the beast is unrelenting.

straggling folk, forced from the safety of their homes are met by one which despises them. hatred does not comprehend innocence. neither does it comprehend mercy. some have been left injured, some have been left lifelessly dwelling beneath the arch. 

two unsuspecting gym leaders would find them.

beyond the few groveling folk, there is one shrouded by the shadows. nearby selby takes his pick at one who had originally sought comfort in their once peaceful surroundings. crunch finishes the job with an unsightly shower of blood pouring onto the tall grass. the hunger in his eyes desiring more.

"selby," the man calls out, staring off into the waters, "get ready. more will come." grisly scenes of death do not rattle him. it is the work none find enjoyment in and the work that he does best. 

especially for one with no human heart. 

the best withdraws from the corpse, staring at the other with the same intense malice. he might have even felt tempted to indulge but instead, faces the blue with cold red eyes. indifferent and bored. 

cait alfric arian coin

mateo martinez - jayde cross

selby had been watching. 

the hellish beast foretold of in legends for its vile intent never obeyed. rather than friend or foe those fierce red eyes depicted an equal. there was never an ounce of restraint. 

his life had been bound by chains and the disgust which wavered in the looming humans. but jayde was different rather — he was the same. one innocent soul mistreated by the world around him. only to have found solace in what would've likely killed. 

instead it had not.

selby is familiar with bloodshed. the hunt is his instinct and as such, he regards no shame. long strands of the earth shudder in the faint breeze. it carries a murky scent in the nearby river. 

approaching humans and pokemon cannot see him. greenery has kept the watchful obscured while jayde flounders somewhere to the side. blocked by a pillar supporting the towering bridge above, shifting water overwhelms distant chatter. 

the beast continues. attention lingering upon the girl with an odd sense of familiarity. he can feel the answer nearly a hair away, but it disappears before it can be reached. 

changing position, selby, makes himself known. the silver of those jagged horns catches the faint light as he glares at the group. blood is evident against the tanned snout, the indication clearly made. 

when jayde turns over, hoping to catch sight of the dog, he sees something far more worse. it nearly impels him to step forth but instead he remains hidden on the sidelines. watching and waiting. 

cait alfric arian coin

jayde cross  - mateo martinez

the hesitation seethes like torrid waters, flooding outwards till there is no more. selby, not fazed the slightest by the retaliation of grumbling threats, poises himself tall and equally menacing. 

nasty plot is not regarded for the wicked reflection has always settled within his mind. when he considers the beginning of an advance, there is a voice which breaks clearly through.

piercing and familiar.

"relax." he says, his voice rough and figure unruffled with what stood before them. "don't you know it's bad to disturb a hunt." flaring gold catches mateo in those emotionless eyes. he forces himself to look at miss alfric, furrowing his brows upon the connection.

"humans make them like this and then, when they've had enough, they kill them." there is a hint of anger in his voice. selby perceives the feeling and expands the low rumble from within his throat.

"tear it apart? don't kill it?" for the sake of the familiar, he does not confront her, "you'd better watch your words." human life was fickle to the terrorist that stood before them, but the warning, just as genuine bared into them. 

cait alfric arian coin

jayde cross  - mateo martinez

not the reaction they'd been expecting.

selby and jayde blink onward, astonished and confused all at once in the conversation. the spotlight had certainly settled upon them yet, the true desire settled elsewhere. as if they were no longer present. 

'what the hell is a wikipedia page? some sort of newspaper?' not familiar with the internet to some degree, he found himself ensnared by the ramble before quickly breaking out. 

startled that it had even occurred. 

"forget it." jayde says, the heaviness of a sigh following behind, "our work here is already done. i could care less about these people." one tanned hand ruffles strands, laced by the pigments of red. 

the beast growls, as if frustrated by the shift but not willing to end up on bitter terms with the man that had given him a home. what had once been the limbo of hell itself, turned into the tall grass. 

cait alfric arian coin