The Big Decisions

[Rafael]

Sitting there way he normally would at the edge of the river through his home Rafael attempts to clear his mind. Despite living in nature as one would expect of a Beast for more than a year now he still couldn’t manage to do the most essential thing his sensei had taught him. Clearing his body so his body could follow suit was something still beyond him, something that the massive panther hadn’t ever achieved and now at this moment he didn’t think he’d ever get there. Of course the reason now was brought about because of him so the only one he could really be angry at was himself.

More than three dozen humans or pluses whatever they were had followed Rafael from the Rukongai back to his home on this mountain top. Understandably Lolth and Zadora weren’t too happy about it as neither of them had a choice. Rafael in all honesty didn’t really get why the humans followed him. They’d all been injured during a fight he’d been a part of, then he’d used his power to fix the problems that he’d been a part of causing. Now all of a sudden they were treating him as if he were their leader. Despite being the size he was and possessing the strength he did Rafael still was a young man and leading more people than just the girls who’d become like a real family. This wasn’t something he believed he was ready for.

They’d only been here a couple days, days filled with much more noise, days filled with a lot of arguing that Rafael usually had to go and stop after a fist fight broke out. These people were part of the worst section of the Rukongai, people that were suppose to be murderers, theives and worse. He could see though that while most of them could be put in those categories, they were also just broken. They’d been beaten down and disappointed by everyone so why wouldn’t they fight everyone else. He had to find a solution. If they were going to stay here, if they were going to follow him then he’d have to figure out how to make them understand that fighting among each other with real intent to harm wasn’t going to fly.

Something he’d have to figure out later as he picked up the scent of Zadora back in the area from a hunt.

[Zadora]

Excitement raged through Zadora when she finally stepped onto the territory that she and her friends have claimed as their own. Turning her head to look at the dead body of the roach she was dragging behind her. “I wonder if you would taste good. Rafael might like it.” She murmured and went back to dragging the body to her home. Even with the excitement she was feeling now that she was finally home, she could still feel the pain in her right arm where the roach had landed the punch when she protected herself. Flexing her claws slightly only to feel the pain spike up her arm. Clenching her teeth at the pain as she continued walking until she finally spotted a familiar figure.

“Rafael!” She called out loudly and happily. Slowly lifting her right arm. Ignoring the waves of pain to wave to her feline friend. Increasing her footing into a brisk walk to get to her friend while her other paw still clutching onto the arm of the roach, dragging its large body to Rafael to show him her kill, excited to see what he thought of her kill... “I brought something new home for dinner. I hope you like it cause I’m not going back out tonight.”

[Rafael]

Getting up from his sitting position was something Rafael would do any time someone approached him, something he picked up from his sensei while he had been a human. His sensei had done the opposite, always staying in the sitting position one would imagine from a martial arts master, despite the fact his master was a savage in combat, always rushing in attacking with fury that made his own methods seem tame even now. Rafael couldn’t ever forget the irritation that he felt when speaking to his sensei while he sat there so he wouldn’t do it to anyone himself. It wasn’t always the best way to save his own time, but at least he wasn’t frustrating others over something so stupid.

When he got up though and looked over he had been expecting to see Zadora returning from her hunt with a deer or perhaps a bore up over her shoulders. Instead what he saw was the familiar sight of a ROACH. One of the Beasts that had plagued the wilds since Rafael could remember starting his new life. When his new family had first come across one another it had taken all three of them to bring down even one of them. In time Rafael had strengthened himself enough that bringing down one of them would only take a hit or two with his full strength. Now though he saw Zadora’s own practice had paid off.

“Woah! You managed to take him down by yourself. That’s awesome.”

Rafael with a big grin on his face walks over to Zadora acting similar to an older brother or close friend encouraging Zadora on accomplishing such a feat. Closing the short distance only took a couple of moments in that time though he noticed Zadora holding her arm and could tell she had been hurt. She had speed where he had strength. Her ability was terrifying and painful, something Rafael had experienced himself while training with both current and old members of his family. She couldn’t heal like him so he’d have to make sure she was better soon.

Thankfully at the moment none of the humans noticed or really came over to check out what was happening. “Blauk not sure how good giant bug is going to taste. If you’re cooking though I’ll try it. Besides, not like I can’t stand to lose some weight huh.” Rafael jokes while patting his stomach. Over the last several months his tall yet slender build had transformed into one of immense muscular might. He almost had to laugh at how small he had been knowing now he was large enough that most would see him as a monster even if he wasn’t a panther.

[Zadora]

Letting go of the arm of the roach when her friend approached her. Smiling happily when he took notice of her kill. Blinking briefly when he praised and congratulated her on her kill. Her poor heart jumped and began beating faster at his praise. If she was human, her cheeks would have been flush with a dark blush but with her fur, it covered her embarrassment from his praise and congratulations... Which she was thankful for.

An ear flicked backwards, hearing the arm of the roach thump against the ground when it finally hit the ground behind her. Its cooked body was still warm despite the distances she traveled to get back home while dragging its dead, cooked body behind her. It was a hefty, but she wanted to make sure to bring back food for all of them. Since it was her duty for the day besides cooking the cooking that she or someone had gotten for the day. Cooking was always her duty while hunting was rotated between all of them.

“It didn’t listen to my warning and I wasn’t about to risk a small group of humans to avoid it.”

She was very territorial when it came to her hunting grounds with how picky she can be with prey.  And that was because of her panther friend and how much he can eat in one meal. So being picking with her locations is a must and she could always hunt the same grounds in week. “And I don’t like when roaches touch me, mainly bugs.  So it had to be precooked before coming home.” She spoke, laughing softly at her own joke. “And I’ll be finishing cooking it. I’m just not sure if it will taste good. But I’ll try something to make it taste good.”

[Rafael]

“When do these guys ever listen? I’m glad you’re alright, you’ve definitely gotten stronger.”

Taking a couple steps forward Rafael moves to the left side of Zadora reaching down to grab at the Roach’s body. Rafael’s own size dwarfing both Zadora and the body of the roach. While it had been hefty for Zadora to drag the body such a distance for a good portion of time, Rafael had no issue picking it up and placing it over his shoulder. All he could do right now was smile at what he had just learned. Zadora was the second strongest in the pack, something he had already known, but now he had confirmation she could really handle herself when he wasn’t around.

“Don’t think I’ll stop worrying though, you’ve got a talent for finding trouble that’s almost as bad as me looking for it.”

Walking over to the cooking area that Zadora used for meats and such that was utilized basically everyday. A brief chuckle is the response that Zadora would get from Rafael in regards to her comment on taste. “You’re able to make basically anything tasty, I’m sure this Roach won’t be any different even if it is quite a strange source for dinner.” Rafael could feel the heat of the corpse on his shoulder, a fact that had him really thinking that Zadora’s lightning may have gotten stronger since he last was tested against it.

“Saved some humans that were out hunting in the same spot as you? Huh wouldn’t have bet on that one. They going to show up here like the ones I saved?”

[Zadora]

Zadora nodded her head in agreement with his words. The roaches have never listened so far. Just like this one had ignored her warning about hunting on the same grounds as herself. “Yeah, I'm alright. The bug did manage to get a hit on me but it's nothing that I can't handle at the moment.” She commented as she watched her friend approach her then pass her to easily the roach body that she struggled with lugging up. Briefly she stared at her friend as he placed the body over his shoulders and thanked the fact that she had fur covering her cheeks.

Blinking when he spoke about her finding trouble. Snorting softly as she moved to follow after him to her cooking area. “You look for trouble far more than trouble finding me Rafael. You know I try to avoid getting into trouble where you like to seek it out. Makes me think that your last name should be trouble.” She spoke, joking softly before giving a small laugh. She worried more about him than she does for herself, but the humans today did make her worry for them when the bug come apon them.

Pausing at her cooking station and looking over everything before turning her head to look at Rafael and blinking once again. “Hmmm I don't think so. They went off in a different direction than I did. Though they did thank me for saving them. They did make it complicated at first when the roach showed up, but they did get out of my way eventually or they would have been in my way and have gotten hurt or possibly killed.”

[Rafael]

“Yeah, yeah joke all you want, once trouble starts finding you though I bet it won’t stop. So better be ready for the next time. Are you sure everything is ok? If you’re heart remember I can fix it.”

Getting over to the cooking area inside the mountain wall. It was fashioned in the same way as the rooms, Rafael had punched and kicked the stone hard enough to break it, enough times that he built squad shaped rooms inside the walls all throughout the valley. The cooking area though he’d made about twice the size of the others with ten feet in depth and ten feet in width giving her more than enough size to sit inside and cook while keeping everything she needs inside.

Tossing the body of the roach to the right where he believed she kept everything out of the way. “My last name trouble huh. Don’t think it sounds too good. Not sure I want one anyway. Just Rafael now. You got something planned? Make him spicy or maybe sour.” Rafael, having no clue how to cook anything beyond putting it on fire and throwing spices on it could only guess at how Zadora made things taste so good. “Well if they do come it’s up to you. You find them you decide but I have no problem as long as they listen. Still gotta figure out what to do with all these people now. Barely any room left. No clue what to have them do."

[Zadora]

Zadora paused briefly at his comment about her being hurt and him fixing it. For a moment she was confused with what he was saying before it finally clicked in her mind what he had meant. Being as she had seldom seen his power that she had briefly forgotten on his power or was it that she was possible confused about what it actually was. She had thought for the longest time that it was his strength but maybe it was different?

“If the pain becomes unbearable or too difficult to manage, I will definitely come to you.” She spoke, watching as he tossed the body of the roach off to the side with little effort. Made her little jealous about his strength. Ears twitched slightly, hearing its body landed heavily on the ground, making a ‘thump’ when it came in contact with the ground. Golden pupils staring at the dead body of the Roach for a moment before she turned to look back at her friend.

“I’m thinking of making it spicy. I’m in the mood for something that is spicy.” She spoke as she glanced to her spices that the dead body of the roach was near, thinking of what spicy that could go with the roach meat... “Your going to leave it up to me to allow them to follow us or not? Are you sure? You’re the leader.... shouldn’t you be making that sort of choice?” she questioned, making sure that he was alright with leaving her with such a choice.

While questioning him about possibly having more humans follow them, she quietly mumbled about how she was going to go about deboning the roach that she knew her first obstacle would be getting its hard shell off. Staring at the body for a moment as her muzzle scrunched up in slight disgust with having to touch the roach again. She hated when it touched her, and she definitely hated when she had to drag and carry it dead body back to her home.

[Rafael]

Rafael was glad to hear that what pain Zadora did have after managing to kill the Roach wasn’t worrying her. If she needed to be healed then he had no problem doing it, he didn’t really have any problem doing it for any of them including the humans, but he wouldn’t hesitate for Zadora. Although he had a love for battle that he didn’t believe any of the others possessed he was excited and happy to know that she’d gotten so strong. When it’d originally taken all three of them to handle just one Roach, Zadora now could handle at least one on her own, a good benchmark that let him know he could rely on her for more than just fantastic tasting food.

Rafeel hadn’t really thought about it all that much, but he was the leader, up to this point he’d just been going about trying to survive with Zadora and Lolth. To make sure they all had enough to eat and could live comfortably, but now with them getting stronger, the Shinigami causing more problems and now all the humans as well. Rafael really was some sort of leader to people that just couldn’t handle the cards they’d been dealt. This was something he’d have to think about and figure out more than just how to get everyone enough space.

“Well if they help you, if they seem good enough to you, I don’t have any problem with them. I trust Zadora. Besides, if some humans go with you to hunt it means you can carry more back with you.” Rafael didn’t know anything about the humans she’d found out there, but he didn’t have any doubt about Zadora being the better hunter when she was better than him. Her speed was something he could only achieve when actually trying, TRYING. So a human doing better didn’t make any sense to him.

He could see that she wasn’t too fond of the Roach body so started to help her prep it to be cooked, placing his hands on the exoskeleton then striking it once to crack it apart. Afterwards it didn’t take much to just start pulling off the shell although the smell was horrific. “Seen some more Beasts, got them to join although one likes water, like Lolth likes the dark. The other doesn’t talk much, but she seems nice. Is there anything I can do to help?”

[Zadora]

Her ears twitched as he spoke, and she listened to the words that he was speaking. Nodding her head slightly in understanding. He did have a point. If she were to have some sort of hunting party, she would be able to bring back more food. If she did bring them back, more food would definitely be needed. Mainly with all that was joining them. “ If I see them again, I will offer them the choice about following and joining our group. ” She spoke as she looked to the river that ran through their home.

“ They would mostly just be meat carriers. Or maybe trappers. But I would probably be the one doing the hunting which I won't mind doing as I do enjoy hunting. Maybe they can help me with the garden, or I can teach them so they can help eventually. Just gotta make sure they are being useful to everyone. ” She added as she stared at the water, watching it run its course through their home.

Twitching slightly as she heard him strike the roach’s dead body. Whipping her head towards him just to see him pulling off the extremely hard exoskeleton that the roach possessed. The smell and sight had her scrunching her nose in disgust before she slightly turned her head to the side. “ Well that has an… interesting smell.” She commented before she took a few small steps back. “Just give me a few moments to get used to the smell that is all. ” She said as she keep her head turned to the side.

“ And that is great that you got some beasts to join the pack. I'm assuming that I will be able to meet them soon?” She asked as she glanced at him for the moment but still stayed a few feet from him and the dead roach so she could get used to the smell that the roach was emitted. “ Maybe I will make that thing into a stew... something to mask the smell of the meat. ” She added with a small laugh.

[Rafael]

Rafael had no problem with everything that Zadora had to say in regards to what he’d brought up regarding the humans she’d come across along with letting them join in their group. Despite having all the new humans following him Rafael really hadn’t gotten used to it. It’d been little more than a few weeks but in that time he’d been trying to figure out how to go from a small group leader, to a leader that looks over almost a full hundred different people. Such a jump wasn’t something he was expecting especially when he hadn’t seen himself even looking after those that had lived in the Rukongai. He was going to do his best regardless as he always did, but Zadora and the others to him were special.

Getting more and more hunters would help in getting enough food, but Rafael had a different plan in the works. One that would definitely benefit from Zadora having her own small group to help her gather food while he can stay around and protect everyone. He’d grown strong enough that even the strongest of the Shinigami didn’t come off as anything unmanageable. Zadora was the second strongest member of the group, but she . . . needed more training. He had to help her reach the next level so his worry could subside even just a bit more. She’d proven herself in a big way by bringing back one of the Roaches. They possessed enough power that the average Shinigami would be helpless, but he knew enough that the Roaches couldn’t hold a candle to the special ones.

“Really? I’m surprised, figured it would have smelled worse when you shocked it. I’ll introduce you to the others during dinner. The humans I understand will take a lot more getting used to but thank you for giving it a chance. Didn’t mean to bring them suddenly. I have something else we need to talk about tonight though. Something I don’t need anyone else hearing besides you and Lolth if she wants to come up from her room.” Rafael makes a joke at the end remarking as if Lolth was the goth introverted sister of the pack. “If you can make this taste good then at least we’ll know of an endless supply of stew meat.”

[Zadora]

She turned her head to look at him as he spoke. She briefly glanced down to the cooked body of the roach beast. Well the thing definitely smelt when she basically fried it from the inside out. But the memory of the humans bowing towards her after she had killed the roach. She had been surprised that they would do such a thing but maybe they were grateful that she had just saved their lives? Maybe that was it but she wasn't even sure if she would even stumble upon the same group of hunters while she was out hunting.

Blinking when she realized that she had drifted off into her thoughts and refocused back onto her friend. Her head tilted to the side as he brought up that he needed to talk to her tonight without the ears of the others around them. Stating that he didn't want anyone to hear but herself and Lolth… If the spider woman would come out of her dark, spider filled room. Shivering slightly at the thought her Lolth's spider filled room.

Turning to face him so he had her full attention. “Alright that is fine with me Rafael. But could I have a little info? Like it's not bad or anything like that?” She asked, confused with his sudden need for a conversation that was strictly between them and possible Lolth if she would come out of her room. And judging by his wording, she felt like it was a serious conversation that he needed to have with them.

[Rafael]

"No nothing that you need to worry about Zadora, just something that I want to talk about."

Rafael knew that it was best that he be on his way for the moment leaving Zadora to start cooking the dinner as she was best without distractions and his level of cooking was stuck at that of a toddler so everyone including himself would rather her cook at all times. Raising up to his monstrous full height once again he gave Zadora a smile and began to walk making sure that he would do his evening rounds. The humans that lived with them now usually had questions about something although whether or not he could answer them was something difficult. "Keep doing what you have been, just protect and provide for everyone." Rafael continuously tells himself knowing full well he had no knowledge of such things even while he'd been human.


Late Night

Almost everyone was asleep in the dead of night with only the stars and moon gracing the pack with light. Rafael had long since trained his eyes to peer through darkness and yet he didn't need to do such a thing right now. Some nights there was no light at all, but tonight was bright enough he could see out a few feet from him. Dinner had gone well and although the Roach wasn't the greatest of meals it had gotten a lot of people fed. Now he just had to wait for Zadora as he stood near the top of the waterfall practicing his transition between one stance to another. The Shinigami he'd been coming across were getting stronger which meant he couldn't slow down even a little otherwise he wouldn't be able to protect anyone.

[Zadora]

She gave a nod of her head when he had told her that is was nothing that she needed to worry about. That it was only something he needed to talk about. Maybe something was on his mind and he needed to talk about? Or maybe he needed advice? Briefly she allowed her mind to wander on what he wanted to talk about. Her right ear flicked to the side, hearing her friend walk away. Turning to the roach body and began to work. Cutting the meat from its body and putting it into small chucks. Doing the same with same with some small veggies to pair with it. Throwing it all onto a pot and put it over the fire, adding some water to it. Making a stew out of to the roach meat. Which was not her favorite out of all the meals she had made. But she knew it was something to fill everyone’s bellies.


NightTime

Nighttime fell and she could hear the few human’s that she was near, snore softly as they dreamed. Her golden gaze glowed softly in the darkness. Letting her see in the darkness. Quickly and quietly she left the area and stood outside the mouth of the cave. Letting her gaze roam over the area. Looking around before she lifted her head to look up the waterfall. Smiling lightly at the running water that shined under the moonlight. At the the top, she could just spot Refael up there. Glancing back into the darkness of the cave before she moved forwards.


Walking to the river, listening to the water run, traveling through their home. Taking a few seconds to allow the calming sound to wash over her before jumping across the river. Landing with a small sound on the other side of the river. Lifting her back back up to look to her friend before she called out. “Refael.” Making sure to glance across the river to look at the cave to make sure that her call didn’t wake anyone. Hearing no sounds coming from the cave, she looked back up towards her friend hoping that he would come down to her.

[Rafael]

This was a problem that had to be solved before it really got out of hand. Since he’d essentially declared that not just him but everyone that he protected was to be left alone by the Shinigami, otherwise he was going to take action against them. He was laying down the law and giving ground rules for his turf. This was something that reminded him of his previous life, but with a major difference. He could recall that many of the teenagers would do the same against others, but it was always in favor or purpose for some illicit activity whether it be selling drugs or gangs.

Rafael didn’t want to fight the Shinigami all the time even if they were, some of them fun. No, he just wanted to make sure they knew to stop pushing them all around and now even the humans he’d saved couldn’t be counted among the followers they allowed to live in a horrific state of depression. Sitting around with no purpose was something that Rafael didn’t want anyone to suffer through and knew now through conversation with the survivors, this was pretty much all they got from the Shinigami. Allowed to live in the rundown, abusive villages known as the Rukongai.

Getting even stronger, strong enough that Two Captains wasn’t his limit. He’d beaten back two of the shinigami’s leaders and yet while facing off against that third, he’d known his limit was approaching. How would he be able to back up his words if all it took was one fourth of their leaders to bring him down? No he had to reach out and grab hold of the strength that lay within his bones. The strength to handle all twelve of the Captains! Such a strength at the moment was unobtainable even in his imagination yet it was something that was essential.

That was why even now when everyone beyond the few night eyes were asleep, even now Rafael was awake putting his muscles and mind to the test. He had to keep practicing his motions until his body could move on its own, to anticipate, react and counter without his consciousness present. Rafael sought the physical strength necessary to never be off guard, to always be ready even should someone manage to knock him out. Striking forward with his left hand for the hundredth time in the dark he heard the voice now below, although it wasn’t easy to hear through the cascading waters of the falls.

Jumping down from the top of the falls was something he could easily accomplish now. When he’d been a human it would have been suicidal and even when his new life had really just started, he doubted he’d survive. Now though he possessed the physical strength necessary to just land on both his feet bending his knees while his massive feet sank into the grass covered ground. Landing only a few feet in front of Zadora he smiled happy that she didn’t oversleep or forget.

It was going to be short, but he had to be sure she was ready and that’s why Rafael would step forward at his full speed in order to try and catch her off guard with a body slam using his chest to knock her backwards. If she didn’t dodge or counter than she’d get knocked several feet away at least, but this surprise training was the only way to make sure she was ready for what troubles were no doubt going to come knocking. Hitting Zadora wasn't something that he ever wanted to do, he'd come to terms with how he felt about her and while he hadn't confessed to her yet the actual fact, he'd just done it felt negative as opposed to the enjoyment he usually got from fighting.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}Strength: 450 (900)
Speed: 450
Spiritual Pressure: 300
Reiatsu Strength: 50 (25)
Light Aura: 75
Dark Aura: 25
Instincts: 350 (700)
Senses: 200 (100)
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0


Muay Boran: 3
Acrobatics: 2
Battle Focus: 3
Pain Tolerance: 3
Strength of Will: 3
Battle Analysis: 3