The Bone Snatch (Fantasy, Open)

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

The Elephant Graveyard was always a dark place in the Outlands. The final resting place of countless elephants over the generations of the great kings, it also served as the stomping grounds of rogues from all species of the savanna, hyena or otherwise. Since the days where magic had more openly entered the Pridelands, some claimed that monsters beyond the understanding of the creatures of Africa had also come into existence.

Various recollections were mere rumors, spoken in hushed tones; others involved isolated incidents that couldn't be proven for or against the existence of the paranormal beings involved. Others still were well-witnessed, and had more than enough solid evidence to prove that, in addition to animals with real powers, there were beings of malign intent that seemed to be more magic than matter.

The late-adolescent lioness Atiya knew of these strange beings from her numerous travels across the Pridelands, Outlands and beyond. But with each new fiend encountered, she couldn't help but feel she was still no expert on monsters. Nevertheless she continued to travel, risking life and limb helping others against such beings. More often she'd run into evil animals controlling sinister magic or with plenty of mundane mooks under their wing. These she knew how to fight. What she didn't always know, however, was how to handle the eldritch creatures she'd encounter sometimes that seemed to defy the nature of flesh-and-blood beings.

Like her current quarry, the so-called Bone Snatch.

A veritable bogeyman (bogey-animal?), this creature appeared to take the form of an oversized, pale jackal with smoldering paws. One eye was always closed, the other an amber-yellow color. As its name implied, the Bone Snatch was claimed to be responsible for the remains of deceased animals to disappear. Rumor also had it that the Bone Snatch liked to appear in the peripheral vision of the mourning, before making their dead vanish into thin air when they least expected it. One day, a small group of hyenas had been chased out of the Elephant Graveyard, claiming to have been assaulted by this very same monster; the rumors spread further, and investigators were called for.

So there Atiya was as one of the investigators, having arrived around midday, on a ghost hunt for a creature that may or may not exist. In a region known for rogue lions and dangerous hyenas. The lioness couldn't help but feel like she was throwing her life away, but someone had to dispel the rumors, or even put an end to the ghoulish being. It might as well have been an Ash Pride member, who believed they were watched over by a lion goddess from a desert land... especially one who had, by the grace of her goddess, real magic herself.

[Voidborne]

Shade was walking throught the Elephant Graveyard searching for prey or rests of dead animals, she flicked her ears for any sound, Shade heard the sound of paces, her paws got fired with dark fire that she created, Shade raced towards the one that was wandering by the Elephant Garveyard, as she get where the ''enemy'' that she heared, she jumped towards, Atiya and growled, Shade pinned her down, baring her teeth, she then recongized, the lioness it was the same she
helped a long ago, when she was with Usuki, she got off her and said ''Oh sorry, i thought you was a enemy or something else or worst the Bone Snatch''

[cheezeegriff]

Figgy loved the elephant graveyard. It made his imagination run wild, and when his imagination flared his inventions became even better.
"Almost done," he said to Arty. Arty didn't reply. Couldn't reply, for he was just a construct - one of Figgy's inventions. The collection of bones from various creatures including a gazelle, a monkey and a hyena, tied together with twine and imbued with magic so he - it, really - did Figgy's bidding. But there were bigger bones in the elephant graveyard, and bigger bones meant bigger constructs.
"and... there!" he said, putting the last grass rope into place. Figgy didn't know how it happened - it just did - but as soon as he had finished the elephant bones began to move, disturbing earth and dust and the bones of hyenas as it lumbered to its feet. He had made it from good, strong elephant bones, and Figgy had largely left it in the shape of a giant elephant. He felt his heart well with excitement as it took its first, shaky step.
"Yes! That's it... walk forward, take it slow," he said. He didn't need to speak to it really, but as he was often alone it helped him maintain what little sanity he had. "That's it. Careful of the elephant skull... step around it. AROUND it. Good. Now-"
Just then he heard a roar - a lion's roar, by the sound of it. Perhaps a lioness. Instinctively he crouched down, his roly-poly body kissing the earth, and Arty clambered up onto one shoulder. He listened further but heard nothing, and raised a paw to pat his bony little friend.
"Shh. It's probably just some lions. Friendly lions. In the elephant graveyard." It didn't sound convincing to his own ears. "Should we go see?" he said. Arty nodded - because, like a puppeteer, Figgy had told him to nod. The as-of-yet-unnamed elephant skeleton assumed stealth mode and followed Figgy as he stalked - as well as a roly-poly lion like himself could stalk - towards the source of the noise.

[macam]

Kupanuliwa gathered his wits about him as he continued to tread through the elephant graveyard. The body of an Giraffe, face of an Orynx and haunches of a Zebra moving from place to place with a most discreet nature. Why the rare creature, known usually for its ability to hide would seek such a place seemed baffling on the surface. Completely contradictory to survival instincts. There were lions, and hyenas and who knew what else roaming around searching for anything at all. Yet, here he was, in an area that provided less than optimal cover and full of potential threats. What could cause such a timid creature to approach such a place, let alone venture through it?

The answer, though strange was simple for Kupanuliwa; He was here to gather bones. Why bones? They happened to make a key ingredient in many of his potions who's effects varied wildly. All of them however were made with a single purpose; to help Kupanuliwa himself evade capture and sighting if at all possible. The graveyard just happened to be a plentiful source of bones lying around for him to forage for. Of course if possible one would always forage for the highest quality bones, just short of looting the fresh or near fresh dead. After all, looting the fresh dead was quite disrespectful to the circle of life even if he himself had reservations about his own role. Such bones of high quality which also did not break said rule were becoming increasingly harder to find however. He was being forced to travel deeper than he'd like, come into near contact with Lions and Hyenas more often and exhaust his usually healthy supply of Potions in an ironic feedback loop.

Rumors of the Bone Snatch had reached his ears before, though previously he chalked up such reports as mis-identifications. He did collect bones but would not snatch them oh no. Snatching them would imply he takes them from someone and out here everyone would only be all too happy to make his acquaintance, for most of the wrong reasons. Bones were still aplenty and while still dangerous it was all manageable. However as the days passed by he would find himself increasingly interrupted by unexpected encounters with other residents of the area. No call too close but definitely more so than his normal liking. He could only hope that soon, whomever or whatever was behind this series of escalations was caught. In the meantime, being careful would be the best he could do.

The Okapi's face bore a small grin, finding himself in a small, isolated clearing with passages leading outwards who's bones seemed at least on the surface to appear relatively clean and quality. He'd take a glance around, making note of potential escape routes or how he could navigate the clearing most carefully. His pack of travel, containing motar and pestle along with ingredients required for mixing slumped across his back as he proceeded inwards. "Sweet" he would silently mutter to himself contently. "You can do this Nuli...just take your time" the okapi would remind himself on an almost continuous basis. Some bones would rustle slightly or clatter some as he approached his intended targets though to the Okapi the sounds themselves didn't seem loud enough to draw any attention. He had also not picked up any scents nearby beforehand. His temptation getting to him as he quickened his pace, the thought of slightly more noise being insignificant to the collection of bones and subsequent departure as he began to hunch down and reach forth to collect...

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

Caught by surprise, Atiya roared out in surprise, gritting her fangs and, similar to a will-o-wisp, conjuring a ball of flame above her that followed her body to the ground. With the fireball hanging in the air, inches from the dusty earth beneath her, she blinked as the dark-furred lioness recognized her. "...Shade?" she inquired. "Goodness, you've got a rather direct way of handling threats, don't you?"

Rolling back over and willing away the mystical flame, she shook herself out. "Either way, fancy meeting you here... so you've heard of the Bone Snatch yourself, huh? And here I thought I was one of the few foolish enough to go hunting for them. Surely that's not why you're here though, right?" She paused, then continued a second later, "...you seem like you can handle yourself, but be careful on what you pounce, okay? Some sickly-looking monsters called ghouls often look just like predators, or any animal really... nasty things..."

She looked about. "Anyway, it might be better not to stay in the same spot for long... that definitely made noise, and fiends or not, it's never safe to linger in this place for long. Plus, I can't help but feel we're not alone..."

[macam]

The Okapi was not expecting such displays in the realm of silence that had accompanied him since his most recent venture. To say it was a surprise would be an understatement. He soon found himself hurling towards the floor of bones beneath him. His body striking at them with a solid impact, snapping a few of them in the process and sending rattling noises from others. To his greater distraught, some of the potions he was carrying with him had most definitely been shattered and were leaking. He could only hope that none of the particularly expensive ones were damaged.

Kupanuliwa knew at this point that any time he had was short. If there was a creature capable of making THAT noise nearby then he had little choice in the matter. As quickly as his now frantic heart could, he began to pick up bones with increasing pace. It didn't matter how loud or silent they were. The only thing this okapi needed was to leave the area as soon as possible. "Why on the nicest days does this even happen!" the okapi would silently curse himself as he spoke. "Faster Faster come on...I just need a little bit more time....give me that at least" he begged with a non existent adversary.

[cheezeegriff]

Figgy was no climber, but he'd managed to scuffle onto a small ridge overlooking much of the graveyard. Hidden amongst bones as he was, he could still see the two lionesses beneath him, but also behind them in the near-distance, he could see an okapi rummaging in the bones and dirt. Instantly his stomach growled, but Figgy's hunting used a lot more magic than it did brawn, and he had used most of his grass roots to make his elephant-bone construct. He crouched back out of sight.
"What do I do, Arty?" he said. Arty looked at him intently. "If I tell them I'm here, they might attack me. If I don't make myself known they might discover me and think I'm up to no good." Which, if he really thought about it, he was. Nobody liked seeing their long-dead relatives brought back to life with twisting twigs and vines. He sighed. This close, he wasn't going to stay hidden for long. And from the fractions of conversation he heard Figgy had learned they were just as worried about discovery as him.
Plus, it had been a long while since he'd seen or spoken to a lioness.
Reluctantly he stood to full view, doing his best to suck in his stomach to hide his immense girth. It didn't help much. Arty, as if forgotten, slumped into nothing more than a pile of grass and bones beside him. "Uhh, excuse me," he said, gently as he could while still being heard by the two lionesses below. "I'm just letting you two know I'm here, and that I don't mean any danger or pose any threat or anything. Or vice versa. My name's Figgy. Figaro. But call me Figgy."

[Voidborne]

Shade flicked her ear and responded at her ''Yes, i don't trust in anyone, i just trust on my brother, Usuki and you like a bit'' Shade heard Figgy's voice and said ''I always knew you where here, Figgy, i can feel everybody's aura energy, i won't attack you, but if you do
i will claw your eyes off, go and show yourself, just don't try to attack me'' she flicked her tail for any response of the one that was hidden her red-fired
eyes glowed, awating for Figgy to show himself.

[macam]

The sounds from what he could tell had mostly died down. Maybe it was a false alarm, or the "Bone Snatch" got him, or her, or them. Kupanuliwa cared not for the reason. His pack saddled on his back now slumped on the ground, he began to rummage through its contents with both fear and hope. A small sigh coming from him as he began to discard the shattered parts of broken beakers and jars. "Damn it...Not like this" he muttered in disappointment. While most seemed in tact, a few of his more elaborate concoctions had been destroyed or otherwise ruined in his fall. He'd have to recreate them some other time. For now he began to make space for new bones to eventually grind for his alchemical habits. During this process he'd be relatively less on on guard than usual as he attempted to fix the most bones he could without damaging any more of his elixirs.

[cheezeegriff]

Show myself? Figgy thought. She can't see me?
To make himself more obvious, Figgy stepped down the slope, only his footing slipped and instead he tumbled down sideways, his generally round shape assisting in his speedy, dusty descent. Finally he sat, coughing as the dust cleared. If he hadn't just been threatened - or, perhaps, if he'd been in a more pleasant setting - he would have laughed off his misfortune with a joke. As it was he tried to maintain a causual air as he shook dust from his paw and said, "So, uh, do you ladies come here... much?" He looked at their pretty, stunned faces, and if the ground would swallow him he might even thank it.

[macam]

The nearby Okapi was beginning to put the finishing touches on his latest haul. He'd discarded most of his broken potions and the bones to be ground later had been organized into his pack. The bigger matter was the nature of potential scent trails at this rate as he wrapped up. Kupanuliwa would gather some dirt and other items such as tumbleweeds, applying and dashing them to his pack to remedy this issue. He'd also lather it some with his tongue to try and further neutralize such trails. He'd take a look around a few more times with ears open to listen for any movements. Once satisfied he would sling the pack across his back and began to make his way through the left over bones once more to find a way out near the way he entered assuming some degree of safety.

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

Atiya blinked as she saw the overweight lion appear before the two of them. "Well then", she said aloud, unsure of what to think of the one before her. "You're not some sort of stalker, are you? And might I ask, what are you doing here yourself? The Outlands are dangerous, but you must know that already?" She canted her head, expecting an answer back, but after a second or two un-tilted her head and continued.

"Wait. Shade, you know this one?" Atiya blinked again. "Huh". Turning back to Figaro, she then asked, "Tell me, then. How good are you in a scrap? Surely you've had to fight prey that wasn't compliant to being eaten, right? Well, what about other predators...?"

---

Kupanuliwa the Okapi would surely cut his losses regarding the items removed from his pack, and would definitely attempt to hide his trail. However, it seems he wasn't quite as alone as he could have been. There was a scent of carrion in the air, and the reek of rotting flesh seemed to be getting gradually stronger...

[macam]

The Okapi's ears would droop, his nose twitch uncontrollably and his head jerk forward as a most foul smell began to permeate into his lungs. "Gah...what is that awful smell? It wasn't here before", he'd remark as his eyes desperately searched for the source of the smell. He hadn't eaten in a while but if he had the contents of his stomach would likely spill out in disgust. The smell of death was not new to him but there was something about this particular scent which was driving the mammal mad. His breathing was gradually becoming labored a fact not lost onto him.

Discontent with his own visual search he again began to make movements to leave the area if now only to escape that horrid smell plaguing his senses. Yet, as he would do so he could not help but feel a faint....presence. A chill in the air that felt unnatural almost omen like. He was not alone. There was someone or something there with him. He'd lingered too long for his own good and now was under immediate risk of consequence as the hoofed mammal began to wander and pace towards areas he believed to be free of the smell. Every second passing by triggering some sort of vague physical reaction from his body as the scent persisted.

[cheezeegriff]

Figgy withstood the barrage of questions from the seemingly-confused lioness with an ever-increasingly cocked eyebrow. His smile slowly crept up the side of his face, and he got to his feet and walked - well, waddled - over slowly. "Well, I'm certainly not as good a stalker as you two. I'm not built for stalking, really. Scraps I can do in a pinch, but I prefer full meals. Are you a good stalker who prefers scraps? Do you have any scraps?" He put on his most charming smile. "It's a strange place to be offering people scraps though, isn't it? Why are you here?" he said, looking between the two of them, then leaned in close. "I hear there's a mysterious animal around here, stealing bones. I hear he's made of the bones he took from his victims. More lightheartedly he added, "But I hear it only attacks those who come alone. So if we stick together we should be safe, right?" Then he looked at them quizzically. "Why would you come here?"

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

Hearing the tubby lion's own assault of questions, the adolescent tried to reply as best she could. "Em... not quite the 'scraps' I meant... I was referring to handling oneself in a fight, my dear lion". Pausing, she continued a moment later, "And, you've also heard of that strange jackal being? That's actually why I'm here... I took it upon myself to investigate, and see if I could find anything. In all fairness, I probably shouldn't have come alone, given the rumors about that thing..."

[cheezeegriff]

"So you don't have any scraps?" Figgy said, then shook his head. "Sorry. Humour's something I do when I'm... nervous. And when I'm not, but more when I am. But this place makes me nervous." He gave them a shifty look - he didn't really want to admit that two lionesses made him more nervous than this spooky place. He avoided the question about fighting. "So you're here for the bone snatch?" he said, looking about as if it might appear at any moment. "I've heard it was in these parts. Haven't seen him myself. Just heard hyenas and the like talking about him." He cleared his throat. "I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Figgy. Adventurer and inventor, extrordinaire." He took a bow as low as his great belly would allow and, on the way up, flicked out a paw to grab Shade's paw and kissed it gently. He then did the same to Atiya. "It is wonderful to see other lion's faces. Especially those such as... erm... beautiful, as yours." He referred to them both. "Not to sound like a stalker or anything. If you're after the bone snatch I'd love to tag along. I love a good mystery and I won't be any trouble. I'll stay out of your way if any fighting's needed." Part of his brain was shouting PLEASE PLEASE LET ME STAY AROUND JUST A LITTLE WHILE, but he did his best to make sure that part didn't have control of his tongue.

[macam]

Kupanuliwa's situation was on the other hand still in a state of some deterioration. It seemed that the smell was everywhere. He was at the point where he was physically gagging some with every breath as he became ever desperate to seek a way out. He couldn't see the source of the smell, only pick it up by scent which made it all the more aggravating. Whatever it was he wanted no part of it. Not a single one of the increasingly overt symptoms he was feeling was a positive one. Nausea, Fatigue, blurry vision, muted hearing...the list was only getting bigger and the Okapi was struggling to maintain a coherent throughout the whole ordeal. "Have to..keep moving." He'd mutter some as he pushed himself onward through bone and rock cautiously taking breaths in the hopes of being guided to cleaner scents. His steps losing some semblance of balance. His coughs, starting out small, slowly growing louder as he traveled though he doubted loud enough for anyone a fair distance away, which he presumed most others were to hear him.

[cheezeegriff]

"Hey look, here comes a meal," Figgy said, as a striped zebra-thing stumbled towards them. It looked distressed, Figgy thought. A war started inside him: he really wanted to see what was bothering the odd creature, but he was also rather hungry - there weren't many prey animals in the graveyard, usually - and he had a policy of not talking to people he planned to eat. He bit his lip, thinking, before finally his stomach won. He said to the lionesses, "anyone fancy sharing a meal? I, for one, am starving."

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

Listening to Figaro's words, Atiya wasn't entirely sold on letting him come along. She was one to work alone, really -- the less people she traveled with, the less she'd have the risk of failing, and the more she'd rely on and refine her own talents. But when the rotund lion mentioned his being an inventor, the lioness smiled in pleasant surprise. She blushed a bit under her sandy fur as she received a peck to her paw, and couldn't help but let out a pleasant chuckle. "Huh! Quite a gentle-beast, I see? Well met, then. I am Atiya, a fellow adventurer and am under the wing of the mighty spirits of Kemet... er, I think they call it 'Egypt'? The desert lands to the far north of the Pridelands".

Noticing the attention shift to the hustling Okapi, the adolescent was curious more than hungry. She'd eaten prior, a simple and quick meal but one that she had hoped wouldn't be her last. Either way, she was glad her stomach was settled, as while the giraffe-related, zebra-like beast rushed in their direction, a downwind caught the scent of something that almost made her gag.

A stale, but pungent, scent of death... somehow mixed with an odor of uncanny, living filth. A peculiar odor, but one that the lioness was unfortunately familiar with by now. "...by Netjer, that fool's stumbled upon ghouls!" Her eyes widened. "I don't see them, but I'm dang sure I caught their reek. We can't let him get eaten alive by those things".

Speeding off to meet with Kupanuliwa, she called out to him, "Don't be afraid of me, I mean no harm! But those fiends chasing you sure do!" That said, the young lioness, despite catching a lucky scent of the wicked beings, still couldn't particularly see them. When the zombie-like monstrosities catch wind of living prey or rotting flesh, they tend to be anything but subtle... so how come Atiya nor Kupanuliwa couldn't see them giving chase...?

[macam]

The stench seemed to go on forever and ever. Just what exactly had happened to him? What was following him. He'd do just about anything to get rid these horrible feelings. Anything except of course join up with one lion, let alone three. While the voice sounded well intentioned enough, his vision would relay another story to him. One far less positive as the Okapi took a surprise gasp and gagged on it subsequently. "N-N-No! Keep away from me!" he'd yell back as he turned himself around to flee in another direction. "I don't need your help! Leave me alone!"

Just his luck to run into Lions of all things. Not as bad as Hyenas, but...they were still Lions and he was still not a lion and definitely not a carnivore. What the heck where ghouls anyway? He hadn't even seen one, they just smelled really bad. For him it'd seem to better risk it with them than lions, though he wasn't looking forward to meeting something so horrid as it stood. The lioness alone that called out to him was speeding towards him regardless, whereas the ghouls were nowhere to be found. He was being hunted! Almost surely with little doubt.

[Voidborne]

Shade just looked at Figgy, with her red-fire eyes, she greeted him ''It's good to see another lion here, and not an hyena'' Shade's tone was a bit cold, like always, before she could trust someone, it wasn't her fault to act like this, Akarius almost corrupted her, but she didn't let him corrput her, the only thing she could learn from Akarius, was that before she could trust someone else, first that someone else, will need to gain it's trust. As Figgy kissed her paw, she blushed hard under dark-fur, but not showing interest on him,  her blush growed at bit harder when he said her face was beautiful ''If he says i'm cute, i will tear him apart!'' Shade didn't like others to call her cute, she wanted to make others fear of her, to don't mess with her.

When Figgy, found an okapi, she followed him, she just glanced at the okapi and sai nothing, Shade had no crush or something elese, Atiya looked to had a crush on him, Shade flicked her ears, annoyed.

[cheezeegriff]

Figgy was inclined to agree with the stripey creature. "I wouldn't want my help either," he said, shuffling along as fast as his roly-poly body would allow. "And why don't we want him to get eaten? Sure, eaten alive is quite a nasty way to go, but... far be it from me... to deny a hunter his meal just ... because... of the way he eats!"
Figgy was getting breathless, and everyone else was getting ahead. Everyone except Shade, who hadn't moved much at all. As the stripey creature and Atiya got out of sight, he stopped too, swallowing embarrassment. Then a wry grin crossed his cheeks. "Hey," he said. "Want to see something cool?"
Figgy looked up to the ridge, where a little creature made of bones but covered in vines and leaves darted out towards him. It had a monkey's body but the head and horns of an ibex. Following was a much larger creature - an elephant skeleton, with more bones and less vines, lumbered out from behind the ridge and skidded to a dusty halt beside him. It lowered itself down and Figgy walked around the back, climbing inside the ribcage. Holding onto the ribs for purchase he said to Shade, "Hey. Want a ride in my latest... 'invention'?" He grinned broadly.

[AtiyaTheSeeker]

The lioness couldn't begin to explain why she wanted to help the okapi even if she tried. Figaro made a very valid point -- why interrupt a predator's natural means to feed? Atiya knew that those killed by ghouls sometimes rose as new ghouls themselves, and that they tended to eat their victims in a rather sadistic manner. But none of that mattered to her; predator beings or not, Atiya's beliefs that these ghouls were sick perversions against the Circle of Life, and proved a threat to even once-apex predator species themselves. It was one thing to happen upon the eaten remains of one's relatives... but to see those same remains shambling forth, ready to eat the relatives in question? Atiya perished the thought.

She said nothing more, but snarled and bared her teeth. Even if the giraffe-relative beast didn't trust her, as well he shouldn't trust a lion, it didn't matter to her. Out of thin air, a swirling orb of smokeless flame, roughly the size of a mango, sizzled its way into existence. "Grrrr... show yourselves, you cowardly demons! By desert gods and kings of the past, I command it!"

And, as if she had such power to dispel their illusion, the monsters did.

A few feet away from Kupa, the ghouls came into being. They resembled hyenas, yes, but the semblance of natural life was utterly gone from their bodies. Their paw pads and other bared flesh were a sickly pale-green; their fur was coming out in clumps; their eyes were glazed over as if blind... or dead. Clear evidence of past unhealed wounds marred their bodies, but they were undaunted by such injuries -- now, only hunger and bloodshed was their only reason to be. Turning tail from Atiya's advancements, the ghouls leaped at the okapi, yellowed fangs bared. Letting out a roar, Atiya's fireball propelled itself through the musty air, streaking like a shooting star and exploding in the face of one of the ghouls... but two more were soon upon Kupanuliwa, trying to pin him down and snap at his haunches.

[Voidborne]

Shade, seeing the demons, their sharp claws came out, and their eyes blazed, amentiously, towards the ghouls '' Not again, these damn idiotic creatures! '' Shade growl showing his teeth, dangerously, his fur hissed, making her Tto see bigger than she normally was, and more with her split ear, her scars and eyes of fire.



Shade, then roared "Why don't you better leave ?!" Being at the head of the group, she grumble again "Why not better, come and attack me, if you are not so cowardly !?" When Atiya attacked , It instantly ran quickly towards them, jumping, creating a great ball of black fire, and rushed towards them, roaring and scratching.



Shade, saw a ghoul approaching Atiya, used his black magic to create an ivy, threw it at the beast, picked it up by the foot, and made the ivy lift it, throw it to the sides without releasing it, Make him stick to the ground, then Shade, made the ivy throw him into a ghoul heading towards Figgy.

[macam]

The Okapi was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Both of them having rather sharp teeth and a particular taste for the living. The only difference to him seemed to be that one side was dead and the other not quite yet. Even as the flight response began to kick into full gear for the Okapi, the combination of the putrid sense killing smell from the ghouls and the sheer heat and force of the fireball. it was next to impossible for him to focus. It was perhaps this confusion that was more danger than anything. With his body and mind having decided on flight, when the pair of ghouls descended upon him in attempts to pin him he found himself without defense. His haunches were still running despite mostly being brought down to the ground. He'd flail and roll around aimlessly and without much direction as his weak vocal chords began to shrill out. If he had been bitten, he didn't know as the adrenaline continued to pump. All he knew was that he didn't feel pain and the ghouls looked like they were still trying to get a bite in.