Colin's posts

AJ laid the girl down on the bed, and looked at Emma.

"Probably." he said.

"Vyn was manning the door, so odds are Dani knew I was back before I even got down here." he told her.

"But all right, I'll get out of your hair." he went on, looking at the child.

"........" he was silent as he looked at her with sadness in his eyes, before he turned and left the medical wing, making his way through the halls, stopping at the closed door to Dani's office.

"Dani?" he called in, knocking.

"It's me, AJ!" he said further.

AJ was silent for a moment, and then sighed with a smile.

"Of course you do." he said.

"You always seem to know these things before ANYONE else." he commented as he started to follow her to the bed she had prepared for the girl.

"And I'll find out how, one day." he promised her.

"Regardless, I'm sure you already know the details, but protocol states I have to tell you anyway." he then said further, shaking his head a little.

"Dagger-mouth. Clamped down right on her shoulder."

"You got it." AJ responded.

"Thanks, Vyn." he then said.

With that, he stepped inside, and quickly made his way through the guild. As he did, he stopped by the holding area for the animals, and dropped off the hound in a closure for it.

"I promised it Quillmice." he told the one in charge.

"Give it some." he finished, before leaving and making his way to the medical wing, more quickly now.

"Hello?" he asked, stepping through the swinging doors.

"Emma?" he asked further, looking around.

The man sighed.

"Name. AJ." he said.

"Code. 56-Alpha-Inferno." he said further.

"And hurry!" he then exclaimed. "I have an injured person here, and she needs to be treated. NOW." he told them further, looking at the girl.

"She was attacked by the Dagger-mouth." he finished, looking at the dog now.

"5 minutes." he told the canine.

"Behave for 5 more minutes, and you'll have all the Quillmice you can hunt."

"I know." the man responded.

"I want to let you. So badly." he said.

"But I have other concerns right now. More pressing concerns. And YOU need to be taken back where you belong." he told the canine further.

He then looked right into the woman's eyes.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot." he told her.

"As long as you remain here, you'll never sleep soundly again. I promise you that." he threatened her, before pocketing the blade she had thrown at him.

With that, before she could respond, the man, dog, and girl were surrounded by a swirl of black flames, causing them to disappear from where they were, leaving the woman and the boy alone.

"...mother...?" the boy said quietly, looking at the woman.

The man remained silent, but he memorized what he could of the woman. Her face, her build, her hair, her voice, everything. He wanted to remember her for later, in case she became relevant again.

"...I want to sic this beast on you so badly." he told her.

"But I won't. I'm not like you." he growled.

He then lifted the child in one of his arms, holding her at his side, before looking at the canine.

"Behave." he told the creature.

"Behave, and you'll get a Quillmouse." he then said, knowing that the dog could understand human speech, but wondered if that particular bribe would be enough.

Ash continued to hold the hound by the scruff of the neck, and narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"....fine." he said.

"I'll get off your property." he told her.

"But I'm taking the canine with me." he then said further, finality in his tone. "It shouldn't be here, so I'm getting rid of it." he continued.

"And the girl." he then added.

"It's clear that you were going to let the dog kill her. I'm not going to let that happen." he told her.

"And if you want to stop me... then feel free. Please. Give me a reason." he finished.

The man looked over at the woman, and saw the knife come flying towards him. However, he didn't react how she had probably expected him to.

Instead of dodging, or running, or panicking, he simply brought his hand up, and caught the blade between two of his fingers, mere inches from his face.

"I think not." he responded.

"I have a vested interest in that animal over there." he told her, looking at the hound.

Then, before the woman knew it, he dashed over towards the animal and child, grabbing the canine by the scruff of its neck... very roughly, but not in such a way it hurt it.

When he eyes met the creatures', he levelled it an intimidating glare.

If he could get the hound to let go on its own, that would be optimal, but he was ready to fight the thing right here and now... while still keeping an eye on the woman that was clearly not to be trusted right now.

The man sighed as he walked down the street, looking at the night sky.

The moon was full, and the stars were shining brightly, as they all illuminated his figure, alongside the street lamps that dotted the sidewalk.

He ran a hand through his black and red striped hair, before looking around, almost seeming to be on the lookout for something. Something... specific.

'All right, where is it...?' he asked himself.

'That order said that it was loose somewhere in this neighbourhood...' he thought further, before shaking his head slightly and growling to himself.

"Who the hell keeps a Dagger-mouth as a pet, anyway...?" he then mumbled.

He was on the lookout for a canine of sorts. One that was about the size of a German Shepard, but had sharper ears, and a distinctive striped fur pattern. But its most distinctive features were its tendency to hate being cooped up, its defensive nature, and its teeth... which were as sharp as steel, like miniature swords.

Its real name was the Austrailian Mucro Hunting Hound, but most hunters called them Dagger-mouths... as being bitten by one felt like having a mouthful of daggers clamp down on you.

It seemed some rich mage wanted to keep one as a pet... and somehow managing to get one into the country. They were currently under investigation, but the canine needed to be wrangled... before it caused any harm. And that's why HE was there. He knew they were nocturnal, and it would be active right now.

Vincent watched her go back to her room, and sighed happily.

"This is a relief." he said.

"...is Vic all right, though?" he then asked himself. "Is she... does she even exist any longer...?" he then wondered aloud, before something came to his mind.

"Ah! Right." he said, before heading off.

A few minutes later, when Vicki went back downstairs and to the kitchen, she noticed a sealed envelope on the kitchen counter with her name on it.

And it was in 'her' handwriting.

Vincent seemed reluctant to break the embrace, but he allowed her to step back.

"....we do." he replied.

"We should, anyway..." he then said, thinking for a moment.

"Mmmm. Yeah. Yeah, we do." he confirmed.

"You thinking of making some?" he asked her.

Vincent was silent for a moment.

"...does that mean...?" he muttered, before looking right into his daughter's eyes.

After a second of this, he leaned in, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Vicki." he said.

"Thank heavens you're alive, and safe." he told her.

"I've been worrying myself sick over your wellbeing, since Vic decided to make that switch with you." he said further, almost afraid to let her go.

"I'm so glad to... well... see YOU again."

Vincent stopped for a moment, and sighed, but didn't look back at her.

"Nothing." he told her.

"The usual." he said.

"Wondering if Vicki is dead or not." he said further, bluntly.

"Wondering if I should tell her mother about this." he went on.

"You know, just what I've been worrying since you got here." he then sighed, before pausing.

"Wait..." he then mumbled.

"Heard your name?" he asked.

"But I said 'Vicki'..." he said further, starting to slowly turn around to look at her.

After a few seconds, she heard someone muttering to themselves as they walked by.

She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she did know who it was.

It was her father, and he sounded concerned.

She swore she also heard her name as well, but his voice kept growing quieter and quieter, as did his footsteps.

Meaning, he was walking past her room, and more than likely headed downstairs.