Three Dog Night

[Lion]

[ @Rhi-Rhi ]

"What a fucking night."

Was that him that just said that?  Decebal looked at his reflection in the pond, moonlight casting an iridescent glow over the misty waters.   It wasn't that misty, thankfully, though the night remained chilly at best.  At worst, the wind could pick up and howl – or rip a tree from its roots and send it sailing into him.  That would be bad, yes.

The night was quiet, maybe quiet like in those children's tales where something bad was about to happen and the hero met their untimely – and often gruesome – end.  Decebal kept facing the water, but his eyes were busy surveying the area.  This was where those rumors seemed to center on. 

Werewolves were always a nuisance.  And while people leaned toward the tendency of over-exaggerating, there was indeed a basis for fear.  Werewolves were dangerous, and could tear apart entire households in a manner of mere minutes.  Small thatch houses were no defense against tearing claws, and savage hungers.

And this werewolf in particular was a savage one.

Decebal waited, looking for any movement in the treeline, but saw nothing.  Nothing but a deer, drinking from that small pond before looking at him and meeting his gaze.  He didn't move, and the deer remained still as well.  For a long minute they stared, eye-to-eye until suddenly the deer jumped.  A howl pierced the night, and primal fear widened its wild eyes.  It tore off through the trees.

Decebal knew a cry like that.  It wasn't just a wolf's howl.  It was almost...human.

And he too bolted in that direction.

[Rhindeer]

The dire wolf that was once Corryn howled in rage as she thrashed against the chains tethering her to a large, strong oak. Saliva frothed from her black lips as she snarled and spat and threw herself against her bindings again and again, scoring the earth deeply with her claws and rattling the chains, shaking the tree hard enough to send a rain of leaves fluttering down.

Corryn was no longer Corryn in that moment, not really. She was still in there, deep inside, but what was there was scared and confused and angry to be bound like this. The primitive, primal mind of this form couldn't understand that she was the one to bind herself here, for her own protection--and the protection of others. Right now, all she understood was that she was trapped, trapped, trapped, that any predator might come along for the kill.

And she hurt. Everything hurt so bad, her head throbbing, her eyes aching, her throat burning and muscles throbbing. The transformation was excruciating and left her sore and achy and addled and miserably hungry, and that only added to the panic and anger she felt. She hurt, and the chains were tight. She needed to get away from here. She needed to go. Now.

Panting heavily, she braced herself, aching muscles bunching up in preparation for another round of fierce struggling, and then with another howl of rage and agony she threw herself at the chains and thrashed wildly--

...And was very surprised when, with a clink, the chain snapped.

For a moment, the beast just stood there panting, chest heaving, in surprise. Then with a dog-like shake, she shook the chains free and ran for her freedom, tearing through the woods, taking herself as far from that awful place as she could. She reveled in the scents and sounds all around her, a sensory overload to her heightened sense of hearing and smell, and then--

A deer darted by, frantic and wild-eyed.

It was hers.

Corryn bounded after it on long, powerful legs and lunged, taking it down hard enough that she heard bones snap beneath her paws. She tore into it savagely, hot blood spilling into her mouth, and didn't wait to ensure it was dead before she began to feed.

[Lion]

Decebal ran off toward where the deer darted, knowing for sure, somehow the werewolf would track it.  They always did.  The sound of the howl was much closer than it seemed at first, especially since he was tailing the deer like he had been.  But he paused abruptly, sniffing the air much like a dog would. 

Had he gone off the wrong way?  The deer was elsewhere now, and suddenly there was a savage snapping sound, and Decebal froze.  Oh, this was a lot closer than he expected.  He waited a while, his vision adjusting to the darkness better now that he wasn't staring directly at moonlight.  Another sniff to the air.

"Blood."

And he ran through the trees to a small clearing, seeing this ugly creature begin to devour that same deer.  And he then withdrew the whip from its clasp and lashed it out from behind the wolf, bladed ends ready to tear at that nasty hide.

[Rhindeer]

She was so absorbed in feeding, in gulping down chunks of bloodied flesh, that she didn't even notice her attacked until his whip was tearing into the flesh of her back.

Corryn roared in agony, a sound that wasn't fully wolf, and whirled around to face her attacker while blood dripped from her fangs even as it soaked into her thick fur. But even as it dripped onto the soil, the deep wounds were already starting to knit back together.

Still hurt horribly, though.

And pain made her angry.

Being interrupted made her even angrier.

She snarled as her eyes locked onto the man, eyes narrowing to slits, and decided she'd had enough deer; it was time for a new kind of meat. Her muscles rippled beneath her fur as she stalked toward him, fearless of the whip as she knew only hunger--

And then she lunged for him, teeth snapping.

[Lion]

Decebal had seen dire wolves like these before.  This one had an intelligent element to it.  He could tell just by looking into those eyes.  There was something about him that struck him in that moment, and he only narrowed his in turn.  Of course this couldn't just be an easy hunt.  Luckily he was prepared enough to see that lunge in time. 

He threw his body off to the side, rolling and landing in a crouch.  He swung the whip out, cracking it dangerously and turning on his heel, lashing it at the wolf's left side with as much strength as he could muster.

[Rhindeer]

The wolf yelped again as the whip bit into her, rage and pain flashing in her eyes as it lanced her open, and she recoiled back with a snarl as her blood splattered onto the ground. The blow hit her hard enough to make her stumble and reel, and she staggered for a moment as the agony blinded her--right before her flesh began to knit.

She leaped back from him, hackles raised, and seemed to consider him with unusually intelligent eyes for one split moment.

This creature wasn't worth the effort. Too much pain for such a tiny reward, especially after she'd already had deer. And yet, the other side of her mind argued, he was also now an annoyance.

She wanted to stop him not because she wanted to eat him, but because now he'd just irritated her, like a persistent fly. You could shoo the fly away, or you could get the satisfaction of smashing it.

She wanted to smash him.

And so she charged him again, this time with new purpose, for she expected the whip--and wanted him to lash at her, already anticipating his next move.

[Lion]

He was prepared enough for her charge and responded in kind with a lunge of his own.  But he kept the whip off to the side and instead pulled the sword off from his back.  His father's blades were strong and blessed and would sear at any supernatural flesh it came into contact with.

He cried out, swinging the sword overhead, intending a quick kill with a slash to the neck.

[so lame, so sorry]

[Rhindeer]

[Whaaat? Lame? Shhhhhh. You know I love all your posts. |: ]

Corryn had been expecting the whip.

She hadn't expected the sword.

But she came at him nonetheless, relentless, and when he swung the sword at her neck, she turned her head just in time--and caught it in her jaws.

It sliced through her mouth, tearing her mouth open wider like a glasgow smile, but her jaws clamped down powerfully and it went no further. Her eyes burned into his, blood gushing over the blade, and then the wolf seemed to smile a gruesome, gory smile before she began to shake her head viciously from side to side like the sword were a rag doll, flinging blood and meat as she tried to tear the blade from his grip.

[Lion]

[*ded*]

He certainly hadn't been expecting that! 

Decebal couldn't hold on forever, even with the strength afforded by his blood.  His fingers slipped on the blade and he was promptly sent him flying across the clearing into the carcass of the half-eaten deer.  He slid along a bloody mudslide and slammed into a tree, landing at the roots.

He was dazed and half-lifted his head, peering up at the wolf with the sword in its maw.  He glowered dizzily, but was quickly regaining his breath.  "That's mine," he growled.

[Rhindeer]

[*cackles!*]

Corryn held the sword in her mouth victoriously for a few moments, as though to gloat, but a sword was little use to a wolf and she soon dropped it to the ground. Blood flowed from her ruined mouth like a river as she panted, her tongue lolling from her mouth like a ruined mess of meat, and she was beyond pain now, her mind going to that blinded, euphoric place.

Of course, she also couldn't use her mouth at the moment or close it, but already the damage began to heal. She twitched as muscle and skin knit back together even as she stalked toward the monster, and she felt dizzy--but maybe it was from elation, from the thrill of it all, the challenge of finally facing something she couldn't immediately kill, something she had to work out like a puzzle.

She snarled, lips curling back from bloody teeth, and licked her lips with her healed, pink tongue.

He had no sword, now. Just the whip.

And as she threw herself at him again with snapping jaws, she--

She slipped.

Her paws slipped in the blood and mud and with a yelp, she fell short.

[Lion]

Decebal pushed himself up to his feet, though his balance clearly staggered and he watched her, eye to eye.  Yes, that intelligence was there.  And it was more than animal.  This wolf was a shifter of some sort, and he knew then it wouldn't be easy in tracking this creature again should he fail to kill it this time.  He would run and get as far away from this area as possible.

Decebal eyed his sword that the animal dropped and then back to it, watching its mouth knit back together.  He showed his own teeth and lunged forward just when the wolf did.  Slipping off sideways, Decebal bounded over the deer carcass, letting the wolf barely regain its footing, as he went for his sword again.

He slid on his leg and swooped the sword back in hand, twirling the whip around and lashing it at the wolf's back.  It would be momentary pain.  Pain that he would swiftly end when he jumped for the beast, sword ready to stab.

[Rhindeer]

The wolf was still getting her feet back under her when the whip bit into her back, and all those awful blades stripped the fur and flesh away.

Corryn yelped, high-pitched and dog-like, and spun around, deepening the wound as the blades pulled free--just in time to get another blade in her flank. But it was probably her quick turn that saved her from taking the blade in a more vulnerable area. And it hurt, pain tearing through her so she yelped and snarled again, and she thrashed and struggled violently, jaws snapping toward whatever flesh she could reach, before she tore free.

Her wound gaped and bled horrifically, and though it began to heal, there was no healing lost blood. She reeled, stumbling and falling before clawing herself back to her feet and staggering away from the man, her breathing more labored and dry. The dizziness was worse, coupled with exhaustion. And though she was half-mad with agony and rage, deep down inside she was still just a canine, and this battle was proving far more pain and trouble than it was worth.

She licked feebly at her closing wound, growled a deep, rumbling growl, and then spun around on her heel and ran, half-dragging her still-bleeding leg.

[Lion]

Decebal heard that cry and surprised himself, pausing, keeping his distance as he watched the animal before him tend and nurse its wound.  It was definitely more human than he thought, and perhaps a youngling.  There wasn't any impetuosity of youth that might lead to it's death, but a carefulness that said it was not quite ready to die yet.

He stayed that way as the wolf turned tail and ran for the trees.  He flared his nostrils, his sympathy shortened and he sheathed the blade, wrapping the whip up as fast as he could before he bolted after the whimpering weakened animal.

However, he could not see its form between the trees, and he smelled the air, hoping he could stay on the scent.

[Rhindeer]

The wolf left behind a trail of blood, but even that blood trail eventually ran dry when her wound finally healed.

And by the time it did heal, Corryn was thoroughly exhausted and sick with blood loss. She'd gotten a good head start, but after a while she slowed and had to take breaks before moving on, her ears up and alert for signs of that monster. She managed to keep one step ahead by some miracle, and some deep, instinctive part that was still Corryn knew she just had to keep moving until morning, just had to keep hidden until morning...

Finally, she curled up in an abandoned den she dug out weakly to make bigger, and passed out.

When she woke up, she was human again--and she felt like she'd been run over by a herd of horses.

Her body always ached the first day after a transformation, but this morning felt extra special. And it was extra special, because when she sat up, she was covered in blood--and she was not in chains!

Worse yet, her belly felt very full and heavy.

Are you kidding me.

And thus, the first thing she did was vomit quite thoroughly, and though it was disgusting, she was relieved when she found only animal fur in the mess. Still, she felt sick and gripped with terror that she'd broken free, because even if it was only some animal...what if a person had come by? What if she'd been closer to a town and gone there? Gods, she thought those chains were secure!

...Now where the hell am I?

Not near her tree or chains where she'd left, you know, only all of her supplies. And clothes! And sword! She didn't recognize this area, and she was a naked woman covered in blood. Not weird at all!

She supposed she could always make up some story about being mugged and beaten. Except for the part where she bore no injuries. Damn. Not suspicious at all. She looked like a serial killer.

But there was nothing else to be done. Whining wouldn't get her clean or back to her things. She had to try to retrace her steps, track "the wolf" back to that damned tree. And maybe wash off the blood first. It was unlikely she'd meet anyone this far out in the woods, but she liked not to take chances. If she was just a naked woman, not a naked woman covered in blood with no injuries, she could garner a lot more sympathy.

And so, grumbling, she rose to her feet, stretched her achy limbs, and trudged her way toward the sound of water. There was a shallow stream, but it would be enough to wash in, and so she sat by the edge and started scrubbing away at the dried, flaking blood while trying not to vomit again at the thought of what she'd done, and what she could have done.

Because even if it was just animal meat, she'd seen the results of her work, and it was not a nice way to go.

[Lion]

Decebal had lost it.  Fuck!  Of all things!  And of all nights!  A fucking dire wolf on the loose did not bode well.  Even wounded and bleeding everywhere, the demon hunter knew well enough that trail wouldn't last forever.  His skin tingled as he'd lingered on where the trail faded, but his senses faded there and the night was quiet. 

"Fuck," he hissed again.  He would have to resume his search in the morning.  Perhaps even that night, if he could.  It couldn't have gotten far.  "When I find you, I'll turn you into a winter coat."  He gave a small grin at that thought.  He'd never been given the slip by a beast, yet he knew he had to entertain the possibility.  Most creatures of perilous strength were certain they could not be bested, and were often surprised at facing another that could fight them. 

This wolf had been smart enough to run away.  To live another day, as the saying goes.  But not if Decebal had anything to say about that.

He'd made camp that night, sleeping away from the small fire he'd made where a captured rabbit had once roasted.  And the night faded without incident.

Decebal awoke with a start, when he heard the sounds of a raccoon rummaging through his things.  "Hey!"  The animal spooked and scurried away, but not without making off with a sack of peanuts that he had stored away in his bag.  Well, at least it wasn't his compass.

He loaded up his things and wandered through the trees, finding that stream from the pond he'd seen the deer at earlier.  Water, yes, that would be a good idea.  Following the stream, Decebal pulled up his water skin and ducked down beside the water, filling it up, peering up only for a moment and spotting something odd in the bushes.

Was that a woman bathing?

[Rhindeer]

Corryn had managed to get the blood washed from her skin and was in the process of rinsing it from her hair when the soft crunch of leaves and twigs made her jolt and sit upright. It was probably just a deer or rabbit, but--

...But it wasn't.

It was a man.

Of course.

With a gasp, she covered herself and scrambled to her feet and into the nearby bushes, which was probably not a wise decision as they scratched at her in all the worst places. Crouching down, she flashed him a tired, awkward smile, because what else could she do? This was a ridiculous, fucked up situation, she felt like crap, and she had no good excuses prepared because this wasn't supposed to happen! Guess now was the time to do her best helpless maiden act, sigh.

"Uh, hi there, good sir!" she called, and gave a one-handed wave while keeping her other arm firmly over her chest. "Boy. This is awkward. Um. Soooo. You don't happen to have a change of clothes, do ya? Like, just, conveniently on you. I kind of, er...don't have any. Long story! There may have been bandits. You know how it goes."

Man, did she suck at this, for a former noblewoman she really needed to work on her--whoa!

The heck was up with his arm?

[Lion]

Decebal stirred from where he was.  Had he really been staring so long?  He blinked at her and shook his head.  "I...I'm sorry," he quickly sputtered out.  Yes, he had been staring that long.

"I did not mean to watch you.  I mean I wasn't watching you.  But I was watching you only because you happened to be in my line of vision.  I..."  He stopped. "Apologies, miss."  He bowed his head and looked at her, making sure to look at her face.  "I believe I may have a blanket in my pack.  Would that be suitable?"

[Rhindeer]

What a gentleman. He'd totally been ogling her. Not that Corryn could blame him, she supposed; she'd been ogling him, too, or more specifically his arm, so really, it was only fair. And anyway, she was pretty damned cut.

Oh, and yeah, she supposed she did have big tits, too. Sigh.

He sputtered out excuses, and she waved a hand dismissively, like a princess might dismiss a prattling servant. "Please, calm yourself. There's no need to apologize," she said. "It's okay. I'm not offended. I'd watch me, too." She cracked a small smile at that, hoping to lighten the mood with a bad joke, and reached down briefly to brush a tick off her hip. Dammit. These bushes had been a bad choice.

"I'll also happily divest you of your blanket, if you'd be so kind. That sounds positively lovely--and it's certainly better than what I have! Which is...what you see. Which isn't an invitation to stare, mind you," she quickly added. For even though she'd forgiven his former ogling, that didn't mean she was going to invite more!

[Lion]

He shook his head and quickly retrieved the item he had suggested giving her.  Decebal huffed a little, hating his own distraction.  He still had a werewolf to hunt after all, and the very smell of it told him it was still in this area.  Turning, but keeping is gaze on her face instead of anywhere else, he handed her the blanket and gestured for her to get out of the brush.

Didn't she know they were full of ticks?

Despite the bandit story, Decebal had a hard time, she'd been driven this far from any main or side road because of a couple of bandits.  But then again he'd seen stranger things in darker times.  So he cut right to the chase.  "Have you seen a hound running around?  Large, big teeth, and about as big as a boulder?"

[Rhindeer]

With the blanket wrapped tightly around her, clear up to her chin as her hair dripped water onto her now covered shoulders, Corryn moved from the bushes and peeked down beneath the blanket briefly to make sure nothing else was crawling on her. Tick free, she readjusted the blanket to pull it closer. She'd been so distracted by the surprise of discovery, she hadn't realized how cold she was until the tension eased.

Thank gods she'd encountered a gentleman, at least. Maybe he'd be so kind as to escort her to the nearest village, help her get properly clothed, and then she could just sneak back to the woods to retrieve her things at the nearest opportunity! Flawless plan, indeed! With a gracious smile, she opened her mouth to thank him for his help (and blanket!) but he spoke first.

And her blood went cold.

...Oh dear.

He...he had seen her? Unless he was talking about some other hound, but she highly doubted that! He had seen her, and he was looking for her. Before she could help it, she glanced to the weapons he carried--the whip clasped to him, the sword. Erk. This complicated matters.

"A hound?" she repeated, and tilted her head curiously. "No, I'm sorry, I haven't. Have you lost your dog?"