Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 255: Scene CCLV

The alert of their cautious growl made the man turn to see the many Ogres... that compared to the one he escaped by the fortunate hit his axe had landed leaving it unconscious enough for him to escape... were bigger and more grotesque, accompanied by their servants the gnoblars.

Once his gaze met theirs, Aslak provoked their sudden charge and hearing the roar of the feline on the other side that came displeased to the edge, the sole decision he had been dubious to make was finally taken.

“Effing earth!”

With a broken arm and wounded abdomen, the man rushed into the river of blood having difficulty as he moved within the thickness that also misled its profoundness, almost drowning in its stream until he was able to make it to the other side, rushing out, prepared to face the Jazhara which instead, continued to roar enraged at the group as it followed the savage that was coming to its side... watching the ogres stop their chase once reaching the edge of the river, growling at him and throwing trunks as well as their own servants into the doubtful waters... keeping themselves at the edge for once the gnoblar fell into the stream, that one Aslak managed to cross safely, it became a stoned statue, dissolving as if flimsy dirt itself in the red.

“... Tha fuck’s this...” — Unable to grasp complete understanding of the scene he had witnessed, Aslak dropped himself on the grey of dry ground... with lost force as he saw the obscure feline turn just as the group of Ogres decided to depart to face him, a stunned Archduke that never let go of the axe he carried.

The axe’s handle was clenched as the Jazhara paced elegantly ominous towards him, being himself who waited this time to discern whether the beast was one he should fight as hunt.

“....”

No sign of menace in its attitude much less in its approach was met... and his wait eventually allowed its dangerous closeness to sniff him, almost grazing Aslak’s nose in its natural recognition.

The tail ultimately started to move elegantly playful as it surrounded the still unconvinced wild man, pushing his side that was not as injured with kind power compared to its expected essence.

“What. What is it..... Ya won’t attack me?” — With a scowl that solely conveyed reticent enjoyment, his hand caressed its fur carefully, smirking as it groomed briefly against him before taking a few steps away, sitting before him and looking in the direction the river led... to it’s amber ultimately fall on his... As intense as it did the moment their eyes first crossed.

“... Odd beast...” — Aslak scoffed, looking down at himself one last time before standing again, much more settled down in his heart’s race, to look down at the beast which would not draw its gaze from his. — “Then again, this place never was common... that old he-goat would say you’ve something to do with the earth.”

Receiving its growl as a reply, the Jazhara commenced moving in the stream’s direction. Inviting his follow as he understood these events were indeed what the warlock would say was the earth’s will.

“Are you truly...?”

“...”

“Sigh... better be that... or I’ll be killed by my house’s beast.”

Between irony, Aslak commenced this new side of his journey, guided by the Jazhara that crossed his path, walking slowly by the edge of the river that had absorbed without leaving a hint of a small creature.

The elegant pace of the beast hypnotized him as he followed behind, immersed in its wonderful fur that had never been seen in its alive owner before. Entranced by its brilliant darkness that satisfied him while his mind could no longer focus well on his surroundings after losing so much vitality.

Nonetheless, no need was there for the man to continue as cautious unless it was for the beast guiding him. For given what he had witnessed with the Gnoblars, this stream was more dangerous for those beasts inhabiting these nooks than for himself.

Slowly, time distorted further for the man, for he did not know how many nights did he spent following and resting alongside an unknown feline, which even as he managed to hunt some of those little ones that unfairly lived in those grounds would also share some of it’s hunt to him.

“... What’s this...” — The more lost his mind became, Aslak commenced to question while eating the meat a Jazhara gifted. Sceptical at his reality that at times felt dizzying. — “Can’t tell where I’m going anymore... how long’s this river... hm? Do ya know?”

“...”

“Don’t ya know...? How much longer will I have ta follow behind yer tail, huh?” — Talking to the Jazhara that briefly glimpsed at him while devouring its meal, Aslak growled annoyed. — “I’m in a hurry effing beast. Our house’s female... I want to go meet her.”

The gnaws it gave to the flesh did not cease even as the man talked to it. Provoking his sigh once again as he also continued to eat.

“Do ya have a female? Or are ya a female?... Whatever it is, mine’s called Ewelina.”

*Purr* 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Ou. That’s her name... Her fur’s unique. It twists and it’s soft... bushy and of an odd brown... my Fatædi...”

“...”

“... Cursed earth. If not for its whims my hand could be holding hers. Like this. We hold them together with tangled fingers like this..... tsk, effing waste... I miss her.” — Although he had gained energy talking to the beast about a fated one, showing their customs to its indolent amber, his tongue clicked at the Jazhara’s indifference, bored of having to roam around these corners led by a beast darker than night itself, lured down a stream he did not know if it’s end would come. — “... I wonder if she also misses me... Does she recall my existence?... Jazhara... how much longer will this path continue?”

“...”

“I want to go back to her... truly...”

His exhaustion made his head fall at the yearning, and his throat felt a knot strengthen the more his own words felt more honest after telling them to an ignorant beast. Taking more of the meat solely to drown his heartache.

“Damn it. Cursed fate.” — ‘... Cursed myself for recalling how much I long for her who might remember me with hatred...’