Red's Demise

Inner Wars

Fenris

Idiot. My Leopard growled his displeasure with me as I laid against a stump. The surrounding darkness a thick blanket covering the slowly dimming village ahead. 

"You're the one that took over," I reminded the predator that paced beneath my skin. Usually, he was the calmest of them all. However, after Red insulted us, sternly instructed us to stay, and then stalked off to complete her errand, my leopard had become unbearable.

Which, had I been in control, I wouldn't have taken orders from her. The leopard is a lovesick bastard though and aims to please. The other domineering predators were not pleased with his obedience. 

Thankfully, I wasn't privy to their inner arguments and only faced the wraith of my most recent transformation. Who decided to retreat like a "coward" - as Red had so eloquently put it - as soon as she disappeared from our sight. 

I could feel as he took a heavy breath and sat, finally accepting our fate. Though judging by his quietness, the others were likely still reprimanding him. Which was a common occurrence as the leopard was the most similar to me. His playful behavior and easy-going nature made the others upset. Though none of them rushed to the front like he did. So he never did take their lessons to heart. 

Danger. The leopard finally spoke. His deep rumble running down my spine caused me to shoot up from where I sat and go on high alert. 

I gritted my jaw as he gave me his feline sight, sense of smell, and superior hearing to aid in my search. I scanned the treeline but came up empty. 

A whiff of the air confirmed my other half's suspicion though. The all-too-familiar faint smell of a storm over the ocean told me that he was here. The skys were too dark to see if he was flying above, but I couldn't hear the beat of wings, which meant he must be in the village. 

Another scent mixed with his and I nearly felt like my heart might explode. 

Before I could panic and lose control, I sprinted down the hill towards the village and froze as a figure rounded a building in front of me. The ocean smell got stronger, and so did the tang of iron. 

My leopard lunged at me from under my skin, demanding to be let out. But I resisted, needing to be present for whatever was about to unfold. 

"What did you do?" A growl accompanied my words as I felt everyone start pacing and roaring to be released. 

The male stalked closer into the field and the darkness. The limp body in his arms becoming more apparent as he did so. 

"Me?" The Prince's Guard sneered at me as he finally stopped 10 feet from me. "You're the one that said you protect her," He lifted his arms with Red in them and let her arm hang limp for show as he spoke. "Hell of a job here, Púca." 

I ground my jaw in hopes of steadying myself as my counterparts raged beneath my skin, screaming to get her away from the wyvern shifter. 

"What. Happened." I managed to grind out, working hard to control myself. 

Though the male seemed equally tense as he continued to hold Red, his eyes shifting down to her even as he tried to maintain a glare with me. 

The Prince's Guard took a steadying breath before he spoke, risking another glance down before leveling me with an icy stare. "She was attacked." 

"Clearly," I tried to bite back my usual nature of trying to find humor in this situation. Though I was a Púca and it was my most normal reaction. "Why did yo-"

"I did not hurt her!" The shifter cut me off with a roar, his shoulders rising with new fury. 

My fingers itched to reach out for her and grab her from him, but his shifting eyes told me he was fighting with his other half too. I don't think my hawk would appreciate fighting with a wyvern, so I didn't push him.