The fur on his back where the claws raked up over it instantly flared up, his hackles shivering on point, and his back arched to get away from it as it traveled down. When those powerful talons turned him over, he didn't resist. His limbs were still like jelly, useless and frail.

What he saw was a true monster, a demon in its purest form. Fangs, the desire to kill rolling off him along with the molten heat of his saliva, those glowing red eyes he'd seen before, on a demonic coyote who had tried to kill him with sweet words. Everyone but Dove showed their true colors after a while, everyone but Dove and that....that white angel who was protecting this thing when it was young.

In a shaky, broken voice tumbled by jittering, frayed nerves, he spat, "L-l-like yo-you'd know w-what that m-m-m-meant," He sneered. "I-I'll d-die if s-she-she'd be s-safe - u-unlike your a-angel."

He bared his teeth. "Di-did you kill her too? F-f-for fun? Or fo-for food? Did you r-run her th-through with ligh-lightning till she explo-ploded like th-that rabbit, did you gorge yourself on h-her blood?"

"Monster." He snarled, just like back then, when this demon had been nothing more than a pup learning its monstrous ways.

The aardwolf was so frail, laying there limp like a defenseless child; only there would be no pity for such display. He spoke, voice broken and shaking from frayed nerves, spatting them out at the jaguar. Basil sneered, claiming he would die just so his precious Dove would be safe. Unlike his angel...Vicktor's features froze, he was stoic now; listening intently to the aardwolf's words. Lowering his head and closing the distance between the two. Fangs bared Basil continued, hissing through their teeth firing questions one after another. All concerned with how he killed such a ethereal being. The final word snarled outwards to the jaguar's face, one that was inches from the aardwolf's own.

'Monster'

He was silent, thoughts heavy as he calculated every syllable. Lips parting as he welcomed the flames that danced vibrantly across his teeth. Eyes umoving, frozen to the aardwolf's own he spoke.

"I know what it means...you are not the first life I've taken...nor will you be the last..."

He paused, a stray thought flickering to his fight with the doe that wore Clover's face. How eager he was to devour her back then, how the hunger still ran hot in his blood. Another lick of his lips and he could still taste her essence, tainted yet enlightening. A shiver ran down his spine, inhaling sharply as he positioned himself above Basil. Fires dying down inside the crackle of embers left not a sound between the two. Just dead silence. As the flames died Vicktor smiled genuine, breaking the silence.

"Why don't I show you?"

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Basil

His whole abdomen was clenched in fear, his intestines like a swarming mass of snakes while fear predominantly held his brain in place. The jangling, frayed nerves were replaced solely by pain in jumps and starts as his muscles gained control over themselves, still somewhat terribly.

Still, through the fear, it didn't really click in his head until the demon leaned down as the crackling fire died and the piercing silence wrapped around them both, the threat like a hangman's noose around his neck. It wasn't until those words clung to him that it really hit home:

He was going to die.

"S-she loved you." He snarled into the silence. "T-that kind s-soul pursued me and struck me, all for your false tears. And you killed h-her in return."

He paused here, his claws grinding into the dirt. "I'm not afraid of death."

In one motion he threw dirt into the demon's eyes, his claws slashing, hoping to snag an eye. With that motion, he scrambled out from under the demon, limbs spasming in his flight.

'S-she loved you'

Basil snarled through the silence, spatting words and Vicktor could only smile fondly. There would be no uproarious anger in this, instead he would painstakingly take his time. Perhaps rip his belly open and play with those coiling nerves inside. Vicktor would show him 'false tears'. At least until he dug into the dirt, flinging it up at Vicktor's eyes. Scratch that, he would be sure to poison Basil with anger, and make it last for as long as he could. Recoiling back he was lucky Basil had missed in his aim, such a sneaky pest going for the eyes. Temper flared yet again Vicktor hissed, spatting out at the aardwolf who was now scrambling to safety. Sadly one could only make it so far with such spasming limbs. Pushing off the ground Vicktor lunged forward, cutting the aardwolf off, teeth bared as those fangs shimmered vibrantly. He expected Basil to turn and run again, limbs a fumbling mass of panic and pity. Inhaling sharply he let him try, coiling his muscles into a spring. Claws outstretched he launched himself towards Basil again, it was so troublesome when prey kept trying to escape.

A snarl tore from his throat, launching himself at the aardwolf, paw outstretched and ready to land across his back. Basil should have been afraid of death...it was an inevitable fate for all living things.

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Basil

Finally Dovefeather stopped, the All Mother's garden tangled around her messy, matted, bloodied fur. Thunder roared behind her, her love's screams scattering the All Mother's messengers above in a flurry of feathers. Her breath came in rasps, Sorrel's and Basil's words flickering around her ears in quick, panicked fits and bursts. She was sure that they were real, that the All Mother had somehow carried his voice to hers, and that she could finally, finally hear when she could not see.

Her once white paws dug deep into the earth, legs trembling as the scratches caught up to her. She had twisted her paw in the rush, the nicks and cuts aching as her adrenaline left and gave her exhaustion instead. She breathed in and out, light headed as she struggled with what was happening. Why had Sorrel--

Oh All Mother, Sorrel was going to die. A mongoose had almost ended both of their lives single pawed, and now an actual monster had come... And there was no way they would survive fighting back. Even if Dovefeather and her love had fought side by side, it would take just one slip for that creature to break either of their necks. There was absolutely no way that Sorrel could fight off the massive black shadow-- he had... He had...

Dovefeather wasn't prepared for the emotions that crashed around her. The All Mother's sharp vines tangled around close to her, digging into her skin, but despite the claustrophobia she tried to find comfort in the gesture. Darkness surrounded her, the thicket so dense that no light came through the underbrush-- without her glowing feather, she had nothing to light her way. The All Mother would protect her.

"O All Mother,"

She breathed, knowing not else what to do.

"Please, he has given everything for me... Now the monster that poisoned You sends its beasts after us, and he still... He still sacrifices himself for me. Please, please, please... Do something..."

And the darkness spread out from every corner, swallowing lights in Eridanus. It crept slowly, blacking out the cavern inch by inch, bringing shadows to hide, hide, hide. Dovefeather could not fight, could not save her love, but she could... She could appeal to the Almighty All Mother. Her faith-- and her love-- was all she had. If it was not enough...

"Basil Speech" "Dovefeather Speech"

@Basil @Vicktor

He scrambled away, his mind blank with terror, and he felt a paw swipe against his backside and just barely miss him. It was all he could do to swallow the pathetic peal of a scream that wanted to erupt from him, but what kept him from it was noticing the reaching black mass of shadow that swallowed the clearing as he made his escape.

She was eating the lights, his Dove, to try and help him escape - he could nearly sob with relief, but as he ran into that beckoning dark, he swallowed that too, knowing he should be as silent as he possibly could as he ran.

He didn't know if it was some blessing of the All Mother, or Dove's love, or the that Basil was so used to being blind as he traversed this forest, but he ran swiftly and free, his feet finding their own way over the roots, fallen logs, and brushes that tangled in his fur. Fear coursed through him, temporarily banishing the jittering pain in his legs, wishing he could summon breath to call to Dove, or use his magic to tell her that he got away. He didn't even know where she was in this perfect pitch black night.

Just keep her safe, All Mother, He prayed silently, saving his breath for his flight. I don't care what happens to me, as long as she's safe.

Crashing down into the soil he spat out a guttural growl, missed...The aardwolf was escaping, no, NO, N̥͙̤͈͠O̠̫̮!̪̲͙̩̬͠ This vile little pest was running into the swallowing darkness! Wait. White eyes flashed up he watched the vibrant colors of the forest fade around him. This magic provoked a war cry. Bellowing out a harsh scream, he would not be made a fool of again. Lunging into the shadows he despised the loss of sight, and what was worse the aardwolf seemed to be at an advantage here. They were fleeing silently and at a well off pace too! And Vicktor could only stand there.

Frozen as he fought off memories, but to no avail. Flashing back to the fights with the shadow doe he spat at the mirage before him. That poisonous laugh that echo'd through his thoughts. The way she wore her as nothing more than a mask! Each encounter had caused him great harm, physically, emotionally and mentally. A great strain that he had tried to devour, throw away even! Yet every second felt like suffocation in this abyss of sight. Nerves beginning to fray his intestines coiled like frightened snakes. He couldn't bring himself to react to what was in the now. Fighting off the images that weren't even there in the darkness. Feeling the sensations of such betrayal and hurt he screamed, ravenous and fueled by anger; bellowing out in furry.


"B͍̬̗̰̼̈̔̓͒A͖͎̩͖̟̱̝ͪ̓̓S̡̱̥̭͓̪̥͚ͫͦ̌͆͑̋̚I̯͒͐̎̌͋̐ͮL̠̯̰̓͡"

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Basil

Dovefeather curled up in the darkness, a wave of tiredness crashing over her. While she had asked for the All Mother's help, it had taken the feline's own strength to protect her Basil-- her Sorrel-- and she was drained, half from shock and half from everything that had happened.

She had no idea if her love was safe, but she had tried. As sleep crept over her, she kept focusing, praying to Her All Mother for every ounce of strength and safety she could beg for. There was nothing else she could do, and frankly, it would take her a while to find her way out of the thorny mess once her rest had ended.

For now, the All Mother would have to watch over her and keep her safe in the nest of her garden, shielded from the world. Darker things than this beast were coming, and soon, Dovefeather would need all the strength and faith she could grasp on to.

"Basil Speech" "Dovefeather Speech"

@Basil ; good place to exit? <3

He kept running, trusting in his feet to guide him as he ran with the horrifying scream behind him. He couldn't outrun the demon should it choose to pursue him, even though he had a good headstart. To a demon, that meant nothing. But he couldn't hide either, even in a place he knew so well, because he would eventually be sniffed out. The only way to survive was to find Dove and leave together with her while the demon was still incapacitated by the dark.

Using his magic he called out throughout the forest, calling out her name over and over in different spots in the brushes and hidden dens, hoping she would respond to him somehow.

But if she did, he didn't hear anything in response - maybe he just kept missing her, maybe she had already left Eridanus. Either way, he could already hear the screams of the demon start to die down, his name dying on his lips. The silence was much more terrifying than the sounds he'd made, and instantly he picked up the pace and ran faster, his breath coming ragged as he fled.

If only she would respond! He couldn't leave without knowing she was safe. He called out one more time with his spell, but still, the only sound he could hear was the pumping of his own frantic heart.

"Basil Speech" "Dovefeather Speech"

@Vicktor

This wasn't suppose to be happening! He was standing here suffering while that jaunty aardwolf just ran off! Without even so much as any retribution inflicted upon them! He spat, heart racing and his breathing grew ragged. He would not let this chance slip through his jaws! Shutting eyes from the abyss Vicktor had grown silent. If he simply ran after the pest his chances at locating them was low...he had been through similar situations before. But regardless of that his experiences didn't help, especially not now. Memories flooding and coiling his nerves, he could only try and focus. He would smother the fear, drown it in a sea of flashing red.

A sneer spread across his jaws, brows furrowed as he dug in. Claws settled deep into the soil, pelt bristling he could already feel the vibrating hum beginning rattle his bones. That sharp tingle running up his spine, collecting through his extremities he held onto it; for as long as he simply could. The pulse jumbled his belly full of snakes, electrifying those nerves; leaving only numbness in its quake. The hum and sparks drowning out the echos of the past. Yellow dancing sparks vanished, sending pulses of anger through the the soil. Could this even work? Well he was sure he'd find out, ears flickering and listening intently all the while. He cared little if anyone else had been caught in this crossfire, consumed with hunger; focused entirely on one thing.


"B͍̬̗̰̼̈̔̓͒A͖͎̩͖̟̱̝ͪ̓̓S̡̱̥̭͓̪̥͚ͫͦ̌͆͑̋̚I̯͒͐̎̌͋̐ͮL̠̯̰̓͡"

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Basil