Ruby's POV
I moan as I feel Slinky sink his fangs into my arm.
"What are you doing?!"
Nicole screams and smashes into me. I gasp as Slinky's sharp teeth rip my flesh, and I skid backwards, shaking.
Nicole growls. "What are you doing?!" She snarls.
Slinky raises his bloody muzzle. "He want to be like you."
Nicole snarls. "Like me?!"
Slinky leaps over her. Nicole transforms, and knocks him away from me.
They tussle on the ground, teeth bared and claws out. Nicole shrieks and leaps back. Slinky's claws graze her eyes, and I can't help but grab Slinky by the collar and pull him back.
Slinky swerves around and bites me on the leg.
A flood of energy makes me drop to my knees. Slinky's thoughts and emotions wash over me, leaving me warm with depression and a dash of evil happiness.
In a flash, I open my eyes to see I have transformed as well.
Nicole is staring at me in horror. "Slinky.. What have you done to him?!"
Slinky stares at me. The scrawny Umbreon is trembling. "Slinky don't understand. Never happen before."
"What?" I glare at him. "What did you just do?"
Slinky looks away. "Nothing much."
"Nothing much?" Nicole mutters.
"Nicole, you're scaring me. Quit looking at me like that." I glance at her.
"I can't. I have never seen an Umbreon like that."
What does she mean? I tilt my head, but she refuses to look at me.
"Slinky, get outta here," Nicole mutters. She glares at him.
Slinky doesn't even flinch. He meets her gaze steadily. "Why should Slinky? You want me to fix what Slinky has done?"
"No -- don't!" She blocks him from touching me. "You've done enough to Ruby -- more than enough! Leave!"
Slinky still refuses to move. "You like him now? Minute ago you say you get scare."
"Sheesh, Slinky, just listen to her." I growl.
Slinky flinches. His fur ripples. "Why should Slinky?" he repeats.
"I know from experience that if you don't listen the first time you get kicked out of the house.." I mutter under my breath.
"Slinky hear that," Slinky retorts.
Spoiler alert: we all die
"Raiju!" Nicole calls into the forest.
"Where is she?" She mutters when she doesn't come. "I swear, I saw her go into the forest this morning?"
"She could have run away from Nicole," Slinky sneers.
"Shut up," I snap. "Don't you have anyone else to torture?"
"Can't torture Brendan. Alliance formed." Slinky shrugs. "Sorry."
The fur on Nicole's shoulders rises. "If Raiju won't come, you'll have to deal with me."
"Death threats not funny," Slinky says.
"Who says that was a death threat?"
A familiar tang reaches my mouth as Brendan leaps into view, his fur on end. He looks better in his Umbreon form, from my point of view.
"Brendan!" Slinky says happily.
"You two are so pathetic, I have to drag your asses out of everything," Brendan growls when he sees me. "That's why I don't like him--"
He suddenly doesn't meet my gaze.
Scared of me now? I stare at him suspiciously.
"Whatever." He turns back to Slinky. "I wish you'd leave and quit terrorizin' the neighborhood."
"Who says Slinky does that?" Slinky snaps back.
Nicole rolls her eyes at me.
Brendan flexes his claws. "You're just a population waste," he snarls.
"Is that the best you come up with?" Slinky sneers.
"Say that again," Brendan warns.
"Is that the best--"
Brendan rushes forward, pinning Slinky to the ground. "I warned you not to say that again!"
"He doesn't want to hurt him," Nicole murmurs. "They're friends. Just watch. Pretty soon Brendan'll surrender and then it'll get ugly."
"That sounds like rivalry."
"Worse than that," Nicole mutters.
Brendan snarls. "I'm going to murder you for that."
His claws out, he stabs them into Slinky's chest. Slinky squeals, thrashing his legs. He desperately sinks his claws into his back, making Brendan lunge for his neck.
"Brendan -- don't kill him!" Nicole rushes forward. Slinky squeals again as Brendan bites him hard on the throat. I hear something snap in his head.
I pad forward. I hear a growl rumbling in Brendan's throat.
Slinky's eyes roll back in his head, and his loosens his grip on Brendan's back. Brendan lets go of his chest.
"He's dead," Brendan growls. "Perfectly dead."
