Forest Bay

Alana nodded back to Bazyl. Shed known him barely five minutes but already she got the impression that he knew how to handle a situation. Which was helpful.

"Well, it's funny you say 'cult', actually.." Chainsaw cheerily began, before shying away when Porcelain pointedly looked at him.

"We're tourists. Looking to indulge in our favourite hobby we're here." Porcelain spoke softly.

"And that hobby is....?" Alana probed, eyebrow raised.

Porcelain snapped his head towards her. "You will silence yourself, wench. Obedient women will be silent when men are talking."

Alana snorted. "Wow. Nice."

"But since you asked...." Porcelain tired his head to the side. "I'm one of the Psychopaths. I like to murder. My preferred method is...biting, but I use pretty much whatevers to hand when I'm in the mood."

Alana's nose twisted in disgust. "You realise that I can't let you just run around my neighbourhood-"

"And I like chainsaws!" Chainsaw interrupted, grinning wide and holding his up for emphasis.

Alana stared at him for a long moment, then continued.

"Yeah, so that sexist bullsh*t aside, and trust me, it takes a lot to really gloss over that- I live in this town and so do my friends. When you were just biting wendigo you were weird, but mostly victimless. Now, you're actively dangerous. So, I'm going to take you out. Any last words?"

Porcelain glanced impassively at Alana, then looked back to Bazyl. "Control your woman."

Alana frowned, and gritted her teeth together. They were far sharper than usual.

_____________________

A frittering of magical energy pushed over Vendetta.

"So, our guest is contacting a friend. If only I could eavesdrop...but I suppose the mystery has a certain allure too. Definitely not a Yokai. As if they'd ask for help! They'd need friends who weren't trying to kill them first!"

She let out a short of derision, and a few of her Psychopaths laughed too. The laughter died down, and one small man was still guffawing, curled over in mirth.

The moment passed a little too long.

"Was I expressly humourous?" Vendetta spoke, her voice honey tinged and soft, like a lace glove over an iron fist.

"No....no ma'am..." the madman spoke, still laughing a little, his eyes watering. "Pete just broke wind before you finished talking, and we all were laughing at that. Were...were you saying something, mistress?"

The Psychopaths looked imploringly at her. Pete blushed.

"I said how yokai....oh forget it. Let's go. There's much to do!" V spoke, mildly annoyed.

Raija's face turned sour when the madmen began to get belligerent. She was playing passively to see if conflict was needed, but it seems like a fight was unavoidable at this point. Looking between the two, the one with the chainsaw seemed to be the better target. Disarming him with the element of surprise would leave him useless, even if her strike didn't kill. Looking ahead at Alana getting riled up, she found this the perfect time to strike. Silent as the wind, she ran from the building to her target, jumping into his shadow. She "Crawled" up the shadowy side of him, emerged and made a swift cut across both of his arms. Kicking off of her target, she returned back to the shadows, waiting for the follow up strike of her comrades.

As Porcelain spoke with Alana, Bazyl watched incredulously. The blatancy of his sexism was surprising to say the least. Throughout it all, he realized he didn’t know much about Alana. She appeared immediately after the explosion offering medical assistance. She hadn’t even told Bazyl her name, from what he could remember.

Porcelain glanced impassively at Alana, then looked back to Bazyl. "Control your woman."

Bazyl looked over at Alana, noticing her teeth sharpening. His brows furrowed, unsure what to make of it. “Unfortunately for you, I agree with her. I can’t let you do whatever you want. You’re in a murder-cult and that usually spells trouble for towns, right?” He inquired dryly.

That’s when Raija appeared. Literally. She climbed out of Chainsaw’s shadow and attacked him. Bazyl’s training snapped him out of awe and quickly returned him to the moment. The blade he clutched up until now would finally be put to use. Bazyl lunged forward attempting to cleave through the man’s stomach.

"-uh-" Was all Chainsaw managed to say before he was pulled backwards by the arms, throwing his chest outwards, which was immediately cleaved into.

Blood sprayed and poured from the fatally gaping wound.

Smearing a few droplets from her face, Alana smiled ruefully. "You guys don't waste any time. That's handy."

Porcelain sighed at the mutilated corpse of Chainsaw as one might sigh at a spilled glass of wine.

"A waste, really. He was the kind of person to lend you money for a soda and then forget he even did so 5 minutes later."

He faced Alana, his bloodthirsty grin visible beneath the now- blood splattered china doll mask.

"I'm going to kill you first, impudent woman."

Alana quirked an eyebrow, before smiling wider. "I dont often get the chance to do things like this. Opportunities to go all out for the hell of it are rare. But you-"

She poked a finger forward, and as she did, fox ears materialized upon her head, and blueish heat haze began to descend upon the clearing.

"-you really got my goat. You DARE-"

The heat haze grew heavier, and nine tails materialized behind Alana as if they'd always been there, just waiting to exist again.

"- come into my HOME and threaten me and those I care for? You can toast instead."

As she spoke, she channeled her powers, sending reams of bluish fire in all directions. The area was bright for a moment, the flames engulfing almost everything, passing harmlessly over Raija and Bazyl. Then, it stopped, and the night became dark again.

Alana was stood there, normal once more, no tails, no ears, no fangs. Porcelain stood there for a moment also, before collapsing into hollow ash, the charred and blackened china doll mask falling with a clink to the floor. Chainsaw's corpse was also incinerated away, leaving only ash, and a charred chainsaw blade with a twisted and melted plastic handle.

The wendigo clinging to the local house had also stopped, and collapsed into ashes, too.

Alana clung to her head, blinking hard. "Oh, wow, that was definitely a bad idea. I'm going to be paying for that burst for a while."

She swayed on the spot before looking to Raija and Bazyl. "You guys are okay, right? I tried to direct it away from you, but sometimes it can be hard to control."

She blinked, and then waved. "Oh, and I'm magical, too, I guess. Hi."

"Hello to you too. I'm glad to see there are other magical folks who are willing to protect their home"

Coming in range of the group was an middle aged adult with Silver Hair and silver side burns. His sapphire cat like eyes almost gave away the fact that he too wasn't a normal human.

"We could use all the help we can get." He hummed "allow me to introduce myself my name is Wesley Silverfur. I am one of the main captains of guardian force of Forest Bay. Do any of you know exactly what's going on here. HQ been getting reports of explosions, fireballs, growling prowlers and a whole bunch of terrified phone calls." He looked at Baryl and blinked "Bazyl... weren't you assigned to the mayor this evening? Where is he?"


~~~

Back in the Halos house, two sets of generations were preparing for bed

Mr. Halos looked out his bedroom window in the direction of the town. A low sigh came out of his mouth.

"what is it my husband." Mrs. Halos stated as she came up next to him "are you concerned about the town that you wish to go out and investigate what's going on."

"I already know what's going on." he stated then pulled out a leaf that was rolled up like a scroll. "someone didn't encrypt their message and sent it out in a broadcast" He unrolled the scroll "Beacons busted powerful dark magic user creepy followers totes sad face." He stated. It seemed Saleme's message was intercepted by the Halos plant network and transmitted to Mr. Halos

"what does it mean." His wife asked "and does it have to do with the chill we all felt."

"I'm afraid so my wife" Mr. Halos stated "It means someone with enough dark magic able to have mortals bend to their will was able to destroy or corrupt the beacon with their power and if they could destroy something that powerful..."

"our magic would not be able to stand against it." Mrs. Halos muttered

"aye... I only hope that if they do attack us, I will buy my daughter and her mate time to escape and use my full power against them." He hummed "even though I stated that I would investigate and see if the situation requires us to escape. I will not allow fear to run our lives like before. I will stand and defend my land and my right to live here." He hummed "I also will not budge even if others of our 'clan' come and investigate after all I've heard rumors that the magic of the beacon was felt in far away lands."

Mrs. Halos stated "what if they try to force us to rejoin the clan or threaten to take our daughter and try to indoctrinate her into their cause"

"I will not be associated with terrorist and those who protect them." Mr. Halos stated "and if they attack my daughter. I will bury them and I'm sure Mathoss will help dig the hole." He hummed then exhaled "let us get some rest my wife. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."

"yes..."

~~~

With Mathoss and Estella the two were cuddling in bed with nightwear on

Estella was lightly petting Mathoss on his back like a cat however her pets were uneven. She was worried and it showed

"hey, what's bothering you Estella." Mathoss stated "I know tonight was a rollercoaster of emotions but you can relax it's all over."

"I don't think it is Mathoss." Estella stated "I think it is just beginning."

"maybe it is but right now, you need to relax, like Mr. H said get some good sleep. I'll be with you all night long and the house's defenses are up, you are safe in here."

"I know but I can't help but think of what is to come. At first I was just concerned about us but now..."

"hold up concerned about us." Mathoss stated "what's your concern."

Estella hummed "I know my father has accepted you and we have his blessing and permission but..."

"you're concerned about what others would think. You don't think they would accept us being together. A Witch and Feral Family becoming one and their heirs producing a mixbreed."

Estella hummed "it is unheard of, and I think long ago it would have been forbidden. I also wonder can we even make a heir and if I can carry it properly and if we can't what will happen between us if I can't give you an heir and you find someone who can..."

Matt exhaled "Estella do you really doubt my love for you that much. Do you think that I really care about heirs and being honored with one if it meant not being with you."

Estella hummed "I'm sorry Mathoss but... I can't help but think about it. Ever since we were young and my first bewitchment occurred and how people reacted... even though you supported me, others didn't, and I fear that if I can't give you what you want..."

Matt sighed as he drew her into an embrace "Estella, no matter what happens, no matter who says what or who does what, my love for you won't change. All I ask is that you continue to love me and not be afraid to love me. Let people talk, they don't know what it is like to love if they judge others for their love and that just shows how dark their hearts really are"

Estella sniffed as she wrapped her arms around Mathoss and put her head into his shoulder. "I won't be afraid Mathoss and I'll always love you."

Matt hummed "good and I will always love you as well" he stated then held her and started to produce a light comforting purr.

Estella hummed "your purring feels nice... it reminds me of what you did when we were young, you purred then as well. I just wish I could purr back"

Matt hummed "you are purring you just don't know it." He hummed "but I can tell."

Estella hummed

Bazyl pulled his sword from the slain man, smirking at Alana’s comment. “Hesitating is akin to forfeiting during battle,” He responded quietly. When Porcelain began speaking, Bazyl furrowed his brows. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alana already seemed up to it. He grinned, unsure of what to make of the situation. He looked over to Raija, mouthing ‘got her goat?’

As she kept talking, Bazyl suddenly began sweating. He pulled the collar of his shirt, trying to get air on his chest. The more passionate Alana became the hotter the area did as well. When the tails materialized behind her, his mouth dropped. A Yokai was the last thing he imagined she would be. ‘Am I the only human here?’ Bazyl thought, flinching as the blue fire washed over him. It didn’t hurt but he’s human: seeing fire coming is going to scare ya.

“Two magical beings and one human,” He counted on his three fingers. He let out a sigh and made a sour face, “I hate surprises.” Soon the face dissolved and was replaced with a light smile, “My name is Bazyl Musa, it’s nice to meet ya.” Soon after a silver-haired man approached the trio. Bazyl immediately recognized him as Wesley Silverfur, one of his peers at the Guardians.

"Bazyl... weren't you assigned to the mayor this evening? Where is he?"

Bazyl looked away for a moment then met Wesley’s eyes. “The Mayor passed away and saved the lives of the bartender and I in the process. Although I’m not positive about the reasons behind the attack, we’re currently enroute to the Mayor’s house in search of clues.”

Wesley blinked "the mayor dead?" He hissed slightly "that not gonna go over well." He muttered "alright you can explain to me what happened on route to the mayor's house."

As Bazyl pulled his sword out of Chainsaw and mouthed something to her, she cocked her head to the side in slight confusion. She was going to respond, but Alana unleashed her attack and braced herself in case anything was to happen to her.

Raija looked in awe as the fox razed the area. Amazed, she clapped her hands up and down while witnessing all the hostiles turn to ash. "Ahh. You're strong! A yokai, don't think I've ever witnessed one's powers..." She smiled innocently for a second, then turned to Bazyl. "I think you are the only human. Although that sword..." Raija licked her lips for a second, getting lost in the magical power imbued in the sword. She then glanced at Alana with the same hunger, but snapped out of it immediately after. Turning, she pointed to the mayor's house as the newcomer came. After he introduced himself, she twisted her face. "Guardian force... Never heard of them. How can we trust you anyways mister!"