Artamus

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

Upon reach the doorway, Reginald paused outside, a fist hovering over the iron lever. He heard conversational banter on the other side, soft and slightly muffled by the thick hardwood that the door consisted of. Assuming the duo had awoken, his arm moved up, racking the door to signal his entrance. Out of courtesy, he spoke up and identified himself, “Damea, Touya, its Reginald here.”

Reginald strode in without further or do, looking every bit the professional he was. Emerging in blue scrubs and a white coat, the former medic entered alone before closing the door quietly behind him. Stereotypically, in his possession Reginald carried a clipboard, most likely a checklist of sorts.

“You fellows look like you’re doing remarkably well,” he smiled warmly to override the mild surprise that crept up from seeing the faceless already on his feet. Most men would have remained bedridden for quite some time following a broken rib, not to mention the respiratory issues. Oddly, Touya seemed like his usual self, almost as if the events of last night had never transpired. On that note, there was still much that Reginald wished to learn about the incident surrounding the hybrid. Eager to fill in the blanks, Reginald stepped forwards and presented himself officially. “How are you both feeling? Hows the pain?”

When Reginald walked in, Touya was immediately on edge. His eyes narrowed at the man and he took a slight step forward, a dangerous aura around his body. However, all he did was cross his arms, the usual frown upon his face. Touya watched the doctor walk into the room and address them, though he didn't say anything in return right away. Damea, though, was quick on the uptake and turned to look at the man.

"Fine, or did you forget that Touya's a healer? No pain," Damea said and glanced over to Touya.

The tall Therian shrugged his shoulders slightly, "No pain," he answered as well softly. His gaze turned to Reginald as his thoughts returned to the papers that he'd seen in the man's office. Before the fight had broken out, all he'd gathered was that April had been sick with something before hand. He wondered what that was, though he doubted that Reginald would tell him. Touya decided then that once he saw Miles again, he would ask him instead to see if the soldier knew anything.

Not one to be put off by apparent hostilities, Reginald chuckled in response to Touya's careful discretion. It was almost endearing. Tight lipped, the faceless was evidently quite perturbed by the medic's presence, but Reginald had greater fish to fry than the therian's prejudice. Passing a side table, Reginald entered the empty space between the two beds, stopping just besides Touya.

"Just following protocol Damea. It's my job to check on these things," Reginald said with an easy shrug before adjusting his gaze towards Touya, "It's fortunate that you're doing so well though. Seeing as you returned empty handed, I assume there was no trace of Miss Rosevolt? Do you mind telling me about what happened last night? More specifically, what happened with the hybrid?"

Touya's frown deepened as he eyed the doctor. Anger boiled just beneath his skin at the mention of April. Had the man not taken her away from him to start with, had he been more diligent... There were plenty of things that could have been done differently. However, Touya knew there wasn't much use dwelling on it now. What he wanted was solid proof that she was still alive because he did not believe for a second that she was dead.

"No, I didn't find her. I still don't trust you either," Touya answered in a growl.

"Touya..." Damea stepped up next to him, touching the Therian's arm. Touya looked down at the fire mage who had a sorrowful look on his face, "She's not here. She wasn't with me when everything went to hell. I know it's hard to believe, but Reginald doesn't have her."

"You were sick at the time and most probably delusional weren't you?" Touya asked in his language.

Damea frowned as he answered in kind, "Well... yes, but I do remember thinking why she wasn't being carried out with me."

A heavy sigh wracked the Therian's body as he turned from Damea and tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling, "Fine. Miles suggested to heal the monster since attacking it clearly wasn't working. So I healed it, the metal anyway."

Withholding a gasp, Reginald’s dark eyes narrowed as he glanced at the therian in disbelief. “You’re saying that your healing abilities can manipulate synthetic material also? Is that how you defeated it?” he asked, mostly to reaffirm his suspicions, “Do you know what this means lad? We now have a way of stopping the hybrid project!”

Reginald turned to face Touya fully, "No, you could put an end to the hybrid project. In fact, the whole endeavor might be moot if more of your kind also possess the same healing abilities. We only need to find their facilities."

Damea looked over to Reginald and sighed, "Unfortunately, doc, the healing ability that Touya wields is very rare. In fact, I think he's the only one... of course I've not met too many Therian's, but from what I know Touya's ability isn't exactly what you would find in every other Therian."

"As for stopping this 'hybrid' project," Touya started, "What do you mean by it? Just because I can heal the wounds gained from being experimented on doesn't mean I can stop your kind from continuing it. Don't you think it would have the opposite effect?"

Damea’s information hit Reginald like a tonne of bricks, causing the man’s shoulders to slump depressingly. “On the contrary my dear faceless, what’s the point of funding a hybrid project if there already exists a counter?” Reginald said, answering Touya rhetorically. The question was accompanied with a slight shake of his head. “It’s a shame, really.”

Turning abruptly, the medic turned on his heels and started towards the door. “I hoped to avoid doing this the hard way. What will you two do now? I don’t plan on holding you here but I won’t lie to you when I say we could use the assistance. The choice is yours.”

"The point is that if this group of people find out that I can heal the infused metal, they will manipulate that. The monster didn't die from my healing him, he died because he'd been shot up with crossbolts and had taken multiple wounds from Damea and I both. My healing of his mechanics brought him to his senses and only then did his body realize how much damage he'd taken. That was when he fell."

Damea sighed heavily as Touya explained in an angered tone as Reginald made his way to the door. The mercenary looked between the two and raised his hand up to brush through his silver hair. After a moment he finally spoke up, "What I want to know is what you mean by 'doing this the hard way'? Do you mean to blackmail us somehow? Sorry to say, Reginald, but you don't hold much leverage over us."

"No, he doesn't. But he knows me well enough," Touya sighed.

Damea looked over to his companion," What do you mean?"

"I cannot overlook the fact that these humans are experimenting on both their own kind and my own. I don't wish to leave it at this, but I do not wish to show them my ability to heal their horrifying attempt at creating Therian's. That will only complicate matters."

The mercenary shrugged, "Well, there you have it, doc. Now. What will you do in return?"

Chuckling, Reginald's eyebrow lifted bemusedly at Damea, "Not everything is about you two. What I meant by the 'hard way' was confronting Victor as is. Crippling the facility before their numbers increased. The plan didn't involve you, but I would appreciate the aid."

He switched between visage, smiling softly at the duo. "What can I offer in return? Access to our spy network, our vast wealth of information on certain topics," Reginald bargained. Of course information on military disposition and inventory would be strictly regulated but the doctor was well versed at dancing around the topic. "Which i'm sure you could put to good use in your...bid to mend human and therian relationships. More over, we could even support you if we overthrow Victor."

Touya's eyes darkened as he glowered at the man. How he wished to strangle the man right there. Many times had it crossed his mind, but he couldn't... there was still a chance. A sliver of hope that he was going to hang onto to the bitter end.

That hope actually grew brighter as Reginald continued in his speech. Access to their spy network could very well work to his advantage if he used it correctly. Of course the things that Reginald was suggesting could also go towards putting him in a higher position as well, but his mind was thinking more on the lines of finding April.

"Well?" Damea asked, whispering in the Therian language.

"Seem's there's no other choice."

Damea turned to the doctor who was still standing at the door and crossed his arms over his bare chest, "Fine. Count us in then. Tell us what you need."

“Nothing, for now,” Reginald grinned brightly, “First we need to find their facility. When we have such information, rest assured, you will be contacted.”

---

Miles Riverbend

---

It was raining profusely the day of the funeral, with dark clouds looming over their heads. Wearing a dress uniform, with his sword strapped to his hip, a melancholy Miles walked to the viewing deck that overlooked the procession. Hushed silence took the crowd as the coffins of his mother; father and sister were lowered into the rain soaked earth and final resting places. The ceremony was small. Most of their associates had been massacred along with his family, or so he was told. Others were simply too afraid of Victor’s reign, too cowardly to dare show their support. Wordlessly, Miles stood out in the rain, letting his anger smolder beneath the surface.

“We gather to commemorate the end of these lives,” started the priest. Despite the furious downpour he hardly had to yell to be heard. “We acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices made by these people. Molly Riverbend, Patterson Riverbend and Felicity Riverbend. May their souls rest in peace and pass onto the ether.”

Miles took off his cap, a last sign of respect for his family. Watching as the coffins were released from their cranes with a soft thump, he made a solemn vow to avenge their deaths. Both the culprit and perpetrator, he would not allow a single one to live.

The rain had started two days ago and wouldn't let up. Touya had been given free reign to go where he pleased, and most times he didn't go very far from Reginald's base. There were times where he'd felt as if he should just leave and go off on his own to figure things out, but Damea would always convince him otherwise. The mercenary had a way with words, but the Therian also knew that what he said was true as well. What could Touya do if he were to leave? There wouldn't be much that he could get done on his own and without Reginald's equipment or services, he would never find April.

Cold liquid soaked his body the moment he walked out into the storm. He was intent on finding Miles for he had questions for the man that he hoped the soldier could answer. It was funny how he'd found an alley in one who had once been his enemy. Or maybe they were still enemies but for the moment their interests were the same, who knew. Touya sighed heavily as he moved through the downpour on his own. Damea was still in the facility, training his body once again. The fire mage and expressed his fears that he'd not been strong enough to help Touya during the fight. For all of Touya's disagreement, Damea did not listen to him and insisted on going through rigorous training once again.

So, the Therian left him to it and started out on his own agenda. Finding Miles was top priority and he wanted to do it quickly before he didn't have another chance to do so. His silver hair was clinging to his face as strands of it had escaped his braid earlier. It was a little while after that he saw the procession working their way down the streets. Touya's sharp gaze caught sight of the tall soldier as he was watching the procession from up above. His gaze narrowed and he wondered briefly at what had happened. Touya made his way over to where Miles was stationed, but did not make his presence apparent. His gaze watched the three coffins being loaded over the deep holes in the ground.

The Therian heard the names then, Molly Riverbend, Patterson Riverbend and Felicity Riverbend. All held the same family name that Miles did and Touya realized then that it was his family. Guilt struck him hard as he wondered what had happened to them. Then he figured that they must have been killed by Therian's. Perhaps it was the same group that Val had once led. Touya turned away slightly, his teeth grinding together and his heart heavier than ever before. Squeezing his eyes shut he fought off the burning mixture of guilt and anger that flooded him. How was he supposed to look at Miles in the eye now? Now that his family had been taken from him by those that Touya was trying to paint as not violent. It seemed that every effort he put into mending the tensions between Therian's and humans was blown to shreds by something.

As the procession ended, Touya looked over again to see Miles' hat had been removed and his gaze was still locked upon the graves of his family. The Therian straightened then, one hand curled into a fist. He would bear the responsibilities that came with this tragedy as well. Whatever it took, he would make things right again. Slowly he stepped forward, placing himself right next to the soldier.

"My condolences," he offered softly. How was he supposed to ask Miles about Aprils condition now when he was in the throes of sorrow and anger? It wasn't right of him to do so. "Do you know... who did it?" Touya asked slowly, though he was sure he knew the answer already. However, he hoped, ever so slightly, that Miles wouldn't respond in the words that he had almost grown used to hearing. The Therian's pale blue eyes shifted over to look at Miles, waiting for his answer.



"You shouldn't be up right now!" Gretta shouted at him. Val ignored her as he moved slowly through the camp. One arm was wrapped around his chest to help support the bandage that felt as if it were the only thing holding him together. Val was in search of Ahmeil, but the woman was no where to be found. None knew where she'd gone, that or the camp feared telling him where she'd gone off too.

"Leave me be, woman. I must find her."

"She's not here, Val! You need to rest! We've put all this work into bringing life back to you! Don't you dare throw it away!" Gretta's magic gathered around her and her speed was increased. The woman moved herself to be before Val and she put her hands on his chest, holding him back with the aid of her magic. Val glowered down at her.

"Then tell me where she is!"

"I don't know! She left this morning!"

"None of you thought to stop her?!" Val roared in response. Gretta pulled away slightly, fearful of her leader. However, it was only a second of fear that coursed through her and she glared back up at him, her temper matching his.

"She didn't tell anyone she was leaving and when I went to go find her, she was already gone! Don't you think I would have stopped her had I known?! Think, Val! You know me better than that! You know us all better than that!"

Val stopped, his breath ragged as he continued to glower at her. After a moment, he took a deep breath and released it in a heavy sigh. Turning away from Gretta, he seemed to release his anger all at once and was calm once again. His gaze shifted around the camp that they'd set up far to the west. The forest was serving them well with new resources and a large stream nearby for water. What was even better where the underground caves that opened up further into the forest. A few of the Therian's had gone to explore it and said that the tunnels went on for miles. Several ideas had come to mind once he'd been told of this, but none of them were to come true for some time yet.

Val had awoken in the camp two days ago, and he had been informed of just about everything that had happened between his being attacked and then being brought back to the camp. How he was still alive was both a miracle and a mystery. From what he could gather, Gretta and Ahmeil were the ones to be thanked for his still breathing. That was precisely why he was searching for Ahmeil because he knew her well enough to know that revenge would be the first thing on her mind.

"We have to find her. Or she'll do something stupid."

Gretta nodded, "I know. Go rest, I'll take care of everything else."

---

Miles Riverbend

---

"My condolences."

Broken out of his dark reverie by the austere tone, Miles started in surprise. Looking at the tall man besides him, the Beast slayer frowned at the therian’s appearance. Mirroring him, the man was soaking from head to foot, indicating he had been out in the rain for some time. Stray bands of hair clung to his pale, noble features, though most startling was the somber expression he wore on Miles’ behalf. Miles read apprehension amongst waves of other emotions, tightening the therian’s shoulders in a show of discomfort. If he had not known the man better, he could have mistakenly assumed Touya was simply fettered by the wet conditions.

“Cheers,” he responded, finding some small amusement at Touya’s introduction. Avoiding the question of why the therian was there for now, Miles shifted his gaze back to the grave stones as he replaced his officer’s cap, far from comforted.

"Do you know... who did it?" asked Touya, hesitant to broach the topic.

“Oh, some blonde haired demon with silver blades for arms,” chuckled the Beast Slayer despite the morbid turn in conversation. “Something easily dismissed as the ramblings of the clinically insane, but those were my sister’s final words. You and I both know what that means however. It means a hybrid, and it means Victor Hawthorn’s tinkering.”

The lack of usual robustness in Miles’ posture reflected his weariness. Though the Beast Slayer refused to be caught wanting, other details gave him away. A slight slouch in his back, a hollow glare, even his voice was noticeably somber and depleted of enthusiasm. “I never really liked my father,” Miles stated abruptly, “He was always a tyrant, anally retentive if you understand the term. Nonetheless, I admired his stubbornness. He was surprisingly honorable and was no doubt one of the few who staunchly resisted Victor. My sister however was only ten years old. She usually stays at the boarding school but was visiting the day of the attack. She knew nothing of hybrids or therians, and yet she died. I suspect that she wasn’t the first or last, and that this conflict will see much more tragedy before the end.”

Miles patted the therian’s shoulder and turned in the other direction before pausing. The man held his position, not caring to change it because something more immediate gave rise to greater concerns, something which caused chills to run down his spine. Eyes frozen on the thing in front of him, a slight twitch was the first indication of danger.

“I feel I should apologize in advance therian. I advise you not to turn around for your sake and that you run and inform Havoc what’s happening here. You’ll only regret what you see,” Miles murmured, sorrow creeping into his words. Addressing the strange new figure, Miles’ free arm reached for his blade, “Come to finish the job, have we?”

There was no reply, only a harsh wisp of air as blades folded out of mechanical compartments. Miles looked at the disheveled blonde woman with remorse, recognizing her for who she once. Head tilted, she regarded him vacantly, but infinitely more coldly, like a hunter gripped in the throes of lust. Gone without trace was the proud, prior defiance. Instead, Miles was haunted by the gruesome elegance of her supple figure.

Recalling the previous hybrid, his body tensed, jerking in reaction to ghastly assailant before him. Everything about her screamed dangerous and a tremble took over his fingers. Struggling to contain his shock, he breathed out, shuddering at the foot long swords that extended from her wrists. Fused to her elbows were mechanical gauntlets, the likes of which seemed more at home on a therian than human. Like the other one, an amalgamation of surgical scars ravaged her small form. The defilement of his own kind quite unmasked the Beast Slayer, the concept seeming more terrible than any monster he had previously combated.

Without warning she lunged forwards, impossibly swift to his eyes. Miles barely had time to push the therian to safety before grasping his hilt firmly between two hands.

“Have at thee!”

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

Reginald observed the mercenary training from a balcony overlooking the courtyard, stroking the edges of his stubbled chin. The man had a knack for blade work, gracefully and confidently controlling the edge of his weapon with each swing. But Reginald had always pondered why the mercenary ignored the more magical side of his nature. After witnessing Damea’s use of fire during the carriage ambush, he thought the man had great potential, even if the effects where slightly destructive.

Standing up, the medic shrugged and was about to return to his duties when somebody else greeted him.

“Reginald, how’s work so far?”

“Nothing conclusive as of yet,” Reginald said, stiffening slightly in reply to the effeminate tone. “Their security must be iron clad if we’ve found nothing thus far.”

“You almost sound like you’re admiring them,” mocked the woman in return.

“Just acknowledging their capabilities. One has to consider the entire picture after all,” Reginald replied defensively.

Her dark eyes glimmered with amusement as they roamed past Reginald to where Damea stood, “Oh? Isn’t he the one you paralyzed? Working together now are we?”

Reginald shifted his gaze back to Damea and put on a grimace, “Something like that. Not that he trusts me at the moment,” he said, “Actually, you could probably help him in certain regards. I was going to ask the mercenary about something myself but I’m not exactly in a position of good faith.”

She raised her eyebrows at him playfully, guessing the doctor’s intentions. “You want me to help with his training?”

“Not that I have the authority to order you around, but we could use all the assistance we can get,” Reginald reasoned. “More specifically, you could enquire why he doesn’t use his fire magic.”

Giving Reginald a crooked grin, she strode past and leaned over the balcony. Fiery red hair fell over the black uniform that lined her shoulders, anonymous like the rest of their organization. “Oi! Two eyes! Why don’t you use fire magic more often?” she yelled down obnoxiously.

“Oh, some blonde haired demon with silver blades for arms. Something easily dismissed as the ramblings of the clinically insane, but those were my sister’s final words. You and I both know what that means however. It means a hybrid, and it means Victor Hawthorn’s tinkering.”

The first thing that came to mind was a normal Therian and Touya winced outwardly. His lips pulled into a deep frown as he watched the procession below them. However, as Miles continued Touya was only partially relieved that it was a hybrid and not a full blooded Therian who had done the deed. Only then, his mind was whirling around the slight description, most notably the 'blonde hair'. Touya didn't say anything as Miles' stood next to him and after a moment of silence continued.

“I never really liked my father. He was always a tyrant, anally retentive if you understand the term. Nonetheless, I admired his stubbornness. He was surprisingly honorable and was no doubt one of the few who staunchly resisted Victor. My sister however was only ten years old. She usually stays at the boarding school but was visiting the day of the attack. She knew nothing of hybrids or therians, and yet she died. I suspect that she wasn’t the first or last, and that this conflict will see much more tragedy before the end.”

At the mention of the age of the girl, Touya felt his chest tighten further. He found it hard to breath and his somber look turned into one of shocked grief. His eyes lifted slightly to look out into the pouring rain and the burning he'd been fighting back won over and the start of tears built in the corners of his icy gaze. They fell down his face, mixing with the rain, cold and hot. Touya didn't know what to think then, he felt defeated. How could a child have to go through something that she didn't even know about or understand? It was the same for the Therian children too who had lost their lives. A soft touch on his shoulder was the only thing given to him from Miles, even that was surprising. Still, Touya didn't dwell on it, too grief stricken by the complications of the world to think on the simple gesture.

“I feel I should apologize in advance therian. I advise you not to turn around for your sake and that you run and inform Havoc was what’s happening here. You’ll only regret what you see. Come to finish the job, have we?”

Of course Touya couldn't just not turn around. It was almost pure instinct to turn to see what it was that Miles was referring to. However, the moment the tall Therian had looked over his shoulder he felt as if his heart had stopped and everything in the world had come to a stand still. There she was, standing stock still in the pouring raid. Her radiance was even more brilliant than ever, and he wondered why for a single moment. The answer was given to him as the sound of metal scrapping pierced the air. His eyes dropped to look at her arms. They were much like his own, the blades just slightly longer than his. The only difference was that instead of a smooth transition, the metal had been forced upon her body and there were signs of the surgery.

He turned around fully to face her, shocked at what he was seeing. He couldn't believe it, April had been taken away and made into one of those... hybrids. It was over, his fight to try to save both sides. He didn't know how he could keep going, especially with the terrible sight before him. Touya couldn't move, his mind never registered that April was actually there to kill Miles. He was rooted to the spot as he stared at her in utter disbelief. His mind had to be playing tricks on him. Had he been in his right state of mind he would of felt the threatening presence pouring from her every pour, but he couldn't. Lost to an internal battle, he hardly realized that she'd moved from her spot until Miles pushed him.

Only then did he come free from his haze to focus on what was going on. Miles shouted in response to her attack and he watched for a brief moment as the two fell onto each other. Touya's heart clenched tighter as he watched her try to kill Miles and Miles trying to defend himself. Without thinking, Touya let his blades slide forth and called his power to his body. If she were just like the last hybrid he dealt with, he could help her. He just had to keep her from attacking Miles who could harm her. Healing the damage done to her was no problem at all, he just hoped that his earlier theory was indeed correct. Lunging forward he wrapped his arm around April's tiny waist and pulled her away from Miles. With her back crushed against his chest, he figured he could keep her there fairly well without too much damage to her or himself.

Looking up to Miles with narrowed eyes that were still filled with tears, he returned the order that Miles had given him, "Go to Reginald. I can handle her," the Therian's magic glowed around him intensely. He was going to pour every last ounce of energy he'd gained while sleeping into her body to heal the surgery and hopefully transition the metal into her arms much like that of a Therian's. With any luck, she would return to herself. If she didn't... Touya didn't know what he would do. The golden light swirled around his hand that stretched out over her arm and closed his eyes to concentrate on the healing process.



Damea had taken to using one of the large empty rooms of the facility as a practice room. Over head there was a balcony, on the other side there was a room with large glass windows, but the blinds were never opened for him to see inside, and then there were the double doors that led into the room. There was nothing in there aside from some boxes and other things of storage, so the mercenary had dubbed it the perfect place to re-train himself. He felt that he'd lost touch with his training in both the Therian style of fighting and that which he'd taught himself so long ago.

Damea figured he needed to get his old talents back as well as refine the new one's he'd gained. He had a feeling he was going to need that old style before the end. The fire mage used to be a a very good fighter in hand to hand combat, mostly he was talented at striking his foe both with powerful kicks and then coming back at them with his blades almost simultaneously because of the speed he'd held. He'd lost that style of fighting during his stay with the Therian's. So fascinated was he that he practiced only the way of fighting that the Therian's did. Soon after, he'd nearly forgotten how to fight with the rest of his body.

The mercenary figured he looked foolish trying to redo his old style, the combination of using his body and tying it into the way the Therian's wielded their swords. However, he was determined to get it down and paid no heed to Reginald's gaze over head. He was beginning to work up a sweat as his body twisted around and around, his strikes growing faster and smoother as he went. Eventually he twisted his body into a kick that swung him around completely and as he came back down from the strike, his blades followed almost immediately after, striking the area of his imaginable enemy. He half startled himself when he completed the move, but what startled him more was the shout from over head.

“Oi! Two eyes! Why don’t you use fire magic more often?” The woman was leaning over the balcony, her brilliant red hair falling over her shoulder as she yelled at him. Damea nearly dropped his swords at the sudden intrusion and he glanced over his shoulder, every muscle tense in his body. After a moment he finally relaxed and turned fully to face the woman. She was actually quite pleasing to look at too, and Damea gave her a grin.

"Because it would make it more hot in here than it already is," he replied smoothly. Twisting his blades around in his hands, he sheathed them at his side and crossed his arms over his chest. Tilting his head off to the side, he nodded his head to her, "Why don't you come down here where we can talk better?"

---

Miles Riverbend

---

The moment the hybrid was set upon him, Miles was already on the back foot, his reflexes barely able to keep him from harm’s way. Faster, stronger and far more dreadful than anything he anticipated, her blades descended in a blistering flourish of vicious swipes. Their swords clashed in the downpour, releasing a thunderous clang as her momentous strength almost up lifted his footing. He would not acted the slightest bit surprised if their blows threw the rain aside. Such was the force of her strikes it was crippling his arms. Teeth gritting, Miles stumbled back after the fifth blow, slipping away in the wet mud.

Already a multitude of shallow cuts exposed his red skin to the clouds. Gasping for air, he teetered on the edge of his limits, clawing at the cracks of his mind to regain his composure. He was losing, a fact that battered against years of mental fortitude and threatened to overthrow all his experience. Fear coiled around his spine as he ducked the next swing that yearned for his head. Perhaps most frightening was the hybrid’s utter disregard for her own life, as though such inherent senses had been completely drained from her systems. Whatever the scientist had done to her, he did no wish to contemplate it.

“I will end you,” he hissed.

Something jerked against her dainty build, briefly counteracting whatever terrible aspect fueled her unstoppable movements. Surprised that Touya’s endeavor was successful, the paused offered a small space of reprieve as the heaving Beast Slayer re-collected his frayed nerves. Finally acknowledging the therian’s presence, her head lulled in a sickening fashion, the golden drape adjusting lazily to greet the man who held her in place. Suspended in air, April’s tender arms dangled feebly, as though firmly caught in the throes of gravity.

"Go to Reginald. I can handle her," cried the therian, his dazzling magic blooming around his body.

Miles saw tears in his eyes, and a wealth of anguish as the therian wrestled to contain his former companion. What other emotions ran beneath the surface? What words of unspoken hatred did the therian harbor? Returning his thoughts to his family, Miles issued a low growl of disapproval, “Are you suggesting I leave the murderer of my family alone with you?”

Clenched so tightly around the shaft of his sword that the whites of his knuckles showed, Miles raised the sword and leapt forwards, propelled by a tactical air blast. The glittering weapon scythed down, slicing droplets in its trajectory towards April. It bounced abruptly off a wrist blade, deflecting the dangerous edge away from the therian’s side.

“This better work,” commented the Beast Slayer as Touya’s erupting power flooded the viewing deck.

A high pitched scream stabbed the air, broken and dry, the sounds of pain given voice. Forced to recall all that had been done to her, the memories surged into April’s conscious, unbidden and all at once. The searing agony which followed subverted her form in a wave of convulsions, thrashing her limbs violently against Touya’s indomitable grip. Her chest pitched furiously, caught between junctures of ragged panting. Slowly, achingly, her desperate gestures of escape deadened, yielding to a soft whimper of exhaustion as April collapsed against his chest.

“Touya… I finally... found you…”

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

"Because it would make it more hot in here than it already is. Why don't you come down here where we can talk better?""

Abigail’s brown eyes glimmered with hints of amusement as she laughed down at the man beneath her. He was good looked, possessing a striking contrast between the mottled colors of his jacket and pale complexion. Messy, white locks fell over his brow where two opposing gems studied her in kind. “Where did you find this one Havoc? He’s quite the lecherous fellow,” she said, briefly addressing the medic.

Behind her, Reginald gave a dejected shrug, saying nothing to stifle her unbridled enthusiasm. “Just don’t hurt him like you do the others. Remember, we need him intact to be useful,” warned the medic, closing his eyes and shaking his head, “Should I prepare the fire extinguishers?”

“Mhmmm,” she mused, raking her gaze between them, “I’ll be the judge of that. And nah, I can handle it myself…”

“I’m fine thank you. I much prefer the view up here anyway,” Abigail winked playfully in response to Damea. Despite rejecting his offer, the woman fished for something within her pocket. Recovering a matchbox after a few moments of fidgeting, she tossed it over ledge, aiming it in his direction with a flick of her wrist. “My colleague here says you have potential, but I think you look like a simple street entertainer. How about this, you show me what you’re capable of and I let you lay one clean punch on Reginald here.”

Reginald balked, opening his mouth in wordless protest to her careless indifference.

Sorry for the double post!!! :( stupid computer

“Are you suggesting I leave the murderer of my family alone with you?”

Touya ignored the angry cry from Miles. He understood what the man wanted, but he wasn't going to let him just kill April either. She hadn't done those things willingly. Touya didn't care if Miles hated him for it, the man could take his anger out on the Therian if he so wished. However, he would not lay a hand on the woman in his arms. With his eyes shut he didn't know that Miles had lunged forward, but felt something jar both him and April. The man must have hit April's metal bracers, because Touya hadn't felt anything connect with his own.

“This better work,” Miles ground through the pouring rain. Touya huffed in response as his magic poured out of him. Slowly, he began to feel light headed as he worked to heal her. His eyes had opened once he felt the jarring impact, and the icy blue color was narrowed as he watched the man. However, his slight anger was pushed aside as he felt his body starting to give out from the excess energy loss.

It didn't help that April's body was twisting and jerking in his hold. Her voice was the most painful thing to hear. The screaming was devastating to Touya as he held her tightly, trying to keep her from hurting him and herself. It was some time before her body slowly relaxed in his hold and Touya stumbled backwards slightly. His back hit the wall of the observation deck where the two had been standing, the wood creaking behind him. The Therian slid down it slowly, with April leaning heavily into him. Her voice reached his ears, her soft voice tired and slow.

“Touya… I finally... found you…”

Touya leaned his head downwards, putting his face into her soaking hair. He sat there with her there for a long while, trying to regain his own energy after having spent so much of it on her. He was dizzy and felt sick to his stomach. Touya wasn't sure if she was still awake or not as he reached up and stroked her hair, his breath was hot against her hair, creating a bit of steam. There was a slight shaking that worked its way through his body, though he wasn't sure if that was because of the cold rain or because of his relief at having her with him again. He was willing to bet on the latter though, as cold didn't seem to bother him all that much.

"I've been looking for you too," he whispered to her, "I'm so happy that you're here," looking up to Miles he sighed, a release of tension was what it really was, "We should get going, she needs to be tended to. Reginald is the only one who can take care of her in this city. Anywhere else is too dangerous."



“I’m fine thank you. I much prefer the view up here anyway,” her voice held a teasing hit to it and Damea grinned at her in return. He liked this woman already, even more so as they continued to speak to each other.

His sharp gaze caught the woman tossing something down at him. Damea caught it deftly and looked at whatever it was she'd thrown at him. It was a box of matches and he turned his gaze back up towards the pretty woman, lifting an eyebrow. Now what exactly did she wish for him to do with that? Surely she didn't want him to start playing with his fire.

“My colleague here says you have potential, but I think you look like a simple street entertainer. How about this, you show me what you’re capable of and I let you lay one clean punch on Reginald here.”

"Street entertainer," Damea echoed back up to her, his lips twisting into a bigger grin as he watched her. Slowly he shifted his body and he put his hand on his hip as he played with the box of matches in the other. Yes, he did like this woman, especially with the offer she just presented to him.

"You're offer is... highly tempting," he cooed and flicked his gaze downwards at the tiny box he held, "So, all I have to do is show you what I can do, and then I get to take out all of my frustrations in a single punch on Reginald. My my, what will I ever do," he chuckled to himself, though the laugh held more of an evil tone to it than an amused one. Tossing the box up wards and catching it again he opened it and pulled a single stick free and eyed it carefully. At the back of his mind he wondered if this was truly a good idea, but then what could it hurt? Being free to strike Reginald as he'd been daydreaming over lately would be most satisfying. Of course... if that was is she even let him. She may be just tempting him.

Turning his eyes upwards he watched her for a while longer before giving a partial shrug. What could he lose? Not getting the opportunity to hit the doctor square in the jaw? Well, that was sure to happen at some point, so even if he couldn't after he showed the woman his fire magic all was still well. Reginald's time for punishment would come, all Damea had to do was be patient. So he struck the match against the box and watched the tiny flame come to life. Taking a deep breath he concentrated on the burning flame. The last thing he wanted to do was to burn down the entire institution. He let the fire burn down to his fingers and once it touched his skin, he manipulated it to cover his hand and slowly worked it up his arm to his shoulder. He stopped it there and pocketed the match box to ignite his other hand and arm.

Damea worked slowly, his breathing steady and rythmetic as he concentrated. Directing the flames downwards, Damea worked the fire outwards around his feet in a circular pattern. Soon, Reginald's flooring was nothing but fire symbols that curved their way along the floor. The mercenary would have worked the fire further but he felt something snap and he could immediately feel his control over it slipping from him and alarmingly quick. Damea's confidence fell rapidly and the fires began to spread more than he wanted them too, starting to lick up the walls and actually ignite things that he hand not intended to have up in flames. Grinding his teeth, Damea pushed himself to pull the fire back to him so that he could extinguish it. For the most part, he succeeded, but for the things that had already been lit on fire, he could do nothing for.

With his energy sapped from him by the shear amount of force it took to control his fire and bring it back to him, he dropped to one knee, his fist hitting the ground to keep him steady. Damea's chest heaved slightly as he finished putting out the last of his magical flames. Leaning over the knee of his other leg, he rested his arm atop it and took slow breaths to try to steady himself. After a moment he finally looked up at the beautiful red haired woman.

"This is why I don't use it," he huffed out wearily.

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

"Your offer is... highly tempting. So, all I have to do is show you what I can do, and then I get to take out all of my frustrations in a single punch on Reginald. My my, what will I ever do," Damea mused, his mismatched eyes sparkling over the matchbox like it were some irresistible desert. Of course it was, Agibail had orchestrated it so that the reward was at least mildly enticing. In response, Reginald shifted uncomfortably within his seat, disturbed by Damea’s sudden display of sadistic impulses. Fearing abuse, he felt the urge to sneak away but responsibility kept him nailed to ground. The last thing they needed was for the building to catch on fire.

“That’s right,” Abigail confirmed, tilting her head ever so slightly to assess the mercenary from a different angle, “I won’t stop you from hitting poor old Havoc here and all you have to do it put on a little light show. Sounds easy, right?”

Encouraged by her words, Damea, who had been juggling the flimsy matchbox in one hand, snatched the container from mid-air. Clasping the box in the valley between his thumb and index finger, he withdrew a single match and slapped the head across the striking strip. His efforts were rewarded with a tiny spark, a pin prick that flourished in front of his gaze, bathing the mercenary’s feature in gentle warmth.

For a moment, nothing peculiar happened. Reginald watched the anticlimactic course of the flame as it reached the end of the stick, expecting an outburst or something similar in conclusion. Instead, the blaze simply descended and then circumvented to engulf Damea’s finger. Wondering if the man was suicidal, Reginald stood up, drawing his seat back with a raucous screech of metal grating against stone. The doctor was halted before he could move, finding a hand had intervened in his movements. The hand belonged to Abigail, who continued to watch with budding enthusiasm.

“Settle down and enjoy the demonstration, corporal,” she murmured, not taking her hazel eyes away from the mercenary.

Looking back over the ledge, Reginald discovered much to his amazement that Damea was not being burnt. The mercenary was not even intimidated. Contrary to being cooked, Damea was almost like a conduit, catching on fire then allowing the flames to harmlessly pass over. Oxidizing air hissed as his fire grew in intensity, engulfing the length of one arm before jumping to the other. He moved, directing his focus downwards in an effort to spread the blaze over the polished veins and darkened swirls.

“He’s good,” Reginald whistled, eyes widening at the magical composition that artfully danced around Damea.

“No, he’s weak,” Abigail murmured.

The temperature swelled abruptly, rising up from the raging calligraphy. All notions of control were violently shredded as the flames erupted, stretching like wildfire to swallow the walls and decorations. Simmering against the surface of his skin, Reginald shielded his eyes on reflex.

“What’s going on?!” he yelled in alarm, shying away from the crackling flames. “Shouldn’t you do something about this?”

Caught in the center was Damea. Though unharmed, the mercenary was bent over and struggling with effort to contain the furious outburst. Sweat greased over his brow, exuding raw beads of aspiration as the blaze slowly recoiled.

"This is why I don't use it."

Extending her arms out, Abigail pinched her fingers together. The air around the still burning ornaments sucked in, vanquished by an intangible vacuum that snuffed out the remaining fires. “You lack control, endurance, finesse. Expanding the flames is simple in the right environment. Child's play. You need to start over and banish your fear. Why don’t you try toasting bread without burning it?” Abigail mocked, “There. Is that sufficient advice?”

Frowning at the abysmal state of the room, Reginald nodded in response. “Yes, that should suffice thank yo-”

Someone barreled through the double doors, slamming the gilded fins aside with the force of a battering ram. Smacking against the marble colonnade, Reginald winced at the surprising interruption. Miles appeared in the entrance, looking paler than ever as his chest heaved with anxiety. Water dripped from the man’s clothes, leaving a dirty puddle in the wake of his footsteps.

“We found….April…” he stammered.

Reginald leapt down the staircase, three steps at a time. Swiftly the medic raced to the Beast Slayer, grateful for the distraction almost. He greeted the man, only to find his steps faltering completely upon spotting the sorry creature cradled between Touya’s arms. The medic released a sharp intake of breath, absorbing the shocking image of April’s new form. Also drenched to the bone, Touya’s visage was a mixture of weary torment as he met the doctor. Reginald froze, unable to even comprehend the extent of the woman’s injuries. The most flagrant change belonged to her arms, a mangled fusion of flesh and steel. Understanding the situation, Reginald shook himself into action and called down the hallway.

“Get me a bed here!”

Approaching the therian, Reginald coerced Touya into lying his patient down. His fingers felt for a pulse, lightly pressing under the slant of her jaw. The touch was cold, almost frighteningly so. Evidence indicating she had been operated on became ever more obvious the closer he looked, severing her soft flesh with vivid scars. Was she a hybrid? What else had been altered? What forbidden fruits could he unearth if he dissected her? These questions and more raced through the medic’s mind as he performed a multitude of other checks. Promptly, a bed came trundling down the corridor, wheeled in by Reginald’s adjutant.

“We need to take her in immediately,” he told Touya, “I don’t even know where to begin or if she’s still even human. Wait around here until we summon you.”

“You lack control, endurance, finesse. Expanding the flames is simple in the right environment. Child's play. You need to start over and banish your fear. Why don’t you try toasting bread without burning it?”

Damea huffed the air in and out of his lungs as he knelt there. His gaze shifted upwards and he frowned at the woman. Control he knew he lacked in, but how did he lack endurance and finesse? How was he supposed to control his flames via that? Was he fearful? Probably. The moment he lost control he was fearful. Damea didn't say anything and lowered his gaze, staring at the floor that was scorched slightly from his loss of control over the power he wielded.

When she said to try toasting bread, he flinched as he took it as an insult. He was about to give her a sharp retort but stopped himself as he thought about it. He laughed then, a slight chuckle that vibrated his shoulders and chest. Of course he would have to start small, no matter what it was. It was the control he needed, nothing more. The mercenary had the fire already, he had the power right there. All that needed to be done was to control it. With the control... well, Damea could do just about anything he wanted with it.

"Toasting bread, hu? Well, if I master that what would you have me do next?" He asked, but her attention was elsewhere and right when he finished he heard a shout from the other side that rang up through the observation deck where she was standing. Reginald had turned away and in the next instant disappeared from sight. Damea, now curious and alarmed, stood up quickly and rushed for the double doors in the room he was in. Bursting from the room, he made his way down the hall, took a right and was met by an awful sight.

Miles was standing in the doorway at the end of the hall talking to Reginald, and behind him was a ragged looking Therian with a woman in his arms. Damea sprinted down the corridor and watched as the doctor convinced Touya to release April's form. He felt fear clenching his chest as he watched her being laid upon the bed. Touya looked utterly exhausted as the Therian leaned against the doorway, his gaze locked on April the entire time. Miles looked just as drenched as Touya did and the sound of pouring rain could be heard passed the doorway that was still held open by the tall Therian.

“We need to take her in immediately. I don’t even know where to begin or if she’s still even human. Wait around here until we summon you,” Reginald said to Touya. The Therian lunged forward, stumbling slightly. His hands gripped the edge of the bed and he glowered at the doctor.

"I can heal her," he forced out, the words were clipped and showing his weariness. The fire mage rushed forward and put his arms around Touya's chest, holding him up as the Therian looked ready to fall over right there. The heavy weight of the tall man was enough to make Damea grunt with effort. He hadn't realized how heavy the man really was. The mercenary pulled Touya away from the bed as the group was trying to get her ushered to another room so that Reginald could help her.

"Let him do what he's good at, Touya," Damea uttered, hoping to get through to the man.

"I'm not... done. I can heal her," he continued and struggled against Damea's hold, pushing and pulling and when he was freed from the mercenaries grasp, he stumbled forward before falling to the ground on his hands and knees. Damea knelt down next to him and touched his shoulder.

"You've done enough, there isn't anything else you can do. Regain your strength and then you can offer your assistance. For right now, just let him take her."

"I don't trust him!" Touya snapped back.

"Neither do I! But right now he's her only hope at pulling through! Who knows what's been done to her! It could be more than what you're healing ability can handle, Touya! If you wish, I can watch over him until he's done with her?"

Touya was silent for some time before he nodded to the fire mage, "Fine. You're the only one I can truly trust here. Watch him carefully. If he does anything suspicious, don't hesitate," Touya warned grabbing Damea's shoulder and looking at him steadily.

"Don't worry," Damea grinned, "I'll burn this whole place to the ground before I let him hurt her anymore," with that said, the mercenary got to his feet and left the Therian kneeling in the hallway. He followed after the doctor and his helpers, intent on keeping a close eye on his movements.

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

The bed shivered with the force of his dive, wracked to the core by Touya’s superior strength. "I can heal her," panted the therian, directing his scowl towards Reginald. Silver eyes narrowed unyieldingly, boiling with distrust at the doctor. He shrugged of the threat, not in the least bit surprised. Touya was desperate not to lose sight of April again so soon after her recovery, but both of them knew he was out of options. Regardless of whether he believed in Reginald or not, he would submit to the doctor.

“Don’t be shrewd. Her body is in shock. If you try to heal her now, she could end up dead like the last hybrid. I’m not sure she’s even still alive,” Reginald snapped, “If you could have healed her then you wouldn’t have brought her here. Fact is, you can’t, and neither can you bring her anywhere else. Your faceless don’t possess the medical knowledge or facilities to help her and who else can you trust?”

Fortunately, Damea intervened directly, physically wrestling the therian away from the stretcher before further damage could occur. "Let him do what he's good at, Touya," begged the mercenary. Abigail was gone, the fiery red head vanishing midst the hectic chaos. Miles on the other hand stepped forwards to assist the therian, taken aback by his temper.

“Damea’s right, you need to rest first,” he reasoned.

Whilst Damea bargained with the struggling therian, Reginald nodded to leave, indicating it was imperative they reached the emergency rooms. On the verge of running, they started again, adopting a swift pace. Boots clapped through the corridors, accompanied by the squeaky wheeling of a metal gurney. Damea rejoined them shortly afterwards, observant like a guard dog.

“She’s unconscious. Judging from the surgical cuts along her abdomen there are likely internal injuries,” Hans diagnosed, slightly horrified at what he was seeing. April was like a Frankenstein project brought to life, though the reality was simultaneously macabre and elegant.

“I guess you want watch?” Reginald mused, “I won’t say no, but you need to suit up and wash up.”

Turning left, Reginald’s adjutant led the way and kicked aside the next set of double doors. Inside was the operating room, and a multitude of basic medical machinery. Reginald wasted no time in dressing as his assistant occupied himself with the necessary preparations. Re-emerging with a surgical gown, Reginald strode over and gestured for his scalpel.

“Let’s begin.”

---

“She’s resting for the moment,” Reginald said, visibly debating how much information he should divulge. The medic glanced over in Touya’s direction, constantly gauging the therian’s reaction. There was no telling how Touya would respond to the atrocities committed to April should he tell the truth. A random outburst could get them all killed. Reginald had considered bringing a magic inhibitor for precautionary measures, until he realized that Touya was perfectly capable of dispatching them without magic. They had been summoned to the dark meeting room after six hours of intensive care. Four figures waited expectantly for his report, Touya, Damea, Abigail and Miles. Reginald had left April in the capable hands of his aid, Hans, in the mean time.

“To be honest, this is far above my qualifications or anything I’ve seen previously. I’m not sure if we could even call this science,” he began.

“Playing god then?” Miles jokingly responded. The Beast Slayer was leaned as far back as possible in his seat and mimicked a smirk.

“That’s an excellent way to put it. From what we can tell so far, her body is suffering. It just can’t adapt to the extensive…modifications, and there are many…” the medic said, sighing with growing discomfort. The graphic image of her violated anatomy was still raw in his mind as he decided to tell them everything. “Her arms from the elbow down are entirely mechanical. It’s likely she’s lost all ability to feel despite possessing full locomotive control. The long scar that stretches across her back suggests her spine has also been tampered with, but I dare not investigate for fear of permanent paralysis. Additionally there are a multitude of pre-meditated incisions.”

Those were only the beginning of his concerns, “There are other issues of course. Dehydration, malnourishment, the mental trauma specifically,” Reginald paused, looking sharply towards Touya, “Until she awakens, there’s no telling if the hybrid, if April or if something else is in control. I’m willing to bet the former given they’re clearly brainwashing these people. So, for the sake of everyone, we’ve restrained her.”

“This is a rare opportunity. Did you find a way to defeat the hybrids?” Abigail asked, discourteously shirking the topic of April’s well being, “Did you have a chance to dissect her?”

“Unfortunately I was under surveillance,” Reginald replied, risking the therian's wrath, “Otherwise I would've investigated further. Given the potential for learning about the facilities whereabouts, I advise we simply keep her sedated. We might gain valuable insight into the hybridization process if we can question her.”

He had been waiting for six hours, during that time he'd hardly been able to stay still. Touya was sure that he'd probably driven Miles crazy with his constant pacing in the small room that he'd been escorted to. The Therian hadn't gotten any rest what-so-ever during that entire time. If anything he was probably for more exhausted than what he had started with. Though he had regained some of his magical energy during that time. Once they had been called into the room, Damea looked weary and a little bit on the nauseated side as well. Perhaps the man didn't do well with surgeries of the kind that Reginald had performed.

Whatever it was, the poor mercenary was paler than usual. They all filed into the room, an extra person among them as well. Touya barely gave the woman any attention since she'd stepped in. He was more concerned about what Reginald had to say about the situation. He listened intently, noting how the doctor seemed hesitant slightly to speak. Touya's icy gaze narrowed at him, urging him to speak truthfully and fully. The Therian was still angry about what Reginald had told him earlier in the hallway, how he couldn't heal her. Basically what Reginald did was tell him that he was useless to April no matter what. Not something that sat lightly with Touya.

He listened to the report intently, his hands clenching tightly beneath the table as they rested against his thighs. Damea sat next to him, leaned forward with his head propped up between his hands. His eyes were half glazed over with his weariness. It was hard for Touya to listen to everything that had been done to April and eventually, part way through the explanation, his eyes had closed tightly and his teeth were ground together. In his mind he was blaming Reginald for everything that happened, had the man not made her and Damea sick, had he not turned on them at the last minute, this would not have happened to her. None of it.

“There are other issues of course. Dehydration, malnourishment, the mental trauma specifically. Until she awakens, there’s no telling if the hybrid, if April or if something else is in control. I’m willing to bet the former given they’re clearly brainwashing these people. So, for the sake of everyone, we’ve restrained her.”

Reginald's gaze had shifted to look sharply at Touya, who returned his hard stare with the same amount of intensity, if not more. Touya didn't move though, only sat stone still as he listened to him. However, that was not the case inside his mind and body. Every muscle yelled at him to leave the dark room and run to find her. Every thought was based around his healing her and bringing her back to how she was before. He wanted to pour every ounce of his own energy into her body to bring her back. The Therian didn't care if it killed him in the process, so long as she was alive and well again, that would be just fine for him.

“This is a rare opportunity. Did you find a way to defeat the hybrids? Did you have a chance to dissect her?” The woman asked suddenly. She had been quiet thus far, but her words were without remorse or consideration and Touya felt his heart stop as he turned to regard her. His eyes had widened slightly in utter horror at what she'd said, the mere thought of it was sickening. His hands shook as he struggled to keep himself contained.

“Unfortunately I was under surveillance. Otherwise I would've investigated further. Given the potential for learning about the facilities whereabouts, I advise we simply keep her sedated. We might gain valuable insight into the hybridization process if we can question her.”

Touya stood up abruptly, the chair he'd been in tumbled backwards from the force he'd exerted upon it. His power glowed around his body as he glared at both Reginald and the woman. The metal in his arms came forth, sliding into place and creating a nice ring in the air. The claws along his hands also extended and they dug into the table as he slammed his hands down upon the wood, Damea was also standing now as well, his dark gaze directed towards Reginald too.

"Harm her in anyway, and I'll kill everyone here," Touya growled, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked directly at Reginald. Damea glanced over to him and touched his arm gently.

"Perhaps not everyone," he stated softly, then turned his mismatched eyes upon Reginald, "But you definitely."

Touya shook uncontrollably as he stood there, his power snaking around his body as he struggled to keep it from lashing out and killing the two before him that had suggested such a sickening thing. His teeth ground together and he let out a low growl of anger, "I trust you even less now. I will take her and go to my people. You think we cannot help her?! You're mistaken!"

"Touya, think rationally now," Damea whispered next to him. The Therian ignored him, how was he supposed to think rationally when they calmly talked about cutting up April just so that they could see what was done to her? Wasn't it bad enough that she'd been cut apart already? He could feel dark hatred welling at the back of his throat as he glowered at the people in the room. How could he trust any of them with something that he cared about most? How had things come to this to begin with?

Touya brushed passed Damea and headed for the door. His intentions were clear, he was going to go after April and once he found her in the institution, he would take her with him to his people. The humans had tried to make her into a Therian, and so none other than Therian's knew the technology best. They could heal her, they could fix her and smooth out the transition she'd made between human and Therian.

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

Both men drew back defensively as Touya’s fists slammed into the table, putting a slight dent in it. The furniture clattered from violent abuse, reverberating tremors into the floors and walls where it almost threatened to topple the building. Miles’ fingers closed around the hilt of his sword on reflex whilst Reginald stepped back, inadvertently stunned by the fiery tantrum. The temperature in the room dropped cold as the therian’s claws shot forth and impaled the wood beneath his hands. Reginald gulped, attacked by a wave of chills as Touya’s smoldering orbs locked onto him. Even in the low light of the meeting room the gesture was visible. It was a blatant warning that their lives were all in imminent danger.

"Harm her in anyway, and I'll kill everyone here," Touya hissed aloud, filling the room with murderous intent. Jaw clenched in an ugly visage of death, the therian was shaking with uncontrollable fury.

"Perhaps not everyone," Damea said, joining the therian in righteous defiance. Quickly, Reginald found he was the subject of two opposing gems as Damea also regarded him angrily, "But you definitely."

An utterly agonizing silence passed between the gathered companions. They were practically on the verge of open hostilities when the Beast Slayer first broke the peace.

“You guys sure know exactly what to say to piss someone off,” Miles commented, sarcastically chiding the nature of their ruthless discussion. The Beast Slayer grinned nervously, watching, waiting to see how the conflict evolved. What the therian did next would determine his reaction. All the while Abigail had remained unnervingly silent, casually propping her chin up against her knuckles. The mysterious woman seemed fully content to let Reginald extinguish the flames caused by her suggestion.

“I was joking faceless, though I can’t earnestly say the same for my colleague. That said, there’s a difference between thought and putting into action. I would never willingly harm Miss Rosevolt more than I already have,” Reginald replied calmly, a baseless attempt to console the therian, “There are some lines which just shouldn’t be crossed. Why else oppose the hybrid project when it would be so much easier to let them win?”

"I trust you even less now. I will take her and go to my people. You think we cannot help her?! You're mistaken!" Touya spoke, anger turning to pain and sorrow as his blades snapped free. His voice had escalated through the course of his rebuke, and Reginald’s eyebrows followed its ascent. Despairing, the therian protected April as if she was his mutual lifeline. He was prepared to leave, taking her with him to empire knows where in the wilderness. Reginald had barely considered the relationship between Touya and April prior to then. Had it extended past the racial parameters of therian and human? Was there something else?

"Touya, think rationally now," Damea advised, showing clear concern for his friend. Even the mercenary was surprised by Touya’s sudden irrationality, the likes of which could be compared to his earlier self-destructive behavior.

“Then she’ll suffer more,” Reginald stated with gravity, working to stamp out the immediate fear of disembowelment. “The last I was aware, your people were nomads. They don’t possess the technology or ability to help her. Miss Rosevolt is unstable. Are you willing to risk her life by travelling?”

In no mood listen to either of their arguments, Touya strode past Damea and Reginald, heading straight to the door.

“Oh look, you’ve made him angry now,” Abigail said dismissively as Touya stormed out of the room. There was ample opportunity to stop the therian, yet she made no attempt to do so. Unlike the medic, the woman did not appear the slightest bit fazed by his outburst. Reaching for a mug of water, the moment left a sour after taste in Reginald's mouth however.

"Me?! You're the one who proposed something as rude as dissection!" Reginald huffed, incapable of deciphering her thoughts, "It almost sounds like you wanted him angry."

"But don't you think they make such a cute couple?" Abigail exclaimed, giddy from her imaginations. "Plus, don't act like you weren't already thinking it. With the way that therian is, I think they could use the break."

Reginald shot her an incredulous look. "I can't believe for such a reason...." he echoed in disbelief.

“You’re just going to let him walk out?” Miles asked, growing agitated at the complete lack of action being exhibited by the duo.

“We did technically say he’s free to go,” Reginald responded, giving a helpless shrug, “Besides, what exactly do you expect us to do? Restrain a faceless? It’s not like conventional handcuffs can stop them. He could tear down the walls if he wanted.”

The medic moved over and took the chance to reclaim a seat, still exhausted from six hours of straight operating. Abigail turned to Damea in the absence of more compelling material, aligning her dark eyes with his.

“What will you do now? We won’t prevent you from leaving if you wish,” she pondered, her musical voice unfettered by obligation, “But do beware; Altheim is firmly under Victor's control. Once you exit those doors, you're on your own.”

“Oh look, you’ve made him angry now,” The fiery red head commented as she sat in her chair seemingly un-fazed by the event.

"Me?! You're the one who proposed something as rude as dissection! It almost sounds like you wanted him angry," Reginald retorted. Damea looked between the two, his own anger almost matching that of Touya's.

"But don't you think they make such a cute couple? Plus, don't act like you weren't already thinking it. With the way that therian is, I think they could use the break."

Damea lifted an eyebrow as he looked at her, "You are just... sick," he commented, his voice thick with distaste.

"I can't believe for such a reason...." Reginald remarked as he sat down at the table again.

“You’re just going to let him walk out?” Miles asked, warranting Damea's attention. The fire mage glanced over to the man and shook his head. Things had escalated too quickly and it was all thanks to the woman named Abigail. Why had she said that? Surely it wasn't because she believed that Touya and April needed a 'break'. If anything she'd made things worse, not better.

“We did technically say he’s free to go. Besides, what exactly do you expect us to do? Restrain a faceless? It’s not like conventional handcuffs can stop them. He could tear down the walls if he wanted,” Reginald replied to Miles' question. Damea gave a short laugh of disbelief. The doctor was absolutely right, there was no way they could restrain him now. Especially since he was entirely in rage-mode, thanks to a certain someone.

“What will you do now? We won’t prevent you from leaving if you wish. But do beware; Altheim is firmly under Victor's control. Once you exit those doors, you're on your own,” Abigail said, addressing the mercenary.

Damea glowered at her in return, "Yes, because I wasn't fully aware of that point," the fire mage commented sarcastically, "First off I'm going to go see to it that Touya doesn't go on a bloody rampage, and try to talk him down from this none-sense that you've put him in. You know, I thought that you were a fairly beautiful woman who might have struck my fancy, but now I see you're just a sadistic bitch."

Damea left the room without another word and made his way quickly down the hall to find Touya. It didn't take him long as he was absolutely sure where the Therian had gone off too. Once he opened the doors to the room where April had been stationed, he found the tall man kneeling over the bed, with his hands curled in hers and his head upon the cushion of the mattress. Damea stood there for sometime, allowing Touya his moment with April before he moved. The Therian looked so troubled and he felt a pang of guilt in his chest as he observed the man.

"I figured you wouldn't go anywhere with her," Damea commented.

"I don't have much choice. If I want her to survive she needs to stay here. I cannot take her to my people, not yet anyway. We may lack the resources to fix her, but we do not lack the knowledge."

"Now your talking."

Touya looked up and over his shoulder to regard Damea with an eyebrow raised, "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. You're talking about how your people do not lack the knowledge of this type of technology. I know Reginald is good in what he does, but don't you think that a technician of your own kind would be better in helping to have her recover?"

"What would you have me do? Score the lands in the hope that we might find a tribe willing enough to come into a human city?"

"Well... that was a thought," Damea responded, his eyes looking upwards towards the ceiling in contemplation. He had a bit of a grin on his face as he stood there. After a moment, the mercenary crossed his arms over his chest and looked back to regard Touya, "It's the only thought I had to be honest."

Touya rolled his eyes and turned back to the bed to look at April's still form, "I don't suppose you have anything else to offer besides that."

"Nope."

"Damn mercenary."

"Stubborn ass Therian."

Touya glanced back towards Damea and eyed him for a moment before a bit of a smile curved his lips and he chuckled softly as he turned back around. The Therian stayed on the floor for some time before he stood up with a sigh. Turning around he looked at Damea with a bit of that old determination that the fire mage was used to seeing. Damea's lips pulled into a grin as his head bowed forward but his eyes were still locked on Touya, giving him a rather chilling look.

"Lets go see what Reginald would think of this."

"I say we wait a bit, Touya," the fire mage said and quickly continued as he saw the look on the Therian's face darken, "You're tired and need rest. I'm tired too. Plus, I've been given the tedious task of refining my fire magic. Not that that's really important, but I would like to have a bit more control than what I have right now. So, with that in mind, lets go find something to eat around here and think this plan through. If we go and tell Reginald 'lets go find a Therian' and we don't have a proper plan, he'll shoot to the ground. Not that he can stop us, but I'd rather not be left on our own against an entire country controlled by a mad man. Deal?"

Touya eyed him carefully before he released a deep breath and nodded in return, "Deal."

"Glad to see we are on the same page!" Damea clapped the taller man on his shoulder and turned to head for the door, "Now, lets go eat something, I'm starving."

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

April did not wake up the next day or the day after that. It was the fourth night when Reginald arrived to perform his routine check-up. Easing the door open, he peered into the quiet space. Antiseptics revealed themselves in the form of acrid fumes, permeating through the recent breach. Noting the utter absence of change, he stepped forwards and flicked a switch. In reaction, the lights hummed to life, flooding the immediate vicinity with luminescence as energy was pumped through cables. His gaze hovered to the gurney that was now occupied by a sleeping beauty, face-up and peaceful.

“Hans,” Reginald motioned his assistant forwards with a nod. Nothing more was needed to be said as they had carried out the exact same duties uncountable times already.

“Yes sir.”

The owlish nurse strode forth and was soon absorbed by his investigations. Reginald watched from afar, attentively monitoring their patient’s condition. April looked as much as a prisoner as she did a client. The hybrid was currently restrained in a similar fashion to Touya, with metal bonds tied around her arms and legs. Two watch guards maintained a constant eye out for signs of activity, treacherous or not. They kept her sedated with pain killers, inducing daily injections into her blood stream.

Reginald was still surprised that the therian decided against abducting her in the end. He seemed determined to liberate her, or at the very least separate ties from their organization. What exactly changed in the end? Was it really just the tantrum subsiding? Shaking his head, the medic released a deep sigh and returned his mind to more immediate issues.

Recent events in Altheim had only escalated the tension between humans and therians. The city was ripe to explode and Reginald was certain Victor was doing everything in his power to fracture the already delicate harmony. Most notable was a recent bill prohibiting therians from passing into the city. Isolation led to delusion, delusion led to suspicion. Without the Riverbends to represent strong public opposition, things had become grim. Victor was molding the population, feeding them biased propaganda to fuel the fires of their hatred. In the mean time, Reginald and his people had yet to even discover the hybrid facilities. They could only watch in helpless dismay as their world turned upside down.

“How is she?” Reginald asked.

Hans was bent over a heart monitor, using his fingers to twist a series of dials in adjustment. The device was rudimentary and possessed a speaker for monitoring. Glancing up from his work, Hans gave the man the same look of apprehension he gave every time they performed an examination, the same look of constant uncertainty.

“Holding together. Empire only knows how,” replied the adjutant. Only a few days ago her status was critical. There were so many variables and unknown factors that Reginald had to improvise. Not much of an issue normally for one used to working with the bare minimum in warzones, but saving a modified human was beyond rationality. The real question remained of her mental state. “Her breathing is slightly erratic. We could examine her further if a certain therian allowed it…”

“The faceless will be who he is. Our job is to keep her alive,” Reginald returned.

Twenty minutes elapsed before the completion of their task. As the prospect of progression faded the duo setup and prepared to leave. Once again he flicked the switch, incurring the opposite lighting effect as they closed the door behind them.

April’s eyes peeled open in the dark, feeling the emptiness that accompanied hunger. The sun had long since set under the horizon, painting the room with gaping shadows. Cardiac beeps accompanied the confusion that settled in to her smooth, honeycombed features. She felt numb and exhausted, as though every fiber within her body had been torn then clumsily reconstructed. Despite what her mind told her, April would have been more than happy to fall asleep in the foreign bed.

She drew in a quick breath that dragged over her chest, hitching it painfully. Growing accustomed to the darkness, a faint tingling registered to her entire body. Well, almost her entire body. She stretched out her fingers, prying the cold void for answers. Nothing.

---

The door burst open dramatically, throwing from its hinges with the force of a battering ram. It splintered in a dozen places, spraying debris over the corridor. Reginald and his assistant leapt back in shock, staring at the vacant space where the door should have been. Shouts filled the air as several guardsmen approached from the opposite direction, converging on the disaster zone. April appeared between them, faster than the human eye could follow. She flew into the wall, hair fluttering and blades drawn. In the brief second she paused to assess her surroundings, feverish blue eyes glared back at him.

“Get the faceless!” Reginald yelled.

"Faceless!" A soldier yelled from the doorway. Touya glowered at the man who had burst into the room. Damea and the Therian had been sitting in the dining room, the Therian was eating while the mercenary was concentrating on toasting a piece of bread with his fire. It was his fifth piece of bread, the others had gone up in flames and turned into nothing but black ash.

"The hybrid, she's awoken and she's tearing apart the place!"

Touya needed no other urging. He was on his feet and rushing towards the door almost before the soldier finished speaking. Behind him the fire mage followed closely, forgetting his exercise completely. It had been four days since Touya's out burst towards Reginald and the woman's suggestion of cutting April open to learn more about the hybrid process.

As he rushed down the hallway he heard the sounds of crashing as something or someone was making a huge ruckus. Touya came upon the scene soon enough and spotted April looking wild and confused as she had slammed into a wall. Dust covered her as she glowered at the people who surrounded her. Touya pushed passed two of the guards and made his presence apparent to her. He opened his arms to show that he was unarmed and watched her carefully.

"April," he called to her softly, hoping for all there was that she was indeed herself and not being controlled.

Her entire body snapped to his presence the moment he manifested, jerking like rag doll. April had become a keening ghost. A trembling, reinforced shape that had once been a woman. She released a shriek of tortured air and swept towards Touya, transforming into a moving blotch of corrupted yellow, and went straight for the therian. Her blades were outstretched, aiming hungrily for the jugular.

Touya startled as April lunged at him, her arm blades fully extended and swiping right for his throat. He stepped backwards quickly, narrowly avoiding the first swing of her deadly weapons. The second swing he had to block with his hand, swinging upwards and underneath her forearm to direct her attack elsewhere. Twisting that hand around he gripped her arm tightly, with the other hand he snatched her other arm and held tightly. He wasn't about to let her go on a rampage.

"April!" He shouted at her. Holding her, he could feel her strength, a strength that matched a Therian's. Her alterations caused him grief as he stood there, eyes locked on hers. What was he supposed to do now? Was she lost to him completely? Touya shook his head, that wasn't something he was about to let happen, not yet.

His body glowed as he pulled the energy into him. He would try healing her again. It had seemed to bring her back to her senses before, perhaps he would be more successful this time. The golden light swirled all around him and he pushed it forth to wrap around her smaller frame as well.

The golden magic wrapped around her, engulfing her tender arms then body with remedial light. April writhed all the while, fighting Touya's momentous grip. At first nothing seemed to happen, at least nothing on the scale of their previous encounter. Abruptly, April vomited black blood, spraying the viscous liquid across the floor and therian.

Quite the opposite of positive, Touya's healing abilities was restoring her body to its normal condition. That meant depriving her system of Reginald's vital nerve inhibitors. Without any form of pain relief, April keeled over, agony marring her features. Leaping up, she delivered a crushing headbutt, desperate to break free from the therian's hold. The force of her blow sent them tumbling backwards, April ending up on top of the therian. Every artery, every airway in her constricted as she glared down at him, panting.

A cold blade pressed against the side of his neck. Fear clouded her eyes as April began to speak. Her voice was dry, neglected from days of abuse.

"Tell me something only Touya would know," she hissed.

First was her spitting up black liquid that covered him and the floor beneath them, then she came up at him, her head connecting with his. They reeled backwards and Touya lost his footing. Hitting the floor, April straddled him and he had lost his grip on her arms. Cold steel pressed against his neck and the Therian went still.

His eyes were locked on hers as she glared at him, though it wasn't anger that resided in her beautiful orbs, its was fear. He arched an eyebrow at her as he lay there, stone still. Her question struck him as odd at first, but then maybe it was because of what she'd been through. Something that he was curious, but at the same time, might not want to know about.

"Sheree repaired my armor and hands when I was injured, and you were adored by the children at the camp," Touya answered. It had taken him a moment to think of something, but the only time that he and April had been alone really was during that time at the camp right before things went to hell. Otherwise there wasn't much worth mentioning that Reginald wouldn't know as well.

April pressed the blade tighter still, narrowing her eyes at the therian. They studied him warily, seeking, exploring, searching his figure for validation. Noticing the faded scar tissue centered within his palms, the tension gradually receded from her small shoulders. As the suspicions faded, April fell back with a deep sigh, crumbling sideways against the wall.

"I'm so sorry...Touya," she breathed, the storm passing as abruptly as it had appeared. Shamefully, she crawled off the therian and stood up, using the wall to support her trembling legs. Her blades sank back with a hiss, vanishing into the underside of her wrists, but the guardsmen kept their weapons armed and pointed.

Reginald and Hans circled the duo, confusion wrapped around their minds. They waited on Touya's signal to act, unable to gauge the situation.

"That bad huh?" she murmured, noticing their horrified expressions. "I don't suppose there's a more hospitable room to rest in?"

Touya stood up as she went to the wall and got to her feet as well. The Therian was shaking his head at her as she apologized to him. There was nothing to apologize for in his mind. It wasn't her fault she was the way she was right then, to him it was Reginald's fault only. To this, the tall Therian shot a cold look over to the doctor before moving closer to April.

"You're still April," Touya told her, his arms reaching out slowly to wrap around her, pulling her close against him, "Right now this is the only place where we can safely be. Victor has all of Artamus under his control and right now there isn't much we can do about it. Trust me, I don't plan on staying here for long," he whispered all of that to her as he leaned into her hair, his lips just barely brushing her ear.

Leaning down further, he put his arm under her knees and lifted her up into his arms easily. Turning he faced the group, "Reginald, you should probably take a look at what she just spit up," his eyes lowered to the black pool of liquid on the floor that he knew also covered him, "No more sedation," he added. Turning to the assistant, he gestured to the hallway, "Where should I put her?"

---

April Rosevolt

---

Reginald’s blank visage received the therian’s accusing glare, responding with typical indifference. Instead of talking he simply waved to the accompanying guardsmen, gesturing the men to lower their weapons. "You're still April," Touya assured, embracing her ravaged form.

Touya reached out to hug her, his arms easily extending over the width of her back. Surprisingly, April did not pull away, even as her exhausted mind screamed at her. He was a different race; she was empire-knows-what. He might even be collaborating with Reginald. It felt wrong to depend on a therian, but her heart felt an aching need to be comforted by this man. Leaning in, the left side of her cheek felt pleasantly warm against the bulk of his chest. Abruptly, his lips brushed over the edge of her ear, "Right now this is the only place where we can safely be. Victor has all of Artamus under his control and right now there isn't much we can do about it. Trust me, I don't plan on staying here for long."

Her blue orbs widened in shock, showing distress at the untimely announcement. How much time had elapsed since they last conversed? How did he gain control? Was Victor related to the experiments on her? The cobwebs faded, replaced by a cold thrill of fear as she diffused the information. April was about to press him for further answers but Touya bent down, sweeping the hybrid from her feet.

Had the numbing pain not persisted, April would have likely protested. He lifted her gently, taking judicious precautions not to hurt her. She was fine china, and Touya was apparently determined to see her safe. At as loss for words, her lips drew together in the form of a pout as April could do nothing more but ease into his powerful hold. “Drop me and a head butt won’t be the only thing coming for you,” she muttered sourly, realizing everything was false.

"Reginald, you should probably take a look at what she just spat up. No more sedation," Touya said, remarking on the slick fluids that painted the floor.

“She needs pain killers to cope with the injuries,” Reginald advised, insistent in his evaluation. "She should remain in bed. Who knows how else her body has changed."

“I’ll live without it,” April snapped, her gaze drifting dangerously towards Reginald. His voice sparked uncontrollable anger in the pit of her stomach, an intense loathing reserved only for those who engineered her terrible fate.

The man sighed, recognizing a lost cause when he saw one. “I understand. If you have anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

"Where should I put her?” Touya asked, directing his question towards Hans.

The aid exchanged an uncertain look between Reginald, the real figure of authority. “Why don’t you guide them to room 2-AB.”

---

Room 2-AB was another patient room not far down the hallway behind Reginald. It was a single-bed room which was designed for general medical practices. Leading them in, Hans flicked on the light switch, revealing a sterile interior. The room’s color scheme consisted of tanned, neutral timbers and light, sky blues for wall covering. It was almost identical in every respect to the previous apartment, even down to the position of the gurney. Noticing the absence of restraints, April was nonetheless anxious to still be residing in the same building as Reginald and his ilk. Their last meeting with the medic had resulted in her experimentation.

“Is there anything else you need?” Hans asked again.

“Nothing at all. It’s fine,” she stated, suspicion tinting her words.

April waited until Hans shut the door behind him before carrying herself away from the therian’s grip. Left to their privacy, she stumbled forwards in an ungainly manner, abandoning the courageous front. Hints of tears specked the edges of her almond eyes. Who could she trust at the moment? Could she even trust Touya? Slowly, she crept over a chair and slumped down, surrendering to exhaustion. Her thin gown covered her toned thighs and long tangled hair poured into her lap. A tired groan pierced the air stealing a moment of silence.

“When where you going to tell me that you were working with Reginald also?” she said, a hard edge entering her tone. She struggled to comprehend all that been done to her, “Where you in on this all along?”

April glanced down at her arms in total melancholy, indicating the foreign appendages that stuck to her elbows. It was surprisingly elegant, though utterly bland in taste. If not for the metallic sheen, they could have almost been mistaken for normal arms. Each flex of a finger was accompanied by the whirring of gears as complex machinery interpreted her brain signals. The only difference was April had to look each time to confirm they were moving. Bleakly, she wondered what other liberties they had taken to change.

One of Reginald's men led Touya down the hallway to the room instructed and opened the door for them. Touya gently eased her inside and took stock of the room as the light was switched on. It was nothing special really, a bed, a chair and nothing more. Once the man left after April gave her answer, Touya gently set her down and the woman separated herself from him. She made her way over to the chair and sat down wearily. The Therian was not enjoying her weakness, he wasn't used to seeing her like this. Rather, he was used to her hot spirit, her energy that always emanated from her no matter what. Now, there wasn't all that much energy left, most of it replaced by pain and... metal.

“When where you going to tell me that you were working with Reginald also? Where you in on this all along?”

At first Touya just stood there watching her from across the room. Her voice had a hard edge to it as she asked the questions. It didn't quite dawn on him until a few moments after that he realized she was putting him in on the same team with Reginald. His eyes narrowed and his hands curled into fists. Did she really believe that was what he'd done in the past few weeks? She'd been lost to him for almost four weeks straight and this is the conclusion she comes up with?! Touya quickly realized that his anger was getting out of control and he turned away from her for a moment to calm himself.

"It's not like I've been able to talk to you since you came here, April," he replied albeit a bit coldly, "That man has had you sedated ever since I brought you in. I haven't been able to see you very much either, not that it would have done any good since you were sleeping. I'm lucky that you're even awake right now, whether your body just became immune to his drugs, or whatever happened. I'm happy that you're awake.

"Where you get off thinking that I'm working with him pisses me off," he said finally, the words striking the air harshly as he turned his cold gaze upon her, "I want to kill him so badly, but I cannot because without him you might have died. I wish that I could kill him right now, run my blade through him slowly for everything that he's done to you, but yet. I cannot. Not until you're fully healed, not until I know for sure that you won't leave me again," as he spoke he walked towards her and at the end he was kneeling down next to her. His hands reached up and took hold of her face, forcing her to look at him.

"I wasn't a part of his plans at all, I never knew. I didn't know that he would poison you and Damea. I didn't know that he would leave you behind to die. I didn't know that this Victor would get to you and... and do this... to you! I didn't know anything! Yet, you accuse me, of being 'in on' his plans? Don't you realize what you've just said to me right now? After everything, after all of this, do you honestly think I could possibly be on his side?"

Touya let go of her chin and stood up. Reaching over her shoulder he pushed the chair backwards until it hit the wall. Leaning over her, he was well aware that he quite dwarfed her because of his size, but he didn't let that stop him. Reaching out again, he lifted her head this time instead of bringing it down and leaned further in. As he got closer, his voice dropped to a sultry whisper, an accent tainting his words as he almost slipped into his own tongue, "Allow me to show you who's side I'm on," with that he closed the distance, locking his lips over hers.



"You know, you can be a real ass," Damea commented as the group dispersed through the halls. Touya had left with April already, led down the hallway to a room where she could stay. His comment was directed at Reginald. The fire mage looked over to the doctor for a moment before turning away and leaving the hall as well. He would let April and Touya be alone for now, he knew how much the woman meant to the Therian. He wasn't about to ruin that as it was. So, the mercenary made his way back to the dining room and took his seat once again.

Leaning over he took up another piece of bread and eyed it as if it were his nemesis. After a moment his lips spread into a grin as he glowered at the piece of white bread between his fingers, "So... we meet again," he whispered and his fingers ignited into tiny little flames as he attempted once again to 'toast' the bread rather than burn it.

---

April Rosevolt

---

She thought for a second Touya was going to hurt her. Unwittingly, her fists gripped the edges of her arm rest in instinctive anticipation. Had she gripped the bulbous objects any harder, the polished wood would have likely cracked from her volatile strength. Startlingly, the therian’s choleric eyes fixed to her delicate figure. Beads of savage rage threatened to break loose, dispelling the tender visage shared only moments ago. It seemed all he could do to resist the outburst was turn around, directing his anger in the vacant space of the room.

"It's not like I've been able to talk to you since you came here, April," he started, sounding distinctly mortified at the assumption. "That man has had you sedated ever since I brought you in. I haven't been able to see you very much either, not that it would have done any good since you were sleeping. I'm lucky that you're even awake right now, whether your body just became immune to his drugs, or whatever happened. I'm happy that you're awake.”

Stating the last words with sincerity, his explanations nonetheless confounded her apprehension, highlighting the gaps in her memory. She slumped at the realization, knowing that precious days were forever lost, as well as the prospect of having a normal life. They had been dashed as easily as waves striking a cliff face. Other emotions brewed, rearing their ugly heads. April sensed anxiety steeped in his every motion, aroused by butterflies that fluttered in light of his recollections.

"Where you get off thinking that I'm working with him pisses me off.”

Her mind echoed the statement, replaying the deeply insulted tone that clawed at her insides. Finally, the silver statue span around, presenting his pure outrage. It was anger he directed not just at her, but at the circumstances surrounding her abduction in kind. Abruptly, he marched forwards and knelt at the base of her feet, the normally heartwarming gesture appearing quite out of place. For once she was taller, but the advantage was off no consequence in her current condition. Touya reached up, carefully forcing his earnest gaze upon her. “I want to kill him so badly, but I cannot because without him you might have died. I wish that I could kill him right now, run my blade through him slowly for everything that he's done to you, but yet. I cannot. Not until you're fully healed, not until I know for sure that you won't leave me again,"

Such words could have easily been interpreted as a confession, but the whims of a fractured mind are hard to sway. Especially one such as April’s. Perturbed at the violent declaration, her eyes avoided his icy orbs, finding the promise of revenge unappealing. Anguish marred his handsome expression, but she didn’t want to kill Reginald, she didn’t want to kill anyone. All she wanted was escape, maybe even an end to this nightmare.

“Maybe you should have let me die,” she murmured in utter defeat.

"I wasn't a part of his plans at all, I never knew. I didn't know that he would poison you and Damea. I didn't know that he would leave you behind to die. I didn't know that this Victor would get to you and... and do this... to you! I didn't know anything! Yet, you accuse me, of being 'in on' his plans? Don't you realize what you've just said to me right now? After everything, after all of this, do you honestly think I could possibly be on his side?" he asked, his voice escalating.

If mental reasoning wouldn’t convince her, he was perfectly capable of adopting more direct methods. Fed up, Touya’s arm extended behind her shoulder, taking the chair and April along with him as he approached the wall. April released a gasp of surprise that was instantly lost to the screeching as her chair’s legs dragged across the floor. Teetering on the back of her seat, she looked up in time to receive his stout fingers. They sought out her chin, brushing against the frail underside of her neck. Those fierce, captivating eyes were now staring as her as he reached out and held her lips inches from contact.

"Allow me to show you who's side I'm on," he said, his native accent music to her ears.

Their lips joined together, stealing her voice away. All notions of doubt were shattered the instant their tongues joined in impassioned exchange. Days of intense pressure unraveled, releasing her body from stubborn unease. In that small moment of reprieve she relinquished the emotions she had kept hidden beneath her mask since seeing him again. The hybrids, the war, even her condition seemed like a faraway dream. April’s kiss became more demanding as her hand sought out his shirt. Her other arm wrapped around his back, embracing his muscular posterior.

He was her peace and it was April’s turn to repay the favor. She had doubted she was going to rest that night, but her expectations were far from her current imaginations. Contrary to the movement she desired her form to take, April found herself stealing his shirt from his torso. Her eyes opened, wandering over his magnificent physique.

“This is much more hospitable,” she all but purred, pulling him closer.

---

In hindsight, their lovemaking felt highly inappropriate given the location. She fell asleep on him afterwards, grasping his long braid of silver hair like a good luck charm. Neither of them received much sleep that night. Ironically, as dawn crested over the horizon, April felt neither rested nor fit, the sensual activity leaving her body aching in other ways. There was hardly any space for the both of them to fit on the single bed, and reluctant to separate, she had joined him on the cold floor. White sheets were pulled over them roughly, hiding their intermingled bodies.

At some point they had turned the lights off. April didn’t remember when. Luminescence now came in the form of sun light that glistened through the gap between curtains. Specks of dust swam between before quickly fading. She felt the trickling of his warm breath sway against her hair and turned to him playfully, hints of her former attitude reasserting itself.

“You’re cheating,” she remarked, tangling his mane around her fingers. “How do I know this is even your true appearance?”

The sunlight was trickling in through the tiny window up above them. With the bed being far to small for both of them, especially Touya, they had ended up on the floor of the room. Not that the Therian minded at all, he was mostly concerned for April's comfort. However, she did not wish to sleep on the bed and had joined him on the floor essentially using him as her body pillow. She had held his long braided hair for most of the night and he felt her fingers twirl it around as she looked up at him. Briefly Touya wondered if she'd slept at all, maybe not, just like him.

“You’re cheating. How do I know this is even your true appearance?”

He raised an eyebrow as he shifted slightly to look at her as she was resting on his chest. His one arm tightened around her body and he pulled the other from under his head to hold her closer too. Once he'd finished hugging her, he shifted his weight and put her beneath him a bit of a grin spreading on his lips.

"This is me, or shall I prove it to you again?" Leaning down he kissed her gently before moving to her ear. With a slight nibble he cooed in her ear, "I cannot wield any magic to change my form when I'm making love to you," he whispered.

Pulling away slightly, his hair fell over his shoulder and pooled on the floor just over her shoulder, "Such a silly question," he chided gently.



Damea had woken early and had left his room to make his way to one of the porches outside. The sun was just barely peeking up over the walls of the city, warming the city as it did so. The mercenary stretched as he stepped out onto the deck. With a yawn he leaned forward and rested his hands on the railing of the porch that was on the second floor of the building. He'd found that particular place a few days ago and had started going there when he wished to be by himself to think of things.

Something about the view and being alone helped him to process information better. His thoughts were currently on his self training on trying to gain more control over his fire. Damea had burned over twenty pieces of bread with no end in sight. A sigh permeated the air as he leaned over the railing to gaze down at the empty street. Turning his hands upwards, his gaze went to the palm of his pale skin. Flexing the fingers he eyed the hand carefully. What was it that was holding him back? He didn't know right then, but he knew he had to figure out what it was if he wanted to master his fire. It was only a matter of time before he would desperately need it again.

As he straightened from the railing a strong hand took hold of his shoulder and he went to turn to see who it was, thinking it was Touya. However, he didn't get far as something sharp pressed against his torso, just shy of his hip. Without warning the sharpness penetrated his skin and went through him. A sharp cry of pain filled the air and he felt his body topple over as the blade was removed. His hands went to his side, trying to stop the bleeding as he was stunned at what just happened. A figure dropped over him suddenly and he hardly registered who it was, until the sunlight hit their face.

"Where is he?" The woman's voice asked coldly. Her teeth were bared and her eyes were narrowed, glinting dangerously. It was the woman that had attacked during the time when Reginald had showed his true appearance to them. Damea hardly remembered her because of the pain he'd been in back then, but her face was something familiar.

"Who?" The mercenary croaked as he lay there.

"Touya!" The woman shrieked, "Where is he! I will have my revenge on him for almost killing Val!"

Damea's eyes widened slightly before he caught himself and glowered at her. Leaning forward as best he could, he growled a response, "He's not here."

"Lies," she hissed and raised her hand over his chest, the claw like weapons lengthened, extending towards him. She leaned down and pressed the sharp tips against his shirt and asked again, "Where is he?"

Damea only glowered at her, "Are you deaf?"

The Therian woman pressed forward, her claws digging deep into Damea's skin. The fire mage writhed under her as she continued downwards steadily. It wasn't just her claws that was causing him such agony, but something else. His mind finally registered that she was probably using magic to make it much worse than it really was. She stopped part way and leaned over him, her voice growling in his face.

"He is here, I can feel him. Where in this building?"

Damn, the mercenary thought. He'd totally forgotten that Therian's could feel each others presence. Why was she confused as to where Touya was exactly though? Maybe it was something to do with so many buildings around and the obstructions. It wasn't exactly like an open field. Well, it was a hundred percent that if she could feel him, Touya could feel her. If Damea could just keep her attention on him for a bit longer than Touya would most definitely know that she was there somewhere. Reaching up he gripped her wrist, the one that was digging the claws into his chest.

"Why should I tell you?" He grinned, blood already starting to drip from the corner of his lips.

"Fine, I will kill everyone here then, starting with you. Trust me, I won't let you off so easily, human. You're death will be a slow one," she cursed and though he was holding her wrist, the claws extended anyway. The fire mage was reduced to nothing but a writhing body and screams on the open the deck. How long it lasted he wasn't sure, but after some time his voice was gone and his hand slipped from her wrist. The golden sunlight was bright behind her, but to him it was growing darker by the second. He could only hope that Touya had the chance to realize that the woman was there for him before Damea slipped into darkness.

---

April Rosevolt

---

Touya gave her a face of mild amusement, the kind of one parents usually gave in answer to a frivolous question. His blue eyes were bright in the gloom, almost glowing as he reached down to seize her. Commanding her close, she cuddled his chest in return, sheltering herself in his embrace. An eccentric smile graced his lips, one she felt reflected on hers in kind as she reacted bashfully. It was the first time for either off them, compounded by the fact that they were different species. Not that it really mattered anymore.

"This is me, or shall I prove it to you again?" he mused, triggering her imagination once more. It didn’t help that the past hours were still exotically vivid in her mind. April purred in response, meeting his kiss mid-way.

"I cannot wield any magic to change my form when I'm making love to you," he assured, whispering sweet words meant only for her. His affectionate pecks elicited a slight chuckle from the trim woman who writhed in his hold.

“That sounds like a potential weakness,” she remarked, exposing hints of her sadism.

"Such a silly question," he admonished, leaning down to rest on his hind.

“I’d love for you to prove it to me again,” she murmured, acting seduced by the prospect of his intimacy, “Rather, I’m more surprised at how well you carried yourself. I was under the impression that human relationships were foreign to you, or are all therian women just accosted this way?”

She clambered up, finally relinquishing the long threads of silver hair that she’d trapped around her fingers. Crawling over, she kissed him a second time, tracing a path along his jaw line and down his neck. Attending her movements was the lingering pain one typically associates with traumatic injuries. Nonetheless she persisted in fondling for a good minute before sitting upright, using the railings of the bed as a temporary brace. Perhaps intercourse hadn’t been her most brilliant idea given her condition. Touya himself had made mention of her unstable health, but such implications only spurred her ambition. Who knew for how much longer she’d live.

Still unfamiliar with the use of her arms, she almost slipped over in ineptitude. No sensations arrived from them and she constantly had to look to ensure they were functioning as intended. The sheets fell away from her naked body, revealing the jagged scars that crisscrossed her tender flesh in shameful displays. Below her was his rippling perfection, an exquisite figure which left her with a vague sense of inadequacy. Humans and therians, it was almost unnerving how compatible they where. Despite it, April considered herself lucky. Lucky to be in the presence of Touya, lucky to have operable arms, lucky to still be alive. A single step in the wrong direction would’ve resulted in a lifetime of mindless servitude and experimentation. An alternative far worse in every respect.

“The world’s a little less bleak with you around Touya,” she stated candidly, “Please address that reckless attitude of yours. I still have to thank you for saving me and it’d be a shame if you died before then.”

Still holding onto the handrail, she pulled up and reclaimed her hospital gown which lay sprawled on the mattress above. “Now, I think you should ret-”

Alarms flared abruptly, jolting her in surprise. April's blue eyes glanced up, expecting the sky to fall or something similar. She then gazed at him anxiously, urging the therian to get dressed. If anything was clear, it was that something was definitely wrong. In the midst of deafening tolls, someone came knocking at the door. Acquiring her attention, she slipped her arms through her garment's sleeves and strode forwards to answer the summon, only sparing a moment for the therian to jerk on his clothes.

---

---

Reginald heard the curdling screams as they came, echoed from the outside of the building. It sounded like someone’s innards were being ripped from their bodies, which seemed impossible given no surgeries were scheduled for that morning. Abandoning the steaming bowl of gruel, Reginald stood up from his desk and went to the door to investigate.

Outside of his room was the hallway. The corridor was well lit despite the absence of natural light, relying on light bulbs instead for illumination. The door parted without issue, obeying his pull, but Reginald withdrew almost immediately. A trio of soldiers rushed past, guardsmen wearing the national blue, yellow uniforms. They lacked the protective armor usually worn into battle because most duties within the city were relatively simple.

Reginald ducked back behind his doorway to avoid being barreled over. Surprised at their pace, he yelled out to the sergeant before he could vanish around the corner. “Sergeant Grant! What’s wrong?”

“Apologies sir, I can’t say. We’re going to investigate now,” the man replied tersely, “You’re welcome to join us.”

Nodding, Reginald hurried after them as they swept through the corridors. Other guardsmen were already checking the rooms, searching for the source of the screams. Grant’s unit paused outside of the patient rooms; one Reginald realized was the apartment they had lent to Damea. Positioning themselves in a breaching arrangement, Sergeant Grant knocked on the door.

“This is security! Open the door!”

No reply.

“This is your last warning!”

They waited a second longer before storming in. Sergeant Grant reared back and kicked the door, ramming it wide open.

“Empire’s teeth! Ring the alarms!”

“I’d love for you to prove it to me again. Rather, I’m more surprised at how well you carried yourself. I was under the impression that human relationships were foreign to you, or are all therian women just accosted this way?” April asked him, her voice smooth as silk as she worked her way up towards him. Her lips brushed across his jaw and then chin, sending chills down his spine. She was teasing him and it was making him think twice about letting her get away from him.

"We treat our women very well, April," Touya said softly, a grin on his lips as he spoke, "In every way," putting emphasis on 'every' was probably going to lead her to more ideas, but that was fine by him. He watched her carefully as she worked her way towards the bed, watching her every stiff move. He felt a pang of anger and guilt rush through him. Perhaps that night hadn't been the best idea, but then she hadn't really listened when he'd mentioned it. Not that it was entirely her fault either, he was the other half of the blame.

“The world’s a little less bleak with you around Touya. Please address that reckless attitude of yours. I still have to thank you for saving me and it’d be a shame if you died before then.”

"Yes, yes. So you've told me before and Damea as well. I will do my best to... rectify this 'recklessness' as you call it."

“Now, I think you should ret-”

In the middle of her words a loud sound filled the air. The ringing was obnoxious and loud and it took Touya a moment to realize that it was an alarm. It took him another few seconds to register that there was a familiar feeling in the air. His heart jumped to his throat as it dawned on him. His gaze shot straight to the door as April looked to him sharply. She pulled on a gown to cover her body while Touya stood up quickly and recovered his armor. This feeling... it couldn't possibly be. He finished pulling on his armor and moved to the door. Glancing to her he contemplated telling her to stay there, but he also didn't want to have anything happen to her while he wasn't around.

"Stay close," he told her. If it was who he thought it was, a fight would be unavoidable. If it was at all possible, he would rather not have April fighting so soon, not when he hadn't had the chance to help her get accustomed to her new body and definitely not before he'd had a Therian look at the work done to her. Even so, Touya still wanted to do some healing on her to ease the pain that she may be feeling.

After telling her that, he moved out the door and down the hall. Reaching back he looked for her hand and when he found it, he gripped it tightly. Making his way through the hall he took a right and started down another way. His ears caught the sounds of fighting over head as they passed a stairwell. Stopping, he turned and went back to the stairs. Looking upwards he could hear the battle clearer and knew that something was going on there. Taking the steps two at a time he made the landing in no time. Once he was there, however, his heart nearly stopped in his chest as he witnessed who it was that was making the chaos.

Ahmeil wielded her enormous blade in the hallway, cutting through the guards as they came at her. Her eyes were narrowed in pure rage as she snarled at them and attacked with both magic and her weapon. Her body glowed brightly as she turned and set eyes upon Touya. The tall Therian put April right behind him, blocking her from Ahmeil's view. The Therian woman glowered as she turned to face Touya. Reaching behind his back, he pulled both his blades free and snapped them open.

"What are you doing here, Ahmeil?" Touya asked angrily.

"I'm here for you, you bastard! You and that human nearly killed Val, did you think I would just sit by and let that go? I want your head! All of you!"

Touya's eyes widened as he listened to her. 'Nearly killed Val', it reverberated in his mind. For a mere moment he was stuck in place. So they hadn't managed to kill the rebel leader. Damn it all to hell. Glowering he flipped his blades in his hands, he should have known that Val would have survived somehow. There was no way it could have been over with so soon, or so easily. With a slight growl he leaned forward, body brightly glowing, and launched at Ahmeil. Their blades crashed together and air exploded outwards from them. The scrap of steel against steel filled the air as both of them swung at each other, a deadly dance between Therian's erupting in the hallway. Magic shocked the air, exploded against the walls, tore through the wood and other furnishings as they continued. Ahmeil had her eyes dead set on Touya, nothing but blood lust there.

---

April Rosevolt

---

The first look of apprehension he gave indicated to her that something was terribly off about the situation. Any pretense of comfort faded the second the detestable ringing blared overhead, cleaving the air. Touya was up in a haste, sinking into the hard, silver wraps of his clothes and armor once more. The segmented overlay complimented his attractive figure well, seamlessly blending in with his bracers. April shifted uncomfortably, moving her hair behind her ears on reflex. Even that small motion earned a sharp twinge of pain that batted her eyelashes. She contemplated covering her eyes with the heels of her palms but thought otherwise.

Dammit April, you don’t have time for this kind of crap. she thought, intolerant of her weaknesses.

"Stay close," he stated, moving in front of her without room for argument. The reaction wasn’t exactly what she expected, his tone drawing attention to the anxiety all over again. Touya was staring intensely at her, those bright blue orbs which had previously conveyed affection now hard with burden. She could sense his tension, reeking from his tight shoulders and clipped features like a bad smell and hated her incompetence. Was she that fragile? How was she so helpless to defend herself? Touya looked like he was on the verge of bundling her up again, or locking her in that room.

“I won’t weigh you down,” she returned, unwilling to sit and rest in such an emergency.

Sparing the hybrid her dignity, he brushed past and gently tugged open the cooperative door. It complied with his movements and swung ajar, flooding the entrance with harsh, white artificial lighting. April’s eyes blinked in response, adjusting to the sudden change in ambience. She barely had time to contemplate their next course of action when a swift move jerked her arm into following him. April released a surprised squeak of reprove, it hadn’t even registered that he’d abducted her hand until he began walking, dragging the aching hybrid along with him. Strangely, the reality of her alterations seemed infinitely more disheartening. She would never be able to feel the reassuring warmth of his hands beneath her fingers.

The next series of hallways were long and tedious, even with the therian’s guidance. After a few turns they ended up at the base of a staircase, hearing what sounded like the melodies of war above. April chewed at the bottom of her lip, gazing upwards at the space Touya intended to explore. Yelling and sword clashes bounced off the walls. Incapable of persuading him otherwise, they bolted up the passage and walked straight into a scene of horror.

Limbs, bodies and pressurized blood greeted them, splattering the walls in dramatic parades of violence. April counted nearly a dozen soldiers in the hall, none alive. The sole culprit stood amidst the turmoil, chest heaving but eyes caught in a haze of blood lust. The sight of it affected April like a mental trip wire, unbinding restraints and provoking deep and sinister memories. April rocked back on her heels, a pin-prick of anger flourishing like fire into her veins as she recounted a similar moment and similar feelings. To her surprise, the therian recognized the offender, though his face was also alight with fury.

"What are you doing here, Ahmeil?" Touya asked, glaring at the warrior before them.

She hissed upon perceiving him, baring her teeth like rabid monster. "I'm here for you, you bastard! You and that human nearly killed Val, did you think I would just sit by and let that go? I want your head! All of you!" she screeched.

Such groundless reasoning, such unwarranted slaughter. Even the mentioning of Val’s name seemed to pass through her unnoticed. April’s eyes snapped up, fixating on Ahmeil. The ringing had faded, taking her pain and storing it somewhere deep within her where it diminished to a dull throb. April howled the moment the two therians crossed blades, an animal like sound ripping from her throat. The verbal threat to Touya was the last straw. Reverting back to her feral state all too easily, April didn’t hesitate or pause to even build-up momentum. Just flew forwards in vicious offensive. Her blades snapped out of her wrists, responding to an innate thirst for revenge. No one else was in the room.

April became a vicious killer as she tore in after Touya, her madness reaching an apex. Years of martial discipline and practiced composure were instantly eradicated, breached like a crumbling wall by a cannon ball. Her blades sang in the air as she deftly swam around Touya, desperate to reach the person she viewed as a primary threat. Ending up behind Ahmeil, she span around and pounced forwards instantly, propelled like a rocket by the indomitable strength of her legs. Aiming to crush the woman in a pincer attack, April's arms scythed down on the woman's rear.

Both swords scrapped along her larger one as he pushed forward, using his magic to add to his strength just as she was. Touya had been so focused on fighting Ahmeil that he hadn't noticed April swing around them to end up behind the Therian woman. He was startled to see her there, but even more so when she slashed at Ahmeil with her arm blades. Ahmeil, who had not seen April either, screamed in pain as she felt the blades cut through her lower back and thighs. Ahmeil had stepped forward just enough to miss being cut open further, but the damage was bad enough.

Touya backed away, ducking as Ahmeil swung around with her enormous sword. The blade cut into the wall and swung at April. Without pause, Touya shot forward, his blade cutting through Ahmeil's side as she shifted and he missed running her through. As much as he hated it, he knew anything less than killing Ahmeil would not solve their problem with her. The woman twisted back around in mid swing and came back around at Touya. His blades slammed into Ahmeil's weapon, slowing her attack. Turning his body, he ducked under it again and came up on the other side of her sword. With her body now completely open, he struck forward.

His sword went straight for her chest and Ahmeil gasped in shock at how he'd out maneuvered her. She relinquished her hold on her weapon with one hand to block the sword that could have taken her life. Even so, his weapon went through the metal on her arm. Ahmeil's shriek of pain echoed in the hall and she stumbled backwards, wrenching her arm free. She was outnumbered by soldiers, with April and Touya as well to combat her prowess. Her gaze shifted between both April and Touya, the latter not waiting for her to recover. He lunged forward and Ahmeil quickly back stepped, batting aside his swords with her own. The strength was lost in her arm though as she could not efficiently wield her large weapon with one hand.

"They killed your brother and you still wish to fight me! Your own kind," she hissed as she backed away, keeping her blade up just enough to stop his strikes. They were now in the room she'd come out of, slowly moving backwards for the doors that led out to the deck.

"Because your methods are unjust! I know my brother is dead, but that doesn't mean we need to go and wipe out the entire human race!" Touya spat back, his swords clanging against hers loudly to emphasize his words.

Ahmeil glowered at her, her teeth bared in rage as she continued to back up. Soon they were out on the deck with Touya still swinging to try to bring down her sword that she was miraculously keeping between herself and his weapons. The tall Therian swung downwards, trying to move her blade, but as he did so Ahmeil took a large step backwards and reached out to jump up over the rail of the deck. She rested on the other side, glaring at him.

"As if I'd let you kill me," she growled at him and let go of the bar just as Touya leapt for her. His blade just barely missed her and he leaned over the edge to try to see where she'd gone to. It wasn't a long drop, nothing that would kill her that was for sure. However, he wasn't entirely sure where she'd gone, though he could still feel her presence. That presence, though, was definitely growing fainter by the second and Touya had to conclude that she'd shape shifted in mid jump. Ahmeil's form was that of a wolf, much like Touya's albeit a bit smaller than his. The Therian's eyes narrowed as he looked out at the dirty street.

With a growl he flicked his blades closed and sheathed them. Turning on his heel, that was when his gaze locked on the body on the deck next to him. His heart lurched forward and his eyes widened. It couldn't be. Kneeling next to the body of Damea he reached out slowly to see if the man was still alive. Blood pooled all around him, staining his colorful clothing that marked him as a mercenary and sparkling in a pool of crimson on the stone deck. His fingers gently pressed against Damea's neck and he held his breath.

At first nothing happened, his fingers felt nothing and Damea's skin was slightly cool. His heart was growing heavier, pounding hard in his chest as a lump formed at the back of his throat. Touya knew that Ahmeil had been the culprit of Damea's condition. The Therian was about to pull back from the man's neck when he felt the faintest pulse under his finger tips. His heart skipped a beat and then jumped into a race as adrenaline pumped through him. Encouraged by this, his body glowed brightly and he began healing what he could, most especially the wound in his chest. Touya knew he wasn't going to be able to heal all of the man's wounds, but he could at least help to save his life.

Golden light wrapped around the man's body and engulfed him, working to pull together all the muscle and ligaments in his chest and stop the bleeding. It took Touya quite a while to do so and when he finished, he was dizzy with the strain of using yet again, too much magic. He couldn't heal the wound in the fire mages' side but he knew that wouldn't kill the man. Leaning over he eyed Damea carefully and was relieved to see a rise in color tone and his breathing start to stabilize.

"Reginald!" Touya yelled, "Come get Damea!"

---

April Rosevolt

---

She couldn’t feel the division of flesh as her blades sliced apart armor and clothing, but she could certainly hear it. Her ambush was rewarded with a tantalizing shriek of pain as her opponent stumbled from the unexpected assault. Tendrils of blood pattered across the floor as Ahmeil recovered and then retaliated, furious. Bringing her sword about, the therian woman swung wide like a batter. Her sword followed obediently, eating into the fabric of the wall like a knife through wet tissues. April didn’t dodge, she didn’t even flinch as her feet spread and the hybrid absorbed the impact of the collision with her wrists up.

Another gasp indicated that Amheil had been struck again, this time by Touya. Taking the opportunity offered by April’s attack, he lashed out, his movements a mere flash of brilliant white. Ahmeil was losing, and even a stubborn woman such as herself could realize the odds were stacked against her. Backing away, she retreated into a doorway, presumably the one she’d broke into.

Devastation followed in the wake of those two potent individuals as they traded blows through the bloody corridors and back into the apartment. The power either of them exhibited was truly a sight to behold, their already immense strength further augmented by magic. Even the surrounding guards were hesitant to interfere, terrified of being cut to ribbons. April charged in after them, though at the same time it wasn’t April. Reduced to another feral monstrosity, the banshee who followed in through the doorway was anything but the authoritative Lieutenant.

Adjusting to the small arena, she maneuvered to the side again, aiming to intercept the intruder’s escape. "They killed your brother and you still wish to fight me! Your own kind."

April paused abruptly, the words interrupting her madness. She spared a glance, directing her predatory eyes towards Touya and Ahmeil. Touya had never mentioned a brother, let alone his family to her. She’d barely even considered his grief amidst managing her own condition. How selfish of her, how inconsiderate. Any further thoughts were suspended as she felt an acute prick in the side of her neck. Turning around, she noticed a needle and Reginald’s soft gaze upon her. Immediately her vision fogged, and as the adrenaline wore off, she collapsed to her knees.

---

Dean ‘Havoc’ Reginald

---

"Reginald! Come get Damea!"

His head snapped up in response to his name. Sensing the urgency that accompanied the therian’s call, Reginald hurried onto the balcony after laying April to rest. There was no sign of the woman outside, only the prominent features that demonstrated some violent scuffle had occurred. Only the aftermath. Before him, lying in a pool of his own blood was Damea, pale and out cold.

“Step aside,” Reginald said, pushing his way forwards. The medic crouched over Damea, checking the man’s vitals. “The wounds aren’t fatal, suggesting she wanted to torture him. Nonetheless, it was a rushed job. She was clearly running out of patience. It also seems you’ve done half of my job for me...in any case, I still need to close the remaining wounds. He’s lost great portions blood, but he should be fine. Keep treating people like this and I’ll be out of a job soon! Well done faceless.”

“Hold his wounds closed and get a gurney! We’ll move him to an operating room and advance from there. Thankfully we’re already in a hospital,” Reginald ordered, gesturing some guards to assist them. “Don’t worry, we won’t let her escape.”

Two guardsmen strode in hastily and bent down to lift the man. Before they could leave, Reginald nodded towards April. “I’ve sedated her. She shouldn’t be fighting. There are aspects about her health that we haven’t had the chance to assess yet. Until we do, I request that you take her back to her room and keep her there. After that, you and I will have a discussion about this faceless woman who just killed twelve of my men.”

---

Miles Riverbend

---

“You chose very poorly when you decided to shape shift. There aren’t any wolves in the city, you know?” a voice rang out behind Ahmeil. The tone was curt and obnoxiously sarcastic.

Suspiciously devoid of pedestrians, the street before her shifted precipitously. The harsh noise of stone grinding against concrete echoed as walls snapped together like lego, instantly separating her from her escape route. Chanting could be heard, a multitude of voices conjoined in a single mantra as the earth mages fashioned the street to their desires. Within seconds she was trapped, a mouse in a shoebox.

“Infiltrating a secure facility in Altheim was a stupid thing to do. I mean, what where you thinking? A therian in the heart of the human capital city? Sure! What could possibly go wrong? Honestly, you must be pretty desperate to find the culprits, or retarded.”

Miles appeared then through a gap in the roof. He landed deftly, sword drawn and grinning cynically. “So here I am, the man who stabbed your precious Val. I wonder, will you allow me the pleasure of stabbing you to?”

“You chose very poorly when you decided to shape shift. There aren’t any wolves in the city, you know?”

Ahmeil glanced around at the sound of the voice, her wolf form catching his voice easily enough and putting it somewhere overhead. Her lips pulled back into a growl as she moved quickly down the alleyway. However, that alleyway soon shifted and her ears pulled forward as the Therian woman skidded to a halt. Completely cut off, her nose moved forward and backward quickly as she caught several different scents all around her.

“Infiltrating a secure facility in Altheim was a stupid thing to do. I mean, what where you thinking? A therian in the heart of the human capital city? Sure! What could possibly go wrong? Honestly, you must be pretty desperate to find the culprits, or retarded.”

She growled as she turned around, trying to find the man with the voice, her dark eyes shifting to look up at the roof tops. How could this have happened. Shifting, Ahmeil returned to her form and drew her sword again. In a matter of seconds, the man who had been taunting her jumped down from the roof and into the alleyway with her, blocking her only exit.

“So here I am, the man who stabbed your precious Val. I wonder, will you allow me the pleasure of stabbing you to?”

Ahmeil gave a harsh sound through her nose, her lips curling upwards in disdain, "You can try," she hissed back and leveled her sword at him.


Miles narrowed his eyes as the therian transformed from the body of a feral hound to a lithe woman. The transition was seamless, or at least they made it look that way. Witnessing their shape shifting first hand always had the tendency to pique his curiosity. He'd always wonder how it felt. Before Miles rose a raven haired beauty, wounded but not defeated. Such a shame he was going to kill it. She clung to her wits, clawing for every last reserve of strength. Once again she surprised him by leveling her sword, displaying staunch determination despite the futility of her situation. She either had no regard to her life or a human was no perceivable threat to her. He was going to change that.

"That's what I'm talking about," he smirked.

Miles flew forwards without warning, propelled by a timely air blast. His feet barely touched the ground as he traveled the distance between them and performed a full circle on his first swing. The halo of silver flashed towards her side, targeting the one arm which Touya had already injured.

Ahmeil hissed in anger as he came at her too quickly. What was worse, he was aiming for her injured arm, the one that Touya had already incapacitated. Her irritation did nothing to help her situation and she was too slow to counter him. Her enormous blade was becoming her downfall as it was quite heavy to handle.

Swinging it around, she had to use her entire body to maneuver the weapon into place. Even so, Ahmeil felt the sting of his sword as it scrapped along her wrist, cutting up the metal there even more. Enraged, she gathered up as much power as she could summon and prepared to unleash it upon the human, hoping to kill him in one blow thus saving her time in the fight. If it didn't work... well, she would be in for hell.

How was she going to get out of this one? Val was sure to be enraged at her antics this time. Ahmeil had never been one to listen to orders to begin with. Even so, this was crossing the line, even for her. Grinding her teeth, her body glowed brightly as she pushed the negative thoughts aside. She would worry about all of that later. Ahmeil unleashed the power as soon as it was ready, hoping that it would do what she wanted it to.

Miles felt the amass of energy long before he could see it and shuddered. Incomparable to Touya's concussive blasts, the magic he sensed from the therian was intentionally more lethal. Fortunately, the build-up of power was hard to miss as the woman began glowing like a light bulb, broadcasting her intentions. He never understood that part about therian powers either. Such a dysfunctional ability. Miles stepped back, avoiding her sweeping blade, and yelled skywards.

"Anytime now?!"

In response to Miles' command, the chanting, which had been ever persistent in the background, magnified in volume. The walls shifted, separating and merging to adjust to his sudden demand. A single barrier moved between the combatants and Miles threw himself behind it, boosted by a second air blast.

Ahmeil's power exploded and when it faded away she was met with a decisive wall between her and her target. With a growl of rage she thought about her options, which weren't many. She'd obviously missed the human. Grinding her teeth she slowly started backing away until her back hit the wall behind her.

Damn smart human... she cursed to herself. Looking around she heard the undertone of voices chanting, so they had been the reason to her not being able to escape. Spell traps. How convenient for them.

Ahmeil glanced back to the rock wall that had shielded the man from her blast. Finally making a decision, she lifted her blade and rushed the wall, the remaining of her power propelling her forward. The enormous weapon struck the stone and shattered it until the steel went through it. Her target, she hoped, should still be on the other side. Seeing as the wall wasn't all that large, her blade couldn't have missed. Unless the rat had already moved...

Miles felt the force shock wave even through the fabric of the wall, a deep rumble that singed the air of their artificial arena and jarred his teeth. "You'll have to do better than that!" he hollered, breathing a sigh of relief.

She didn't disappoint. Abiding his words, Ahmeil burst through the wall's facade not a second later. Her sword came first, smashing the stone like tinder then scything over his left bicep. There was barely any time to think as he lunged side ways in a desperate bid to avoid being crushed by the explosion of rubble. Miles tumbled a few paces and then quickly rolled up in a crouched position. His chest heaved to display breathlessness, yet still he managed to smile up at her, ready to reciprocate his counter.

"That was very naughty of you..." he remarked.

The Beast Slayer was primed to launch another attack when screams were issued from all around them. Rising in pitch, pain filled death cries replaced the chanting that had previously filled the side street. A curious silence took over, sinking its icy claws into the base of his spine and nailing him in place. Forgetting the therian briefly, Miles glanced up at the opening he'd use to enter the box. Had the therian brought reinforcements?

"Not alone are we?" he murmured, glaring at Ahmeil.

His worst fears were confirmed when a dark figure dropped into the spotlight. Unexpectedly, the figure was not therian, but a sword limbed hybrid.

"Oh, that's not very good at all..."


Ahmeil bared her teeth at the man as he rolled away from her, dodging her sword just barely. The rock wall exploded outwards, tumbling around their little arena. Her eyes shifted to follow him easily and his lips curved into a smile even as he knelt there, breathless. She turned her body, leveling her blade again, holding it against her waist so that her hips and legs held up the weight of the weapon rather than her arms.

She ignored his comments, even as he looked up and away from her. Idiot! Looking away from her when they were in the middle of a fight!

"What are you looking at!" She shrieked and lunged forward, attempting to sever his head from his shoulders while she still had the chance. However, in mid-leap a sound caught her attention and she looked away from Miles to see a man leap into their personal fighting space. Who was this that dared to come between her and a human?

As it stood, Ahmeil's breath caught in her chest. This... creature... was no human, nor Therian. It was a mixture. An abomination. A hideous... demon... Ahmeil's chest tightened and loosened repeatedly as she stood there starring at the thing in shock. She'd never seen anything like it in her entire life. Where had it come from? What was it doing there? What did it want? Was it even... alive?

The last question was answered quite thoroughly as it stretched its blade-like arms forward and spun at her and Miles. Ahmeil couldn't help the shrill cry of terror that tore through her throat. Leaping out of the way of it's trajectory, she rolled across the ground as the creature tore through everything that stood in it's path. Ahmeil turned around to watch it as it crashed into the opposite wall, nearly destroying it.

Her eyes were wide as she watched her, her breath short and shuddering as she shook on the ground. What had the humans done.... what had they done?!

Miles stumbled out of the dust cloud that was discharged in the wake of the hybrid's attack, caked in a layer of filth.

"I see, someone trying to kill you is perfectly normal, but one hybrid leaves you gawking?" he mocked, catching her shocked expression.

Disastrously, his voice drew the attention of the bladed monstrosity. The hybrid transfixed its dead eyes on him from the other end of the room and charged forwards. This one was smaller than the first hybrid, an average sized man, if somewhat malnourished. Traces of its origin still clung to his frame in the form of a tattered prisoner garb, indicating he was a former inmate of Glendale Prison. Similar to April, a set of ravenous blades extended out from the hybrids wrists.

"Empire's teeth!"

It whirled at him, faster than the eye could follow. All he could see was the startling descent blades and Miles threw his sword up in defense.

"Break open the the wall! I'll keep it occupied!" he yelled at Ahmeil, hoping the therian retained enough power to do so.

How was this human still fighting? How was he still able to get back up on his feet and face a monstrosity such as that? It confused her, put her in even more shock. What was she really up against now? This... things appearance had changed the game entirely.

Ahmeil's eyebrow twitched in response to his calls to her. He was calling her weak. Weak because she'd fallen from her will to fight at the very sight of the horror before them. Wasn't it natural to feel that way when one saw something they weren't supposed to? Wait... her eyes blinked slowly as the creature turned to face Miles. She'd seen a horror before. Her husband. His tormented body dead before her.

Was that when she'd lost it all? Maybe. She couldn't remember. All she could remember was the burning hatred. It was the only thing that kept her going. However, the monster before her snapped even that and she was left with nothing but a husk of herself. Miles' words coursed through the air, striking her hard.

She was a coward. She was weak. She was nothing. Not in the face of this thing, not even in the face of the humans who had always risen up against them no matter what was thrown at them. They fought the Therian's day in and day out because of their own will. Who started the war again? The humans... right? Was it all of them... or just some of them? Ahmeil wasn't sure. Still, she couldn't remember.

Miles pulled up his weapons and called for her again, his words slowly making sense. He wanted her to break the wall down, to make an opening so that they could escape. How was he going to stand against that thing? It was even stronger than she was, a full blooded Therian. He was merely a human. What did he expect to do!?

Ahmeil got to her feet as the monstrosity started its fast paced slicing back towards the human. Her feet carried her quickly to where the man was and she powered her body. It was the last of her energy that she was using, drawing from the natural energies around her to bring up her magic. Stretching out her injured hand before her, she aimed just off to the side of Miles' shoulder, her sprinting aimed right at him. She was fast enough.... she was fast enough... The words repeated through her mind.

Her magic exploded from her body a second before she hit Miles. She knew the moment she let it all go, her speed would decrease because she would be beyond tired. Her body barreled into the man and through the hole that she'd created behind him just as the monster's spinning blades and weapons cut through the dust behind her. She felt several of the blades tear into her body, throwing her further forward.

All the while her mind was lost onto what it was she was truly fighting for still. Even as she coughed out blood as she landed on top of Miles, her thoughts were still wavering. What was she there for? Why was she even having second thoughts? Was something wrong with her? Slowly, Ahmeil pushed herself up off of Miles and gazed down at him, her hair pooling around them. She swayed as she pushed herself over him.

"You... should run..." she managed, "I'm faster. I'll draw... that... thing," her voice cracked. Maybe it was fear, maybe it was her injuries. It didn't really matter. Ahmeil got to her feet and turned to face the creature, "Hurry... don't waste this," she warned him. Drawing her blade she leveled it at the thing and took a step forward.

"Hey! Come here!" She screamed, gaining the creatures attention. Once she had it, she started down the alleyway as fast as she could with the hybrid following her.