[center][h2][color=steelblue]Dalious[/color][/h2][/center]

Word of the monstrous black bear had reached the boudoir, though the news changed nothing from within as everyone was told to stay put.  It wasn't until just before dawn that a few Freyjan guards returned to give the news that the beast had been slain.  They would need the woman working here to help the wounded, as many began preparing warm blankets and towels.  

[b]"Wake up!"[/b]

Dalious' eyes shot open and he reached for his weapon, though it was far on the other end of the room.  When he saw Mahita at the door, she was fully dressed with a look of concern on her face.  He gave her a polite nod and smile and then crashed his face back into the pillow for more sleep.

[b]"I said wake up!"[/b] Mahita repeated, this time grabbing the sheets and pulling them off the bed.  He opened his eyes again, his tiredness wearing heavily on him.  

[color=steelblue]"It's a bit early, but I suppose if you want to go again we could,"[/color] he patted the area of the bed next to him for her to lay down.  [color=steelblue]"Though I fear I may not be at optimal performance, I received limited sleep."[/color]  It was still dark outside, though the people talking and making noises outside the room made it seem like it was midday.  

[b]"A giant bear attacked the city last night, dozens were killed and injured,"[/b] she informed him. [b] "Everyone here is helping out, we could use you too!"[/b]

[color=steelblue]"Oh, well that's an easy one to figure out,"[/color] he told her as he started to get up and put his clothes back on.  [color=steelblue]"Just find a giant fish!"[/color]

There was no smile to Mahita's face, she seemed agitated and under stress.  Her demeanor had completely shifted from what it was hours ago, when they were alone together.  It made him take this more seriously, even though all of this felt like it were a dream.  He flicked his bandage to make sure it wasn't, a flinch coming to his face from the pain.  The stab wound felt worse than yesterday, though it looked to be healing properly.  Mahita quickly rebandaged it for him.  [b]"The bear is dead.  I'm worried about Thyrri,"[/b] she said as she did so. [b] "She went out around the time this was all happening..."[/b]

[color=steelblue]"I'm sure she's fine, probably went back to the palace,"[/color] he said.

[b]"Will you go find her for me, make sure she's okay?  I must stay and prepare for the wounded, please find her!"[/b]

[color=steelblue]"Yeah, sure.  I'll find her."[/color]  

Mahita finally smiled again, kissing Dalious on his cheek and then parting to leave. [b] "Thank you, you are welcomed here anytime."[/b]

[color=steelblue]"That's good because you just happen to be my favorite person in this city, sweet Melissa!"[/color] 

[b]"It's Mahita." [/b]

[color=steelblue]"Right.  I'll go find Thyrri then."[/color]

The streets were alive with people just like the day before, however it was not for the festival this time.  Homes and businesses opened up for the injured, with people moving this way and that.  Dalious took a broom from Mahita's, breaking off the bristled end to use as a walking stick.  His stab wound was piercing him with every step, and he even had to stop to take a few breaks along the way.

Nearly tripping over a large puddle, he straightened himself out and realized it was no puddle but one of the bear's massive paw prints.  The wall next to him had big claw marks on it, with bricks and rubble broken down from the top.  It appeared the animal had entered the city from here and then made its way through the back alleys.  But why would a bear go through the trouble of entering the city?  It seemed strange for even a mutated one, but perhaps someone from here killed its cub.  He made a mental note to check the other side of the wall later if it deemed necessary, then kept moving toward the scene of the incident.

He could hear the gathering of people a few blocks away, some were still screaming in agony while others tried to ease their suffering.  He saw the dead bear from a distance, its head cut clean off.  Before he would approach, something scraped the ground nearby and it caught his attention.  There was an armored man sitting against the wall of the alley, parallel to the bear's location.  He sat alone, using the metal from his gauntlet to scratch at the ground in order to get someone's attention.

It was still very dark, but upon approaching the man, Dalious could see that he was wearing the crest of Luthra.  His face looked familiar, though dreary and covered in a cold sweat.  After a brief moment he realized that the man was the guard of his friend, Melchior the prince of Luthra.  The guard attempted to speak but could not, instead he pulled down his chest plate and revealed a mass of blood.  The bear had slashed him at the base of his throat, and the poor man had been struggling to stay alive the entire night.

[color=steelblue]"Oh, that's not good,"[/color] Dalious muttered under his breath.  He helped to take off the guard's plate entirely, then started to put pressure at the wound.  More blood came out and the man started to choke, him even living this long was a miracle.  Dalious pulled his flask from his back pocket and poured the last of his whiskey onto the area, but the guard grabbed it and tossed the remaining drops in his mouth.  [color=steelblue]"I'm sorry this happened to you."[/color]

With a last bit of energy, the guard lifted his arm and pointed toward the massacre just a street alley away.  [color=gray]"Mel..."[/color] he said, then his hand fell limp and his body did the same.  He was dead, finally at rest.  Dalious closed his eyes and looked over toward the carnage nearby, the guard was pointing at one of the many bodies.  

Dalious quickly rushed over, using his stick as a cane.  He wasn't able to notice anyone else surrounding him as his focus was dead set on a corpse.  The body was cut in half at the waist, guts spilled out just beside it.  The victim lay face first on the street, but Dalious recognized the clothing.  He grabbed and turned the face so he could see, it was him.  [color=steelblue]"No!"[/color] Dalious grunted and quickly backed away.  He lost his balance and walking stick, causing him to fall to his knees.  Tears began to swell in his eyes as he let out a thunderous scream.