"That was the answer I expected" Bastian exhaled, reaching over his shoulder scratching his upper back. He wasn't very knowledgeable of other's customs, back in his village that was still around when he was young, everyone was trained to fight and defend themselves. Before spending much time reflecting, Bastian's ears perked up. His targets were off in the distance, bickering loudly at each other. Bastian took a moment to ponder his situation. "My options are limited..."

Turning toward the forest, grabbing the hilt of his sword. "I want you to stay and keep the horse company. She gets restless out here by herself." He pulled out his blade, unsurprised, glancing at her appearing afraid. Only waiting a few seconds for her answer, starting to hear them growing more distance. Bending his knees and preparing to sprint off. "Call out for me, if there's any trouble."

Bastian bolted straight into the forest. "It would be too dangerous to bring her along. Besides, my horse only travels anywhere with me..."

Liz watched the Beastkind walk away. She knew that there were slave that would have tried to escape. Especially if they didn't have a slave brand. But the fact that only a collar marked her as a slave she didn't try to run. Not because she didn't think that the beast could follow her. She was sure he could. But she knew she would never survive long out here alone. She know nothing about the wilderness.

Not wanting to stand around Liz climbed down from the cart. It wasn't as easy as she thought it would be but she managed. She looked round. Not knowing how long her owner would be gone she didn't want to go. She didn't want him angry at her for not being where she was supposed to be. She also didn't want to get lost and keeping the horse in sight seemed the best way to do that. She gathered herbs that were close to the wagon just in case she needed them. She found the activity calming.

She knew she was lucky that this beastkind was her owner. He was alittle rough but he wasn't as bad as some of the owners she had seen. Atleast he didn't seem interested in her beyond needing help getting into places where he couldn't go alone. That knowledge helped calm her fears. She would help however she could when it came to rescuing his kids but that was about all she felt she had to offer him.

Bastian could hear the sounds of his two targets, sounds of two running just off in the distance. Zigzagging across this large wooded area, spooking many animals that crossed his path. He couldn't pick up their scent, just smelling the stench of the forest itself. Finally stopping inside an uncovered area, beginning to look around. The surrounding ground was flat soft dirt, the only thing behind him was a single set of running footprints. Still hearing their voices nearby...

The message described being wanted for pick-pocketing and burglary. A seemingly ordinary pair of bandits, but their last theft lead to the death of a young rich beastkind, his wife put out an absurd bounty on these men. Despite this, many wouldn't take the demand. The offer remained underground for involving beastkind. But even knowing that, something hadn't been sitting well with him. He had done this work before. This price would only make sense, if it was extraordinarily dangerous.

"Dammit, this is some kind of magic trick. The targets must be mages..." Bastian turned around and started sprinting back through the forest, letting out some rushed breaths. "They couldn't still be doing this without being in the near vicinity...the only reason they'd send me deeper into the forest means-"

Meanwhile during Elizabeth's gathering a variety of plants and herbs that littered the grounds. Two shorter men wearing cloaks, faces completely covered by cloth wrapped around their heads, approached behind her. Not making noise with their movements, only informed of their presence when the horse starting whinnying. Both stood on just either side of her, a couple feet away.

"Don't scream. We aren't here to hurt you." The one of the right assures.

Liz froze whem she realized that there was a man on either side of her. She didn't believe them but she wasn't brave enough to find out for sure. Her heart raced in fear. She didn't know what to do. This wasn't a situation she had ever been in before. She had very little experience with men before her sentencing. Now that she was a slave she had few right. The beastkind was no where near so she had no one to stop them.

"What do you want?" She asked them softly. She was too scared to move. She her eyes darted around as she tried to think of away out. Her options were limited. But that didnt mean she would just stand there. She was timid but that didn't that she was just going to give up. Being limited didn't mean she couldn't do anything. But she needed to know what they wanted. She had to make sure that whatever action she could would make a difference.

"I'll be there soon..." Bastian muttered charging through the forest, he could hear the sounds coming from his horse. Gripping his necklace tightly, his necklace shimmered ominously. "I hate letting this influence me...But I'll use my father's curse if I have to..." feeling his heart pumping louder and faster, his head becoming a miasma of brutal thoughts. Making his pupils fade, color darkening until his eyes were a solid shade of black.

"We're simply reclaiming what's rightfully ours...just keep quiet and we'll be on our way." The man replied in a cold tone, looking at the other. "Just stay and keep the lady company." The other stranger nodded in response, his hands concealed underneath his robe, moving restlessly. The one on her right started to walk toward the back of the cart starting to quickly and aggressively search. Struggling to open the many containers, finding many difficult to break or pick. The horse started making louder noises, making his disorder more frantic.

Visibly aggravating the one watching over Elizabeth. Grinding his teeth, scowl across his face, he turned his attention away from Elizabeth for that moment and lifted both hands aiming toward the horse. His hands began to illuminate with a small condensed ball of fire amassed in between his palms.

"This will shut the bloody horse up." The one on left growled out, his attention fixed on the horse, ignoring her.

Liz had no idea what to do they were looking for. She didn't think that it mattered. She wouldn't have given it to them even if she had known. They were thieves that much was clear to her. She had seen their kind while she was imprisoned. She doubt that whatever they were looking for was really theirs. It was more likely they were recovering something for someone else or looking for something of value.

She didn't know what the man near her planned to do. She had seen a few magic users since her arrest and his actions were similar to theirs. She couldn't allow the man to hurt the horse. The horse was only making noise because they were scaring it. While Liz wasn't able to stand up for herself she was more than capable of standing up for others. Especially those that couldn't stand up for themselves.

Liz shoved the man near her as hard as she could. Since his focus was on the horse and not her she was able move him enough that his shot missed the horse. Unfortunately she hadn't been able to move him far. He grabbed her arm and twisted it. His anger was clear on his face. Liz swallowed as pain shot through her. She didn't make a sound though. She knew she was in trouble. She accepted that this was her punishment. She didn't care as long as the horse wasn't hurt.

The thief rummaging through the back of the cart turned around to checking the commotion stirring up, noticing his partner was close to incinerating the horse. "Stop you idiot! We're not here to get an even bigger bounty on our heads!" He jumped off the cart. "Just let her go-we're getting out of here before-"

The spell didn't go off, leaving the horse untouched. The figure that was grabbing Elizabeth didn't even have time to sense the murderous swift charging beastkind that appeared bolting out of the forest and with a inhuman leap into the air, Bastian lunged over Elizabeth avoiding touching her. Grabbing the man's head within his claws sharp grip, tightening with the sound of cracking bone. Claws piercing through flesh and one digging straight through his eye, simultaneously twisting his neck and body slamming into the ground. Bastian's necklace was coated with visible dark aura, eyes shimmering black as they turned toward the other horrified mage. The mage instantly clapped his hand together, saying a quick incantation creating an invisible physical barrier. Bastian ripped his sword out and charged straight at the mage.

"Wait! I surrender-" The mage exclaimed. Bastian's sword piercing and breaking through the barrier in an instance, running the mage's chest completely through until the claw holding the hilt of blade was embedded in the hole blown through his stomach. Pulling the sword out without struggle, mage exploding in blood and collapsing to the ground, both lie dead but Bastian wasn't done yet. His breathing got calming and heart rate started slowing down. Bastian quickly lopped off the mage's head, picking it up and stuffing it in a leather sack and approaching the the other mage and doing the same thing. The necklace fizzled out and his eyes regained their pupils and returned to their original color. Turning his attention to Elizabeth, painted in blood.

"Are you hurt?" Bastian asked with a soft and parental tone.

Liz was glad that the spell didn't go off even if it meant that she would suffer. She didn't move or say anything not wanting to anger the man anymore than she already had. She blinked in surprise when something jumped out of the woods onto of the man. She didn't recognize the beastkind at first. Terrified of the creature and the men Liz started to shake. She was in shock as the beast killed both men. While she had seen some violence since her imprisonment she had never seen anything like this.

She stared at her owner in shock and fear when he asked if she was hurt. It took a few minutes for the words to penetrate. She shook her head. She wasn't hurt. Terrified yes. Confused definitely. She didn't know how to react to his behavior. She had know that he was capable of violence. All beastkind were. But knowing it and seeing it were two very different things. Seeing him like this made her more determined to never anger him. His gently tone did nothing to reassure her that he wouldn't hurt her.

"I am sorry." She apologized. She looked down. He had told her to call out if there was trouble and she hadn't. She had failed to obey him. Failure was always followed up by punishment. And from what she had just seen it would probably be the worse she had ever suffered. She braced herself for whatever he chose to do to her.

Bastian hadn't budged. Gritting his teeth, swelling pain rushing from every inch of his body. He wasn't thinking about exactly what happened, focusing on enduring the curse's side effects. Breathing in and out deeply several times, slowly wiggling his paws and feet until becoming capable to freely move. Walking back to the cart, carrying the sack confirming both targets demise. Turning to look at her. Observing that she hadn't gotten much, if any, blood on her clothing. Suddenly, recalling a moment with another woman wearing the same dress, blood spewing with an arrow piercing her stomach, reaching out their hand. Bastian shook his head back into reality. Feeling and smelling the breeze blowing past, tickling his nostrils, his ears and tail twitched.

"I'm sorry for leaving you alone, I'm relieved you're unharmed." Bastian finally said in a calm tone, getting some rags wet, cleaning off some of the blood that covered him. Unlocking one of the crates and putting the sack inside, along with the bloody rags. "Please, hurry inside. We're making it back into town before the storm hits..." Returning to the horse and waiting for Elizabeth.

It took Liz a couple of minutes to realize that her owner walked away. She blinked as if to make sure that what she was seeing was real. She realized that she probably looked stupid but she couldn't help it. She didn't understand his actions. Why wasn't he punishing her? While he had said he would give her freedom she hadn't believed him. There was no valid reason for the offer. She slowly made her way to the wagon.

She looked up at the sky when the beastkind mentioned a storm approaching. She didn't see anything but she had heard that animals often sensed storms before they were visible. She trusted that he knew what he was talking about. Climbing into the cart wasn't easy but she managed. This delay couldn't be good for his goal. They should be going forward not backwards. But she didn't say anything he didn't need her to point out things he undoubtable knew.

She settled into the back and tried not to think about what she had just seen. She feared that she would see that moment in her nightmares for a long time. Still the criminals had earned it. She would just have to make sure that she never did anything that forced the beastkind to be angry. There was no way she would survive if he turned his anger on her.

Bastian traveled faster than before. Being pursued by the storm clouds behind, the wind picking up speed. His mind had blurred into retaining a narrowed focus on the path ahead over the hills, the kingdom in sight. Compartmentalizing the flowing thoughts coming from his head about his wife and children, before the rain started flowing through the skies, both cold and unending. Bastian arrived back inside the stables shelter, before getting his fur too wet, getting off and heading toward the back of the cart.

"Please come with me, I don't want you out of my sight." Bastian said letting out some heavy breaths, quickly grabbing the sack from the crate, holding it tightly in his claw. The stables were nearly emptied compared to when they first arrived, lamp torches were lit to keep the place illuminated, the horse drinking from a trough. Bastian reached his paw out for her to take.

Liz wrappedhwr arms around herself as they headed back to town. Maybe the storm was the reason he chose not to punish her for disobeying him. She had no excuse. She was more afraid of the beastkind then she was of the two men. Maybe he liked the smell of her fear. She had heard that animals could smell emotions. Maybe her owner enjoyed knowing that she was afraid of him. She was relieved when they arrived safely.

Liz nodded. Fear filled her. He didn't trust her. Not that Liz blamed him. She had failed him. She took his hand without a word. She let him help her off the cart. She kept her head down. Now that they were in town and the weather was bad what would they do? She would a accept whatever he chose because she had no other choice and she felt that she deserved whatever he chose to do to her.

Removing something from the chest, after he assisted her off the cart. Throwing on a hefty coat over her shoulders, smelling strange, though distinctive from the stench of blood already coming from Bastian. “That should keep you warmer...”

He left the stables, expecting to be followed and headed inside the town, the entire place was disturbingly quiet and dark, the streets abandoned, almost every blind and shutter closed. Feeling a chill down his spine, taking her hand and hurrying her along, walking at a quicker pace. “We must hurry, something’s wrong.”

Running through the empty marketplace, smelling blood that wasn’t being cleansed by the rain pelting their coats. Bastian knew it was coming from the direction they were headed. Rushing up to the tent that was located beside the beastkind’s market stall, using it as shelter. The outside and entrance was slashed and torn. Heading inside and finding the beastkind pinned on the ground, moaning and clutching the polearm plunged through his chest. Bastian kneeled down and looked dumbstruck on how to react, watching the beastkind looking in his direction.

“You’re closer to your children than you think Bastian...they know you’re looking for them…” The beastkind strained to speak coughing.

“D-don’t worry. We need to get you a Physicker…” Bastian stuttered out, trying to gather material from around the tent to wrap the wounds, only noticing all his other cuts and slashes.

“Don’t be stupid...I can feel my stomach burning. If I don’t die from bleeding out-the poison will finish the job. Dammit, I never thought I’d die from keeping my mouth shut.” He clenched his teeth and clenched Bastian's arm.

Liz was surprised when the beastkind settled a coat over her shoulder. She didn't mind the smell. Anything was better than being cold. She followed him out of the shelter where they parked the horse. Even though she didn't have the instinct or senses of a beastkind but she didn't need him to tell her that something was wrong. She could feel it in the air. She hurried behind him. She stayed as close to him as she could as they made their way through town.

She gasped softly when she saw the beastkind vendor that they had talked to before. She shuttered at the sight but didn't move away. She would have offered to help but she knew there wasn't anything she could do to save the vendor's life. The vendor seemed to know that too. She swallowed when he mentioned poison. Someone went to alot of trouble to make sure that her master got as little information as possible.

Liz wanted to tell her master to run. They shouldn't stay here. But that wasn't her decision. She couldn't say anything. She could only hope that he vendor indicating that they were close to his children would encourage her owner to keep moving. Had the kids been here? Had they seen this? She didn't know. She didn't want to know.

Blood poured like the sands of time. His surroundings slowed like the fading heartbeat. Bastian shaking palm placed on the dying beastkind’s chest. Noticing the beastkind moving his mouth to speak, but even when nothing came out, it became apparent what was said. Life briefly paused, the moment Bastian saw the light fading from their eyes. The unpleasant nostalgia that he’d been through this before. “I was helpless back then too…”

"Cowards are far more dangerous than those who fight with purpose.”

His father told him that all the time. But no matter how long that conversation lasted, the father couldn't get Bastian to understand. Until that gang of paper tigers, always strolling by his mansion just to throw weak insults and threats his way while laughing and playing with Bastian as a child, up on their balcony. Once seemingly harmless and ineffective, created the ones to be manipulated into eventually being trialed and sentenced, for setting the entire place ablaze while the father was horribly ill, suffering from his curse. The pathetic and weak willed, always castigated him for his greatest achievements. They’d never directly face him one on one, despite his offers to claim all he owned. Always grouping up to inflate their numbers, knowing their ideas weren’t strong enough on their own. It was never about standing for something, it was blaming others for being unable to. But those achievements literally vanished up in smoke. Because cowardice turned into violence without purpose...

Bastian snapped back into reality, quick enough to possibly not be noticed that his mind wandered off. Bastian shut the beastkind’s eyes and covered his upper body with sheets inside the tent. Before standing back up, clenching his fists and keeping his final words to himself. “Goodbye, friend...” Turning to Elizabeth, before taking her hand.

“Come, it’s time for action...we’re leaving this kingdom behind and finding my children.”

Liz was relieved when her master said they were leaving. She nodded. She didn't point out that the storm outside was most likely raging outside. She was sure that he knew that. Still she would rather be out in the storm than here. The smell of death bothered her in ways she couldn't explain. It wasn't the first time that she had smelled it. But that didn't make it any easier for her to deal with.

"Hopefully they don't have much of a lead anymore." She hoped that they could pick up the trail. But she knew that would destroy whatever clues that the attackers might have left. She couldn't help him with that. She knew nothing about tracking. Really all she was good for was helping him get into places that he couldn't go alone. She hoped that they little bit would be enough to make a difference in getting his children back.

Bastian headed outside, sounds of thunder crashing in the distance. Rain pelting them both, with the chill of wind whistling loudly. Bastian released her hand, rushing toward and leaning over the chest still outside, clear signs that it was already tampered with. Opening it and shuffling through, noticing the bag of coins were missing. His ears twitching, keeping himself aware of his surroundings, knowing these streets were usually patrolled.

“Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t stop at murder, they stole his belongings too.” Bastian thought. Praying to the gods that he didn’t believe in, eventually letting out a sigh of relief. Finding a small rusty bronze triangle, marked with the beastkind’s initials and putting it inside his pouch. Bastian stood back up, thinking for a moment before heading off in haste, taking her hand again. He kept quiet while they headed off in a direction that wasn’t going toward the stables. Instead, going through a darkened alleyway that reeked of garbage and spoiled milk. Stopping in front of a large wooden door, with a warning sign written in something's blood. Bastian's nose could detect that it came from cattle.

‘Keep away or be eviscerated.’

Bastian rolled his eyes a bit, seemingly disregarding the threat. He looked at Elizabeth. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” He assured before honesty escaped from his lips. “I think…”

Liz was relieved that they were leaving until her owner lead her down a nearby alley. She had little experience with alleys. She wrinkled her nose at the smell but she didn't say anything. She was sure that there was a reason that they were there. She couldn't imagine what the reason was. But she was sure that there was one. She trusted hime that much. He wasn't the type to do things without a reason.

She hesitated when he approached a door with warnings clearly written on it. Not that she could hesitate long with the tight grip on her. She followed him reluctantly. She didn't want to follow him into a place into a place that was clearly wasn't friendly. But she didn't have any choice. She had to go where he went. She swallowed when he reassured her that he knew what he was doing. She wanted to believe that. But she honestly didn't. She was pretty sure he was running on emotions and instinct. She doubted that he was capable of thought right now. Still she would follow him. Mostly because she had to but part of her wanted to look after him as much as she was capable of.

Bastian closed his eyes and placed his paw against the door. He could feel the presence of magic coating the door, trapped for forced entry. Hearing sounds of footsteps on the other side, remaining still until the door swung open. A heavily bearded man wearing ragged clothes, soaked in blood carrying a large cleaver, arm raised over his head and preparing to attack. Bastian didn’t flinch, promptly grabbing the man’s wrist firmly and taking Elizabeth’s hand. The man hardly struggled, only dropping his arm to his side, once Bastian released his tight grip.

“I’m not here to kill you, but I’m not here for good news either.” Bastian said solemnly, revealing the small keepsake and dropping it in the man’s opened palm. Anguish immediately filled the man’s face when he recognized the initials, staring down at his palm.

“Is that why you smell of blood?” He asked. Bastian gave a brief nod in response. “You must be someone he trusted to know about me...so what did my blood brother promise you?”

“I don’t seek reimbursement. I need your brother’s wagon and steed. They killed your brother because he gave me information on who stole my children and he also protected me...I can’t let his information or his sacrifice be wasted.” Bastian explained over the thunder cracking in the distance. Drowned out by the man, hearing dozens of voices whispering over each other. The man eyes focused on Elizabeth.

Bastian remembered his friend’s warning about his blood brother, he explained both were soldiers in the same battalion and due to their similar age, being the youngest, they spent the most time together talking about their lives and connected through a dire time. Saving each other lives and experiencing the horrors of war, but the aftermath left him incredibly paranoid and greatly affecting his mental state. He isolated himself from others, becoming a butcher to reminisce in smell of the fallen. The beastkind used to be a traveling merchant, garnering as much wealth from his highly detailed wooden sculptures and sanctimonious charms, coming back to visit and give his brother money for alcohol, drugs and prostitutes, he remained a fractured soul that couldn’t ever life in normalcy.

Though he wasn’t certain, he had suspected that he has killed one of the prostitutes when they turned up missing. But he couldn’t bare sending his only good memories of the past to the gallows. The beastkind now always stayed in this wretched city, to keep an eye on the only other person he cared about as recompense for his careless actions. He swore that his brother was a gentle and kind man but warned that any woman that ventured near his brother, needed to be in a relationship already. His brother tended to leave them be, but any that crossed his path otherwise may be relentlessly pursued for love. He didn’t know what his brother was capable of when he became lustful, only ever being told that’s when the voices in his head get the loudest…

Bastian gritted his teeth, taking hold of Elizabeth’s hands. “I’m sorry, this is my young lover. She has been recently traveling with me. I don’t like leaving her alone, you know how dangerous this city can be at night.” Bastian said forcing a chuckle and a casual tone though it was almost embarrassing to watch him trying to lie. The man blinked and looked at Bastian, wiping some dried blood off his cheek.

“Are you sure about that?” The man questioned seeming doubtful. Bastian placed his soaked paw on her shoulder and moved her closer to him, feeling her wet skin. Despite both of them being drenched in rain, Bastian still emanated warmth like being beside a fireplace.

“Please, she’s getting drenched out here and I don’t have time to spare. I promise to get revenge for your brother but I need his wagon and steed to do it.” Bastian stated firmly trying to shift control of the conversation.

“If she’s cold, she can come inside my slaughter house. Fire’s always on, long as you don’t mind the smell…” The man replied biting his lower lip. “She doesn’t strike me as someone who's attracted to beastkind. I want to see you two kiss...”

Bastian expression didn’t hide his frustration, glancing at Elizabeth to see how she was handling the situation.

Liz had been mostly ignoring the two men talk. None of it was her business. She had learned to pay as little attention to things as she could manage. Not that she managed all that well. She had a curious nature that had often gotten her into trouble. It wasn't until her owner mentioned the word lover did she focus in on what the men were saying.

She blushed bright red when the beastkind claimed her as a lover. But she didn't contradict him. After all she expected that he would make that claim true eventually. A shiver went through he at the thought. She had heard that the beastkind were very well endowed. The knowledge that her first lover would be large terrified Liz,

She blinked at the human when he said that he didn't believe the beastkind. Her heart raced at when the man challenged her owner to kiss her. She was a slave. She had to do what she was told, especially by the man that owned her. Liz didn't know what to do. Her owner didn't issue a command but the human didn't seem to know that one was needed. She hesitated for just a minute before turning toward the beastkind. She stepped closer and stood on her tiptoes so that he wouldn't have to bend down as far if he decided to take the man up on his challenge.