Just a simple snap of his maw in warning and they backed off.
If it had been bleeding, that would have been a different story.
As excited as he was to return to his little human, there was an unsettling feeling of dread. He was worried he might find her gone or dead.
As he got closer to his home, the scent of spilled Demon blood infiltrated his senses. He paid little mind to that. He couldn’t smell any of Reia’s blood on the wind, meaning she’d remained uninjured. The Demons often hurt each other, killed each other, ate each other; their foul-smelling blood wasn’t any cause for alarm.
She is still here. Her scent was strong. She had stayed as she promised, and his tension eased.
However, there was another scent. The scent of Mavka blood. He didn’t know what that could mean.
There were too many Demons around for him to run. He knew they would give chase and he might lose the meat he
was intending to give to Reia, but he did quicken his long strides.
He emerged from the forest into the beginning of the clearing.
His sight immediately found her standing in the middle of the yard already facing him. With her streaks of sunlight hair, snowy skin, and bright green eyes, she smiled for him.
It was the sweetest greeting he’d ever received upon returning home.
“Reia?” he asked, tilting his head as he crossed the salt circle. “What are you doing outside?”
He thought she might walk around the day before, but she should have known better than to wander outside the house without his spell in place.
“Um... Long story.” Her eyes darted to his side before they widened. She stepped towards him. “Wait, is that what I think it is?”
“You said there is honey within these.” He held up the beehive he had in his hand where a few bees were still persistent in fighting for their nest. “And that you wanted it.”
But as much as he wanted to revel in his gift, something felt amiss.
Why can I smell Mavka and Demon blood within the circle?
He began to lower everything to the ground, the deer sliding from his shoulders to thud against the grass. He was more careful with the fragile beehive.
That’s when Orpheus looked over Reia’s head to find the Mavka he knew standing on the other side of the yard within the salt circle.
He shot forward, wrapping his arms around her protectively and pulled her to his side.
She let out a small cry at his touch, one filled with terrible pain, and he jumped back from her as his eyes turned white.
Did I hurt her? He didn’t think he’d grabbed her hard.
She placed her hand around her bicep, wincing with a frown as she recoiled from him.
“Reia?” he asked as he stepped closer slowly. She didn’t retreat, and once more placed a smile on her face – one that was more forced. “What is wrong?”
“Ah, nothing.”
When he prodded her arm to see what the matter was, her body dipped, and she gave another little cry. Red filled his vision, and he grabbed her other shoulder to keep her still as he carefully curled his claws into the neckline of her dress. He tore it. A deep growl emitted from within his throat as his maw opened in disbelief.
He couldn’t have caused this injury, not with how old it was since the entire smooth flesh over her entire shoulder was dark purple and black. A bruise.
Reia was injured.
With a snarl, he turned to the Mavka on the other side of the yard.
“Wait, Orpheus. It’s not what you think,” she pleaded as she placed her hands on his chest.
He refused to listen. Reia is hurt.
He moved her to the side as he took a step towards him.
He didn’t retreat, nor did he come closer, but his eyes did glow red to meet his threat.
“You hurt her?” Anger bubbled in his gut like a disgusting burning pit of lava. “You dared to harm my human?!”
Orpheus charged, his clothing beginning to seep within his body as it morphed. His legs grew more dog-shaped as more fur sprouted over his body to hide his grey flesh. He fell to his hands and ran on all fours by the time he was halfway to him.
The Mavka charged as well, sprinting forward with deer-shaped hindlegs and hooved feet. He closed the remaining distance to greet Orpheus head on, both their eyes red and their snarls echoing each other’s.
They barrelled into each other, but the other Mavka was weaker and too injured to fight Orpheus properly. He didn’t care why, only that it aided him. The Mavka never got the chance to gouge his claws into Orpheus’ flesh when they collided. Orpheus had already cut the Mavka's neck and chest.
The Mavka gave a wheezing cry, snapping his jaws forward to protect himself.
Orpheus dug his claws into the backs of his shoulders as he lifted him and then bashed him into the ground. He did it once, then twice, until he could find a moment to wrap his hand around his fox snout.
Orpheus began to lift him off the ground once he had a firm hold of it.
