[tugix roars. the pain is immense. right eyelid splits. the give of its sacrifice and aorta-man's thought to pull away save the viscous orb beneath. barely. only barely. teeth burst the pustules of fever. tugix bellows. he rears; he swipes in blinded rage at the wolf and drags open fangs through the air for the infernal bird. pain is the black sea, and the black sea is pain. anguish is a hymnal. agony is a truth. tugix accepts the horror of new blood, coursing, running into his mouth. his suffering slows his limbs. when he slams back to earth it is to leak black ooze and red drops into the snow. torment lives in every artery. he readies himself to attack anew, lurching sidelong and then straight again, willing his legs to cooperate. he falls, hitches, crouches gargoylian and ugly in the snow, panting, eyes stretched wide with hatred.]

tugix roars.

the pain is immense.

right eyelid splits. the give of its sacrifice and aorta-man's thought to pull away save the viscous orb beneath.

barely. only barely.

teeth burst the pustules of fever.

tugix bellows. he rears; he swipes in blinded rage at the wolf and drags open fangs through the air for the infernal bird.

pain is the black sea, and the black sea is pain.

anguish is a hymnal.

agony is a truth.

tugix accepts the horror of new blood, coursing, running into his mouth. his suffering slows his limbs. when he slams back to earth it is to leak black ooze and red drops into the snow.

torment lives in every artery. he readies himself to attack anew, lurching sidelong and then straight again, willing his legs to cooperate.

he falls, hitches, crouches gargoylian and ugly in the snow, panting, eyes stretched wide with hatred.