The smartest beast-man.

Sabal slithered his way to the sound of moving footsteps, it echoed into his mind, one steps faster than another. It had brought him in front of a plain-looking yard, stood out much more for its oddness compare to the rest of the mansion. Not because two beast-men were guarding it, but the plain color of the oaks and the worn feels of the rocks made of the place.

Flattened himself against the top of the oak pillar, Sabal didn't wait for a second. In his beast form, shot himself straight into the beast. Though he was fast, his span wasn't big enough to catch both of them. Sabal caught one of the beasts while the other one shriek and draw his bird's claws and sliced both of them. His snake body coiled around the bull beast-man, woven himself tight over and over again to cover the beast from head to toe. And even with the constant cut by the other beast, Sabal didn't let go. He squeezed and squeezed until there was no movement left inside that beast until there was no bone left uncracked and until there was no more heartbeat except for his own.

Seeing that his efforts were useless, the bird beast-man attempted to run. As soon as he turned his back and spread his wing, it was already too late. His long neck snapped and the feathers of his wings were blown everywhere like snow, before he could shriek a second time, Sabal had already taken another life.

Slowly retracting his tail, Sabal felt a hot burning gaze on the back of his neck, his back was facing the door that was guarded carefully a few seconds ago. Without even looking back, he knew exactly what was starring at him.

"You must be Mohsen" Sabal slowly turned his head, his skin and hair were dyed the blood-red color from the dead body in front of him. But even after committing such cruelty, he was shocked at the sight of the other beast-man. His skin, his hair, and especially his eyes. All of it resembled the only thing that Sabal missed. Day in, day out.

"Yilas…" Sabal's eyes opened wide, his purple globs were covered by thin film-like water, glistening. He murmured her name like a man so deep in his dream, he could only see what he desired the most. But glaring back at him, was a pair of blood-red eyes, filled what anger and disgust.

And it terrified Sabal, the only savior of his life would never look at him like that. Her eyes were always filled with kindness and warmth like the sun he was deprived of his whole life. 'That's right, it's not her' Sabal reminded himself before looking back at the beast-man again, this time the beast had already a step before him. The beast was visibly shaking, but there was no fear scent around him, Sabal was sure of it. Mohsen was shaking in anger.

"Did you just say …"Yilas"?"

***

Time passed quickly when Zarek was in a daze, he never liked violence but violence seemed to like him so much that his life couldn't escape it. The motion took his body, he fought well and killed many but his mind was tucked away by the past, all he could see was a memory when he was younger, in a war, many years ago.

A young and innocent young Zarek, about 15 years old, killed the first beast-man when his clan was drafted to war. He was surrounded by beasts of many kinds and it was a living hell. He didn't know who he had killed. Blood as hot as boiling water covered his hands and legs. His brothers and fathers fought alongside him. The scared little foal in him died at that moment as well, and he was forced to grow up, to carry his duty.

But the unscathed beasts at the city would never know what they had sacrificed, what little cubs like Zarek had lost. All they know was their warm home and full bellies. The violent beasts once they returned victoriously, still bore the scars on their body, and invisible scars in their hearts. And Zarek hated them for it.

Zarek returned to his reality once the fight was over. Many of his was injured but all the guards had surrendered and the gates were wide open. He sighed a washed his eyes over the bodies on the ground, reminiscent of the past. But at the corner of his eye, a red shadow brushed through his vision. An unknown beast disappeared just as fast as it appeared, swept through the gates and into the mansion. Zarek followed it instantly.

"Those who are not injured, follow me!"

Zarek hastened his steps but it was still not fast enough to catch the beast. He grunted stepping into the main hall, he had visited their home before and he knew the ways around this place. He immediately turned to his right and make his way to Mohsen's room.

"No, he shouldn't be there" Something in him tell him to head the other way. Zarek suddenly stopped in his track and called out for the few beasts that followed him. "All of you, follow this way and make one left, two rights. Check every room after the second right."

"Yes, master." Those beasts moved fast and just as fast, Zarek turned 180 and make his way the opposite.

And what awaited him in an empty courtyard was nothing short of peculiar.