The Lycaetos

Chapter 16: About Time

It was everywhere, that familiar rust scent. Far from my endpoint but nevertheless distracting. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. Why was it so strong yet so far away? I glided left. Heading toward where the sky became stronger with fog, covering more of what lay below. The normally quiet suburbs. It was definitely coming from there. A good thirty minutes of flying through this fog and I reach the source, right below me. I pull my wings closer to me and spiral down. Hoping to crash down quite quickly. Just in case there was anything living left that could have caused this fresh kill, which I could maim enough for the cops to find and take down.  That was my new goal. 


Until I landed. 


Paws first breaking the concrete. This is a rich neighborhood so I wasn't too concerned.

Though on landing I heard none other than a gurgle and snarl. Followed by a squeak. The smell of blood blended with a musty odor. Like burnt grass. My wings pull back behind me and I'm face to face with white pupils, tan irises, and a shadow outlined by faded white in the shape of some four legged creature like me. I extend my claws out extra and run forward to rip it to shreds. It sees me, and without seeming a care for its own life goes straight for my neck. Arm reaching out for my necklace. Surprised at how close it got to do such, I accidentally embrace it before pulling my claws against its back. Ripping the flesh out underneath the shadow facade but not injuring it enough. 

I slips out from my hold and screams a scream so loud my body paralyses on fours in place. The smell of burnt grass gets stronger and my senses become slightly overwhelmed. This forces my eyes to widen and my body to stiffen further. My claws crushing into the concrete again, breaking holes into it. 


The creature continues to scream and a smile starts to show on it. Walking back it stands on two legs now while changing to more a fully light tan color and shape of human flesh. I try to move out from this bind but the scream prevents me. My hair standing up on end as my eyes vibrate from the strength of the sound. Another second and the creature looks completely human, like a tall charming man with clothes and all. 


I try to lunge but still fail. 


Concern floods through me as his smile grows wider and his scream louder. At this rate if a normal person hears him I'm sure they'd die, and we were in a filled suburb with currently only the houses for cover. 


Shit!


Rage fills me more and suddenly my paw gives and finally moves. I let more anger consume me. Combined with the overwhelming senses flooding me, the heated emotion actually works to release me somewhat. I step toward him.


His eyes widen and he steps back once more. Still never ceasing that bitchass sound. 


Not fast enough, I lift my paw and extend further my claws. Ready to try and slam them down somewhat to push me forward and body slam him. 


"Jesus you'll wake up the city with those shiners." A familiar voice says. 


In my head?


The creature stops. Now quiet and staring behind me. My body completely releases. I'm about to go for the kill when a hand touches me.  Gripping into my fur and pulling it, as if to say 'stop'. 

I look to the owner of said hand. 

Her long black locks are loose around her while she's chilling barefoot in her pajamas. Kirsa. I glance back to see if the creature was going to attack her but its now frozen in place. Absolutely terrified. I try to process anything but nothing makes sense. 

Suddenly Kirsa is right in front of the creature still in its fully shifted male form. Eyes wide and mouth ajar, tears running down its face. Before I can try to save her she gives it a kiss on its cheek. 

It explodes. 

Blood and guts getting all over both of us. Smelling fully like very burnt grass. 

And by grass, I mean weed. 

Hunter is going to kill me. But on the other hand... 


I speak in my wolf form, not caring at this point that I'm fully shifted nor that I'm using her name. 

"Kirsa what the fuck."


"Hi Ara." She says, waving a blood covered hand at me. 


Ooooh and she knows that I'm the bloody winged wolf creature. How long... 


Kirsa keeps waving, speaking again, "I kind of need to tell you something." 


I shift fully human. Just so she can see my jaw drop. The words I release coming out extremely dry.

"Go on."

She gives me a full blown grin. Her eyes trailing around admiring the rather large amount of destruction surrounding us. Not at all shocked or surprised, and far too comfortable with the entire situation. Even more than I.


"So..."