Cassia was kneeling to pluck a petal and felt that strange thing in her heart again. It was louder, colder this time. She couldn't name it but the air and sounds around her became uncomfortable.
Gripping the hem of her shirt she quickly walked back to Anecus and sat next to him…feeling a little better. 'Should I say something?'
Looking at the smiling faces of the two 'I don't wanna ruin today.' She just kept looking at the borders of the trees. Eventually things settled and the foreboding feeling went away.
Anecus still with his eyes closed "what do you think our future adventures will be like?"
Naia stopped lacing flowers together and thought for a moment "filled with new experiences. Maybe even some new friends along the way?"
Cassia had a little more downcast answer "filled with danger…but also great times."
A gentle warm breeze flowed through, swaying the trees and flowers. It was getting late. "I think we should start heading back." Naia and Anecus sighed but agreed.
Anecus and Cassia stood gathering their things. While Naia walked away to grab hers. "You think we will make it back in time?" Cassia asked.
Before he could answer his heart…his soul lunged out of his chest when he heard a scream. "Anecus!"
He didn't need to look at who screamed, his legs already in a sprint towards Naia. Cassia's feelings came back. She followed as quickly as she could.
Naia 'don't panic, Ane will be here.' she took a small slow step back 'don't panic, don't panic.' She was currently in a standoff with a Nyruun, a sickly, feral looking Nyruun. "It's ok little one…I wont hurt you."
the Nyruun with its muzzle and sickly grey eyes snarled, black ichor falling from its mouth and open stomach.
It stepped forward growling.
Some light tears formed at the corner of Naia's eyes. "Please don't hurt me."
Making one last guttural belching sound, the canine beast lunged at Naia.
From Naia's perspective time slowed as she saw the beast's milky eyes, they were unfocused. Its serrated teeth dripping with inky black slime aimed right at her.
With everything slowed it made what happened next seem unbelievable.
From her right hand side a flash of silver jumped forward and shoulder tackled the beast in the chest bringing it to the ground.
From her right hand side a flash of silver jumped forward and shoulder tackled the beast in the chest bringing it to the ground. Not relenting, Aeneas wrapped his legs around the beast's lower torso, locking it down. He wrapped one forearm around its neck and the other over its muzzle.
The beast, unable to snap its jaws or move its legs squirmed, spasmed. Made incredible sounds of distress. Naia wanted to cover her ears.
"Naia Get back!" Anecus said between its yelps.
The Nyruun was small but wild, and managed to slip through Anecus's grip attempting to attack Naia who stood motionless.
Anecus wasn't having it, in a voice he didn't even know he had "Hey! Get back here!" An unusual feeling of rage and sorrow befell him.
He didn't know why but he knew it was coming from Naia and the Nyruun. Kicking off the ground in a messy tackle He managed to grab the beast by its leg and drag it back into a firm hold.
Not letting this thing go, and unable to reach his knife he squeezed, he constricted as hard as he could. He felt the ribs of the beast crunch under his legs. The windpipe collapsed against his forearm, its teeth crack from pressure he was exerting on its muzzle.
With a few final death throes the Nyrunn lets out a small whimper and ceases movement.
Stillness was all Anecus felt, sounds seemed muted. It was a short encounter but it was primal and feral. His first actions were to look at Naia, lifting her arms, inspecting her for any injuries. Beside the tears streaming down her face she was fine. "Thank the twelve…"
Naia was scared and a little upset at herself…'Anecus, he just killed something' and was covered in this black ichor and the 'first thing he did was check on me…the one who froze.'
Shaking her head in an attempt to be rid of these thoughts she hugs him. "Thank you."
Anecus "its ok…its ok." he tightens his hold on her. "Let's head home." Naia lets go and nods "mmh."
As they turn they see Cassia standing there, her shirt tightly scrunched from her fists, eyes half lidded with tears. "Cassia…what's wrong?" Anecus asked. Not getting a response "everything's ok now."
She adamantly shakes her head "Be…because of me Naia and you almost got hurt." Anecus looked confused so she explained.
"I knew something was wrong…I felt it before we even came here…I knew something bad was going to happen but I didn't say anything."
Anecus, not really sure what to do, turns to Naia with a look for help. Naia wipes her cheek and brings Cassia into a hug. "it's ok Cass, I'm ok so is Ane."
At this point Anecus wraps his arms around both of them. "No ones at fault ok…lets just be thankful it ended how it did."
After a few minutes to calm down Anecus looks over at the beast, 'it looks wrong. Sick'. Its body was rapidly decomposing. 'Should I tell dad?'
As if Cassia could read his thoughts. "We need to tell dad." walking up to Anecus and placing a hand on his shoulder, "I already made the mistake of not trusting my instincts."
Standing and slinging his pack on "you are right."
The journey home was quiet, Naia walked close to Anecus. Cassia trailed a little behind them keeping her gaze on the horizons. It wasn't until Naia broke the silence. "What do you think was wrong with it?"
Cassia listens, Anecus looks at her. "I'm not sure…sick maybe, its eyes weren't even focused on us. It almost seemed possessed."
Cassia kicked a rock into the grass "we should've turned back."
"But we didn't." Anecus replied gently, "and we're all okay. That matters too."
They saw the house before the orchard path cleared. The lights were still on, a warm glow on the windows. Smoke curled from the chimney. Home had never looked so steady, Jane opened the door first, likely sensing their approach long before they reached the front step.
Her eyes went to Anecus first, and then her face changed. A sharpness cut through her softness. Red stepped in from behind her, his heavy steps firm on the wood floor. His eyes scanned the three.
One look at Anecus's arms and his jaw set like stone. "What happened." Red said not asking.
Raising both hands in plea, trying to soften it. "It's okay, We're okay. A nyruun..." before he could continue.
"why is there ichor on you?" Red interrupted, stepping forward. "That's not blood. That's Depravity."
Anecus clenched his jaw a little. 'I was going to explain that.'
Jane's hands were already on Cassi's shoulders, gently but firmly guiding her inside. Naia squeezed Anecus's hand before stepping in as well.
Left outside was Red and Anecus.
Not raising his voice. He didn't need to "Talk."
Sighing his shoulders dropping. "There was a nyruun…but it wasn't right. Sick, or possessed I don't know. Naia got too close and I…I stopped it."
Red eyed him for a long time, and Anecus knew lying wouldn't work. Not with him.
Red's voice came quieter, but no less firm. "Stopped it how?"
Looking at the ground. "I…choked it. It was going for Naia and I didn't have time to use anything else. I…didn't stop until it did." He went into finer detail of the sequence of events telling him everything.
Red's eyes shifted into something softer. He knelt down on one knee and pulled Anecus into a hug. "I'm proud of you. You did what was necessary and protected Naia."
he pulled back a little to look into his son's eyes "but you could have gotten hurt, maybe even something worse."
At this time Jane stepped back out, her arms crossed "So…?"
Red rubbed his hand over his face. "Black residue, cloudy eyes, no reaction to pain?"
Anecus nodded to all of it. Red looked to his love. "He encountered a depraved beast, Something bleeding out from the north."
Jane put a hand to her lips, eyes distant. "First sign we've seen this close to Goldenfields."
Moving inside Jane knelt beside Anecus, inspecting his arms and whipping his face with a washcloth.
Naia, now sitting on the couch with Cassia, looked at Anecus. "We're not in trouble, right?"
Red turned to her and softened slightly. "No. Not for what happened." He looked back to Anecus. "But from now on, no more untrained wandering. That thing could've killed you."
Anecus looked up, weary but composed. "Yes, sir."
Naia, seeing the tension slowly dissipate patted the space beside her. "You look like you're going to fall over." Anecus realizing just how heavy he felt, took the offer without protest.
Cassia curled up at his side, head resting gently on his arm. "Next time, I'll say something. I promise."
"I know you will." Anecus said, eyes already closing.