TIME TO CATCH A CRIMINAL | ARGUS'S DEATH | TW GORE

[elijah]

[div style="margin: 0 auto; border-width:0; width: 70%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 9pt;"]Fairy tales and adventures can lead to gruesome ends. He knows this but he also likes to think that only the villains are punished through this so-called death, a gameover for any player willing to continue. The thoughts do not really reach him as they should. He enjoys pretending to be at war, lining all his toys against each other and pretending to kill and fight enemies. It never really meant anything. He forgets that they are all capable of death, having their lives snatched away from them. To him, his family and friends are invulnerable. Within the realms of his imagination, it is impossible to die. And yet the child has seen first hand how claws can strike vulnerable flesh, how blood can spill within moments of his vision. The bloodcurdling scream that left his maw had been real and genuine fear, overwhelmed by the seconds that ran by. Even then those memories are a blur, unsure if it is the work of suppression or the fact that he had been tired when it happened. It was like a nightmare to him if not for the fact that wounds needed time to heal over, that a scratch would appear in the place of sliced skin.

He feels Thirteen's discomfort swelling within him, the boy halting from his expedition within the dense rainforest. His confused emotions touch his rodent friend, the creature's instincts replying back to him that there was something in the air that made it uneasy. Elijah's teeth press together, sitting within their grooves when he thinks to turn back, only now noticing the thick metallic smell that was rotting throughout the air. His nose scrunches and the child coughs at the stench. He doesn't know what on earth is causing the smell but he wants to leave immediately. 'Elijah, wait.' His ears drop when his rat makes the sound of Priscilla's screams apparent to hear, the pitched shrill that cuts through the trees and undergrowth. He panics, now hearing the girl cry for help and spreading his wings immediately, taking flight. It is coming from the source of the smell, the boy holding a paw over his nose as Thirteen clings to his fur. He flies recklessly and hastily, speeding ahead in fear that whatever has caused the smell is a dangerous predator trying to hurt his sister. He will not stand for Sil to be injured in his presence, not when he can save her.

Elijah's heart stops him, the child choking on air when his wings fail on him. He begins to fall, spinning and tumbling against branches, dropping directly towards the ground. Just before he falls, he uses air elementals to try and break his fall, still thudding harshly against soil. The ragdoll wheezes and coughs, a pain surging in his chest. He had forgotten his limitations, the fact that he shouldn't fly so quickly and so high. Thirteen, understanding the boy's situation, scampers off him and starts dashing forward towards Priscilla. The black rat reaches her, beady eyes glancing at her before suddenly realising the large dragon that has been slain, the missing face. Knowing that Eli too would be unable to take the emotions, it begins to move backwards, regretting its decision and suppressing the bond in between them, refusing to let his companion see what it had witnessed. But, to its misfortunate, the kitten had already been moving towards Priscilla, tunnel-visioned of the dragon in front of him and wincing from the pain of the fall and the weakness of his body. He can still move. He knows he isn't dying but his eyes soon land on the dead beast.

Elijah freezes over like ice, forgetting to breathe until his lungs screamed for air. Lips quiver, tears begin to form. He wants to cry, sulk and scream at the bloodied sight by the terror upon his sister's face stops him. The kitten pouts, trembling as he suppresses his feelings, tugging Priscilla as he tries to be brave for her. "S-Sil....let's move away from here," the child pleads, forcing a smile. His expression is shaking, tears breaking out upon his youthful features. "...Obsecro..."