Chapter 18: Feral Bonds

  Time: 2:27, Day: Kiviber, Week: 3, Month: K?rgoyde, Year: 36651

  Grim silently carried Ayanna back into the cottage, laying her down before the hearth before starting a fire.

  Ayanna had fallen into a deep sleep by the time they had even reached the porch. It reminded Grim of when they'd first met and he first watched vigilantly as she slept for almost 40 hours. Now though, he wasn't watching over a sleeping broken pup, he was just helping a comrade rest. He laid his dripping wet tail between Ayanna and the hearth, and even though his fur was soaked and she was fast asleep, she reached out and clung to his tail with a soft happy smile. He couldn't help but look down and smile at her.

  After a few hours, hunger crept up on Grim, and he figured she would be hungry when she finally woke up. He stood to leave, and Ayanna pulled his tail back. He grabbed the base of his tail and snatched it from her grasp, it hurt but any injuries soon healed without hesitation.

  Ayanna stirred, raising her left hand towards Grim. She could feel his surprised Aura, and pulled it from him. Grim looked up as he felt an immense pressure pushing down on him, holding him in place.

  “Did she just—” Grim thought to himself, but froze as he turned to look back at Ayanna. It wasn't that he'd let his guard down, although he wasn't as guarded as he normally was. It was as if she used her own Aura to reach out, pulling his Aura into her and using it as her own. This wasn't a trick. It was mastery.

  “No wonder her scents changed, she's more powerful than I expected.” Grim thought, “Still, it doesn't seem like she can make it as strong as I can.”

  She had her hand extended towards him, and her pink eyes glowed slightly, pulsating in rhythm with the shimmering of the gold tips of her feathers.

  “Get back over here, and sit down!” Ayanna snapped, and even attempted a soft growl before smiling.

  For a moment, Grim considered doing as he was told, then a loud grumbling sound came from Ayanna. The sound broke her focus and a soft blush spread across her face. Quickly, she dropped her hand and looked away from him.

  “Actually… Maybe find us something to eat, but hurry back.” Ayanna said, clearly pouting.

  Grim smiled, feeling his Aura return to him, but still wondering how she managed to take it from him. He nodded and headed out of the cottage.

  Ayanna repositioned and slowly drifted back to sleep.

  With a loud, deep, howl Grim took his massive wolf form and rocketed through the forest, headed for Devil’s Marsh.

  In his massive 30 foot form, it took a matter of minutes to reach Devil’s Marsh. The purple toxic waters of the marsh looked like deep black sludge as the storm clouds cleared and gave way to the night sky. Soft child-like giggles echoed through the dense dog surrounding dead pale trees at the edge of the marshes waters, Chaos Sprites attempting to lure victims into the hungry toxic waters.

  Despite his size, Grim moved silently through the thick fog of Devil’s Marsh, his every step deliberate and calculated. The oppressive atmosphere of the swamp clung to him, thick and damp, carrying the unmistakable scent of decay and ancient, untamed magic. This was familiar territory, where danger was as constant as the swamp’s stagnant waters. Grim was both predator and prey—a balance he knew well.

  His form shifted fluidly between humanoid and wolf as he navigated the treacherous terrain. Sharp senses guided him through the dense mist, his movements perfectly blending precision and primal instinct. Truthfully, he hadn’t eaten in days, and here the hunt was the most fun, as the dead land was always teeming with creatures as fierce as the marsh itself.

  A crackle of energy in the distance pulled his attention. Grim’s ears perked up, his body rigid as he focused on the sound. It was faint at first, a distant thrum of power, but it grew louder with each passing moment. The unmistakable weight of thunderous footsteps reverberated through the marsh, accompanied by the heavy, labored breathing of something immense.

  Grim narrowed his eyes, his senses sharpening even further. Whatever was coming wasn’t ordinary. He moved cautiously toward the source, his form slipping into the shadows as he approached. He saw it through the twisted trees and heavy fog: a juvenile Hydra, towering nearly fifty feet tall, its three heads weaving in rhythmic, serpentine motions. Each neck extended a staggering fifteen feet, the creature’s pale, ghostly white scales shimmering faintly in the dim light of the moonless night.

  “Guess I'm not the only one out hunting.” Grim whispered with a predatory fanged smile.

  The hydra’s black, soulless eyes locked onto its surroundings, and Grim felt a flicker of excitement rise within him. He recognized the creature's raw, untamed power of youth—a beast still learning its capabilities. But youth didn’t equate to weakness. Even a juvenile Hydra was a formidable opponent.

  The middle head flared first, letting out a deafening screech as it unleashed a bolt of lightning that arced violently through the swamp. The surrounding pale trees shattered under the impact, sending debris flying in all directions. Grim leaped back, barely avoiding the blast, his eyes flashing as he shifted entirely into his wolf form, bracing for the fight ahead.

  The Hydra advanced, its massive claws sinking into the muck with every step and its whip-like tail cracking through the air. Grim crouched low, studying the creature’s erratic movements. Each head moved independently, searching for a target, and Grim knew he’d have to be precise. There was no margin for error.

  One head snapped toward him, its jaws wide and glistening with venom. Grim darted to the side, the creature’s bite missing him by mere inches. The force of its strike sent a shockwave through the air, rattling the ground beneath them. Grim capitalized on the opening, darting forward and slashing at the creature’s exposed flank with his razor-sharp claws. The Hydra roared in pain, its heads whipping around to retaliate.

  A burst of fire erupted from the left head, searing through the air toward Grim. He dodged, feeling the heat lick at his fur as he darted away. The right head followed with a blast of ice, the sudden chill turning the ground to frost beneath his paws. Grim narrowly avoided the attack, but the Hydra wasn’t finished. Its most dangerous middle head unleashed a bolt of lightning aimed directly at him.

  Grim’s fur bristled as the electricity arced toward him, the air crackling with power. He leaped high into the air, twisting mid-flight to evade the strike. The bolt struck the ground where he had been, sending up a spray of dirt and mucky water. Grim landed gracefully behind the Hydra, his golden eyes blazing with determination.

  "Not bad," he muttered, his voice low and edged with amusement, "But not enough."

  Enraged, the Hydra thrashed wildly, its heads snapping and roaring in every direction. Grim saw his opening. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance, his claws digging into the base of one of the hydra’s necks. With a savage twist, he severed the head, the lifeless appendage crashing to the ground with a wet thud.

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  The creature shrieked in agony, its remaining heads flailing in a desperate attempt to retaliate. It had moments to realize how to regenerate its severed head, but Grim was relentless, darting between the strikes with godly precision and preventing it from escaping.

  The second head lunged, only for Grim to sidestep and deliver a brutal slash that severed it cleanly. The Hydra’s body convulsed, its once-intimidating form now reduced to a pitiful state.

  The final head hissed, its black eyes filled with fury and desperation. It lashed out one last time, but Grim was already moving. With a mighty leap, he landed atop the Hydra’s massive body and drove his claws deep into the base of its neck. The creature let out a final, piercing wail before collapsing, its body stilling as the swamp grew quiet once more.

  Grim stood over the fallen beast in his humanoid form, his chest heaving from the exertion of the fight. "You were a worthy opponent," he voiced through ragged breaths, his voice carrying a note of respect, "But this is where it ends."

  He howled into the sky, the victorious sound reverberating through the marsh.

  Moments later, his pack of Dire and Berserker wolves emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes gleaming with admiration for their alpha. Together, they dragged the Hydra’s carcass back to the now crowded clearing of bones where Grim had sparred with Ayanna, its massive form a bounty for the pack.

  Later, as the pack feasted, Grim sat atop the large blood soaked cleaved boulder, his thoughts elsewhere. The fight had been exhilarating, but it wasn’t enough to distract him. Images of Ayanna lingered in his mind—her defiance, her vulnerability, the way she had taken his Aura and used it against him. He couldn’t shake her from his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried.

  Cinder noticed something off with Grim and approached him, whining.

  “Are you going to feed the Lady too?” Cinder asked, speaking in a way that only beasts could.

  “Yea, her stomach was growling as loud as the roar of an Owlbear when I left.” Grim laughed, his tail flicking back and forth.

  “I can keep watch of the pack, tell the Lady I said hello and that I'll be seeing her again soon. I want to see why her scent has changed.” Cinder jumped up to the boulder, laying down, her eyes on the pack.

  “I think she's finally come to terms with herself, and embraced her power.” Grim said, standing and looking for some pieces of the Hydra that he could take to Ayanna. He noticed three thick slices of the tail still available, and quickly took hold of them, growling deep at any who dared to try to take them from him.

  “That's good, maybe she won't be so afraid all the time now.” Cinder huffed.

  “Well, she's brave enough to take my Aura and use it against me.” Grim laughed a little.

  “Next I'm sure she will try to take you.” Cinder let out a sound akin to a laugh.

  Grim shot her an angry glare, but she scoffed and turned her head.

  “Go to the Lady, give her my blessing. And maybe be honest with her. Everyone here knows how you feel about her, we can smell it on you.” Cinder got up enough to turn her back to Grim while keeping watch of the pack.

  Grim flicked his tail, and smirked, before opening a portal to the Obsidian Cottage. Ayanna was already sitting on the porch, her hands on her belly.

  “Feed your mate.” Cinder said lastly as Grim stepped through the portal.

  “Cheeky wolf.” Grim said, but the portal had already snapped shut, by the time Grim turned back around Ayanna was standing on the porch, her wings flared out and her hands on her hips, and an angry look on her face.

  “I told you to hurry back!” Ayanna said, glaring at Grim though trying not to smile at the three chunks of meat in his arms. Each one was about a foot and half long, and almost ten inches thick, though still dripping with blood.

  “Gods, what's with the women today?” Grim grumbled to himself as he approached the porch. He gave her a stern look as he dropped the meat at her feet, “Cook it up, and eat, child.” Grim shook his head, as he headed around the cottage and headed towards the river to bathe.

  Ayanna stood there looking dumbfounded.

  “Child?! Did he really just call me a child?” Ayanna thought to herself, her face twitching as she watched him disappear around the side of the cottage. The words had infuriated her, yet she didn't confront him. Instead she snapped her fingers, the pile of meat blazing with an intense flame for a few minutes before dying down.

  “Stupid, man-wolf!” Ayanna said as she sat down and snatched up one of the freshly cooked chunks of meat. She tore into the meat, her brow furrowed in anger, as she continued to berate Grim in her head. Before long, she had completely devoured all three chunks of Hydra tail and tossed the bones aside. She leaned back on her palms, her wings rustling. She looked out at the forest ahead, across the grassy area affront the cottage.

  Suddenly Ayanna stood, her wings outstretched, a wide mischievous grin plastered on her face.

  “I bet I can sneak up on him and make him pay for calling me a child!” Ayanna laughed villainously.

  She snapped open her right hand, a ball of chaos magic spiraling in her palm. She could feel the shadows around her, as she closed her eyes. After a few moments, she could feel Grim’s shadow. He was just getting out of the river and shaking himself dry. She opened her eyes, her mischievous smile widening.

  Her wings shook as her shoulders shuddered, she crouched slightly, her left hand’s fingers wiggling as she prepared to reach into the ball of chaos spiraling in her right palm. She closed her eyes, watching Grim from the shadows. Just as he reached for his black leather pants, she snatched them through the ball of chaos magic in her right palm. The ball quickly dissipated, leaving only his pants in her hands.

  “Ha! Stupid Old Man! What you gonna—” Ayanna's victorious celebration was cut short, as she spun around and stopped.

  Her eyes widened.

  Her gaze started at his eyes, and slowly drifted down his form.

  His face was fixed in a state of agitation.

  His muscly arms were crossed, his right fingers tapping against his left bicep.

  His scars seemed to glow faintly.

  The fur on his forearms was a soft grey, and thinner than the fur on his tail.

  His abdomen was perfectly chiseled into eight bunches of muscle.

  His…

  Ayanna threw his pants at him, covering her bright red face with her hands, but opening her fingers just enough to stare at his impressive endowment.

  His tail was still, and she knew that meant he was either angry or ready to fight, or maybe both, yet she couldn't pull her eyes from him.

  She licked her lips behind her hands, her face burning bright.

  Then she finally heard him, as he pulled his pants up.

  “Did you even hear me?” Grim said, his words laced with aggravation and fury. His tail began to sway quickly and aggressively back and forth, his body tensing further.

  “You said something?” Ayanna asked, quickly lowering her hands and looking up at him. She knew he had used Shadow Step to get behind her, coming from her shadow. But she was still in awe of his abilities, among other things.

  “I asked why you thought it'd be funny to take my pants. Then I asked why you were staring at me like that. Then I asked if you had anything to say for yourself.” Grim repeated himself with much aggravation.

  “You called me a child. I didn't like it. So I got you back, but I didn't expect you to put that thing in my face. I'm a lone woman living in the forest, I don't need another monster to watch out for!” Ayanna snapped back, her blush receding and her tone taking a defiant and accusing tone.

  There was a moment of silence, Grim’s aggravation visibly growing, until he finally snapped.

  “WHAT?!” Grim uncrossed his arms, his tail stilling and pointing straight out behind him. His claws fully extended and a red ring encircled his sapphire blue eyes, “YOU STOLE MY PANTS! WAS I SUPPOSED TO RUN OFF WITHOUT THEM! YOU'RE HALF SUCCUBUS, GODS KNOW YOU'VE—” He stopped himself, his lupine ears tucking back and his tail falling. The red ring around his irises vanished, as he remembered that she was raised in a dungeon, so this was probably her first time seeing one.

  — The Curator’s Notes —

  you crack first?

  These two aren’t circling anymore. They’re orbiting. And we both know what happens next. If you don't know, then the next chapter does.