cruel world | monster

"a monster?" bloodpoppy repeated as the cub stumbled and fell, yelling for someone to heed his call. was this one of elian's rugrats? or was this just another cub lingering about? bloodpoppy wasn't too keen on figuring it out, as either way, the cub was being too loud and too annoying. she squinted her eyes to where the ursine had come tumbling from, nose wrinkling up, "where?" she asked, wondering if this was just a boy crying for wolf. what monster lived in their world?

✗✗✗ "What's going on?" came the stern tone of Petra as her paws came to a skidding stop near Odium and Bloodpoppy. Keen blue optics surveyed the land, looking for whatever it was that had Odium screaming bloody murder. For now, there was nothing to be seen aside from the dust kicked up by Odium as he ran. Even now it was slowly settling, leaving the regent to wonder what on earth was going on. The word 'monster' reached her ears and the rounded extensions flicked around since sight wasn't getting her anywhere. For now, she would remain on alert, though with passing time her train of thought seemed to link up with Bloodpoppy's - was he imagining things?

^{to the deaf stars she screamed: make me queen or i'll make you bleed}

Of course a pleading cry and terrified voice of a child would draw Evangeline over as fast as her legs could carry her, her honey hued eyes wide as she looked around for whatever was threatening Odium. The alabaster mountain lioness would move to stand close to the bear cub, almost standing right over him to shield him should something come over one of the vast dunes.

Arlo would be absolutely useless against any so-called 'monsters', yet he was rushing on over following the frightened cry of Odium. He didn't know what the cub was talking about, as there weren't really monsters anywhere. Well, it depended on your definition of monster, he supposed. Whatever Odium saw was probably some large creature decked out with multiple mutations or something like it. "H-Hey, you're s-safe n-now. We g-g-got bi..big st-strong clan mates around u-us," he gently cooed to Odium in an attempt to calm him down. Arlo knew what it was like to be scared of nearly everything; he was still scared of a lot of things, actually. Maybe his empathy towards the situation would help.

oh, it's that bear they seen once before. the one that don't belong in a desert usually. the ruckus he is causing makes the child grumbles a bit as they puts down their book. the third tier is in a shady part of the camp, offered by a nearby pyramid, and the feline would rise to their paws, making their way over to stand besides arlo. they glances around, but see nothing unusual. no monster that odium is talking about. "only he sees monster," claret would say, tilting their head. clearly there is nothing here, so odium must be imagining the mosnter that the rest of the clan could not see.

Constellationdreamer was the next to race over, trailing closely behind Evangeline at the cries of as child. A monster? Despite the words of the others working to soothe Odium, the golden tigress couldn't help but scan the surrounding area with a critical eye, trying to make out any unusual shapes against the sand and sun. It was only when her search turned up nothing unusual that Con turned her attention to the cub, catching Claret's assertion that Odium had simply made up the monster chasing him. Had it perhaps been a joke meant to draw the clan out only to laugh at them, a boy who cried wolf? As much as she wanted to believe the cub, from the mischief that he and his brother had already gotten into, she found that she was reluctant to assume anymore that a monster lingered nearby when she could see nothing of the sort. "Could you describe the monster?" she asked of the cub, moving to join Eva's side in her own watchful position should it turn out to be true.

A monster? The lion walks up to the group, hovering nearby Claret. Although while he looked around, he didn't see any monster. He looks down briefly to Claret, wondering what Claret was talking about too. Could the child just be imagining things? Did they have the sight? He wasn't entirely sure, but one thing was certain: nothing was around . . yet. "Nothing is going to kill you." The lion says affirmatively, looking towards Odium. "Not while we're around. You're safe here, I promise."

✗✗✗ Petra was focused forward, towards the path that Odium had taken to get to this spot. Her eyes moved for a moment, lighting upon her husband and child for a brief moment, wondering what the bear cub might have seen. Perhaps it was an enemy, disguising themselves in order to conduct a surprise raid? If that were the case, she wouldn't be surprised. Their list of enemies seemed to grow by the day, hell - even the Hellraisers had suddenly re-emerged. Petra knew they should be expecting a raid any day now, the only question was: who dared to try?

Her attention had been consumed by Odium's words, and the possibilities behind this 'monster' he saw, that she didn't see Rugiet's stealthy approach. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shadows thicken around her body. Was she doing this? Taking a breath, she forced herself to calm - until she realized she wasn't all that worried. Not enough to explain her powers reacting in such a way. That could only mean one thing: they weren't her shadows. She let out a yowl of warning as she spun on her hindlegs to face whatever it was that seemed to mean her harm. Sand kicked up as she stuttered backwards, aiming to put herself between it and her groupmates, when suddenly a dirty brown figure emerged from the shadows. The familiarity between this shape and Odium was enough to shock the queen still for a moment, allowing the child to land his bite. The regent didn't flinch, although the pain flared up uncomfortably. Instead she fixed the cub with a stern gaze, "What are you doing?" was all she would say, ivory jowls still lifted up by a snarl that never came.

^{to the deaf stars she screamed: make me queen or i'll make you bleed}