Evening Hunt [Abel, Open]

[PS113C "ABEL"]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 490px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/yeguilty/abelbackground2copy-1.jpg); background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 5px groove #223344; background-color: #000000, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 10px 60px 10px 10px;] The purist of happiness...

[atrb=style, padding: 1px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Abel began to calm down, and started to regain his composure. Being in this much water was a first for him... but as long as his feet could touch the bottom, he should be fine. He gripped his sleeve, by the hole that it was made from the gun shot, careful to avoid the wound. He ripped off the sweater's sleeve and tied a makeshift bandage out around his arm. All the while, he began to make steps away from Cain, who was paddling awkwardly towards him. With the rather large fish Remnant flailing around with its injuries, Cain had to go around it to reach him... Abel moved along through the water, the long way around the Remnant. He didn't dare get to close to it. Its massive jaws snapped wildly as it struggled in the water, dealing with its injuries. Being able to reach the floor, made it so he was faster than Cain and could out maneuver him like this. Still, once they got on land, he'd lose his advantage. It was difficult to tie the bandage on, while in the water, especially with one hand, but he managed. After he had, and had gotten a little closer to shore, he stopped and turned back towards Cain. He knew what he had to do. At the same time, he had to keep an eye out for more aquatic remnants, but the fog of the lake made that difficult. When he looked down at the water's surface, all he saw was a mirror. A predator could have been right next to him for he knew. He was practically surrounded. Every second that he wasn't attacked was a god's send.

[atrb=style, padding: 0px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Some things, cannot be forgiven.

[#PS129B "CAIN"]

How Do You Sleep At Night?

♠ Treading through the water awkwardly as he struggled to avoid both the flailing, injured Remnant and keep his eye on Abel though the mist, Cain strained to keep his feline body afloat. He knew how to almost instinctively, but this was the first time he'd really swam. It was a bit frightening - he could no longer feel the ground with his paws, much less with the thought that more aquatic Remnants or creatures could spring out at him at any moment. He gave another hiss, partially in an attempt to clear water from his mouth and nostrils.

♠ Abel seemed to be moving somewhat slowly, appearing to be trying to put a makeshift bandage around his wound, but Cain still struggled to keep up, having to paddle with all the muscle his body had in order to cut through the cold liquid. The other New Child seemed to be heading for shore, though... If he could chase him there, then maybe...

♠ Trying to get as close as he could, he started flailing with his own claws. It only slowed his already awkward motion even more so, but he reached out for his foes' feet, trying to swipe at him. If he couldn't reach him, he hoped it'd at least drive him faster towards the shore. Cain wanted to get out of the lake as quickly as possible, being surrounded by water making his heart pound heavily beneath his heavy, soaked fur.

[PS113C "ABEL"]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 490px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/yeguilty/abelbackground2copy-1.jpg); background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 5px groove #223344; background-color: #000000, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 10px 60px 10px 10px;] The purist of happiness...

[atrb=style, padding: 1px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Cain was getting close... too close. As awkward as Cains swimming was, he was still a panther and the predator beast seemed to inflict a natural fear into Abel that even he found it hard to resist. He backed away as quickly as he could, avoiding Cain's claws in the process, even though he couldn't see them below the waters. With his bandage secured, and him getting closer to shore, he could move much more easily now. But when Cain got onto land, his movements would become even more so frightening. Abel had to make his stand now, when he had the advantage. He gripped his right hand into a fist. He could feel the muscles in his good arm begin to tense. He could take confidence in this strength, in his power, and in his training. With that confidence, he overcame the fear that was put him. The look in his eyes shifted as this change came over him, and he forced himself to grin. He really did not feel like smiling, but he wanted to be able to, so badly, and he was capable of it. He was also capable of making his stand. He stayed just out of Cain's reach. As a human, his arms were longer, and so he had the reach advantage. He was in control here... he had better footing, he was faster, and he had the reach advantage. Complete control. He dug his feet in, suddenly and threw out a right straight. It started at the toes. He dug his right foot deep into the ground, with his powerful leg pushing himself towards Cain. His left knee rose up, placing his left foot forward to catch his weight. As he planted it, Cain's claws caught it, digging into his thigh near the knee. The pain was immense, but Abel fought through it. He twisted at the waist with his toned abs, turning his upper torso. His chest, back, and shoulder muscles threw his right arm forward, while his left arm swung backwards and his neck and head leaned forward to add even more momentum. At the same time, the muscles in his right arm extended and trusted out his fist forward. All of this was one fluid motion, called a punch. Truly a real punch was a full bodied movement that called out all of the strength a person had in once instant. His fist cut through the water with great speed and power, throwing it p as he struck his fist towards Cain. His punch was angled upwards slightly, to compensate for the shape of the panther's body.

[atrb=style, padding: 0px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Some things, cannot be forgiven.

[#PS129B "CAIN"]

How Do You Sleep At Night?

♠ Cain growled in frustration. Abel seemed to always remain just out of reach of his swiping claws, the panther slicing through nothing but water as he continually reached out and swatted. The awkward movements made his nose dip into underneath the surface almost each time, as well, only irritating him even more as he gasped for air. He just needed keep on the other New Child's heals until they reached the shore...then he'd have the advantage again.

♠ But then the man stopped, an odd smile returning to his face. Confused, Cain gave another hiss, trying to force him forward, but he didn't move. Instead, he balled his hand into a fist, but the leopard didn't quite realize that fast enough before it was slamming right towards him.

♠ As he startled, he felt his still moving claws finally catch the man's leg beneath the water, but that wasn't enough to throw off the punch. The man's fist connected with his torso with a frightening force that knocked out all the air the feline had been struggling for from his lungs. He gave an agonized yowl as the force threw him backwards, momentarily sliding above the surface of the water before crashing back down, back first. And this time his body didn't stop at the surface.

♠ For a few brief, frightening moments, he was completely submerged, his head surrounded by water as air left his breath in the form of bubbles. Absolutely terrified, his heart started pounding faster than he knew possible as his lungs started tightening, and he let out a few soundless yowls that only served to lessen his remaining breath. His limbs flailed, moving in panicked motions as he fought to right himself. His mind blank with terror, he had to force himself to keep struggling, to keep reaching for the glassy light of the surface despite the new pain coursing through his body.

♠ And then his head broke the waterline, oxygen once again making it to his lungs. The animal gasped and let out a few, still panicked hisses and moans. He wanted to run. He wanted to get out of the water as quickly as possible. But then he turned towards Abel, letting out an enraged yowl. His mind was still swarming with shock and his body throbbed painfully where he'd been hit, but he still tried to surge forwards, both claws outstretched as he dragged them above the surface, trying to bring them down on the man.

♠ He didn't want to give up. He didn't want to fail. But he didn't have much more fight left in him. If this went on much longer, he'd have no other choice but to run.

[PS113C "ABEL"]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 490px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/yeguilty/abelbackground2copy-1.jpg); background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 5px groove #223344; background-color: #000000, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 10px 60px 10px 10px;] The purist of happiness...

[atrb=style, padding: 1px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Abel's leg was scratched deeply, another bleeding wound, but by fighting through the pain he had sent his foe away through the water. He pulled on the last sleeve of his sweater, and reached down to tie up his leg with another makeshift bandage. He struggled to keep his head above water as he did, but he managed to do it with both hands. As he did he couldn't help but notice Cain struggling in the water. He began to become afraid again. He wondered if Cain might drown like that. "Return to your human form! You can stand up in the water!" Abel found himself frantically calling out, though through all the thrashing and with his head under water, Cain might not have heard. One might think it foolish to worry about your enemy, but there was nothing odd about worrying about your brother who appeared to be drowning. So from Abel's point of view, his actions were perfectly normal. Cain began to make his way to Abel, and stood waiting for Cain. When Cain lunged at Abel, Abel moved forward at the last second. Since he was in the water, and didn't have much any footing at all, Cain's lunge couldn't have had much power in it. Since, Abel moved forward, ducking low under the water. It was frightening being under the water, it was frightening being in front of a panther, but what scared Abel the most was the thought of his brother drowning because of him. As the claws came down on him, they reached too far missing him. Instead, Cain's body came crashing down on Abel's upper back and shoulder. The great weight of a panther was what dealt most of the damage, but Abel's body was able to take at least that much. As soon as Cain was over him, he brought up his back, and the back of his head against Cain's body, while at the same time moving his arms upwards in an attempt to grab Cain by the sides and lift him up out of the water. Abel had almost completely forgotten about the fight, or running away. He simply did not want to drown his brother to death.

[atrb=style, padding: 0px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Some things, cannot be forgiven.

[#PS129B "CAIN"]

How Do You Sleep At Night?

♠ Barely beginning to catch his breath, swimming felt terrifying now. The black leopard wanted desperately to feel his feet touch the ground, but they still moved through only water. It took every bit of restraint he had not to revert to his taller human form and flee, but he refused to give up, as if his hunting, animal instincts had finally kicked in. So he made his last swipe, trying to bring down his powerful claws on Abel.

But the man himself lunged forward at the final moment, briefly ducking underwater. Cain yowled in frustration again as his awkwardly flailing claws crashed down on nothing but the empty surface of the water, liquid rising up and hitting him in the face again. But as the rest of his long body crashed back down, he felt it collide with Abel's, hitting against his back and shoulders with a hard, unexpected splash. Before the panther was able to comprehend what was going on, the other New Child started rising, taking him with him. Held by a strong grip, the feline felt his body leave the water.

♠ What was going on? What was he doing? Cain was too weak now to offer much resistance, but he let out another fearful, bewildered hiss under his foe's grip. For a few moments, he was afraid that the man was going to try to throw him or drown him, but that didn't seem to be the case. ...Was he trying to help him? Why?

[PS113C "ABEL"]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 490px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/yeguilty/abelbackground2copy-1.jpg); background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 5px groove #223344; background-color: #000000, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 10px 60px 10px 10px;] The purist of happiness...

[atrb=style, padding: 1px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] "Cain!" Abel called out as he raised the panther up out of the water, with his amazing strength. He positioned his arms under, and around the panther's body, so he could keep Cain's dangerous legs and claws away from him. "...Don't die!" Was all Abel could think to scream out. "Whatever you do... returning to your master... continuing being a slave... killing me... whatever you do... just don't die!" Abel screamed as he struggled to turn towards shore and move towards it while carrying the large panther. The terrible footing and incredible weight of Cain's beast form was enough to test even Abel's capable body, but he managed to make his way closer to shore, through his struggles. When his arms could take no more, and believed to be close enough, he tossed Cain closer to shore in shallow water. He doubted that Cain wouldn't drown in water that shallow, but thought to be ready to help him if it seemed like he was struggling. But despite that line of thinking, it was he himself who began to struggle. The extra weight had caused his feet to sink in the mud. In his rush to be ready, he pulled only one foot free, leaving the other trapped and causing him to fall. He struggled to break and keep his head above water again. He coughed up water and gasped for air, as the once calm waters of the lake rushed up all around him, thrown up by his own movements.

[atrb=style, padding: 0px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Some things, cannot be forgiven.

[#PS129B "CAIN"]

How Do You Sleep At Night?

♠ The man was calling his name. Despite the chaos in his mind, the word he'd taken as his own title still managed to reach his consciousness. He was saying something else, too. Don't die. ...Don't die? What kind of person was this? Why? He'd come to kill this man, and yet now the other New Child was trying to save him? It was something he'd never seen before in his four months of life, and he didn't understand it. Why would he help him when he'd only be endangering himself? Why would someone help an enemy? And yet, would anyone else have done this for him? Would his master have? He didn't have to think long before he absently realized that answer, unable to deny it. No, he couldn't think of anyone who would've.

♠ Distracted partially by his thoughts, the black leopard only realized how far he'd been carried when they neared shore, the man suddenly tossing him into shallower waters. Now easily able to touch, the feline quickly struggled to recover after landing with a splash, his claws flailing and kicking up damp sand as he spun himself around to face Abel, still forcing a suspicious growl.

♠ But what he saw wasn't what he expected. Abel had collapsed lower into the water, fighting now to keep his head above the surface. Even though they were in shallower waters now, it looked like he was unable to stand back up. Cain felt his heart make an unexpected jump. What was wrong? Was he caught on something? Were his feet stuck? Whatever the case, it was plain to see that now he was the one in trouble, thanks to his earlier rescue.

♠ Cain was still for a moment. If he let him drown...then his task would be completed and he wouldn't even have to do anything further. All he had to do was walk away and it'd be over. He'd return home victorious. But... The man was in trouble now because he'd helped him...something that the New Child didn't believe anyone else would've done. Don't die. The words moved through his memory again.

♠ All at once, something shifted in Cain. Without really thinking his actions through, he all at once rushed forward. As he did, his body changed as well, returning again to its taller, two-legged shape in order to avoid having his own head fall below the surface again, and to gain access once more to hands instead of claws. As he neared the struggling man, he reached out, attempting to grab hold of his hand and pull him from the water. What was he doing? What was he doing? The question wouldn't stop replaying in his confused mind, but it wasn't enough to make him let go.

[PS113C "ABEL"]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 490px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/yeguilty/abelbackground2copy-1.jpg); background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 5px groove #223344; background-color: #000000, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 10px 60px 10px 10px;] The purist of happiness...

[atrb=style, padding: 1px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] When struggling with physical activity, it was a natural reaction to hold your breath. Perhaps out of anticipation of finishing that task, or maybe it was because holding one's breath made it easier to concentrate on the task at hand. Whatever the reason is, its a bad habit for some. One that can cost you, especially if your struggling in water. When Abel went under the water again, he his lungs were already desperate for air, making him take in water quickly while in his disoriented state. He couldn't right himself up, with his one leg sucked deep into the mud and his other foot unable to gain leverage on the mailable surface. Then suddenly, he felt a grip around one of his flailing hands, and he had the leverage he needed to raise himself up out of the water. He gasped for air as soon as he did, and felt Cain's grip. Abel opened his eyes, not knowing what to think, but when saw his brother helping him, he immediately felt all fears melt away from him. He continued to gasp for air, but between breaths he managed to smile and say "Thanks..." to the assassin sent to enslave or kill him.

[atrb=style, padding: 0px 60px 10px 10px; opacity: 0.8; text-align: left] Some things, cannot be forgiven.

[#PS129B "CAIN"]

How Do You Sleep At Night?

♠ Abel gasped for air as Cain helped pull him from the hold the mud below the lake seemed to have on him. The New Child's eyes were wide, Cain just standing there for a moment, as if he wasn't sure what to do next. Or even what he'd just done. ...Why had he?

♠ Letting go of the other man's hand all at once, almost as if he was startled, he stumbled backwards a bit through the water, with a few awkward splashes, but he kept his gaze on the other New Child as a 'thanks' left his lips.

♠ He'd just helped save the life of the very person he'd been sent to capture. The person he'd desired to kill for his own vengeance. Why? It was something that he lacked the maturity to understand or comprehend, and it was also the first glimpse he'd seen of a part of himself that he wasn't familiar with. It was an odd, uncertain feeling.

♠ But either way, he was defenseless now. His body stung and ached from the wounds he'd received, attacking in the lake in his leopard form seemed close to useless, and he now no longer had his gun. He'd failed.

♠ Still keeping his gaze on the other New Child, almost suspiciously, he took a few more steps backwards, into slowly shallowing water. But his body was starting to fail him, along with his confused mind. All at once, everything went black, Cain collapsing with a splash. Thankfully, he'd made it far enough towards shore to where his head remained above water even as he lay against the submerged sand, but he no longer had the strength left to continue, falling unconscious.