Two wolves and a Feline raced through the woods. Ahead, they ushered along a Lycanthrope, who desperately ran with her young son in her arms, burying his face into the crook of her neck. There wasn't much underbrush for them all to hide; running was the only option. Fear and adrenaline coursed through them in a fury. The sound of pounding feet, boots, and paws echoed dully throughout the tall pine woods. Not far behind was the heart of Virulent's Forest, a town of its own; a town of Saurions, built for living on the water or at sea, instead tucked away in a forest at the corner of the world. This wasn't an expression of the Saurion's adaptive capabilities; instead, it was an expression of Nautis and his need for an army which would grow in the shadows, undetected by any neighbours, rather than out on the open sea where they belonged.

Adolpha panted, her deep red pelt shimmering beneath the morning sun as it rolled like fields of wheat from the wind. The air was crisp, but not too cold. The sun's rays shined individually through the pines and branches of the trees overhead. But blocking the sun's rays was a large shadow; in truth, the shadow seemed much bigger than it was. Even in his dragon-type form, Virulent was not much bigger than the wolves themselves. But with an impressive wingspan and a dangerously thick, scaled hide, he seemed all the more intimidating. There was no plan; only fear and sprinting ahead as fast as their legs could all take them. In the panic, Adolpha's head didn't seem to work quite right, and for once, she couldn't figure out a way out of the situation and she couldn't decide how to protect her friends. They ran right alongside her; Quince's four thumping paws and Ajax's boots on her other side. Just ahead was Johanna running desperately with Pebble in her arms, his legs wrapped around her sides. If Adolpha would use magic to harm Virulent above her, it was very likely it would spread to those around her, too, and suddenly she was utterly powerless, and that terrified her. Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest, her eyes wide in a pulsing panic. Her legs and paws felt as though they were on fire.

Overhead, the beast began his move; swiftly, he swung down from the sky and plummeted through the trees in a skilled movement of wing and slithering body. With his rear legs, he reached out jagged, shining claws for one of his prey: the one with a red pelt.

Quince noticed from the corner of her blue eyes, and shouted, "Adolpha!"

But Ajax was the first to react, his whiskers picking up the movement in the air from over his head. In a split second, his eyes moved upwards to face the unruly breeze, and they latched on to Virulent's winged form cascading down the forest above Adolpha. With no time to think, he instead reacted, flinging himself to the side and knocking Adolpha out of place. And suddenly, Virulent was on top of Ajax instead of Adolpha.

Adolpha had been tossed to the side from Ajax's powerful force, rolling on her side twice before settling only a few feet away. Her ribs hurt, but nothing was broken; and so she quickly scrambled back onto all fours, her fur now dusted with dirt, and watched in wide-eyed terrier as the slithery green beast unfurled upon the Feline. Ajax had stumbled, but continued to run ahead, although Virulent's mighty wings had allowed him to glide forward. His rear claws sunk into Ajax's shoulders; not as deeply as Virulent had expected, as Ajax's twinkling chainmail prevented some of the damage, but his daggers were still strong enough to itch Ajax's shoulders, cutting lines through his tunic and into his skin. Quince yelled out Ajax's name in fear, but she couldn't stop running; she had to keep pushing Johanna and Pebble deeper into the woods, where they might be safe.

The blood spurted from Ajax's shoulder blades, and he collapsed onto his knees in agony as Virulent quickly fled the dangerous scene, pulling back his claws and thrusting his leathery wings downwards, propelling his body upwards, with his long tail snaking behind him.

Adolpha raced over to where Ajax crouched in the dirt. She couldn't do anything with those damned paws, and so she took a moment to morph back into her usual Lycanthrope self, her fur pulling back into her skin and her bones realigning with that of a person. She was bare, the wind a bit whipping and chilling against her naked skin, whereas it had felt like nearly nothing against her fur. But she paid no mind to the goosebumps creeping up her arms and tickling her cheeks; instead, she quickly used her capable hands to place a strong pressure on Ajax's bleeding shoulders. The blood seeped into his fabric top, but it wasn't immense; with her hands, now smeared in fowl red, the bleeding stopped. But Adolpha knew that in battle, the wound would reopen. Ajax kept his fangs clenched, his feline muzzle curled upwards in a pained and frustrated growl. His shoulders rose and fell with his quickened breathing.

Adolpha kept her hands on the warmth and wet of the wound, closing her eyes and imagining it healed; from her body sparkled a trail of light, seeping its way like string into Ajax's, and his wound began to close. Despite the blood on his clothes, he instantly felt better and warmer. He let out a shaky exhale, "Thank you, Adolpha."

"It's alright. You're fine now, but we must get going."

Ajax gave her bare body a quick glance, and through his anxiety, gave a smirk, "It's a bit forward, isn't it?"

She tempted to smack him, and instead narrowed her eyes, "I can just as easily return your wounds."

He laughed, relieved to hear her spark, "I'm glad that you're okay."

Her face softened, and she replied, "I'm glad you're okay, too." She helped him back to his feet, and they both glanced upwards, searching. A flicker of his shimmering tail from the top of a tree's branches, and the sound of the wood clacking against itself; then, Virulent launched himself from the treetops at them again like a strike of furious lightning. Pine needles fell to the forest floor in his wake. His wings expanded with an impressive capability, and he lowered himself to them.

Ajax shook his head in disbelief, "Where did he even get those damned wings?"

Adolpha shouted at Virulent above the thumping sound of his wing's rapid movements, "What is it that you want?!" The creature lowered himself to the ground with a final stretch, landing in front of the two on all fours with a heavy thud. Leaves scattered across his jagged feet. The wind from his movement swirled Adolpha's messy hair and bristled Ajax's tan coat. Up close, the beast was even uglier; a scaled, sneering face, sharpened fangs, and wide black eyes. In most Saurions, the eyes were red, like that of a tree frog, but in those afflicted by Nautis's magic, the deep black eyes were undeniable.

He purred, "Adolpha, I want you. Join me and see what true power really is! Are you not impressed by this power? I am even more capable than an Anthromorph!"

Adolpha shook her head, a few red, frizzy curls hanging over her eyes, glowing orange under the sun, "You're wasting my time, Virulent. Let's just finish this, once and for all." She spit on the dirt at his feet, "Let me just take care of those pesky wings of yours!" Ajax was at Virulent's side then, and used his fine feline claws to grip the edges of his left wing. The Feline pulled back on it, expanding the wing and hooking his claws into the leather with a bit of blood bubbling where the skin tore. Virulent erupted in a slightly pained and frustrated roar, expanding his other wing and pushing against the air, attempting to take flight; but even with his strength, Ajax held onto his wing tightly, keeping him grounded. The unruly movement was confusing, disorienting Adolpha, but she did not hesitate. Letting out a determined grunt as she pushed both of her calloused hands forward. Her hands were dirty, lined with brown blood and grime, but they were hers and they would do exactly what needed to be done.

Within the moment, a spark of fiery white emitted from her palms like fire or electricity, and in a jolt and a flash it roared in Virulent's direction, casting through his extended wing which Ajax held open like a parachute. The white, blinding flames ripped into the thin, green leather between his wide phalanges, tearing apart his entire left wing. The stench of his sizzling blood and his echoing roar of agony filled the air, and Ajax quickly let go of his grip and pulled away from the blast of heat. He fell backwards in the dirt on his tail. Soon, the heat subsided, and Adolpha stood buckled, a bit dizzy, in front of the injured and angry Virulent.

In a similar fashion to Danica's wings, Adolpha and Ajax watched, stunned and breathless and exhausted, as the injured wing slowly became translucent and melted away like ice or water; and Virulent's uninjured wing did the same. His scales began to fall to the ground, and he lifted his front legs as they shortened and his daggery claws became small. With the magic of change, the beast was suddenly once again the Saurion Virulent, standing firm on unique hind legs and with a bit of dark, stringy hair atop of his lizard head. His injured wing had translated to a deep cut through his hand, dripping scarlet from his fingertips. His slitted eyes glared intimidatingly at Adolpha.

"You are a curse," he hissed, infuriated, "I will make you regret this." His tail swished low to the ground behind him, rustling dead leaves, and the Saurion took several paces closer to Adolpha, keeping his eyes locked on hers, "Did you know, Adolpha, that Nautis allows me to shapeshift at will? I do not even have to contact what I want to turn into. I can change form into anything imaginable!" The corners of his lips upturned in a wicked smile, showing fangs. "Nautis gifts me with amazing power... even more powerful than the so-called blessing you have from a dead Mother Nature."

"As you mentioned," Adolpha said, eyes narrowed at him. Her voice was tight, her lips a thin white line, but her heart was beating faster and louder than ever. She couldn't give away her fear; not now. She needed to keep the upper hand.

"So that means," he continued coolly, "I can do this!" Almost instantly, he raised his unharmed hand, palm facing up, and blasted a bright beam of fire in Adolpha's direction. Just as quickly, Adolpha slashed one of her hands in front of her, commanding the buzzing energy from within to place a round transparent wall between her and the licking flames and unbearable heat. She held her ground, and eventually Virulent's flames dwindled to a stop, and he was left breathless and immensely frustrated. She could see his figure physically rising and falling with every aching breath, both of his fists clenched tightly at his sides; his body was practically vibrating with anger— or perhaps power, and like a cat, his tail swung behind him loosely. The sun gleamed against his textured skin, outlining the muscles of his shoulders, bright and sheening like metal, and far different compared to the soft skin of the Lycanthropes.

In near immediate response, Adolpha unsheathed the sword at her side with a short squeaking sound, racing at Virulent with the sheen of the blade raised over her head. She brought it down on the surprised Saurion in a fast, curved motion, her arms feeling as though they were on fire, nearly moving by themselves. In the same moment of action, she let the brimming, pulsating power rush from her heaving core to her flashing fingertips, spilling from her and coating the silver sword's blade with crackling, flashing energy. In a desperate attempt to defend himself, Virulent raised the palms of his webbed hands, and Adolpha's flashing blade met his palms with a thunk, pummelling itself into the searing flesh and dense bone of his two hands. His injured arm faltered, and he lost his balance slightly, taking a fumbling step back against the pressure of the stinging sword. The crackling magic washed over his limbs, stunning him with pins and needles throughout his body, and he grunted in pain.

Adolpha pulled her sword backwards with force, nearly taking Virulent's hands with it, but they released after a tug. Dark scarlet ran from the sword's blade all the way to the handle, making Adolpha's grip on it slick with warmth and wet. Virulent was clearly stunned from the attack, acting almost drunken or drowsy and with a hunched posture. One of his injured hands held his injured arm, and blood dripped to the floor in small, red circles. It splattered against the dirt, seeping in beneath him, and running down the bareness of his body; an unfortunate side-effect of his transformation.

Virulent shook his head, his face seeming pale with shock and pain which pulsated through him, "How can you hurt me so easily?" He shook his head again, as if shaking away a thought that wasn't his, and then stood up a bit straighter. Despite being much shorter than Adolpha, he was just as strong as her, if not stronger than, and standing tall and powerfully would always intimidate her. And yet, in that moment, she wasn't as intimidated as she usually would have been; his fear had flickered across his face, and his wounds were deep. She knew she had harmed him and his ego. Virulent hissed, "Do you know all that we could have accomplished together?" He chuckled. "We could have had all of this. After the war, it would all be mine, and those living under me would live together in harmony!" He had a true motive hidden beneath, flickering behind the black of his eyes. Adolpha caught the subtle change of his facial muscles, almost a twitch of emotion from his fanged lips to his eyes.

She didn't process the flicker of emotion in detail. Instead, she harnessed his words, considering his reasoning behind harmony. She considered Johanna and Pebble, who were just ordinary folk living under Virulent's rule. They seemed happy enough... and yet, they were quick to help her, and Virulent had kidnapped them to use as bait for Adolpha and her friends. A ruler with a dream of harmony wouldn't have done that; a ruler with a dream of harmony wouldn't have disrupted the allyship between them and the rest of the continent. A ruler with a dream of harmony wouldn't have started a war.

"You're lying," Adolpha blurted, the rage beneath her unbearable. It rippled within her like rolls of fire, all-consuming and hot beneath her skin. Her face was reddened and flush with it.

Virulent cracked a smirk, "That is a rude thing to say!" And with the last of his strength, lunged, his bloodied claws outstretched like a cat's. But he was quickly stopped in place at the ankle; a thick, black-furred wolf held him locked in place by her fangs like a ball and shackle. Virulent slowly turned to stare in wide-eyed anger at the beast which had stopped him, now causing shooting pain up his leg. His jaw was tight, his fangs clenched, tail swishing. The black wolf snarled as she gripped him, tugging and tugging like a dog playing tug-of-war, and blood pooled in her mouth. Her black wings feathered at her sides, and Ajax watched in shock from close by.

"Quince!" Adolpha called out, just as surprised to see her. The wolf gave Adolpha a quick glance with her icy blue eyes, a sparkling gleam in them. Virulent's rage built up within him and then bubbled over like water in a kettle; ignited, he flashed around and leapt upon the large wolf, who quickly released her grasp of his leg and used her wings to pull herself backwards. Virulent shuffled and fell. The once powerful and impressive mayor was now nothing but a crumpled man, bleeding and pathetic in the dirt. Adolpha could hardly hide her amusement, and in an odd way, she felt sympathy for the man.

Virulent quickly sat up from where he had fallen, determined to succeed and rise to power; determined to see his child again, just as Nautis had promised him. He rose from the dirt, wiping it from his bare belly and chest, standing to his full height as the black wolf circled him menacingly, every paw step making a soft crunch in the dirt, keeping her head low and her blue eyes locked on him. He slowly spun in place, keeping his face on hers. His eyes were narrowed, fangs bared, and his breathing laboured.

Quince stopped, preparing every muscle in her body to leap, tensing. Adolpha held her blade high, hands unwavering as she neared Virulent slowly. But before either of the women could successfully strike, a voice echoed from behind Adolpha.

"Wait!"

Adolpha flipped around to spot a Saurion; she was heavy-set, breathless, and layered in head to toe in sheets of silvery armour. She had been one of Virulent's guardsmen, chasing after them after their escape.

Adolpha's eyes sunk into her like a blade, refusing to let go, and she growled, "What do you want?" The woman inhaled deeply, standing tall and eyeing Adolpha evenly.

With a cool voice, she spoke, "Let him go." She didn't say it as a plead or beg; rather, she spoke it like a threat.

"Or what?" Adolpha countered. This Saurion was cold and calculated; she could tell already. But all the same, Adolpha wasn't going to stop now. She had to end this war, once and for all. From behind her, Virulent stared just as coldly at the woman while Quince continued to circle him, keeping him in place with her snapping jaws and raised hackles.

"If you let him go, then nobody here has to get hurt," she hissed, taking daring steps towards Adolpha. Adolpha stood strong on her legs, her hands in a raised and defensive position, prepared to fight. She already hated how cocky this Saurion was.

"Hell no," Adolpha snapped, "Do you have any idea what Virulent has done to us? To our families?!" The rage was a turmoil within her, her chest heaving with the power of it and her skin hot to the touch. She was practically steaming.

The green-skinned woman rolled her red eyes, a crooked and toothy smile across her snout, "Whatever it was, it seems like you're a brat that deserves it." Adolpha tried to remain calm. She let out a shaky exhale, sweat beading along her hairline and her curls slick with it. Even in her attempt, her blood seemed to roar beneath her pimpled skin, and her heart pounded within her ears. Not far behind her, Quince was alerted. The winged wolf lifted her head, flaring at the Saurion which had so nonchalantly threatened and insulted her friend. No words were spoken as Ajax took Quince's place guarding Virulent, and Quince held no hesitation as she sprinted full-force across the short distance between her and the new woman.

The wolf bounded, kicking off her powerful back legs and outstretching her body in the air, her feathered wings opening at her sides in a brilliant display. She whizzed past Adolpha in a fury and leapt upon the Saurion; immediately, her nails skittered off of the smooth armour, and she lost her grip. The two tumbled to the ground, the Saurion on bottom and the wolf on top. Both seemed a little frazzled and uncertain with their demeanours, shock on both of their faces, but Quince's rage and the Saurion's prevalent ego clashed like water and oil.

The Saurion pushed the large black wolf off of her and jumped to her feet; Quince attempted to keep a grip but her claws skittered off of the smooth armour's surface. It clinked together as the Saurion rose.

"What is that damned armour you wear," Quince snarled, rising to all four paws.

The Saurion laughed, "An innovation. Cheaper and easier to make than that chainmail you and your friends wear. Nautis showed our village how to create such things, and so much more." Adolpha didn't have time to consider the curiousity of her words; she had to de-escalate the situation before the Saurion hurt any of her friends. Feeling vulnerable while naked, Adolpha took a few moments to morph into her wolf, her bones and skin stretching uncomfortably as rusty fur began to coat her body. "That's a nifty little trick you have," the Saurion snorted as if it were a joke. Adolpha grew even more confused, tilting her head slightly. Had this Saurion never met a Lycanthrope before? She shook her head, trying not to think about it too much; she had to force herself to focus on the present. She tried to consider all possibilities, but her head was pounding. Every limb ached, her muscles sore and exhausted, and her mind growing increasingly groggy from a lack of rest and food. Her determination to shut down Virulent's army was quickly waning, and in that moment, the only thing she could see was Quince in front of her, angry as can be, and directly in front of the Saurion.

Adolpha knew that this Saurion would not hesitate to kill Quince. In fact, one arm was hidden at her side, surely her palm resting on the hilt of a sword in preparation. The fire within her dimmed and then blew out, and her entire body's ache and pains became a newly pressing matter. Her stomach growled. She needed rest, and more importantly, she needed to keep her friends safe. Defeat washed over her before the guilt did, a dark, groggy feeling, pitting a weight in her stomach. She could feel the bile at the back of her throat tempting to release, the weight making her breathing almost shallow.

Defeatedly, she released a sigh and the tension within her body, "Fine. Take Virulent, and let the rest of us go. He's injured and will need medical attention." The Saurion's face flickered to surprise, eyes widening a minuscule amount; but the gears turned behind them, and ignoring Quince, she took a few steps towards Adolpha with a new plan in mind.

"I have a better idea," she hissed, tail swishing.

Adolpha immediately arose in a fury, but it was backed up by intense fear, "You said that no one would get hurt if we let you take Virulent!" Her fur stood on end, the drumming of her heart fast and powerful. Oddly enough, she felt betrayed, but her mind swirled in a panic. There would be no choice but to fight, and she tried to prepare herself for it. Weakened, but not unwilling, she tensed up her muscles, her tail standing tall and fluffed at the edges. The Saurion chuckled at the sight, as if Adolpha's wolf was just a house cat puffed up at something mundane.

She continued, "I just want to know which one of you managed to injure Virulent." Her eyes ran over the small group, locking on Virulent who was behind Adolpha, clutching his arm as it bled. He was looking away from her, too embarrassed to show his face.

Adolpha's adrenaline poured into her once again, and she puffed, "If you keep talking, then I won't hesitate to do the same to you!"

The woman laughed again, "I'd like to see you try." She was taunting the wolf, and her cocky laugh seemed to scratch Adolpha's ears like nothing else, rattling about in her brain. She was furious. Her heart seemed to thump even faster, and she could hardly contain it; but if she attacked the woman, she would likely fail, as exhausted as she was.

Sensing the tension, Ajax pulled himself away from Virulent— the fool didn't seem like he would try to run in his condition— and stepped past Adolpha. She looked up at his tall, Feline build, the sun's rays casting a yellow glow along the broad width of his toned shoulders. Even beneath his leathers and chainmail, it was apparent how physically capable he was.

He held a hand out flat in front of Adolpha, "Let me handle this. I'm sick and tired of hearing you two bicker." To anyone who didn't know him, he would have sounded calm and collected, but determined. But to Adolpha and Quince, his voice sounded tight, as if he was holding back something much larger and much angrier beneath it. Even his muzzle was kept tightly shut; not in a sneer, but a flat line beneath his whiskers, and the muscle at the base of his jaw bulged slightly as he clenched his teeth. The Feline's eyes kept serious, locked on to the Saurion.

Adolpha and Quince exchanged a quick glance, and then Quince trotted from the Saurion to behind Ajax alongside Adolpha. The two watched with wide, curious, and hopeful eyes as Ajax seemed to power up. His muscles tensed, and he remained completely still, almost with a sense of uncanny.

"What is this?" The Saurion said, her voice still laced with amusement and sarcasm. She had no fear, and she would completely underestimate the strong Feline. Adolpha had yet to see what his blessing looked like in full force, and she couldn't seem to look away.

With a grimace, the Feline took a stance, one foot planted in front of the other, and then raised his palms. The power burned through him, almost painfully so, and his intense rage and hatred fuelled it. Fear, even, for the safety and image of his friend and sister. Within it was love, and even then, he thought of Danica and how she had been brainwashed by the Saurions. He began to hate them with an intensity he hadn't felt before, and from this, a black flash shot from his body, propelling him backwards and diving into the woman's abdomen. It cut through her like a hot blade to butter, exploding out her backside in a fury of black and blood splatter. She collapsed on the ground on her back, groaning and crying out with agony. Ajax sat back on his rump, stunned and aching. Quince was at his side.

"Well, that's one way to do that," She said quietly, and he gave her a glare. Adolpha was impressed, but also terrified. She raced over to the Saurion writhing on the ground in a mess.

The Saurion clenched her jaws, grimacing as she struggled to lift her head, "I don't understand... you people at all...." Her words were shaky and breathless. Adolpha could see fear in her eyes. It didn't suit her. There were only seconds for Adolpha to make a decision. This woman would die, or Adolpha could heal her and hope that she live. The injury was a terrible one, and smelled even worse than it looked. Her armour was ripped where the dark matter had crushed through her body. Adolpha couldn't seem to look away.

She brought her wolf nose to the Saurion's, and from her emitted a swirling, nearly translucent light. It devoured the Saurion's injury, closing it, although she would be left with a terrible scar and some pain. She gasped, sitting up suddenly and then wincing, leaning back on her arms. With wide eyes, the woman turned to look at Adolpha.

"You... healed me." Adolpha remained silently, feeling pale. "I've never seen that kind of magic before."

"I imagine Nautis doesn't care to give his followers such an ability," Adolpha retorted. Her feelings felt like a jumble, and then faded, and she was left feeling nothing but cold.

"I'm..."

"Just get out of here."

Without another word, the woman managed to get to her feet, clutching her abdomen as she limped back to the heart of Virulent's Forest. Adolpha turned around, and without surprise, Virulent was gone, certainly heading in the same direction as the woman to treat his severe injuries. The day was a failure, but Adolpha was too exhausted to care. She collapsed to the ground, aching terribly in her bones. Ajax and Quince walked towards her.

Ajax started, "I'm so sorry, Adolpha. I should have stayed with Virulent..."

"Don't bother," she said lowly, "We will come head-to-head once again."

"And wherever we do," Quince said, "We will be well-rested and ready."

"We have to get Johanna and Pebble back to their home first."

"They're on their way already," Quince admitted, a bit sheepishly.

Adolpha lifted her tired head, "What?"

"I walked with them down until there was no danger. It's a day or two's walk to their home; Johanna told me so. She assured me that they would be alright."

Adolpha shook her head, "No, they need protection."

"Adolpha," Quince said, meeting her blue gaze, "Johanna is a capable woman. She will be just fine. Virulent is injured, and he won't be looking for her anymore. He will be looking for us. We need to rest and heal, and then, we can hit Virulent with everything we have." Adolpha nodded. She hated to admit it, but Quince was right. Johanna knew her way around Virulent's Forest better than any one of them, considering that she lived here. Virulent wouldn't be looking for her; his eyes would be set solely on those who injured him.

Ajax spoke up, "Where can we stay? We can't exactly stay here in Virulent's Forest. We need a good meal, a good night's rest, and a change of clothes..."

Quince suggested, "We could travel back down to Jasper and stay at an inn."

"That's a good idea. We can warn them of what Virulent is planning, too," Adolpha said. With that, it was decided.