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.

[color=0072bc]“I’m not here to kill you, but I’m not here for good news either.”[/color] 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.

[color=fdc68a]“Is that why you smell of blood?”[/color] He asked. Bastian gave a brief nod in response. [color=fdc68a]“You must be someone he trusted to know about me...so what did my blood brother promise you?”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“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.”[/color] 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. [color=0072bc]“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.”[/color] 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.

[color=fdc68a]“Are you sure about that?”[/color] 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.

[color=0072bc]“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.”[/color] Bastian stated firmly trying to shift control of the conversation.

[color=fdc68a]“If she’s cold, she can come inside my slaughter house. Fire’s always on, long as you don’t mind the smell…”[/color] The man replied biting his lower lip. [color=fdc68a]“She doesn’t strike me as someone who's attracted to beastkind. I want to see you two kiss...” [/color]

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