̋́̔̈́͘҉͚̜ ̶͕̭̖̰̈̆̎ͫ̏̚͘͡ ̨͖̼̤͍̩͉̙̅̎ͣ̐ͭ ̝͍̺̱̪͚̞̀̿̋͘ ̴͇̼͚̠͎̩͙̘̪ͣ͊̏̒̋͠ ͎̲̣̣̫̻̝ͩ̾̍̓ͫ͆̑ ̪͖̩̬̠͔̲̣͎̊̃ͭ̽ͧ̓̔̓͜ ͓͎̪̝̼͔̺̳̲̉̑͗ͦ̊̈ͮ͊ ̸̧̠̞̯̗̻̄̊ͨͬͯ ̮̹͎̼̺͍̍̅+̧̫̣̹͓ͧ̋͡ ͙̻͖̲̙͓ͫͧ̿̋̍̕ ̷̡̼̳̞̙̬̪̩̾͐͋͑̾ͪ ͖̜͍͕̟̫ͣ͊͛͋̚ ͎̪̹͔̬̞ͪ͜͜ ̙̫̟͋̆͛̔̚͠ ̦̣͍̫͖͈̞̈́̉ͮ̽̒ ̵̦̱̱̲͖̘̹̦ͭ̃͊͒̍̋̑ ̢̟̘̩̩̩̣͐ͦ̀ͥͣ̅ͬ̀͠ ͕̖̮̫̠̘ͨͣ̅ͨͅ ͍̫̖ͭͣ̄̆͛ ͩ͐̊́̿́҉̗̜̗͇̹̗̦ ̡̤̞̮̺͍ͣ̀́ͤ̀ͫ͋ͤ ̜̘̤̉́͜͢ ̶̶͔̜̗͔͍͉͙̫ͬ̿ͣ̋̀͌̾̚ ͖̳̲̠̳͔̤̳͑̽͌͊̓̿͝ ̶̘͎͈̻̖͗͗͘.̧͖̺͙̦̖̥ͬͦ̉͑̈ͫͨ̉ͅ

It was a whisper, distorted with pain and a throaty, building rumble in the cat's throat and chest., which quickly deformed in a savage screaming as suddenly, he lurched around and faced the dog, face distorted in fury and agony, that fresh injury stretching painfully as his jaws stretched in a roar that came out more like a literal scream. That was when his magic flared to life in a blinding flash, black static returned in full force with the his unstable emotional status.

.̼̜͓̘̈́̌ͪ͒̽̏͒̚̚̕ ̰̻͇̥͖̫̝̈́̂̅ ̡͓̯͖̻͚͍̦̣̏ͫ͊ͪ̊͂ ̷̬͎͇͕̣̹ͫ̍͛̒͆̋͌̓́ ͔͚̤̖͓̞̾̀̉͝͞ ͖̹̱̰̙̙͍̝̮̇͡ ̨̲́ͩ̑̏̏̑͟ ̰͍̘̤̗͈̺̋ͯ ̴̧͍̫͙̩̬̹͕̎ͫ̋ͤ̐̑̽ͧ̒ ̡̟̺̜͍͇̝̭ͯ̂̓̂ ͕̩̠̥̮͕̮̻͉͊͒̌̃ͧ̐͛̈́͟͡ ͕͍̖̟͈̠̗̙͑́̏ͫͨ̉ͪ̋͠ ̜̦͕̭ͥͣ̆-̥͍̥̟̠̈́̏̂ͣ̂̐̿̏ ͥ͗̓͛ͪͨ̒҉̬̬͡ ̡ͭͤͮͭ̿̄҉̣̹͜ ̺̩̹͌̔ͣ ̴̶̨̮̟̹̬̘̥̻̪̖͛̓͐ͧ̐ ͓̻̉ͮ̃ͥ̈́ ͍̞͙̽̀̈̍ͯ ͧͧ̏ͣ͂͌̑̍̐҉̙̥̜̹̀ ͑ͅ ̝̦̙ͦ̂̃̆͌ͮ̄͝ ̹̯̝̟ͩ͌͑͌̍ͤ͗͂͘͝ ̴̸̩̮̙͕̏̆̇̅̍͞ ̴̥̭̰̪͔̯̋̒ͣ ̳̺͕̣̑͆͒́̒ͩ̏͂̀͡ ̞͇̅͡ ̶͚̲̜͚̤̓̀̃ͬ͠͞ ͍̗̩̝̤̯̲̻͇ͮ̑̄̈̂͢͟ ̞̠̘̹͓͇̑̓͋ͭ̚͟ ̛͚͚̹͉̦͉̆.̱̟̠̊͌͊ͫ͊̕͝ͅ ̗̠͇͓͂̃͒͗ͯ́͡ ̵̺̞͈̪̿͠ ͇͎̦̫̞͙ͩ̏̋͋͆́ ̣͕͖ͮ͛͊͑̾̑̿ͪ ̢̟̮͈̯̌́̓̃̋͛͒ ͔̾ͧ͌͗̆̎͐̚ ̨͇̍͗̅͜Y̧̗͓̱̜̹͓͕̮̔̀̎̏ͬ͜͝O̵̒̑̚̕҉͚̬̹̣̘͖Ṵ̧͔̫̣̮ͦͫͯ̍̎ ̡̭̞̺͙̦̋͛͢K̴̨͉̝͙̩ͭ̈̀ͤ̍Ĩ̤̺͎̝̗̺̳̀͑L̮ͧ͗ͧ̇͌̈͛ͪ͞L̶͑́͠҉̲̠͉̲̗Ȩ̖̦̪͙̣̖̂D̶̡̞͔̼̀̈́ͣ̊ͤ̕ ̙͉͓̳̹̤̳̊̓ͤ́̊̊͢H̘͚̦̟͖̘̀̄̒͆̅̐̇̍ͪ́Èͪ̉ͥ̍̒ͧ̚͘҉̩̼̟̠̘ͅR̸̼̯͖̬̭͖̍̒̊̍ͬͥ̚͜ ̒̔ͥ͞҉҉͈̱̳ ̑̈́͆ͪͬ̂͏̺͇͚̤̥̞̤ͅ ̧ͬ́̾̉̀͊̚҉̠̣͍̩̮̗ ̵̥̜̩͎̩̣̻̀̌̋ͪ̕ ͗̏̇̅҉̜͖̻̯̞̮̥ ͭ̆̋̿͌̈́̎̀҉̶̱͕͚̩̤̹͎-̨̛͉͉͙̪͍̮̬ͪ͒̅̾ͪͦͮ̚ͅ ̡͇ͦ͑͗̍ͯ͛̾ͭ̚ ͑̒̎̓̊̂ͤ̈͏̫̣͔ ̀͐ͩ̎͋̆̇͏̕҉̰̼͖̯̜̼̫̯͔ ̜̠̠̒ͯ̇̽ͯͣ͑̋͟ ̹͙̭̩̜͍̻ͣ͌̉ ͙̬̼͍̯̍ͩ̽ͥ͢ ̴̳͔̖̲̹ͦ̌̃̐͛̔̀̚ ̧̟͔͎̬̠̬͑̌͛̚ ̎̏̋́͏̰̮͔͔̣͙̬ ͙̪̖ͨ̃̐̈́̽̉͌ ̸̡͈͔̱͐ͭͥ̈ͨͨ͝ ̵̨̮̤̙ͬ̚͘ ̸̶̞͍͓̠͎̻̟̀͝ ͎͖̊̉̃ͩ̃ͦ͘ ̢̺̾̈́ͣ ̵̯͔̦͚̮̾̂̒̑͡ͅ ̗̩̭ͭ́ͮͥ̍͗̍̇͡ ̞͚̺̼̺̬̳̬̙̊̅̽ͭ͐̊ͫ ̏̄̆ͩ̅͒҉̺̝̗̠̹͈̬ ̴͔͙̮̤͔̫̞̮̂̌̓ͦͨ̓ͯ̌̀ ͈̬̪͇ͧ̍̽͌̇̿ͥ̽̎͝ ̢̞̭ͧ͆͒̕ ͈̑ͧͭ̏+̨̛̮̝̱͚͔̱̟̬̮̽̋ͩ̃̔ ̨͖͍͔̅ͥ ̺̮̝̜̬͕̳̠́̑͟ ͉̓̅̔͟ͅ ͔͚̝͔̲̦͉̞̿͑̿̓͊̓̕ ̚҉̨̛͖̳̺ ̆̐͆̅̃̌ͮ͐҉͏͕͇̻ ̸̡̈́̊͌̈́̈ͭ̆͛͏̜̰̟͕͖̻ ̾ͪ̈́ͨ͘҉̭̹͉͇ ͚͙͌͑̽ͫ̍̄́ ͉̠̘̲ͬ̓̀͆͒ͅ ̶̡̛̻͇̰̞̻̱͉̼͛ͪ ̝̳̺̖͚̞̹̥̇̒͗͜͢ͅ ̶̝̻̠̄͋̿͋ͤ́ ̛̫͚͎̼̤̘̘̘͆ͮ̅ͮ̏̚͘͘ ̴̶̨̣̭̜͕̠̍̉̈́ ̠̲̗̈̋͋̃.̵̪͎͖͕ͨͣͬ̎̓͡͞

His roar only counterpointed the sudden hold over Kerberos, the squeezing sensation as if their very muscles were contracting in on themselves. That red and black laced static flared between them, around them. There was no holding back, no mercy, no humanity left in the cat. He saw only the destruction again and again in his mind, and now, he had the chance to make things even. A life for a life. The caves had once accused him of murder before. Now, he'd show them murder. He'd show them that once, he had shown mercy, but with his precious Bevy gone... and this monster still alive after taking her away... he saw only red.

---

Round: 1/?
Attempt: Casting Bloodhold with a moderate success, to crush Kerberos from the inside.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: Still fresh mangled face, mental anguish preventing conscious thought or reason.

@Kerberos

Could you come and change me?

Take away everything I am.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

cancer v. kerberos
round one of many

Kerberos stood high above Cancer as the voice began to rasp out, nigh on unintelligible. It reminded him of whispers he had heard before, of the way parts of the cave made his mind come up with words he understood by feel but not definition. The dog did not make a sound as the feline's attention collected upon the Guardian of Canis, nor did he flinch as flashes of red washed over the slick ebony pelt of the father.

The dog did take note of the fresh, painful wound that marred Carcino's face. It reminded him of something. Something he bit back on, forcing back the thought. This wasn't like Baratheon, no. Cancer still knew who he was... And the father was not ready to forgive. He was a violent master, one who had struck out at the canine before when he had merely only trespassed in an attempt to help a newborn.

Kerberos knew of Cancer's rage. He had tasted the tinfoil sting in his tongues, so similar to his own magic. He was ready for the pain of his flesh bubbling and burning under the same blinding light he had killed Bevy with. The canine, however, was not met with that.

Instead, the crimson magic lashed out, void-tinted static washing over the cerberos as the leopard roared, teeth bared as the very blood of Kerberos was grabbed like a leash. Jerked, painfully, inwards. The dog yelped as Cancer took ahold of his muscles and retracted them back like springs, compressing them.

But Kerberos did not resist. All he did was touch into his own magic, gently, trying to hold back the pain with his energy. He could repair what Cancer was doing, if only barely. He deserved this teeth in his pelt, tearing away at his insides. Hit him with the leash, Cancer. He's been a terrible, awful dog, and he knows it.

actions;; attempt: defenses: injuries;; previous: current:

heal cannot defend incredibly sick internal damage

@Cancer

There would be no mercy, even as the dog accepted his attacks without fighting back. Carcino took another step and with bloodied tears streaming down the intact side of his face, he let loose again. He didn't, couldn't, hold back. He'd lost control now.

.̡̞̓̍ͭͪ̀͗ͣ͛́ ̢̡̼͉̻̈́̀ͧ̈ͤͧ͊ͣ̒́ ̪̙͍̮̙͚͓̯͙͒ͥ̈̓ͤ̄̎̀͡ ͓̱̺͇̩̩͛ͩͫ̈́͊͗ ̝̜̯ͧ̊͑̄̅͟ ̡̧̖̥ͩ̂̏ͭͭ̈͗͜ ̷̡͚͈͚ͭ̽̅͗ͧ͒̆ͩͅ ̴̯̺̮̜̬͉̥͉͂̃̈́ ̴͕̝̻̺͍̤͛ͩͫ̚ͅ ͈̱͖̹̟͖̞̰ͯͮ̎̽̈ͯ̐̂͂͢͞ ͕̰̉ͭͩͧ̇ͮ̅ ̓̇ͨͪ̑̐ͪ͊̓҉̹̤̺̱͖ͅ ̴̨̝̣̫̼̰͙̉ͣ̽͌̊̐ͭ̂͡-͖̝̰̲̓͑̀ ͙̦͔̻́̅̊͌͂͌̄́̚ͅ ̢̖̤̠͙ͮͤ̌̉̀ ̣̲̻̅͌̉͋̋̔ͣ̎̚ ̢̺͕̫̲͎ͥ̀͞ ̺̭̩͆͋ͪͤͦ̿ͧ̀ ̥̒̇ͦͯ͜ͅ ̸̧̜͉͉̲̘͔̝͖̠̍̄̓͌̕ ͎͉̳̫̫̃͋ͮ̅͝ͅ ̙̟̣͉̫̥̘͉̟ͫͯͮͦ̈̏̍̎ ̯̘̯͍̯ͨ̏̔͝ ̴̤̻̠̭̙̜ͣ́͡ ̞̙̼̓͋ͭ̐̓ͭͧ͒̉̀͟ ̂͊ͥ̈̅̃ͬ͏̷͙̠̲ ͙̣̩̖̪͖̬͇͎͂̉̌̆̀ ̫̥̘ͯ̆ ͗ͨ̏̊̓҉̷̦̺̰̘͜ ̶̘̯̱͓̠͑͒́ͨ̽̍̊ ̸̰͕̜̝̽̀̓͐̍͜͞.̬̞̰̻̾̿ͫ̉ͯ͋͒̍ ̫͍̬̝̫̜̼ͧ͐̋͒̊̇ͩ̀̚͝ͅ ̴͖̜̳͇͔̞̜͈̔͐̄̔͐ ̳͚͔̼̻̻͓͐̆͞͝ ͙̜̤̣̱̘̘̰̍͢͝ ̡̩͔̙̘̬͕̪ͣ̾̔̈́̌̕͡ ̜ͧ̽̅͘͡ ̖̘͔̖͔̖͉͙̿ͦ̅͗͊̚̚̕R̰̞̻̯̟͖̲̟͍̎͊̈́O͕̗̲̾͆ͨ͐̐ͭ͂̿̚T̨̢͖͙ͦͫͣ͐̅̒̀ͪ ̫̱̹͕ͮ͒̃͜,͔̱̍̌́̆̉͜ ̬̄ͣ̓̒͂̎͜F̩̺̺̻̝̬̝͎̞̃ͣ̋́͆̔̚Ḭ̗̺̻̦͈̠̣̈͛͑̌̍̔͝L͈͎͖̫͎̟͈͙͈̈́̋̇̄̽͘T̎ͨͥ̆́͢͝͏̞͓̣̰H̷͙̱͎̹͚̜͖̯ͮ ̶͉̩̙̲̳̫̬ͭͣ̈́̆̋̅̉,̖̗̝͍͔͒̑͡ ̴̷̣̦̜̦͇̝̲͚ͪͧͥV̶̬͖͈̱̤̘̝̰ͣ̊ͩ̃ͥ́̀I͈̎ͨ͂ͥ̀ͪͭ̋Ḻ̖̻̩̼͊̆ͦ͘E͎͎̙̬̣͙̮ͮ͛̓ͮͥ͘ ̩̲͖̳ͭ ͓͖͖̝̮͇͇̐̑͆ͪͭ̓͟ ̨̢̗̼̣̰̂͑̚͡ ͔̪̄͋ͬ͂͡ ̻̖̥̠̤ͪ̃ͭͨ̓̾̈ͤ̚ ͕͙̬̯̝̙̉ͥͤ̕-̋ͬ҉̘̪̼̮̹͉͎̻ ̝̬̿̿̅ͮ͛ ̟̘̗͈̥͇ͥ͗͑̾͡͠ ̸͚̪ͧ͛͊̂͆̇ ̣͈̻͍́̀̇͋̾̓͒ ̩͎͐́̿ͣ̇̊̐ͦ͘ ̳̭͓̦̥͐̂̋͋͊̓̅ͯ͜ͅ ̯͓͙͋̑ͅ ̙̟̹̩̺̻ͫ̇ͩͧ ̡̯͕͙͙̟̭̪͈̎́ͨ̏͑ ̴̘̰͙̦͛̋̄͆̚ ̡̘͆͐ͅ ̩̙͓̙̼̭̳̲͊ͫ͂̀ͩ͗̒ ̡̔̃̑ͨ̏ͮ̚͏̼̺̪̱͔̩̺̭̕ ̗̤̖̮̳͙͗̿̅̿͒̌ͬ̾͢ͅ ̸̧̙̗̻̝̰̇̊ͣ̒̓͆̿̌ ̙̘̤͚͙̦̥͕̟̍̅ͦ̏̚͠ ͧ̓̽̓̀̚҉͙̪͈͖ ͈̥͉͊ͧ͢ ̧̟͔̠̝̻̭̯̠̃̈ͯͬ̈ͣͯ͑̚̕͡ ̷͓̳̺͔̺͉̿̽́̍͒̆ͅ ̨͚͈̹̫̝̳͈̓ͣ̏̎ͤͮ̑̓́͟ͅ ̸̗̭̘̾̆ͬ ̷̪̦͖̞͖̘̱͉̈́̿+̷͈̞̰̯͊̃ͪͦͩͨ̌ͣ ͔̳͚͈̪̤͓̝͖̎ ̵̵̢͖̼͍̩̭̲̄̀̂̉̀̅̓ ̦͙̩̙͔̤̯̌ͨ̉̑ͮ̈́ͦͅ ̸̷̷̻̖͙̹̹̻̄̈ͬ ̴̷̡͍͙ͪ̉̎ͩ ̨̝̟̞̥̻̱̻̜̋̒͛̕ ̛̪͇̫̞̲̑̑ͤ̊̅̃́ ̲͉͕̻̪ͥ ̍͊̀̽ͤͥ͒̈́͏̩̖ ̴̨̫̦̣̫̦͉̭͖̋͗ ̢̨̘̗̬̣ͨ̊̓͆ͣ͑̐̚͡ ̈ͨ͗ͯͪ̓ͭ͑͏͚̭͕ ̸̹̬̎̋ͧ̔͗̃͝ ̨̡͗̒҉̬̭͓͓̭͚̱͚ ̜̤͖̯̝̱̥̳͑ͪ̐̚ ̯̮̞ͨͪ̾̕͜.̢̛̰̺͈̥͖̬̖̿̈́̆̉͌̊̓ͧͅ

The voided crackling laced across the ground in vivid streak of red and black and suddenly tainted red spears of quartz shot out around, towards, the guardian. As they did, Carcino's head snapped up with the effort, neck cracking with the sudden movement but he didn't even flinch with the sick pop of air between vertebrae. He's taken another step forward with the attack, straight facing the dog now, pelt bristling, tail lashing unhealthily behind him and claws digging into the stone floor, streaks of quartz running from each claw from the attack.

---

Round: 2/?
Attempt: Various sharp points of quartz are lanced at Kerberos from the ground with moderately successful Gem Summon.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: Still fresh mangled face, mental anguish preventing conscious thought or reason.

@Kerberos

Could you come and change me?

Take away everything I am.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

cancer v. kerberos
round two of many

The tight, painful grip the Carcino father had on Kerberos' leash slackened slightly, just enough, as the cat stepped forward, lashing out with another spell. The ground trembled as the cat's maw snapped upward, and with it, came shimmering quartz. Like spears, they sliced into the canine's legs, his hindquarters collapsing under his weight though his forepaws stayed rooted.

Kerberos bowed his heads, panting with the pain. He had a chance to run, but he did not take it. Even if he tried, he was sure that Cancer would grasp at the leash and pull him back, yank it hard. Instead, the canine spoke softly. "Where is Remedy?" He begged, weakly, frightened for her safety. He hadn't seen if she had been struck by the same disease before he managed to kill her mother-- but more than that. Kerberos couldn't imagine the pain of losing his own mother. Even if Giggle tried to kill him (which she had certainly considered at least once or twice in his lifetime) he would always love her. Even with her missing, he clung to the hope she was alive, somewhere.

"Is she safe?" He needed to know. Had he failed, even now? "I was supposed to protect them." He was sorry, but the word didn't touch his tongue. It wasn't good enough. He wasn't good enough. What was the point in apologies when they didn't fix anything?!

"Please... Tell me Remedy's okay... Tell me I at least got that right..."

actions;; attempt: defenses: injuries;; previous: current:

heal curled up, heads low incredibly sick internal damage quartz in legs

@Cancer

Kerberos managed to speak but Carcino wasn't listening. He didn't hear his daughter's name or the pleading tone. He didn't even seem to see the dog move its jaws. His vision had darkened, reddened with fury. He only heard the murmur of a voice and knew, all too surely, that the murderous dog was still alive.

He wouldn't stand for it. A life for a life.

Death for Death.

Justice.

.̨̤̻͓̗̰̙̘̊ͭͤ̓̿̌͑͋ ̶̱̭̬ͦ͊ͮ̌̇ ̠͕̲̇̍ͤ͌̃̀̚͜ ̢̛͈̂͂ͫ ͙͉̫̪͎̰̣̭̄͐͑́ͅ ̸̧̼̣̪̮͈͗̂ ̮̼ͮ͋̃͂ͧ ̙̲̙̘̱̹͉̫̾ͫ̓̌̈́̃͜ ͓̟̗̏͐͂ͬ͛̅̓͞ ͉̙̆ͮ̐̈̋ͭ ͍̬͎̥͈̟̤̾̽̏͆ͨ̾͂͊͋͢ ̴̸̡̜̋ͯͧͨ̂ ̗͔̲̗̲͎̅̓͒̎͐͊-̨͓̜̯̙̖̪ͫ̆͂̐̈́͑́́ ͈̖͇͖̺̦͖̒͛͑͒̋̿͌̇ ̴͚͈̫̪̥̱̆̑̌͌͒̈ͤ͆͜ ̵̝̬͕̣͓͍̥̝̹͗̈́̓̌̑͗ͬͦ ̡̗̭͐̇ͦ̉ ͕̞ͣ̀̈̇ ̨̛͎̝̥̣͍̞̞̗͛̈̀ ̻͚̮̅̃͋̾ͥ̿̓̚ ̪͔̙̟̊̿̓͐͑͛͂ͩͦ͞ ̹͇͙͙͗̇ͤͨ̆͆̚͜ ̳͕͚͖̘̦̜̤̇͌ ̷̭̩̭͓ͫͨͫ̅̂̒̀͘ ̧̢̘̭̣͈̲̩̗̮͎ͤͩ͌͑͢ ̵̫͎̮̻ͤ͑ͦ͗̚ ̛̦̰͇̺̘̗̼ͪͮ̃ͣ̑͊͛̐̕ ̸͈̟͉̤͈͍̰͇̓ͬ ̨̛͔̳͋͒̃͛̚ ̵̨̗͕̖̺̻̞̤̖̇͊͢ ͖̤̙̫̾̐̾ͮͭͤͮ̒͠͠.̴̸̫̓̇̎ͮ̾̎ͅ ͇̤̱̥̦̻͗͑̂̚͜͟ͅ ͊ͥ̂̿ͥ͠͏͈̭̣͔͓ ̢̡̲̻̞̫͙̘̘͎̽̈́ ̸̵͕͖̼̥̦̠̓ ̨̜̘̳̳̟͋̆͗ͣͩ̋͟ ̴̸̦̘̦̦͎̞͒̒̍ͨ̂ͯ̒͠ͅ ̮͙͖̿͂ͩͬͦͥ̉S͓̥͎̞͗͂ͩͮͨ̈́̓͡Ḥ̤̫̪̀͊͛̓̂̀͘͟E̷̽ͬͩ͏̜͎͜ ̜͕͉̗̒̍͗͝W̮̼̣̤͚̼͒̓ͫ̈́́ͯ̔͐Ã̵̞͔̠̘͍͖͇̰ͧͩ́ͮ̌̓ͬS̴̯̆͛̋͌͂̐̃ ̴͙̗͖͕͛͋͌̆̓̐̃͗͠S̴̤̟̝̬͈͓͉̊̀̕I̘̭͍̫̅̂ͫ̋͗̏͋͒͜Ċ͙̞̺̳͈̄̏ͫ͌ͤ͢K̞̪̮̠̣̥̲̋̓͗ͮ͗͜͝ ̞̞̹̝͕ͨ̈́ ̫̪͖͎̻ͨ̓́͝ ̸͇͉̤͉̬͚ͭͮ͊ͦ̅ ̯͕͈͒̕͜͝ͅ ̧̼̾̉ͨ͊̒ͯ̔̾̀ ͤ̃̆̅͂ͯ̂͏̗̙̜̼̠̥͓-̢̥͙̘̥͉̠̗͚͛ͮ͌́̉͜ ̴͙͙̣̹̖̲͔̖̫̔ͫ̈́̈́̐́ ̛̻͍͈̼̰̟͚̄̈́̎͒̃ͯͫ͜͡ ̫̘̹̹̲̻̝́ ̨̳̳̰̞̆͌͆̕͠ ̨̤͔̱͎̬̜̰̇̌̈́̓͟͡ ̴̻͔ͨ͊ͤͦͯͤ̚ͅͅ ̯̥ͧ̓̇̈̍̓ͩͪ͜͝͠ͅ ̣̫͓̺̱̎͆͆̌̐͝ ̖͗͞ ̔ͬ͒͆̇́ͬ̄ͪ҉͖̲̭̞̘͓͢ ͇̠ͪ̆̎̅ͫͨ̄ͩ ̷̮̬̜͒ͧ̆͗͂̌̓͗͟ ̸̠̣̈ͫ͡ ̞̘͓̮̝̫͆ͭ͊͐ͯ̔̾̀̚̕ ̛͙̬̮̑͑̓ͨ ̡͙̹̦͇̳͊ͮ̏ͦ̍̅̍̑ ̡ͤ͆͗̚͏̢̰̹̹̱͍ ̨̡̩̱́̈́͋͐̑ ̧̢̹̞͙̲̦͐ͨ ̤̤̱̪͚͚ͪ͆́̕ ̵̛͖̯̻̪̯ͪ͗̓ ̩͎̤̪͙̥͚̌͑ͦ̽ͭ͢ ̷̷̱̰̠͐̾̄̀̉͐+̳̥͙͗ͯ̋̈́ ͇̙̞̣͔͍͔̇͌ ̩͎̞̣͈ͩ͐̍ͮ ͚̤̝̠͇̠͗̑̀ͅ ̧̘͇̟͕̹̝͕ͦͭ̅͌̾̑ ̜̞̇̃̃ͅ ̴͇̣̙̫͔̱͚̯ͦ̂͑̏̂̇͞ ̸̶͚̫̺͖̥͖ͥ̾ ̴̴͕̪̳̬͈̓̂̆̔̇͛̕ ̴̸̠̟̹͉͉̩̦̔̒ͩ ̧̗͚̝̬͖̤͒͂ͦ́ͨ̂́́ ̍̆̈̃̈́̓ͦ̓͏͓͔ ͕͎̘͔̤̅͊̂̓̚ ̡͇̮̘̳́ ̸̳̩ͥ͛͒̈̍̇̚ ̓͑̑̂̉ͫ͑̐҉̤̩͖ ̱͈̪̗̪̥͖͈ͭͭͯ̂͗̕.̸̞̺͔̥͍̝͉͕ͦ͗

The magic crackled louder now, like electricity, traveling down his pelt in erratic waves of red and black light. It flared suddenly, and violently, the cat stiffened and the world POPPED around them both. There was a burning sensation, hot like fire, and Carcino's flesh burned as easily as Kerberos' would. The ringing stopped with another POP and suddenly there was a stench like metal and charred flesh, the quarts had been darkened from the heat, almost entirely black now. The cat still stood, the magic still crackled with life, but he no longer screamed or shouted or growled. He shook, quivering where he stood with each exhale, blood oozed from his mouth, nose, ears and the wound on his face. His one eye stared unseeing.

Then, in an eerily calm voice, like a whisper, he loomed.

"You will repent."

---

Round: 3/?
Attempt: BURN - Crit fail, backfires and does equal damage to Carcino as well, only lasts a second.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: Still fresh mangled face, mental anguish preventing conscious thought or reason. Magical strain. Chemical burns all over body, in the form of blistered patches. Physical agony. Temporary blindness, muted hearing.

@Kerberos

Could you come and change me?

Take away everything I am.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

cancer v. kerberos
round three of many

The air grew thick with the sound electricity, but Kerberos knew what was coming. He could taste the tin in his teeth, the sensation that made him want to vomit and sent the fur on the back of his necks on edge. He closed his eyes as the light blasted over him, over Cancer, burning through his eyelids. Even closed, his gaze was not black, but bathed in a bloody red light. He coughed out blood, tin and copper taste tingling in a sickly mix, washed out only by the bile that came next.

When would he heal? His body was struggling to keep up with Cancer's attacks, his magic working its hardest to protect himself. His eyes opened slowly, six pale pink meeting one blood shot golden coin. The leopard was not looking at him, but through him, as he whispered in a voice as clear as day.

"Take your teeth," Kerberos replied. "Rake them through my fur." Instructions, a gentle plead. "Make me bleed and suffer." Whatever it would take to take the pain out of the cat. He would shoulder the burden of grief and anger, even if it meant nearly dying in the process.

The canine slipped, his huge forepaws falling out from under him. He hit the ground with a dull thud at Cancer's paws, splaying out. He took care to keep on his belly, to keep the back of his necks above his throats. He did not want to die, but he did not have the will to fight back.

"Take my failures," he whined, rasping out words through the blood and vomit. "I only meant to protect her." This was not an excuse. "I have wronged you." The truth, so simple from his own jaws. "It is my duty to serve the Bonebound, to guard and keep safe, and instead I destroyed her mother." It wasn't his intention, but there was no point in explaining it. Cancer did not want sorries or explanations. He wanted justice. Kerberos understood it. He knew it.

"I will repent."

But no, he would not die. He was not done, not yet. Giggle promised him a life as something more-- and he would do whatever it took to become a hero. If it meant taking his sins and cutting them out of his own body, he would.

actions;; attempt: defenses: injuries;; previous: current:

heal curled up, heads low incredibly sick internal damage quartz in legs chemical burns

@Cancer

There is a moment where it seems as if Carcino is listening, registering the words the dog's heads speak. When the collapse, Carcino remains frozen in place, his shudders stop and his breath hitches. White fur flickers to brown in his mind's eye. He's done this before. He's been here before. But now...

. . . n o w . . . h e . . . i s . . . b r o k e n . . .

and he can't stop now.

He lunges forward with such ragged movement that it seems painful, unnatural, and with savage bite and shredding claws, aims to maul the middle head's ears and face, and so long as they remain submissive, passive, there will be no mercy.

He'll waste no more breath to speak to the dead.

He seeks only blood for that which he's lost.

He seeks only justice.

---

Round: 4/?
Attempt: Physically maul the middle head with fangs and teeth.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: Still fresh mangled face, mental anguish preventing conscious thought or reason. Magical strain. Chemical burns all over body, in the form of blistered patches. Physical agony. Temporary blindness, muted hearing. Getting tired now...

@Kerberos

Could you come and change me?

Take away everything I am.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

cancer v. kerberos
round four of many

There was a pause. Hesitation, perhaps-- but more likely more something of a cat deciding the proper angle to pounce on a rat... And so did Cancer lunge, going for the cerberos' center head. His instinct nearly kicked in, almost lashed out with his magic, nearly tried to push Cancer away with the force of his energy. At least, what was left of it.

But no, Kerberos forced himself to endure. The middle head cringed, lips pulling back in a silent snarl as claws tore across his face, breaking open his skin. His eyes were shut tight, but a claw slashed down one of his eyelids and light flooded his senses, then blood, then blindness-- seering pain, much more immediate that any other sensation. His ears laid back, trying desperately to avoid being clawed as well.

The Guardian of Canis had two other heads, however. The nerves for each head were only losely connected and even for them the pain was burning, like having a toe sliced off. As the middle head's mind was lost to agony, the peripheral heads did the only thing they knew how to do.

A bright orange nose, dripping with blood, pressed into Cancer's shoulder. Nuzzled into Cancer, whining, begging. Bloody and drooling, the opposite head's tongue began to lick at the mauling leopard. Kerberos began, furiously, as quickly as he could, to soothe at the cat, to kiss and lick and whine, the pain unbearable but no, he did not fight back. He could not-- he would not take Remedy's other parent.

The dog licked at his master, even as the cuts scored deeper and deeper into his flesh. Beaten, but not broken. Ever loyal to his heart.

actions;; attempt: defenses: injuries;; previous: current:

keep healing! ears pinned back incredibly sick internal damage quartz in legs chemical burns multiple wounds on mid face

@Cancer