Rune began to let down her area effect, the gravity slowly returning to normal, and the bound shifter lowered to the ground. Rune was hesitant, but she felt sorry for the creature. Her expression became slightly dismal, and she stared toward the ground and listened.
"I don attack people!" she shouted defensively as she was lowered to the ground. "I haven’t hurt anyvon!" She began to struggle again, her eyes now glowing fiercely as she tried to stand. Her body lit up in another flash, and the net and chain sagged, becoming a looser fit on a smaller being. The young, naked girl collapsed to her hands and knees under the weight, crying. She screamed in frustration, shaking her head. "I was hungry! That’s all!! I scared them to take their food!!" a much more female voice yelled in self-defense. She held herself, shaking violently, glaring at the woman. "I have to stay alive so she can live...!" she cried before forcing herself to stand.
With several flashes, her body went berserk, shifting from one random animal to the next, each attempting a quick struggle before shifting to the next. The rate was speeding up, and a strong aura was building up like magical friction. She was starting to bleed, getting hurt in each form, frantic to escape.
Swift and delicate, a winged man landed gently nearby. He was drawn to the output of magic. The tall, slender young man stood at six foot six inches and stood lazily, body leaning to one side. His face was cool and calm, his piercing red eyes, the left one boasting an 'L' shaped scar, gazing over at the rapidly morphing shifter. Large white and brown-feathered wings fluttered and relaxed behind his back, and a long lizard tail curled beside his feet, also covered with sections of feathers. He wore Connlaothian colors on his vest, but the rest of his clothes were mainly white, gold, and silver. He had a very holy look to his appearance. The only skin visible on his body was his head and tail, and it was covered with a pattern that closely resembled Satsuko's. White feathers were his hair. They flowed down the back of his head in what looked to be a spiky style, but it was how they rested.
The handsome man stood there peacefully as the shifter wore herself out. Those red eyes gained curiosity and traveled to the people who had restrained the magical creature. The bear was first, then the young lady with the unusual text on her face. Hmmm. She used magic as well. A very powerful magic. Not to worry. Then those eyes made their way to the third party member and stopped, but more in surprise this time. He blinked and looked her up and down, intrigued by the similar markings their bodies shared. His eyes met her face and nearly froze. How unexpected... She was gorgeous. What were the odds of finding such a gem? If he hadn’t such control over himself, he might have blushed. Averting his attention, he examined the shifter again. They seemed to have it under control already, but he wasn’t sure what they planned on doing with the shifter. He wasn’t about to let them kill her. Not without good reason, anyway. Just maybe, he should intervene.
With a swift flap of his wings, the man glided forward, landing and then walking up to the furious shifter. After a moment, she was an unclothed girl again, her eyes stuck on his. She was out of breath and stood there weakly. Who was he?? She panted, trying to back away and fell to her knees. The feathery man crouched beside her and she shank back. "W-who... are y-you...?!" she panted.
"I have been given all the knowledge from your attacks thus far within the boundaries of our village." He explained, his voice soothing and warm. The girl tried to interrupt defensively again but was easily quieted when he placed his two fingers over her lips through the netting. She suddenly calmed at his touch. "There were no injuries except for self-inflicted ones on the victims." He continued softly after she was quiet and then he lowered his fingers. "Theft of food belongings. That is all that was found missing." He paused for a moment to let the information sink in. "Tell me, is food all you wanted?" The girl quickly nodded to his question, her heavy breathing calming slightly. "What do you feel is a suitable punishment for such a crime?"
The girl frowned nervously and lowered her head. "I-I cannot pay... I h-have no money..." she replied softly. This man was strange. She felt all warm and tingly around him. It made her want to smile, but she didn’t. "I-I don’t know what the... punishment for... stealing is..." she continued, her breath still weak and her body shivering.
Rune was frightened at what was happening before her, and it was distorting her vision. She whimpered softly and stepped back, preparing to defend if she had to. Blind little Rune could not see the person until they were next to the shifter. She was slightly startled, but didn’t act unless Satsuko told her to. She did not know who the new person was, and didn’t want to attack an innocent person. Then the person, more appropriately, the man spoke. He was talking to the shifter... who was now docile!! How'd he do that?? "S-satsuko...?" she spoke with slight confusion. "What's going on?? Who is the man over there?? H-he's not from Connlaoth, is he?? Should I hide??" Rune asked worriedly.
