Cory stood still even with the nasty claw slash from Preston the bear had a bit of respect for the human to keep on standing after that.

He just takes a smoke from the cigar and looks at him with not much of an expression.

Glenda, Dolly, and Estela each had an expression of shock and great worry for Cory who at his moment was in a state of shock. The pain was overwhelming, and the bleeding was happening at a quick rate, yet in some manner, he made a move against the bear.

It seems during the time Cory may not be in his right mind possibly empty to not thinking of the next move just straight away going against attacking the bear.

Preston took note of the incoming attack and already acted to prevent this by just simply reaching an arm out and grabbing Cory by the neck, lifting the body in the air.

“Sorry to say this human, but you don’t possess the power nor the strength to go up against me. Now what am I to do with you? Could snap your neck since it is an easy thing to do when this isn’t my first time to snap a person's neck then again, I could make money off you. Decisions to make here, but the time allowed isn't going to be enough.” Preston says.

“Leave him alone.”

Dolly says to Preston as he looks back with a cold expression like one is looking at an annoying insect which works to put fear into the girl as she completely hides behind her mother.

“Or what girl is going to do anything about it because looks to me, like you aren’t someone that can do a thing to help the poor human here.” Preston keeps on looking, waiting to hear an answer from the pig girl.

“She might not be, but don’t forget about me and the Gun in my hands Preston just from this distance will be enough to do some real nice damage. So, if you don’t want to be filled with holes LET HIM GO.”

“You're not forgotten in a matter-of-fact fox bitch my boy is already taking care of me so that I don’t have to pay attention to.”

Estela didn’t react in time when a Longsword was placed at her throat, and another was right up against her back. Any further push would put that Longsword right inside the back and cause bleeding from the angle where the sharp blade can pierce into a virtual organ.

“Tell me think you can do anything now seems to me it is no longer possible, anyway Glenda seems yourself got to make a choice here. If you want to save this poor human, I’m going to suggest that we finally come into an agreement of a partnership.” Preston uses Cory as a chance to gain an upper hand over the pig women.

“Preston please, you weren't like this in the past. What happened to you that this once kind heart soul had changed into a cruel person like this.”

“DON’T TALK ABOUT THE OLD ME…. he is no longer there, so stop fucking playing around with me and give an answer.”

At the time while paying attention to Glenda Cory can gain some concussions to realize the position, he is in. yet sees it to be an opening to retire by striking this humanoid while it is busy.

Using the Arming sword to slash in an upward manner in slashing at the left cheek a bit since the movement behind this attack was weak. Lucky Preston still came to feel pain from it letting Cory go as he was barely able to catch himself when landing.

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The bear on the other hand was able to keep himself from making a sound along with touching the left cheek bleeding. Then removing that same hand to look upon the blood on that hand to just have a half-crack smile on his face.

“My fault for being careless and not considering you can still hurt me; I have earned this cut wound on my face. Thanks to you it just helps me to not care anymore about using you to get my way, I do it another way for now myself going to rip you into bloody parts all over this tavern.” Preston shows his sharp claws and teeth having them ready.

“Wait! Preston, he didn’t mean…” Glenda was cut off short from talking when receiving a backhand to the side causing her whole body to fall in that direction.

“MOTHER!” Dolly wasted no time to go to her mother's side to worry over what was done to the women.

Cory charges at him and is angry at Glenda being hurt making a roar of a cry at the same time, but fails once, one of the bear goons punches him right in the face causing a quick knockout.

Preston chuckles seeing poor Cory's whole body fall backwards to the floor in such an easy manner. Then the next one of the bear's goons who was standing behind Estela with the Longsword at her back comes to feel himself being grabbed from behind and then is thrown toward into a table by such strength.

“Oh, great who is it this time that got to be dealt with starting to have a headache right about now,” Preston says, getting annoyed.

His eyes go a bit wide in knowing this figure covered in a large black hooded cloak tear up at the bottom looking to be a bit dirty. There is a bit of the front face sticking out from under the hood to let everyone know it is a non-human being, but not enough to know what kind it is at the time.

“It's you, Grief Hunter, why would a person like yourself be here in this tavern right this moment. "Preston talks calmly, yet in his voice, there is also someone who has to be on guard with this person.

“I came to have some food in this tavern-like any other person and instead found it to be bothered by the likes of you Preston Mcmillen.”

The voice from this person sounded to be female, one who seemed to not have much emotion in them.

“I’m just talking with the owner here about a business chance she should take, I think you better find a different tavern to eat at,” Preston says, hoping she would listen to him.

“No that's not something, I’m going to eat here and the owner, she is a good person who I don’t mind. So how about you leave instead, and I can eat in peace here.”

“Come on now let's not start being difficult at the moment, we have since had a good relationship, you don’t want to have that change into a bad one, do you? I mean you make good money from me.”

During the time the bear who was thrown by Grief Hunter got back up this bear goon is the one with the destroyed eye let out a roar to show how pissed he was because of her throwing him like trash into the table.

He charged at her swinging the Longsword downward only for it to be caught in the next second with a hand cover in black armor grabbing the blade part.

Grief Hunter wasn’t even looking at him even when she broke off the blade in strong force to put the bear goon with one eye to back away from her.

“I don’t care, you are not the only person to pay me for my services, and if you're a smart person think before acting at this moment.” Grief gives him a warning as she seems to not mind entering a fight with the person.

Silence hangs over them as Preston and Grief Hunter are just waiting for the other to make their move first in this situation.

“Fine, I will leave this tavern alone for a time. But you and I will talk about this when we meet again.” Preston knew it would be a high risk going up against someone he knew to be skilled in killing.

“Sure, you know where to find me, but a warning: try to sick your thugs on me in an ambush and all of you will die by my blade you got that.”

Preston didn’t speak back, just smoked his almost-done cigar and threw whatever was to be left to the side somewhere in the tavern.

Then snaps his finger as he starts walking forward passing by the pass-out Cory not giving him a second look while Preston gets beside Grief Hunter to have some final words with her.

“Don't think too highly of yourself, everyone bleeds, and everyone dies. The world is cruel in ways one can get taken out of.” Preston tells her.

Afterwards, he and his boys leave the tavern and those inside Glenda, Dolly, and Estela make their way over to Cory checking on his well-being as one of them places the side of their head against his chest.

Taking just about seconds to hear the sound of a heart beating the next second.

“Is he… is Cory…” Dolly wanted to ask the question that anyone would think to ask about another being alive or dead.

“don't worry, he is still with us, light breathing, but alive.”

“Oh, thank goodness the young man is alive. I was so worried there.”

“If that wound doesn’t get taken care of soon then he would lose his life.”

All three look at Grief Hunter who comes up looking down at Cory and then at the claw marks left by Preston. She knows what could happen if a wound is not treated fast and it can result in a troublesome problem.

“If you want I know how to stitch up a wound.”