The two large corrupted beasts felt each other's presence as they passed, neither seeing each other, but both feeling the intense rumbling they caused on the earth. The time for conflict would be soon, once they'd settled on the perfect battlegrounds.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv1NsSva4o
"What was that?" Ryn asked.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPlcuIy0zr
The group stopped, awkwardly trying to keep their footing as the rain-soaked ground threatened to crack beneath their feet. Jin unfurled his wings, taking off into the air, leaving the two humans on the ground. They stared up at him, waiting impatiently until he finally landed a full minute later. Jin cursed under his breath, looking around as if trying to find the quickest path away from where they were.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzhY8fmsik
"We have to go." he said.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaQCYivttz
"Go where? What did you see?" Leliana asked, as she instinctively touched the hilt of her machete.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPod1TVAUv
"Away from here. As for what I saw, it doesn't matter." he replied. "But, that needle's not gonna help much." he added, only half-teasing as he pointed at her weapon. "Just know that we have to move fast."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x5jwdySFR
Jin dashed forward, lifting up Leliana as his wings lifted them a few feet into the air. She nodded up at him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders for leverage. The sound of Ryn clearing her throat snapped their attention to her.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg12S0lnuO
"How am I supposed to follow you two on foot?" she said.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmElAGewg8
"I won't go too fast. I've seen how well you run, and Lily won't get far with only..." Jin trailed off as he caught Leliana adjusting her eye-patch self-consciously with her free hand. Then, he cleared his throat. "Listen, let's just go, we've got a blind corrupt to find. We don't have time to stand around chatting. Plus, something tells me if we don't get back to camp soon, we'll all be in serious danger, and not just from getting rained on." he added, with a unusually stern expression.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iF6Bcja4Z
Ryn stared up at him, reluctant to move, then her attention broke as another quake made her stumble forward. Without another word, Jin took off with Leliana in tow, and Ryn close behind.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hf3j73Fvx
Once they felt the quakes, Tak insisted that Anubis follow him further into his cave. Anubis nearly fell down into the tunnel Tak led him to, causing the other corrupt to patiently guide him down into it, leading the way. Neither said a word, preserving what little air they had in the cramped path. Finally, the tunnel opened up into an underground space as large as a clearing, which had a storage of food that was enough to feed a corrupt twice Tak's size.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡurU8MuO004
Anubis was fazed by the large expanse of space, stumbling as he crawled out of the entrance into the storage space. "Where are we? Are we on the surface?" he asked. It still smelled like he was underground, and there was just dirt under him, instead of the forest's grass.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91nP7Y1r85
"No, this is where I mostly lay around when the giants are raging on the surface!" Tak explained, his tone oddly cheerful.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡranGdHOgmj
"The 'giants'?" Anubis asked.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡORLIZxcOyd
"Ragnarok and Avalon." Tak replied. "They fight like, once a year, but still haven't killed each other. I'm not one for violence, but you'd think they'd finally get sick of each other and just go all out. Especially since Ragnarok's usually not into being merciful, and..."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHegxmeyOn
As Tak rambled on, Anubis' ears perked up at the sound of thundering tremors that caused a few small dirt clumps to fall from the roof. One hit Anubis on the shoulder, he must've visibly flinched from this, because Tak stopped talking instantly.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfx1WLIL15
"Don't worry about that! Not even those shocks could cause a cave-in down here. My tunnels are nearly indestructible!"copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QWQyWoLKW
Tak's bragging did little to comfort the blind corrupt, as that wasn't what had him so jumpy. He thought he would automatically adjust to being blind, but every little thing scared him like he was a cub away from his mother for the first time. He felt a clawed hand on his shoulder.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDEdTcA8Ko
"You get used to it pretty fast. But, then again, I was born like this, so I had to get used to it." Tak said, with a laugh.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpE4qAP9mR
"You're...blind." Anubis said, trying and failing to hide his surprise.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡerHbig7G1R
"All mole corrupts are!"copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0vidpuNxf
'A mole corrupt. That explains him wanting to live underground.' Anubis thought. "...Could you...teach me?"copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4EQ85rYfN
Another rumble shook through the tunnel, this time it sounded like it was closer.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡPufwFxNMeO
"Sure, and what better time than now?" Tak said. "Let's get to work testing out your other senses!"copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡESP9a3yFQ6
"Do you see any sign of him up there?" Ryn yelled up to Jin, the forest's mud covering her boots as she ran.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3azTjFkhU
"Nothing!" he called out. " In fact, there's no sign of any corrupts anywhere. It almost looks like the whole forest has been cleared out." he added, speaking more quietly and specifically to Leliana.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86pnD4VqRa
"You know what's causing all this, don't you? I know when you're holding back something." Leliana said.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv25Fc8dRZ
"...Yes." he replied, reluctantly. "Both the earthquakes and the sudden rain."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM2umVO1g5
"Then what is it?" she asked.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpclNQqIhh
" You'll know soon enough." This time he said it with a tone that said the conversation was finished.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwNVBs7KFZ
Unfortunately, Leliana never did like to be told when to shut up. "I will know now."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZMLu9HiaX
Jin growled in frustration. It was hard enough to fly in this weather without having to tell stories at the same time. He scanned the ground to look for a safe, dry place to stop. Luckily, he found an opening in the side of a cliff that would make a big enough shelter for the three of them, only problem was it looked pretty high up on the cliff. "Ryn! Feel like climbing?" he yelled down with an apologetic shrug. It was probably better that her reply was muffled by the sound of the rain.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7mBt9rTSI
After Jin landed inside the cliff opening, and helped Ryn as she tried to scale the slippery, muddy hill. The hole in the cliff was more than just that, it led into a cavern that must've gone down the entire length of the hill. Jin made a mental note to return here, if their base was destroyed. Once the three were safely inside, he started to explain the situation as they rested against the smooth stones that lined the cavern. "Ragnarok isn't the only giant corrupted beast that's been banished to the forest. Far from it actually. The one we're dealing with now is Avalon, the deer. He's capable of causing weather changes, usually much worse than this. Before he was banished he was used to send hail storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes through villages mother wanted to take over. As her two weapons of mass destruction, Ragnarok and Avalon were natural enemies. I've never witnessed one of their fights personally, but going by the chaos that's going on outside, we've found ourselves right in the middle of one."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLfYGRqOB6
"Then, how are we supposed to survive through it? Even if they don't directly attack the camp, the whole forest would be destroyed by the time they're done. We can't fight against them, and we can't run from them." Ryn said.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk6B5AKNTV
"As I said, our first goal is to find Anubis. After that? We get out of the forest altogether, and find a new base."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh27Swhkpa
"Easier said than done! We have no idea where Anubis is, and he has no idea of where to find us, especially now that he can't see. While we're out there looking for each other, those 'weapons of mass destruction' are gonna be wrecking everything around us!" Leliana said.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AVhzC9ZrK
"Who said it would be easy? Who said either of you had to do anything? If you're afraid of dying, I'll get out there and look for Anubis myself. Meanwhile, you two can sit here and wait for me to get back. Then, maybe I can find the exit, and carry this whole team on my back out of here!" Jin barked out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look, we survived this far while the world seemed to be crumbling around us, the only difference is that now it's much more literal. Trust me, I have a more specific plan in mind, but you won't like it."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f5bQbMAYF
The earthquakes seemed to get more intense, focusing on one spot, luckily far away from the trio's shelter. Until the ground broke away, scattering rocks and earth everywhere as Ragnarok burst out from underground, and high into the air. He let out a deafening roar, heard clearly as it rang out through the forest. A call for battle. By the nearby sound of tall oak trees snapping and falling like twigs, Avalon heard, and was on his way towards the sound.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIXyQQ57au
"There's no time to argue, but you two are going to have to do a quick search party for Anubis while they're distracted." Jin said, as he stretched out as if he was preparing to run himself.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡic5duFQEEi
"What?!" The girls yelled out, in perfect unison.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKxuWoFIZD
"No time to argue!" Jin repeated. "Meanwhile, I'll be having my own fun." he added, with a grin.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡovmm4cc9km
"You're not thinking about..." Leliana started, concern showing plainly on her face.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡECzKQ4qHI4
Jin didn't answer, instead he unfurled his wings, and flew out of the shelter back into the rain. Ryn and Leliana gave a quick nod to each other, before they took off down the cliff's slope.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7PxBLVguV
The roar from Ragnarok rang loud and clear even through Tak's tunnel system. Anubis instinctively covered his ears, cringing against the sound. After it was over, he noticed that Tak had continued digging as normal despite the sound.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTrgfwtrGO
"You're not deaf too, are you? Didn't you hear that?" Anubis asked.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlqn6hswYa
"Keep your senses focused, or else you're gonna lose me down here. I don't plan to slow down for anything, despite you being new to being blind." Tak replied, lightheartedly. His cheerful attitude wasn't dulled in the least by the sounds right over them.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYiqvTcraG
They finally reached a more open space, popping out near what felt like a cavern. Tak grabbed Anubis' clawed hand, leading him to the center of it. All the sounds of the outside couldn't be heard from in here, but every little sound inside the cavern itself was magnified. The distant sound of rushing water, the noise their feet made on the dirt under them, even the smell of other corrupts who had long abandoned the shelter.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4AOlPlOh1
"Now," Tak started. "what can you hear?"copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5m3tslVYj
"Water running, possibly a cavern waterfall?" Anubis replied.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zioZNibft
Tak clapped excitedly, his claws tapping together rapidly. "Not bad! But, hearing things from far away won't help much against..."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCysrTiMIz
Anubis felt a force swipe him off his feet, and he landed backwards on the hard ground. "Wha-!" As he tried to move, he found himself pinned by the chest by what felt unmistakably like the claws on Tak's foot, digging in with enough force to knock the breath of of the jackal corrupt. He growled as Tak chuckled over him, half in anger of being betrayed and half in embarrassment that he let himself be led here in the first place. But then, Tak took his foot off, and grabbed his hand to lift him back up.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1kZDvbqzX
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"...What's right in front of you." Tak finished. Anubis must've looked visibly shocked and confused, because Tak's tone quickly switched to being more compassionate. "Oh! I-I didn't mean to make it seem like I was attacking you! Like I said, I'm against unnecessary violence. However, out here to need to defend yourself. Luckily for you, thanks to the giants out there, most of the other corrupts have evacuated, so I have plenty of time to teach you how to sense attacks before they come."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aclzb9Rnp
Tak lashed out his tail again, but this time Anubis was ready. Jumping back, he felt a cavern wall behind him, and dodged under a claw swipe. He reached out his arms, careful to push Tak away without his claws piercing the other corrupt's skin. Before long, Tak had taken the advantage on most of their spars, with the exceptions being stalemates. Whatever move Anubis had managed to counter usually led into another one that knocked him onto the ground. This last time he found himself face first in the dirt, and had to cough up dust and bits of the ground.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg2TJtN1gw
"Don't look so disappointed." before Anubis could ask how he knew he looked disappointed, Tak went on. "You're doing surprisingly well for someone new to being blind."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4RgfgoTZr
"I'm used to having to defend myself, especially against unseen foes. I've been trapped down here for quite a while." Anubis explained, with a shrug.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3CHpbTz3g
"Well, all the better for you then! Come on, we're completely safe in here, so what do you say to me teaching you a few of my tricks?" Tak offered with a grin. "By the end of it, you'll be able to 'see' better than ever."copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡYox0igu6iK
As Jin flew out into the stormy sky, he found it much harder to fly than before. The unnaturally heavy raindrops seemed to be purposefully trying to knock him out of the sky. Maybe Avalon knew he was coming to interrupt their battle? Either way, it wouldn't stop him.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTPt94JxXJ
Those overgrown zoo animals were going down on his terms.copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtNBacM4LP
TO BE CONTINUED248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVHuNs1WHE
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