The Nestling: 4

I froze for just a second too long, before diving to the left after moving back a step out of the room.

The giant creature closed most of the distance in my slight moment of hesitation, tooth and claw baring down on me. I made it about halfway back towards the dining room table when it crashed straight through the doorframe, wooden splinters shooting off every which way. The things eyes narrowed, and it prepared to kick into another charge, and there were very few obstacles standing between us now. Heart racing, I took my gaze off it for a second, to figure out the best place to run-

As if seeing that and capitalizing on the weakness, it charged again. I moved as fast as I could, springing up onto a chair with one foot, onto the table with another, then throwing myself forward and across it. I landed on my feet, and looked at the table, and realized one unfortunate thing: the table had been cleared. The knives and other utensils I had eaten with earlier were gone, likely taken away by Virion’s wind. Dammit.

The bear was turning, snarling, seemingly taking a moment to plan it’s approach…and it did so almost a moment too long.

Enough time for me to turn, and sprint down the hallway I’d just come from, lacking any better options. I could feel my body ache and complain with each rapid step, I still wasn’t fully recovered, but I quite frankly didn’t care. I needed to not get mauled to death. Why was there even a bear here? They weren’t exactly good pets, especially if they destroyed your own house. Something else bound? No, it was too imperfect…

That’s when it dawned on me, just as the creature’s massive movement could be heard dashing through the dining room.

I’d seen Ni shapeshift during the fight. Was it possible that this was her? This thing was acting with more of a degree of intelligence then I’d expect from a bloodthirsty animal, plus it made sense for why it was here.

I called over my shoulder, spinning on my heel to face the bear which was now entering the hallway. I was in front of the garden door currently, but I felt slightly brave enough to stand my ground.

“Druid Ni, I am a guest of Virion, not an intruder. Please, cease your at-“

I was cut off by a roar, and another charge. My eyes widened, and I managed to avoid freezing again, instead I dove to the door, opening it in a rapid motion and using my body to knock the door inward. I saw the blur of brown fur and maw go past the door. I stumbled slightly, but soon righted myself. Backing off further into the room, interposing half a table between me and the potential druid.

That left me with very little options. Trapped in a small room. Either the creature attacking me wasn’t Ni, or it was, and she didn’t care. Either way, things were dire. There wasn’t any other exits. If I had minutes I could try and make some sort of basic sigil for any form of defense, but it would likely not do very much, and I still wasn’t convinced I had seconds.

I could hear the sound of it turning around from where it had skid down the hall. I took a few more cautious steps back, and that’s when I noticed it again.

The urns. I spoke aloud, as the sound of movement began to intensify.

“Boyle?”

“Back so soon?” The voice returned to my head.

“I wasn’t given much of a choice. Are you aware of any other creatures bound here?”

“No. But I have not left this room in quite awhile.”

“…Secondary question, if I free you right now, will you do everything in your power to defend me?”

“If that is what it takes, you have my absolute wor-“

The bear moved to be visible in the doorway, and looked at me. Letting out a low growl, and seemingly poising itself to break through another doorway, at any moment. I didn’t have a moment to lose, I lunged for the table, grabbing Boyle’s urn, and raising it up, with the intent of smashing it to the ground at the bears feet when it inevitably came charging in.

But I hesitated. Because the bear did too.

It had stopped dead in it’s tracks, letting out a large snort, as it’s eyes narrowed towards me. I followed it’s gaze, to the urn I had in hand. I saw, on the table, Lutum’s urn start to move, the form of the elemental starting to emerge. Saying nothing. Boyle, however, did speak.

“What are you waiting for? This enemy can fall to us together!”

I didn’t respond to the elemental, and instead narrowed my own eyes towards the bear. Taking a deep breath, before breaking the silence between me and the animal.

“You don’t want me to break this, I’m guessing?” I said aloud, trying to keep my voice as authoritative as possible.

It just let out another huff. Pawing at the ground. Almost like an indication of hostility…not that it meant much, considering how the last minute or two had gone.

“I’ll do it. Unless you either leave me be, or we discuss this on more amicable terms.”

Silence, for another few seconds. We glared at each other, beast and man.

Before beast became woman, with a small effect of light and magic.

I hadn’t seen much of Ni the last time, but I definitely recognized the form of the druid. She was about my height, maybe an inch or two shorter, definitely human, with pink skin that seemed like it hadn’t seen much sun. Her eyes were an amber color, striking and currently glaring. Red curling hair dropped to her lower back, with some kind of wooden ornament keeping it in line, and freckles dotted her face. Her outfit hadn’t changed much either, a combination of mostly furs with a bit of leathers, with an exposed abdomen and lower thigh. In her hand was a wooden implement, akin to a bludgeon, with four grooves down it’s shape which converged at the top. On her head, she wore something akin to a crown, weaved from what seemed to be flowers of various types. Her expression was in a scowl, as her glare maintained from form to form.

I slowly began to set the urn down, despite Boyle’s protest, but I kept my gaze on the druid.

“I don’t suppose I can expect an apology?” I asked, with some hope in my tone.

No response from the glaring druid. I let out a sigh.

“At the very least, can you move so I can leave?”

She took a step forward, into the room a few feet. Before speaking.

“You’ve been in here before.” Not a question.

“I have. I was looking around, and it wasn’t locked, Virion specifically informed me tha-“

“I don’t care what Virion has to say. This is my garden. You don’t just get to waltz in and threaten it.”

“What gives you any more authority to turn into a bear and attempt to maul me?” I fired back, crossing my arms. A huff from Ni, one that didn’t sound dissimilar to her bear form.

“And for that matter, for someone who supposedly respects personal property so much, you didn’t seem to have much respect for this hou-“

“Shut up!” She cut me off with a bark. Her glare intensifying. “I hate your voice already. You and Virion might be content to sip tea and mingle all day, but some of us hate seeing it.”

“…What does that even mean?” I retorted, just plain confused at this point.

“You talk like royalty.”

“I talk like a person.”

Another huff. Her glare kept dead on me. Another supposed impasse. I took a deep breath, realizing that if we were going to work together, like Virion seemingly wanted, this wouldn’t do for an introduction. I could be the better man, look past…whatever that was. It was for the best.

“Look. I’m sorry if my behavior is off putting or improper. I can try to do better, you’ll just have to tell me how. I’d like to work with you as opposed to against you, I’m pretty sure we share a goal here.”

She kept her arms crossed, gaze somehow narrowing even further. “And what do you think my goal is exactly, city boy? I don’t think you know much of anything. And I sure as hells don’t want to do anything with you.” Her tone was still horribly hostile. Lovely.

“…To stop Noctis? Isn’t that why you’re all here?” I craned my head slightly, trying to stay as non combative as possible.

She let out a long sigh. As if I’d asked some kind of horribly obvious question.

“I couldn’t care less about that, you sarvish. I’m here because I owe something. A life debt, one that saw me sent here to deal with this Noctis. I would like nothing more then to be done with this and to return home.”

I didn’t know what sarvish meant, or what language it was, but it sounded hostile, and I could infer the rest. I didn’t want to ask, and anger her any more then I very clearly already had.

“Right. Well, then I can help you get closer to fulfilling your goal of getting out of here then. Because the sooner Noctis is dealt with, the sooner you get to leave. I, for one, really want to see Noctis stopped. And I have no intention of giving up the fight until it’s done. So let me help you. Everything should be easier that way.”

I spoke slowly, and cautiously, to see if I could get a read on her during any point of that. But I just couldn’t, her expression barely budged at all, even as I finished speaking, and let the silence hang in the room. I was pensive in expression, half expecting to get attacked again at any moment. Bracing to find another plan of attack or escape.

I was surprised then, when she seemed to smile. A jagged smirk which crossed her face in the same way a fissure crossed the land. It was unnerving, but relieving at the same time, given the circumstances. It almost caused me to take a step back, but I held my ground where I was.

“You ain’t so bad then, I guess. Fine, I think we can work together nicely. Sorry for trying to maul ya, but I think we can make amends, yeah? C’mere, I can show you the rest of the house, if you want?”

The change in demeanor was near instant. Her tone was more cheery, though still not the most upbeat, and the glare was gone. Her arms hung at her sides once more. The implement was placed back at her belt in the process.

I was cautious to trust it at first. Surely I hadn’t swayed her that easily…but I tried to dismiss that thought from my mind. I was trying to be less paranoid around the people I was supposed to be collaborating with. I took a few forward, and moved towards the door.

Her expression didn’t shift from the somewhat smug state, as she ushered me out the door, she took a slight step aside to let me pass. I nodded, and moved to do so.

I wasn’t expecting the blow to the back of my legs. I went tumbling to the ground in the hall, a few paces past Ni. I managed to catch myself mostly, but not before she managed to get another swing off, around dead center of my chest, which fully floored me. I was seeing spots, looking up towards the red haired shapechanger with pure hate in my eyes. She returned the sentiment, the clear façade of friendliness gone.

“Did you really think I’d let you just invade this place as you saw fit, sigilist?”

She raised the implement again, and I tried to think of any way to stop myself from dying in my new superior’s hallway.