The hound let out a surly grunt at the demoness’s answer. Yet, he found himself feeling pleased, the air around him losing some of its weight. He had prodded for a piece of the spider’s mind, and had received a more thoughtful answer than he had expected. That did not, however, mean he agreed with the reasoning.
 
“I have heard humans refer to such an outlook as ‘result-oriented,’” the hound drawled with heavy sarcasm, “eager as they are to spin deficiencies of character as desirable traits. Should that be the case, one must wonder what was achieved through this exercise.”

“To answer that, we’d have to look at what it caused. There is of course the obvious; the deaths of countless demons. Then there is the copious amounts of blood that the battle left in its’ wake. There is also the now raging fire which I presume we have you to thank for? Though there is no way your quarry knew that would happen.” Malvossia crossed both sets of her arms and pondered a moment before continuing. “It could have been exactly what it was. An attack, meant to breach the wall and storm the city. With the defences down there is a chance the attack might have succeeded and your quarry could have gotten what they wanted. If you have the resources to spare it’s worth taking a crack at your goal, even if there is only a slim chance of succeeding. Considering how weak these demons were, I doubt this attack cost them very much.” Malvossia stared out across the battlefield at the raging fire that looked like it would be burning for some time. With a disappointed sigh the demoness lowered her body to the ground and tucked her legs underneath herself; she crossed both sets of arms atop a crenulation and rested her head upon them. “And let us not forget the most classic of reasons. A distraction. If your quarry is in anyway intelligent -and it is best to assume they are- they would know the angels and demons beyond this stony barrier would be off trying to thwart their plans and would not remain within the city. With the defenses down, an attack would clear out any remaining foes within, the non-human sort anyway. But what do you think, Cerberus?”

“I question the point of attacking this place to begin with. The one who sent these demons off to battle, the one I sought to hunt down and kill, was the same demon that destroyed the other Seals of the Apocalypse. I recognized the snake’s scent in the wind the moment they showed themselves. With that said, no seal has been found within this city.” The hound blew a rough breath through his nose. Had the enemy’s goals changed since last time? Could it be that destroying only some of the seals had been its objective?

[i]No, were that the case, would it still be sneaking in the shadows? The Imp described this one as one of the most powerful demons she had ever come across. Had it managed to restore itself completely, what need would there be to hide then?[/i] 

Fenn shook his head. “As you said, a distraction seems likely at face value. However, this attack would not have given the snake an opportunity to act. Did you notice during battle, Crone? The demons we fought were but meat puppets. Living corpses. Weak as they were, slaying this warband in the first place must have taken some time. I can say with certainty, as well, that the snake was in the forest when I charged in. Even if it did not show itself, it was never truly unaccounted for.” The hound let out a short, caustic chuckle. “Even if its aim had been to infiltrate this place during the assault, you yourself have shown such measures are unnecessary simply for the sake of crossing these walls. It seems more likely, then, that the snake was testing the limits of its powers. Either that, or...” At that, the hound fell uncharacteristically silent, narrowing its eyes. 

“Or…? You seem to be in a bit of a dramatic mood.” Malvossia tilted her head slightly so she could look at the wolf with two of her slitted eyes. “I must say” she continued, “it rather suits you. Paints you as a rather ponderous and prudent pooch.” The demoness giggled, at least it could be assumed to be a giggle as the sound she immited was that of a band of cackling demons. 

“It was not my intention to amuse,” he groused.

She turned her gaze back towards the fire. “Don’t leave us in suspense my friend. Or…?” 

“It occurs to me,” Fenn said at length, “that the snake may well have found allies to act in its stead.”

Malvossia quirked an eyebrow that she did not have. “You came to this conclusion, how?” 

A white figure surrounded by a starry blackness flashed through his mind. [i]Yet that is hardly the only party who could take an interest in the Seals’ destruction. Some are closer than we would wish, and need only to recognize the chance to act unnoticed when it is presented to them.[/i] The hound grumbled in annoyance at the turn his thoughts had taken. Thoughts that availed him naught, that could only lead him to indecision, where it was not his place to make those choices in the first place. [i]Like a spider sitting on its web, jolting at every tremble of its threads. I forget myself.[/i]

“By assuming the worst, naturally. I have found such thinking often reaches closer to truth.” The hound gave a ponderous roll of his shoulders, and turned to leave. “I do not think this snake one to waste time so freely otherwise.” 

“The human’s have a saying for assuming.” Malvossia giggled but did not elaborate further. “Best to keep on our toes and tackle what's thrown at us, rather than be concerned about could be’s and maybes.” 

“There is wisdom in that, aye.” The dog let out a slow chuckle, sparing the demoness a glance. “Alas, wisdom is wasted on a restless hound.” 

“So long my friend. I shall remain a little longer to help the humans strengthen the defences.”