With gnashing teeth, matted fur and claws poised for slashing, the creature now trailing ichor on the carpet coughed out a growl. It’s heavy presence, while out of place in a house, cut an athletic presence. Made even more unpleasant to look at due the chunks of viscera stuck to its fur.

Its warped, blackened eyes were trained on Kir, baring its fangs in a show of aggression. These creatures, while similar in vein to other cursed beings, attracted more ire from the larger magical community. In large part due to their brutality, though often they were unwilling participants. It was said to gaze upon one is to look upon the greatest perversion of magic itself seen since its inception. However, philosophical interpretations of nature aside, the creature was now positioned to attack, its right arm rearing for a strike.

Somewhat preemptively, Kir leaped to the side before the attack was even made. Though through the beast's speed, it was still able to leave three distinct nicks cut through Kir’s sleeve, letting his blood. The reason for it’s presence in this once innocuous home was still a matter of debate, but one to be left until after it was no longer a threat. Of course he had his theories but they could wait . Kir scrambled to his feet, his hand now pressed against his wound. He looked to Amber, understanding escape wasn’t an option. The monster reared back for a second attack as Kir yelled.

“Wait, stop! ” Kir cried in a desperate plea.

He placed his wounded arm up instinctively, and channeled as much mana into his barely completed spell as possible. Though definitely not worth the mana cost, it stifled the creature for a moment, sending it back a step. While the creature was dazed Kir rushed around its side trying to grab its attention. Amber was still very much incapacitated on the couch, though the being seemed to maintain its tunnel vision on Kir, unaware of her presence.

There was one more thing he could think of to stagger it for a moment longer, though it was a considerable risk. Yet much to Kir’s surprise it only took the creature shaking off the daze and preparing to pounce to make up his mind. With as much strength as he could muster, Kir went to pounce first, gripping the creature's ears and hastily muttering an elvish incantation. Kir winced while preparing for the spell, praying for a pair of earplugs. As the creature was about to throw off his grip, the incantation was completed, forcing a deafening scream borne from Kir’s hands. The explosion of noise sent the beast into a fit of howling, grabbing for its ears.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, Kir made a dash for Amber, scooping her up with a previously unfound strength and rushing over to the door. But as he fumbled with the lock, the beast recovered from the distraction, preparing to gore the man now holding another human in his arms. The mutt hadn’t noticed that second person before. Where did she come from? The creature glared at her with a familiarity in his eye. A moment passed as the bloodlust once clouding his vision gave way to rational thought.

Kir, noticing the change in demeanor let out a sigh as his hastily concocted theory was proven true. The beast’s physique began to crack and peel, decreasing in stature and grotesquely warping. Kir did his best to ignore the transformation while moving Amber back to the couch, wanting to hold in what little contents he had in his stomach.

The figure, now entirely human, bore a resemblance to the man pictured in framed photographs around the house. He panted heavily, ready to apologise for his violence but was caught off guard as Kir neglected to acknowledge the transformation and focused his gaze elsewhere.

They both remained silent, the man pulling on some clothes he had within a nearby cupboard as Kir struggled to ensure Amber was comfortable. An uncomfortable air began to settle between the two of them, realising what had just occurred. The man took a seat in an adjacent leather chair as they both struggled for something to say, both nursing their wounds. Andrew himself, was a relatively tall and well built individual, even when taking into consideration his condition. He seemed relatively well groomed, save for a thick stubble and heavy arm hair.

“Is she ok?” Andrew finally yielded. Kir looked from her to the man now resting gently. He struggled for something to say, something unusual was festering in his chest.

“No”

“Where did you find her?” Andrew asked, his tone shifting at Kir’s candour.

“Bluelake” Kir answered, shifting his eyes as Andrew tried to meet them.

“I see” His response downcast.

There were gaps of silence between each question and answer, neither being ready nor comfortable to address each other. A gleam came across Kir’s eyes as a consideration came to the forefront.

“Where were you looking?” He asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice. Andrew shifted at the question.

“I was...busy” He responded, now unable to meet Kir’s gaze.

“I’m sorry you were what?” Kir demanded, a tone of disdain rising in his voice.

“How long since you’ve seen her?” continuing to interrogate. Andrew failed to respond.

“How long?” He pushed, his voice raising slightly. It took a moment for the answer to finally come.

“A week”

“Hm I see, a week” Kir offered in manufactured understanding “So Amber was missing for a week and you just sat on your ass wondering where she was?” The disgust dripped from each word.

“I was..” Andrew went to respond, but something in Kir snapped.

“No, shut up! Shut the fuck up!” Now standing, glaring a hole through what he considered lower than dirt. He was shouting now, he hadn’t even raised his voice since he was a teenager. All his eloquence, diluted and gone, in place of it, rage.

“Your girlfriend disappears off the face of the earth and you, a werewolf of all things, sit around jerking off!”

Andrew went to defend himself but was interrupted again.

“You don’t say another fucking word! You’re supposed to be the boyfriend! You’re supposed to look after her, after each other! But instead I find her facedown snorting Pixie Dust in a crack den!”

Andrew's face went grave at the mention of such a drug, but wasn’t able to say even a word against Kir.

“At no point do you think ‘hm the woman I love and cherish hasn’t texted or called me in a while, maybe I should check on her?’! Instead, you’re off sniffing a bulldog's anus while the one thing that actually matters is dying slowly and alone!”. Kir refused to relent, now standing over Andrew like a god passing judgement on a pitiful follower.

“Because she was alone. Alone and wondering why the two men she spends the majority of her time selflessly looking after, haven’t even sent her a courtesy text!” Kir stood stolid at the realisation, now panting and poised as if to hit someone. The hatred in his voice now turned to utter self-disgust.

“This is my fault too” he mumbled, slumping back onto the couch taking his head in his hands.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had sent her a text asking how she was or starting the conversation himself. And it took her almost lifeless body now resting peacefully for him to realise that. The two sat unspeaking once again, neither knowing what to say next. The air had settled as Kir struggled to regain his composure, the anger now being eclipsed by guilt. Andrew finally opted to break the silence.

“She loved you, you know”

Kir flinched at the use of past tense but didn’t respond.

“Sometimes I think… more than she loved me”

The comment while possibly intended to be supportive just let the guilt fester deeper. The two returned to silence, through it eventually reaching a tacit understanding of shared fault.

“Why weren’t you looking for her?” The anger was gone, for the moment they just had to lay it all out. Andrew took a deep breath.

“I contract as an arcano-smith. Recently some of my coworkers have gone missing. They had been making complaints about odd people approaching them for work, only to disappear after a couple days. My old pack brother insisted I lay low for a few days and wouldn’t take no for an answer but” Andrew looked over to Amber “I didn’t think this would happen”.

Andrew's eyes lingered on Amber for a moment before returning his attention to Kir.

“Do you know what your co-workers were being asked to make?” Kir’s curiosity got hold of him, Hoping it might be somewhat relevant to the mysterious events that had been occurring of late.

“No, but from what I heard they were all asking for unrelated mana circuitry”.

“I see” A dead end it would seem, Kir began to attempt to put together the pieces but his thoughts were interrupted.

“How did she get ahold of that stuff anyway? I wouldn’t even know where to start looking”

Kir shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m really not sure, but it’s killing her”

“Do you know anyone who can fix her?” The distress in Andrew’s voice conflicted with his stoic appearance.

Once again Kir shook his head. He searched his memories to any available people that might have any idea but drew a blank. Of course he could ask Sirani if he had any contacts in this area, but it seemed unlikely. And Kir couldn’t imagine Sirani would be overjoyed after the incident with Lyra. That said, at this point there wasn’t much of a choice.

“There’s someone I can ask but I’m not optimistic”.

The two nodded gravely as Kir stood to leave. He activated his arcane sight, hoping what he had seen was simply a consequence of poor spellcraft but was disappointed to see her aura demonstrably damaged. At the very least for the moment, the decay had slowed to a crawl.

“Keep anything even slightly magical away from her”

Andrew responded with a single nod, taking Kir’s spot next to her and beginning to move the hair out of her face. As Kir reached the door Andrew stopped him.

“You’re not gonna report me are you?”

Kir’s eyes moved between the two resting on the couch, then left without a response.