Thunder without rain.

That's the sound of hundred year old trees snapping in half like twigs underfoot a rampaging bull. Any second now I think I'll feel that bull's hoof snap my ribs just the same. I can't see a thing--there's too much dirt flying around to keep track of anything, much less the lack of light. All I can do is curl up in the dirt like a pill bug and pray I don't die.

I can't see where Amon is--it's too dark, but I can make out the pinpoint beam of light illuminating a shredded tree stump. The abandoned flashlight. My heart pounding wild in my chest tells me to stay right the fuck where I am, but with nothing left to aim for, I desperately start crawling my way over. Well, more like drag my useless body behind me. My legs are shot. Don't know if they're broken or turned to jelly but I feel like if I can just--

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A M O N

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Speed, strength, flexibility, and a single-minded focus on its prey. The least I can say is: the man's deranged and dangerous. Worse yet, he hasn't a shred of fear or reaction to pain. Never seen a man take a blow to the head like this thing does and not even flinch. Another tackle and I'm thrown backwards, my heels digging into the soft earth. A sharp pain shoots up my side; just by touching the slashed open fabric of my shirt, I can tell it's bloodied. This isn't going to work. He needs to be incapacitated immediately.

The man bares his teeth at me, grinning almost, with his hands clasping the air like claws. I flip the nightstick back, ready for his next charge, and this time I hear a crack when the beast catches the tool in one hand--definitely broken bones. Still he doesn't seem to notice. I sure notice the punch to my gut though. My left hand latches onto the fist in a heartbeat while he locks his grip on my nightstick--we're deadlocked.

Not.

His eyes flash in anticipation but I'm faster, landing a solid kick to the stomach. He still doesn't let go and neither do I, though his back is bowed. Another kick--again, again, again. Blood trickles from between his clenched teeth, spotting onto my leg. I'm...unnerved he hasn't let go. I almost land another blow but suddenly my vision flips and I've slammed backwards into another tree. Shamed to admit it, but my vision blacks out for a while. It seems...he'd thrown me by the club and I let my grip on him slip like an amateur. His footsteps pick up speed again and the moment I land I expect another blow to the head, gut, anywhere, but nothing comes. No, it's worse than that--he's refocused his gaze on his original target.

"Ash!" I call for him without thinking--which is nonsensical. I fling the nightstick aside and will myself to be faster--WHY is Ash even still here? Why didn't he leave as soon as I got here?

The suspect isn't as quick as me, but he had a head start and manages to stamp on Ash's body before I grab him by the hair and rip him off. Another shameful failure on my part--but there won't be anymore after this. The man twists in my grip like a feral cat and the next thing I know there's a powerful hand locked around my throat. One hand still in his hair, the other reflexively grabs onto the one cutting off my oxygen. Unfortunately, this leaves the suspect one free fist to bash into my cheekbone. The blow is nearly enough to make me lose consciousness--so were the following two, three. My vision is spotting and to my eternal discredit, my grip starts to loosen. Then a flash of light crosses my vision.

It takes a split second to realize--and I might just be hallucinating in my final moments--but it looks like my flashlight. The heavy silver tool came flying out of nowhere, conking the suspect right in the ear and leaving him stunned long enough for me to release the black spiky hair and punch him hard in the face. The flashlight never even hits the ground because once the fingers around my neck release, I snatch it midair and smash the butt of it square between the man's eyes. The light in his eyes have gone out, but I pull back once more and with every ounce of strength in my body, bring the weapon crashing onto his thick skull with a resounding crack.

The air stills for an eternity, before finally the man collapses to the ground.

...

...I'm still riding the adrenaline high for minutes afterwards, with not a sound on the wind but my own ragged breaths. Slowly the euphoric sense of victory mellows into chills. My muscles spasm sporadically--they haven't been worked this hard since my academy days after all. Even then, there was always the safety of knowing martial instructors would step in when things got too heated. But this... This is the first time I've actually thought I was going to die.

It's nice.

Well.

It's different.

My hands start shaking for no discernible reason, but at least now I can move my legs. A gentle breeze blows through the clearing and like a kick to the head I'm suddenly reminded of that idiotic civilian who still hasn't left the scene--

"Ash, are you alright?" I question him, stumbling over to check the hell-spawn for any injuries. It's really too dark to make any accurate assessments, but from what I can tell, he doesn't appear to have sustained anything too serious. Lots of scratch marks on his back and legs, torn clothes, and what appears to be a swollen left ankle. Not too serious, but still an unbearable sight on a man as small of stature as he is. He's barely conscious. I'm ashamed and embarrassed it even got this far. If I'd left for Ash's place with the sense of urgency Sulk had earlier, I could have prevented this damage.

"I'm fine," he barely manages to squeak while lying limp in my arms. Honestly, I don't know where he even found the strength to throw that flashlight like he did. It was a lucky shot, too. Playing it back in my head, I can't help but feel a trickle of humor threaten to crack a smile out of me...

Anyway, it's not long before I sense the approaching shadow behind me. I take Ash into my arms as carefully as I can manage considering I'm on the verge of passing out myself, and turn to Sulk with what hopefully appears to be confident posture. "Let's return to the house. I'll call a doctor, but for now, you administer first aid to this one." Sulk, still half-hiding behind a splintered tree, nods before wearily glancing at the fallen body at my feet. Honestly, I'm resisting the urge to kick it right now. "We'll deal with that later."

If I have to deal with that thing again tonight, I might actually kill it.