As Azazel walked along he felt the tug of grass on his worn leather boots some long stray weeds pulling at his black pants even. He felt this was right but had no way to prove his assumption other than to test it in the only greenery close to him. He ordered the children all be placed on the ground around him and like that of a Grimm tale they were he gingerly knelt down not paying mind to the slight tearing in his shirt from the hooker bones of his shoulder blades. He placed the creature in the grass at the center of the children.
He felt the unusual pull of the greenery around him as it almost snatched her from his arms and in an instant she was enveloped. Vines curving around her gracefully and cooling taught over her slinger form. Envelopingher and all the children in hollow cocoons. The gasps from the mothers and sudden cry's didn't shake him as they'd been the ones to refuse to release these children and in them were enveloped as well.
"Lay still!" He ordered as he heard their pained cry's from jerking under the weight of their vegetation. "This is the deity of the harvest. She will save you but only if you let her." He said sternly. He turned to leave but not before ordering the nights to keep a careful watch on them. He had to leave soon before it was too late.
Greeting Isabella at the door he told her to watch as well and use any means necessary to keep the creature here if she was to wake before he returned. With a cute nod and a withered glance she agreed.
"Sire? Are you leaving so soon?"
She asked hesitantly fumbling with her fingers as if anxious. "Yes little witch I must leave to alleviate this urge before more people here suffer at my hands." With that he turned away and walked into the forest to trek further away from the confines of his estate.
He walked til dark fell and the agony of the bones piercing his skin was too much. With a huff of frustration he tore away his shirt as if to free himself of the constriction. The muscles in his well honed body rippled and corded sinew writhed under his skin as his back was pierced with bones jutting out from his ribs on either side. His screams felt empty as he hit his knees clawing at the Misshapened Formation of grotesque wings clattered around him before rising high in the air around him.
His eyes began to ooz a shimmering black gloss over his once blue irises his body was no more human like than a decayed corpses was. His corded muscles taut around grayish bones peeking up through his skin at the joints his face contorted as jagged horns penetrated his temples before curling back over his ears in a ram like spiral. His body began to let off steam as if the Luke warm air were burning him.
Finally after hours of the tortured siege on his body a low thrum of a ghastly growl emanated from his chest to his lips. A seam in his skin was formed to adjust his human jaw wider for the unsightly black jagged teeth that cleanly rowed his now gaping hungry mouth.
His thoughts muddled from hunger to restraint as he scoured the lower countryside looking for the damned and flesh of the ones who dared to betray the gods. Acting like their rabid hound sniffing out miles of land to take the sin and wash the earth of it with blood of the sinners.
Before long he had mangled his way through a band of petty thieves though still not feel satiated at the prospect. He tore out the throats of those who fought back before savoring the light draining from their eyes as another brighter light came forth from their core only to be greedily snatched up by his sharp boned fingers.
He held a soul that was so distorted by sin it's light was ominous as almost delectable as he dropped in into his gaping maul. He had five days to scour and his gluttony was a whore when it came to the sweet taste in his mouth. He reveled for days in the blood shed and violence only leaving one soul unscathed from the bandits he'd eagerly hunted.
A boy of about fifteen still in terror at this monster that had just devoured his comrades. Slumped against a large tree he quaked in fear as Azazels eyes,gleaming bright in the moon light, caught his. The six wings at his back clattered and folded in on them selves and he moved across the ground like a beast to come closer to the boy.
His eyes bored as he was aware that this child's soul was not yet tainted by the sins like his departed comrades. Azazel shook in anger at the child's foolishness before clasping the child's face in his hand struggling not to crush his jaw with the force.
"Do not forsake us child or you too will know an end in blood. For your soul has time yet." He all but growled out before fleeting away on the hunt his body urged him to continue.
—back at Leoren city of Anathema—
Inari stirred slightly feeling warmth envelop her. Her body shimmering from the contact or the earth beneath her. Her long Tresses shined anew with the much needed Nutrients from her mother. The vines tone loosely clung to her bare body as she began to grow restless. She shifted to rise up. Her eyes berated by heavy rays of light all around her.
When her vision focused she saw children slumbering all around some with their mothers others peacefully adrift in her vines. Rings of purple hued flowers blossomed around the cocoons. She smiled humbly realizing her mother had somehow helped these ailing babes mend with her. A warm flutter crossed her heart before her situation struck a cord or anger in the bottom of her stomach.
She hastily looked around catching wearily eyes of men clad in armor that seemed to match that of the blue eyed thing that so crudely stolen her away from het home after shooting her in the chest with a damned arrow. Her lilac eyes became a brazened violet as she willed her self to shift back and run home to tend to her creatures.
But to no avail her body would not form over her she had nothing but soft yet firm alabaster skin that seemed to scorn her more.
She arose standing tall her hair whipping around her bare body as she bathed in the suns glow like a unblemished flower.
Just then Isabella stepped out of the door to the side garden, wondering what all the commotion was about the guards seemed both weary and awe stricken as she half watched them from the kitchens window.
Then hers and the deity's eyes met and she was struck with the realization that this was not good.
"My lady." Isabella spoke as firmly as she could as she slowly made her way to the tall creature, passing by the knights who seemed both uncomfortable and ready to attack. She held her hand up to them before unsnapping the strap around her neck and slipping off her long robe. Inari peered at the young girl who was clad in a knee length black dress with long sleeves and red woolen stockings. Her long tawny hair glowing like stoked fire and her eyes a deep blue unlike the male she'd seen.
Isabella reached out to give the tall creature her robs though not sure id it would be of much help do to her too stature but it would at least keep the knights from drooling.
"Please put this on my lady. Humans are not accustomed to nudity like we are." Isabella said tenderly and her eyes lit up when Inari moved to take the garment. As she drew her arms into it Isabella was right but it was good enough for now.
The spacious black sleeves that had reached Isabella's wrists merely sat just below the creatures elbows and the hem that had been past her own knee were just low enough to cover the creatures immodest form. Inari looked around her at the children still slumbering and waved a hand her sharp nails not amiss to Isabella's keen eyes.
The vines loosened and dropped before creating rings around each body as they did so one by one each child stirred to life waking as if they'd been asleep for ages. The two mothers of babes sitting up in disarray only being comforted by the small cries of their infants stirring back to life in their arms.
The garden began to hum with life flowers blooming in full, trees once withered sprang to life with green vegetation. And Isabella watched in awe at the magnificent display of life this creature brought about.
Before Inari could turn fully to address the tawny haired child a warm hand clasped hers as the visage of a human women clutching a babe close to her bosom came into Omari's view. Taken aback at this she hesitated glancing at her wearily before the women broke out into a cry of thanks.
"I don't know who you are madam but you are a blessing among us. I am forever thankful to your spender. You have saved my child and many other and I am forever in you debt." Her words crisp with glee and pain at once. Inari bent down and cradled the women and her babe in her arms the women quaked and clutched at the robe draped around Inari still mumbling praises.
All the children wondered over to hold onto a piece of Inaris garb some younger just sitting beside her content with picking flowers and twining them together before offering her a crown of purple blossoms. She reluctantly accepted unused to the affections of mortals.
After a moment all the children were hurried away to their family's after thanking and adoring Inari. She stood tall once more her gaze falling on a beaming smile the tawny haired child was giving her. "My lady! My name is Isabella Acheros. It is my pleasure to serve you. May I know your name?"
She chimed quizzically.
Inari was a bit hesitant as not many humans recognized her as a deity and she had been forgotten in her followers prayers long ago.
"Inari. My name is Inari." She spoke softly her voice that of honey in the air. Isabella motioned for Inari to follow her inside and Inari obliged but only because she seems to be safer from the prying eyes of the knights. Their gaze left much to be desired as she was not accustomed to the lustful greediness of human males eyes.
Isabella led her to a spacious kitchen where three other servants were already preparing a meal of cooked lamb and barley with a small side serving of various fruits. Inaris mouth almost watered. 'When was the last time I ever felt hunger' she wondered. Looking at the small feast before her.
Isabella smiled and pulled out a chair for Inar and she sat across from her with a simple plate of grains and vegetables. "Please sit you must be truly famished! Being asleep for five days is practically unheard of for humans so please eat." Inari did as asked and began to pick the meat up with her hands before greedily chomping down on it like a small animal would. Isabella struggled to keep down a laugh as she watched Inari eat hastily and within moments her plate was cleaned.
Seeming to notice the incredulous look Isabella's was giving " what is wrong?" She asked in genuine wonder. Only then did Isabella laugh at the spectacle. " please forgive my lady Inari but I am just in awe at you." She laughed some more before settling herself to continue. " humans just don't eat as Boisterously as you. It slipped my mind that you might not know of their customs when it comes to dining is all." She smiled brightly.
Inari glanced at Isabella's hands which held both a knife and fork. And she understood again she was no longer a creature of the forest and until she was able to return to her natural being she would have to blend to make easy of her predicament.