[b]Avalon ~ City Centre [/b]

Avalon weaved through the seething crowd, planting his pole arm, sharpened like a boat hook towards the end, into the back of one of the Atropos. It was a weapon he learned to use in Afon amongst the black-market traders and it always proved thoroughly effective. Yes, he was afraid and this was not how he had planned this. However, fear is what lit him up and fear is what gave him access to the hawk that lay within. Though he knew that the way the Canavar had shifted in broad daylight had broken their cover, he could not be concerned with that. What was important was this one Canavar who had somehow escaped death even when it pursued him in so many forms. 

Avalon took stock of his surroundings. His vision had cleared and he found he could notice minute details. They were fighting well, the attention they drew was massive and he was afraid that there was no way out for them. The panic that spanned this block had, like a disease, spread through the adjacent street and was making its way towards the Kings Table, the concentration of the king, nobles and guards who would soon become wrapped up in this as well. 

Hopefully, Leolin can explain this away. It was his idea after all. Avalon focused no the task at hand. Then he saw him, a terrified looking boy who seemed to believe that pressing himself into the cobblestone would obscure him completely. He obviously did not look as if he ran with the tavern crowd, as his hands looked unworked and his skin was pale and smooth which indicated a lack of manual labor. This was most definitely the young lord Taliesan. 

Avalon rushed past him, scooping him up as he went and pulled him into cover. Then, he heard something in the sky that he had only heard once before in his life. Each abbey of the Nightshade was outfitted with enormous iron bells, meant to signal death. When one Abbey set off it's bells, it only meant a death within that Abbey. However, when all Abbeys within a city set off their bells at once - it meant the death of a King. Currently, the sky was trembling with the resounding sound of bells, deep chimes that resonated throughout the air. People everywhere froze and looked up to the sky watching black flags rise to the top of every Abbey in the area. 

Avalon took this opportunity to signal his Canavar to stand down. A mix of human and beast withdrew with him into the shadows. 

"You all know what this means. If the Abbey is correct, which I don't doubt they are, then the King is dead and we are no longer protected by him," Avalon handled himself with his usual sternness, but he did not know how long the facade could last. Despite their differences, Leolin and Avalon were like brothers and this death devastated him.

"I know of one place nearby that we can be safe, but there is no doubt that they will look for us. We made our presence quite obvious today. 

Avalon drew them into the forest, unaware of a brown rat that hurried after them. 

When they reached cover, in the form a cave obscured by the roots of an enormous tree, they settled to catch their breath. 

"This changes everything. If the King is dead, then the Belladonna will become the interim ruler. This will make our existence even more tenuous."

"Who are you?" the boy Avalon had been supporting as they ran suddenly spoke up. 

Avalon had forgotten about him in the rush into the forest. He didn't know what to say. While the King was alive, this group had a purpose, but what would they do now? Would they go their separate ways, would they search for more Canavar and protect them those that would destroy them, or would they seek vengeance for the King. Right now, all Avalon wanted to do was see the entire forest in flames. A purge of all the horrible evils that inhabited it. His absence from the Kings side would look suspicious and he as well as the rest of the Canavar would no doubt be framed for his death. It would be a few hours before the full force of Gandryll would tear up the forest looking for them.

"We are Canavar," Avalon started, deciding that answering his questions was the easiest route to take. "We existed before man but after all of the other beasts of the world. We were a transition from the wild and untamed to the rational and the self aware. Though we look human we all have a beast within us. I suspect that at one point in time, all humans were Canavar. Perhaps all humans still are - they have simply forgotten their connection to the wilderness." 

Avalon suddenly felt speechless and exhausted and sat against the wall of the cave, which felt more and more like a cage as time progressed. What were they supposed to do now?