forum The Most Wanted Woman in Town [Romance o/o] (Closed)

Started January 22, 2023 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

When Eve looked at him, Ronnie couldn't meet her eyes. "Well… I assume this was always an attempt to get by without tying yourself down to a man… the cat was meant to keep you free." He glanced up, looking around for a moment. "Speaking of which, is your cat ok?" He hadn't thought much of it, but the poor little critter was likely badly shaken and a bit terrified. The situation had been intense.
After a moment, he looked back down at the key he was fidgeting with. "Anyway… I'm sorry I've complicated things, but… I want you to know, I'm not expecting us to move forward on this. You barely know me, it would be crazy for you to betrothe yourself to me or anything like that." He finally looked up at her.
"I had an idea that if I held onto the key, other men would leave you alone, and you'd be free to live as you like. I hope that can still work for you…" It had been a split second decision, his impulse to keep her safe from men like Ji're and Carlan pushing him forward. Now that he had the key in hand, though… he was worried again.

Eve noticed how he avoided looking at her, and so she directed her gaze away from him. She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable with the way she looked at him when he didn't meet it. And… he wasn't wrong. Eve's plan at first had been to keep away the people clamoring for her attention. She struggled to understand just why everyone was so taken with her, but she was trying to get on with her life anyway. At least, until she found the right person. That was what her cat was meant to help with.

Ronnie was the right person.

In every interaction they'd had, Eve found herself being drawn to him more and more. He wasn't like anyone else in Tol Galen, and that was what she loved so much about him. Ronnie was his own person, something Eve was still trying to figure out. Hopefully, with the challenge over, she would be able to gain answers.

She froze for a moment, looking around as he did. "She's… upstairs," Eve answered simply. "I think."

His words made her heart sink. She was going to wait until after Lana had come, but she didn't think she could hold her secret back any longer. Ronnie was talking about not really wanting her, just wanting to keep her safe. That in itself made Eve even more sure of her decision. She needed Ronnie to know it hadn't just been luck no one had caught her cat until him. Her life wasn't up to fate like most people thought. She was in control, and she'd chosen him.

Eve came around the table she was working at and sat down quietly beside Ronnie. She hesitantly put her hand on top of his, the one with the key, and looked at him intently. "There is something more I have to tell you about all of this," she admitted. "I was going to wait, but I don't think it can. I'm only afraid that once you know, you will despise me beyond measure. But I must tell you, despite my fear. So… promise me…"

Suddenly, Eve hesitated. Her eyes teared up slightly, and her voice broke around the end of her words. Ronnie had very quickly become her closest friend here. She didn't want to lose him. She couldn't bear it. "Promise me that if you run from me afterward, you'll at least say goodbye before you do."

Ronnie looked at Eve as she stepped towards him. She touched his hand, and he gave half a smile, until she started to explain. Her words made him nervous; he really couldn't think of anything she would have to be afraid of, unless it was really awful.
Her hesitation made it worse. He frowned just a bit, concerned at what she might be about to tell him, but fully ready to try and get past it. Her request had him nodding quickly.
"Of course, Eve, but what could you possi-"
He was cut off short by a knock at the door. A quiet voice hurried to explain. "It's Lana. I've got some more bandages and a salve."

Ronnie glanced at the door, and looked back at Eve. His wounds were still hurting him, but… what she had to say seemed urgent. "Perfect timing, huh…"

Eve made sure to watch Ronnie’s expression carefully as she preceded her reveal. The way his smile faded and he frowned made her stomach tie in knots.

He had revealed everything to her when she was a cat. How the shapeshifters traumatized him and left him not the same as he had been before. He’d done questionable things… terrible things to make sure people weren’t the monsters he sought. And he still saw himself as one.

What would he think when he realized she was a shapeshifting monster too?

His acceptance of her promise relieved her slightly. Eve was so wired, though, that she jumped practically out of her seat at the knock. Lana’s voice was reassuring. She relaxed and looked back at Ronnie. “Indeed,” she agreed with a weak smile on her lips. “I’ll get the door and tell you when she’s gone.”

With that, Eve paced over to the door to unlock it. As much as she did trust Lana and Romulus, she still eased the door open slowly, and barely a crack. “Lana?”

Eve seemed so on edge that Ronnie was concerned. She startled at the door, and Ronnie would have moved to protect her, except her recognized Lana's voice immediately.
He watched as Eve went to the door and opened it just a bit, wondering what could possibly be so bad she would make him promise what she'd asked for just now.

Lana was standing at the door, a large roll of bandaging and a little can of healing salve in her hands. She gave Eve a smile and held out the things to her. "I hope these will help. If you need anything else, Romulus can get me to get it." She glanced off to the side. Opening the door a little wider revealed the large form of Romulus, sitting on the porch in a chair taken from the cafe, watching the road. He glanced up at hearing his name, and gave Eve a nod. "I'll be here till things cool down."

Lana smiled at him, and smiled at Eve, before turning and making her way back through the snow.

Eve relaxed more actually seeing Lana on the other side of the door. She opened it wider to accept the supplies and smiled weakly. “Thank you,” she replied. Her eyes drifted to Romulus too, and she nodded her head. “But I feel I must apologize again. I never intended for this to get so… carried away.”

The truth of the words was conveyed by the slowly forming tears in her eyes. Tears for the spell she’d somehow had on most people in town. Tears that it was over. Tears that Ronnie was hurt. Tears because she would have to tell him her secret and risk loosing him forever.

Lana’s bandages and salve were gripped tightly in her hands as she nodded back at the siblings one last time. Then, she shut her door, locked it again, and went back into her living room where Ronnie was still waiting. She was sure her eyes were still filled with tears as she set down the supplies Lana had brought.

Once it was all laid out on her table, Eve gingerly dipped two of her fingers in the salve to spread it across Ronnie’s back where the bruises were. Her fingers were gentle and her touch was feather light while she whispered, “Hold still.”

Romulus gave the smallest shake of his head in response to Eve's apology. "Not your fault." He didn't explain further, but he didn't need to.
Sitting as a guard in front of her door made it clear who was at fault here, and it wasn't Eve.

Ronnie looked up as Eve came in, her eyes brimming with tears, and his frown deepened. "Hey…" She went on prepping to help him, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he was worried about dripping blood all over her house, so he didn't push, but…
Everything in him wanted to wipe those tears away.

He slowly hiked his shirt up and over his head, exposing the numerous bruises and the three bleeding stab wounds. The salve would do good for both, helping the skin to heal and the wounds close. They would get added to the myriad of scars that turned his skin into a tapestry, a laundry list of past violence.
He was aware that this situation was… well. He'd never thought about being shirtless around Eve, but it was certainly something he could see himself remembering.
However, the soldier's part of his brain went into medical mode, and he managed not to blush as her fingers trailed gently over his skin. He held perfectly still, used to being patched up, his lean muscularity looking like something chiseled from stone as he didn't move.

After a minute or two had passed, he ventured a guess about the tears. "Eve… this isn't your fault."

Eve swallowed heavily and nodded in reply. Romulus was likely right, but it didn’t feel that way right now. It was her challenge that had done this. Her ability. And she still had to tell Ronnie.

She paused at his quiet “Hey” and it was then that she realized how she must have looked. Teary and weak. But he was frowning like he actually cared about her emotions. It was more than almost anyone had cared about her, so it only made Eve more emotional. She prayed to any gods or goddesses that might have been listening that Ronnie wouldn’t run from her when he discovered her magic. Her curse.

The sight of his back broke her heart. She couldn’t believe the violence of these people. Over her, of all things. But past the bruises and cuts and scars, Eve’s eyes couldn’t help but trail over his muscular form. Unlike Ronnie, a blush quickly worked its way across her face as she began to treat his wounds carefully with the salve. Once they were done, she would bandage him up.

She focused solely on her work, trying to help Ronnie as quickly and efficiently as she could, when he spoke up again. Her hands trembled and faltered. She regained herself after a moment, but it was a noticeable change in her touch.

“I’m afraid you’re wrong,” she whispered finally. The salve was completely applied, so she reached for the bandages. “It is entirely my fault. All of this. Especially dragging you into it. This never should have happened. You got hurt.”

Her eyes scanned his back to make sure everything was covered before beginning to stretch the bandage across his lower back and wind it around his torso, working her way up carefully.

This was a problem.

He was holding still, doing his best to remember that Eve was patching him up, just being helpful, but…
Eve's light touch was lighting Ronnie's skin on fire.

He reminded himself that not only was she just being kind, she was also upset, and now was not the time to think about those hands.

Her answer deepened his frown, and he turned half way as she begn bandaging him. This made it slightly easier to get the bandages all the way around his torso.
It also meant he could look at her as she did. Having to wrap the bandages around him meant Eve was slowly looping her arms around him, and that was hard to ignore.
But he did, because she was upset about this.

"I've gotten hurt before, far worse than this. I can handle some small town idiots; they're nothing like the monsters I've faced before." He gently reached up, and as Eve leaned in to wrap another strip of bandage around him, he very gently cupped her face in his palms and swiped her tears with his thumbs. "And you didn't drag me into anything. I chose this. This challenge was to protect you, and I wanted to help in that process. You're important enough to me for that, Eve."

He looked her in the eyes for a long moment, before realizing he was still holding her face, and dropping his hands. "Sorry. Just… can't stand to see you cry."

Eve noticed for a moment the tenseness of his muscles beneath his skin. Ronnie was straining, focusing hard on keeping still. It wasn't too much of an issue if he moved, but Eve kept her lips pressed together.

She wasn't blaming him, especially with how much effort she was putting into keeping her fingers from trembling. It wasn't just because of applying the salve. His body was tight, and it made Eve think of things she quickly tried to banish from her mind. Besides, she still had to reveal her secret. And who knew if she would even see him again afterward?

As Ronnie turned, Eve almost blushed. But she quickly realized it was only to make her job of bandaging his torso easier. So she didn't think too much more about it as she wrapped the bandage around him over and over until all his wounds were covered. Thankfully it was long and could reach all the way around multiple times until all his stab wounds were covered.

She was a quarter of the way from being done when Ronnie reached up to cup her face. Immediately, she stilled and stared at him with wide, soft hazel eyes. His face, the way he spoke and wiped her tears away was captivating. Eve couldn't even come up with a reply as she became hyper-aware of the way his calloused palms brushed her soft, quickly heating cheeks. The moment between them was otherworldly, but it was over far too soon.

But much to Eve's embarrassment, when Ronnie dropped his hands, the fiery pink blush remained on her face. "N-No," she whispered shyly. "It's alright." She continued with her work, mind racing and hands a bit less sure than they had been a moment ago. "That's more than most can say. My protection has been the last thing on their minds. They've only wanted to catch my cat."

Finally, she secured the final bit of the bandage and drew back from him. Now that there would be no more interruptions and Ronnie was sufficiently healed for the time being, it was as good a time as any. "I think it's time I tell you the truth about all of this," she whispered.

The blush spreading across Eve's face was, as usual, distracting, but her words about needing to tell him the truth puled him back to the moment.
"Before you do that…" Ronnie kept his voice low. He wasn't trying to upset her or make her mad or in any way hurt her. "Before you do that, I want you to think if you really want to share this with me… We don't have to be together, Eve." He swallowed and quickly moved to clarify. "Not that I wouldn't want to! But-… you deserve the chance to choose. We wouldn't have to tell others, you could always tell them any relationship between us is private if they ask for details, but… I don't want you to feel that me getting ahold of this key means I think I'm entitled to you or that I think you should start spilling secrets and things close to your heart." He looked down, fidgeting. "It's not that I don't want to know, but… there are things you don't know about me that might make you think twice about baring bits of your soul."
Little did he know, the cat was out of the bag, as far as his secrets went.
"So… if you still feel you need to tell me whatever this is, I won't stop you, but… just… know you're not under any pressure to do so. You barely know me, for Tulkas' sake…"

Eve swallowed heavily as Ronnie spoke. Whatever he was about to say… it made her more nervous than it should. She was practically trembling by the time he really began explaining himself.

Her heart broke for him. He still didn't think he was good enough for her. When would he get it? He was more than enough. Far more. She had chosen him. She wanted to be with him.

"You don't understand," she whispered when he was finished. "Not that I would expect you to. Really, no one does. Everyone thinks I've left my fate up to chance by trusting my cat with the key to my home. But there was no luck or chance involved. I've already sworn to myself to reveal my secret to whoever managed to catch my cat."

Slowly, Eve stood and made her way to stand across from him. Her hands shook, but she clutched the skirts of her dress rightly to keep them from doing so. She didn't realize just how nerve-wracking revealing her secret would be. And to someone who already had a prejudice against shapeshifters, no less.

"Ronnie Vale," she whispered. "I chose you. I know far more about you than you think."

Without pausing another second to regret what she was about to do, Eve closed her eyes and shifted. Her human form shrunk and gave way to fur the same color as her honey-blonde hair. And when she was completely finished, her eyes opened again, wide and hazel. Her secret was revealed, and she wasn't sure if she was prepared to deal with whatever came next.

Eve was trembling, and sitting as close a they were, Ronnie could see it. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and make it stop.
But she seemed determined to tell him whatever it was, so all he did was nod as she corrected him.
She stood, and his eyebrows furrowed again, curious.
Her words made his heart jump. What did she mean she'd picked him? Has she trained the cat? He'd have been impressed and flattered.

The truth was much, much less optimistic.

Ronnie was running on little sleep. He was emotionally drained and in physical pain.
So when Eve shape shifted in front of him, there was a moment of abject fear. His face was a mask of terror, for just a second, till his mind shut off and instinct took over.
The soldier's mask fell as his face dropped to dead neutral. No expression was visible as he leapt up and moved backwards, scrambling away from her to make space. His hands moved quickly, searching for weapons he no longer carried. He knocked things over in his haste, and in the tiny time it took Eve to become the cat, he had backed up to the wall and realized he waa unarmed. This was about to be a last stand, and he was ready.

The sight of the cat shook him, and he stood there, staring at her, for a long moment.

Eve watched his reactions closely. She knew what he would think of her, but she also didn't. Would he be hostile? Try to kill her as he'd done to the monstrous beings he'd fought in the war? He didn't seem like it… not until she shifted.

His quick response was expected, but it still hurt as he scrambled to get away from her. Quickly, she shifted back into her human form, hopefully, to put him at ease. Thanks to her magic – the same magic that manipulated the string of her key – her nightgown was still clothing her, so she wasn't naked. Eve was thankful for it now more than ever. Tears pooled immediately in her eyes.

"I've heard everything," she admitted. "Everything you've ever told my cat, you've told me. About your stories from the war and how you wanted to protect me from yourself. Ronnie… I'm so terribly sorry for everything you've been through. No one deserves to endure such agony. You've been through so much, faced so many demons. I swear to Lilith, I only take one other form – that of my cat. I never have tried transforming into anything else. I don't even know if I'm capable.

"If I didn't want you to catch me, I wouldn't have let you. Yes, the competition gave the illusion that my betrothed would be in the fate of an innocent cat, but really, I had control all along. It's why I was so confident about it. You think you're not worthy of me, Ronnie, but I don't think anyone will ever be as worthy as you are. You're genuine, caring, and a thousand other things. I wouldn't have let you catch me if I didn't think that. But if you don't want me now… I'll understand."

The words poured from her lips in a frantic rush, everything she'd wanted to say to him since he'd begun confessing his story to her other form.

When she was finished, Eve finally broke down into full sobs, covering her face with her hands. Maybe if she didn't watch him flee from her, it wouldn't hurt her as deeply. Who was she kidding? It would break her heart whether she watched him leave or not.

Ronnie had to shut his eyes as she shifted back. The transformation was too close to others he'd seen, too triggering to his instinct to kill it, kill it, kill it now! that kept pushing its way forward.
He stared at her, his completely neutral expression slowly morphing as he listened to her explanation, just the tiniest bit of change coming over his face. It went from stony and cold to blank but tinged with sadness. The look in his eyes, in particular, was telling.

He felt betrayed.

He wasn't even really sure why. She'd never said she wasn't something he hated. She hadn't lied, exactly. It was just… Eve was something beautiful, and sweet, and soft, and… just… She couldn't be this… this thing..
She couldn't be a monster.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Eve's sobbing was wrenching at him, but her power was pushing, pushing, and he wasn't sure what to do.
The knock was Romulus, who had heard Ronnie knocking things over in his mad scramble to get his back to the wall. His tall friend was knocking, and quietly asking "Hey, everything ok in there?" It had been quite the night, and now, as the sun started to rise, Romulus was trying to make sure things were fine.

Ronnie looked at Eve for another moment, before swallowing hard and squaring his shoulders. He stepped back to the couch, picked up his shirt and went to the door. Hand on the knob, he paused for a moment, before very quietly saying "I need to think."

And then he was out the door.
…..

Romulus felt the door pull open, and started to ask if they were ok, when Ronnie stepped through, shirtless and looking like he'd seen a ghost. He pulled the door closed, and Romulus didn't have time to check on Eve.
"Everything ok, buddy?"
Ronnie shook his head and stalked off the porch.
"Something wrong? Hey… Hey!" Romulus asked, was ignored, and then stepped off the porch to lay a hand on Ronnie's shoulder. "I can't help you if you won't talk to me."
Ronnie whipped around and jabbed a finger in his tall friend's muscled chest. "Did you know she was one of them?"
Romulus blinked, frowned, and shook his head. "What? Ronnie, I-"
"Did you know Eve was a shapeshifter?" Ronnie's voice was a knife, cutting, sharp, pointed.
Romulus's eyebrows shot up, and he froze. After a moment some things clicked into place, and he drew back. "No, but-… I should have seen it."
Ronnie lowered his hand. "As long as you didn't know. If I thought you'd known, and just hadn't told me while I was losing my heart to her, I-…" He turned, frustrated, his jaw clenched.
"Ronnie… she's not like them." Romulus tipped his head forward, his voice going soft, but intense. "She's a sweet girl, Ronnie, not some flesh-thieving monstros-"
"HOW DO YOU KNOW?" Ronnie whipped around and got back in Romulus's face. "How could you possibly know that??"
Romulus could see the tears pooling in his friend's eyes. He could feel the barely restrained rage, born of confusion, that was radiating from his brother. And all of it softened his response.

"Because she loves you as you love her, Ronnie. No monster is capable of that."

Ronnie drew back, looking at his friend, before spinning on his heel and marching towards the stable of the Blondewood. He needed to get Teben and get going. Thinking was going to be impossible in town.
His words wafted to Romulus over his shoulder. "Keep her safe while I'm gone."

Everything Ronnie did was marked in her mind. Eve didn't miss a flicker of emotion or change in his stance as she watched him and waited for whatever would come next. The sadness in his eyes made her heart drop. But there was something more, beyond just sadness. Betrayal.

Couldn't he see? She wouldn't have been able to announce her abilities. Or the challenge would have been thrown to the wayside. The men would have just come for her, knowing that she and the cat were the same target and therefore the same prize. And Eve didn't want to be seen that way.

Her eyes briefly flickered to the door at the knock, and Romulus' tone made her tense again. What would Ronnie do? Would he stay? Ask questions? Try to learn? Or would he–

Eve's question was answered in a flurry of movement and a quiet mutter. It was after Ronnie was out of sight, when she was frozen by pure grief, that she realized he hadn't even bothered to uphold his promise. He hadn't said goodbye.

Finally, she heard voices outside her door. She hurried over and opened it just a bit in time to see Ronnie demanding to know if Romulus had been aware of her magic. Eve's eyes widened, but she stayed rooted until Romulus defended her. She did! She did love him! Truly and beyond measure! But Ronnie's reply only broke her heart further.

Eve shut the door again and after making sure it was secure, she collapsed to the ground. There, she curled into a ball and began to sob horribly. Of course, the person she fell for, when she finally did fall for someone, was a soldier who had fought against the most wicked, evil ones of her kind and ran from her when she tried to convince him she was nothing like them.

Suddenly, a rush of adrenaline took over her body. It seized control of her, locking up her limbs and molding her body to its will. Her eyes widened and dilated as the writhing emotions in her mind took form through her body.

This had never happened before. Eve was filled with panic and confusion as her soft and supple curves gave way to strengthened muscles and sharp fangs. No no no no no! she thought, trying to shove the emotions away, but it was too late.

The bestial form that stood in place of where Eve had just been was a snarling, maddened creature. But unlike her feline form, Eve had no control over the beast formed by her raging emotions. She was trapped inside the body of the animal as it rampaged through her house, destroying everything in its path, before crashing out the back door and tearing off into the wilderness.

Romulus watched Ronnie go for a moment, before turning and walking back to his spot on the porch. The day had barely started and already he had so much to think about.
He thought he heard a noise from inside Eve's house, but if she was upset, he didn't want to bother her.
A minute later, he heard a noise that was clearly an animal, and then there was a crash as Eve's back door broke. Romulus was on his feet and running, but even in just the split second, the creature was sprinting away.
Romulus watched it for a moment, confused, before turning and noting the door torn off its hinges. "Miss Eve?" He didn't hear a return voice, so he stepped into the house.
It was in a shambles. Eve was nowhere to be found. There was no blood, so the thing hadn't eaten her or anything, but…
Given the info he'd just learned, this was concerning.
Romulus took off running for the stables.
…..

Ronnie marched through the snow, heading towards the stables, and was in the door and at Teben's side before he knew it. Too many thoughts in his head. Too much going on.
He sank to his knees in the stall, and pressed his face into the Warg's fur. Teben gave a soft whine, as if he could feel Ronnie's hurt.

He wasn't sure how long he was there, when he heard heavy footsteps.
"Ronnie! RONNIE!!" It was Romulus again.

"What?" He was done. His big friend meant well, but there was nothing he could say that was going to make Ronnie feel better-

"It's Eve. Something's wrong."

Ronnie's head whipped up, and he got to his feet quickly. "Tell me."
…..

A few minutes later, Beanbelly watched as Ronnie came thundering down the stairs at a jog, all of his stuff tossed over his shoulder. "Son, you don't have to go like this. I don't know what's happened with Eve, but-"

"I have to go, Old Man." Ronnie's voice was urgent, but there was a note of affection in it. "But I'll be back. At some point. This isn't the last you've seen of me." He gave his old friend a smile, before opening the door to the Blondewood and hurrying back to the stables.
Romulus had Teben saddled, and Ronnie leapt into his spot, before reaching down to grip Romulus's forearm. "I'll be back, and so will she." Romulus squeezed his arm, and nodded at him, before letting go to throw open the stall door and the stable gate. Ronnie yelled a command, and Teben took off, sprinting through the snow in the direction Eve had gone.

Romulus watched him go, his feelings mixed, and settled on a prayer to express his thoughts. "Orome and Tulkas, watch over him… and Vana keep her, too."

The creature that had become of Eve ran fast across the land until it reached a forest grove. It slowed down amidst the trees and panted for breath, snarling every few seconds and exhaling puffs of heated air into the cold morning.

It was quite a terrifying sight to behold, and the animals of the woods seemed to quickly recognize that. The beast’s fur was the same as her cat’s, honey-blonde as Eve’s hair. It stood six feet tall with defined muscles and sharpened, glistening fangs.

Eve had never felt rage like this. It terrified her as much as any of the other forest animals. She felt lost to the darkness of her emotions and trapped in the monster’s mind, trying to calm down enough to find a way out.

Meanwhile, the monster relished the control it had taken over the sweet, innocent woman whose heart had been broken far too badly by just one person. It promise her relief, vengeance, and blood.

But Eve didn’t want any of that. This was not how to change Ronnie’s mind about her. While swearing to him that she would never be a monster like those he’d faced before, she had instead only confirmed his fears of her kind. If he discovered her, she would surely be killed. Seeming to sense this, the creature kept walking.

Though when Eve tried to fight against the creature’s influence over her, it snapped back at her and forced her deep into the recesses of its mind. She recoiled there, timid and quiet, waiting for a moment to take back her rightful body and mind. But for now, all she could do was watch in horror.

Ronnie leaned down onto Teben, and the Warg took off for Eve's house. There were clear tracks out the back, so they didn't even bother to stop moving. Teben picked up the scent and stopped bothering with the tracks, though they definitely helped Ronnie keep track of where they were headed.

He didn't like how big they were, of the claws they were so obviously tipped with, but. It was similar to what Romulus had said.
Eve had been very clear that she didn't know if she could turn into anything else. She was just a girl or a cat. So whatever this was had to be new… or she was lying to him.

And of all the options, Eve hadn't lied to him yet.

So Ronnie assumed she'd been telling the truth, and that something about the night had brought this on. The stress, the rejection maybe… in any case, he had several responsibilities here.
He had a responsibility to the town, to get after this beast and keep it from hurting people.
He had a responsibility to Eve, to try to get her back into town and safe in her own skin again.
He had a responsibility to his training, to subdue shapeshifting monsters.
He had a responsibility to himself, to go after the girl he loved.
And this was how he was going to try to fulfill that.

The creature eventually stilled and flopped to the ground with a loud huff. It was resting, replenishing it’s energy after the fierce sprint from Eve’s house and the energy it had used to take over her body and force it to shift. While it lay there, it kept alert and ready, just in case anything would come against it. The monster inside Eve had finally surfaced, and it wouldn’t go back down without a fight.

Inside, Eve felt as though she was being smothered by the presence of the her bestial form. It only made her guilt grow. She’d just told Ronnie her only assumed form had been her small, agile tabby cat. Now, here she was, a terrifying beast bent on bloodlust and revenge. She prayed that Ronnie would be alright, but the presence of the creature snapped at her once more. It was painful, somehow, but not to her body. No, this battle was solely in her mind.

Suddenly, the beast lifted its head, sniffed the air, and bared its teeth. Something was coming, and fast. It snarled as it rose to its feet, then let out a long roar to keep whoever was coming at bay. If they were still stupid enough to fight against it after that, the creature would rip them to shreds before Eve’s eyes.

Then, almost taunting, it pivoted on its heels again and broke into another incredibly fast sprint away from the town. It vanished within minutes.

Days, later, the creature still prowled the outskirts of the town. Occasionally, it would get close enough and roar loudly to terrify the people before bolting away again. Rumors began to spread, especially since none had seen Miss Eve since the creature appeared. Many thought it had devoured the poor woman whole. Some said it had taken her and was keeping her captive back at its own home. But a few stray people believed that Eve and the creature were one in the same.

Meanwhile, Eve was steadily growing tired and unable to think properly while inside the beast’s mind. It had evaded capture for days on end and been unwilling to shift back, so she had been stuck within its twisted mind. She didn’t know if she could take another day. Soon, she’d be craving liberation from a fate worse than death.

But for now, she tried to find a reason to hold out hope. Ronnie would come for her… right? He still loved her… didn’t he? The doubts in her mind were mad worse by the monster’s seemingly endless anger, and she began to go insane.

It was dawn a week after the key had been claimed and Eve had disappeared when the creature decided to get a bit closer to town than normal. Play its game a bit more recklessly now that it was enjoying Eve’s inner torment. It padded across the snow, huffing quietly and baring its sharp teeth. Maybe today, it would finally soothe its bloodlust.

There was a roar, a snarl up ahead, and Teben redoubled his speed. Ronnie caught just the slightest glimpse of what he thought the creature might be, and then it was gone.

They pursued the beast for a week.

At times, they were within line-of-sight. They could see the beast. A couple times, as the creature had rested, Ronnie had sighted down his bow and set up a shot.
The first shot, the creature had heard the arrow whistling, and had dodged. Ronnie had quickly sighted another one in, but it was too late.
The next day, he'd repeated the stunt. Except this time, it was in daylight, and he could see the color of the creature's fur more clearly. The same color as Eve's lovely hair…
And it was that thought that had stopped him from firing. He couldn't shoot the beast, even knowing what it was. What it could do.
Knowing who it was made it too hard.

So they worked on getting closer. A few times, he and Teben had managed to surprise it, but they were used to working in squads, and it was hard to surround an animal when there was only one unit. There hadn't really been a chance for close-quarters combat yet.

They took to patrolling the outer edges of Tol Galen, making sure the farmers were taken care of. The shifter's roars could be heard echoing off the hills, and the townspeople were likely agitated.
Ronnie hadn't been back, so he didn't know. He'd been living out here, just he and Teben and whatever was left of Eve.
He was convinced, the more he watched the behavior of the creature, that Eve was not in control. There was nothing remotely rational about the beast's actions, and certainly nothing that would suggest there was a human in there.

It really was a monster.

And as the week went on, Ronnie realized that unless Eve was just an exceptional liar, somehow, he had brought this out of her. And so try as he might… he couldn't find it to keep being mad at her. This was his fault. The whole situation was his fault. Of all the men, she'd picked him, and he had this problem that might keep them from being able to be together, which… was clearly a problem for her, too.
So how to fix the issue…. he wasn't sure. But it certainly had to start with getting Eve back.

At the end of that week, at dawn, Teben woke Ronnie by nudging him with his large, wet nose. Ronnie rolled to his feet and looked around. "What is it, fella?" Teben pawed his leg, and then tossed his head towards town. Ronnie looked, but couldn't see anything. Still, he trusted his Warg, so he climbed in the saddle. "Let's go then."

Teben took off, and soon, Ronnie could see why the Warg had been urgent. The beast was close to town, much too close, but also…
It had backed itself into a corner. A thick stand of beech trees stood between it and the town, and if Ronnie timed it right, he could herd it into that grove, and finally, finally confront this thing.

They circled carefully, and after a few minutes were on the right side to do what they'd planned. Teben let loose a hoarse bark as he charged through the snow, breaking loose from the underbrush, and Ronnie yelled as they ran down the beast. It had two options.
Either tussle with them right here, right now, or run into that grove. Either way, he got what he wanted.

The monster continued in its path, approaching the town and preparing to take its revenge on the people who had so wronged its hosting mistress. They’d driven her to this anger, all of them. Especially Ronnie Vale. He would get the worse of the creature’s anger, and hopefully its fangs. It growled low in the back of its throat, and inside, Eve was far too exhausted to care. She was fading after being stuck in the vicious mind of her bestial for an entire week now. Whatever the outcome, she barely recognized it.

But suddenly, a Warg and its rider came out of nowhere. The creature was clearly taken off guard and scrambled back with snapping jaws and glaring eyes. But as it became surrounded by the grove of trees, it quickly realized what had happened to it. So it growled louder and prepared itself to fight.

Eve’s vision through the monster’s eyes was vague and hazy. She couldn’t see or think clearly. If she didn’t shift back soon, she’d loose her sanity.

Teben was a good bit bigger than the creature, but Ronnie had also made sure to tell his mount not to kill the thing. As they got up close, Ronnie could tell his reasoning for this was sound.
Eve wasn't in control, at all.
He had kinda hoped not. If Eve was in the driver's seat this whole time, that meant she was not only a liar, but just kind of a bad person. But if she was locked behind some kind of animal mind, then…
Then this thing wasn't really Eve. The monster wasn't the same as his sweet girl. She wasn't a beast…
At least, he was desperately trying to convince himself that was true. And that he could maybe handle that. Maybe.

Tnings to think about later. Right now, he had a clear objective.
Get this thing to go away and Eve to come back.
Teben charged in, backing the beast into the grove, and Ronnie took a flying leap off his Warg's back. He landed and rolled forward, coming up on the beast's left side as Teben came at his right.

He drew his tomahawk and steeled his nerves.

The beast didn't have a choice as the larger Warg forced it backward. However, it wouldn't go down without a fight. It snarled and snapped at Teben, not caring for the Warg's larger size. The creature swiped out with its claws, but its movement was oddly uncoordinated.

When the rider separated from his Warg, the monster's hazel eyes flashed with rage. It realized quickly that the man in question was the one its anger had sourced from – Ronnie Vale. It braced itself and let out a loud roar before shifting its weight back in preparation to pounce.

But suddenly, behind the monster's eyes, Eve looked through. Her seemingly consistent fear faded at the sight of Ronnie. So, with all her remaining effort, she forced the creature her emotions had become to hesitate. It was enough to distract it, confuse it. Why, all of a sudden, had it been made to stop? Wasn't Eve angry with Ronnie? Didn't she want to make him suffer as she had after his rejection?

No! Eve thought, summoning as much strength as she could to lash back at the beast. Maybe with the opening, Ronnie and his Warg could do something.

Teben was able to stay out of reach easily, his main job being to keep the creature contained. He'd always been good at the herding aspect of the job. Tracking, herding, intimidating- those were his roles.
Ronnie was the killer.

Ronnie circled just a little, looking for an opening. The beast was tired, and all he needed was for it to make a mistake.
It lunged, but seemed off, like it was hesitating to finish the attack, and that was all Ronnie needed.
He moved like quicksilver, flashing into the opening left by the beast's confusion, and clocked it in the head with his tomahawk. It was the kind of blow he'd used to split skulls wide open before.

Except this time, he used the back of the blade, rather than the edge.

The thick block of metal connected, and rather than cutting, had the same effect as a hammer on an anvil. Ronnie wound up, unsure if he'd need to hit the thing again to drop it or not.