Beaks
Wacky Woohoo Pizza Sadness Man
They're going to die here tonight, and probably never even know why. Should I pity them for it?
"Little infestations...dance and play linger linger...~"
It had been hours, days since she had departed from the well-worn streets and busy halls of Soul Society, opting instead for the uninhabited forests on the outskirts of the Rukongai to continue her...training? Was it even training anymore? She didn't know, and frankly the former Captain couldn't have been bothered to care. Tsubaki was looking for a fight, and it didn't matter where it came from.
Can't say I pity them too much though. If they have even the slightest sense of their surroundings they'll know what I am and run the other way.
It was almost soothing as the blood dribbled down her arms in long spidery strands, dripping onto the damp grass and sodden earth she trod upon in oddly loud splats and pats that provided a stark contrast to an otherwise almost silent night.
Well, aside from the noises of her admirers that were trying quite hard not to be noticed.
If they're lucky they'll notice it's a trap. But they won't. They never do. Not until the screaming starts.
There were at least ten, maybe more by the sound of things. They had been drawn by the blood that Tsubaki herself had allowed free from her veins, enticed at the prospect of an easy meal.
I should warn them, they've done nothing to me not to warrant it. I don't even know if I'm coherent enough right now to do so, but I should try. Will it come out of my mouth correctly? Or is it going to be the same incoherent gibberish that it was last time?
"Scaling crests under watching wrath, dooming dancing death." Her voice carried a strange singsong quality as it drifted into the cool night air. She was taunting them, almost daring them to try. Every few seconds she could hear the sound of padded feet starting to come closer, then quickly shy away to a safer distance. They were testing the perimeter, seeing how close the Shinigami would let them come before she acted.
I suppose that answers that.
Did they even realize that their status as predators no longer meant anything in the current situation? Probably not, but it didn't matter anymore. She had laid out a trap, and they had flawlessly taken the bait. Now it was only a matter of waiting to see who would make the first move.
Should I care so much if they die by my hands? They're predators who have obviously made the mistake of thinking that nothing will prey on them. Hell, even like this I know better than that.
"Herding gelding scalding twist betwixt feasting fasting fall." Her hands stretched out at her sides, mimicking someone trying to walk very carefully across a balance beam with one foot dancing seconds ahead of the other.
Why question this so much? It's not like you don't enjoy what you do...what you're capable of. That's why we're out here in the first place. You're good at this, and no matter what bullshit and red tape they try and hold us down with that fact cannot be taken away.
Without warning a set of the footsteps quickened, the first wolf to dare for a quick kill burst out of the dimly lit foliage with jaws open and claws ready. In equal time Tsubaki spun on one heel, sending one fist forward and into the mouth of her attacker. Fingers soaked with saliva wrapped in a hopelessly tight grip around the would-be predator's tongue, tearing it loose from the animal. With a screaming yelp it fell prone to the forest floor, quickly scampering to its feet and yowling in what could only have been mindlessly blinding pain.
"Flay! Flog feculent fire forever!" Her scream echoed out into the solitary night, followed by countless snarls and growls. Footfalls followed, too many for her to ever try to count as the rest of the pack surged forward to assist their wounded member.
You better not die here, because those would be some idiotic last words.
It happened in seconds, whirling blurs of motion and violence and blood that even Tsubaki herself had lost track of. Her hands and feet seemed to move on their own accord, lashing out and grabbing throats, legs, and scruff of fur and skin and bone she could grasp.
When the former Captain once again regained control of her senses the ground around her was littered with the fallen. Some of them spasmed violently, doubled over in agony as their now broken limbs or missing jaws and extremities became a sobering realization. One or two of the 'lucky' ones attempted to get to their remaining feet and flee, the bonds of the pack and common cause forgotten.
But most? Most weren't moving at all.
"What was that-" A horrified gasp filled the forest as the two leonine eyes of the former Templar Queen met those of a young girl, the most unfortunate of unfortunates who had made the possibly fatal mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She couldn't speak. Besides, what would she say? A Shinigami stood in the middle of the woods in the dead of night covered in blood with the carcasses of over a dozen dead or dying animals.
Before she could even attempt to begin to reason with her unexpected visitor the sound of snarling fangs once again filled the woods. More were coming. Many, many more.
Well shit, that isn't good.
The sounds of footsteps filled the hushed glade like rolling thunder, drowning out all other noise instantly. The girl looked around with muted terror, unable to find a direction she could run that wasn't filled with the sound of approaching predators. From out of the woods the first set eyes and fangs appeared, directly behind where the horrified girl stood.
She's not a part of this, you need to make sure she doesn't die because of you picking a fight!
Another one of them burst into the path between Tsubaki and the girl, snarling at the bloodsoaked soldier menacingly. Without hesitation the former Captain scooped up the body of one of its fallen brothers in one hand, slamming it down into the attacker. "Blackness reaches gripping grappling rips all away fall to fade!"
Super, really. Can we knock this shit off for a second and focus?!
Another one blocked the path, lunging at her with his mouth open and fangs glinting in the thin slivers of moonlight. Her fingers darted out and seized the jaws, one in each hand. With another roar of fury the woman pulled both arms in departing directions, feeling the cracking bone and tearing flesh give way as the wolf was quite literally torn in half with one last pitiful howl of agony.
The girl. Focus. We are not going to let her die here!
A fury-soaked growl left her lips followed by a resounding order as the Rite of Rebellion was freed from its sheath by a blood-caked hand. "GET DOWN, LITTLE GIRL!"
Her eyes snapped back to the former Templar Queen in an instant, quickly falling flush with the ground as Tsubaki launched the glowing blade at the wolf who had started to lunge behind her. A gushing geyser of blood erupted from the beast's head as the weapon cut cleanly and mercilessly through flesh and bone. As Tsubaki continued to dash forward towards the girl she quickly scooped up a knotted branch that lay in her path.
"UNDYING RUMBLE RIPPING RAW!" They continued to rush forward in a suicidal charge, jaws and claws aimed admirably but ultimately with futility at the woman who had decimated their pack. The first one came into range of both Tsubaki and the youth only to have the branch lance forward and down the beast's throat.
Bloody knuckles and gore-soaked fingers met each one in kind ripping off legs and jawbones, snapping teeth and bone like they were little more than molded paper. Bodies littered the ground like fleshy leaves, trampled and broken by the might of a rage they could neither combat nor comprehend.
The snarls and screams had died away, replaced by the cool and calming hush of a forest that witnessed a slaughter too gruesome to speak up over. Tsubaki let her arms come back to their sides, turning to face the young girl who still lay flat on the damp forest floor. After a few moments of silence she slowly dared to open her eyes, looking up at the Shinigami and becoming horrified all over again.
She's freaked out. Do something. Something that will convince her that we're not about to skin her and make a fashionable handbag.
"Intestinal...festival." She leaned over, offering the girl a gore-splattered hand to get up. As the fingers got closer to the youth she finally found her voice again, screaming in fear while clambering to her feet and running off into the night.
Tsubaki watched her go, making no attempt to stop her or calm the child down. After a moment or two the girl was gone, out of sight and hearing from where the massacre had taken place.
The voice could only sigh, resigned to wait for the next relapse into bloodlust and blinding fury.
We need to work on your people skills.
[1,569]
"Little infestations...dance and play linger linger...~"
It had been hours, days since she had departed from the well-worn streets and busy halls of Soul Society, opting instead for the uninhabited forests on the outskirts of the Rukongai to continue her...training? Was it even training anymore? She didn't know, and frankly the former Captain couldn't have been bothered to care. Tsubaki was looking for a fight, and it didn't matter where it came from.
Can't say I pity them too much though. If they have even the slightest sense of their surroundings they'll know what I am and run the other way.
It was almost soothing as the blood dribbled down her arms in long spidery strands, dripping onto the damp grass and sodden earth she trod upon in oddly loud splats and pats that provided a stark contrast to an otherwise almost silent night.
Well, aside from the noises of her admirers that were trying quite hard not to be noticed.
If they're lucky they'll notice it's a trap. But they won't. They never do. Not until the screaming starts.
There were at least ten, maybe more by the sound of things. They had been drawn by the blood that Tsubaki herself had allowed free from her veins, enticed at the prospect of an easy meal.
I should warn them, they've done nothing to me not to warrant it. I don't even know if I'm coherent enough right now to do so, but I should try. Will it come out of my mouth correctly? Or is it going to be the same incoherent gibberish that it was last time?
"Scaling crests under watching wrath, dooming dancing death." Her voice carried a strange singsong quality as it drifted into the cool night air. She was taunting them, almost daring them to try. Every few seconds she could hear the sound of padded feet starting to come closer, then quickly shy away to a safer distance. They were testing the perimeter, seeing how close the Shinigami would let them come before she acted.
I suppose that answers that.
Did they even realize that their status as predators no longer meant anything in the current situation? Probably not, but it didn't matter anymore. She had laid out a trap, and they had flawlessly taken the bait. Now it was only a matter of waiting to see who would make the first move.
Should I care so much if they die by my hands? They're predators who have obviously made the mistake of thinking that nothing will prey on them. Hell, even like this I know better than that.
"Herding gelding scalding twist betwixt feasting fasting fall." Her hands stretched out at her sides, mimicking someone trying to walk very carefully across a balance beam with one foot dancing seconds ahead of the other.
Why question this so much? It's not like you don't enjoy what you do...what you're capable of. That's why we're out here in the first place. You're good at this, and no matter what bullshit and red tape they try and hold us down with that fact cannot be taken away.
Without warning a set of the footsteps quickened, the first wolf to dare for a quick kill burst out of the dimly lit foliage with jaws open and claws ready. In equal time Tsubaki spun on one heel, sending one fist forward and into the mouth of her attacker. Fingers soaked with saliva wrapped in a hopelessly tight grip around the would-be predator's tongue, tearing it loose from the animal. With a screaming yelp it fell prone to the forest floor, quickly scampering to its feet and yowling in what could only have been mindlessly blinding pain.
"Flay! Flog feculent fire forever!" Her scream echoed out into the solitary night, followed by countless snarls and growls. Footfalls followed, too many for her to ever try to count as the rest of the pack surged forward to assist their wounded member.
You better not die here, because those would be some idiotic last words.
It happened in seconds, whirling blurs of motion and violence and blood that even Tsubaki herself had lost track of. Her hands and feet seemed to move on their own accord, lashing out and grabbing throats, legs, and scruff of fur and skin and bone she could grasp.
When the former Captain once again regained control of her senses the ground around her was littered with the fallen. Some of them spasmed violently, doubled over in agony as their now broken limbs or missing jaws and extremities became a sobering realization. One or two of the 'lucky' ones attempted to get to their remaining feet and flee, the bonds of the pack and common cause forgotten.
But most? Most weren't moving at all.
"What was that-" A horrified gasp filled the forest as the two leonine eyes of the former Templar Queen met those of a young girl, the most unfortunate of unfortunates who had made the possibly fatal mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She couldn't speak. Besides, what would she say? A Shinigami stood in the middle of the woods in the dead of night covered in blood with the carcasses of over a dozen dead or dying animals.
Before she could even attempt to begin to reason with her unexpected visitor the sound of snarling fangs once again filled the woods. More were coming. Many, many more.
Well shit, that isn't good.
The sounds of footsteps filled the hushed glade like rolling thunder, drowning out all other noise instantly. The girl looked around with muted terror, unable to find a direction she could run that wasn't filled with the sound of approaching predators. From out of the woods the first set eyes and fangs appeared, directly behind where the horrified girl stood.
She's not a part of this, you need to make sure she doesn't die because of you picking a fight!
Another one of them burst into the path between Tsubaki and the girl, snarling at the bloodsoaked soldier menacingly. Without hesitation the former Captain scooped up the body of one of its fallen brothers in one hand, slamming it down into the attacker. "Blackness reaches gripping grappling rips all away fall to fade!"
Super, really. Can we knock this shit off for a second and focus?!
Another one blocked the path, lunging at her with his mouth open and fangs glinting in the thin slivers of moonlight. Her fingers darted out and seized the jaws, one in each hand. With another roar of fury the woman pulled both arms in departing directions, feeling the cracking bone and tearing flesh give way as the wolf was quite literally torn in half with one last pitiful howl of agony.
The girl. Focus. We are not going to let her die here!
A fury-soaked growl left her lips followed by a resounding order as the Rite of Rebellion was freed from its sheath by a blood-caked hand. "GET DOWN, LITTLE GIRL!"
Her eyes snapped back to the former Templar Queen in an instant, quickly falling flush with the ground as Tsubaki launched the glowing blade at the wolf who had started to lunge behind her. A gushing geyser of blood erupted from the beast's head as the weapon cut cleanly and mercilessly through flesh and bone. As Tsubaki continued to dash forward towards the girl she quickly scooped up a knotted branch that lay in her path.
"UNDYING RUMBLE RIPPING RAW!" They continued to rush forward in a suicidal charge, jaws and claws aimed admirably but ultimately with futility at the woman who had decimated their pack. The first one came into range of both Tsubaki and the youth only to have the branch lance forward and down the beast's throat.
Bloody knuckles and gore-soaked fingers met each one in kind ripping off legs and jawbones, snapping teeth and bone like they were little more than molded paper. Bodies littered the ground like fleshy leaves, trampled and broken by the might of a rage they could neither combat nor comprehend.
The snarls and screams had died away, replaced by the cool and calming hush of a forest that witnessed a slaughter too gruesome to speak up over. Tsubaki let her arms come back to their sides, turning to face the young girl who still lay flat on the damp forest floor. After a few moments of silence she slowly dared to open her eyes, looking up at the Shinigami and becoming horrified all over again.
She's freaked out. Do something. Something that will convince her that we're not about to skin her and make a fashionable handbag.
"Intestinal...festival." She leaned over, offering the girl a gore-splattered hand to get up. As the fingers got closer to the youth she finally found her voice again, screaming in fear while clambering to her feet and running off into the night.
Tsubaki watched her go, making no attempt to stop her or calm the child down. After a moment or two the girl was gone, out of sight and hearing from where the massacre had taken place.
The voice could only sigh, resigned to wait for the next relapse into bloodlust and blinding fury.
We need to work on your people skills.
[1,569]
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