The sound of dripping blood seemed too loud in her ears, small droplets leaking from her nose as she moved slowly across the land bridge that connected the mainland to the Typhoon's territory. Her eyes were glazed over, dazed and uncaring of where she was going. Her body felt numb and she could hardly feel the waves of water as they sluggishly washed over her paws, pushing and showing. The thudding her of heart was such a quite and distant thing yet it was there in the background as if trying to keep her alive. She'd died once, why not again? The thought flashed through her head before she could even grasp what she had even meant by it as she took steps toward the gate that marked the beginning of a place she had become rather fond of. The Typhoon. But she couldn't yet grasp why she was here. The tang of blood was all she could smell, aching body shifting as she took her first steps back onto the land that she always seemed to be visiting. But she never visited the Typhoon for the Typhoon and that was a bad thing. She knew it was but she just...hadn't had the time to make a friendly visit. After all her own clan saw the Typhoon as enemies right now after what had happened with the raptors and until things were rectified she didn't know about visitations.

Still, she'd only come here to see one creature. "Pinch?" Her voice was thick with a strange unbridled anger despite how tired she was. It laid just underneath the surface, biting and clawing to be released again just as it had been released upon the Ascendants and their disgusting leader. A thick forked tongue of pink slipped out of slightly parted jaws to lick at the blood slipping from her nostrils and she grimaced at the taste before shaking her head a little bit. Her only goal was just to chill, to take a break before going home. The battle at the Ascendants had been....fruitless if she had anything to say about it. They'd taken one of their children, a young little kit named Harland that she had met once before and she felt horrible for it. But at the same time, could she leave him with a group of animals willing to kill and eat her members? The idea was disturbing and she moved further into the jungle before she laid her massive form down and just laid her head on her paws.

Tired, she as just tired and her body ached. The thick claw marks, her head throbbed with pain and she just wanted things to not go up in flames. But what was she do to when others pushed her so far. Curling one of her tails she twisted her form and laid on her side, rubbing her head up against the grassy ground before she closed her eyes. This life was crazier than her last that was for sure and she put a paw over head head to block out the sun.

[member=66]PINCHER[/member]

"SPEECH"

Pincher was familiar with war and the outcomes and dangers that came with it. Growing up alongside his father's gang, he became accustomed with the splashes of warm blood striking his face and the pain of being clawed or bitten. Fights would usually blossom from petty arguments or intense embedded hatred that spilled so much blood that Pincher lost count of how many fights he had been in. He just remembered that the fear of dying always slipped away with each fight he encountered or created, the adredaline and fury blinding him from the idea of never breathing. Maybe that was what had made him so reckless. So forgetful that he was mortal when he had fought at that cursed Snowbound fight with the humans. He had fought for those fuckers and had ended up getting a jagged spear embeded into his chest, the memory still tending to flash inside of his mind when he remembered the deadly outcome of that fight. He had died. He had foolishly let his pride take him to that moment and he could remember dragging himself out of his home, blood flowing out of his wound and surrounding him in a tiny red sea. How cold he felt as the slow seconds passed to him closing his eyes after shakingly writing his apologies on the sand and letting the sea take his soul.

That was months ago. He was now once again..."alive". Except not in a normal state that one would expect. He had been resurrected but at the cost of his freedom, the glowing tattooed that now marked his body binding him to the demands of the sirens of the sea. In full honesty, Pincher preferred to die than be bound to someone like they were now in control of his life. Like they could do whatever they wanted with him. He had known that familiar feeling when he had been forced to follow his father and his cruel leadership and he didn't want to feel that again. But the Typhoon needed him as a leader because he knew what to do, he was trained on how to behave and appear to be seen as an 'authority' figure that one could listen to. His family also needed him and the demigod knew it was better to endure the enslavement he was bound to so he could be there for those he loved. He closed his weary glowing ice blue eyes as he bit down on the scruff of a victim he had caught trespassing the territory, their limp body dragged across the sand as he threw it to the sea and watched the body quickly disappear as the sirens let out cries that only he could pick up. He was their hunter and the muscular male sighed, rolling his intense gaze as he turned away and stalked slowly towards his submarine to continue his paperwork. However, a voice caught his attention and his dark ears pricked, turning towards the direction of the voice.

"Mari...?" Pincher breathed, confusion dancing on his sharp facial features as the scarred pirate tipped his head to the side, his dark nose catching her scent...and blood. His eyes widened at the alarming mixture and he rushed towards the direction, his paws thumping against the ground as he pushed through the jungle vegetation to head towards the border. Was she alright? Did something happen? Why...why was he worried? He didn't know why but maybe it was because he liked Marina. He liked her spunk and smart mouth and he guessed in a way, saw her as someone that he could get along with well despite the tensions that had arisen from their group. He bursted into the clearing where she was, his breathing cut as he caught sight of her. His electric blue gaze widened with shock as he froze for a second before stalking cautiously towards her, the dark gray fur on his spine bristling. "Mari what the fuck happened? Hold on." Pincher breathed as he leaned down and gently press his forehead against hers before turning to focus on the wounds. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He wasn't good at healing and hardly knew much. But hopefully he had some medical supplies in his home. "Just hold on...alright? I'm gonna carry you." Pincher ordered softly as he aimed to crawl under her and lift her onto his back. "Holding on tight?" He questioned, trying to flash a soft awkward smile though it faltered with worry as he wondered if she could hang on.

© LEXASPERATED

Her mind had wondered, things becoming so vague that she was barely lucid to the world. Guessed that concussion when Moonmade rammed his skull against her own was really starting to take effect now. Her eyes didn't even want to open back up again and she could feel them rolling in their sockets as she attempted to focus her gaze on something, anything. Open up your eyes. The hellhound felt sick but she listened to that voice and forced her eyes to snap back open even as the world tiled and leaned around her. She hadn't even realized how rushed her breathing had become but all she was focused on was staying conscious. If she could manage that then everything else would be alright, right? Parting her lips the woman just remained silent but that silence was soon broken by a familiar voice. By the very creature she had come here to see because she knew that she would feel better around him. Why? She didn't know but she didn't have the want to care and deepen her thoughts considering the pounding in her skull refused to allow her to so that in the first place. Claws curled slowly, blood caked against them after a battle she didn't even bother with cleaning up after it. Everything was a mess and she just didn't know what to do anymore than a young babe in swaddling clothes.

But she couldn't keep silent for long least he probably really thought something was wrong. Feign that everything was alright, don't make him so worried. He sounded...so worried. Shifting her gaze she attempted to see him, felt his head press against her own and she tried to mimick a smile, half hearted but it was still there. Something to reassure him before her tired voice finally left out of tired lungs and throat. "Ain't as bad as it looks.... I promise.." Such a weak way of making her situation seem better. The woman wasn't known for being strong, she was known for being fun loving, that goofball with a sharp tongue that most anyone could love if they only gave her a chance. So then why did she think she could ever be a leader? It was above her, something she couldn't hope to do correctly and if she had only just told Quantum that she couldn't do it. That she wasn't the right choice because she just...made things worse. What she wanted to do was have fun, go to places and make them laugh. Fish her heart out and sell what she had acquired. But now Sunhaven looked up to her and she had to be the standing figure for all of them. But try as she might everything she had worked towards just seemed to be more and more steps back as things continued.

Wait, wait, did he say he was going to carry her? There was no real time to react as he slipped himself underneath her large form and pain forced her to tense up, jaws clenching for a moment over a hissing breath that made her squeeze her eyes shut. But the moment passed and she was able to breath again. Holding on tight was something she could do and she wrapped her forelegs around his neck, pressing her face against the back of his neck. The scent of him surrounded her, the smell of the sea such a familiar thing that made her feel at home. Once upon a time she had come from the sea, a being of gills and rubbery skin. To think that this now could actually calm her instead of otherwise because of the curse was...strange but she accepted it. Trying to clear her head she waited for their journey to safety and there was a complaint on her lips. "Hey,...I ain't wanted tae get blood on ya..." Her voice just a mere soft cooing as she closed her eyes once again. "The Ascendants happened. They killed two of me sunbearers and I-I had tae do something, Pinch. But...I don't know if I was right tae..."

"SPEECH"

He was used to seeing other in pain, hardly flinching when he would hear the crunch of bones or the thump of bodies dropping to the floor. Pincher supposed that maybe he had detached himself from reacting because he knew that if he let himself get too close to someone, he would be able to feel the same pain they felt. Maybe that was why he tensed up at the sight of blood-covered Marina, his mind telling him to lock down any feelings but his heart at the bottom of the ocean refused to accept that. She was different. Why? He...he didn't know but something about her was making him want to make sure she was safe and fine even if she was not part of the crew and his family. He was used to being selfish in the ways of showing sentiment, a strict white and black line of who he should care about and who he shouldn't. Marina was a grey area, someone outside his circle of friends and family yet he craved to draw her in to become one. Seeing her this way only made the temptation grow worse, he wanted her to be okay and safe. She seemed so helpless that it made a tightness in his chest to claw beneath his skin, causing his vision to briefly blur at the 'heartache' he felt for seeing her this way.

He caught her feigning smile but it didn't convince him as it only made the worry grow worse like a plague. She was in pain, pain that she didn't deserve. He didn't care what crime or sin she committed, he didn't like seeing the life of her be drained alongside her blood. Pincher heard her voice, the distinct sound ringing in his ear despite how soft and quiet it was compared to her usual fiery tongue. His throat tightened at her response and Pincher growled in a low tone "Don't be ridiculous. You're badly hurt...W-Wh-" Why are you here and not back home? He wanted to ask her. Her healers could have patched her up better than he ever could so why had she arrived to the island that was quite the distance to the harbored town she lived in? He trusted his healers to do just as well as any other medical expert but he knew that if the rest of the Typhoon saw him using resources on a current "enemy", they would not be exactly happy at the sight. Part of him wanted to take her back home but he knew it was much too far of a travel even if he shifted into his dragon form. He allowed her to adjust herself, ignoring the blood that now began to stick to his dark fur as he hardly cared. Wasn't the first time and certainly wouldn't be the last that he was drenched in blood. But knowing it was hers made his stomach flip as he murmured "Don't worry about it. Just hold on tight." He shifted his head ever so slightly to the side to glance at her, glad to see she was still conscious as he began the trek back to his submarine.

As he stalked quickly through the pale sandy hills, Pincher glanced around warily but hardly cared as they drew closer. He just wanted to patch her up the best he could but he heard her faintly state what had been the cause. The mention of the Ascendants caused his upper lip to curl with distaste, his dark ink black ears pinning to his skull at realizing they had injured Marina. He already held a specific hatred for the snobby bastards after they had kept two of his children captive and in the worst timing, a lockdown. It had been the only thing that had restrained him from burning the damn place down and looting their corpses. But now that he knew that the Ascendants had injured Marina, the anger he felt for them was only becoming even more poisonous and he was ready to head over and slice the throat of that Moonfucker. "Ssssh. Just save your breath, Mari. You're okay now." Pincher comforted as he opened the door of his home and stepped in, quickly closing it with a kick of his back leg before heading towards his bed. He halted beside it and gently shifted so Marina could lay down on the silk sheets before he quickly stepped away to find the first aid kit that one of his children had berated him to have to avoid another "Pinch" incident. After some rummaging, he returned with it and sat down beside the bed, opening to grab what he believed he needed. Water. Antibiotic cream. Sterile bandages. He warmed up the bottle of water with his blue flames before opening it and using it to gently clean the wounds. He remained deadly silent, his aqua blue gaze narrowed with concentration as he didn't want to mess it up.

© LEXASPERATED

She felt and believed that she would be okay now but she couldn't help but wish to redo what had happened. Maybe she should have given them one more time to talk. One more chance to refute the claims of murder but there was another side of her that spoke much louder. That she had given them enough chances and enough was enough with Sunhaven being the punching bag. It was their turn to show that they were not the type to sit back and just allow anything to be done to them. To push fear into the hearts of those that attempted to do the same thing to them. She couldn't allow for those that looked up to her as a leader, for those that trusted her to have to live in their own homes afraid to step out of their houses and into the light of day. To think they might be attacked at any moment or dined on by individuals that saw them as mere pieces of prey. She just couldn't stand it anymore and it had snapped something in her. Now there was something stirring, and anger that wouldn't be forced down by anything or anyone. It simmered in her gut, waiting for something to set it loose and that also terrified her. Even around her own she felt it and she remembered that moment when she saw red. When she saw Moonmade and there was nothing but fire that consumed and ate at her soul as she attempted to get at him, sink her claws into his body and tear his flesh from his bones.

Don't worry about it. Don't worry about the crimson color that seeped into the other's fur and she wanted to cringe slightly at the idea of what trouble she was causing him. Though the question of why didn't escape her and she didn't even know how to answer that himself. Even though he hadn't said it she understood what he had been trying to say though she kept herself quiet as they came to his home. A place she had never been before. Even as she was shifted off his back and onto silks she seemed slightly there and not. "Oh...silk... Such an offhanded comment and yet it feel from her bleeding muzzle just the same. Her vivid green eyes flicked around the room as if fascinated by what she saw as her paw slowly moved across the fabric. Though her mind didn't say drifting for long as she looked over to Pinch who seemed genuinely upset by the situation. At first she was confused as to way, they had no real connections, no real need to actually help one another. But he had taken her to his home and now he was fretting over her. No, not fretting but providing medical treatment. "Yaer ah righ' kin' frien'..."

Her accent had thickened to a near intelligible degree and she huffed sharply, hearing it with ears pinned against her head. Flicking her forked tongue out of her muzzle she attempted to swipe it across her jaws. Alright, just try again and she cleared her throat for just a moment, tasting iron in the back of her throat. "Right kind...friend." That sounded better and she couldn't help the laughter that floated out of her, even weak it sounded carefree though it ended in a light grown as warm water was washed across her deep gashes and cuts. Flicking one of her tails the woman would shift her paw from touching along the silk to lifting up to lightly boop Pincher on the nose. "Ya ain't have tae help me. But I appreciate it. Ya ain't bad...I don't think ya are bad..." Her eyes closed then, breathing slowing just a bit more as her eyes rolled toward the back of her skull. Frankly she was too tired to actually stay awake anymore and a nice nap seemed to be coming her way after all. She needed it after everything that had happened and being here allowed for her to actually relax and just be for a while.

"SPEECH"

Could Pincher understand the slight regret that Marina felt over her decisions? He could. He tended to doubt himself on every little decision, always fearing that any little mistake he made could bite him in the future. Maybe it was his overthinking thoughts that flooded him with paranoia of everything bad being his fault but he had grown up with that ideal. That he was never going to be in the right side of history, that he was meant to be some meager criminal stealing and fighting with bruised shoulders and a bloody nose. What had his father called him? A lowly rat? He couldn't exactly remember since there had been many berating nicknames that had been placed upon him, even the very name he had now. Another problem was his obsession with revenge, to follow the belief of "an eye for an eye". It was what he felt satisfied him best especially when it came to his crewmates. Except it wouldn't just be an eye that he would want as his hunger to completing destroy his enemies so they could never try to raise a fight with him again. It was perhaps the reason why he was so ruthless because he knew how stubborn a soul could be and Pincher wanted to tear the very stubborness of his enemies that he carried within himself. Maybe it was because it was necessary. Or maybe because it just felt good.

Pincher tried his best to concentrate on Marina's wounds, lower jaw locked in a focused pout that he tended to do while his left ear twitched subconsciously as he tried to be as gentle yet effective as possible. He heard her breathy comment about the silk sheets and he all did was mumble a soft grunt as he didn't want her to move. Maybe he appeared too serious but he was just too afraid of fucking up, he wanted to do right with Marina. Why? He...he didn't know. Maybe it was to apologize for accidentally killing her? No. That wasn't it and he knew that. But at the same time, he couldn't place his paw onto why. He liked her and seeing her in pain caused a certain heavy tightness in his throat that felt like he was choking. As he finished cleaning out the wounds, watching the warm water mix with the blood and drip down the side of his bed, Pincher turned to grab the cream that he opened awkwardly, hoping that he could apply a decent amount as he grabbed a pawful and began to gently cover the wounds after applying a decent pressure to stop the bleeding. As he did this, his coal black ears pricked at her drowsy comment, eyes briefly fluttering away from his work as he questioned "What did you say?" He halted for a moment as he noticed she was attempting to speak again.

A right kind friend. He didn't know why but the statement caused his gaze widen ever so slightly, his thin needle black pupils locking onto the face of Marina in bewilderment. Being seen as a friend in her eyes caused a sudden warmth to flow through him especially after hearing her soft laugh, the fur on his neck slightly rising at how melodic it sounded. "I-" He was cut off as he was once again startled by Marina's actions and words. She softly booped his nose and he blinked twice, eyes widening even more. Heat rushed to his cheeks and he was troubling processing what she was saying. She thought...he wasn't bad? He couldn't believe she saw him that way, that he wasn't some wicked cruel twisted mastermind but...someone good. He wasn't used to it and Pincher was shocked at the idea that it was her perspective about him. No. She isn't feeling well, she isn't serious. The intruding thought snapped him out of the trance as he watched her close her eyes and finally rest and Pincher softly cleared his throat as he gently grabbed her paw with his to set it down. "Rest, Marina." The demigod murmured as he turned back to begin bandaging. Once he was done and he had tightened the bandages well enough. The male stepped back, tired gaze locked onto Marina, thinking she looked rather cute when she slept. It caused a slight smirk to form on his muzzle as the blood splattered wildcat simply went to sit beside the bed to watch over her before his own eyelids grew heavy and he began to drift into sleep, leaning against the bed frame with his tattooed shoulders rising and falling while he slept beside her.

© LEXASPERATED

There was no perception of time or the changing of it as the woman slept. Any attempts to wake her up first would have been met with less than the desired results. But she slept like she was dead, very heavy and sometimes with a light snore pulling from deep in her throat. No dreams came to visit her tired and heavy body and that might be because she was just too tired mentally to conjure up anything while she slept. It was a welcomed reprieve to sink into the thick darkness, like a comforting blanket where she didn't have to think about anything that she had done in the recent weeks. There was a certain pleasure to being ignorant about the world around her, blissful and a soft sigh fell from slightly parted jaws as the day wore on and the night began to claim it's right spot in the cycle. It took a moment, a silent shift of back legs that caused pain to pierce her sleeping mind. Clogged and heavy her conscious started to awaken as her front paws extended out and she allowed a soft groan to leave her as stiffened muscles and limbs stretched out. The pain didn't come as a surprise but the scents around her did.

Firstly she smelled the sea, salt and water mixed together to create a unique smell of beach sands and ocean waves. Vivid green eyes parted, blurry vision clearing upon a few more blinks as she looked around where she was. At first she was perplexed and confused until she slid a paw against the fabric underneath her large frame. Silk? A warm look entered her gaze before she allowed her eyes to shift away from the bed beneath her and then she saw him. At first she could almost consider herself alarmed at the situation that had happened. But she'd come here knowingly and willingly, not sure if she had been seeking help or not. But something had pulled her to the Typhoon and she'd come looking for him specifically. While he was asleep she allowed her snake like eyes to roam over his handsome features. Wait, what? She looked taken aback by her thoughts and she jerked her head up a little to quickly causing a sudden bout of lightheadedness as she squeezed her eyes shut. Ah, no, she didn't think he was handsome...did she? Lifting a paw to press it against her head for a moment she flicked her gaze back to Pincher, moonlight throwing his form in relief.

His grey fur becoming more like molten silver and she was drawn into it. Her body moved slowly, shifting and quietly pushing against the sheets of the bed as she approached his form. Her gaze glossed over the glowing tattoos, a gentle and soft light blue hue and she lifted up a paw as if she might touch them. But a pause as her eyes caught something, a moment near his mouth that made her act on instinct. Her paw came swatting aimed to smack him right across his face but what she didn't know until she possibly looked at her paw and saw the wetness of drool there was that it hadn't been a bug that she saw but instead just the drool of a tired king. Eyes widening at this sudden realization she exclaimed rather loudly, hackles raising with a sinking feeling of dread flexing in her stomach. "Oh geez, oh fuck! Ah, ah! I'm sorry! I thought ya had a bug on ya face! I swear it by me own life, don't kill me!" Her ears pressed against her skull and she hurriedly pulled Pinch's blanket off his bed and over her own head to hid her own embarrassment. Stupid. Stupid.

"SPEECH"