Snippet #1736780

Hati's remaining, yellow-gold eyes glanced over at the approach of the Todd, Cru's wife....or whatever stood for such a union in this place. She didn't like to pry. The Lieutenant gave a nod to the woman as she went to sit down, out of respect and acknowledgement of rank, before turning her attentions back to the fight, not looking round to answer the question that came from Tatiana.

"Nothing special. The usual bloodbath." she responded, the act of speaking revealing her sharp, white teeth, more suited to the mouth of her canine form than her human. Many Skinwalkers retained animal traits, and that was one of hers.

Hati's disdain for the arena fights was something fairly well known in The Stockade...but then so was her background, so it was hardly a surprise that someone who had almost been torn to shreds and had been left permanently disfigured by dog fights would have a hatred for the fighting pit. Still it was occasionally something that was made light of by the troops.

Hati tensed as she spotted the approach of Cru, and she straightened her posture, lowering her head as he made his way past. There weren't many in The Stockade who would look Cru in the eye...not for long anyway. For Barkers, body language was important, and attempting to act challenging was more than enough to get you mauled.
"Sir." she stated in greeting, raising her head again when he was safely past.

The Leader sat down, and seemed content to ignore post him and his companion, so the Barker turned her attention back to the fight. That was until she was asked the question, something she wasn't keen to answer.
"I haven't spoken to Colai, no. I didn't see she'd have much of use as of yet, as no-one seems to have captured any of them." she responded.

It seemed a reasonable enough response.

That and she just didn't like going down to Colai's miniature hell. Cru seemed to love having her around, for some unfathomable but reason, but as far as Hati was concerned, she was a dangerous lunatic who could easily turn on them all and murder half The Stockade in their beds while they slept. Spinners were a nasty bunch at the best of times, but it seemed the one Cru had found was even nastier than usual.

The disgust at the thought of venturing down into that spider-choked pit full of dying Skinwalkers distracted her, until the metallic scent of blood hit her nose and she caught sight of Sasha's arrival. It was something that briefly stirred her curiosity, but it seemed there were other things to attend to rather more urgently. Cru demanded her attendance, and the irregularity of it meant that it was best she got on with it.

Shortly after Cru's form leapt off into a run she began to concentrate, triggering the change reflex and provoking the strange feeling of the transformation. The early transformations were extremely painful, but the Skinwalker body adapted, releasing a rush of strong endorphins to mask the reshaping bones and twisting muscles. Soon a tall, black canine stood in the place of the woman, and took off at a run, carrying her things rather carefully in its jaws. Hati's canine form was a large breed, as were most of the commanders, but was more light and agile in form rather than strong and muscular. Hati was build to be hunting dog, rather than a fighting dog, and it showed.

She sprang from under the canopy and broke into a run, weaving in between soldiers and servants as she fell into line behind the leader.