prelude [ADI]

[Adelina Russovo]

"He's destroyed everything, everything. Spilled too much blood, blood that has stained my hands, tainted them with his evil. I cannot stop him. I have tried. He is a demon, sent to drag me to hell," Adelina could hear her father's drunken rambling echoing in her thoughts. It had been weeks since they talked, since he came stumbling into her train-car reeking of alcohol. He had fallen apart, torn down by some man that didn't even know her father's name. For years her father had kept the man's identity a secret. And then as she stood over him that night, dabbing at his feverish brow with a damp cloth, she heard the name she had been waiting years for. "Crash has taken everything from me, everything except you. But not even you are safe. There is no end to this madness, to this suffering..." She was crouched on the roof of a warehouse along the border of the Carna, peering down at the cracked world beneath her, barely noticing the beautiful splashes of green as plants sprouted through the cement. She wouldn't have noticed except for the blooms of bright red. "There is no end to this suffering, Adelina..." "Don't worry, Papa." she whispered, "I'll keep you safe." She spoke the words to the wind, hoping it would carry her promise to her father's ears. She held his words close to her heart as she heard the subtle signs that a Carna patrol was headed this way, letting them buoy her courage. She would do this for him, for the man who had sacrificed everything just to keep her safe. Her eyes trailed down to the plants again, a delicate smile tracing her lips despite the danger of being caught (or perhaps because of it). She focused on the red flowers, even from the rooftops she could catch their scent on the wind; or maybe that was the scent still clinging to her pockets, where she'd stored them. They were flowers that could only be found around the Oasis, a scent so powerful that it persisted even after the flowers had wilted--which they had, as they'd been in her pockets for weeks as she traveled as a Rogue to wash the scent of Fallen from her. She missed her home deeply, but this had to be done. At the sound of voices growing closer, she squared her resolve. There was no going back. She felt the wind pick up, hair tickling at her shoulders. She could almost her hear father's voice, almost feel his arms around her in a hug. It was as if the wind was assuring her--that this was the right thing to do. It was the only way to save him. She only hoped Adison noticed the flowers, but he always did. Deep down she knew she was hoping that he wouldn't see them and just keep walking, and ignore her signal completely.

[Adison Sotero]

Adison sighed and sat up on his makeshift mattress. It was little more than a few blankets that separated him from the cold concrete, but it was enough for him. A long morning of scouting was ahead of him and as was usual lately, he hadn't gotten much sleep. His mind had been racing with more than just thoughts of protecting the Carna’s borders as of late, namely Adelina and his last meeting with her. He didn’t know what was in store for them now, and it worried him to be away from her for so long. But he had promised her that he would back away, and that was just what he had done. She still ran across his mind all day long, but he kept his feet to his own territory, and doubled up on patrols in hopes that he'd tire himself out enough to get some decent sleep. He rolled out of bed with a groan and pulled himself to his feet. Adison rubbed his eyes and trudged out of sewertown, heading to his usual patrol meeting place. By the time he arrived, he'd shaken off his sleepiness and though he was exhausted, he didn't let it show. "Alright scouts," he greeted the group that waited for him. "Let's head out," he said, pointing ahead of them, down the path to the border. Adison followed along behind for a change, something he rarely did, but felt confident that the scout heading the group knew the route well enough. The patrol was rather uneventful for most of the way around the border. Adison stared at the ground, eyes following the cracks in the pavement, once in a while looking away as the cracks disappeared into a jungle of undergrowth. A sudden scent on the breeze stopped him dead in his tracks. Adison wondered if perhaps he was smelling it only because he wanted to smell it; that he had been daydreaming of Adelina much too often. But it felt so real! He closed his eyes and immediately he could visualize the scent in his mind, a delicate, wafting trail of red that led just off the patrol's path. Adi opened his eyes and the trail in his mind faded, but still lingered. He turned to see his patrol stopped and looking back at him from a few yards away, seemingly wondering why he'd stopped. "Go on without me for now," Adison called ahead. "I need a breather," he lied, though by the state of him, he didn't think the scouts would doubt him. "Domino's in charge." The enormous scout at the lead nodded, whistled, and motioned the patrol forward. Adison waited a few moments for them to disappear, then rushed off the path. Only a short distance away, he found them. Though they were withered, Adison recognized the flowers immediately. He stooped down and picked up a wilted bloom, his mind immediately transported back to the oasis. Images of the crystalline water and shady trees flashed through his mind. He could see Lina's face as he hadn't seen it in so long, a soft contented smile upon her lips as he tucked the red flowers into her wild hair. Adison knew now that he wasn't imagining things; these flowers were meant as a sign for him. She was watching him somewhere, but he didn't scent a Fallen nearby. "Lina, what are you doing here?" he asked, dropping the flower again. He'd wanted so badly to see her again for so long, but now that he was faced with the reality that she had appeared, his heart raced in a panic. “What’s going on?”

[Adelina Russovo]

It wasn't long before she spotted Adison in the distance. She felt her heart flutter nervously--seeing him sent a tumult of emotions rushing through her: relief, happiness, anger, and twinges of almost physical pain. It was getting easier each time she thought of him not to think of Reagan, but it still hurt. He hurried to meet her, though she could tell he was trying to appear as nonchalant as possible--either a show for his scouts, or for her. But she knew him better than that. She couldn't hold back the small smile, that singular upward twitch of her lips, as he stood just below her. "Lina, what are you doing here? What's going on?" His words crackled with everything unspoken, so much so she could almost hear every word he wanted to say, but didn't. The tension was almost palpable; to her it felt as if the air was alive between them, pulling her closer to him. She stood up from her spot on the roof and leaped off the lip of the building, shifting in one fluid motion. With a few silent flaps of her wings she landed a few paces from him, paws padding softly as she closed the distance between them, shifting back at the last moment. She resisted for a moment before she slowly walked forward, hand coming up to gently cup his face, fingers skimming along his cheek. His face was smudged with dust and dirt from patrols, and she could see the dark rings under his eyes. "You haven't been sleeping well," she said, her voice a low whisper, voice trembling slightly. It seemed too vague, too general a statement. But she didn't trust herself to say much else. She was unsure of what to do, of how to broach the subject she had come here for. Now that she was here and staring him in the face, it was harder and harder to think clearly. She was afraid, terrified that they would argue again, or worse, that she would hurt him again. She trailed her fingers across his lips in a featherlight touch before she realized what she was doing, and pulled back with a sharp breath. "I...I need..." you, she finished in her mind but shook that thought away before continuing, "...your help." She cleared her throat and gripped her spear tighter, leaning against it for slight support. "I need help finding someone."

[Adison Sotero]

Adison closed his eyes for a moment as her hand pressed against his face, and he leaned into her touch longingly. When he opened his eyes again, he felt he couldn’t meet the sight of her piercing eyes and quickly tore his gaze away from hers. When she spoke, he absent-mindedly rubbed at his dirty cheek with the back of his hand, only managing to smear the dirt around some more. He ignored the comment, as they both knew it was true. But Adison wasn’t about to get into a conversation about why he hadn’t been sleeping much, or why he pushed himself to work unreasonable hours to keep his mind busy. Lina was smart enough to know why, he knew that much. Adi sighed softly as Lina’s fingers moved so lightly over his lips, and he glanced over at her, eyes silently begging her to stop. Begging her to quit toying with his emotions, when they both knew she was here on her own business. So he listened as she spoke, and raised a brow in curiosity once she had finished. Who could she possibly want help finding? Who could it be that only he could help her, when she was so adamant on keeping her distance from him? Whatever this was about, it had to be important to Lina for her to come all this way just to talk to him. “Alright, I’m listening,” Adison answered, crossing his arms over his chest. “Who is it that you’re looking for?” Ooc; wow so bad but here you goo.

[Adelina Russovo]

Adelina had expected him to react differently--she had expected him to lash out, to tell her that she needed to stop being such an idiot and come back to him already. In fact, Adelina had been loathing this moment, terrified that he would repeat what he'd said back at the cabin, make her face the truth she hadn't wanted to. She still wanted to believe what she'd screamed at him, that they were over. Done. That he would hate her for what she'd done. But as he just stood there and stared back at her, his face drawn and tired, she didn't see hatred or even anger. She just saw hurt, and pain; she saw herself. Adelina knew that he was suffering like she was, but there was still that chasm in her chest, that dark shadow in her mind that never let her forget what she had done, and what it had cost them both. She felt him lean into her hand and her lips parted, as if to speak. She could feel the words on the tip of her tongue, the apology forming. But then he looked at her with eyes that begged her to go, and she braced herself for a rejection; but her brows lifted in surprise when he agreed to at least listen. Adelina nodded curtly, mostly to bolster her courage. She'd never been afraid to ask for anything in her life--she'd always demanded, and others usually yielded or had their teeth knocked out in some manner or another. Needless to say it was a new experience, coupled with the fact that she was currently utterly terrified of hurting the man she loved again. Focus, Lina. This isn't just about you and Adi, she thought, scolding herself. Right. Back to business. “Who is it that you’re looking for?” She cleared her throat again, and dove straight in. "Your Beta," she said, locking eyes with him. "I need you to arrange a meeting with Crash." She stood straighter, firmly tapping the butt of her spear on the cracked asphalt as she settled her resolve. "I know it's a strange request, and a lot to ask of you. But you're the only person I trust to help me." OOC | your post was not bad YOU LIE

[Adison Sotero]

Crash. Adison scowled as he thought about the Carna Beta. The incompetent pet that his father had chosen to help him lead the Carna. True, Crash was a good fighter and was willing to do the dirty work that needed to be done to keep the Ring safe, but that hardly made him qualified to be Manic’s second-in-command. Crash was a follower at best. In fact, Adison wondered if he’d ever had an original thought in his life. He was effective when pointed in the right direction, but his father deserved better. He deserved a Beta that would take initiative and root out the bad seeds that were sprouting in the Ring. A Beta who was loyal to him to the death, and bound to him by blood. Every day that he was given orders by that green-haired fool made Adison despise him more. Adelina certainly had his attention. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that his patrol had made it nearly out of sight. Still, it was too risky to speak out in the open. He felt it was safe to assume that Adelina didn’t want to find Crash to say hello and ask him about his day; He had a sense of where this conversation could be going, and the part of him that despised the Carna Beta was greatly interested. It also had a great interest in not being caught scheming out in the open. “Come with me,” he answered, taking Lina by the arm and leading her down the nearest alleyway. The Carna territory around them was a maze of surface streets and warehouses, but Adison knew them all by heart. He turned a few corners before he felt sure enough that they weren’t being tailed, and then ducked into the nearest warehouse. “Whatever it is, I’ll help you,” Adison spoke, taking a seat on a wooden crate. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched her with curiosity. “So what is it that you have in mind for that dumb oaf I call a Beta?” ooc: SASSAFRASSS

[Adelina Russovo]

Adelina watched his face trying to read the expression hidden in his eyes. She could see him thinking, trying to read her just as she was trying to read him. It was understandable, she hadn't spoken to him in months and now she turns up out of the blue, asking not to see him...but the Beta? Adelina cringed inwardly at her own stupidity. How much could she keep asking of him before he decided she wasn't worth it? She was slightly taken aback at the anger that flashed briefly on his face when she mentioned the Beta; it had been a while since she'd seen him, true. But she could recognize that look in anyone, that dark flicker that could pass over even the most skilled of liars. She just hoped it wasn't anger at her, though she wouldn't blame him if it was. Adelina swallowed hard and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as the ocean wind buffeted her, waiting for him to say something. It had only been a few moments of silence, but every tense moment felt like a week in the labs. He looked over his shoulder and her eyes followed his to the receding patrol. She nodded mutely when Adison grabbed her arm and followed him like an obedient Scout. Her eyes were glued to him the whole time, tears threatening to well up as she thought of the old times, the beginning of their relationship. So many thrills and dangers as she fought her way through enemy lines just to catch a glimpse of him on patrol or to slip him a secret message. Everything had been so innocent, so very precious to her. Each turn through the Carna warehouses brought a fresh memory, a fresh jolt of frustration and hurt. His hand was still on her arm and she reached out, needing something to hold, something to stabilize her, but just as her fingers grazed his they were in the warehouse and her skin where his hand had been moments before was already growing cold. She swallowed hard and composed herself, squaring her shoulders  as he sat on a crate and fixed her with a stare that drew her in, a stare lined with curiosity and hostility. It challenged her, dared her. She grinned in spite of herself and shook her head. "He's the one, Adi. The one," she said, her smile tapering to a snarl. "My father finally let it slip. Crash is the man who has been torturing him all these years. He's the man who killed my mother, who set my father on fire. He's destroyed everything." She tried to keep her voice even, tried to keep back the agony, the rage but all the years spent worrying and agonizing over her father as he slowly, surely deteriorated before her eyes loosened her control. Spittle flecked from her lips as she spoke, eyes narrowed and fists clenched. "And I want him dead." She found herself unable to break Adison's unflinching gaze, half terrified of what he would say. She knew how loyal he was to his Ring; they were his family, just as the Fallen was hers. But she also knew how deeply he wanted to be alongside his father, to stand and lead as equals. She drew in a shaky breath, unable to hide the mix of excitement and anticipation coursing through her."I know it is too much to ask of you," she said, sharp teal eyes refusing to relinquish his. "But I know how you feel about him. I know he's standing in your way," she said, drawing in a quick breath. "He's standing in our way, Adison, and we can take him down. But only together." Noxx (I EDITED IT)

[Adison Sotero]

Adison was shocked to hear Adelina’s revalation, but he wasn’t surprised. Crash was ruthless and petty, and Adison could see how he could torment a man for years purely for his own enjoyment. He scowled at the thought himself, remembering that once Bonifacio had gotten over the idea of him and Adelina being together, the man had been nothing but nice to him. Boni had given him some of the fatherly attention that he’d craved so badly; the last thing he deserved was Crash tormenting him. Adelina was right. Adison knew he wanted Crash dead, but it was a dangerous thought to have. To kill another Carna would be treason, and in his ring, treason was punishable by death. It was quite a lot to ask. Lina was asking him to risk his life to put together her revenge, but Crash was standing in his way. Their way. Adison swallowed hard, enticed by the thought that something like this could get him the power he deserved and bring them closer together again. He would have everything he’d ever wanted; his father’s approval, a place by his side, and Lina with him again. He took a step forward and took Adelina’s hands in his. “I’ll do it,” he said, after only a few moments of silence between them. “We’ll do it together.” The question now was how. How would they bring down the Beta? He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but Crash was strong and a formidable opponent. “You’ll have to catch him off-guard.. make him face you alone in a place that you have the advantage,” he thought aloud. “A warehouse like this, maybe,” Adison mused. He looked around him and up into the shadowy rafters. They could provide the perfect place to lie in wait, and Crash couldn’t fly like Lina could. “But we need bait. Any ideas?”

[Adelina Russovo]

Adelina watched Adison carefully, trying to gauge his reaction without giving away her own desperation. She knew with certainty that she could kill Crash without Adison’s help, but realistically she knew she might not make it out alive. Adison knew the Beta’s schedule, his patterns, hell he probably knew what color socks he was wearing. It was vital information she needed. Sure she knew stories about the infamous Carna higher ups, mostly the nightmarish stories about Adison’s own father. But Crash was no saint, right up there with blood and gore and sin on his more than capable hands. But she had never seen him, not close up. She’d seen his mop of green hair in the fray of a raid; but she’d never even made eye contact with him, this monster that had unknowingly terrorized her since she was a child. She needed Adison, undoubtedly. When he spoke after but a few moments of thought Adelina felt her teeth unclench and a breath hiss through her lips, unaware that she’d been holding it. The warmth of his hands around hers made her heart beat loud in her ears and she stepped closer to him, hungry for more of that warmth. She grinned in spite of the severity of the moment, a savage and feral grin that thirsted, hungered, sought. “Together,” she said as she exhaled so the word rode out on her breath, hardly a whisper. She had to struggle to regain her composure, to focus her thoughts amongst the almost overwhelming swarm of emotions. She was slightly surprised that he’d agreed so quickly, without more than few moments of hesitation (if it could be called that). But deep down she knew how much Adison yearned for that position, how many years he’d spent dreaming of standing beside his father. She didn’t doubt that Adison had as much to gain from Crash’s death as she did. He was speaking and she had to scramble for a moment to keep up, but then she felt his hands on hers, a gentle squeeze. They steadied her thoughts and she could feel a sudden calm wash over her, the calm she always felt when she was in his arms. He’d always been her anchor when her own strong hold on the world slipped, she wasn’t afraid to let him see her weaknesses. She wanted to sink into his arms, to reminisce, to feel that warmth and feed the yearning in her soul. But she wasn’t here for that, goddamnit. She was here for revenge, possibly the stupidest reason to try and kill someone, if her father’s experiences had taught her anything. But it had to be done, stupid or no. She steadied herself one last time, squaring her shoulders as she spoke. “A warehouse is perfect. I could hide in the rafters, nail him with a couple of arrows. Take out his knees.” She nodded, mind racing with possibilities. He was right, they needed bait, something to lure Crash into the warehouses alone, without a group of Scouts or Hunters. She thought for a moment, swallowing hard as an idea clawed its way to the surface. “My father,” she said, voice trembling. “You could give Crash a message that a Fulsi is on the border, asking for him. A Fulsi with scars on his mouth, burn scars on his neck.” She paused, drawing in a sharp breath. “After what happened the last time they met, when Crash…” she stopped, clearing her throat. “He killed a woman in the Fallen that my dad was involved with. But it was personal to Crash, somehow. I don’t know. But after that, after what he did, I know he would want to see my Father alone.” She pulled her hands out of Adison's, but only to grab his and pull him close so they were but inches apart. "My father can't know about this, Adi. If he knew, he would try and stop us." She pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes, trailing a hand along his jaw, wanting nothing more than to take Adison from this warehouse, from the Carna and just be with him. But she knew she couldn't, not with both of their Rings standing between them. Not with Adi's Betahood now more than promised to him. She pulled away, giving him a gentle smile. "I've been Rogue for a while now. I'm sure you noticed I don't smell Fallen anymore. That way this can't really be traced back to the Fallen. Worse case, it'll link to the Fulsi. And I got my Dad in the Fallen, recovering. He'll be safe if there's a retaliation..." She shook her head, realizing how much there was to plan for. How many repercussions there could be, a part of her that screamed its doubts, that it was life and death. But her entire life had been life and death, each day spent working towards surviving til the next. These were the costs of life in the dome, the costs of being in a Ring. In the Fallen, innocents had always paid the price for the sins of others, something the Carna had taught her time and time again. But now it was her turn, and she wasn't going to back down no matter the cost. Her eyes trailed back to Adison's at that thought, with a soft smile. "It'd be best if you're not there, so nothing can be traced back to you."

[Adison Sotero]

Adi had to try hard to keep his breathing calm and steady as the rush of excitement washed over him. All of it was almost too much to take in. Just having Lina so close, the thought that by helping her they could possibly be close again, and of course, the sweet promise of his rightful ascension to Carna Beta. He took a deep breath and steeled himself, focusing on listening to Adelina’s plan. Stay in the present, he reminded himself. You can celebrate once it’s over. When she mentioned her father, however, Adison frowned. Even he, who knew well enough that sometimes you had to use people to reach an end, felt uncomfortable with the idea of dragging Bonifacio into their plot. Even though they hadn’t always been on the best terms, Adison had admired the man and always hoped that one day they would be closer. That perhaps he would offer him guidance as a father would, since his own father wasn’t always so forthcoming with fatherly advice. “No, of course not,” Adi spoke in agreement. Bonifacio would never approve of their plan. For the first time since hearing Lina’s plot, he felt the slightest twinge of guilt for agreeing to it. He never cared what outsiders thought of his actions, but to know that Boni would disapprove of the plan made it harder to be as excited for it. But he didn’t have to know. No one would know, and the Carna and Boni would be better off for it. He smiled and breathed in as Lina pressed her head to his, and exhaled contently as she pulled away again. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’ll be fine. I can help assure a band of rogues takes the blame. I’ll hunt them down afterward,” he added with a shrug. Taking down a few rogues was no big deal in the long run, and it meant their secret would die with the Ring-less vagabonds. Crash would be out of the way, Boni would be safe, Lina would be happy, and Adi’s father would never have to know he was involved. “I’ll get Crash here, and you can take care of the rest,” He agreed, though he knew already that there was no way he wouldn’t be there to make sure all went according to plan. Lina wouldn’t have to know that though, so he thought it best to let her go on not worrying about him. “I say we take the next couple days to work out all of the kinks, and then I’ll send him to this warehouse in three day’s time. Will you be ready by then?”

[Adelina Russovo]

She saw the frown etch his face when she mentioned her father, and wondered at his thoughts. Things had never been easy between the two but Lina could see that Bonifacio had been softening towards Adison. Especially after Reagan had passed her father had willed her to reconcile with Adison. She smiled despite herself, thinking of the circumstances that had finally brought them back together. Definitely not a typical romantic gesture, planning a murder; but nothing about them had ever been typical. Not according to her father, or the Fallen's judgmental looks. She'd twined a finger in his hair, curling it around her finger as she mulled everything over; almost not catching that he'd spoken again. She glanced up at him and nodded mutely in agreement despite the bad feeling she got at the idea of slaughtering innocent Rogues to cover up their plan. But in that moment she didn't care. She didn't dare speak out against it, there was too much risk that Adi would back out. Besides...Rogues had always been a plague of sorts, even to the Fallen. They weren't all innocents, no one was in the dome--not really. Everyone had blood on their hands in some manner or another, so she figured if Adison had to take some out...maybe they'd be serving someone else justice. She knew it was feeble cop-out but it made her feel better anyway. It was all happening so fast, but it only made her more excited. Slightly anxious, her limbs threatening to quake from the adrenaline already rushing through her. 3 days. She nodded again, firmer this time. "Three days it is." She said, licking her lips. She was about to speak when she heard a soft clatter outside the warehouse door a few yards away, fingers twitching for her knife. She sought Adison's eyes in question, and the look there told her it was time to leave--his patrol had probably come seeking him out. She nodded, stepped in closer again and threw her arms around him in a quick, desperate hug. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and in the same movement vaulted over his shoulders onto the crates stacked above him. Shifting as she leaped, colorful wings outspread she launched herself out a window in the back a subtle whisper of wings the only goodbye, the only thanks, she could give.

[Adison Sotero]

Adi found himself lost for a moment in the hurricane of emotions that were swirling around him. His stomach turned with both excitement and fear. It was overwhelming to have Lina so near again, and matched with the prospect of becoming Beta so soon… it was enough to distract him from the shuffling noise outside. Suddenly Lina was gone and he found himself dumbstruck. He blinked and looked around, when suddenly he heard what he recognized as footsteps. The faintest familiar scent reached him from beyond the warehouse door. Adison snarled and shifted at once. In his dog form, the world exploded into a rainbow of colors and scents. He could smell the fear radiating from nearby and it set the fur on end all the way down his spine. Adison bolted for the door, his paws hardly touching the ground as he rounded the corner and hurdled down the alleyway, hot on the trail. He spotted her then, scrambling to get away. But she wouldn’t. He wasn’t the largest dog, but he was fast, and so when he barreled into Fen, he sent her to the ground. “What do you think you’re doing?” he snarled, jaws dripping as he glowered down at his prey. ooc; IDK

[Fen Mulviene]

She could hardly believe what she was hearing. It didn’t make sense. Well, it made sense in that it was an easy enough concept to grasp, but she didn’t want it to make sense. She wanted it to be fake, a hoax, some practical joke they were playing on her. Some kind of delayed hazing where they tested your loyalties. But the more she listened to the voices, one so frighteningly familiar and the other foreign, she knew that it was real. Adison was going to kill Crash. In 3 days. Everything went silent for a moment as the roar of her pulse in her ears overwhelmed all else. There was no going back from this. She’d made the mistake of following Adison, listening to her stupid instincts that he was up to something. Lord, he was up to what Fen imagined was the worst possible thing. She felt sick, nauseous as she tried to make sense of everything. She had to act, to protect Crash, there was no denying that. She was responsible now, the only one who could stop Adison and whoever his accomplice was. Crash was her only friend in the Carna and more importantly her only safety net. If he succeeded in murdering the Beta, there was nothing stopping Adison from making her life a living hell, and possibly finding out her secret. She couldn’t risk it. She had to find Crash, tell him everything she’d heard; she didn’t take a moment to think that he might not believe her. She could still hear them talking from the safety of her hiding spot, tucked into a small gap between a stack of crates just to the left of the warehouse door. Perfect time to exit, while they’re still busy. Their voices were just audible and she knew she had to be quiet if she were to get away undetected. Crawling on her hands and knees behind the crates she saw the hole in the wall and the beady eyes staring back at her a moment too late; the wharf rat chittered at her as it darted beneath her and scrambled up the crates, scattering a loose pile of wood debris onto the cement below. She didn’t wait—the clatter of the wood was still echoing in the alley as her bare feet slapped the cement, desperately trying to get herself away and hidden. She turned down one alley, then the next feeling as if he was breathing down her neck. Fen slowed to take a sharp turn when she heard him, claws clacking and paw pads scuffing the hard surface just behind her, then his body slamming into hers. She let out a hoarse scream when she hit the ground, but it turned into something of a snarl when she looked up at him. Be strong, she thought. Don’t show him you’re afraid. But she knew that he would see right through her—he always did. Deep down she had never been able to shake the fear that he instilled in her, with those eyes that marked him a predator. So she went still, as if she had given up already. She was small and weak in his eyes, vulnerable. Maybe he would believe she would give up this easy. His voice was low, gravelly as he spoke. Sharp and harsh in his demand, spittle flecking her face. She knew it wasn’t any use trying to pass this off as a coincidence. He knew she had heard. She glared at him, weighing her options. “I won’t let you hurt him.” She said, and with one quick movement brought her arm up to guard her throat, at the same time bring her knees up and under his lithe body, kicking with all her might. He was sent flying and she took her opportunity to gain her footing again, taking off towards the bay. She had to get to the bay. It was her only hope.

[Adison Sotero]

Adison was about to let out a snapping remark when suddenly he yelped and was sent flying backward. He tumbled across the ground and shifted into his tiger form as he did so. Adison snarled and pulled himself to his paws. He watched her flee for a moment, the sight of his quarry getting further and further away igniting a flame in his chest. It was a strange thing, using his tiger form. Adison didn’t feel quite himself; it was an unnatural addition, and he could feel the tiger’s desires separately from his own. But at this moment, as he watched Fen desperately trying to get to safety, his desires and the tiger’s were the same. He bounded after Fen and overtook her in a few strides. He didn’t bother to stop her, but pounced in front of her, mimicking her every time she tried to pick a new direction to run. He swatted at her legs and made her leap away, like a cat playing with a terrified little mouse. Watching her squirm was so satisfying; Adison didn’t usually toy with his prey, but there had always been something about Fen that had rubbed him the wrong way. He thought for a while that it was her weakness; in comparison to her sister she was utterly useless. But as time went on, he realized that she had been keeping secrets from him. Every day she walked around like she was one of them, a true Carna. It was so smug that it made him sick. “Why don’t you shift and fight back, Fen?” the tiger taunted. And then he pounced, pinning her to the ground. “Hmmm,” it growled, a deep, threatening sound while his muzzle was just inches from he face. “Maybe it’s because you can’t!” Adison roared. He attacked suddenly then, digging his fangs into her shoulder. He stepped off of her and shook her like a rag doll before tossing her a few feet away. When she tried to get up, he dug his claws into her and raked them down her back. The scent of her blood filled the air and the tiger only wanted more. But even more than that primal desire, he savored the fact that she was finally going to get what she deserved. She was not going to get away thinking that she could lie to him, and above all, she was not going to tear him down right before he was going to rise to his destiny.

[Fen Mulviene]

She heard his yelp, heard his body thump and scuff on the ground. And then silence, only the sound of her bare feet pounding the cracked asphalt of the alleyway. She wasn't dumb enough to think he was gone. But why couldn't she hear his claws clacking against the ground, like she could before? She was too terrified to turn and look, but it didn't take long to get an answer. She felt a rush of air on her legs, the tickle of fur and there he stood before her. A tiger. A bloody tiger. A dog, she could handle. A man, maybe. But not a tiger. She could feel the tremor of fear run through her as his eyes connected with hers--those same eyes, bright and brimming with some primal hunger she couldn't understand. He was more animal than man, at that point but no; there was an intelligence in those eyes that spoke only of man and his cruelties. She'd seen that look before, seen it so many gnawing, clawing eyes that she couldn't stand to look any longer. She tried to run because it was all she could think to do. She felt pathetic, like a lost little lamb bleating for its mother, seeking its shepherd. But there was no one to protect her, no one to save her from the hunger of this man. Each step she took, he dogged. Each breath, he lunged. Each scream, she saw that flicker in his eyes spark and burn as bright as any flame. She couldn't advance, she couldn't retreat. Every move was met with glancing blows that promised pain. And then he was on her, covering her small frame with his in an instant and she felt like she was drowning. She had no weapons, the alley around them bare of anything to grab hold of. Not even a rock to smash his face with. She tried to keep her limbs from shaking, tried not to scream as she looked up into his eyes, knowing it would only give him satisfaction. But she withered under his glare, shrank back with a scream as he roared his accusations, fangs just inches from her face. Christ. He knew. He knew she was an Anthro, on top of everything else. His spit flecked her face and she could feel the heat of his breath, the squeeze of his lungs, feel the ripple of muscle over bone as he worked his claws into her flesh. "I won't let you," she breathed, it was all she could manage before there were teeth and claws and blinding pain. She screamed then, or he roared--she couldn't tell the difference as stars and bursts of light clouded her vision. It felt as if he was everywhere at once, blocking out all sense of anything else. It was only him, and her, and the blood. He shook her like she weighed no more than a leaf, tossed her to the ground again. Claws again, raking down her spine. Tears mixed with blood that dribbled onto her cheeks, from her head. Had she hit her head? She clawed at the ground, trying to get away. He was on her again, flipping her onto her back with a swat of his massive paw. She grasped at his neck, trying to push him away. Her hands, soaked in her own blood permitted her no grip, just smeared the white fur on his neck until it was slick with red and she was pawing uselessly to keep him off. She mouthed her pleas but would brook no begging. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction, not completely. And as she watched his eyes that sought only her suffering, and only her silence, she knew that she was not going to let him win so easy. She would not die without a fight. Her fingers sank into fur, nails seeking flesh. And then her body suddenly felt like it was burning from the inside out. It terrified her, this lancing pain that soared through her whole body but the pain only tightened her grip on his neck. And the searing pain spread from her, to him. The smell reached her before his roars of pain, the stench of burning skin. He was struggling in her grip, trying to shake her loose but she gripped tighter and tighter until there was no more pain in her body--it had left through her fingertips, searing into his flesh and burning it away. The Keepers had told her about this, about what they'd done; but she'd thought it a cruel trick. It was his turn to scream. She let go and watched for a dazed moment as he writhed on the ground, trying to get the burning to stop. And then she was scrambling to her feet, running. She stumbled over herself, dizzy and near blind from the agony tearing through her. She had one hand wrapped around her shoulder to try to stem the bleeding, or the pain, she didn't quite know. But she could smell the heavy scent of the ocean on the breeze as it brushed against her, leading her to the bay. Leading her to safety.

[Adison Sotero]

He had her right where he wanted her. Adison grinned and flipped her over with a bat of his paw. But just as he was about to go for the killing bite, Fen struggled and wrapped her hands around his neck. If he could have laughed in that form, he would have, but instead it came out as an amused snarl. But something wasn’t right. At first he felt unusually warm where her hands met his neck, and then so quickly it escalated to searing hot pain. He yowled and tried to shake her off, but she held onto him, every second that she lingered the more intense the agony she caused. He could smell his flesh burning, but didn’t hear any flame or see any smoke. Confused and panicked, he finally reared up and squirmed out of her grasp. The tiger stumbled on back legs for a moment before ungracefully falling onto his back. He shifted back into his human form and let out an agonized scream; the burning still hadn’t faded and he rolled as if he could put out the invisible flames that ate at his throat. Shakily his hands went up to his neck. He roared out in pain again as even the most tender touch to the area lit the flames anew and left him struggling for breath. Adison lay dazed and panting in the alleyway for a few moments, trying desperately to regain his focus. He slowly turned his head to the side and saw Fen getting further away once more. She’d left the alley completely and was headed for the bay. He felt his heart race even more quickly at the thought of what might happen if she managed to escape him and reach Crash. Everything he had worked for would be ruined. Adi didn’t think his father would believe her for a second, but Crash would have his doubts and they would never be able to ambush him. He told himself that the pain was only temporary; time was of the essence and he could deal with his wounds later. Adison struggled to his feet and raced after her. Still dazed, he found it hard to keep his eyes focused against the searing pain that was screaming for him to stop. It took every ounce of effort in him to block it out and chase her down. Though he was injured, he still had the advantage. His body was still strong, while hers was bleeding with every step she took. He followed the trail and soon saw her struggling ahead of him. This would have to be the end. It was less triumphant than he’d imagined; He hated to admit that she’d got quite the blow in. But it would be the only one she’d get. He looked around for a weapon and picked a brick from a pile of warehouse rubble nearby. He didn’t bother to play any games with her this time. He gained on her with each bound he took until he was finally close enough. Adison swung his arm and bashed her over the head with the brick. She was down instantly and he could finally stop and catch his breath. “You were always nothing but trouble to me,” he growled at her. Adison narrowed his eyes and scoffed. She looked so weak and vulnerable lying there… It made him uncomfortable. She had deserved this. She’d been asking for it every day she’d been here! She couldn’t ruin his plans… He had no choice. “You shouldn’t have followed me!” Adison roared at her. “Why the hell did you follow me?” His voice cracked and he was suddenly overcome with emotion. Adison fell to his knees at her side. He wiped quickly at the tears that mocked him as they rolled down his cheeks. Part of him felt like he’d finally squashed a pesky fly, but another part of him felt so petty… and so terrified. This was all becoming complicated so quickly. Sure, he’d hated her guts, but Adison had never planned on killing Fen. And now he felt cornered, forced to keep her silent to save his own skin. To save the future that he’d worked his whole life for. “I need to be Beta… This is for the good of the ring. Why wouldn’t you listen?” He sighed and stood up, stooping down to pick up her limp, broken body. She was still alive, he could tell, but barely. Adison walked the few yards left to the bay, making his way down one of the lesser-used docks. They were still far enough away from the heart of the territory that he didn’t feel threatened by someone stumbling upon them. He laid her down on the edge of the dock and stared at her for a few more moments, one hand gingerly touching her cheek. Guilt gnawed at his chest, and he suddenly couldn’t bear to look at her. He closed his eyes and shoved her into the water. He heard a splash, and then waited in silence for what seemed like ages. He could only hear the gulls cry overhead and the distant crashing of the waves against the shore. When he finally managed to open his eyes and look over the edge of the dock, Fen had long disappeared beneath the water. He sighed, but felt little relief.

[Adison Sotero]

END THREAD

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