[M] Be Mine or You Will Burn

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Word Count: [000]	Form: Optime	Date: DD/MM/YY	Time: 00 AM/PM
The dark furred behemoth wandered about the region alone. It had been several days since the giant's inner demon had returned to it's slumber, the beast laying dormant somewhere just below the surface, coiling itself into a black pit of rot and decay around the man's soul, eating away at it until all that remained was a shell surrounding what had come to be thought of by many as a monster. The moon had gone through a complete cycle since the day that Greed had so kindly asked the male to leave, and since then, the beast had unleashed hell on earth, and tormented the mans soul. He was out of control, and he knew it, but he was so, desperately alone. Wolves were social creatures, caring for and protecting the ones that were close to them, yet one way of another, the behemoth beast knew that he always had, and he always would, find himself alone. Perhaps his solitude was some sort of retribution from the gods for abandoning his birth pack and cursing his family name, or perhaps it was the sins he had committed while under the rule of his father, but one thing now was certain; that whatever the cause, the sins he had accumulated thus far would never be cleaned of him, lest his own blood be spilled. He knew it, deep down, and still something deep inside the dark pits of his heart urged him to live on, to keep pushing forward, to keep sinning. He wanted to ignore it. He ventured as close to their territory claim as he dared, he knew where the patrol routs were and he stayed beyond those borders, but still he somehow felt like he was close to them. As the scarred up male wandered, one of the crystalline lakes came into view through the trees, and then, a silhouette, dark and light, shrouded in an energy that he knew apart from any other. River... The male spoke, his voice a relieved sigh as he breathed her name, wanting to get closer as he approached, his tail swaying slowly, wanting to finally have a moment with someone who he knew had cared about him, who he thought hadn't wanted him to leave.
Lux Einar Nothing really matters. Anyone can see, Nothing really matters to me.

Table by Kitty. Edits by Nuki. Image from DepositPhotos.

Her days were spend in a shroud of darkness and uncertainty. The only comfort she found was in the darkness of the demon that embraced her and accepted her without question. She fed like a newborn from his dark energy and allowed it to fuel her desire and drive. She knew, at heart, that she couldn't keep depending him to lead the way. Their views on the world were growing different and they were growing apart. Where she once prided him, she now shunned him in times of overwhelming emotion and fear. His grasp was strong though, and he continued to inspire her with his darkness.

River spent a lot of time around The Order's camp, never entering, but simply roosting beyond their line of patrol. She watched as they interacted, longing to feel like part of something. They were her family. Her father no longer looked at her the way he once did. She knew Greed worried, but yet he did nothing to help her. How could he? She pushed him away every time. Still, she reached for anyone that might lend her the attention she acquired. It would always end up being the young Abaddon who did not fear her or push her away. He was curious about her and she the same to him. He knew about Kalfou, saw him, felt him, and still he would give her the time of day.

A long sigh drew from the stormy witches lips as she turned away from the camp. Her eyes landed on the large shadow of her behemoth in the distance, Lux. He stood farther away, hesitant to come close, and for good reason. If The Order saw him here, there's no doubt he would cause a riot. River walked to meet him, hips and tail swaying gently as she did so. It was comforting to see him, as he was now, his demon laying dormant for the time being. Lux... She breathed when he was in arm's reach, and she let herself fall against his strong mid section. They make it hard to live. She stated simply, knowing he would understand the struggle all the same. Seeing them continue life, happy and smiling, made it hard to live alone. She knew they hated her. River nuzzled her self into him, breathing in the comforting scent of blood off his form.

We should go, before they see you. Her head lifted, and mismatched eyes gazed up at him, pleading. She wasn't ready for him to go. She'd help keep him away for as long as she could, trying to save him from their righteous blades.

The dark beast lingered at the edge of a clearing, always now on the outside, ever looking in. The place with which his attention lay was a camp, full of old friends, those who had loved him once, those who still did, his loyal son, and those who had always despised the beast for his nature. It was a bittersweet mix, and knowing that those who now despised him held the power over those who needed their protection made it all the more painful for him.

After all, the man who now stood in control of the demon that resided deep within himself felt that in some twisted way, his condemned soul was innocent. After all, it hadn't been him who had killed all those people, yet he still payed for it, and he knew that even his son, who lived in the camp, was not immune to the sins of the father.

But none of that would stop him from lingering, from pining from the outside for those that he deeply missed. The man, even in his injured, scarred state, was strong of body, though his mind was in shambles, even as the one he now watched had spotted him, and approached with the same poise that the demon had known her to possess, slender body swaying tantalizingly as she moved towards him, her dark energy crackling like static through the fur of his slumbering demons as she reached out to touch him. As she did though, large scabbed hands caked with his own dried blood moved to encircle her graceful form, and he pulled her against him. "You're right." He replied in a solemn tone.

The wolf very much knew, even in his sickened mind, that the blade of justice demanded retribution be paid in his blood. "Let's go somewhere." He smiled at her, not the malicious, twisted grin of someone reveling in the pain and torment that drove their lives, but one of a sad man with nothing left to lose save his own life. He drew a hand towards her hip, letting the over large appendage rest there as he turned, and they moved deeper into the woods, where the eyes of judgement would not find them.

Even though what the behemoth had done when his own demons took control, she still found comfort in Lux's embrace. The deeds his demon committed sickened her, made her stomach churn, but she knew more than anyone that someone could not be defined by their demons. River would always look the other way and accept him fully. It was a shame The Order could not, would not, do the same. They were family after all. Whatever family meant, River could barely grasp the concept now.

Relief and profound sorrow found her when Lux agreed. It meant he felt the same way, it meant her feelings were not just an over exaggeration but that they were true. The Order would see them burn if it meant keeping this land safe. Luckily for River, she was not perceived as a threat by The Order. Greed maybe saw her as one, but the rest of them looked the other way. She wasn't sure she saw that as a good thing though. Did it mean she was a coward? She pushed Kalfou away when he had been here for her from the beginning. She looked the other way when Lux killed, when she could be showing her support by helping him. She was guilty in so many ways. It was confusing, tormenting, but she would keep doing it until this all played out, uncertain to what was right.

River threw a look over her shoulder as Lux guided her away, then rested her head on his muscular arm. Let's go to my hide away. It's quiet, nobody knows it's there. As for their shed, since Greed found it and fought Lux off to protect her, it was no longer a safe spot for them to be.

One the same token, taking Lux to her own personal camp may not have been a smart choice. What happened when he lost himself to his demon again? Something in her gut told her this was unwise, but she would not allow him to live his life alone, in exile. It was a life that not one soul on this earth deserved. This was her obligation to him, because she cared, and because somehow she knew the way this story came to an end.

The giant demon-tainted man fixed his one good eye upon the younger female as they exchanged words briefly, and when the both of them had come to the same conclusion, that they ought to move away and find somewhere to hide for the moment they would be together, lest the order sense him and rally their forces to drive the monster away once again, he saw in her something that might have been sadness.

There was a deep guilt seeded somewhere within the tainted man, for what he had done to her, having her rely on him and come to him for companionship, only to inevitably be removed from her life. It wasn't his choice to leave her, but he knew regardless that it would be so.

He nodded and breathed a gruff sound of agreement as the female suggested they go to her hideaway, nothing would happen to them there, no one could come and tear them apart this night, and for once, everything might turn out alright at the end of the night, he thought, walking with his arm around her, and her head resting on him. It was peaceful, it was kind, two feelings that the demon of a man had not experienced in too long.

When they inevitably arrived at the place that the two-tone Grim would lead them, Lux detached himself from her lightly and smiled in a painful way down at her, brushing her hair aside. "Pretty as ever, aren't you?" The wolf murmured in his gravely rich tone, a beast such as he didn't deserve to be in her company, yet he craved it all the same.

They came to a stop at her makeshift home. Lux released her from his grasp and she lightly stepped away, looking up to meet that one glowing sun that told of nothing but pain. Her brow wrinkled in sorrow, but she smiled up at him anyways. One of his large hands came to brush some of her messy, wavy, blood stained locks out of her face. His touch was warm and inviting. It was times like these where it was easy to forget what a monster he could become.

Yes. She agreed with a sweet giggle. She knew she was beautiful. It was one of the biggest weapons in her dangerously small arsenal. River lifted up on her tippy toes to place a kiss on Lux's cheek. Don't look at me like that, okay handsome? She demanded kindly, although she really wished there wasn't always so much pain in his eyes. They both knew what road they traveled down, they both knew how it could end. Still, there was no need for mourning, not yet anyways.

River spun away and ran to her small abode. She spun playfully and then came to a stop before the ragged house, arms spreading to showcase the home she made. Ta-da! I made it, from old pelts and cloth. Half of it is the remainder of an old structure, the perfect base. Well, come on. River smiled impishly over at Lux before entering the makeshift home. Part of it was the remnants of an old brick structure. There was some wooden beams remaining that held up her pelts and cloth to create the rest of the home. On the outside, hung herbs, left out to dry for use. There were also the hides of prey animals she'd already consumed and sacrificed the hearts of.

From inside you could hear River shuffling about. I'll start a fire! She shouted, adding some tinder to her fire pit before adding the flame by means of flammable rocks hit together to make a spark. It took about a dozen tries before a flame finally began to flicker in the center of the pit, lined by large rocks. In the corner, some larger pelts were laid out to make a sizable bed. A lot of those pelts were provided by Abaddon, and Greed despite his distaste in her choices. Around the fire were ingredients for her summons. There was her book, a wooden bowl with dried blood, and the remainder of an old summoning circle. The fire would still smell like sage, which she used to keep Kalfou at bay when she couldn't handle him any longer.

What do you think? River questioned, when Lux made his way inside. He would probably have to bend down to come inside and stay on his knees to be comfortable.