SKILL: SEER (1/5)

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Odessa’s breath shuddered out of her when he agreed, when he smiled in that strange way that made something warm drip through her chest even as a thread of cold tugged at her spine. She didn’t know what to make of him — how could anyone be gentle and frightening all at once? How could someone’s eyes hold kindness and something sharp beneath it?

But she was too tired to question it. Too lost. Too newly born into a body that didn’t feel like it belonged to her.

When he dipped his muzzle, Odessa instinctively lowered hers in return, a motion soft and deferential. Thank you, she whispered again, even quieter this time, as though saying it too loudly might make the moment shatter. I… really mean that.

Her paws shifted in the lilac blooms. She wobbled just slightly, but it was enough for her hind leg to slip on a root she hadn’t seen. Embarrassment flushed through her, ears pinning as she steadied herself with a small, shaky inhale. Sorry, she murmured, voice thready. I’m still trying to understand where my feet are supposed to go. A watery, anxious laugh quivered out of her.

But when he mentioned resting… and hunting for her… something tightened beneath her ribs. A small, trembling instinct. A whisper she didn’t have a name for.

Her head lifted slightly, her eyes—those soft lilac eyes—scanning his face with a fragile intuition that seemed older than she was.

Hunt… for me? she echoed, the words unsteady but not unkind. Her gaze flicked again to the blood on his fur, and something in her expression faltered. Is… is that safe? I mean— she stumbled over her own words, shaking her head quickly as if ashamed for questioning him. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean— I’m just so— so overwhelmed. I’m sure you know what you’re doing. I’m just frightened of… everything.

She swallowed hard, chest rising and falling in uneven waves. But… yes. Resting and some food might help.

Her tail curled in timid uncertainty, brushing lightly against her hind leg. Only if it’s not trouble for you. I don’t want to ask too much. You’ve already been… kinder than I expected anyone here to be.

Odessa hesitated, then stepped just a little closer, seeking safety in proximity despite her trembling. Thank you, she warbled out again.

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Skill:

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Odessa

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She thanked him again and a slight stirring happened in his chest, a weird feeling he wasn't sure if he liked, but he swallowed it down roughly with a jagged smile that projected perfectly. Don't mention it... Really ... It's fine... Abaddon reassured her, a piece of his insides screaming, Really! Don't mention it again! That same piece wanted to lash out and strike her for repeating her words but the calm part of him shushed it gently into a place that could be tamed momentarily.

She slipped as she started to get up and a part of Abaddon went to rush towards her, the other part of him stayed still as stone as he watched her, that same part laughing manically at her clumsy movements. So, he stayed still and placed a look of concern on his face, he slipped downwards as if offering his shoulder to her for support when she apologized once more. Abaddon flicked crimson and citrine towards her lilac blooms as she explained herself. You dun' have ta explain... It's okay... He reassured her again, his voice a small dip down as he smiled warmly, hiding that shifting darkness beneath his features.

As she shifted the lilacs, she sent a spray of aroma through the air and he wrinkled his nose at the unpleasant scent that flooded his senses. He didn't like the smell of flowers. She flickered her eyes towards the blood across his form, and the boy rose up to his full height with a smile, a wink sent her way, Yea' it's safe... I do it all the time... It just won't be deer or nuthin, can’t hunt anything that big by myself yet... He chuckled, rolling his shoulders backwards and puffing his chest out a little. When Odessa explained she was frightened of everything a piece of him tickled, a part of his brain writhed around in delight, he liked frightened...

She did agree that resting and food would help so he nodded and smiled, her words of him being kind bringing a chuckle to his lips that didn't escape. She thanked him once more as she stepped a little closer and the boy did the same, closing the gap between them slowly. Don't mention it Odessa... It's all good.... Lemme go get you somethin' ta eat... Abaddon told her and turned to leave. Looking over his shoulder at her he smiled and winked once more, Don't go anywhere... Can't feed you if ya leave... He chuckled, his soul fighting everything in him not to make a wrong move just yet.

Abaddon turned around and took off in a hurry; He'd same the theatrics for later and headed back towards the den he'd been terrorizing earlier. This time he was able to pull a small fox out of its den, probably a mother, and severe its spinal cord with ease. Abaddon held the red, black, and white creature dangling from his jowls as the boy padded back to Odessa's location. Hoping she had stayed the boy put a skip in his step as he retraced his steps to her. Odessa... The woman who smelled of something sickly sweet, fresh ozone, and sharp minerals. It was somehow intoxicating to him and the boy stopped a few feet away from her when he arrived. He slowed his pace to an easy step as he took slow care to close the distance and place the dead animal at her feet.

This... He started in a breathy way, his chest rising and falling from his efforts for her, his eyes flicking to hers as he stepped back and sat down before her. He wrapped a speckled tail around his strong haunches and placed the tip on his front paws, a smile on his face and in his eyes as he spoke. Is for you... I hope you enjoy it... I love fox... He told her, his eyes lighting up from the thrill of his hunt, he held back a toss back of his head and a laugh, wanting to tell Odessa everything he wanted to do to it.

SKILL: SEER (2/5)

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Odessa stayed exactly where he’d left her.
Mostly because she didn’t trust her legs… and partly because something inside her, some deep quivering instinct, told her that running was pointless. That this place didn’t bend to her anymore — she was a stranger in her own skin and a stranger in this world.

But gods, the silence he left behind was heavy.

She sank onto her haunches the moment he was gone, shoulders trembling from the sudden vacuum of warmth and presence. Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs. It’s okay, she whispered to herself, hardly believing it. He’s helping. He said he’d help.

The lilac blooms around her shifted in the breeze, brushing against her paws. She closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath—

—and choked when the petals’ scent struck her.
Her vision blurred, a strange wave of vertigo tightening across her skull. It felt almost like a memory… or a warning… or nothing at all. She couldn’t tell anymore.

Get up, some quiet part of her whispered. Move. Something’s wrong.

But her body stayed curled in the flowers, trembling too hard to obey.

When Abaddon finally returned, the sound of his paws crushing the earth made her flinch violently. Her head jerked up, lilac eyes wide, breath hitching in her throat—until she saw his face. That smile. That strange spark in his eyes. The fox dangling from his jaws.

Her terror softened. It wasn't gone, just folding itself smaller insude her chest as she blinked at him.

He placed the creature at her feet and stepped back, and Odessa stared down at the red-and-white bundle, her breath coming shallow and uneven. The fox’s body was small… too small… and something in her chest pinched sharply at the sight. Tears brimmed before she could stop them.

A sick, quiet feeling crawled up her throat — revulsion, sharp and cold — not at him, but at the thought of eating the fox. She had expected something gentle… a rabbit, maybe. Something soft. Something that didn’t look like this. Her stomach twisted painfully, but she kept her expression steady, desperate not to offend him.

Don’t show it, her mind pleaded. Don’t let him see. Another whisper of intuition flickered beneath her ribs, quick as lightning: Be careful.

She clenched her paws in the flowers.

Oh… The word cracked in the air as she swallowed. You… you really hunted for me.

Her voice trembled with gratitude and grief tangled together—she didn’t know how to separate them anymore.

Thank you, she whispered, and this time the words shook enough to betray her heart. I… I don’t know what to say. I’ve never eaten like this before. She looked at him, eyes wet and shimmering. It’s kind of you. Truly.

Her gaze drifted toward the fox again, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. But… how do I eat it? Odessa was used to silver platters and utensils with human hands to eat it with. The concept of using her teeth and jaws to chew raw, bloody meat that had always been cooked before being served to her was a foreign one.

She nudged the fox gently, reverently, as though apologizing to the small life that had been taken for her sake. Tears slipped down her cheek, catching in her fur for a reason completely unaware even to her.

How weak and helpless she was.

Her eyes lifted to him—wide and wounded, trusting him because she didn’t know who else there was.

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Skill:

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Odessa

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Odessa seemed surprised by his offering and the boy gave her a little cock of an eyebrow in question as she said You really hunted for me. I did... Said I would... He explained to her with a playful smile, She whispered a thank you and didn't know what to say, saying once more that he was kind. His brain twitched, a small movement that caused him a small wince that he hid with a duck of his head, a pretend display of bashfulness. It's all good... Ya gotta eat... He told her while watching her carefully.

Her gaze shifted from the fox to him and back to the fox as she spoke, but then she fell silent for a second, her chest rose and fell with almost hitched breaths. She questioned how she ate it, she nudged the fox in question and seemed sad, tears falling down her face as she nosed the lifeless body before her. She lifted her gaze to his once more and looked at him with wide hurting eyes, she seemed to project trust at him and he smiled with a small Hm of a chuckle.

I got you... He spoke gently, his large form pulling the fox towards him before pulling at the fur and flesh roughly. A sickening squelching could be heard as he separated fur from flesh, flesh from bone, and tossed her a chuck. His face covered in blood as he worked at the thing, tossing her pieces of it as he pulled it apart. it was really hard not to go overboard, and he exercised an extreme amount of self control just to do this simple task for her. Because Abaddon, well he wasn't a meticulous and precise kinda wolf, he liked destruction and chaos. There... That should be more manageable... He explained to her with a small smile.

SKILL: SEER (3/5)

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The moment he pulled the fox toward himself, Odessa stiffened.

Not visibly at first — her body simply went still, ears trembling as though caught in a breeze she couldn’t feel. But when the wet rip of fur tearing away hit her ears, she recoiled a full inch backward, a tiny gasp breaking from her throat before she could swallow it down.

The sound — gods, the sound — sliced through her like a blade.

Her breath shook violently, eyes widening as the squelch of muscle and tendon filled the air. She wanted to look away. Her stomach lurched, threatening to rise in her throat as he tore the creature apart with an ease that felt… wrong. Too practiced. Too hungry.

And yet—

When she tried to avert her gaze, some strange pull made her look back. A flicker behind her eyes, there and gone.

Red… and teeth… and shadows wearing a smile.

Her heart skipped painfully, her breaths shallow as he worked, his muzzle slick with blood that glistened in the lilac light. More whispers tickled her ribs, thin as spider silk:

This is not the danger you think it is.
This is worse.
Be small. Be soft. Be careful.

She didn’t understand any of it only that fear was fluttering in her chest like a wounded bird.

When the piece of fox landed near her paws with a wet thud, Odessa flinched again, swallowing hard. The flesh was still warm.

“There…” he said with a smile. “That should be more manageable."

Manageable.
Yes, manageable.

Odessa nodded once, a fragile, shaky little gesture, and whispered, Thank you, because what else could she say? Her voice trembled and cracked on the edges. I’m… sorry you had to do that for me.

Her paws inched toward the meat, hesitant, her body trembling visibly now. She lowered her head, nose hovering just above it. The smell flooded her senses — metallic, sharp, nauseatingly warm — and her stomach rolled so hard she nearly gagged.

But he was watching and something inside her whispered that she couldn’t afford to fail him.

So she closed her eyes, braced herself, and took a bite.

The taste hit her instantly, copper and earth and something wild. Her jaw worked awkwardly, unused to the strength required, and her whole body trembled as she swallowed. It burned all the way down.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced her throat to keep working, taking another small bite. Then another. She chewed slowly, desperately trying not to shake apart under his gaze.

When she lifted her head again, lilac eyes shimmering with tears she tried to blink away, her voice came out in a trembling whisper:

W-when will we go home?

Internally the whisper inside her, that quiet, prophetic pulse trembled again:

Stay close to the monster, little bird. Till the monster forgets to eat you.

She swallowed another small bite of the fox and tried to be brave.

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Skill:

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Odessa

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Her flinches brought little smiles to his insides, little flickers of warmth that heated his body in ways he couldn't explain, ways that all he could do to hide them was duck his head down. She thanked him, and at the same time he'd dipped his head, so that was well hidden behind that, she also apologized to him for him having to do that and Abaddon shrugged with his head moving to the side a little with his shrug.

Ain't no thang, really.... The boy told her and huffed a breath through his nose. He watched her inch towards the meat little by little and he stared at her with anticipation. Her trembles eliciting small pangs of glee from his innards, he watched her hold back a gag and he held back a laugh out loud roll. Highly amused Abaddon had to bite the inside of his cheek rather hard to keep from bellowing out at her.

He watched her finally take a bite and the monochrome male bent forward as if expecting her to exclaim out about how wonderful it was, but when she didn't he was sadly disappointed. The Devil held back a disappointed huff through his nose and listened to her words as she questioned with eyes full of tears when they would head home.

Whenever you're ready... I can take you back... Ab told her with a small dip once more, Whenever you're done we'll head back... I'll take what's left home with us for later.. Ab explained to her with serious eyes that bore into her with emotions he couldn't explain, a mixture of fascination and an almost frenzy at keeping himself at bay so long.