Author's Note: An idea I got after Grian's death in 100 Hours. It's just a silly little idea with some mild body horror.
:))
Enjoy.
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Joel's POV:
Grian was dead.
The hybrid's body exploded with a harsh light and his gear scattered everywhere. Even if I wanted to gather his stuff, Jimmy and I were forced to run when the four vindicators set their sights on us.
Luckily, the fish/bird hybrid and I managed to kill the vicious non-villagers before we met an early grave as well. Once the dust had settled, I walked back over to the dusty remains of Grian and collected his stuff.
Hopefully, he'll find the gesture and spare me from his ranting when we chat after this session. Still, in the end, I wished that Jimmy would've died in his place.
I licked at one of my fangs as Jimmy and I traveled into the final room of the mansion. My tail swished back and forth as I scratched at my beard. Silently, I watched Jimmy while he began to break a hole into the wall for our escape.
Should I kill him?
It would be easy... A 'stray' arrow... An axe... Heck, he barely has armor and his tiny wings are still bone, muscle, flesh, and some down fluff.
" So, what happens now?" Jimmy eventually spoke causing me to shake my head. I blinked a couple of times and pondered his question.
What does happen now?
Grian's dead.
Scar's still recovering.
I'm alive.
And Jimmy's still alive as well.
" I don't know..." I finally answered with a slight hint of annoyance. I didn't mean for it to come off like that; it just happened.
The fledgling wings that were growing out of Jimmy's back twitched as his steadily shrinking, fishy tail swished slightly causing him to flinch. The hybrid crossed his arms and cleared his throat.
" S'ppose we should get out of here first..." I spoke in order to break the awkward silence, " 'Ve collected most of Grian's stuff... Not that he needs it anymore."
" Well, I guess that I could take i- ACK!" Jimmy was mid sentence when he suddenly dropped to his knees.
" Jim!"
Jimmy tucked himself into a ball and began to breathe heavily.
Quickly, I ran to the hybrid's side and put my hand against Jimmy's shoulder. Immediately, Jimmy's body tensed up; The hybrid began to whimper and gasp for air.
" J-Jimmy? Can you hear me?" I questioned as Jimmy continued to shake, " G-Get out of my h-head...." the hybrid whispered through clenched teeth.
I tilted my head as my ears went back.
Jimmy continued to wheeze as his stubby wings twitched wildly and began to grow out. I tilted my head again as I rubbed at the back of Jimmy's neck.
" I-I-I-I'msorrymate!" Jimmy whimpered, " I-Ididn't... Iwasn'tgoing..." Jimmy's words were morphing together into an incoherent mess.
" AUGH!" Jimmy yelled in pain as a purple glow coiled around his body like a snake; The magical force behind this glow shoved me back until I skidded to a stop and pressed myself against the far wall.
CRACK!
I watched in horror as Jimmy's back contorted as a pair of yellow and grey wings ripped through his back like his skin was made of paper.
Blood swiftly stained Jimmy's clothes as he lowered himself to the ground. The hybrid's tail began to shrink at a faster rate as his wings stretched out.
I gagged as ripped skin and clothes hit the ground with a wet splat.
My eardrums felt like they were going to pop like balloons as Jimmy began to scream; a scream that was way more violent than the ones from 3rd Life and Last Life combined. I put my hands over my ears and lowered myself to the ground as Jimmy stood up in turn.
How is he able to stand after that?
The blond man's body was shaking violently as his bloody wings awkwardly twitched. Slowly, Jimmy turned towards me and his eyes opened.
Purple.
Why are his eyes purple?
" Joooeeeellllll....." Jimmy's voice was strained as he cocked his head to the side. The hybrid's ear fins twitched as he began to walk towards me.
I shook my head as I let out a low growl. The fur on my tail and ears stood up as my whole body began to twitch. Jimmy's footsteps stomped against the ground as his tail twitched. Honestly, the man moved like a zombie upon first coming to life.
" J-Jimmy? I-I... W-What... W-What's wrong with you?" I stuttered through my words; panic was setting in and I could hardly move. Jimmy blinked a couple of times as he grimaced at me. The hybrid's ears twitched as he licked at his fangs.
Jimmy's eyes flashed between brown and purple.
Eventually, the hybrid's eyes settled on one being brown and the other being purple. A small frown formed as he stopped walking.
" Joel....?" Jimmy coughed as his body tensed up. I nodded my head as I tried to stand up; my legs were shaking as my long, black, and dog-like nails dug into the wooden wall.
" Joel... I-It's Grian..." Grian spoke as he cleared his throat, " I... I don't know how I did this..." his voice had shifted to sound like a mix between Jimmy's voice and Grian's voice.
My ears twitched, " W-What happened to Jimmy?" I questioned as Grian blinked, " He's... He's here... I... I think he's sleeping.... I didn't mean to put him to sleep... I didn't mean to control his body..." he mumbled the latter part.
Grian crossed his arms over his chest, " I-I just got... so mad... A-At everything..." he whispered. Slowly, and while fighting against the flight response that was desperately trying to pull me back, I moved closer to Grian and put my hand onto his shoulder.
Grian was still shaking as I led him out of the mansion and forced him to sit down on top of the tree. The hybrid's body was shaking even more as he let out a hoarse wheeze.
" J-Joel....?" Grian's voice had shifted back to sounding more like Jimmy's voice; his brown eye had a golden ring around it.
I nodded my head, " J-Jimmy?" I questioned as I kneeled down next to him.
Jimmy leaned his head against me as his bloody wings twitched. The man wheezed as his ear fins twitched, " I-I don't know how I regained control... I.. I want to go home...I-It hurts..."
I nodded my head but still frowned, " You'll be able to go home after we split you two..." I told him as I picked him up the best that I could. Jimmy put his head against my shoulder and closed his eyes.
My tail twitched as I lit a rocket and flew us back towards my base.
I'll fix this.