Shatter

 Where....

Little lights flickered in the dark, frozen against the black walls, glimmering puddles rippling under shoes as the shadows rose and crept through the sanctuary of light, teasing into the cracks. Soft steps shuffled against the wet stone, under ragged, echoing panting, shaking loose droplets hanging from reaching roots.

This is....

Pale faces with wide, watching eyes, MIPs lifted, slipped down the side tunnel with a ringing shout.

I remember.

Jaws snapped wide, tearing through the thick scent of acid fear and cloth tasting of blood and bile. The little figure ducked away, but not fast enough to stop claws shearing through skin and bone, spilling the hot scent of life—

Want it want it—

Teeth snapped shut too late, a sharp pain lancing over burning skin. Their frantic feet slipped away into the tunnels, towards the light, up and up.

Come back. Won't— just want—

But— no. No? Rasping breaths echoed, limbs that needed to move, to run, to lunge and feel warm flesh under sharp teeth in every vein trembling and stuttering, rippling muscles twitching. Wanted to— needed to—

Where....

Jaws full of glinting teeth cracked open, head shaking violently. Launching forward, claws caught icy steps, hunting the trailing scent of warm bodies scrambling into the night.

Where.

Clattering and voices caught at pointed ears, running away, disappearing through crumbling walls. Why won't you just—

WHERE.

“AaAARGH!” With a hitching snarl, dark claws speared through cold hard ground, head snapping back, a howl tearing from burning lungs strangled too tight.

Stop it stop it! A jagged cry cut it off, fire burning in thundering veins. Make it stop— No— Couldn't— couldn’t breathe— couldn’t....

Low, guttural clicking curdled deep in a heaving ribcage, lips drawing back from too many teeth.

Slit-pupils constricted.

I want it.

Trembling feet brushed over cold stone, ice kissing tough pads. Wouldn’t get away. Wouldn’t get away.

Like a siren song, their fear rose, sweet and raw. Beams of lightning flickered and flashed, catching the edge of shadows leaping ahead, the scent of flesh and the pounding of footsteps thickening the air. Warmth sizzling against cold, harsh ground, pumping from a pounding heart.

I want to taste it... sweet... burning with life—

Yes.... Silhouettes crawled far below. Above, small clawless hands with long skinny fingers climbed, twining up like vines reaching for the light, and rippling muscles coiled. Yes, I want that.

Do... do I...?

The wind howled past, silent feet touching cold concrete.

The edge of the world reached past crumbled walls to soar above the void below, shadows oozing like ink across the glimmering, dark mirror reflecting the stars. A yellow glow led them, bloody light leaking from a horned crown outlined against the sky.

Wide eyes reflected both.

"Is... is that you?"

Soft and sweet, brightness pumping through familiar flesh.... Yes, that's mine....

"No get away from him!" twisted echoes cried out. Weak. Too late.

No, you won’t keep me away. It's mine. Lips peeled back from rows and rows of teeth, coiled form leaping past and flicking the voice away, locked on that pale face, skinny form standing frozen. It's mine.

"I... N-no—" Those muddy eyes dilated, little chest jerking with suddenly-quick breaths. Why?

Don't worry. Claws scraped quietly against stone, smoothly prowling closer. Jaws opened, teeth glinting. Come....

Those thin legs stumbled and fell, kicking back, panting hard. "No please— stop—"

Stretching jaws hitched, something wrong. Something wrong. N-no....

Please I—

It's... it's alright. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Lips pulled back, locking tight, and a shudder ran through the arched spine as gums bared, fangs sliding free. Slipping from needle-tips, dark pattering droplets stained the ground, harsh breaths too loud.

Sick... deep inside. Couldn’t swallow.

A guttural clicking rattled in a parched throat instead, rumbling into a low cackling churr.

Come to me.

No— something was— was—

Want to taste— to— Mine. Muscles bunched, the scent of warmth and fear thick enough to taste. So close.... so wrong. Wrong.

"D-Dray?"

Tears stained pale cheeks, eyes wide, gangly body trembling.

Smooth steps hitched. Wait.... The jaws relaxed slightly, ears unfolding, lifting, a soft querying whistle slipping past fangs. A memory through the fog, more than just familiar blood.... Those strangely-coloured eyes. Brown hair. A sarcastic grin.

Remembered...?

Dray.

Every muscle froze.

Erold.

No no— a shudder ran through a skin that fit too well, too cosily, fur lifting and prickling on end as shadows rose from the corners with familiar faces. What was— What'd—? Couldn't— I'm not—

I need to— Muscles stuttered, straining to leap, to— a scream twitching under fangs— to feel life—

NO! I don't want this! I don't want this—!

Yes you do. You want it. You want it.

No! No I— I don't want this please—

A shudder twitched through rippling limbs, dark tail lashing as eyes snapped around, claws curling into the glimmering stone.

"DRAY!"

No— Talons scraped at dark fur, clawing at pinned ears, panting desperately. No stop it—

GIVE IT TO ME.

A cry shattered the night, darkness twisting and leaping with a ragged scream.

Twisted hands cracked into stone next to the delicate skull of the younger one, fangs a trembling hair away from pale, warm skin. Human pupils had dilated so far they reflected a creature made of teeth and shadows.

Glowing yellow eyes with black slits, no humanity left, stared back.

A black drop pattered onto Erold’s pale cheek.

No—

No please—

Tearing back, a cry ripped free of a blackened throat, claws dragging across the ground, shrinking away from familiar shadows with glaring eyes, shouts battering flattened ears.

Hadn't— hadn't meant to—

I—

Paws shuffled back, rasping, wrong breaths echoing.

What happened to me?

Trembling, a head with too many teeth in a long shadowy muzzle shook violently, a whine grating through every fibre, paws with clawed fingers that felt too right scrabbling at fur that wouldn’t come off.

What have I—

A sharp impact tore the breath from heaving lungs.

"No! Stop it! He's— he's terrified, he doesn't know what he's doing! Dray!"

A small mouth moved to scream words that couldn't be heard through the heartbeat pounding in deaf, pinned ears, feet slipping off the edge into nothingness. The world narrowed to nothing but the tears streaming from Erold's eyes, reflecting the moons and something else.

Unrecognisable.

A monster.

Me.

A whimpering breath slipped free, and he fell.

.

.

.

No please— I didn't... didn't want this....

Breath scraped through a raw throat, sounds scattered, whines dragging into weak, whimpering keens. The cries of a wounded animal.

I’m sorry please—

Blurring in and out, claws scraped weakly at the rough ground, something dark and glimmering seeping across it with every thudding heartbeat.

Please— it's not me— this isn't me— What have I done?

Lights danced in the darkness, drifting closer.

I didn't want to hurt him... I didn't want to....

.

.

I— I—

Yellow eyes glowed dimly, reflecting off inky blood.

Dark limbs shook as they tried to push up, the world whirling and sliding out from underneath, tipping up on its side. A soft light grew brighter, closer, silent footsteps whispering off the walls, climbing up the cold stone. The glow wavered like fairy lights, fluttering heart and lungs trying to escape against the hard ground, a sound too weak to be a howl whispering into every crevice.

Please....

I don't want to be... What have I...

...Become?

.

The black sky flowed above. Could have sworn... that was Erold’s face among the stars, crying out. The image wavered, a hand reaching out gently, drawing a flinching whimper.

I'm a monster.

A hitching whine that couldn’t be called a sob shook twisted bones, and a soft thrum rumbled, cool touch brushing burning darkness. A gentle touch, soothing....

“Still. It's alright."

Are you going to kill me?

Faintly, a quiet keen echoed under rhythmic strokes, and a gentle hum answered, easing the pain, stilling the whimpering struggle for breath. Couldn’t... feel anything, anymore....

"Shh...."

Eyelids fluttered...

"It's alright now."

...and closed.