There was rain falling down.

But he rarely noticed such things when his mind wandered. Like today, as the thunder roiled through the clouds and the water droplets descended around him, sliding down the tree trunks to be absorbed by the moist earth beneath his feet. When the lightning snapped through the skies, he didn’t flinch, ignoring his surroundings immensely even when the electric bolt struck the ground just thirty feet away, sending dirt clumps flying through the air to land next to his still body.

No, he was just watching now. It was an indulgence he enjoyed taking occasionally. He had learned much just from observation through the years, but now it was of a more personal gain.

Just watching, ignoring the voice that continually pounded his head.

He gritted his teeth. Not now.

The movements were hard to detect in the pouring weather, and even for his sharp eyes, it proved difficult. The rhythm of the fight before him was entrancing and, dare to say, exotic. The lightning seemed to come right on cue when a strike was passed, colliding with flesh and bone. A grunt of pain was occasionally heard, and sometimes in his voice. They were dancing in his view, but his eyes stayed rapt on one particular figure, one who seemed to be tiring out quickly, deep gashes on his side, red staining the shirt…

Sen…

His eyes glimmered at the intrusion, a small frown showing on his white face. “What is it now?”

You seem to be taking your sweet time.

His coiled tail flicked in irritation at the soft sarcasm in the voice. Growling deeply, he closed his eyes, the rainwater dripping off his scales abruptly. “I’m waiting for the right opportunity,” he decided to answer.

There were plenty of ‘right opportunities,’ his guard is down, he can barely stand, I can hear his heart beat rapidly in fear for he knows he cannot take much more. And here you are, cowering in the shadows, as dumb as a small child-

“Shut up!” He hissed, just above a whisper. His metal claws curled fiercely, rust finally staining the edges after withstanding so much damage. “Don’t question what I do. I’ll be done with him soon, then you will have nothing to worry about anymore.”

Silence… but the fuming impatience could be clearly felt through the tension in the air. He shivered, feeling that anger tear through him like rabid teeth. He knew he was treading on sharp glass, but even now, he still refused to be ordered. Like some lower form of life…

I would hurry if I was you…

Gone.

Gasping, Sen nearly doubled over, not realizing how much energy was spent just by conversing with him. His sleek scales shuddered, trying to banish the chill that had engulfed the figure. Heaving a relieved sigh, he tried to turn his gaze once more to the fight. Now it seemed that the blood had increased in spill.

Must hurry, he thought.

A ghost of a smile traced his pale features.

Just a little longer, for he so enjoyed watching his prey.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To put it simply, he didn’t even know who he was fighting anymore. The deep cuts on his body burned tremendously, so much that his senses began to go numb, enough to make his legs give way, just grasping enough awareness to catch himself from plummeting face-first into the mud.

He realized he was losing.

God, this is so irritating.

Cuervo sucked in his breath and made an attempt to stand, but its result was one heck of a head rush, making the anthro nearly collapse again. Blurred images were all that was available to his tired eyes, and in a short time he knew his body would shut down, whether he willed it or not.

“Hurry up and finish the mutt, he’s already half dead,” muttered a voice before him in a sibilant whisper. He could make out the two figures in front of him conversing with each other, but just barely, the sheet of rainfall impeding his already damaged vision. Their feline characteristics stood out in stark contrast though, sword hilts swinging by their sides.

Wait…Hunters, that’s right… he was fighting hunters…

Unfortunately, they were not an easy kind.

Cuervo dodged the upcoming attacks, his movements stumbling and awkward. The signs of fatigue were clearly showing, a fact that the hunters were thoroughly enjoying. It just meant they were one step closer to their reward once they present his head to their employer.

But Cuervo was already struggling to remember where he was and why he was here, for it seemed the hunters had come across him out of thin air. Any recollections were in a nauseous haze, and it took too much strain on his mind to part away the smothering shrouds.

His foot stumbled backwards, part of the ground giving way. Glancing back, he found the earth behind him dropped off into a steep incline, the gaping maw of the chasm sucking in the raindrops that continually poured. It was another memory recalled. Fighting for his life precariously on a cliff.

Could my luck get any better? he thought grimly.

A hunter immediately dashed forward with the grace of his kind, curved saber drawn as it swung at Cuervo with skill. Jumping to the side, he felt the blade strike a thin cut on his arm, a swift yet sharp-stinging pain bursting forth.

But that was enough to make him lose the small amount of focus he had, enough to lose his footing and bring down his feeble guard.

The perpetrator moved forward again, thrusting the blade frontward for a devastating wound not meant to kill but to leave its victim in helpless pain. A shout of victory was already resonating and Cuervo could do nothing, only able to give a low but an empty threat of a growl.

Hm, you’d do anything to escape me…

His ears perked up at the unexpected words. Who said that? The voice was so familiar…

But suddenly the shout of his attacker turned into a strangled cry as a flashing light erupted around the three fighters. Cuervo instinctively threw his arms over his face, his crimson eyes closed tight against the bright phenomenon.

“Oh, son of a-!” The hunters’ curses were cut off as more strange light-filled bursts struck again. Cuervo felt his fur singed by heat and heard a strange crackling in the air.

“Lightning…” he whispered, as more of the electric bolts of heaven struck the same spots over and over. Nature had suddenly gone chaotic, ready to destroy the earth-bound creatures at her pleasure. The canine animal tried to hold his ground, but another fated crash of horrific light sent him flying backwards, blinding his eyes simultaneously from the electric luminosity.

He could barely feel anything, and had only the dull sense that his body had met with the ground, tumbling down and down, rocks rolling past his face, mud staining his ebony fur. The coppery, bittersweet taste of blood filled his mouth, making him choke on his breath. Agony jarred his nerves, and he only fell down faster.

The incline, the steep descent that met with the chasm that was already engulfing the river of rainfall…

No!

Desperate, Cuervo dug his claws into the earth to stop his plunge. But his arms trembled and quickly let loose of his hold, sending his body smashing against sharp boulders and jagged stones. The rain poured harder now, thunder deafening his ears, until suddenly the ground below him disappeared, and there was only the whistling currents of wind rushing past him.

Can’t even save yourself…

It just stopped.

His right arm suddenly jerked, catching onto something and he was left hanging in midair. Struggling to open his eyes, Cuervo looked below, seeing the chasm and his legs dangle above it. So…he was alive…but…

His wrist ached, feeling something sharp prick his skin deeply.

He craned his head upward, catching the sight of pale white scales. The pain on his wrist came from razor claws that held onto him, saving him from the ill-fated fall. Claws from a odd, metal club-shaped hand. The one holding him crouched on the incline with gifted ease, violet eyes glazing ravenously. He greeted Cuervo with a satisfied grin, increasing his grip on the canine’s wrist with those claws, smirking even more as he saw his action caused the other to wince painfully.

“Well…aren’t you gonna thank me?” The mocking hiss pierced the booming thunder of the world, straight into Cuervo’s mind.

Feeling himself lose consciousness fast, the anthro canine felt his fear heighten, crimson eyes dimming as he realized what would happen.

“Let me go…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hunters shook themselves of the rain, limbs slightly trembling from the freak act of nature.

“What the hell just happened?” muttered one of the figures to the other, his fur matted down with water and mud. A growl escaped his throat, dismayed from losing such a valuable prize.

“How should I know? You were here as well,” replied the other, his yellow eyes glaring in anger. The rain had finally lessened, but it barely set their moods at ease. Darting their gazes all around, the canine prize they had chased down had vanished.

Grimacing, the first-spoken hunter hefted his sword, tail twitching in annoyance. “Now what? Our money has fled to hell knows where.”

“No,” replied the other, eyes staring straight ahead, sharp teeth bared in anger. “Someone beat us to him.”

The other listened to his companion and followed his gaze. Instantly he saw the thin, white figure, dragging an ebony body up the incline until they reached level ground. The lizard creature’s tail flicked erratically, moving with a sleek but unearthly grace, his eyes shining brightly, giving him the look of something otherworldly and dangerous. His claws raked the ground, creating deep gouges in the soft earth as he stared at the two antagonists that stood poised only ten feet away. The way he stood over the unconscious black figure on the ground resembled that of a wolf guarding its kill from scavengers.

But what was most noticeable was the hungry look in his violet eyes, desperate and lethal.

The second hunter reflexively took a step back at the sight, unnerving his senses as the white scales gleamed ominously. And if his vision could be trusted, he thought he saw the face give a smug grin of amusement. “Damn, forget this,” he muttered to himself, then took repeated steps back, turning to his companion. “Let’s go. I ain’t messing with…that!”

The other feline hunter glared at his comrade with disgust, hefting his large saber sword, its blade spattered with dark, rusty red. “So I guess I have to do all the work?” White canines bared themselves in a gleam. “More money for me then.”

All the while, the lizard creature stood by, still, observant.

The more daring hunter immediately charged for him, leaving his companion sputtering in prevention. The blade from his sword glinted wickedly, forming in a downward arc at his target’s head. Judging by the mischievous leer on his face, he was sure that he would be victorious.

Sen laughed.

What the-!

The hunter’s thoughts ended, torn from his mind and conscious, his soul flying off in desperate patterns as the shell of his living being remained on the earth. His body twitched in spasms, the last signs of life being sputtered out like a vile taste as the claws dug through his chest, hitting the treasure that was the heart which was sent bursting in gruesome amounts of red that flowed to the ground like rain, smothering the grass stalks in a suffocating liquid hold.

Sen remained standing, eyes blank and dead. His arm stayed attached to the feline’s chest, unheeding of the blood that smeared his scales. Frowning, he quickly pulled his metal hand from its sheathe of flesh and bone, watching in idle interest as the body collapsed in a pathetic heap. He made no attempt to wipe the mess from his body.

The other living hunter stood stock still in fear. Gazing at his fallen companion, he willed him to move, to speak one word, just to let him know he was not stuck out in the wilderness all alone with such a lethal, unpredictable creature.

Sen slowly began to raise his eyes toward the frightened hunter, his expression blank as an empty slate. He gave a small smirk, gladdened to see the other assume an even more terrified reaction as a result, then go dashing out of the area, dropping his heavy sword until his body was lost among the pathway of trees. The cry of a horror-stricken animal could be heard in the distance.

But Sen did not take the time to chase the escapee down, but instead merely shrugged, then absently kicked away the carcass of the deceased hunter easily, seeing flies already gathering around the fresh blood.

The forest was dimming in his eyes, their surroundings no longer important enough for him to pay any awareness. He just glanced back at the load he had carried up the incline, black body cut from wounds, chest heaving to acquire more needed air, crimson eyes remaining shut as the body shuddered in the nightmares brought on by such injuries.

Even reduced to such a state, Cuervo was a magnificent creature, Sen realized.

Yes, this would be fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His eyes are always closed, trying to block out the shining light that tried to pierce through. It hurt so much, yet the lights were beautiful in their torture, dancing in the mind. He reached out one trembling hand to them, but on contact they burned his flesh, and he drew back with a startled yelp.

So was he stuck here? Trapped all alone with the dancing lights? But he could hear the soft murmur from behind, a haunting tranquility lined in the tone, meant to relax yet intimidate. And what felt like coldness along with an inner heat wrapped around his body. He struggled, and the hold grew tighter. The voice was at his ear, whispering dark promises of old. He couldn’t fight anymore, feeling the burning cold engulf him.

Just…let me go…

Then there was only the shattering of bones…

~~~~~

Cuervo gasped, eye snapping open, pupils dilated in a terrible fear. With a shuddering hand, he put it to his aching head until he felt a warm, wet substance. Pulling back, he stared at the black palm. A fresh red decorated the fur, splitting into multiple rivers as it flowed down his arm.

Injured…but alive… so where…?

“It certainly takes you a while to think, does it?”

He expected the voice, but still could not help the look of revulsion on his face, the fear that he was in the confines of his predator. He didn’t turn, even as the shadow fell on him, reminding him of how helpless he was.

“I like to consider my options,” he replied acidly, eyes narrowed.

There was a soft chuckle, then he felt his body restricted suddenly. Gasping, he looked, down seeing the long, scaly tail wrapped around his frame. It bounded him so tight that for a moment he could not breathe. The words “shattering of bones” came to mind. He almost panicked, but took every vestige of his will to control his nerves.

The voice, sultry and mocking, came near his ear at an uncomfortably close range. “Heh, you should know that you have no options in this.”

The canine shuddered, body in turmoil, demons screaming in his head. He growled deeply, baring sharp teeth that was meant to intimidate, though it was really done just to hide his growing fear.

“No, I’ll get out…” he whispered lethally, though he felt his vision going hazy, the result of the tail stronghold.

Sen merely laughed, his sarcastic gibe piercing Cuervo’s pride. Instantly, he laid one clawed hand on the black canine’s neck, squeezing painfully. The talons swiftly punctured the flesh in their grip, letting trickles of red seep through. Cuervo tried not to flinch in an unsuccessful attempt, yet the voice behind him only laughed even more, dark in its twisted nature.
“So this is what you’re reduced to…”

The dream came back again in vivid and horrid clarity, and the internal instinct for survival raised in tremendous amounts, kicking his adrenaline in gear. Cuervo instantly struggled, which only irked Sen’s patience as he increased his hold on his fraught prey. It only fed his hunger of fear, that kind of power over a life, knowing you were master once you look into their terror-stricken eyes.

Cuervo was not quite there yet, eyes still defiant in their blood-red nature. He glared at the white creature hatefully who in return only stared back with a sneer.

“Really now, it’s only going to hurt more if you fight against it.”

Cuervo took a shot without thinking.

“I’d rather fight back then just let some demented psychopath fulfill his sick pleasures on me!”

Somehow, he never expected the kind of reaction he received.

Sen merely stared, all casualness melting away from his façade, revealing a scared, distraught soul, needing nourishment that could not be found in commonplaces. His eyes grew blank, the glaze of near-insanity swept away by the words. There was only the shell of bitterness and sorrow that was shown so clearly it seemed to the canine that it should have been obvious from the start.  For a moment, his tail-grip grew slack, giving Cuervo an opportunity to escape from his prison.

But he stayed instead, unaware, watching the slow torture that crept along Sen’s face. For the slightest moment, he pitied the creature.

Sen caught the emotion, sending sparks along his nerves.

“NO!”

The tail reaffirmed its stranglehold, and instantly Cuervo was pushed back to the solid barrier of a tree, rough edges biting through the tears in his shirt. He couldn’t help the gasp of pain that reeled in his spine. The hard hand pushed against the front of his neck, closing off the passageway of air. Dancing lights bursting in his vision, he dimly felt the warm, enveloping breath on his face. Violet eyes, dilated in rage, faced off against his own weary red.

“You have no idea… of anything…”

With that shadow-tinged threat, he struck, mouth over a struggling but weak Cuervo’s own. Deep and searing, it took and discovered, already claiming the warm cavern in a piercing assault. Sen pushed his victim against the tree, giving him no room, working the mouth in a voracious, merciless act. He loved the feeling of his sought after prize trembling, frightened beyond all means, struggling helplessly. But he could also feel him slowly giving in, losing hope against the attack, and the soul tearing apart by conflicts of the mind…

Sen released him, grinning wickedly as he shoved Cuervo forward, back pressed against the tree, detecting that wonderful heartbeat thump rapidly in shock and amazement. The canine, health failing swiftly from the onslaught and his untreated wounds, slumped in his hold, consciousness gradually drifting away to dreams of mist.

Cuervo was completely at his mercy.

Sen stared at the black face, seeing the marks of years and battles etched into lines of age, stories of old memories depicted in the crisscrossing scars that lay hidden under the ocean of matted, blood encrusted fur. He gazed at the mouth that was made available to his advantages. Everything that he had searched and pined for was set before him, ready to be claimed by his victory.

His tail twitched in the night air, and ever so subtly, a battle commenced on his features, eyes twitching slightly, mouth put in a confused frown.

Why did it suddenly feel so…difficult?

Grunting in disgust, he released his hold on Cuervo, letting the canine fall to the grass carpet in a heap, barely uttering a sound as his body hit on impact. A light perspiration coated his brow, and his eyes roved under the eyelids, signs of a nightmare invading his mind in the refuge of sleep.

Sen, eyes as still as a portrait, examined the canine in his troubled sleep, watching the wounds begin to fester. It would not do, no, it would not do for his prize to be damaged completely.

The task already set in his head, he ignored that lingering doubt that continually nagged at him silently, like the falling, wind-caught leaves of dying autumn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His eyes were playing tricks on him, he determined.

The room was back in place, entrapping him as they have always done with him since the beginning. In a time long past, the sight of the comely, azure area had been pleasing to his sight. But now he had peered through the curtain, realizing his so-called haven had kept him from growing, stunting the mind, heart, and soul in their development that should have been given in life.

But the door was open, the hinges ripped from the wall as if the mighty hand of a god had torn it apart in disgust and rage. Traces of blood were spattered across the smooth, tiled floors. It did not disgust him, but irritated him so that such damage had been conducted so close to his solace of solitude.

No, wait… prison of solitude… yes, that was a better choice of words.

But the door was a symbolism he realized. The door to the world was now open, everything lay before his feet. And like a newborn, he walked forward with difficulty, fearing that large, expansive world. Always restricted, cut off from all, and now it was at his leisure, and all it needed was the wipe out a couple of lives to gain that right.

There was light, moving around him with an angel’s grace, offering the comforting hold that would guide his steps on the path. Then there was the darkness, tendrils writhing in vicious promise, whispering temptations that would inevitably lead to his destruction. Both conflicted in a maelstrom of colors, whirling in a dizzying frenzy until he screamed for halt. He stumbled forward into the world that held so much secrets for his hungry mind, and there was night waiting for him with a clawed, outstretched hand.

“There is so much waiting for you…”

Taking the vow, his eyes began to shine with disturbing eagerness, and the gnawing hunger took over his senses. So he looked and looked and looked through the wonderful, terrible, loving, cold world. So many secrets he found, so many lives he saw snuff out like a guttering candle. So much that his mind reeled in pain, and yet the satisfaction was never sated, and he kept looking with a hopeless air.

And that was when he found him, standing on the field, eyes as bright as hellfire…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crouched on the tree branch, he waited with extended patience for his acquired prize to wake, the orange leaves swirling in the soft breeze, occasionally sliding across his pale scales with a feather’s touch. Cuervo was laid out on the forest floor, injuries bandaged up tightly with rags which were soaked through. His face was smooth from any terrors of nightmares, now finally granting him the blissful emptiness of sleep.

With the gift of graceful silence, the white creature leaped onto adjacent branches of the bunched up trees, the wood creaking from the weight but held him strong. With an air of contempt, he gazed to the sky, finding the storm clouds from before finally begin to drift away to the north, a low rumble occasionally heard.

By this imagery, Sen breathed easier, as if a suffocating shroud had been lifted from his face. The air had a biting chill to it, but he welcomed it with gratitude, helping him free his mind from past doubts, though traces of it remained much to his disliking.

A low moan came from below.

So he was waking again…

He did not grin this time, but just stared downward in an accusing glare at the black creature. With deft skill, he leaped toward the ground, feet barely making a sound even when it crushed the crisp, fragile leaves that had lost it all. He crouched, tail swaying back and forth, claws shining.

Why didn’t he just go through with it though?

Cuervo shifted position, his limbs shuddering in their movement. He coughed slightly, the jarring sound breaking the taut tension of the glade. It was a violent action, showing the canine’s throat was sore, gasping for breath. He winced, feeling the wounds on his body.

Sen was only three feet away.

Yes, why didn’t he just go through with it?

He had dreamed of this.

Chest rumbling in an agitated growl, he leaped forward, body taut like a strung bow, violet eyes glazed in such disturbing manner. Cuervo turned his head, spotting the white predator drawing toward him in astonishing swiftness. Reflexively, he scrambled from his current spot, trying to rise to his feet. But he was instantly pushed down as Sen dove toward him, metal hands on his shoulders, trapping the struggling creature underneath him as his eyes’ brightness raised in frightening intensity.

It was certainly a very awkward position.

Cuervo stiffened, still feeling much too incredibly weak to fight back. Sen lowered down his face toward the anthro canine’s own, relishing in the fear that was clearly apparent in the crimson eyes, even though they still had that trace of defiance. He dug his claws in Cuervo’s shoulders, hearing breath hiss through clenched teeth in restrained ache. He couldn’t help the smile that curved his lips, or the low chuckle flowing out smoothly. His tail waved around in anticipation, staring down at the canine underneath him, pinned helplessly.

“Don’t…struggle…”

His voice was tight, and was tinged with the utmost threat, trailing a silver claw down Cuervo’s face in what could be called a mocking caress. The night was an incredible frigid chill, making the canine completely miserable as he lay powerless against the predator.

Sen was staring with a practiced air, forehead pressing against the shuddering Cuervo’s, drinking in that fear that so intoxicated his being. Quickly, he claimed his prey’s lips again, taking in everything, and the emptiness left him for a soft and blissful moment. Light and darkness swirled in his vision, heaving in that maelstrom, and soon he pinpointed a hellish crimson in the center, weak, sputtering, yet still rebellious.

“Get off…”

The light had dimmed considerably, darkness writhed in erratic patterns, and soon he could no longer see what was in front of him any longer, lost amid the black and white. Too confusing, turning in so many shades of gray, and the crimson light was growing, more seditious than ever before.

“Get off!”

Sen stopped, gazing down. The kiss had been broken off, and Cuervo turned away, eyes narrowed as the red light seeped beneath his lowered eyelids, full of disgust and repulsion, but with dread most of all. Eventually, he turned back and stared at the pale one pinned on top of him.

“…Leave me alone…”

The predator’s mouth twisted in grim knowledge, eyes completely devoid of his thoughts. With his blank face, he grabbed the canine’s head, claws twisting in the fur, but not enough to cause any wounds. Cuervo realized this and though he strained against the force, he stared in confusion at the white figure above him who showed him absolutely nothing.

“Again, you think you have a choice…” Sen stated in a direct voice, claws twisting a bit further. “You think that I have a choice in this either?” A spark showed in his eyes, so quick that it appeared it was only the moonlight’s reflection. “You actually think that?…”

Now Cuervo’s face had a look of puzzlement, not comprehending the words that fell on his ears like raindrops. “What…are you talking about?”

Sen’s emotionless façade fell away, replaced by something utterly full of vicious rage, something desperate and alone…someone confused beyond all knowledge and was only drifting with the currents around him.

In swiftness, the sleek, white creature jumped to his feet, dragging Cuervo up with him, his metal hand still firmly clamped on the canine’s head. With his thin arm, he lifted the taller figure off the ground, just a couple of inches, just brushing the grass stalks. Cuervo could not make a move, the pressure from the grip on his head suffocating his mind, driving away conscious thought again. Thought impulses to move his limbs were restricted from the pain, so he was hanging in the air, motionless, his eyes the only sign that he was still awake and alert.

Sen now looked at the other before him in disgust and loathing, mirroring the image that Cuervo’s eyes held for him. There was such a hatred between the two it could have set forests aflame if let loose out of their control.

The pale lizard-like figure growled, the sharp point of his tail striking the ground viciously, like a knife stabbing into a live body in perfect rhythm. “No, I don’t choose to do this merely because I want to. I do this because I have to.” A fraction of his mouth curved. “Because all I know is that once I take what I need and watch you die, everything will be alright. I won’t have to search anymore, not in this world…”

Impassioned by his words, he laid his other hand on Cuervo’s neck, putting him in an impenetrable chokehold, strangling out the remaining air as the canine gasped for breath, red eyes wide and blazed.

“Don’t assume you know why I commit these actions,” Sen hissed, eyes shining horrifically. “I had to look, keep looking, all over, and I’ve done so many things…Things I have missed out on while being locked up in my room…because I was not supposed to be out here, they said.” Suddenly he laughed, piercing and hollow that cut the night air, aimed at all the tragedies in the world that could have never been reversed if given the chance. “Probably right…”

He brought Cuervo’s face to his own, eyes glaring downward into flaming depths of red. “But it doesn’t matter what they say… because I know once you’re done and everything’s finished for you, it will all be fine. Something disturbed my rest and let me out of that place…and I just know it will all be over soon.” Then his eyes shined even more, in that eerie and haunting fashion. “All of this is brought on by you!”

Cuervo listened to the tirade, his ears lowered against his head from such a shout. Lights stuck in a thick blanket of darkness pervaded his vision, his breath coming in short, quick gasps as he desperately searched for the relief of air. But he could feel Sen’s tail wrapping around his frame, the sharp end jabbing slightly in his back. Bones breaking, world fading, rendered helpless by someone who still grinned and laughed in amused sadism…

“Can’t even save yourself.”

In a split second, his red eyes burned with the hellfire that he could no longer keep hidden in the soul. Screaming, he felt Sen’s hands fall away, and a horrible, burning light erupted around him. But there was so much darkness that it swallowed up the light, so he made more, burning away the threats that reached out for him, and he kept screaming until razors of metal plunged through, bringing the fire down, down, down to dying embers.

All of this is brought on by you…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was not used to such physical exertion spent. His tail dragged on the ground, making a smooth, thin trail in the soil. There was only the conscious thought of taking one step after another, the sunlight glinting off rusted metal into his eyes.

It was hard to say when he found the red, only that it was suddenly there, standing before him, staring in a careless but knowledgeable manner. Something was hidden there, something that he once had but lost, a magic he could tell. It was the kind that he could never fully grasp, yet it stood before his reach.

The field had been burned from the forest fires, so recently that red-hot embers still drifted on the autumn breeze. He had wondered why the soil had an ill color to it, why the grass stalks were withered away. The red before him just remained standing, looking weary, fur singed from flames.

“Who are you?”

His tail slightly lifting, he did not deign to answer at first, far too absorbed in the red that dimmed considerably, leaving the burnt out hearth of the body. “Nobody…” he finally responded. “I’m nobody…”

The other merely shrugged, his eyes still burning slightly. “I’d suggest you leave now though. Not a good place for rest.” His voice came in a soft but detached tone, as already his eyes roved behind him, catching sights of another occurrence.

Sen did not notice the others, he just kept looking at the eyes and realizing something of what he was looking for.

The other turned back, staring at him for one moment, the only time when no disgust or repulsion was in those eyes, but a kind of understanding that had not been spoken. The red then went away, their vessel walking off, feet kicking the dead soil in the air, embers floating in dancing circles.

It was the first time that Sen gave the smile that reflected the thoughts in his heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tired…so very, very tired.

Already the sun was rising up, and the chill of the past night faded from the heating rays. Sen was one who would always watch the sunrise, observing the honey yellow mix with the faded orange, into a twilight picturesque moment. Because when he just relaxed and watched it climb higher into the sky, the world seemed silent and new, and he can forget for a little while.

It was no different now, even though great confusion tumbled through his mind, he still watched, sighing deeply.

The burn marks stood out plainly against his skin, and curiously he ran a razor claw over one, wincing a bit as a dull, throb came. But at least it was nothing serious, that he could surmise. But he gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and tried to forget. Because when the world is silent enough, you can almost imagine that nothing is there.

He should have just gone through with it.

Tail swaying, he glanced out of the corner of his eye toward the canine, this time not asleep. He lay against the tree, red eyes barely open, the wounds bound tight, a hand on his chest where fresh blood was drawn. He also watched the sunrise, silent as the world. His demeanor showed of someone who was distant, unaware of anything else around him. The only sound was his labored breathing, an action he tried to control.

There were a million possibilities about what he could do. But Sen tried not to go over them in his mind, knowing that for some reason, if he took what was needed, everything would end…and then, what else would there be?

This was more complicated than he thought.

Sen no longer stared at the sun, feeling tired and restless. He climbed to his feet slowly, stepping on charred sticks of wood. The forest glade now had a burned characteristic to it, specks of orange cinders floating before him. Unconsciously, he looked down at his metal hands, dry blood on the surface, dull to the morning light. He realized how ugly it looked…just so ugly…

Sen…

Flinching, he quickly looked up, body tense from the voice. It rang in his head, chill and overbearing. He had hoped it was only his imagination, but he knew better.

You didn’t follow with your promise.

The lizard creature shuddered at the subtle anger, but grimly he stared straight ahead, razor claws clicking against one another. “Once again, don’t question what I do.”

He knew he should have just kept his mouth shut, but could not have stopped the statement coming out even if he wanted to. Because even so, this was all his own doing, no one else’s.

He thought he could hear a soft growl roaming in his head, sharp claws scratching against the bone in his skull. He gritted his teeth, waiting for the pain to pass. He had only such a tenuous hold on sanity enough as it is.

Then the voice suddenly laughed, actual amusement in the tone. Sen was not sure what to make of it, which only made him more fearful.

You are such an idiot, aren’t you… You said so yourself, you don’t have any choice in this…

And again, it left.

Sen did not move, his energy not spent this time by the connection as it had last time. But he was shaking, knowing that what he did- or more precisely, did not do- he had now put himself in true, actual danger.

Yet…after a moment’s thought, he realized…this would just make things more interesting. So now…everything won’t have to end.

This might actually be the best thing he could ever hope for.

Sen smiled. It was nice to see the positive side of everything.

Suddenly remembering, he turned toward Cuervo who was by now asleep, sleeping off the weariness and fear, the blood flow of his wounds finally stopping, some even healing over. In just a couple of hours, he would be rejuvenated, and by then he could fight Sen off and escape.

The pale figure turned back to the sun, its glow now being darkened by the clouds.

At least he had a while to dwell in this quiet world…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tired…just leave already…

The dreadful shadows backed away from the red that glowed incessantly, writhing in exaggerated fear, hissing in anger. He only stood there, waiting until they were off at a good distance before he deigned to relax, and finally get the rest he wanted. The darkness would not move from their spot for now, he was actually safe. He could sleep for a bit, until it was time to leave, and get back to those familiar faces and not feel so alone.

Even though he knew the shadows would follow him, waiting for the time to come, but he could care less now.

Tired…leave me alone…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The leaves fell around him when he woke. A dull ache in his head came to him in slow rhythm, but it eventually faded away, and he could open his eyes without difficulty. The sun was at the top of the sky, indicating noon, and for a moment he couldn’t remember where he was. Except that it was so quiet, just enough to fade away the memory.

He heard the creak of a branch to the left of him, and instinctively he turned, red eyes alert and simmering. There was no surprise in him when he found the pale, scaled creature perched on a black branch of a tree, staring back at him from a far distance with the most patient of looks on his face.

Cuervo couldn’t stop the question that floated in his mind.

“…Did you…?”

Sen just shook his head, eyes blank. “No…I didn’t. So don’t worry over such useless things that never happened.”

The canine did not know how to respond and only stared, seeing something different in that figure before him. It was as if something had altered, not completely but…he was not the same.

“Now what?” he said aloud, mostly to himself.

Sen shrugged, indifference in his manner. “Whatever you wish. I know you want to leave.” He gestured toward the other trees opposite him, into the deep distance of the forest. “So…leave already.”

Cuervo got up to his feet, the tight binds on his wounds stained deeply with dried red, some falling away to reveal healed marks. He glanced toward the direction where Sen pointed towards, then looked back to him, suspicious of course. His gaze wandered toward the metal hands, and the vision of them striking him in the chest came in full clarity.

Impulsively, he laid a hand on the chest wounds, already healed and luckily, not fatal.

There was something different now…

“What? Changed your mind?” Sen interrupted his thoughts, giving a grin. Whatever change had been in him seemed to have vanished, now replaced by the leering, vicious creature whose eyes shone slightly.

Cuervo frowned, his hand falling to his side. Seeing nothing being done by just remaining, he dashed off through the forest, disappearing among the trees with ease. Falling leaves whirled through the air from his run, and his footsteps were the only sounds in the silent forest, until even that faded away, and all was quiet again.

Sen grunted, his grin now a comfortable look on his face. “Didn’t even say thank you.”

Now standing on the tree branch, he glanced toward the sky, finding dark clouds travel across the blue expanse. Brief flashes, accompanied by low rumbling, came from them. Just another storm, ready to wash the life away. His coiled tail waved back and forth, awaiting the rain to come down.

Then he gazed toward the forest, trying to find a red light that had already moved away, far from his reach. By now, it had escaped from him. But he was not disappointed oddly enough. Actually, he could not be more content.

“So I guess the chase still goes on…” he whispered, his eyes shining brightly, not in madness, but of cold knowledge.

Because the chase was what kept him driving, not the reward at the end, and he would prolong it for a long, long time.

“Much fun…”