Someone Has A Death Wish

Quill and Talyssa moved silently through the dense, island forest, their paws making almost no sound on the thick carpet of leaves and sand. The moon was high, casting an eerie glow on the ancient trees around them. Quill, led the way, his mind was filled with memories of his father's kingdom, now abandoned and forgotten by most. But not by him. Back when he was a child, his father had been infallible. No longer. Chimera was dying, last he'd heard. Kings didn't live forever.

They reached a clearing where the wooden compound stood, half overgrown with vines and moss. Quill looked back at Talyssa, her golden fur shining under the moonlight, her blue eyes filled with curiosity and trust. He had told her stories about this place, the kingdom his father once ruled with twisted morals and an iron fist. Now, it was a shadow of its former self, a silent testament to a past glory.

"We'll rest here for the night," Quill said, his voice a low growl.

Talyssa nodded and nuzzled against him, seeking warmth and reassurance. They found a sheltered spot in Quill's old bedroom, of all places, and curled up together. Quill kept his ears perked, listening to the sounds of the night. He wanted to relax, to enjoy this moment with Talyssa, but something felt off.

As the night deepened, Quill's instincts began to prick at him. He lifted his head, sniffing the air. A scent caught his nose, foreign and dangerous. He looked around, his eyes narrowing. In the distance, he saw movement – shadows creeping closer. His heart pounded as he realized they were being watched.

"Stay close to me," he whispered to Talyssa, his voice tense.

She nodded, sensing the danger. Quill stood up, his muscles tensing, ready for a fight. He saw them now, a band of roving slavers, their eyes gleaming with malice as they closed in on the couple. Their leader, a burly wolf with a notched ear, stepped forward, grinning wickedly.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the leader sneered. "A pretty little thing like her could fetch a nice price."

Quill bared his teeth, a deep growl rumbling in his throat. "Touch her and you're choosing death," he warned.

The slaver laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "And who's going to stop us? You?"

Without waiting for an answer, the slavers lunged. Quill met them head-on, his claws flashing and teeth snapping. He fought with a ferocity born of desperation, every strike aimed to protect his woman. The air was filled with the sounds of snarling, yelping, and the clash of bodies.

Quill took down the first attacker with a swift bite to the throat, but more kept coming. He felt a sharp pain as one of the slavers raked his side with claws. Ignoring the pain, he spun and lunged at the assailant, his jaws closing around the wolf's leg and snapping it with a sickening crunch.

He could feel Talyssa behind him, her presence a mix of comfort and urgency. The leader of the slavers circled around, his eyes fixed on Talyssa. Quill saw the movement and launched himself at the leader, but the other slavers grabbed him, holding him back. The leader approached Talyssa, his grin widening.

"Looks like your protector is a bit tied up," he taunted.

Quill struggled against the wolves holding him, his eyes burning with rage. "Run, Talyssa!" he shouted, then snapped his jaws shut on the face of the nearest wolf holding him back. The brute squealed in pain, the high pitched sound drawing the attention of the leader.

Seizing the distraction, Quill broke free from his captors with a powerful burst of strength. He launched himself at the leader, his teeth sinking into the slaver's throat. They tumbled to the ground, the leader struggling desperately, but Quill's grip was relentless. With a final, savage twist, he ended the slaver's life.

The remaining slavers hesitated, their resolve wavering as they saw their leader fall. Quill stood over the body, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his jaws. Mismatched eyes were wild, daring any of them to come closer.

"Who's next?" he growled.

The slavers exchanged nervous glances before turning and fleeing into the night, their courage shattered. Quill watched them go, ensuring they were truly gone before turning to Talyssa. He moved quickly to her side, raising one paw to her cheek and assessing her for any damage.

Quill winced as he felt the pain from his wounds, but he shook his head. "I'll be fine," he said. "Are you okay?"

They settled back down upon the old mattress and furs, Quill keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The danger had passed for now, but he knew they couldn't stay here. The compound wasn't safe enough to stay in for longer than a night. Really, they should leave immediately, but the battle had taken a great deal of his strength. He would rest for a time then they would be on their way.

As they lay there, the bloodied brute curled around his woman, Quill realized that he had been scared. Scared. Him. Not afraid of fighting or afraid of death, but afraid that Talyssa would be hurt or captured. The man's heart beat hard in his chest and he looked down upon the resting fae with blue and pink eyes. "Talyssa..." he spoke tentatively, his usual gruff tones much softer than normal. He hoped that she was asleep. Part of him hoped, anyway. "I believe that I love you, Talyssa Carpathius," he spoke softly, curling himself around her more tightly. Just a little rest and they could be gone.

Quill Quilin Klein