FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Part 1

Reinald's brows furrowed imperceptibly as the large clawed paw placed the soldier down in its new position. Yogoloth smiled slightly at the expression, it wasn't often that he managed to puzzle his old friend, but the young hybrid always enjoyed it when he did. Reinald hummed to himself as he studied the Xiangqi board for a moment.

"I know you're trying to trick me into thinking your doing one thing. But I'll be damned if I know what you're actually up to.", Reinald said subtly shaking his head.

That made Yogoloth grin even more and shift his position on the thick rug he was resting on. The soft yet tough fibres were comfortable for a gryphon's soft, furry flesh. But to Yogoloth's tough leathery hide and hard belly scutes, it was practically paradise. Stretching out his hind legs a little, he allowed himself to sigh quietly in contentment. After so many months it was good to be so close to home.

Although a small part of him had indeed missed the comfort of the gryphon rugs at the Tylor estate, he had missed Natanii far more than Reinald and the rugs combined. Unfortunately, his mate was visiting some distant relatives and wouldn't be back until the next day. So visiting his human friend seemed like the thing to do. He decided to let Reinald think about his next move a little more before deciding to carry on his story. The old human had other ideas.

"So he walked you all the way to his colony?", Reinald asked, his eyes still peering at the board.

"Without question. There just wasn't a doubt in his mind of who I was. These dark feathers in our wings are very rare and...", his voice lowered slightly. "he recognised my horns that I got from my mother."

Reinald was still in the dark about the existence of magic and dragons, just like all of the civilised races in the area. Gryphons only knew, because half of them had magic themselves, and they kept the secret best they could. But the rest of the races lived their lives in ignorance. Yogoloth was glad that Reinald had not questioned him about what his mother was. All the old human knew was that there were things out there in the wilds that he and his fellows were not ready to know about. Reinald, although curious, politely accepted that.

"I'm most certainly glad to hear that your search was so fruitful.", the old human looked up for a moment and smiled before moving one of his elephants.

The move puzzled Yogoloth and it must have shown on his face as it was now Reinald's turn to smile. Although the move didn't ruin his plans, it wasn't at all what he was expecting either. Reinald clearly hadn't figured out what Yogoloth's was up to... or had he? The disguised dragon hummed again as he ran a few moves through in his head. The move hadn't weakened Reinald's defence, but nor had it strengthened it.

"Yes...", Yogoloth replied absent mindedly as his puzzlement grew and his heart quickened slightly. It was almost like stalking prey, the goal was in sight, but one wrong move and victory could slip through his claws. He must not be too hasty. Patience learned from many escaped meals settled in his mind.

"And what of this gryphoness you met? Lenela was it?"

Yogoloth had decided to keep the fact that she was also a hybrid and his Sky Sister to himself for now. "She said she had to clear up a few things before following me here. She'd send word when she was on her way... by courier. She promised that she would follow soon."

"Excellent.", Reinald gestured to the game board and tried to hide a smile. He was trying to hurry him, not give him chance to think too much.

It was maddening not knowing what his opponent was up to. In a physical fight, it was all act and react. Plans were important at the beginning, but not so much during the battle itself. But this game of strategy, was different. Within reason both of them had as long as they wished to plan their next move and they had both started on exactly equal footing. It was pure skill and knowledge. It was a battle that an old human almost always beat a young dragon at. Yogoloth tried not to clench his jaws too much.

"I should introduce you to my mate Natanii next time I get a chance.", Yogoloth casually mentioned as he moved another soldier. Reinald's reaction almost confirmed Yogoloth's suspicions. His opponent's previous move was merely to test his reaction. Reinald still had no idea what he was up to.

"I would enjoy that very much. Your mate would be more than welcome here.", the old human replied smoothly as he examined the board and tentatively moved one of his own soldiers. "I expect you'll be glad to see her again."

Both human and half dragon were smiling slightly by now. Both knew this was as much a game of reading each other's reactions as it was a game of tactical prowess. Each blink conveyed a message, every shift in position was a tell, they both spoke very carefully even though the conversation was enjoyable. A battle of wills and skills. It excited Yogoloth more than he'd have ever expected.

"Of course. I plan on mating her the first chance I get."

Reinald was not so unused to the estate gryphons, nor Yogoloth himself, to show any of the normal civilised aversion to talk of mating. He would certainly have been a little shocked at the sudden comment but he managed to show no signs of it. But Yogoloth took that moment to move one of his elephants anyway, not only threatening an enemy soldier but also allowing one of his catapults to threaten one of Reinald's own elephants. It was the first step of his plan of attack.

"Ah, Well! I expect you've both managed to keep yourselves... entertained in the mean-", was all Reinald managed as a reply before one of the main doors to the great hall was flung open.

A civilised wolf with pale grey fur clad in nothing but a pair of linen breaches and leather foot wraps stood in the doorway. One hand still gripping tightly on the door frame as he breathed deeply but controlled. Yogoloth recognised him as Ferden, officially the grounds keeper of Reinald's estate. Although in reality he was much more than that. He looked a little flustered and there was an uncharacteristic urgency to his voice.

"Master Tylor. Nigaal, Thelekiin and Apples are back. You'd better come... quickly.", he said before disappearing back outside. Reinald looked a little concerned and Yogoloth couldn't remember the last time Ferden had been so abrupt. Something must be very wrong indeed.

Part 2

Reinald pushed himself out of his chair and picked up a smooth wooden stick that he'd left resting against the wall. Yogoloth decided that the game would have to wait and committed the current board to memory. He was determined to win this game and made careful connections in his mind to ensure the plan would execute perfectly.

Reinald reached the doors and pushed them both fully open before stepping outside. He used the stick only slightly to help balance as he descended the few stone steps to the path. Yogoloth frowned and decided that, as there was little else to do, he might as well catch some summer sun. A normally cave dwelling species he may be, but the open air was where he felt most at home.

As Yogoloth stepped outside, he saw Nigaal and the resident gryphon Thelekiin coming through the main gates. The young hybrid could suddenly smell blood. Nigaal sported a dark stain on his leather armour near his hip and the larger gryphon a similar red mark in the fur of one of his shoulders. On closer inspection both wounds still had broken off arrows or quarrels sticking out. Then Yogoloth saw a shape tied to Thelekiin's back; it was Apples.

"What happened out there Nigaal!?", Reinald exclaimed as he closed the gap between them with sudden urgency.

"Fuckin' poachers decided they weren't gonna be scared off this time. Didn't see other two behind some cover.", the civilised cat looked like he was internally punishing himself for what he believed was entirely his fault. "Shoulda waited for Conner to get back. Always been good with a bow... an' four's better than three..."

Nigaal with Ferden's help, slowly untied Apples and carefully lowered him down to the gravely path. He was breathing erratically, and now Yogoloth could see a broken off quarrel sticking out from between the leather pieces that made up his cuirass. Nigaal and Ferden began to cut away the straps that held the armour in place.

Ferden looked up at the broken off quarrel sticking out of Nigaal's hip, but the feline spoke up before he could comment. "I'll be fine. Gotta sort Apples out first."

Apples' suddenly groaned and coughed, a few flecks of blood appeared on his lips and his hands came up towards the quarrel in his chest. Nigaal grabbed him by the wrists and held his arms down to the ground while Ferden managed to remove more of the armour. Apples cried out and struggled against the feline's grip as Ferden accidentally caught the shaft of the quarrel. The off-white cloth of Apples' clothes was sticky with a deep red stain around where the quarrel had punched through.

The grey wolf frowned at the injury, stood up and turned to Reinald. "I'll grab a horse, ride to town and try to find Meesha.", he turned towards the stables. "I'll be as quick as I can."

"Ferden stop. Go get the stationary from my office.", Reinald replied, to the grey wolf's confusion. It looked like he was going to protest before Reinald spoke up again, his voice calm and firm. "Now, Ferden."

Without another word nor pause, Ferden ran back into the estate manor house. Reinald turned to Thelekiin who had been still and quiet, his wounds not as serious. "Can you fly?"

The gryphon part spread his wings to reveal another dark stain on his flanks. "I- I can try-", he started but was cut off by Reinald.

"No, call to Lusunii, get her here now.", Reinald's voice was totally calm but it betrayed a great deal of urgency. "Yogoloth, help keep Apples still before he injures himself."

"She's... out hunting, she'll never hear me.", Thelekiin replied as Yogoloth stepped over to Apples and tried to decide how best to do this without hurting him any more.

Apples was struggling against Nigaal's failing grip. The feline hunter and ex-militia man was strong, but he was injured and only had two arms. The big hybrid stepped over Apples and gently lowered his rump onto his legs. He didn't put his full weight down, that would have probably broken the human's bones. But he put enough pressure to stop him struggling so much or kicking out. From there he was easily able to pin an arm under each paw.

Apples opened his eyes a little and cried out again, the wound in his chest was still bleeding. The shock was probably wearing off and now the real pain would begin. Nigaal released his own grip and gasped a little as he slowly stood. He had clearly been down playing his own injury. Yogoloth felt the young human struggle below him, but the half dragon probably weighed over fifteen times as much, apples wasn't going anywhere.

"Damn it to hell!", Reinald swore to Yogoloth's surprise.

The young hybrid looked down at Apples, the human was delirious and didn't seem aware of anything but the pain now. They weren't exactly friends, more like... he didn't know. But they'd shared a wonderful moment of passion and conversation. Yogoloth cared for him, suddenly more than he'd realised as he felt his heart quicken with uncertainty. But he couldn't use magic to heal him, not in front of these people. It was forbidden. But Apples was dying. No one deserved to die like this.

"Thelekiin,", Yogoloth started uncertainly, worry slowly turning to anger. "Gryphon calls carry far, just do it!", he gave Thelekiin a hard, particular look as he opened his reserves and magically poked the gryphon. Thelekiin had no magic of his own, but he would have been taught how to shape and he would surely know his own mate's signature. If he was careful, he could send Lusunii a message without anyone knowing.

"I- yes...", Thelekiin said as he blinked and then drew a thin sliver of magic from Yogoloth's pool.

The hybrid watched as Thelekiin formed some shapes. The only time you could watch another being forming shapes was when you were the one channeling the power to them. The gryphon formed the message shape and the trace as Yogoloth would, but he couldn't make out Lusunii's signature. Only Lusunii herself could ever share that to another being. Thelekiin spoke the message as though it was to the group.

"Once Lusunii hears this, she'll know it's urgent and to come straight to the manor house.", the gryphon released the shapes that carried the message and then called as loud as he could into the air. The screech was ear piercing and it would have been easy to think it could travel the miles required to reach Thelekiin's mate where ever she was. But in reality, the magically carried message would be what brought her home.

Apples erratic breathing was the only thing that Yogoloth could hear as his hearing returned after Thelekiin's screech. The young human moaned sharply and began to shake, his teeth clenched. Ferden came jogging out of the manor with a varnished flat wooden case. Reinald quickly opened it, and while the grey wolf held it flat on his fore arms, the old human began to write on a bit of parchment.

Yogoloth could have growled in anger, he felt it rising in his chest. How was writing helping Apples!? He trusted Reinald, but he couldn't imagine how this would do anything. His... friend was... dying. He couldn't heal him, not with these witnesses; it was forbidden! The young hybrid looked down at Apples and for the first time his eyes were focused and despite the pain, he seemed lucid.

"Yog... don't l- let me die... l- like this...", he gasped as another wave of pain forced his eyes closed again.

The ancient laws forbade revealing magic to the civilised races. Yogoloth felt his blood boil as helplessness washed over him. He clenched his jaws and tried to keep himself under control. It was forbidden.

Part 3

Yogoloth couldn't take his eyes off Apples' face. He wasn't sure how much pain a human felt with a quarrel in the chest. But if his chaotic breathing, anguished cries and struggling were anything to go by, it must have been excruciating. The young hybrid stretched out his senses into Apples' body and cringed at what he could see. It wasn't forbidden to use magic near the civilised races, just so long as they never knew.

The quarrel had an iron head, obviously quite a cheap one because it had broken as it struck one of Apples' ribs. The combination of the leather armour and the young human's rib had been just enough to slow it down enough to not pierce his lung too deeply. It was now wedged between one of the arteries of his heart and his left lung. A claw's width either side would have meant death. It was still a serious injury that would need serious treatment to heal.

It was difficult feeling so helpless. Normally Yogoloth could either fight or flee. Maybe even use his magic or call on allies. But this was different, he felt useless and very out of place in this environment. His head drifted down and his snout gently rubbed in Apples' hair. He just wanted him to be well again.

Yogoloth looked up and saw Reinald feverishly writing on a second bit of parchment. "What... are you doing Reinald?", he tried to keep from growling but even he was surprised at how angry and even slightly desperate he sounded.

If Reinald had heard him, he did not react. He finished writing and quickly lit the wick on a stick of red wax. He let the wax warm, soften and then smeared some on each parchment. His hands moved with practiced skill as he removed a ring from his hand and pushed it into each blob of wax. The whole thing was surreal and confusing to Yogoloth. He felt his blood race faster and had to concentrate so as not to injure Apples who still thrashed and cried out in his grasp.

The air shifted and dust was pulled up from the dirt and gravel and into the air. It formed a small collection of clouds that caused eyes to squint slightly. Everyone except Apples and Reinald looked up in time to see Lusunii coming in to land nearby. She landed heavily, her eyes wide and alert, her small pink tongue panting gently in her beak.

"What's hap-", she began, her gaze moving rapidly between everyone present before resting on Apples.

"Lusunii.", Reinald interrupted as he waved the two pieces of parchment in the air as though trying to dry them out. "Take these purchase orders to Stone Haven... are you listening to me?"

Her gaze had moved to her mate and she looked concerned at his injuries. "Oh... I... yes!"

"Take these to Stone Haven. Go to the Healers Collegium and get one of their adept surgeons. Tell them it's a deep chest wound. This covers the payment.", he handed the first bit of parchment to the gryphoness. "Get them onto a fast horse from Barracks' Stables outside of town. This will cover that.", Reinald's voice was clear, determined and totally commanding. He could probably have talked a dragon down in the middle of a fight to the death. "Do you understand me?"

"Y- yes...", she replied, the parchments held tightly in her talons. Her gaze returned to her mate as his did to her. Thelekiin's fur was stained dark red around the wounds he'd suffered. In that moment the love between them was clear to see.

"Thelekiin will be fine, Apples could die. Get the surgeon to ride here as fast as they can. Fly escort for them. Let nothing get in their way.", Reinald paused a moment and then added. "Lusunii? Go. Now."

Lusunii took a few steps back to give herself some space and looked briefly at Thelekiin. He smiled back and nodded to her before she took to the air. Her wings moved hard and fast as she headed towards Stone Haven. A gryphon with purpose would cover the distance in no time at all, it was a pity that no gryphon could carry a person over that distance.

Yogoloth turned away from the distant mote in the sky and looked at those around him. Nigaal had walked up to Thelekiin and was examining the gryphon's wounds. Reinald was right, they were not life threatening but it wouldn't have been wise to fly with such injuries. Ferden had closed the wooden case with Reinald's stationary inside and had rested it on the ground. Reinald looked both worried and weary.

"Oh no! What happened? Apples...?", Sharli came in through the gate. She had probably been at the gryphon stables and came to see what was happening.

Apples struggled some more under the half dragon's weight. He was going to make things worse with his struggling. Every movement of his body risked nudging the quarrel closer to his heart or further into his lung. Yogoloth knew couldn't be seen by the healer when he arrived. His presence was difficult to explain and might possibly prevent Apples getting the treatment he needed. Even Ferden, Nigaal and Sharli might not be able to keep Apples still for the healer.

"Ferden, go to the cellar and get a bottle of whiskey. The first one you lay your hands on.", Reinald said, a little more weariness was creeping into his voice. Yogoloth followed his old friend's gaze to Apples and suddenly realised it was to lessen the pain if the healer needed it.

"No. That won't been needed.", the young hybrid said trying to emulate some of Reinald's calm and authority. Instead, it just sounded like he wanted to kill someone, which he did. He was about to walk a very thin line indeed.

Part 4

Yogoloth leaned his long neck down until his snout was almost touching Apples' face, making sure not to catch the quarrel still lodged in the human's chest with his belly scutes. He couldn't make eye contact as Apples had his eyes tightly closed. His magical senses were spread out and he began to form some delicate shapes. He was suddenly the focus of attention as Ferden stopped in his tracks to see what he was about to do. He had to be very careful indeed.

"Apples? Listen to my voice.", he began, struggling not to let the anger in his chest turn his words into growls. "Focus on my voice.", it was barely a whisper. He couldn't imagine anyone else being able to hear him.

He gently slipped the first magical shape into Apples' body and it settled in his chest. It clung to the wound and slowly deadened the pain. It would also help hold his flesh together and encourage his blood to clot. Apples opened his eyes and Yogoloth caught his gaze.

"I thought you would have waited for me to get back before you let anyone else put something inside of you.", he joked, but he couldn't quite find it in his heart to smile as well.

"Y- yog...", the young human breathed, his body wasn't thrashing quite so badly now.

The half dragon chose that moment to slip another shape into Apples' body. It soaked into the remains of the iron quarrel head and the broken metal narrowed from a jagged barbed tip to a smooth point. The transformation would stop further injury when the shaft was removed. With any luck it wouldn't change back for weeks, and by then it will have been thrown away and forgotten.

"You're going to heal just fine.", Yogoloth continued to whisper. "If you can handle me, then you can handle anything."

A slight smile flickered briefly on Apples' lips just before he coughed slightly again. "You're not... that big...", he whispered back. He wasn't trying to be quiet, his voice was just so weak. Yogoloth chuckled, Apples never had been afraid of him.

"Reinald sent for some sort of skilled healer. You have to stay still, stay awake, do you understand?", Yogoloth said a little more seriously. Apples nodded ever so slightly before clenching his jaw and leaning his head back a little.

The shape he had used wouldn't remove the pain, it would just reduce it enough to become bearable. Yogoloth carefully released Apples' arms and the young human turned over his hands and sunk his fingers into the gravely path. The young hybrid looked around and everyone was watching either them. He turned to Thelekiin as Sharli slowly sat down next to Apples' head and said something to him. Her hand found his and he clenched it tightly in return instead of the loose stones. Yogoloth didn't hear what she said as he felt his anger begin to boil again.

"Where did this happen?", he growled slowly to make sure the gryphon was under no doubt about his intentions. The people who did this would pay.

Thelekiin looked up at the sun and then out to the west before turning back to the half dragon. "About three minute's flight, one quarter turn ahead of the sun. There's a rocky cliff. Near there.", he said clearly. It was obvious that the ex-feral gryphon had no problem with the thought of a bit of feral justice.

"What did they look like?", he asked in Low Wurm, his growing rage making it more difficult to speak in civilised tongues. Thelekiin's eyes widened as he gave descriptions of the four people who had attacked them in the local tongue. Their sex, race, age, clothing, hair colour. The gryphon looked nervous, but never once seemed to hesitate. For the first time, he suddenly seemed to see the dragon inside the half gryphon he knew.

"Yogoloth, don't.", Sharli's normally bright voice said quietly.

Yogoloth gave a toothy predatory grin. "I'll be fine."

"No... I just... no one else needs to get hurt... let it go...", she said a little louder but Yogoloth didn't hear. He was already looking off into the distance imagining what he would do to them. He turned to Reinald and gave him a hard look as his anger demanded he take to the air and find something to sink his teeth and claws into.

"Take care of Apples.", Yogoloth managed in the local tongue before he let his gryphon side retreat to the back of his mind.

"Take care of yourself.", Reinald replied simply. Yogoloth briefly wondered if the old human had ever seen him like this before.

Yogoloth turned on his hind paws and jogged away from the small group before launching himself into the air. His heart, already beating powerfully in his chest, quickened with the sudden exertion of flight. He relaxed his control a little and adrenaline, already pumping through his veins, seemed to bubble up into his throat. As the estate fell away behind him, he let out a roar of anger and frustration. He hoped it would strike terror into those who lurked in the woodlands ahead.

He grinned as his senses sharpened and his wings drove him closer to the rocky cliff Thelekiin described. No one hurts his friends and lives.

Part 5

The dragon's breath came in slow but deep gusts. His chest plates expanding and contracting in time with each inhalation and exhalation. Wings pumped the air with practiced efficiency as he rapidly closed the distance between him and his destination. The trees below raced passed him and for a moment, keen eyes watched his own shadow flying amongst the leafy greens.

Tilting his head back up, he spied a rocky cliff, whose rugged stony nature had kept a little of the surrounding area free of tree cover. His lips curled back to reveal his sharp fangs as he began to circle the clearing, scanning the ground below with both his eyes and his magical senses. His ears were held back against his head, nictitating membranes closed to protect his eyes from the rush of air. His legs held still, up against his belly, and yet his claws clenched and relaxed as though preparing him for a hunt.

Yogoloth was indeed hunting for prey. But this prey would not feed the hunger in his belly. This prey would feed the hunger in his vengeful dragonic heart.

He could neither see nor sense anyone in or around the clearing. He would have to land to get a better idea of where it all happened and where his prey might have fled to. As Yogoloth descended he unravelled the magical shapes in his body that formed part of his disguise. He would need all the magic he could spare to deal with four armed men.

He smiled, the last time he'd faced a group like this, he had not known a shape that Natanii had since taught him. It caused the string of a bow to snap the first time it was used or snap as the cross bow was being drawn back. It was subtle and fairly easy to use at range. It still might mean he would have four quarrels flying his way though, but that he could deal with.

His hind paws struck the soft dusty ground first, closely followed by his fore paws. His momentum forced him to take a few steps before he came to a complete halt. He quickly opened his senses to the forest. Every sound, every shadow, every gentle pulse of life, every movement. Nothing stood out from the general feel of a normal wilderness. He began to pad forward away from the cliff face, his eyes searching for clues, ears and magical senses staying alert for danger. It did not take long to find the scene of the fight.

The ground had been disturbed in several places and there were a few stains where blood had been freshly spilled. Broken pieces of quarrels and armour pieces were also scattered around. Another quarrel was embedded in a tree. A discarded glove, a ruined leather pouch, some bloody rags. Yogoloth slowly took in the scents, searching for the unfamiliar.

He identified Thelekiin right away, the gryphon's scent was everywhere. Then Apples' and Nigaal's. Out of all of the scents, Yogoloth was most familiar with Apples' by far. His lips curled back and a growl escaped his throat as he found the spot where he must have been wounded. He stiffed at the ground and the followed an unfamiliar scent. Soon he had found the two places where the poachers had been waiting. They had known that Nigaal, Apples and Thelekiin had been coming. It had definitely been an ambush.

He prickled a little and quickly spread his magical senses out. There was something alive out there. Something bigger than the few rabbits and moles that were hiding nearby and it was quite distant. Yogoloth turned and trotted in the direction the life force lead him. He focused around, keeping alert for anything else that seemed suspicious, and found nothing other than this single living creature.

He moved as stealthily as he could at the speed he was travelling. It was summer and the trees provides decent cover and the ground was generally clear of anything that would make it difficult to remain quiet. Besides, the civilised races were not as alert nor as fast as the kind of prey Yogoloth normally hunted. Two civilised foxes and two humans might well hear him approach, but they would be unlikely to get away.

He slowed as he got closer and peered between the trees to catch sight of his prey. He had circled around a little by instinct not to betray his own scent and now his nostrils picked of the scent of a human male. The scent was familiar, it was from the ambush site. His heart quickened in anticipation of the kill and he struggled to restrain himself. He had to be cautious and he had to find where there others were.

Yogoloth kept low as he approached his prey; quiet, slow and out of sight. It seemed that the poacher was roping a deer carcass to a crude hand cart. Well, it was more like a series of branches tied together into the shape of something flat with wheels. Yogoloth grinned, he was alone. Thelekiin had said that the group had definitely wounded one of the poachers and probably a second. It seemed as though they had left one of their number to collect their kill while the rest had skulked away to lick their wounds.

He stood and padded briskly towards his oblivious prey, his paw pads making enough sound to reveal his presence. The young human turned and his mouth suddenly gaped as his hand fumbled next to the cart and pulled out a short iron sword. Yogoloth had almost closed the distance between them by the time his prey had stood and backed up a few steps.

A growl parted Yogoloth's jaws as he simply batted the tiny weapon away with the back of a paw and gently collided with the poacher. Gently, for a creature that weighs over one and a half tons, was easily enough to knock his prey to the dirty ground. The sword fell a little way off, well out of reach if the human decided to put up a fight.

"Help! Oscar! Monster!", the young human yelled in the trade tongue at the top of his voice. Yogoloth knew there was no one near enough to hear him, they were all alone. He padded over to the man as he tried to scramble to his feet and flee. A single shove was enough to knock him face down into the dirt once more. Even if this human had been a trained warrior, it wouldn't have mattered.

"Is Oscar the other human? Or one of the foxes you were with?", Yogoloth asked, slightly struggling with the trade tongue. His voice was almost one long rumble, dripping with malice. His mind begged him to rip flesh and tear throat. The young human turned his head and his slightly wild gaze suddenly met his assailant's purple, predatory eyes.

"Y- you understand me...? You're... not a gryphon...!", he said, the panic, confusion and tiny sliver of hope were like nectar to the hungry dragon.

"No.", Yogoloth growled deeply as he placed a single fore paw onto the human's back, stopping him from attempting to stand again. "But you'd know all about gryphons wouldn't you?", his snout moved a claw's width from the human's ear, teeth bared, his voice barely a whisper. "Like the friend of mine you shot."

Part 6

"I- I didn't shoot anyone!"

Yogoloth ignored the statement. "Do you have a name?", he asked, his anger still rumbling in his chest.

"Why do you-"

Yogoloth growled in anger, and in one deft move, flipped the young man over onto his back. In less than half a breath, his fang filled snout was practically touching his prey's terrified face. "Your name!", he roared, saliva spraying from his maw.

"Arsten! Arsten Fletcher!", the poacher sobbed, his eyes squeezed tight, forcing a tear to fall down his face. Yogoloth seemed to calm slightly and moved his head back. He placed a paw on Arsten's chest and pushed down slightly causing him to grunt in pain.

"And Oscar? Tell me about Oscar and your other friends.", Yogoloth growled.

"I can't! I don't know-"

"Lies!", he roared again. Yogoloth didn't give Arsten opportunity to finish before he lunged down at one of the human's hands and bit deeply into the flesh. Arsten screamed as teeth pierced flesh and jaws cracked the many bones in his hand. Yogoloth didn't just bite down, he crushed and chewed. Fingers severed, muscle and flesh were sheared off by his fangs and blood flowed over his purple tongue.

The angry dragon gave the limb a quick twist before releasing his grip and raising his head above his prey. Arsten continued to cry out in agony as Yogoloth pinned the arm against the ground with his other paw. His nostrils were filled with the smell of blood and has tongue explored his snout, savouring the taste. He had no plans on eating this human, but once he was done, that deer would be next.

Arsten's cries became quiet sobs and whimpers as Yogoloth looked down and asked him again. His voice seemed very slow and calm. "Tell me about your friends."

"T- they... they...", his breath came out in erratic waves, tears fell freely down his cheeks. "They'll kill... m- me..."

Yogoloth slowly grinned, a couple of drops of the human's blood fell down from the hybrid's lips and onto Arsten's brown tunic. The young dragon slowly and deliberately settled down on his belly. His body turned at a slight angle so he was laying down beside Arsten with one fore paw resting on his chest and the other pinning the arm with the mauled hand. He moved his head down again to speak directly into his prey's ear.

"I'm going to kill you.", he paused a moment to let it sink in. "Fast or slow. Your choice."

Arsten's sobs grew louder as he turned his head away from Yogoloth's vicious maw. He made no effort to speak nor escape. The young dragon stretched his magical senses out through his prey's body, he had the self control and reserves enough to keep this human alive for as long as it took. He gently slipped a magical shape into the human's hand to reduce the bleeding, it wouldn't do for him to die too quickly.

"Slow it is then.", Yogoloth growled before shifting his fore paws onto his prey's leg and chest. He then sank his teeth deeply into the fleshy part of Arsten's leg.

The young man howled at the pain of teeth once again savaging his body. Yogoloth bit down hard, severing blood vessels and tearing flesh. His prey struggled violently as he screamed, his remaining hand flailing futilely at the green fore leg pinning his chest. But Yogoloth leaned forward and held him down firmly. He tore a chunk of muscle from his prey's leg, lifted his head up above and let Arsten watch as he chewed the meat.

Yogoloth nearly swallowed, it tasted good, but he forced himself to spit it out onto Arsten's chest instead. The grisly chunk of tortured flesh stained his tunic and neck before flopping onto the dirty ground. "Fast or Slow. Tell me about your friends.", he growled and then took time to lick the blood from his snout.

Arsten's cries had died back down again, his breathing was slower. Yogoloth caught the scent of fresh urine as Arsten found the strength to whisper faintly. "My... family..."

This could be a slight problem, Yogoloth thought as he formed another shape to reduce the bleeding in the human's mutilated leg. The pain must be starting to take its toll so he quickly formed a second shape and slipped it into his prey. Normally used to keep himself awake when in danger or flying for long periods, it would keep this pitiful creature conscious long enough to answer questions and suffer properly. Arsten's eyes widened and his breathing suddenly deepened as the magic took hold.

"The more you tell me, the faster I will find them. The more chance they'll be too busy with me to even think about your family.", Yogoloth spoke smoothly and even managed to avoid growling.

The young man silently stared into the monster's great purple eyes for several seconds. Then he told Yogoloth everything he knew. Names, descriptions, professions, where one of the foxes lived, equipment they normally used, the location of a weapon stash, a farm one of them sometimes worked on and even the location of an old ruin that they used to use as a meeting place; though not recently.

Yogoloth committed it all to memory. Details far simpler than any magical shape or dragon history were embedded in his dragonic memory. He had no plan yet and there would be no point chasing the other three now; they would most likely be long gone. But the information he had was more than enough to follow up.

"I swear th- that's... all I know...", Arsten croaked weakly. His face was pale with shock, his body trembling with pain.

The young dragon had gradually calmed a little as he'd listened to the young human's information. The taste of his flesh was almost just a memory, and the need for vengeance, sated for now. Yogoloth believed Arsten had told him the truth. The details were subtle and generally consistent, even a story teller would have been hard pressed to come up with so much, so quickly under such conditions.

Yogoloth wanted to carry on punishing this pathetic creature pinned below his paws. Keep biting until he ran out of magical reserves or there was nothing left to keep alive. Make him scream until the night closed in around them. Make him scream until he shredded his larynx. The young dragon wondered what sound a human would make under such conditions.

But he'd made a deal. Arsten had kept his side of the bargain, time for the young hybrid to do the same. Yogoloth moved forward and placed his jaws around the human's neck. With one paw placed firmly on his prey's chest, he tore upwards with force, cleanly severing the young man's throat and spine. The hybrid dropped the carcass down onto the ground and stood up, his wings fidgeted and his belly rumbled. He eyed the deer nearby and licked his snout. That will do nicely.