Bewere

[stronglikebear]

Yuri sighs as he trudges down the corridor. He's been feeling grouchy the last few days, his temper shortening and his hunger growing. In other words, he feels just like he does every month. Even though he's just had dinner, he finds himself thinking longingly of breakfast.

He also finds himself thinking of Daine as he checks each of the doors he passes, making sure for the fourth or fifth time that they've been put back together right. He made her promise not to come visit him -- or at least, he told her she had as good as promised and that he'd hold her to it, even if she said no such thing herself. She should never have come to see him the first time, and he won't have her on his conscience because she came again and got hurt or turned. Caught up in his thoughts, he isn't careful enough with the second door, and burns himself on a spoon. Without making a conscious decision to do it, he lashes out, hitting the door so it swings and rebounds off the wall, rattling the silverware. Sheepishly, he sticks his fingertip in his mouth and hurries on -- he has time yet before the transformation, but it's getting harder to keep his head.

He's several steps into the room with the cage before it registers that he's not alone. Freezing in the middle of the room, he lets out a huff that's halfway between annoyance and despair.

"Get out."

Comments

[stronglikebear]

It's what you get! Simple minds, simple pleasures. Or swap 'sadistic' for 'simple.' Yuri's more than happy to mangle a third tree in the interest of making life difficult for Daine; while making her flap off isn't as satisfying as killing her, it's fun. Besides, it feels good to dig his claws into something.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine relocates again, being sure to pick a tree that isn't already home to nesting squirrels or roosting birds. Why are you being so mean? she asks with overblown offense as she waits for the next impact.

[stronglikebear]

Why are you being so fun to chase? retorts Yuri. It's in their respective natures, he decides. She is made to be chased, and he to chase her. Smaller branches snap as he tries to pull down her tree.

[wildmage_daine]

Fortunately, the branch Daine has chosen is too sturdy to snap off. She hangs on for the ride for a few moments, flapping her wings to stay more or less upright and screeching, then launches herself off the branch and picks another unoccupied tree to land in. I'm not fun to chase, she objects, affronted.

[stronglikebear]

You'd be more fun to catch! Yuri pounces, but this time he hits his paw at a bad angle on the tree, driving the piece of silver buried between his paw pads deeper. Letting out a cry of pain, he falls back on his haunches -- then swipes out at the tree again in genuine anger.

[has_a_horn]

There was, perhaps, a perverse curiosity that brought Gabriel to the park tonight. Since he met Yuri, he'd been interested to know just how many were-creatures exist in this alternate reality New York. He'd assumed that Yuri himself would be tucked away somewhere safe, but surely there were others that weren't yet protected by the Rebels or Romac.

He teleports into the park, feet stumbling forward a little as he lands. He'd been travelling back and forth a little today, learning his new limits. So far, he'd been able to recharge enough that each jump wasn't too much of a drain. As soon as he lands, however, he feels Daine's presence and something he assumes is Yuri. Daine is projecting distress and he immediately focuses in on where she is and teleports long enough away that he can see what's going on. He may or may not stumble into a tree as he lands.

He muffles a soft curse as he sees what's happening. How did Yuri get out? He needs to get him away from Daine and quickly. He hastily projects a illusory copy of himself closer to Yuri, waving to catch his attention away from Daine. "Hey there, sunshine."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine hovers above Yuri, looking down in some concern as he pains his paw. It hadn't occurred to her that he might have something embedded in there, but now she begins to wonder. There's nothing she can do about it, of course, but she feels a twinge of guilt at the thought of how banged-up he's going to be in the morning.

When the illusory Gabriel appears, Daine falters and drops a few feet before recovering herself and flapping out of Yuri's reach. Odd's bobs, what's he doing here?! Conveniently forgetting that he's a demigod and capable of taking care of himself (perhaps because voluntarily approaching Yuri doesn't say much for his sense of self-preservation), Daine calls up her magic and orders, Don't touch him! She doesn't expect the effect to last for long, and she swoops for Gabriel with a screech, trying to drive him away from the bear.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri bites at his paw, knowing something is caught in there. The fur is thick enough that it's not pressed against his skin at every moment, but when it touches him it burns and makes him feel weak. He finds it with his tongue and lets out a sound that's nearly a yelp as he quickly abandons the operation.

His entire body projects an expression of surprise when he hears a human voice nearby -- a proper human voice, someone who can't fly away, who will scream --

Even as he lurches to his feet, though, he feels Daine's magic slam against his mind. His charge is reduced to a few faltering steps in the illusory Gabriel's direction. He stops and stands shaking his head in confusion and irritation. It won't last long; they have only a few seconds before he remembers that he doesn't want to obey that order.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel might have been a little more inclined to notice what was going on if Daine hadn't been screeching and diving at his (albeit illusory) head. He senses her distress, but he doesn't connect Daine's actions with Yuri's sudden stillness. He obligingly backs up and holds his hands up, but he doesn't want to go very far back and risk Daine more.

"Yuri, remember me? Gabriel." From his hiding place, he looks with some concern at Yuri's injuries. He could probably heal him, but to do that he'd need to get close enough to do it, and have Yuri calm enough to let him. Consciously, he projects a feeling of well-being outwards to others. He might have to knock out Yuri first before he can tend to any of his wounds. The copy of himself smiles benignly. "You're hurt. I can help you, if you let me."

[wildmage_daine]

If Daine wasn't already aware of how unreasonable Yuri is, she might appreciate Gabriel's well-intentioned offer of assistance. As things are, all she can think about is Yuri's imminent charge at an unprotected two-legger who's too fool to run away.

Looping back around the illusory Gabriel, Daine shifts into a shape she hopes will give Yuri pause: polar bear. She lands with enough force to shake the earth around her and bellows a warning at Yuri as she moves between the illusory Gabriel and the werebear.

[stronglikebear]

That damned owl -- Yuri tries to focus his mind. Human -- owl still there, but more importantly, a human, right there, ready to be eaten. There's a niggling thought that he knows this person and isn't actually sure he is a human, but really, anything that screams and bleeds will work fine. So why does he feel sick to his stomach as he springs forward, teeth and claws at the ready?

His internal conflict is completely forgotten when Daine thumps to the ground behind Gabriel. For a split second, Yuri sees the white bear as a target: more meat to tear apart. Then it registers that she's bigger than him. Nothing is bigger than him! Stopping in his tracks again, he roars back at her and rears up onto his hind legs. He's really not sure how to deal with this, but looking bigger seems like a good plan.

[has_a_horn]

He pauses as Daine shifts shape, surprised at the sudden presence of another gigantic animal. For a moment, he considers just leaving and leaving them to it. He's certainly not responsible for a rampaging were-bear.

But what if Daine gets hurt? What if Yuri turns more people? He sighs and drops a hand onto Daine's flank. In his hiding spot, he creeps forward a step, trying to get another angle on the action. "Daine, get out of here. It's not safe."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine, on the other hand, is responsible for the rampaging werebear, and she spares Gabriel an incredulous glance when he tells her to leave. As if she needs a reminder that it's not safe! He's the one who put himself in danger - she'd still be on the wing and out of Yuri's reach if she hadn't needed to defend him! She gives her head a brief shake, then lifts a paw to Gabriel's chest and gives him a nudge backwards: she's not going anywhere, and he should leave if he doesn't want to get eaten.

At least she chose this shape well; Yuri doesn't seem to quite know what to do with her now that she's no longer smaller than him. She heaves herself onto her hind legs as well, teeth bared. Stay back!

[stronglikebear]

Wh -- seriously? Yuri suddenly feels short next to Daine. He waves his paws a little, letting out a perturbed sound, and leans to peer at the human. He'd much rather deal with the human than the big, white bear. Get out of my way, he growls, steeling his nerve.

[has_a_horn]

Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. He's going to put a stop to this. First item on the agenda: get Yuri away from Daine as quickly as possible.

"I'm safe," he says, and projects a secondary illusion of himself behind Yuri. The second copy looks pointedly at Daine before jabbing Yuri in the back with the toe of his boot. "Hey, ugly. Back here."

[wildmage_daine]

Not a chance, Daine snarls, bracing herself. If she can just avoid his teeth... her train of thought is interrupted, though, by the sudden appearance of another Gabriel standing right behind Yuri. Daine drops to all fours with a startled huff, glancing back to confirm that Gabriel's still standing beside her, as well. It must be an illusion, like one of Numair's simu-things.

Does this mean the one beside her is an illusion, too? Keeping an eye on Yuri, Daine gives the Gabriel closest to her a gentle, exploratory pat with her paw. He sure feels real. Odd's bobs, this is strange. But at least this means she doesn't need to be so frantic over his safety - just her own. She returns her focus to Yuri to see how he's reacting to the other Gabriel.

[stronglikebear]

But -- he -- what?!

Yuri startles, which is certainly a sight to see, and twists in place to see who touched him. The fact that it was someone he knows to be elsewhere confuses him....and angers him. He growls, teeth bared, and drops onto all fours, turning in place and swiping at Gabriel.

[has_a_horn]

The image of Gabriel flickers back as Yuri swipes out at him, remaining just out of reach. "Slowpoke. Can't get me?" He jumps back and forth, shadow-boxing in front of Yuri, occasionally jumping forward to land a touch. "Ha! gotcha. Too bad. I've been told I'm delicious."

While Yuri is distracted, the version on himself standing next to Daine nudges her and points to his actual self. He waves from behind his hiding place, then redirects his attention back to Yuri and his other illusion. Beside Daine, he says in what he hopes is a loud enough voice for her to hear, "I can knock him out, but I need to get close." He points back to his hiding place. "That me. A lot closer."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine blinks over at the third Gabriel with a little whuff of surprise. Odd's bobs, he's all over the place! She listens to his request, nodding thoughtfully and chewing on one of her claws as she considers how best to achieve it. So far, all she's done is give Yuri brief blasts of her magic - enough to stun him into temporary obedience, but nothing more. She could hold him, however. It would be a drain, but it'd be worth it if it put an end to things without anyone getting hurt.

She wouldn't be able to hold him for too long, though, which means they'll have to sneak closer... which means she needs to be a bit less conspicuous. Distracted as Yuri may be, there's no way he'd fail to notice a giant white bear creeping up behind him. Daine sighs, then shifts into wolf shape. She's going to be exhausted when this is over, but at least wolf shape is a bit more natural feeling and less tiring than the others. After a pause to make sure Yuri hasn't noticed the change, she slinks over to the Gabriel behind the tree.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri is completely taken up with his efforts to kill the Gabriel now in front of him. He pounces, claws, and snaps at the 'human,' always sure the man is within his reach, but always finding his claws swiping through thin air and his teeth closing on nothing. He snarls in frustration as the man actually touches him again, charging forward over the few feet that separate them and trying to tackle him between his forepaws. Hold still! he demands.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel sticks his tongue out at Yuri and jumps back as the imposing figure charges towards him. He lets out a curse as he evades once more. Yuri is pushing him back closer to the inhabited section of the park, and he really needs to keep him in here where less people are likely to be injured. Deciding quickly, he makes the version of himself that had been taunting Yuri disappear.

With the only illusion left, he shouts out, "Hey, Yogi bear! Over here!" hoping to redirect Yuri back where he'd come from and distract him at the same time.

He's keeping his attention on Yuri and his illusory selves, but when Daine slinks over, he speaks quietly to her while he watches. "Stay put. I'm going to distract him enough to get in close. You might be lunch if you make yourself known." Having said what he needed to say, he starts moving in closer, careful to keep at Yuri's back.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine lets out a soft snort at the idea of hiding herself away while Gabriel risks approaching Yuri alone. What if he needs her help? Besides, she hasn't been eaten yet. And he can't very well argue with her about it without giving himself away. When Gabriel starts towards Yuri, she follows him silently.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri swerves after Gabriel. Rearing up, he brings both front paws together to slam them down into the man, his full body weight behind the blow. Just as he should feel his claws tear into him, though, Gabriel's suddenly gone. This time it's not even that he's gone in the sense of dodging back more quickly than he should have been able to -- no, it's as if Yuri just smashed him into nothingness. That would be a lot more satisfying if it had felt like smashing someone, rather than slamming into the empty ground.

It would also be a lot more satisfying if Gabriel didn't turn up alive and in the wrong place a moment later. I'll tear your guts out! he promises, having forgotten by now that humans other than Daine can't hear him. He stumbles a moment as his injured paw gives an especially sharp twinge, but powers through the pain to charge back the way he came.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel doesn't hear the words, but he definitely gets the gist of the threat, and he feels the burst of pain as Yuri's paw twinges. Getting this over quickly is in everyone's best interest, including Yuri's.

Deciding quickly, Gabriel teleports beside Yuri while the illusory version of himself keeps him distracted. He places a hand against Yuri's side and focuses his energy on putting him to sleep. Nothing happens. "Fuck." Gabriel lets out a string of curses and teleports a few feet back, stumbling backwards into a tree as he struggles to keep to his feet. With an animal, that would have worked, but Yuri isn't quite an animal. "I need to get to his head." Preferably without getting eaten.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine nods her understanding, though she has to suppress a whine. There's no way Gabriel will be able to get at Yuri's head without her holding him. At least, she thinks as she braces herself, there's only one of him. It might not be any harder than bossing all those rats in Carthak.

She calls up her magic and focuses on Yuri. Hold still, she orders, bearing down to make sure he stays still. And don't you dare bite him. Her legs shake with the effort of holding him, and she searches for something to make her angry. She seizes upon the memory of having to shove Edgar and Almondine into a room just to keep them alive, and she snarls with fury over Edgar's untimely interruption and Yuri's refusal to just stop and think for a moment. She wouldn't even be out here if it wasn't for them. Don't you move, she growls, hackles raised.