Xanthan shoved past me, and his body contorted into something unrecognizable. A hulking monster, with too many arms and too many mouths and too many sharp teeth within those mouths. He placed himself between me and the Auditor, snapping something hateful in a snarling language that I didn't understand.

(Later, much later, I would learn that Xanthan had claimed me as his paladin. Or, depending on how you translated it, his favorite chew toy. But for now I was too exhausted to wonder what he was talking about.)

The Auditor most certainly did understand, though. The black flames that formed his body flared up, and he tried to swipe at the god of chaos with a clawed hand.

A bad decision. One of the mouths– shifted towards where the blow was aimed, opening wide and then snapping around that hand like a bear trap.

An unnatural scream poured from the Auditor's throat as Xanthan's fangs hooked into his not-quite-skin. Xan lazily stepped back, using his other mouths to grin at the fiery thing. The Auditor stumbled with him; at first his movements were furious, but they turned frantic and desperate as he failed to retrieve his hand.

Black ichor dripped hypnotically onto the ground, seeping into a puddle. My eyes were locked on it, and I leaned forward, reaching out to–

One of Xanthan's arms swung back and brushed against my hand. I stiffened, and a feeling like cold water washed over me. He glanced over his shoulder, golden eyes sparkling with... amusement? "I know it's tempting, but don't drink that, Hank. I don't want to have to put you back together," he said playfully.

The Auditor continued to screech. I glanced away and tried to ignore it. After all, it was rude to stare.