(ELITE) The SNOWPOINT Team

Strix barreled after a hesitant Dante, who kept pausing to look at himself awkwardly.

What the fuck is wrong with him? Why is it so fucking cold? I hate fucking blizzards. I hate fucking snow. Why does he look so fucking different? Are they following us?

A million questions ran through his head as he plowed through snow hallway Dante had made. The raw power of the fire attacks astounded him, but it was not the time to be marveling at things.

They burst through the door of the warehouse as they got out of the blizzard. Strix looked at all of them, then at Dante, who stood there awkwardly.

"...We're back." Dante grumbled. Strix snorted quietly as he hurriedly stomped in and put Ciara down near the fire before rushing to the doors and shutting all of them, shoving heavy crates and machinery in front of them as quietly as he could. Despite his size, he was able to move very quickly.

"Everyone quiet. Don't know if they followed or not." he hissed as he looked at them from around his shoulder.

Allie? Alice supposed she deserved it, acting so familiar with Yon-co, but it still didn't bode well with her. Very well... She thought to herself. We'll call it a game. First to call each other by their real name loses. Ah, this would be entertaining. "Wierd force... That sounds like how we got here as well. I believe we were in the Ice Caves in Johto..." As it turned out, Yonny may not have been too far from them in the first place... His story only deepened the feelings she felt before, the sickening in the pit of her stomach. What was wrong with her? Hera had Strix, there was nothing between her and the Raichu anymore... And why should it matter? Alice didn't need a mate. She was about to open up another sly remark, when the others returned.

Alice's eyes grew wide as she saw Dante, or at least, she thought it was Dante. He had changed considerably, adding spikes and horns and whatnot. Strange. Alice hadn't known he had a third evolution stage... But then again, not long ago she hadn't known that a virus could infect creatures enough that they turned into blood thirsty zombies. Anything was possible. Strix, on the other hand, confused her. "Who followed?"

Strix. Strix. STRIX. STRIX! His name flashed so many times through my head that the horror of the situation was quickly taking hold. I was so filled with utter disbeleif that I was still laying on the ground, my body limp beneath me as I could only watch the fight forming before me. 

Somehow all of the undead that had been everywhere just a minute ago had all disappeared, instead smoke filled my nostrils. I whipped my head around to watch in horror as spread across the dead grass like a flood. The blaze would be upon the three of us in seconds. Just that thought gave me enough strength to force myself to my paws, barely managing to shove my legs beneath me and straighten them to stand. In only that short amount of time that took, fure bit at my long tail and the heat was almost too much. I stared in horror at the two undead Pokemon, the fires light reflecting off of Strix's exposed muscles and making the blood shine from where it fell.

"St... STRIX!!" I screamed, the cry ripped from my throat as I watched the Charizard lunge. The only remaining part of it's jaws tore into the Nidoking's shoulder, leaving a massive tear. Strix roared with fury, his beady crimson eyes full of hate as he lashed out with an attack, rippin into the stomach of the dragon with a Shadow Claw. But the fire was coming closer still. Fear was making my heart a flighty bird yearning to escape. I shot forward with a push from my hind legs, barelling right into the middle of the fight with a feairsome screech. The two were still grappeling, their snarls and roars almost as loud as the fire. I shot out a Psy Beam at the Charizard's face as I flew through the air, but the dragon was not effected at all. It snarled at me, spitting out fire in a Flamethrower right at me before I could dodge.

I screamed out in agony as the scent of singed fur flew into the air. I dropped like a rock, losing all of my momentum as I stumbled to the burning ground once more. Strix bellowed with so much emotion, so much anger, that I actually flinched in fear. I managed to open my eye, just a slit, in time to see him ramming the Charizard. But something was wrong. The dragon dodged, making the Nidoking stumble and crash to the ground as he lost his footing. My gaze widened as I saw the fire thpe life one small arm, an evil gleam in it's eyes. I knew what it was going to do. With Strix stripped of his armor as well as on the ground on his back, the other undead could tear him apart. "No!" I cried just as it lunged. 

In a split second decision, I threw myself at the dragon without even waiting to get to my paws. With no real aim or power, only a growing desperation to save Strix, I barely managed to get thrown into the path of the claws. For once I was silent with pain and just pure horror as thick talons ripped through my middle.

 

The Luxray seemed to be making faces as I spoke and my ears flicked to one side. She almost looked like... She was in pain or something. A disatisfied scowl came to my face. I didn't want my new friend to be hurt and not saying anything.  I stood from where I had been by Hera and started to walk nearer to Allie, my long tail flickering to and fro behind me. My eyebrows were pulled down in concentration, and I slowed my pace as I came closer to where she was, but I never had a chance to ask of something was wrong. 

Suddenly two huge shapes burst into the the warehouse. The Nidoking was carrying something within a tarp, blood spatters on his scales as well as the fabric. It took a few seconds of staring to realize that it was the Mightyena from earlier and my eyes shot wide open with horror and concern. She wasn't moving much and that wasn't a good sign. But the other shape is what took the real prize. "...We're back," the beast muttered. My short pelt spiked on end, instantly in the defensive. This creaturewas huge for one, boney spikes coverin his back and tail, as well as a huge akull like crest now covering his face. I had been told stories when I was young of the grimreaper of the Pokemon world. No one I knew had ever seen one, but I knew without doubt that this was the fables Houndusk. What else could it be? My thoughts went to Hera as well as Alice and I flicked my ears back in distrust.

But while I studied the demonic canine, the Nidoking took the situation into account. He placed the fallen Mightyena by the fire, not far from Hera, and just as soon slammed shut the doors of our hideaway. "Everyone quiet. Don't know if they followed or not," he commanded in a harsh whisper as he baraccades the entrence. My eyes widened once more at his words. Who had followed? But the Luxray beside me already asked, "Who followed?"

I could already assume so and my ears flicked all the way back as I stood up on my hind legs. "Undead?" I asked in a tense whisper, flicking Alice's side with my long tail as a cue to be quieter. It would matter later who had actually followed, at that second they would just have to be silent.

Dante shook himself free of any clinging snow and made his way around the group, further surveying them. Hera seemed the worse off -besides Ciara, of course- and seeing that the medicine had helped so much alleviated his own fears. The others queried over who could have followed them, and the raichu took it from the hound's mouth before he could answer. "Yeah. Infected. I think we lost them, but the trench might lead them here..." He looked to the doors and found them properly barred, but the rest of the warehouse was a mystery. Besides, every other building was in disrepair in this damned town, why would this one stay?

He shook his head. They were relatively safe for now, and they needed to heal the pup back top health. "Strix, put her down by the fire. The box still has some meds left, get what you can into her." He turned to Alice, glancing between her and the fat rat. A weird air was between them... odd. "How've things been here?"

Strix nodded at Dante as he barked out quick orders, grabbing the med kit and kneeling down in front of Ciara. He popped open the box and shuffled about the multitude of paper and plastic garbage to find the remaining medicine. His face brightened as his claws uncovered the large syringe. With a swift motion, he uncovered the canine and gave her a quick glance-over.

He pulled the protective lid off of the syringe and carefully stuck it into her leg.
"I'm sorry, kid, but this will help. You stay with us, y'hear?" he said, looking at her sideways as he worked. Tossing the empty syringe, he stood up and approached Hera, who seemed to be dreaming.
His brows furrowed as he knelt down beside her, concern filling him.

No, not the time. Ciara. Gotta help her.
He gently and slowly pulled one of the coats from behind the Espeon, letting his claw rest on her shoulder a moment before standing up and shredding the jacket. He used the polyester strips to bandage Ciaras' wounds, and placed the cotton interior under her head.

"There..." he sighed, slowly backing up a bit as he tried to quell his nerves.
Too much blood and injuries all at once. This isn't looking good. he thought nervously as he looked at the others.
We can't move them for days...maybe weeks...how are we going to do this?...

"Ciara, let us know if you need anything, alright?" He whispered as gently as he could to the hurt canine.

His gaze eventually turned to the newly-evolved Dante, who was questioning the group. His ears fell a bit as he stomped away from the group, looking for something to clean himself with. He spotted a large engine, with old, oily and dusty linen draped over it.
Better than being covered in blood.

He sighed as he pulled at the covers, wiping his claws and chest clean of the dark substance as he half-listened to the others' conversations.

Alice sighed. It seemed no matter where they went, some undead or another was always trying to kill them. It was quite bothersome, that. Her eyes widened when she saw what Strix was carrying: the mangled body of Ciara. But wait - she was moving. So she was still alive... Thank Arceus. Luckily, Doctor Strix, who had already proved his worth, struck gold a third time by helping the Mighteyena. Turning back to Dante, she responded in a submissive tone.

"It's been calm. We've just been getting to..." Her eyes darted to Yonny. "Getting to know each other."

The pain. My whole world was pain. Time seemed to completely slow down, the twisted grin of the undead Charizard before me and the sight of my own blood flying through the air, allowing me to take in exactly what had happened. And I knew I was going to die. It didn't even matter that Strix was now one of them. It didn't even matter that he might now be able to defeat the dragon anyway. The only thing that mattered was saving him. Buying more time. There was a sudden realization as my body began to come down from the ark through the air from the dragon's slash. Through the agony of having my entire ribcage ripped and crushed open, a smile pulled at my lips. An icy calm. I could now realize exactly why I acted the way I did. Exactly why I had thrown my life away from him without another thought. My amber eyes slowly closed, a peacfully content expression on my face as time sped up again.

At least I was able to realize it before I died.

I hit the ground harshly and that time I was not able to keep my silence. I landed on my side, bouncing slightly like a discarded doll, unable to move or even twitch through the growing agony and exhaustion. It felt as if my stomach were on fire, my entire body just screaming from the inside as it tore itself apart. The impact on the side of the wound was so horrible that I could only make an attempt at a scream, my voice nothing more than wheezing air, as my eye snapped open to reveal a completely white vision from the pain. It was so much that I was sobbing without realizing it, only noticing when my tear stained face glisened from the flames around me. The fire was coming closer, but at an agaonizingly slow pace. It would slowly burn my tags and tail and ears before reaching any of the parts that would kill me. But I might not even be able to wait that long, I realized as blood suddenly shot from my mouth to join the huge pool already staining my light fur. I could not even see the wound. I could not move to see it. My eyes screwed shut. I didn't want to.

But suddenly I was up in the air. My eye shot open from the pain, giving another silent gasp and earning more blood pooling out of my mouth. It was only when I was heald against his chest that I realized it was Strix. He had picked me up, probably saving me from drowning in my own blood. I wanted to move my head, to look him in the eye and make sure he was okay, but it was too late. I was too weak and breathing was suddenly too difficult. But his thick, skinless arms still held me protectively. I allowed myself to just enjoy him while I could. A very soft and irregular pur began to come from deep with my throat. Strix. I tried to say his name but was rewarded with coughing blood on him before shrinking with defeat, my scrawny body shivering. But then he moved one arm. I was barely able to even reguster it. My mind was fuzzy, fading, just the thought of opening my eyelids exhausting me. 

But I was awear of the new, sudden pain. 

I would have thought it impossible, but something new had completely overshadowed all of the other agonies with it's own. My eye did manage to snap open to see a horrible sight. I watched in silent, uncomprehending horror as Strix pulled his arm from within my ribcage. His claws and forearm were now completely drentched in blood but I was still able to make out the little organ wrapped in his palm, veins and gore desperately trying to return it to my chest. Strix crushed my heart and the last thing I saw was his face, completely burned and torn, a manical hunger in his red eyes....

"NOOOOOOO!"

The scream was ripped from my throat as my gaze suddenly snapped open. There was a fire nearby and many other Pokemon around but I didn't recognize any of them. My ears were flat against my head, my gaze so impossibly wide with horror as I looked around me. My horror only grew as I saw the Nidoking near me. My pelt spiked instantly, my tail straight up in the air as I was suddenly on my paws so fast it was as if I teleported. I never took my eyes off of him, the last part of my nightmere running through my mind and flashing constantly behind my eyes. He killed me. He crushed my heart right in front of me.

He was smiling.

I couldn't help it, I began to scream. Tears of complete fear and anger began to fall down my cheek as I bolted. I ran to the complete opposite side of the warehouse before realizing there was no where to go. My feline screech never faultered as I turned back to stare at him, my irrational mind seeing him as the enemy. "G-get away from me!!" I screamed, cutting of my cries as I began to charge a Psy Beam. I was aiming it right at the boxes where the doors were. I needed to escape. Needed to get out. A racing pulse shot through my ears. 

He would kill me.

((Ooc; Permission for Dante/Strix to stop her.))

((I'm having such a hard time posting due to lack of sleep, please skip. Just say Ciara passed out during treatment from shock/bloodloss))

Inochi watched as the... Houndoom? Dante, who, didn't really look like a Houndoom anymore, along with the Nidoking came back to the shed carrying a wounded mightyena, possibly a friend of theres. The Houndour raised her head, her hears perked as Dante mention undead, and how they mite have lost them. Inochi flattened her ears at the thought of undead, and how she wouldn't be able to do much if they encountered them since she was so weak and useless.

Letting out a sigh she lay her head on her paws again before shooting to her paws at the sound of the Espeon shouting no. Fear was on Inochi's face as she looked around, and the espeon seemed to be sharing the same fear, but it seemed to be toward the Nidoking. Inochi tried to relax, and simply sat down, letting out a long sigh as she did her best to keep herself calm.

Looking back up, she wondered why the Espeon was so scared of the Nidoking. Did he do something to her before he left to answer Dante's howl? That was a possibility. But she didn't know what she could do to calm her down, it be best if one of the others did. Once again, she found herself just sitting by, and doing nothing.

Screaming. That's all that rang in his ears, despite Alice's voice speaking. No. The blood-curdling scream of a terrified woman clawed through his senses, making him visibly flinch as the fur on his haunches bristled. The source was shocking; Hera, her only eye wide with fear, her horrified gaze planted on Strix. Dante didn't even get a chance to wonder why, especially after the awkwardly tender moments they'd shared in their short time together. No, all he could think about was the scream rattling in his ears, and the wild look in Hera's eyes.

A look he knew all too well.

Delia's grin flashed in his mind, and in flash, his strong, lithe legs carried him to Hera, fangs out. She was turning; she lost her mind. It had to be. She'd shown hints of weakness here and there, but now, she was showing her true self, and he had to end her before she turned around and ended them.

Just... like...

His massive paws were on her in an instant, pinning her down under his massive weight of bone and muscle. Cold blue eyes stared down into her one, fangs bared, snarl rumbling in his chest and throat. Only one thought was running through his mind. 'She's crazy... She's crazy, Dante. Just one fell swoop and you've got her. She won't hurt you or the others... She's gotta be killed... You have to do it before it's too late... and she...'

A small glance of pain and indecision flashed across his features, but it was snuffed as quickly as it had surfaced. Without another word, he bent down to bite her, to rip her trachea from her scarred neck.

An ear-splitting screech shattered the quiet. Strix shuddered as his ears flew straight up in utter shock, his eyes on the purple feline. Heras' eye was wide with pure terror, her yowling echoing loudly through the building as she dashed to the barricaded door.

"Hera!" He cried out, mortified by her howling.
Fuck! Every infected from here to the next town would have heard that! Strix stomped forward, his claws outstretched towards her in protest.

"G-get away from me!!" She screamed, her fur bristling and her back arching in terror. The Nidoking froze in his tracks as her terrified gaze stayed on him. His heart stopped in his chest as the realization hit him.

She's afraid of me...! Her screams and terror hit him like a freight train at full speed. His ears fell and his face became a mask of pain. He saw a Psy Beam growing in her mouth as everything seemed to slow down. She turned her maw to the barricade, ready to blow it to pieces.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw a black and white flash race towards the delirious Espeon, pinning her to the ground, and the others next to him, standing there with horrified gazes on their maws.
If she breaks through the barricade...it's all over...we couldn't hold them back...

The Houndusk snarled, his enormous fangs bared as he pinned the Espeon effortlessly. Rage suddenly began to boil in the Nidokings' blood, and his vision went black- all he saw was the Espeon and Houndusk. A blood-curdling roar erupted from the beast, his tail whipping violently behind him as he rampaged. Strix bellowed as he smashed his fists against the ground, the concrete snapping like dry twigs under his fists. His brilliant eyes flashed at the others, whipping his claw around and grabbing the first thing that moved; the Raichu. He flung the mouse effortlessly into the darkness, its' body colliding with the furthest warehouse wall with a loud crash. With a gutteral roar, he crashed towards the snarling hound, splintering crates and twisting steel as he plowed ahead.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" Strix roared, grabbing the hound by the throat and flipping him into the ground as hard as he could. The Nidoking roared in the hounds' face, his whole frame shaking in anger as he bared his large fangs. He looked at the dark hound, his claws shivering with the overwhelming urge to snap his neck. His insides were on fire with the merciless rage, but he struggled to hold it back. The Nidoking snorted heavily, his breath hissing through his large nostrils and jagged teeth.

No! No! It's Dante! It's fucking Dante!!

Out of the darkness, his vision returned partially, enough for the Nidoking to regain control. His eyes searched the dogs' face, an unexplainable emotion on his own before growling and quickly launching the large canine into the wall. Without hesitation, he turned to the Espeon. He snatched up her light form and curled himself around her, his powerful tail pinning her body against his. He leaned against the barricade, his large claws holding her body still with a firm bear hug.
"Hera! Get a fucking grip! I'm-!" He hissed against her trembling frame. "I'm not going to hurt you!"

Strix could feel his arm getting slick. The armored reptile looked down to see the Espeons' wound opening again, the crimson liquid pouring from her belly.

"Hera...please...please stop...." He whispered, his eyes tearing up and tightly closing as he hid his face behind her neck.

(OoC- permission given to wreak havoc, lol)

Alice jumped when she heard the screaming. Hera had woken up, and seemed to be... hallucinating? She seemed to be afraid of Strix. What possible reason could there be for that? Great. More confusion. Naturally, Alice did what she'd done for what seemed like forever now, in times of crisis. She looked to Dante.

However... the large wolf stood menacingly over Hera. He bent down as if to whisper something in her ear... But, wait. He bent too low for that. And he was baring his fangs.

No.

Thank Arceus. Strix was able to stop him in time. What the hell had gotten into him?! Hera was one of them! She was still injured! Had Dante been infected? No... He certainly seemed alive. But now... What the hell was Strix doing?! Alice could understand getting him away from Hera, but... Strix looked to be about to do the same to Dante that he was about to do to the Espeon!

No... No!

It was too much. Her friends and allies were breaking apart. They were starting to kill each other! Was this all the world was destined for? The survivors so stuck up with madness that they begin to kill each other, doing the Undead's work for them? Tears began to well up in the Luxray's eyes, but she managed to hold them back. Until, of course, she turned around to avoid looking at the others. And there... lying in the darker part of the Warehouse, struck against the wall was Yon-co. Strix must had thrown him when she wasn't looking.

No no no no no no no no no!

Alice turned her back on the others, the tears now freely coming down her face. Why the fuck should she care so much about this smartmouthed prick of a Raichu, when her closest friends were fighting each other to the death? It made no sense, but she didn't slow down as she ran to Yon-co's side. He seemed to at least be conscience, but Alice would take no chances. She put her back to the wall, standing next to him. If Strix decided to take his anger out on someone else, she would make sure it would not be Yon-co.

The atack was building, the jewel on my head glowing brighter and brighter as the attack built up. My heart was still racing so painfully and loudly within my chest. My pelt was spiked, the complete horror more than evident in my gaze. Everyone was trying to kill me. Everyone was out to get me. They wanted my blood. They wanted my heart. But out of nowhere, a huge shape barelled into me. With a screech of alarm, the Psy Beam was abruptly cut off as suddely a hellhound was standing over me. Before anyone would have easily been able to overpower me. My body was weak from my wound as well as months of exhaustion, but now? With this completely alein demon standing over me? I struggled in vein, hissing and spitting as I fought to hide my fear. What was this thing?! How did he get inside?! Was he here to finish what Strix had done in my dreams?!

My questions were awnsered as blue eyes peirced my very soul. Large, glistening fangs shown in the light of the fire. My eye widened, my body going completely limp as I gave up trying to escape. I could only watch as he came closer and closer to me. I threw my head to the side, flattening my ears as my gaze snapped shut, awaiting the stinging blow to my throat that was sure to come. What a twisted world life had become. I would die at the fangs of this demon. Hell, maybe I was still asleep. Maybe this was all just one nghtmare within the last and I was actually really at home, curled up on my master's lap. Maybe I had never actually lost the fight and the Epidemic never happened. My cheeks felt wet as I started to cry, my chest wracking with sobs as they escaped me. I would die. I really would. Or maybe I would just wake up from the nightmare.  

But suddenly a roar rang through the air and I flinched, seeming to shrink in size as I curled up in on myself despite being pinned. It was the same roar from my dream. "GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" I did not dare open my eyes, even as the incredible weight disappeared from my chest. I could hear the smashing of the monster's body against the ground as more of Strix's roars flew through the air. Each sound just made me curl up more on myself, pulling my forlegs over my muzzel and face, my expression more than tortured as it constricted. I was sick of the nightmares. I was sick of the violence. Sick of the horrible roaring. "Just make it stop," I whispered into my small paws. That only made it worse, liquid now making the ground alick beneath me as well as the salt on the fur of my face. "Just make the nightmare end!" I screeched, my voice hoarse but still peircing as it ripped through the air. I put so much emotion into those four worda, my throat hurt afterwards, making me want to just take a bite of the snow outside. 

But then he was near. I knew it was him and I screwed my eyes shut with so much force, so muh fear, as I tried to pretend he wasn't there. But I was done fighting, I had no more strength, and would not be able to fend him off either way. "Just make it quick..." I whispered my plea to Lugia. Would my God save me, save me when I needed it? Was he even listening or could he not hear me? Was he even still alive in this hellish world? Suddenly I was moving, though, a ragdoll of a limp body as I was pressed once more against the hardened chest of the Nidokind. I continued to tremble, trying to prepare myself for the end. But I was still scared. 

There was a pressure from all of my sides, his arms holding me against him while his tail supported me from the back. I choked out a sob. I was trapped. Trapped. "Hera! Get a fucking grip! I'm-!" His words were hushed but full of intensity. I shriveled back from them. "I'm not going to hurt you!" I ducked my head in an attempt to hide from him. He had lied to me before. "Please... Make it quick..." I begged once more, my voice so cracked and defeated. I didn't know if Lugia could hear me, but I had given up on the Nidoking listening. He just wanted my heart. My heart.

But nothing actually haplened. There was no new pain. I allowed my orange gaze to open a slit only to see blood staining the purple armor. Then it wodened with shock as I took in the wound on my chest. The bandages were sopping wet, no longer doing anything but soaking up some of the blood. But that was an old wound. There was nothing new wrong with me. I allowed myself to relax in his grip. I had sone the same before, when he ripped my chest open, but I no longer cared. I had been happy then, before I died, and I could be happy now before I die. I felt him shift and there was warmpth on my neck. "Hera...please...please stop...." he whispered, his warm living breath ruffling my fur. He was... So tender... Like he cared enough not to kill me... I twisted my head ever so slightly to lick his cheek. It was the most I could do, the most appropriate. "Strix..." My throat constricted. I knew he was going to kill me anytime now. Any second. But still I could not say the revelation from my dream. "Make it quick... Quick..."


Thinga happened very quickly. One moment everything was peaceful, but then Hera awoke. My thick neck snapped around to see her. My fur spiked just by seeing her. There was very clear horror in her eyes, her tail straight up in alarm. She seemed to search the area around her before landing on the Nidoking before screeching about him stayin away from her. Before anyone could stop her, the Espeon has sprinted to the barricade with the intention of busting through. But thank Arceus Dante stopped her. Only he didn't look right either, a silent madnes in his eyes as he went for her throat.

My head was spinning by the time the Nidoking finally interveened. He rushed them with a roar, his entire demenor savage, and before I knew what was happening, I smacked right into a wall. My thick head collided with a thump that could not be heard over the roaring. My fat body smacked into the ground and I groaned, eyes rolling back into my head for a second. It seemed that for a minute at least I was out of it. By the time my eyes slowly opened, the Houndusk had been thrown aside and hit the ground, the Nidoking holding Hera... And Alice was right next to me. It made no sense- would she not go to protect the Espeon? Was the Nidoking trustworthy enough to be left with her, even after throwing the Houndusk? I slowly felt feeling returning to my body as I groaned again. I managed to get to my hind paws, using one clawed hand to hold the wall in support. "A... Allie? Wh... What h-happened?" I slurred, still fighting to focus on anything. My head was swimming.

Ciara's eyes snapped open to the horrifying sounds of terror, a female screaming in such fear that it chilled her blood. In her weakened and woozy state, it took a few minutes before she could get her eyes focused enough to see that Hera was the one screaming. But what she didn't expect was to see Strix pick up Dante by the horns and toss him effortlessly to the floor, a deep roar vibrating the very floor she lay upon. He looked poised to kill, fury burning in his eyes as Hera's screams still pierced the air. What...what had just happened?

Abandoning his mark Strix went for Hera, which caused Ciara's heart to stop for just a moment until she realized he was trying to comfort her. Had-had she been screaming because of Dante? Was Strix trying to protect her from their alpha? No...not alpha...not anymore. She witnessed herself as Dante was bested in one fell swoop, marking Strix as the strongest and most dominant in the pack. Confusion swirling in her mind to the point of nausea, she was able to hold on to that one truth. Strix had bested the alpha, so now he was the one she was supposed to look to.

But, in her heart, she knew she couldn't just abandon the one who had braved ice and fire to save her life. Dante was still laying on the floor and who knew if he was injured. Forcing herself to her feet, the badly beaten Mightyena limped her way over to the other hound and tried bumping him lightly with her head. She looked pleadingly into his eyes, begging him silently to tell her what happened. The last thing she remembered was Strix and Dante as friends, working together to save her life and get her back to them. "Why...?" she whispered. "Why is everyone fighting? Did I do something wrong?" She just...didn't understand.

Inochi flattened her ears and widened her eyes as the whole warehouse went into chaos. The Houndour was scared now of these pokemon as they all started to fight amongst themselves. She back away slowly into a corner. With the entrance blocked, there was no way for her to get away. She was trapped, and not in a good way.

The Mightyena looked just as baffled by everything as Inochi was, asking if the fighting was her fault. Inochi didn't think it was her fault, the Espeon just started to freak out, then Dante attacked her, ready to kill her, then Strix knocked him off, and now the two where fighting. Inochi shut her eyes and placed her paws over her ears, hoping to block out the sounds of turmoil happening around her.

"There is nothing I can do. I'm weak..." She said. There really was nothing she could do, nothing. What could she do anyway, she wasn't strong enough to fight these pokemon, there was no way she could take them on, no way at all. Opening her eyes again, she looked up. "Why am I so useless?"

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"

In the moment that Dante's teeth even thought about touching Hera's neck, the huge Canine suddenly found himself upside-down, paws in the air, Strix's hate-contorted face the only visible image. He opened his mouth to defend himself, that she was fucking nuts and needed to be killed before she killed them, but with Strix's crushing grip, he found talking was pretty hopeless. "St... Str...x..." His throat popped and tightened, his breath now coming in short, labored gasps. Instinctively, his paws pushed and scratched against the Nidoking, his body fighting hard for air. His eyes watched the monster above him as Dante slowly realized that Delia may never get the chance to kill him.

Before him dimming vision could take him, the houndusk's senses were momentarily overwhelmed by a furious roar, and before he could even fathom leaving the ground, he was already on the other side of the room, hitting the wall and collapsing on the concrete floor in an undignified heap. For a moment, all he saw was black.

Mere moments later, sound once again filled his ears, a cacophany of voices, shrieks and whimpers. He groaned against them, his own monotone tenor something of a rock for his mind to lean on. What had just happened? He chanced opening his eyes and saw Ciara near him, whimpering questions. The pup from earlier was also cowering, Alice was with the rat, and Strix, of course, was handling Hera. He sat up, anxiety still on his mind. She was nuts. She was going to turn and attack them and eat them and everything else... Delia's haunting giggled echoed in his mind, louder than Hera's quiet pleas to Strix. No... She was faking... it had to be a fake...

She was...

Upon standing, Dante found his left front leg somewhat painful to walk on, but he dismissed it as a temporary inconvenience. He pushed past Ciara, past the others as he hobbled closer to the odd couple. Once a safe distance away, his breath short with pain and fear, he gave a small growl. He didn't know if he'd be able to come out of another tangle with the nidoking with just a sore leg. "Strix, she's fucking lost it," He began, his throat catching a little, voice raw from the abuse not minutes prior. "I've seen it before! She's nuts! She'll kill us all, and lick our blood off of her fucking paws! She'll giggle, she'll laugh, she'll have a goddamn festival around our bloody corpses! She's the fucking devil!"

His words were a fire-filled venom, his fury spitting every syllable with a loathing he'd never allowed before. His icy gaze fell to the espeon, her expression contorted with Delia's grin, her malice. For that moment, all he saw was the little Zorua, bathed in his mate's and trainer's blood, her teeth pristine even after the slaughter. His lip curled more, the snarl in his bruised throat building more and more. "She's a demon!"

The air hung on his last word for a moment, his thoughts rampant in his own mind. 'Strix must be as insane as she is, thinking he can stop her once she's back to normal. She'll slit our throats in the night. She'll pluck out our eyes and eat them with fucking cake! Delia's the enemy here, no--'

And suddenly, he knew. His gaze still on the espeon in Strix's arms, his mind now sober, he saw no malice, no evil like before. Hera's good eye was wide, deep, soulful. His face fell as his entire demeanor crumbled. That wasn't Delia... That wasn't... She wasn't...

His words echoed in his mind, his thoughts repeating themselves as Delia's giggle haunted in the background. He'd thought she was Delia... How could he have thought that? How could he have thought and said those despicable things? His eyes widened more, stepping back a bit as it dawned on him that he'd nearly killed her. The recent memory of her struggling beneath his foreign paw, the fear in her eyes that he'd mistaken for madness. The terror he'd mistaken for hysteria. He took another step back, the epiphany making him tremble.

Oh, God... what had he done?


((Long post is loooooooong))

Dantes' furious voice echoed violently through the warehouse, his words as vicious and hurtful as his tone.

"She's a demon!" he roared, his voice frantic and enraged. The Nidoking could do nothing but hold Hera close to him, terrified of letting her go. His ears were plastered low on his head, his eyes still hidden from the others.

Make it quick...Strix, make it quick...

Her words echoed through his head, tearing holes in his heart with every repetition. They're all terrified of me...all of them...even Hera...why am I such a monster...? Why do I try so hard to be anything else, when this is what I was born to be?...

....She won't see me as anything more than this...a monster...

Opening his eyes, tears streamed down his hardened face as his eyes fell on Dante. The hound looked utterly defeated, lost in his own head. With sorrow in his eyes, he looked to Heras' golden gaze, wide and fearful. The Nidoking slowly loosened his grip, gently placing the Espeon down before looking back up at Dante.

"...Nobody is a monster here," He growled, loud enough for everyone to hear. "...Nobody but me." He grumbled the last part under his breath as he stomped past the canine, disappearing into the darkness of the warehouse.

His heavy steps stopped in front of a dark hallway, where strange sounds were echoing through. He perked his ears and stayed silent, listening intently.
Can't think on all this shit now. Can't.
We're not going to live if they get through.
Need to barricade.
Need to protect.
Doesn't matter what they think.

The Nidoking growled as he shoved some heavy machinery in front of the door, feeling torn and hollow. His gaze was cold and empty, devoid of the overwhelming emotion he had let show moments ago. He turned his gaze to the others, his ears falling in a cold resolution as he moved to the next hallway to do the same.

Her friends were going insane. Here they were, in the middle of who-knows-where, in a frozen warehouse, with undead surrounding the oustide, and they were fighting each other. As if the problems they were facing weren't great enough. Is this what the world was destined to? The Undead killing the living, and the survivors killing each other? Cabin fever... Alice thought. Hopefully... It should wear off soon. But no. Alice knew more than that. It was her fault. If she hadn't used Discharge against the Whitehound, Hera wouldn't have been hurt, and they wouldn't be in this mess. It was her fault, and her friends were going to kill each other for it.

Yon-co's question didn't come as a surprise, but she still flinched when he asked it. She hadn't realized he was able to stand, if shakily, yet. She couldn't tell him the truth, that Hera, after recovering from the injuries Alice gave her, had apparently gone insane. Her pride- her damned pride wouldn't let her tell him. So she told him the first thing that came to mind. "He loves her." She whispered, flicking her tail at the purple dinosaur. "And... I think she loves him back." Thinking back, to the night in the cabin, she also remembered vaguely Dante's story of his past. She was barely conscience at the time though, and the details were fuzzy. "I think Dante had a traumatic experience when he was younger involving his close friend becoming infected. That may be it, Yonny." She added the name for good effect.

I was still in the arms of the Nidoking. I was still bleeding and my toes were beginning to go numb. My body was weak and limp, like a doll a human child would have. Just at the word human I flinched. I would never see my beloved master again... Never be ableto apologize, apologize for what I had... Not been able to do. Protect her. But my thoughts were interruped bu irregular footsteps and then a soft, feral growl. My ears shot up immediately, my eye wide with fear. I cringed into Strix's chest, praying for him to keep me safe. Even if he was just going to finish the job shortly. I didn't want that demonic canine getting to me first. There was no love that I had for the dog.

But then he spoke.

"Strix, she's fucking lost it," he spat out. I froze. He had not spoken before, when he was ready to tear my throat out. But now that I listened... He sounded j-just like Dante! But Dante doesn't look like that. My mind raced, trying to discover a reason or a way, but the venomous words of the one I had come to trust ripped through all of that. "I've seen it before! She's nuts! She'll kill us all, and lick our blood off of her fucking paws! She'll giggle, she'll laugh, she'll have a goddamn festival around our bloody corpses! She's the fucking devil!" Dante was yelling woth such a hatred I had never heard before. And it was aimed at me. I slowly pulled myself from the dinosaur's chest to stare at him. My eye was wide, disbeleif and a lifetime of hurt shinning through, my ears flat as they could go, plastered against my head, and my mouth slightly open with horror. But still he looked at me with those eyes. Those hate filled eyes.

Dante's eyes.

But the hellhound merely snarled at me. I flinched, feeling myself tremble in terror. Would Dante kill me? I could vaugely remember him promising to 'take care of me' when we first met if I caused any trouble. Had I pushed him too far? Was this trouble enough for him? "She's a demon!" The great beast crowed, his voice having such an ugley twist that I had never heard before. Directed right at me. I was trembling so hard in Strix's embrace, I had forgotten the Nidoking's plot to kill me for the vicious hatred from the unknown species before me. I couldn't look at the huge canine- I found my only remaining eye clouded with tears. I could not see anymore. Surrownded by enemies and I could no longer see. "I- I'm sorry, Dante!" I cried out in distress, merely shutting my only good eye as I tried to be strong through all of the stresses. "I didn't mean to..." I choked out in a broken whisper. I didn't mean to. 

I didn't...

But suddenly, the great Nidoking was moving beneath me. I allowed my eye to open, ever so slightly, and I watched Strix move as the tears flowed. Dante had fallen silent, his face a mask of horror and many kinds of pain. That baffled me; I was the problem. Why did he seem so shocked now? Stix gently placed me on the ground where I proceaded to get right back only my paws. My toes were still numb. The purple dinosaur regaurded Dante and everyone else, his back to me. "...Nobody is a monster here," he growled to the group. I stared at him in shock as the next words hit my sensetive ears. "...Nobody but me." I was floored, only able to watch as I swayed to and fro on my paws as Strix then worked to place more on the barrier between us and death. Certain death. Realization hit like a punch to the gut. Had I really been about to doom us all? 

What was wrong with me?

I watched with many tumoiled emotions as Strix moved heavy objects, more a machine than I had ever seen him. His face was cold, distant. There was something dark to his eyes I had never noticed before. And it was all my fault. I was still half in the world of my deams, still expecting him to turn on me, but I could not stand the agonizing pain in his eyes. I ran up to Strix as he paused by the door. Without heaitation, I jumped up to stand on my hind legs, placing my forpawa gently on one of his armored arms. I stared up at him with a wide, anxious gaze. I could only ask one question in a soft, broken whisper. "Strix... Do you... Do you hate me?"


I was still a little shaky on my paws from that experiance, having to rub the crown of my head as I flinched slightly from pain. I groaned ever so slightly, but one eye was open enough to see Alice flinch. I immediately froze, my eyes wide and serious as I regaurded her. Had I said something wrong? I would have to make it up to her. But the last thing I expected was the blunt response that came from the lioness' mouth. "He loves her," Alice responded in a soft tone, flicking her tail in the direction of the Nidoking. My eyes nearly boggles out of my head, so impossibly wide as my jaw dropped. That brute had tried to choke me earlier- now she was saying that he loved Hera?! 

Shit just got real.

But there were no bitter feelings within me as I digested that, I did not feel the need to be jealous. But Allie wasn't done yet. "And..." she continued almost hesitantly. "I think she loves him back." Looking up to see the Espeon standing up like a person, touching the Nidoking gently with two paws, I could beleive it. Before I could stop myself, a soft chuckle erruoted from me. "That sounds like her to me," I murmurred in a good natured tone to myself. Sure, I could not ignore the painful throbbing that suddenly began to pulse within me, but it wasn't so bad. Not only would I live, but Hera would be happy. "I loved Savanah... Hera should be allowed to be just as happy," I murmurred in the softest of tones under my breath. Due to that I missed the beginning of Alice's other explaination.

"... was younger involving his close friend becoming infected. That may be it, Yonny." The lioness was just full of infomation and a playful, even if it was a little forced, smile pulled at my cheeks. "Your just full of infomation, aren'tcha Allie?" Intossed her another smile. But I was still weak and I suddenly cringed, losing my balance and falling only all fours. I sucked in air through my teeth. "Ow. Guess he got me pretty darn good."

((Ooc; Lemme know if that isn't okay, Anabobanna c: ))

((Ciara was kind of ignored, lol, because Dante is freaking crazy, so please just skip her. She is just horrified by what is going on and knows she is too injured to help. Sorry for the late reply I was really trying to think of something to post but nothing came out.))

Inochi really didn't know what she could do to stop the fighting. With the noise they where making, the undead they had lost were sure to find them again. But she was to scared to point that out. She slinked closed to the wall before the ruckus finally cooled down and the fighting stopped.

She wondered if this really was the place where she was meant to go. She didn't know, but something felt right, even though these pokemon scared her just as much of the undead, she believed they could help her come over her fear and help her get stronger. But when will she get the courage to ask them?

It was all a mess. His own misguided insults had not only help cast the group into chaos, but began tearing them apart. Strix seemed the only one capable of manual labor at this point as he worked to rebuild the barricade, with little Hera on his heels. How she thought any of this was her fault was beyond the houndusk, who was convinced himself that his misery had finally caught up to him and was slowly driving him to the point he feared most: Insanity.

Insanity... the one synonym to Delia. The thing he feared perhaps above everything else-- the infected, getting lost, starving, even death had second priority when it came to the crazy fox. She haunted him like a shadow, dogging the heels of his mind even now, when she'd likely been killed. A year after their separation, she was still playing tricks on his mind... and those tricks nearly cost him his pack. His eyes stared down at the floor as his mind ran; he was no longer fit for leading these people. When he couldn't decipher the difference between sweet, damaged Hera and the demon he knew as his sister, that was the time to draw the line. Setting his jaw, knowing what he had to do, he lifted his bone-crowned head to say so, but found himself mute.

He looked at the others, Alice and the rat, sitting by the fire. He hadn't known the rat long, but Alice had been there since the caves. She'd grown a lot in a mere few days, evolving to her final form instead of being a whiny kitty. Ciara stood nearby, behind him, watching and waiting for him to do something, he supposed. The little pup -whose name he'd forgotten- was slinking by the wall, trying to remain hidden. His eyes fell on Hera and Strix, and his resolve to speak fell. What could he tell these two, the ones he'd hurt the most with his mindless words? How could he tell Hera he was sorry by insulting her so, by mistaking her for one of the most vile pokemon he'd ever known? How could he apologize to Strix for almost killing her?

How could he apologize to any of them?

He'd let them down, he'd made the mistake, this was his fault. The weight of the burden was nearly overwhelming, and he just wanted to disappear into the abyssal waters he'd thrown that damn camerupt into. Licking his lips and nodding to himself, he merely turned away from the others, his large form slipping silently into the darkness the warehouse offered. Away from the fire, the warmth, the pack. He didn't belong with them. Not when he was beginning to slip into the horrific mannerisms Delia had... He'd just end up hurting them...

...and liking it.

The large lizard gazed down at Hera, her brow furrowed with worry.
"Strix... Do you... Do you hate me?" He looked at her a moment in silence, his ears falling slightly but his eyes staying carefully guarded.

"...Hera..." He replied quietly, his claw covering hers, resting on his shoulder. Strix swallowed hard, about to continue when he heard something that made him freeze...a sound coming from the end of the hallway. His large, barbed ears stood straight up as his eyes frantically searched the darkness ahead of him. The door at the end of the hallway began to give as something slammed itself against it repeatedly. Strix growled, his eyes growing hard.

Need to protect.

He pushed Hera back, quickly maneuvering around the large engine he was pushing and slipped into the hallway. The sound of glass shattering and steel giving echoed through the narrow passage as the Nidoking gave one last glance back at the others before hauling the large hunk of metal in front of the door, effectively blocking the hallway completely...with him on the outside.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, his sensitive ears picked up the patter of many small paws approaching him and something sharp getting scraped against the walls as they drew closer.

The poison behemoth took a deep breath and barreled forward, his heavy feet pounding heavily on the concrete as he gained speed. As he drew closer to the sound, he lowered his upper body and head, ready to ram whatever was at the end of the hallway.

"That's rather... Mature, of you, Yonny." Alice was surprised, and somewhat relieved, that he took it so easily. His next comment caused Alice's tail to flick out. She was about to whack him with it, when he fell on his own. Quickly, she knealed down sideways in front of him, offering her back as support. It seemed like the others had stopped fighting, adding to her relief. Stri began running again, however, and still seemed to be in rage-mode. It wasn't safe for Yon-co as long as he was like that...

"Maybe we should go somewhere else in the warehouse for a little while... It'd be safer." As long as Strix didn't see Yonny, he should be okay. Alice didn't need them killing each other.

"That's rather... Mature, of you, Yonny." Alice's voice was... calming, actually. She sounded almost taken back at what I had said and I shot her a grin for old time's sake. But I was too full of many emotions, and it faultered within seconds. Did I actually mean what I had just said? I thought I had... What if I could never be content just watching from the side lines? My ears flickered in irritation and insecurity as my thoughts contradicted themselves. As the great lioness slowly kneeled down beside me, I did not hesitate in allowing her to comfort me. I leaned my long body against her, burying one paw in her main. How odd it was, that instead of being close to Hera, I was becoming friends with this girl I barely even knew. The world worked in odd ways.

But I watched the scene folding out before me, watching as the Nidoking slowly turned away from Hera to move out further into the darkness. I frowned, noticing that the Houndusk had disappeared as well. Huh, where had everyone gone? Alice's voice broke my concentration. "Maybe we should go somewhere else in the warehouse for a little while... It'd be safer," she said in a soft almost hesitant tone. I shot her a look of supprise. Was she serious? But it was not dangeros for her, I was the one that had been thrown against a wall-! Then it hit me and a genuine smile of pleasant suprise split my face. She was worried for me. She was caring for me, over herself. It was clear that she was trusted in the group, tasked with being left in charge when the others had gone off.

"Sure Allie. I am afraid that I might not be able to walk well... mind if you give this dumb ol' rat a ride?" I shot her a grin, this time a new light in my eyes.


"...Hera..." The Nidoking resonded with just my name. I did not flinch or waver, very unlike my recent behavior. My single eye stayed stubbornly right on his own face. I was still unsure of his intentions, but I forced those thoughts to the back of my head; his gaurded, almost cold gaze was worrying me. What was he thinking about?As his great paw rested ever so gently on my paws. I felt a strike of electricity go up my spine and end on my paws, a pleasant heat making them burn without pain. I found my heart racing, staring up at his face was making it hard to breathe... but it was not a bad sensation. It was.... exilerating.

But the moment was ruined as a noise came from the back. My pelt suddenly spiked, taking in the dull, powerful thumping with exceptional hearing I had been blessed with. I flinched at the noise, suddenly finding myself being shoved away, but not in a harsh way. My eyes widened, finding my paws falling gently back onto the ground. It fel so impossibly cold compared to the warmpth from the Nidoking. He immediately moved towards the sourse of the sound that was beginning to pound again and again in a rythmatic determination. My eye widened as I realized what he was doing. "Strix!!" I hissed in urgency, not wanting to alert the undead but sure as hell not letting him go on his own.But as he moved behind the engine, he was taken from my sight.

No longer frozen to the spot, I bounded forward, intnet on keeping pace with him. Small droplets of blod littlered the ground, but I was not about to let that stop me. The sound of shattering glass made my blood run cold. Strix was silent, not making a sound, but he let his gaze flow over the broken group before he grabbed the hunking engine. His intentions were suddenly so clear that I felt like a punch in the gut. "No!" I cried, no longer giving a fuck about the undead as I shot forward to slip last the bit through to be with him.... But I was too late.

"Strix..." I whispered, my entire frame shaking. My ears were flat and tail hitting the ground. MY orange gaze was impossibly wide with horror and fear. But not fear for us. Fear for him. I whipped around to face the others, my eyes sunken in and desperate. "Quick! We have to help him.... Please... help him..." My voice broke at the end. The words on the end of my tounge made me hesitate, but I stared pleadingly at everyone. THey would help... wouldn't they?