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Clash of Hunters

By XP Author

Three figures sat around the campfire, the warm glow of the fire illuminating their little corner of the forest. The three figures could not be more different if they tried. In the old days, it was uncommon for an elf, a centaur, and a yeshtri to sit beside one another as friends. These days were quite different. Wars between the disparate species was, for the most part, a thing of the past. It was thanks mostly to the work of the elves that the wars had finally come to an end. Now it seemed the only people who kept fighting were humans, and that was mostly with each other. It had led to the age of adventurers, treasure hunters, and thrill seeking warriors. Fancy names for what amounted to little more than mercenaries, really.

Galen of Dylish, the yeshtri, sat back a little and leaned against a log, a mug of something alcoholic in his grip. The yeshtri were a beast-like people, resembling a cross between a bear and a dog, but stood like humans and elves. Standing at just under 6 feet tall, Galen was actually short for a yeshtri, though he made up for it with his muscular frame. It was all accentuated by the heavy metal armor he wore, covering most of his brown furred body. Though as he was settled in to camp for the night, he had stripped of the heavy plates, leaving him in just his leathers for now.

Galen looked at the elf nearby. "Think she'll wake up soon?" Cindrie was traditionally pretty, like most elves of her age. Pale skin, wavy golden hair that hung down her back, a slim figure, and nearly as tall as Galen. All the typical hallmarks of the elves. She wore simple robes of green with a brown vine-like pattern along the collar. Currently, Cindrie was sitting cross-legged beside the other two, her eyes closed, a small amulet made of yew held gently in her hands. The symbol of her patron deity, Ysmir, god of the forest and growth.

"Should be. Though you know elves don't really sleep the way we do." The third of the figures at the camp was the largest by far, being a centaur. Elyza Crimane looked back at Galen, a smile on her face. Like Cindrie, she was pretty, but in a more rugged sense. Her features were more angular than smooth, and her upper torso, resembling that of a human, was almost as muscular as Galen, and equally covered in heavy armor most times. Like Galen, she had shed the heavy plate, leaving her in her brown jerkin. It matched the rich, mahogany fur that covered her equine lower half. In the darkness, it gave the illusion that the soft fur continued up her body, ending at her neck and elbows. Her red hair was cut short to shoulder length.

Galen nodded slowly, taking a sip from his mug. "Aye." He motioned towards a sleep roll beside Elyza. "What of our newest additions?"

Elyza looked to her side, then smiled. "They are kobolds. Cold blooded. They do not do as well at night. They will rise with the sun." The two figures lay under a heavy blanket. The short lizards lay curled beside one another, one with deep red scales, the other in vibrant blue, both with short, blunt horns atop their blunt nosed, lizard-like heads. Ruge and Cera, respectively. It had been many months now since they had come to serve under Viken, the crown prince of the human kingdom of Teldoran. It was at the prince's request the two join this hunt. As the prince was also the one paying them, and the quarry was within his lands, there was little any could do to argue the point.

"Aye. 'tis a shame." Galen smirked. "They are cute little blighters, though. If they needed warmth, I would have happily provided."

Elyza gave him a sour look. "Really, Galen?" She had the yeshtri had worked together for many years now, to the point that most of the time, they were simply a package deal on contracts. "You remember what happened when you tried that with me, right?"

Galen winced. "Aye... still have the scar on my thigh from that kick." He shook his head. "I merely meant I am big and fuzzy. I'd be more like... a big stuffed animal for them to sleep beside."

The centaur gave him a dubious look. "Uh huh. And the fact that kobolds traditionally don't wear clothes has nothing to do with it at all."

"I would not heal the bites and scratches they gave you if you tried." Galen and Elyza looked at the source of the calm voice. Cindrie had opened her eyes, coming out of the elven trance-like resting meditation.

Galen held his mug up, giving a big grin. "Ah, our fair priestess comes back to the land of the conscious."

Cindrie shook her head. "I am no priestess. I am not even an acolyte in any order. I am simply a devout." She frowned, looking down into the fire crackling away in front of her. "Truth be told, I do not even know why I was hired for this job. What good will I be against a werewolf?"

Elyza leaned over, resting a hand gently against the elf's shoulder. "There are more ways than wielding a big sword to aid in a battle. You are a medic, and can use healing magic. That is how you will aid us, my dear."

Cindrie smiled up at her. "I-I will try my best." She still was not entirely sure of herself. She was not used to seeing combat up close, but she had been tasked by her master to go out into the world and seek new experiences to broaden her skills.

Elyza squeezed the girl's shoulder gently. "That is all we ask of you." She took a deep breath and let it out. "I should get some rest now. You, too, Galen. We start our hunt again in the morning, once the beast has reverted back in the daylight."

Galen nodded. "Aye. A good idea." He downed the last of the alcohol in his mug before setting it on the ground. "A shame, though. I've never seen a werewolf in its true beast form."

Cindrie shuddered. "Be glad. I have heard tales of what it can do. Claws sharp enough to rip open plate armor as if it were paper, and strength to rip a troll in half. It is a terrifying beast..."

Elyza smiled at her again. "Then it is good we hunt it not at night." Unlike many legends, werewolves did not transform only when a moon was full. The affliction was one that manifest at night. There was currently no known cure for the affliction, and many who found themselves with it either went feral, or killed themselves to keep from harming others. The one they hunted had seemingly given into his beastly instincts, having attacked a small farming town not too far outside this forest. He had apparently not only slaughtered near a dozen people in the town, but eaten at several of them. The only boon was there were none of those attacked had survived, so none would themselves become werewolves.

Humans were by far the most susceptible to lycanthropy. Elves, being more closely connected with magic, seemed to have a higher resistance to the turning. Most beast races, such as centaurs, yeshtri, kobolds, dragons, and many others were completely immune to turning. This is why the group hunting this beast had no humans or dwarves among them. It was also why they were being paid so well for hunting the creature within the human lands.

As Galen laid upon his bedroll, Elyza looked to Cindrie. "Will you be alright keeping watch by yourself?"

Cindrie nodded. "Yes. I will be alright... I think. I will wake you if I see anything. My eyes and ears are pretty good."

Elyza smiled softly. "Alright. See you in the morning." Cindrie nodded and watched as Elyza laid herself down. The elf had never seen a centaur sleep before, and it looked quite odd, with the horse half laying as any horse might, but the upper torso laying forward on her stomach, resting head upon her arms. It made her look incredibly long. The elf sighed softly, whispering a soft prayer to her deity before sitting back and starting her long, night vigil.

* * *

Cera felt sunlight touch her face and the scent of cooking eggs touched her nose, opening her eyes a moment later. The kobold let out a yawn as she slid herself free of the blankets covering her, doing so slowly to not wake her red scaled friend. "Good morning." Cera looked to the source of the voice. Cindrie was sitting by a remade campfire, a small pan frying eggs upon the flames.

Cera smiled, slowly making her way closer. "Morning." In the months the kobolds had spent in the service of Prince Viken, they had learned to mostly understand the common tongue, and could even speak a few words in it. Her voice was higher pitched, but came out gravely and a little raspy. "Food ready?"

Cindrie smiled. "It will be in a few minutes." She looked at Cera, then gasped and turned away. "Uh... maybe find your clothes while you wait...?"

Cera looked at the elf in confusion for a moment, then remembered she had removed the clothing before going to bed. "Oh... right. Cera sorry." She still did not understand why other races had such an obsession with draping cloth and animal skins on themselves, but she accepted that she had to wear at least something to keep them from being so uncomfortable. She returned to her sleep roll and pulled out the leather and tied it around her waist. Being a lizard, she had no breasts to cover, so this was enough. It was little more than a loincloth that hung down to mid-thigh, but it seemed enough to keep most from acting strange around her. Stranger than usual, at least.

She turned to face the elf, putting her hands on her hips in a pose she saw on many statues and paintings. "Better?"

Cindrie couldn't help but giggle a little. "Yes. Thank you."

"Ruge smell good food... food ready?" The red scaled kobold was sitting up now, the smell of the eggs having awoken her.

"Not yet. Elf cooking now." Cera spoke to her fellow kobold in their native draconic language. "Oh, and remember to put clothes on. Elf is another weird one about that." Ruge just sighed, but nodded.

Cindrie tilted her head. "What did you tell her?" While the elf knew of the draconic tongue, she could not understand it.

Cera sat herself down in front of the fire, staring intently at the cooking eggs. "Cera tell Ruge food almost done. And wear clothes."

Cindrie nodded. "Thank you." Ruge joined them a moment later, also wearing the leather loincloth, and staring at the eggs with equal hungry intent. If there was one thing she could admire about these kobolds, they were honest with everything, never feeling the need to hide their intent or true feelings.

Once the eggs were done, she slid them onto a pair of small plates for the pair. She set the pan to the side, watching as the two happily devoured their breakfast. "Can I ask you two something?" The two nodded, almost in unison, though they didn't stop eating to speak. "Is it normal for a blue and red kobold to work together...? Or is that just because you are in the service of the prince of this land?"

Ruge slurped down what was in her mouth to answer. "Kobold can mix. Red, blue, green, black, white, uh... yellow... all other color." She had forgotten the words for the other colors in common. "Only happen when dragon master lose to other dragon master. Then clan join other clan."

Cindrie nodded slowly. "It must be difficult, when the clans join like that."

Cera spoke up next. "Is not hard. Ruge and Cera start enemies. Now same clan. Serve master prince. Master prince give Cera and Ruge names. Do not know why... must like good kobold wari.... woh-wee... fighters." She thumped her chest with a fist proudly.

The elf tilted her head. "You serve him just because he named you, but you don't even know why?"

Ruge shrugged. "Kobold serve strongest dragon. Master prince commands dragons, so master prince stronger than dragon... in human way." She shrugged again. "No need understand to accept. Understand for smarties. Uh... Ruge learn word... skoh-lar?"

Cindrie smiled. "Scholar?" Ruge nodded happily. The elf just giggled again. "It must be nice, just accepting things without worry..."

"Cera not understand why many worry so much. Thing is as it is. No need to make more... uh... busy?" The blue scale frowned a little, knowing it was the wrong word.

"Complicated." The elf finished, again getting a happy nod. "Yes. It is very complicated between many races. Too much so." She took a deep breath then let it out again. "Did you want some more eggs? I could get some more for you."

Cera was about to say yes, but Ruge stood up. "No. Ruge and Cera scout. Maybe find beast person... not in beast form. Asleep maybe." Cera looked a little disappointed, but also nodded and rose to her feet.

Cindrie nodded back to them. "A good plan. I'll let the others know when they wake up." She watched as the pair of reptilians retrieved their gear, scant as it was. Ruge carried a well made spear longer than she was tall, and Cera picked up a steel short sword and wooden shield. The two waved to the elf then dashed off into the forest. Cindrie sighed to herself softly, turning to stare at the fire again, fingers playing along the amulet hanging from her neck. "And I'm alone again."

* * *

"Wait. Ruge need pee." The two had been looking for clues for nearly an hour now. Despite their short stature, the two were quite swift on their feet and had already covered quite a bit of ground.

Cera nodded, coming to a halt. "Okay... Cera need pee, too." The pair giggled softly as they moved near a tree and lifted their clothing. Neither showed any kind of embarrassment about relieving themselves in front of the other. As Cera stood, letting her bladder empty, something caught her eye. She shifted a little to the side. "Cera see something..." She shook her leg a little as she had managed to get it wet when she leaned over. Once she was finished she walked over and knelt down.

Ruge joined her a moment later. "What Cera find?" The blue scale pointed at some disturbed bushes nearby. "Big thing move through here?" She looked at her partner. "Forest prey or our prey?"

Cera moved forward, pointing at claw marks in the dirt. "Our prey. Fresh..." She tilted her head a little. "Something odd..."

Ruge nodded. "Moving in wrong direction." They both looked in the direction the claw marks indicated. "To... camp!" They looked at each other, nodding, then dashed back in the direction of the camp. They had expected the werewolf to be moving away from where their camp was, as it would not be in a beast form in the day time. These marks were made recently, after the sun was up. Something was odd here, and they had to warn the others. They only hoped they got to the camp before their prey did.

* * *

Galen grunted as he sat down, his mug now filled with fresh coffee. As fresh as campfire coffee could be, at least. "So the little ones are off searching. Do we wait here, or go off on our own?"

Elyza smiled to him. "We should probably break the camp down, first. They'll probably be back by then. They were just doing a bit of scouting." Unlike Galen, the centaur had put her armor back on. She had always been far more of a morning person than he was. She had already eaten and was in the process of donning the armor by the time he had woken up.

Cindrie tilted her head to the side to look behind Galen. "I think they're already on their way back."

Galen quirked an eyebrow. "How do you figure that?"

The elf smiled at him. "I saw some movement in the trees. Definitely not just animals."

Galen and Elyza looked at each other. Galen stood up. "I should get my armor on. Start breaking down the ca-" He never got to finish his sentence, let alone even take a step towards his armor. A wet cracking sound signaled his death instead. His body twitched and shuddered, his eyes going wide, then rolling back into his head as he went limp, but hung in the air. Behind him, the shadow of a beast-like man grew taller, looming over the yeshtri. Standing nearly 8 feet tall, the wolf-like beast man they had been here to kill stood, long fingers firmly embedded into the back of Galen's head, piercing deep into his brain and killing him instantly.

Cindrie stood up and clutched at her amulet, staring in horror at the creature, panic clearly gripping her. Elyza's shock wore of much faster. "BASTARD!" He grabbed her heavy lance and quickly rose to her hooves.

The creature gave the pair a wide smile, flashing jagged teeth at the women. "An elf and a centaur. My, what a treat!" His voice was deep, rumbling in his throat like thunder rolling over hills. He flicked his hand to the side, tossing Galen's body to the ground. He brought his claws up to his mouth, lapping blood of.

Elyza raised her lance up in front of her. "Cindrie, get back!" The elf was frozen in place with fear, staring at the beast with wide eyes. Elyza looked back at him. "Beast! How are you here in that form!"

The wolf laughed darkly. "Why? Because it's day? Did you think you were hunting some simple werewolf?"

Cindrie took another step back, shaking so much one might think she was having a seizure. "By the gods. He's a shifter!" Shifters were elves corrupted by demonic magic, allowing them to change their form between their original body, that of an animal, and the demonic bestial form like the one this shifter now took. Unlike a werewolf, they could control the shift at will, and while they had less resistances as a werewolf might, they had less weaknesses as well. They also retained their intelligence, which paired with similar the strength to a werewolf in their beast form, made them even more dangerous.

The shifter grinned wide at her. "Very good, little elf. I see you know your history." He crouched down. "I'll reward you with a quick death then!" He launched himself forward at her. Cindrie, frozen in fear, was easily grabbed, his hand around her slender throat.

"CINDRIE!" Elyza gripped her weapon with both hands and charged at the shifter, aiming the sharp tip to pierce his chest. The shifter dodged the blow, though he had to toss the prize of the elf in his hands away to do it. Cindrie cried out as she fell to the ground. She looked up in time to see Elyza turning around to charge at the shifter again. The elf stared for a long moment, then scrambled to her feet and ran. She didn't care what direction it was or what was in her way, she just had to get away. She may be resistant to the effects of lycanthropy, but any elf could become corrupted by a shifter, forced to join them and become one. She swore she could even still feel his touch on her skin.

Elyza saw Cindrie running away and cursed under her breath. Not that she could rely on the healer for combat anyway. She glanced to the side, seeing the body of her friend. She grit her teeth and charged once more, thrusting her lance ahead of her. She was halted in her tracks as he grabbed the shaft of her lance in his grip, crushing and bending the weapon. "Don't you know any more moves?"

"Sure" She let go of the weapon and punched him across the jaw.

He laughed. "Better. My turn!" He dropped the weapon and slashed at her torso. His claws ripped through her armor like it was barely there, slicing deep into her flesh and making her scream in pain. Another swipe slashed across her chest, tearing chunks out of the metal and exposing her torn body. She staggered back several steps, her vision already blurry. He thrust his hand forward, burying his fist in her chest, tearing flesh and shattering bone. "You know... I've always wondered what centaur tastes like." Elyza stared at him, eyes wide. She could feel his fingers moving inside of her body, gripping at her. "Do you taste more like human, or horse?"

As he ripped his hand back, Elyza spat up a gout of blood, splashing out of her mouth. She stumbled a step, then collapsed to the ground in a heap on her side. The shifter stood above her, her heart weakly trying to beat in his bloody hand. Her vision quickly faded, but she saw him take a bite from the large muscle, spraying more blood across his face. "Hrm... bit of both. But definitely more horse." Darkness claimed her before she saw him finish eating the rest of her heart.

* * *

The scent of blood filled the air as Cera and Ruge rushed back towards the camp. They knew they were too late to warn anyone, and hoped they could at least join the fight. When they got near, it was clear they could help no one. Elyza lay on the ground, a trio of claw marks having slashed her equine underbelly open, her guts spilled upon the ground. Her left hind leg was missing, torn free, currently in the hands of the shifter as he tore raw meat from the bone. Beside Elyza was Galen, his right arm having been removed and picked clean to the bone.

The kobolds didn't even need to look at each other, both leaping at the creature. He was so distracted with his meal that he didn't hear the two until they were upon him. He stood and turned, just as the kobolds burst out of the forest. Without hesitation, the small lizards opened their mouths and unleashed a breath attack at him. Ruge spat a gout of flame, which struck the shifter on his left side, setting fur ablaze. Cera shot lightning from her mouth, which struck the beast. His muscles seized momentarily, preventing him from putting out the flames on his arm. He could only scream in pain as the two lizards leapt at him, weapons brandished.

Ruge plunged her spear into the shifter's chest, Cera sinking her sword into his arm. The shifter thrashed, letting out a guttural roar of fury. As he thrashed, Cera was thrown free, though she kept her grip on her sword. The blade ripped free of his shoulder, leaving a bleeding wound in place. Ruge kept her grip on the spear, trying to also grip at his fur to push it deeper into him. Instead, he grabbed the red scaled reptile around the middle and ripped her away from the weapon. She tried to bite and claw at his arm, only for him to throw her away. Ruge slammed into a tree, bouncing off and falling several feet to strike the ground. She did not move after that.

The shifter yanked the spear out of his chest, hurling it to the side. He grit his teeth as he looked around for the other kobold, only to let out a cry as her blade slashed at his back. He spun around quickly, the back of his hand mashing into Cera's body and sending her tumbling away. She groaned, dazed and clearly in pain. He panted quite heavily himself, stalking over to her. "Little dragonlings." He reached down and grabbed Cera around the middle, pinning her down. "I already know what you taste like. Tough and stringy."

Cera tried to struggle under him. She opened her mouth to try and blast him with lightning again, only for his hand to clamp on her mouth. "No more of that!" She still struggled under him, kicking and squirming about. He smiled at her, watching her legs flailing uselessly under him. "You know... I have tasted your kind... but I've never fucked one before. I bet you would be very tight." Cera tried to scratch at his hand as he grabbed her leg, pulling her hips up off the ground.

Cera's eyes went wide as the beast man presented himself, his shaft growing hard at the thought of raping the little reptilian. Nearly twelve inches in length, and two across, it would be a struggle for a normal sized person to take just that, let alone the swelling knot at the base. There was no way a kobold was taking such a thing. She struggled harder in his grasp, squirming about and thrashing her tail, kicking her free leg at him. He ignored all of it, simply lifting her hips up into the air above her pinned head. "Such fight in you. Keep squirming." He pressed the pointed tip of his cock against her slit. "It will only make this better for me."

Cera let out a muffled scream as he pressed forward, pushing the tip between her lips, parting them around him as he slid inside of her. It was not very long before it was painful, his girth stretching her lips wide. The man let out a low growling moan as he felt the extreme tightness within the flailing little woman. "Even better than I expected." He pushed further into her, inch after painful inch. When she tried to bite at his hand, he simply clamped it around her muzzle and pushed down against her harder.

It did not take long for his tip to find the inner barrier. He chuckled. "Five inches? That's it?" He gave her a big, unfriendly grin. "Not even half-way in and you're already at the limit?" He started pushing harder, making Cera squirm in pain, squeezing her eyes shut. Her cries of agony were little more than muffled grunts against his hand.

Suddenly, all at once, he pulled out of her, his hands letting go of her face and leg. Cera dropped heavily to the ground, panting and gasping heavily. She opened her eyes to see why he had let her go, and grinned when she saw. The shifter was swatting at his arm, batting at the flames burning his fur and flesh. She looked to the side and saw Ruge rushing forward, spear in one hand, Cera's sword in the other. Cera scrambled to her feet just in time for the sword to be thrown her way. She had to dash to grab it, snatching it out of the air and joining her friend in a rush against the man.

Ruge let out a cry as she lept, thrusting her spear forward. The tip struck true, sinking into the shifter's still smoldering shoulder. He cried out in pain, thrashing about. The kobold clung to the shaft as he tried to shake her off. He screamed again as Cera plunged her blade into his side. "Pesky little cunts!" He shouted at the kobolds. Ruge was unable to keep her grip as he swung his body to the side, landing on her back in the dirt before quickly scrambling back to her feet. Cera likewise had to let her weapon go to duck under his tail.

Then Cera's world was pain. She had avoided the tail, but missed as he continued to rotate, smashing the back of his hand against her belly. The blow sent the blue scaled woman flying into the air, sailing backwards. She crashed hard into a tree, letting out an abbreviated cry before falling to the ground amid branches and leaves jarred loose by her impact. Ruge watched as her companion lay on the ground, unmoving, either knocked out or dead. She could not tell from here. She didn't have the chance to check, either. A moment later, a massive hand grabbed her around the middle and lifted her off the ground, only to slam her back against it. Her head bounced off the packed dirt under her, and even her thick skull and scales could not keep her from being dazed by the blow.

The shifter growled as he ripped the spear out of his shoulder, tossing it away. He pulled the short blade from his side and threw it with the spear. He grunted as he looked at the wound on his side. It bled, much like his shoulder, but it was nothing the rapid healing of his shifting abilities could not deal with. So instead he focused on the panting red kobold at his feet. "You want my attention instead?" He reached down, slamming his palm against her chest. Ruge let out a grunt as the wind was knocked from her lungs. "I owe you for setting me on fire twice now."

Ruge looked up at him, rage filling her eyes. She opened her mouth, ready to blast him with another gout of fire. What came out of her mouth was instead a splash of her own blood as he jammed his claws into her flesh, tearing through scales and muscle. He ripped his claws down her front, slashing her open from her ribs down her through her abs. Her belly split open as he tore away her flesh. Her guts spilled out of her, as if the new opening was a path to freedom for a caged beast coiled within her.

The shifter smiled down at her, seeing the rage in her eyes turning to pain and fear. "Not so brave when you're guts paint the dirt, are you?" He watched as she looked down at her split belly, at the intestines spilling free. The scent of blood filled his nose, and he drank it in like the aroma of a fine wine. It also had the effect of renewing his erection, already back to full hardness between his legs. "You interrupted me earlier." He grabbed at her legs, spreading them to expose her slit. "You'll get it instead!"

Ruge's eyes stared at him as he got down and pressed his tip between her legs. He didn't waste time teasing her like he had with Cera. Instead he just rammed himself forward, spreading her lips wide enough to tear the opening. She tried to scream as he gave her more pain, but only managed a wet gurgle. With her chest torn open, he saw her heart beating wildly, trying to keep her alive. Her lungs filled again and again with her rapid breathing.

The shifter felt the barrier again against his tip, and shoved himself further forward, ripping deeper into the small woman's body. His tip emerged from within her squirming guts, coated in her blood and the remains of the eggs sack within her. He laughed as he started thrusting into her, fucking the tight hole. "Guess... it's true about you kobolds. Part dragon... you don't die easy!" He grunted as he thrust deep, his knot hitting the already torn pussy, trying to force them wider. "You'll get to watch me destroy your insides!"

Despite saying that, Ruge's eyes rolled back a moment later, her head slumping to the side. He could see her heart still beating wildly within her, so she wasn't dead, just passed out from the pain and blood loss. He frowned at her. "Or not. Little bitch." He wanted to enjoy her torment. "Guess I was a little too rough. I'll be sure to enjoy your little friend after this then." He grunted again, gripping her legs harder as he thrust with more force. No reason to hold back if she was already out and dying.

Each time his knot struck her blood-soaked pussy, it tore a little more. Each thrust saw his cock poking out of her intestines. His cock throbbed within her, the tight confines of what was left of her pussy clinging around him, tearing more and more. Finally, he let out a wolf-like howl, his knot forcing its way into that torn inner tunnel. The tightness squeezed around him almost painfully. The tip poked free of her guts again, twitching and jerking, then spurting as he came. His seed splashed against her face and coated her insides. He howled again, thrusting a little with every blast of cum, draining his balls and painting her exposed innards.

He panted as his cock finally stopped spraying his jizz onto her. He laughed down at the cum-covered reptilian. "I haven't cum that hard in years." He pushed himself up, grabbing her by the hips and pulling back. "Can't wait... ngh... to see how hard I cum fucking... you're little friend to death!" He let out a loud cry as he tore his knot free of her, ripping her pussy even more. A trail of his cum and her blood followed with him. He dropped her onto the ground again and sat back. "Hah... tight little cunt. I'll give you that."

Pain suddenly coursed through him, every nerve alive and on fire. His muscles contracted and jerked uncontrollably as electricity surged over his body. Cera stood to his side, panting heavily, holding her sword and glaring at him with murder in her eyes. "Little... bitch!" When he was able to finally control his body again, he pushed himself up to his feet. In the time that took, he lost sight of the blue woman. "Should have killed you fir-AH!" Cera was suddenly behind him, having dashed up close and around him. Her blade slashed at his back.

He swung around, but she was expecting it this time and ducked under his hand. She jumped up and plunged her blade into his chest, forcing another scream of pain from the man. It was not a fatal blow, at least for someone like him, but it hurt like hell. Cera planted her feet against him and pushed off to send herself away before he could grab her, leaving the blade in his chest. He still tried to swing at her, and barely missed grabbing her foot by inches. She landed on her back, rolling to the side and back to her feet to face him.

The shifter stumbled a step, blood soaking his fur now. However, he stared at her with the same murderous look she gave right back to him. "Little... fucking... cunt!" Before he could take more than a step towards her, she opened her mouth and blasted him with another surge of electricity. He was again taken in the grip of spasms, but most of the blast hit the sword, the metal blade channeling the electricity inside of him where he was less protected. Cera let out another blast, aiming for the blade this time.

The shifter screamed as he fell to his knees. He tried to reach up and pull the blade out of his chest, but his muscles would not listen to him. Another blast had him screaming louder, his nerves on fire within him. Cera tried to hit him again, but she could not muster another blast, her ability overtaxed and spent. Even just shooting the three in rapid succession had left her feeling drained, her throat soar, and her muscles aching as she pulled at every bit of her reserves.

Instead, she reached down and picked up Ruge's spear, having landed near it. With a scream, she rushed forward before he could get control of himself again. He tried to reach up to grab her, the spear, or just to move away, but could do none of it in time as the tip pierced through his chest, ripping into and through his heart. The force of the blow sent him crashing to his back on the ground, the kobold on top of him.

Cera let the spear go, instead grabbing the hilt of her sword, ripping it free, only to stab him again. And again. And again. He kept twitching every time she struck the blade into him, refusing to die, even with the grievous wounds. He tried weakly to reach up at her, so she slid off of his chest. "DIE!" She screamed at him in draconic, bringing her blade down against his neck. It sunk in, cutting open his throat, but halting only inches in. She yanked the sword free and hacked away again, cutting deeper. Two more strikes and she hit bone. Another three and she cut through, his head rolling to the side, mouth open and eyes wide in shock, as if he could not believe this was how he would die.

Cera grit her teeth and shoved her sword as hard as she could into the head, sinking the blade between his eyes. She stared down at him, panting heavily, finally satisfied that he was dead this time. His body lay still, blood drooling out of the ragged stump of his neck. Her own body felt suddenly very heavy as her fury subsided. She looked to Ruge's body, split open and abused. She tried to take a step forward, only to find herself collapsing to the ground.

Everything hurt, and she was struggling to even stay awake. Her back ached where she had struck the tree, and it felt like her insides were battered from the blow that had sent her sailing in the first place. Darkness crept into her vision as she faded. In her last moment, she felt unusually warm, like bathing in sunlight, even though she was in the shade of the trees. She closed her eyes and let the warmth take her as much as the darkness. If she was to die... at least she would do so in the warmth.

* * *

Cera opened her eyes slowly. She was in a bed... one that smelled familiar. It was home, in the prince's manor. She had thought she would never wake, and even if she had, she expected to be in nothing but pain. Instead, she only felt sore, as if she was waking after a long day training, instead of fighting for her life. She sat up slowly, looking around. Sitting beside her was Cindrie, the elf. She had thought the elf had died to the beast. Instead, here she was, her head laying on Cera's bed, fast asleep. That alone was odd. She had thought elves did not sleep like most people.

Cera's shifting seemed to wake the elft, who sat up, only to smile as she saw the kobold awake. "Cera! You're awake! Thank the gods!"

Cera nodded slowly. "Cera... not dead?"

Cindrie shook her head. "No. No you are not dead." She reached out to take the kobold's hand. "I... I heard you and Ruge fighting the shifter... I- I'm sorry I was no help against him."

Cera tilted her head. "Shifter?"

The elf nodded. "The beast man. He was no werewolf. A shifter is a cursed elf, and... I was so afraid that he might spread that curse to me that I... I ran. But when I heard you two fighting, I knew I had to come back... I got there in time to see you kill him."

Cera nodded slowly. "Yes... he is dead... so is centaur and yeshtri..." She looked down. "And Ruge..."

Cindrie gripped her hand tighter. "No! Ruge is alive!" She motioned to the nearby bed. Laying upon it was Ruge, bandages wrapped tightly around her middle.

Cera looked up, staring back and forth between Ruge and the elf. "What? How!?"

The elf smiled. "I managed to get there before her heart gave out completely. She's still in pretty bad shape, and... probably won't ever be fully healed again, but she will live." Cindrie's smile faded. "I... couldn't save the others, though. They were already dead when I got there..." She looked away as the memory of their torn open bodies came back. "I'm sor-" Her eyes went wide as the kobold suddenly flung her arms around the elf.

"Thank you, elf-friend!" Cera gave her a big hug. "You save friend!"

Cindrie smiled at her, putting an arm around the small woman. "You are welcome, Cera." She closed her eyes. "You still need some rest. And... so do I. I've been using my healing on Ruge for the last few days now. It's... very taxing."

Cera nodded, letting her go, but sitting at the edge of the bed. "Okay. You rest. Use Cera's bed. Cera will watch Ruge while you sleep."

Cindrie just smiled again. "Alright." She reached out to pat the kobold's shoulder gently. She shifted to lay down on the bed beside the kobold. As she closed her eyes, she could at least take some comfort that she had helped someone in the end.

* * *