A Whimper

Stories are a universal thing, whether written, painted, or spoken. No matter the shape, temperament, or culture of a people, they will tell stories. A hero saves the say, an inventor changes the path of an entire civilization, a savage creature comes in the night to take misbehaving children away. Including these, all stories serve a purpose, to educate, inspire, or warn of danger.

Occasionally, there are stories that deviate from the first telling. Some are so ancient that few of those still alive can remember the original tale, and so liberties are taken. Others are skewed by a man stricken with boredom and can be spread so wide that this new version—whether it teaches the same lesson or not—becomes the original.

The story of the Spider-Eyed wolf is one of the few that have two versions told even today. In one, the Wolf is one of those skulking creatures that swipe children from their beds. In the other, it is a spirit guardian that will one day save Yellen from a terrible threat. Most Rajin people know what the Spider-Eyed Wolf really is, but that does not stop them from telling these stories.

There are some that believe the stories of the tower-guarding Wolf are just that; stories. However, the truth is always revealed eventually.

The Spider-Eyed Wolf stalks through the rather empty streets of Yellen, its many eyes darting to every corner and alleyway as it passes them. Snow has begun to fall, blown in a light flurry by the wind, adding to what already piles thick on rooftops and streets. That blue star slowly rises over Betor Mountain, its heat and light dampened by the dark grey clouds that cover the sky.

A few minutes ago, this street had quite a few people traveling along it. Not as many as usual, for the soldiers have left the city to meet the Utherians in battle. But now, the only ones that remain in sight of the Wolf are women scrambling to pull their children from gawking in naive fascination and rigid statues wearing the white robes of city guards.

Most foreigners are still waiting to be interrogated in the dungeon below the city, but even the ones that have been freed are nowhere to be seen.

"Come now..." The Spider-Eyed Wolf says slowly, grinning as it scans the surrounding rooftops, "...Show yourself, and we'll continue our game. Or allow yourself to be found, and we'll pay a visit to the master."

The playful words hold an edge of impatience to them, and they echo through the streets and alleyways. Many hear them from inside their homes, their reactions ranging from palpable confusion to sheer terror. But one of those listening pairs of ears only sighs and curses.

Cage crouches behind an eave of a roof, toes buried in the snow beneath him. He runs through his options in defeating the Wolf. Cage's speed is one of his best tools in a fight, but moving quick is nothing before literal teleportation. Absorbing the Wolf whole won't be possible if he can't catch it. And even if he could catch it, who's to say that the Wolf can't just be summoned again? He should have studied Conjurers more.

That bloated feeling is still there, Cage could absorb parts of the Wolf's body until he's able to test his idea. But this fight has already gone on for far too long. If Cage doesn't make this quick, Kyro and Ingen may die before he can come to help. He could try and sneak past-

"You know, every man and woman has a slightly different scent. In a crowd, they all mesh together, it's impossible to single one out in that situation," The Wolf's introspective voice flows into Cage's ears, "But yours, a crowd of thousands couldn't hide that stench. Moldy bread? A rotting corpse? No. It smells like... death itself."

"Shit," Cage whispers, clenching his fist. Clearly, sneaking is out of the question. His stomach growls, vibrating beneath the pressure on his skin. Those guards didn't satisfy him for long. It never ends, does it? What is an option for others is a must for Cage. Beast or man, something must die for him to continue living.

A shadow darkens Cage's vision. He looks up, only to meet the eyes of another. A lot of eyes, "I see you haven't been enjoying our game," The Wolf says, grinning as its head floats by itself above Cage, "A shame."

Cage's eyes widen. He scrambles up and bolts across the rooftop, feet crunching in the snow. He gasps. The Wolf's head puffs into existence before him, dagger-like teeth open wide and ready to snap down. Cage slips on the snow, falling to his back and sliding.

Those massive jaws slam closed on empty air. Cage gets on his feet again behind the Wolf's head. He sprints and steps up onto the eave opposite of where he was before, launching himself through the air. He looks down at the street below as he flies toward a shop on the other side. One moment, there's only snow and stone, the next, those same open jaws are there, attached to a gigantic body.

That black arm forms. It stretches downward and expands into a massive circular shield spanning from one side of the street to the other. The Wolf's head sinks into the blackness, then its shoulders and front legs, but the back half of its body disappears before it can be absorbed.

The pressure on his skin increases, but not nearly enough.

Cage lands and rolls to his feet on the roof of the shop, continuing his run without missing a beat. Until he comes up with another plan, it seems best for him to keep moving. It will take a particularly clever plan to deal with a giant teleporting wolf, and Cage can only hope that he finds one before he ends up missing more than just an arm.

Two things come to him at once, an idea, and the Wolf. The beasts translucent body barely fits on the roof, but that 'barely' is enough to force a halt in Cage's steps. Every one of those beady eyes focuses on him. For once, the Wolf is not grinning eerily, instead, the corners of its mouth vibrate as it growls through its teeth.

Cage stares back, his black eyes hard under his brows. Flakes of snow fall on him, sticking in his hair and attaching themselves to his sweaty robe. Adrenaline, excitement, and fear mesh together inside his heart. Despite what the wolf said earlier, Cage has been enjoying himself quite a bit. Inbetween the moments of panic, that is.

Cage's mind races as he holds the gaze of the Wolf. Paralyzation. He's only used it on actual living things, but can he somehow replicate it with an Anima Summon? Perhaps. First, he'll need to get close enough to try without being chomped in half. He needs time, "Thought you were gonna take me to your master?" Cage taunts the Wolf with a smirk.

"I lied," The Spider-Eyed Wolf says, sounding almost annoyed, "Once you and those criminals are dealt with, the Master will begin making changes within Yellen. He already has a heavy burden on his shoulders, and I will make certain that you do not add to it."

"Really?" Cage says, one brow raised. He wasn't sure if taunting would be the right choice, but it's working. He's stalling, "He said that he would make examples out of us. Why not use new criminals, ones that recently offended him as an example? And if we're so much of a burden, why not just let us go, then? We won't come back. Not for a while, at least."

The Wolf hums, "I..." the beast pauses, looking toward the cave of Betor Mountain, "...The Master has always kept his great plans to himself. I only exist to serve him."

Now.

Cage throws his black arm forward. It flashes across the roof and between the beast's long legs, latching onto the eave on the other side. Cage grits his teeth and pulls with all of his strength. He's yanked forward, the sudden burst of speed nearly giving him whiplash.

The Wolf snaps his head to look at where Cage once was, only to see a black blur out of the corner of its eye heading directly toward it. It's too late.

Cage releases his grip on the eave, pulls his black arm back, then slams it down into the roof below. All of this happens in an instant, and Cage is launched upward, pale hand reaching for the beast's ribs. At least where they would be, if it had any.

Skin touches solid Anima energy, and the Spider-Eyed Wolf's legs crumple beneath it. It falls for what seems like an eternity, with Cage directly beneath it.

The snow breaks Cage's fall, but it does not save him from the incredible weight of the Wolf. The breath is knocked from him and no matter how hard he tries, he can't get it back. His bones crackle and snap, and his would-be groans are reduced to quiet gurgles.

Though over the snapping and gurgling, Cage hears a whimper. It's the Wolf. The pressure against his skin grows with every passing moment, and the whimpers get quieter.

Then, as the pressure inside and the crushing weight on his body bring him to the edge of consciousness, the Wolf disappears.