AN: Next chapter is an NSFW one, and this one gets a warning. By the way, the Abyss cover is up if anyone wants to look at it on the main page.

As always, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

______________________________

By morning the next turn, I stood atop a nearby, tall tree in order to watch the day-star slowly wake from its restful sleep and once again, begin its trek across the sky above. I have always watched each day-star rise from its horizon upon the worlds I set foot upon, as they reminded my person of Terra's. Of which also fueled my desire to return and reclaim what was mine by right. Here, I kept a detail record within my mind, so that I may share it with my Undying the joys of our world in the hopes that they may join my person soon.

As soon as the day-star rose enough, I gently tapped the others to stir wakefulness in them. To which the Templar-in-training jerked awake as though being attacked, but relaxed upon noticing my person. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?" he asks, as the others rubbed the sleep from their eyes whilst wooden bowls full of porridge laced with honey was passed around, "I told you I wanted a watch."

I placed wooden spoon was placed inside each of the bowls so that they may eat without the need of using their fingers, and was passing around small mugs of warm cider before I deigned a reply, "It is the job of the leader to look after his underlings, Gonzo. Therefore, I shall be taking the watches from here on."

"I ain't an underling," grumbled Shadow, but quieted as I reached over and pat her head slowly. This caused her tail to sway in happiness, as though she were, but a child once more, and dug into her meal.

"We're royal, so you all should be our underlings," declared Anna, whilst her sister nodded with a mouthful of porridge.

"Oh? If you were as such, then where are your servants?" I inquired, raising my left eyebrow. Whereas the pair shrank towards the ground after a cursory glance about their persons, "It seems, to my eyes at least, that you have none. So you must be mine until such times as I release your person. Understand?"

The pair nodded once, then turned back to their bowls and cider. All the while, Gonzo clearly wasn't pleased with having been made my servant, whilst Shiro and Robby chatted softly amongst themselves. It appeared, to my eyes, that the former was showing off his class and skills to the latter. Of whom stared slack-jawed as they went through each and every one of them together.

However, as with all things, even this had to come to an end. Of which began with the simple cleaning up our little site, and just as the last of the empty dishes were placed within the basket, did Shadow's and my own ears stand straight up. They flicked themselves towards the east, where we were heading, as we heard the rumbling of many feet thundering ever closer.

"Quickly," I began, ushering them into the thicket, "A lot of individuals are coming, and we must not be here when they arrive."

"Why?" asked Shanna, whose sister appeared to be terrified of something.

"They may not be friendly," replied Gonzo, who held onto a sword in his left grip, "If they are not, then they may try to take advantage of you two. Maybe even Shadow."

"Wha-?" began Anna, as each of them entered the forest proper. They were then told to hide amongst several thorn bushes which contained a few unpicked berries the wildlife had yet to claim.

Whereas my person climbed high into a large Oak and cast a spell of invisibility so that I may witness this troop in order to discern whether or not they could be trusted or not.

*****

"Hold," called out a soldier in odd armour. For it appeared to be one that had been molded against large muscles and strapped onto their bodies. Everything, from their torso and back, biceps, triceps, and down to their ankles, leaving their feet to have only hard chainmail to cover them, whilst their hands were only wrapped in tattered straps. However, the one who called the halt wore a large, crimson cape which wrapped around their neck and draped off of the left shoulder. This one had the iconic features of a squared head and rugged features of the male Humans of Terra, as did those behind him.

Amongst the troop behind this one were three rows of ten spear wielders and a single row of archers. It was here that one of the archers had peeled away from the rest of the group in order to examine the leftover site of several individuals which had left in haste only a short time ago. Whereupon this individual did rush to the front of the column in order to report their findings. Of which caused the whole of the troop to stop, reverse direction, and spread out in order to discern who and what had made camp here.

"We are being watched," commented one of the archers, of whom wore only a simple leather jerkin, linen trousers, and hard leather boots. This was the common clothing of an archer within any country, but what differentiated them from the others were the colours and livery placed upon their right breast. Of which there was none, which meant just about anything, as they could either be a bunch of mercenaries, or a new player in this game of thrones.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"I've noticed it too, but don't know where it's coming from." This came from another archer, who placed his hand upon the ground where Shiro had been sleeping, "It's been about an hour, maybe two, since they had left."

"Any ideas if it was one of theirs?" called out the one with the red cape, who slowly made his way towards the cluster of leather wearing Humans, "Can you track them?"

"Yes, we can track them," began one of the others with more grey in his hair than the rest. Of whom then noted the excitement in the other's eyes, and held up a gloved hand to forestall anymore comments, "The question to ask is, 'Should we?'. Because there is something watching us and is not pleased with our presence."

"Will this thing pose a threat?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not," shrugged the older Human, of whom turned back towards the thicket in order to scan for signs of life, "We don't know what it is, so we don't know what it can do."

"Bah," grumbled the other, "If you can track the ones who were here an hour or two ago, then we're going in to bring them to the King," turning to the rest of the Humans, he began to order their attention and begin to enter the forest proper.

Of which was a mistake, as something large with scarlet fur jumped from upon high, and onto the one with the red cape.

*****

'It seems these Humans will be venturing inwards,' my mind whispered, as I watched the forty and one Humans enter the forest below my person. Of which they seemed to be straying too close to where my new servants lied beneath the thorn bushes. 'If these archers are competent trackers, then they will undoubtedly cause chaos with them.'

However, a thought ran through my mind. One which left my person grinning quite menacingly, as my body slowly drew upon the curse called, "Gift of The Blood Moon". In that, I slowly grew scarlet coloured fur, as my body flowed from my Kin shape and into that of a Wolfman. This led to my person being revealed amongst the green foliage high above, but none seemed to have been made aware of my presence.

Which was what I took hold of as I noted the odd Human in the red cape, and once he came near, did I leap downwards upon his head, tearing into the whole of him whilst all others stared with slack jaws and saucer-like eyes. No. They did not attack my person until after I threw their supposed leader's head into another's. Of which caused its own to fly off, splashing others nearby with their blood.

This caused one of two responses to occur. One which was to flee out of the forest, of which I allowed them to do so in order to protect my new underlings. Whereas the other was to take up arms against my person. This led to my body to blur and become invisible as I charged towards their bodies. Which led to these few Humans to become rather afraid, for I would vanish before their eyes, only to reappear next to one of their own, rake my claws past the armour which was supposed to keep them safe, and into the flesh below.

Yes. I did enjoy tearing into their bodies, and would have feasted upon their remains if I could. However, as I did not have any way to taste their innards, blood, and flesh, but that did not mean I would not indulge in tearing into them with my teeth. For I had pounced upon a few, bearing them down upon their backs as they howled with pain and anguish, pleading to the others for help as I tore out their throats in large, stringy chunks before launching my body onto the next victim. Whereupon I did shove my right, clawed hand into their groin, and tore away the appendage with which a male needed to urinate and procreate, before shoving it down the throat of another.

It was here that a few snapped out of their fear, and began to order a retreat out of the forest. Whereas I simply vanished, reappeared behind the one give the order, and sank my left claw into the Humans' back where the spine was located. Whereupon I did grip it securely, and tore the bone out of the person's back. However, it broke at the base of the skull, which caused him to fall dead, whilst I launched the bloodied bone into the chest of one who charged my person whilst wearing only chainmail and wielding a sword.

This action caused my person to calm down, as I noted who it was that charged my person. As it was Gonzo, who glared into my own eyes as his life fled his body. "Such a pity for one so young," my voice rumbled throughout the forest, causing the earth to shake whilst the rest of the Humans within the troop fled from my presence with great haste.