Truth and Lies. [Jonny]

[Casey DeLaney]

Casey set the small pile of fruit down on the table. He’d been able to scavenge a few apples from a tree in the park, and brought them home to share with his family. A family that had been one person smaller just a week ago. Casey smiled as Fletcher eagerly grabbed an apple and dug in, enjoying the rarity that was fresh fruit. He hadn’t been so keen on the kid staying with them at first, but the way Sascha cared for the child so much already made Casey hopeful that he could learn to be a good father figure as well. It scared him, but he felt better knowing that he and Sascha were in it together. Where one of them was weaker, the other would make up for it. Together, they would make sure Fletcher would always be well taken care of. Casey sighed contently, wrapping his arms around Sascha’s waist. He rested his head on the anthro’s shoulder and glanced over at Fletcher, his anxiety lessening now that he could see their little family coming together. It was becoming harder and harder to stay away from the Inn the more he realized how precious what he had here was, and leaving to go back to the Fulsi was always agony. He did love his Ring, but he loved Sascha much more, and though the Ring provided stability and relative safety in numbers, Casey was beginning to think that perhaps the three of them could make it on their own. The thought of having to trek back to the city again so soon made his heart sink and he whined softly, squishing Sascha closer to him. “I don’t want to go back,”He said quietly, closing his eyes and simply enjoying the moment. Casey cherished the moments he had with Sascha, and thinking of them when they were apart made the distance hurt a little less. The sound of far-off voices caught Casey’s ear, and he fell quiet again. He pulled away from Sascha and walked to the window, opening it a crack to get a better listen. He heard the voices more clearly, as well as the sounds of footsteps, at least four or five sets. “Sounds like the hunting patrol is coming in for a while,” Casey said, closing the window again. “I’ll go meet them and keep them clear of here.”He did his best to make sure that the few Fulsi that were stationed at the Inn or stopped in for shelter never found out about Sascha or Fletcher. If they ever caught sight of someone, it was probably brushed off as a rogue passing through. Casey gave Sascha a kiss goodbye, and slipped out into the hallway. He walked through the Inn with the demeanor of a scout who was stationed there, occasionally peeking into rooms to make sure they were empty as they should be. It was better to play the role all the way than to be questioned about why he was really at the Inn. When he reached the lowest level of the Inn, he heard the footsteps echoing off the walls and knew that the group was close. Casey dashed around the corner and lifted his hand to wave, when he suddenly froze in his tracks, hand lingering slightly in the air. His brows furrowed in confusion as he came face-to-face with a familiar blonde man. “..Jonny? What…?” Green eyes darted to look from person to person, none of which were familiar to him. “What’s going on here?”

[Jonny McNabb]

He had a good feeling about today--like shit was gonna get done. He wasn't one for expending energy on activities other than recreational, but he had to admit he liked to put in the occasional effort. And this time it was likely to get him lauded as a pretty great spy. Grade-A, James Bond material. He mused quietly for a moment, thinking that the Keepers should just call this whole damn dome thing quits and give him a movie, with like ten sequels and a tv spinoff. He'd be James Bond, reinvented. Blonde and fabulous, breaker of hearts and necks: 'cos he so damn fine he be snappin' necks when he walk by. Double Oh Seven. Alas, the world had other plans for him. He brought himself back to reality, realizing that it was probably a much more serious situation than he was imagining. It wasn't gonna be easy--raids never were. And this was the first one he would be leading...and against the Fulsi. The Ring that had given him a "home" for the past two years, give or take. There was a part of him that regretted his role as a spy if only because at this particular junction his hand was being forced to violence. It wasn't that he particularly abhorred violence, but he wasn't fond of blood and how it stained every goddamn thing if you even just stuck a finger in it. He'd lost so many of his favorite shirts that way. And the sounds were just altogether gruesome; the sickening cracks and crunches of breaking bone, that horrible squelch when fangs sank into flesh and ripped followed by the almost unearthly screeches of pain that seemed to echo for miles. And the stench, oh god the stench. The coppery tang that hung in the air that quickly soured, the stink of sweat and musk of fear cloying your nostrils until you can't breathe. And knowing the Carna there'd probably be fire and lots of it, so add the odor of burning hair and flesh. A lovely recipe for retching your guts out and a couple of sleepless nights. Needless to say he wasn't overly fond of raids, but being that Alpha Manic had pretty much ordered him to slaughter any and all Fulsi at their so-called Breathelight Outpost before burning the place to the ground, he didn't have much of a choice. He'd been chosen to lead the raid because he'd been posted at the Inn more times than he could count and knew the ins and outs of the old place better than anyone; he'd spent most of his shifts sleeping in the rooms, after all. So he knew he had to suck it up, square his shoulders, be a good Carna and slit a couple throats. It gave him some small comfort that he had his comrades at either side faces streaked with ash and blood, weapons at the ready. Dominic and Benni, two huge brothers who were dangerously well equipped for life in the dome. The rest of his Raiding party was comprised of some of the prime Hunters and Scouts in the Carna, and it was good to see their faces again. He'd been on raids with them before, and it was just like old times and helped to take the edge off. Angus and Agnes, fellow Scots who were inseparable (the sexual tension between the two was sickening, and frankly Jonny wished they'd just dog it already) and willowy Tamra who could probably snap a man's neck between her thighs if she wanted. It gave him hope that maybe his first time leading a Raid wouldn't end in disaster. They'd camped out in the woods just beyond the Inn and rested from the long trek, biding their time. Jonny knew a replacement patrol wasn't due for another day, and now would be the perfect time to strike. His stomach was twisting itself into knots as he stalked forward, his Carna fanning out on either side of him as they approached the Inn from one of the back exits. They were quiet, stealing through the halls and felling a few Fulsi as they emerged from their rooms. They'd made it upstairs without alerting anyone, Angus and Agnes sprinkling alcohol here and there to act as an accelerant. Apparently Manic was tired of the Fulsi calling this place theirs and figured it'd be better burnt to the ground than let anyone get any use out of it. So here they were, to pillage and burn like modern day vikings. At least he made a damn sexy viking. They'd just made it up another flight of stairs and were about to turn the corner when Jonny nearly slammed into an all too familiar face. Casey. Wait, Casey?! Shit. Shit shit shit shit "Shit." It was all he could think of to say before he realized that Dom and Benni had started forward to take out Casey. Without thinking Jonny lunged forward and slammed a fist into Casey's unsuspectingly shocked face and threw him to the ground. Not giving him a chance to fight back, Jonny grabbed the Fulsi by the collar of his shirt and began pulling him into an empty room, nodding to his Carna. "Keep movin. I'll take care-a this one." They nodded and moved on, only Tamra casting him a suspicious glance as Jonny struggled to keep Casey in his grip. "I gotta see how much he knows, Tam." She narrowed her eyes but nodded and moved on, leaving Jonny and Casey by themselves. Jonny turned to Casey who was getting to his feet, jaw clenched as he tried to figure out what the hell to do. Why the hell was he here? Why did it have to be him? "What the hell are ye doin' here, Casey?" he said, his voice low and laced with frustration. "You wasn't spose to be here today, goddammit. Godammit. Of course you would be here, of all goddamn people. Shit! You feckin' ruin everything!" ooc| jonny noooo

[Casey DeLaney]

Casey was frozen in shock, with his mouth hanging stupidly open. And so it was all too easy for Jonny to nail him in the face with a right hook. The force of the blow combined with his state of utter confusion meant that he was knocked to the ground. Before he knew what was happening, Jonny was on top of him and dragging him by his collar. He began to try and struggle away from him. In all the chaos, he thought he saw Jonny mouth something at him, but he was in too much of a haze to figure out what he was saying. Casey felt his heart begin to race in his chest as he realized that he was in danger; Jonny was lying to make the Carna go away. Or was he? Maybe he never cared for him at all, and he really would be taken care of, as Jonny had put it. When the others had gone, he scrambled to his feet and immediately backed away, staring at Jonny in wide-eyed horror. He had a few moments to try and collect his thoughts now, and all the facts were pointing in the same terrible direction. Jonny was a traitor, and Casey had been sleeping in the same room as him for years. Everything he’d ever told him, confided in him, had probably been filed into neat stacks of useful and not useful information in Jonny’s conniving mind. Everything Jonny had ever told him was laced with motive now, a secret meaning that Casey had been so blissfully unaware of. He was a Carna and a spy, and now he was finally turning against the ring that had protected him for so long. “Me? I ruin everything?” Casey gasped, exasperated at the thought. “I’m sorry, is your complete and utter betrayal not going as planned? Poor baby.” He spat, narrowing his eyes and clenching his fists. It was hard to look at Jonny and not see the useless tenderfoot who was always lazing around. It had all been the perfect scheme to fly under the radar, that much was clear now. But it was still hard to see a traitor and not a friend. The more he stared at Jonny, the more his face made Casey’s stomach turn. “How could you bring them here? Here?!” He screamed, suddenly lunging at Jonny and tackling the Scotsman to the ground. Before he knew what he was doing, Casey was slamming his fist into Jonny’s face. “Everything I love is here!” He roared, struggling to keep Jonny down. “And they’re burning the place to the ground!” Casey thought of Sascha and Fletcher still huddled in the rooms above, while the Carna prowled like wolves through the halls, inching closer and closer to them by the minute. His eyes stung with the threat of tears as gruesome images flashed into his mind; he had lived Carna raids before. He knew what would become of his family if the raiders ever found them. And either way, this place would be ashes by morning. Casey let out another deafening roar and tried to slam Jonny’s head back into the floor. “How could you do this to me, Jonny?!”

[Jonny McNabb]

"Poor baby." Jonny let out a frustrated sigh, rolling his eyes at the suddenly spitfire Casey. Leave it to the Fulsi to completely muck up his plans and then go ahead and blame him for it. The Irishman wasn't supposed to be here today, it wasn't his shift. He wasn't even supposed to be here for another week at least. Jonny supposed he had a point, what with the complete and utter betrayal. He had never really thought of it from Casey's perspective before; from the view of a person so utterly capable of trust it sometimes disturbed Jonny. How could you do something like that? Trust your life to the person next to you? He had loved the Fulsi for that very reason...they stuck to their own. There were small groups where the bonds were inseparable but more than likely a guy wouldn't stretch his neck out for a fellow Foosi if you weren't part of his social circle. At least in Jonny's experience, though truth be told he was in everyone's clique. The Carna was a much different atmosphere, all close quarters and claustrophobic with their affection and loyalty to each other, even if it was veiled in aggression. It made him sick sometimes, but they served their purpose. Just like he was serving his today, on orders of his Alpha. "I was just doin m' job, Casey--" was all he managed to get out before Casey was lunging at him, slamming into him full force. He was knocked backwards, his skull slamming into the thread-bare carpet onto the cold concrete underneath. He blacked out for a second, awoken only by the numbing sting of something hitting his face. He struggled to keep his eyes open, vision blurring as blow after blow landed. His body refused to react beyond a sluggish heave of his arms upward to try to protect his face. He let out a groan in protest, surprised at the coppery tang in his mouth. He could barely make sense of what Casey was saying, Casey's enraged face swimming before him in a haze. He saw another fist coming and decided that getting punched what, like five or six times in the face was more than he deserved, and brought his arm up to block the blow. He grabbed Casey's forearm with one hand and clenched down hard, the other snaking up to latch onto Casey's exposed throat. "Stop, ya bastard!" he shouted, his voice as close to a snarl as a human could get. He didn't loosen his hold on Casey's throat, just tight enough to keep him from doing anything stupid. He could feel Casey's pulse racing under his finger tips, could feel the very breath gasping from his lungs. It sickened him, this closeness. He'd liked the idea of being close to Casey, but not like this. Not with blood oozing from his nose, not with an eye nearly swollen shut. Jonny swallowed hard, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He locked eyes with Casey, glaring back into the green eyes he'd glared into for the past two years. His eyes widened slightly as a jolt of familiarity coursed through him. He'd seen that look before, that face that shattered and reformed into hate and hurt and rage. It was the look that Sonny had wrought, and he remembered the almost physical pain from that betrayal. Jonny shuddered at the sudden flush of shame and guilt that almost overwhelmed him, suddenly unsure of everything. He choked around a growing mouthful of blood, red spittle speckling his hand and flecking onto Casey's face. His stomach turned as he realized he'd bitten a decent chunk out of his tongue from the force of the fall. He struggled to gather his scattering thoughts, not accustomed to the ache and confusion of physical pain. He'd never been able to take hits well, and it was taking everything to fight off the ringing in his ears as shock threatened to take hold. It was only a few moments, maybe a few seconds, of quiet struggle between them, but it seemed as if he'd been looking into that damned freckled face for hours. He didn't quite know what to feel, amidst the agonizing haze of pain and this sudden gnawing of guilt. But he knew what he had to do. His voice quieted when he finally spoke, his words giving off a slick hiss as he talked through blood stained teeth. "You weren't spose t'be here, gaddam it. You wasn't due for another week! I was keepin you outta harms way," He dug his fingernails into Casey's throat, almost wanting to feel the skin tear slightly under the pressure. "And I was gonna warn your freak, which is more 'n he deserves." He grunted and surged upwards suddenly, using his momentum to shove Casey backwards with his hand still gripping his throat so that Casey had no choice. He fell back and Jonny was on him in an instant, straddling him, trying to pin down his arms with his one free hand as Casey tried to claw at him. His hand tightened around the Fulsi's throat til he could hear him gasp for air. He grinned, blood dripping from his mouth onto Casey's face. He leaned in closer, lips grazing against Casey's cheekbone as he whispered into his ear. "Don't fight me, boy. I'm the one tryna save you. I didnae wan' t' hurt ya. But the Alpha said, he said, 'let slip the dogs of war'. And Case--the dogs, they're jus down th' hall, can you hear 'em callin'? They're out for blood." Jonny pulled away so he could look into Casey's eyes. "An' I'm th' only thing b'tween you an' them."   ooc| casey nooo not the moneymaker

[Casey DeLaney]

Casey had lost track of how many times he’d slammed his fist into Jonny’s face. All he knew was that there was blood smeared all over his knuckles, and it wasn’t Jonny’s alone. He went to strike him again, engulfed and blinded by his rage and agony, but Jonny’s arm flew up and blocked his blow. About time. he thought. Fight back, you traitorous bastard! his thoughts screamed. Casey wanted a reason to hurt him more, to feel something other than the weakness and vulnerability that came with being so deeply betrayed. He wanted the rage to take control, and he was going to let it. "Stop, ya bastard!" ”Try and make me!” Casey roared right back, his voice cracking toward the end as Jonny’s hand gripped his throat and tightened just enough to cut him off. Casey’s bloodied hands flew to the hand around his neck, but the Carna’s grip was strong. They struggled for a few moments and Casey clawed and kicked at Jonny. Every time he struggled, the grip grew a little tighter, and he grunted against the pain of Jonny’s fingers digging into his flesh. But it was enough to make him listen. He couldn’t ignore Jonny when he spoke next, but he grimaced at the sound of his voice. It was sickening, the lies he was spewing. Blaming me again! he thought, and his face must have betrayed his utter disgust at the idea. And then Jonny spoke again, and the words sent Casey over the edge. "And I was gonna warn your freak, which is more 'n he deserves." His anger was renewed with a fire that raged even more wild than before; Another blatant lie, laced with the true words of a Carna. Of course he thought Sascha was a freak; Jonny knew he’d be killed when the raiders found him. Did Casey think Jonny even had the capacity to care? Hell no. If Casey hadn’t caught him here, he’d probably have run right into Jonny’s arms at the news. The traitor would feign feelings of friendship and sympathy, and probably dry Casey’s tears as he mourned the love that Jonny had taken away from him. He was a fraud and Casey couldn’t trust a single word out of his mouth. Casey let out a frustrated growl as Jonny shoved him back and pinned him instead; he was partially immobilized by the Carna’s vice like grip on his throat. He struggled on anyways, thrashing under Jonny’s weight. Casey did his best to keep his arms clear of Jonny’s grasp so that he could continue to claw and pull at the one around his throat. But then Jonny’s grip tightened and suddenly he couldn’t breathe. Terror seized him for a moment, long enough for Jonny to pin him completely to the floor. He tried to gasp for air, but none made it to his lungs. Green eyes stared up at Jonny with terror now; he looked nothing like the person he’d known just the day before. Hatred and an unnerving darkness filled his gaze. Blood dripped from his jaws and twisted his smile into a frightening grin. He was finally showing his true face; a Carna just as warped and sick as the rest of them. His words were unlike anything Casey had ever heard from his normally shallow thoughts. They were the veil that had hidden the monster from him all along. Casey was beginning to feel the crushing pressure of his lungs, now screaming for air. In one last ditch effort, he lunged forward and slammed his head into Jonny’s as hard as he could. The impact knocked his vision out for a moment, and when he regained it, his head was swimming. But it was enough to shove Jonny away from him. He gasped desperately as Jonny’s grip was broken, coughing and hacking as he tried to ease the burning of his throat and lungs. There wasn’t much time to recover; he had to put some distance between them lest Jonny pin him down again. Casey scrambled away and shifted, feeling more solid on four legs, rather than just two. ”They’re not the only dogs out for blood,” he snarled, voice dripping with venom. Casey pinned his wings to his back to keep them from harm, and then ran at Jonny, lips pulled back over his fangs in a growl. He slammed into Jonny just as the Carna shifted himself. If it was a dogfight he wanted, it was a dogfight he was going to get. The wolf sunk his jaws into the scruff of Jonny’s neck and threw him to the side, slamming the formidable dog to the floor. He had to be quick with this one, as Jonny was no small beast. He was as large as Casey at least, and even a bit taller, so the wolf would take any advantage he could make. ”Where are your dogs of war now? Casey mocked, huffing and turning his back on Jonny. His eyes fell to the doorway, and his heart sunk as he realized he had no idea how much time had passed as they fought. Sascha. Fletcher. He had to get to them quickly, or there would be no escaping the raiders. The wolf bolted for the door, just hoping he wasn’t too late.

[Jonny McNabb]

The world seemed to fall away to silence as the ringing in his ears grew louder, almost deafening, as he stared down at Casey. His hand was still around his throat, cinching tighter and tighter as if he had no control. He could feel the vague struggles, feel Casey's nails digging into his arm as if through a warm haze, the pain dulled by a comforting numbness quietly spreading through his body. He felt like he was drifting in some surreal universe. But if he was being honest with himself (and himself was the only person he was ever honest with) Jonny found himself enjoying the look of fear flitting across Casey's face. It gave him a strange sense of pleasure and an almost eerie calm settled over him, banishing the clawing guilt, soothing the ache and sting of the wounds still oozing blood. He was familiar with this sensation, the delicious trill that power wrought. It came in all forms, and he'd had his taste of the lot. He'd lived for years on the rush of lies and deceit, twisting his marks around his finger, using sex and whispers of love to wring them for all they were worth. It was a heady feeling of control. But Jonny found, quite suddenly, that he rather enjoyed this bit; he couldn't get the nice things anymore, he couldn't seduce his way into a mansion and live the life of luxury that used to afford him that rush. But the dome had offered him something much more potent. The power borne of fear, that look of realization dawning in their eyes that they might not make it out alive, that their lives were wholly in more than capable hands. He was by no means a skilled, clean fighter. But he could be (and was) a killer, messy as it was. Jonny didn't necessarily enjoy that it was Casey struggling in his grip, and he tried for a moment to feel bad. To find that small shred of empathy, that seed of sensitivity Sonny had planted when he'd torn open everything Jonny had known and loved. But it had been a fleeting thought, a passing ship; and as Jonny stared down into the eyes of the slowly suffocating Fulsi he realized perhaps that's what made the sensation, the pleasure, stronger this time. It was personal. It wasn't just some nameless victim. It was Casey, the guy who'd nagged him from sundown to sunup to work. The guy who he'd spent years trying to land in bed if only to prove a point that he could have anyone he damn well pleased. He'd never gotten what he wanted, but he supposed this would serve as some meager recompense. He was tired of this bullshit, tired of having to put up with the controlling brat with a heart of gold. He was tired of all his attempts at lighthearted folly turning into heated arguments with Casey calling him a useless waste of space, insinuating that he didn't have a purpose. That he wasn't worth it. He wanted to wring the little man's neck until it snapped. But, no. He wasn't gonna kill him; something inside him said that it wouldn't be the same if he was dead. There would be something left unresolved if he was gone. But he was going to enjoy the little bit of time he had and wring out what he could. He was feeling quite haughty and confident with himself when Casey suddenly heaved upward and slammed his head into Jonny's. It took him completely by surprise and his hold loosened on Casey's neck. His vision went dark for a moment and he was blindly grasping for Casey. By the time he regained his senses the Fulsi had broken free and shifted, snarling a challenge at him. Jonny cracked a grin and shifted hardly having time to be pissed off as he was still struggling to shove aside the pain of Casey's first attack. "I gave ye a chance, Casey. I was gon' help ya. But yanno what? I cannae be bother'd to care an'more. I try t' save your pale freckly arse and what d'ya do? Try 'n beat me senseless." He worked his paws into the scant carpet, bracing himself. "Well I'm done. Feck you and yah gaddam winged freak and yah whole feckin Ring!" He rushed towards Casey just as the wolf bullrushed him, trying to dodge but Casey was too quick and sank his fangs into his striped scruff, flinging him to the ground. He landed with a harsh thud that sent the breath rushing from his lungs, glaring up at Casey and his mockery. Jonny's lips peeled back over his teeth as he regained his breath and scrabbled to his paws, hot on Casey's heels. He let out a hoarse howl as he lunged forward, long limbs propelling him easily. He bunched his muscles and leapt, sinking his teeth into Casey's back, scrabbling at him with blunt claws as he tried to drag him backwards, away from the door. His mouth busy tearing into Casey, Jonny spoke instead with his mind, digging his way into Casey's thoughts. "They've got your scent, Casey. They're comin for you. You won' be safe, no matter where you run."

[Casey DeLaney]

The wolf’s jaws opened in a roar of agony as Jonny sunk his jaws into Casey’s back. His legs collapsed beneath him at the initial shock, and the enormous dog was able to drag him back from the door a few feet. Casey’s heart pounded out of control as terror seized him again. He couldn’t think straight; Jonny’s howl still rang in his ears and his eyes flitted desperately to the doorway, which was getting further and further away. The Carna were sure to have heard that one. Jonny shook his head viciously, razorlike teeth tearing deeper Casey’s flesh, ripping muscle and sending blood gushing from the wounds. Casey let out another agonized howl and tried to scrabble away from the Carna, flapping his wings in an attempt to gain some leverage. His head spun from the blinding pain; his struggles were only aiding Jonny in making the damage worse, but even through the confusion and cloudiness that was creeping up on him, he knew that if he didn’t get away from Jonny, the raiders would come to Jonny’s aid and he would have no chance at all. "They've got your scent, Casey. They're comin for you. You won' be safe, no matter where you run." Jonny’s voice echoed in his mind and sent a chill down his spine. He’s in my mind… I was never safe anywhere. The desperate thought raced through his head. He had to escape, and he had to get far, far away from here. Casey took a deep breath and lifted himself onto his front paws, bracing himself for his one plan of escape. With all his might, he threw himself back into Jonny instead, so that his hooklike claws and teeth wouldn’t sink any further in, but might instead have their grip loosened. He yelped at the impact, but felt Jonny let up for just a split second. Casey took that opportunity to shift back into his human form, his yelps and growls turning into screams. He aimed a desperate kick to Jonny’s muzzle, and then tried to get to his feet. At first, he immediately fell back to the floor. Casey lay there for a moment in a daze. A wave of nausea washed over him. He was exhausted and terrified and felt his blood rushing from him, only making his arms and legs weaker. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath and keep himself from slipping into unconsciousness. Sounds of commotion began to echo down the hallway, and his stomach turned even more. Jonny’s thoughts replayed in his head, over and over as the Carna drew closer. They were coming for him. They were going to hunt him down and make him their prey. The sound of men bursting into the room was enough to spur Casey to his feet again. He shifted, despite the burning, tearing pain of his wounds, and made a mad dash for the window. It was open, glass shattered and lost long ago, but with only a thin, rotting plank barring it. He took a deep breath and jumped straight at the window, his wings buzzing as they propelled him forward. The wolf smashed through the weakened wood, and he was sent spiraling toward the ground. Casey managed to catch himself just in time, wings flapping madly to keep himself from slamming into the concrete below. He panted for a moment and sent a last glance to the window he’d broken free from. Jonny’s face staring back at him sent a chill through his body, all the way down to his bones. Monster, he thought. You’ve betrayed us all. But he flew away without a word, making a bee-line for Sascha’s window. They were going to get out of here together, and never come back. His life as a Fulsi scout, the title that had defined him for nearly seven long years, was over now. Casey didn’t know what he was going to do, but he knew he wasn’t completely lost as long as he had Sascha by his side. Ooc: ;A; rank change incoming? –sob-

[Jonny McNabb]

Jonny willingly loosened his hold as he felt Casey buck backwards, reluctant to have his face smashed in again. But the unexpected force of it threw him off balance and he teetered on his back paws for a moment before his own weight sent him toppling over. He scrambled to get on his paws but Casey was a mite faster and in the blink of an eye Jonny saw a boot swinging at him. He let out a preemptive yelp of pain as it slammed into his muzzle, blood spurting from the impact. He could feel the jolt of pain ripple through every one of his teeth then shooting through his spine. It sent him to the cement floor, a whine almost admitting defeat scratching from his throat. He found himself unable to hold his shift, reaching up with a hand where his lip was split open and oozing blood. He heard Casey scrambling about but was too busy trying not to succumb to the lancing pain radiating from his head. Everything was hazy, his vision swimming with stars and colored spots. He saw Casey at the window, running, jumping--heard the crash as he broke through the lumber; smelled the blood as it poured from his back, the stench of sweat and fear pungent and nauseating. Jonny felt himself slipping into unconsciousness, barely hearing the calls of Benni and Dominic as they burst into the room. He thought he heard Casey say something, a sharp whisper. But everything was jumbled and out of order, and he couldn't tell if Casey was even still in the room. His two Carna hauled Jonny to his feet and shook him back to cognizance as much as they could, barking at him in their gruff voices where the Fulsi went. "Window," he coughed out, words slick and lisped from the blood pouring from his lip. He righted himself and staggered forward, head clearing as he stuck his head through the window a blast of cool air helping bring him around.  It took him a moment to find Casey, whose jerky movements brought a painful grin to Jonny's lips. He ducked back inside, turned on heel and lunged forward into a fluid run as paws hit the floor. "Upstairs!" he barked over his shoulder as he loped out the door and headed for the stairs as fast as he could. It was only one flight, but he was winded from the fight and his head was still roaring. Dom and Ben were at his back when they reached the room: Sascha's. The winged freak Casey couldn't shut up about. He could hear Casey's frantic voice, Sascha's lower reply and the high pitched cry of...a kid?...as they tried to escape. He shifted back and tried the door but found it stuck fast, quickly stepping back and nodding to Dom. The man shifted into the literal definition of a battering ram, long curled horns slick with blood and ash. He pawed the floor once, twice, then lunged forward. Once, twice, thrice was all it took at the door splintered under the impact. The three Carna flooded into the room in time to see Casey's red tail disappear from view out the window. Jonny let out a sound something akin to a snarl as he bolted to the window, watching them slip through his fingers: a flying wolf, a giant winged bat man and a bird bee-lining it for safety. Jonny knew there was no going back to the Fulsi, not now that Casey knew. It was too risky. And to try and hunt a flock of freaks down? Nigh on impossible, and he knew the search would be abandoned quickly. Even so, he wanted to have a little fun with Casey, the worry-wart. He gathered up his strength, eyes fixed on Casey's disappearing form and sent one last thought, one last parting gift. "We've got a taste for your blood, Casey. No matter where your family goes, we'll find you. You can run until your feet bleed, starve until you can count each rib, but we will find you," he said, screaming it into Casey's mind. "You are our prey, and the Carna always make the kill." Jonny's bloody lips twitched up into a smile. "Always." ooc| END THREAD!