newtralize | Then we are dead.

[The hunters don't have time to aim another shot at Jonathan or the deer. What looms over them is equally magnificent as it is dangerous.

Iridescent scales of blue that almost seemed pearlescent and snow like when the sun hits them just right covered his entire body. There were fiery orange scales freckled through matching the mane that trailed down his back. It would be a gorgeous sight to see if not for the roar it lets out and the set of teeth that it bares after; obviously angered.

It slams one of its clawed feet down on one of the hunters.]

[ The protector of the forest was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen aside from the deer. He flinches at the roar the creature lets out, which in turn had startled the deer behind him while the hunters are frantic at its sudden appearance.

To make himself smaller, Jonathan kneels down again, placing a hand on the deer to try and soothe it from thrashing out of fear. Running was definitely pointless now.

He watches the hunters scatter, some making an attempt to run away while others try to put some distance between them and the creature, guns raised. ]

[Newt lets out another roar as the air fills with the sound of gunshots and the smell of gunpowder. For the most part, the bullets don't do much. His scales are far sturdier and able to take the hits, though that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt nor does it mean it doesn't cause discomfort.

Newt easy throws the men or slams them with his tail. He only knocks them out though and perhaps they'll take serious injuries, but it doesn't seem he outright kills them. His priority isn't hurting the hunters, but being able to whisk the deer away once he has dealt with the danger.

He doesn't attack Jonathan. If anything, it seems like he keeps his distance from them, probably to avoid potentially injuring the already suffering deer.]

[ It was his fault. Jonathan was too distracted by the gunfire and Newt tossing and slamming the hunters every which direction. As soon as he let his knees make contact with the forest floor and had straightened up just a little as he adjusted his position, having just noticed that the creature had yet to come any closer to him particularly, that's when he feels a sharp pain in his shoulder followed by another hitting below that.

How could he have been so stupid to believe that it was only one hunter he would've angered from claiming the prize of the sacred deer before Newt showed up. He makes eye contact with the hunter that was near a tree some feet off, gun still raised as he prepared to take the next shot.

All he could do was press a hand against the wound to his side, hunching over to make himself as small as possible as if it really mattered anymore. A well-placed shot could just end this and maybe he holds his breath waiting for it as he glances over at the deer that takes in a shakey breath.]

[Newt smells it. The blood from the other and he slinks over to curl his massive body around Jonathan and the injured deer. He bares his teeth as he keeps both of them hidden away from harm and uses his body as a shield between the hunters and the two injured targets.

Jonathan may have heard the gunshots. May have expected pain to follow the sounds of said shots. It doesn't come and he can look to see the scaled body protecting him.

Eventually, the hunters flee if they hadn't been knocked out or killed (it isn't his aim to kill, but it would be folly to think his attacks on the hunters didn't end with casualties either). There's a quietness that returns to the forest, but the smell of gunpowder and blood and the scene around them was far from serene.

Newt uncoils himself before quizzically laying his head on the snow, bright eyes staring at the other carefully.]

[ Jonathan hears the shot but didn't sustain another injury like he expected, instead he lifts his head to find Newt curled around him and the deer. He nearly reaches out to touch the beautiful scales in front of him but just as quickly takes his hand back to press against his wound once more.

He waits for the gunfire to stop, the sounds of the remaining hunters giving up and retreating, cursing under their breath. A breath of relief leaves him before he tenses a little as Newt uncurls and had placed his head on the snow. ]

Why did you protect me?

[ Newt very easily could've added him to the pile of hunter bodies scattered around the area. Maybe he just got lucky because he was the closest to the injured deer. As much as he had wished he wouldn't be a target, he didn't think it would somehow work in his favor.

The ground beneath the deer and himself was already stained red with blood, more so the deer than himself as he can feel the shirt he was wearing cling to his body underneath his jacket and the slow creep of blood running down his arms.

Jonathan looks over at the deer to his side, shaky breathes and huffs leaving its form as it finally calmed down enough not to thrash anymore if it even still had the energy to. ]

I'm sorry about the deer... I didn't know they were going to target one. I kinda got pulled along with the group against my will, you see.

[He studies the other for a moment, taking in what injuries Jonathan had sustained and his current physical state. Honestly, he was surprised the other was even conscious still. Alive even. Those weren't exactly hits you could just shake off after all. Newt could surmise that the other wasn't average, but that wasn't his business.

Instead, Newt kind of nudges the other with his snout to move away so he could look at the deer. He would deal with Jonathan and his injuries after. The pristine white of the snow and the deer were both now soaked red.

Just looking at the poor creature was a sad sight and not one he could actually do much of. Newt had been caring for these deer for awhile and he has helped and rehabilitated countless of them, but that didn't mean he could save them all. It was suffering and no amount of medical help at this point could help it. Guns were awful things. Violent. They ripped through flesh so easily and he was never fond of them. The deer had suffered and he could tell that he might prolong an inevitability, but an inevitability nonetheless.

So of course he grants it mercy instead. Newt raises a clawed foot and presses it around the deer's throat. It's a quick snap and whatever movement from the injured deer was no more. He knows that the deity will be angered and he doesn't know what that will instill, but he also knows that she wouldn't want her sacred creatures to suffer more than necessary. He'll make use of the deer fully because the worst that can be done is to let its death go to waste.

Newt will consider what to do with it fully later. There was still something else to deal with. He turns his attention back to Jonathan.]

[ A soft pained noise leaves him as Newt nudges at him to move, the slow scoot to the side leaves him a little more out of breath than it should and in twice more pain than just sitting in one place but he makes sure he was out of the way.

Jonathan watches as Newt looks over the deer. At first, he thought the deer could potentially be saved but he knows better. With that much blood from such an injury, it was very likely that the deer wasn't going to make it and as soon as Newt aims for the injured animal's neck, he knew he was right.

He turns his head away before he heard the all too familiar snap of bone being crushed before there was silence. Curling his fingers into the blood soaked portion of his shirt, he's a little hesitant to turn his attention back to now dead deer and the protector of the forest who stares at him with those bright eyes.

Jonathan swallows hard as he tries to form some sort of apology even though he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. ]

I apologize on behalf of the hunters... I know they were acting on personal greed when everyone in town knows better than to hurt the deer. I... I should've tried better to stop it from happening.

[The other is peculiar. Newt had spent much of his time observing others and he knew that the other wasn't bad. While he had struggled to connect and truly understand others, he was good at observing them and figuring them out on a more intellectual level. Less so at an emotional level and there were just things that he didn't understand about people. Why do they hurt others for their own gain? For the sake of hurting others?

Jonathan though. He thinks the other was obviously trying to look out for the poor creature.

Newt knows he must return back soon and he'll have to carry the deer back too, but he falters and looks at the other. He can understand Jonathan, but he has no way to reply back at the moment. He can't help but eye Jonathan's injuries and watch him carefully. Was Jonathan even able to do anything in his current state? Could he make his way back or was the other just struggling to stay conscious?

He was a bleeding heart.]

[ Home felt like a walk he's not sure he could make. Would the protector of the forest even allow him to leave if he could manage to stand without falling over? Jonathan knows he certainly couldn't stay in the woods overnight, he'd likely freeze in the elements or if any hunters were still alive, they might just finish the job when Newt wasn't around.

It was all-around a terrible set of choices.

Yet, he still makes some attempt. It's a painful effort to get to his feet, he's shaky and wobbly and he can tell the edges of his vision is a tad blurry which wasn't a good sign. Jonathan doesn't want to even attempt the steps forward because he wasn't sure his legs wouldn't buckle underneath at first chance. The walk through the forest would be some distance to cover as he tried to remember the path back.

He looks at the ground, then out in front of him before coming to the conclusion that he wouldn't get very far in the shape he was in and breathes out a shaky laugh before looking over in Newt's direction. ]

Don't suppose you can give me a lift back into town or ya'know... putting me out of my misery?

[He stares at the other a moment longer before slithering over to sit at Jonathan's feet so that the other could climb onto his back. He isn't sure the other will be conscious much longer. His injuries needed to be tended to and there's only so far adrenaline can take someone before it wears down.

And Newt certainly didn't have the heart to just leave the man to die.

She might be mad at him for taking a person back to his lodgings, but it just seemed cruel not to offer assistance when they had tried to protect the deer. It wasn't something he was willing to ignore when the world needed more kind hearts.]

[ Oh.

He was joking. He didn't think that Newt would actually help him more than he already has. Jonathan holds his breath as he braces himself for the amount of pain hoisting himself on Newt's back would cause. Its a bit of a struggle but he manages, taking a moment to adjust and make sure he had some sort of grip on the other.

His main focus was trying to stay conscious, though, with each passing minute, it was proving harder and harder to do and he knows as soon they get to wherever Newt was taking him that he'd very likely pass out at soon as they got there.

Which of course happens as soon as Newt allows him to get off his back. He doesn't even get as far as a few steps before his legs buckle underneath him and he barely has time to brace his fall before he's laying on the ground and everything goes black. ]

[When Jonathan wakes up, he finds himself in a cottage of some sort. It's rather old fashioned with wooden shelves stuffed with books, plants, and bottles. Herbs and dried plants tied in bundles and furs hang on the walls amongst the shelves. It was homey and comfortable.

A basin filled with water and a folded washcloth sits on the bedside table next to the bed Jonathan was in. There were piles of bloody rags on the floor next to it, but Jonathan's injuries had been carefully cleaned, tended to, and wrapped and the man had been carefully tucked under knitted blankets and animal furs.

Looking out the window shows a picturesque winter scene with a lake surrounded by towering trees and countless deer leisurely wandered about. He hadn't been brought back to town, but the beast who had offered his back didn't seem to be nowhere in sight. There was, however, a quiet humming coming from one of the rooms nearby. The voice sounded human and was accompanied by the crackling of fire and the smell of something being cooked.]

[ Its a few minutes of slowly coming to that Jonathan realizes he's somewhere completely new. It wasn't a hospital or even his own home but somewhere else entirely.

He lets out a small sound of pain as he winces, forcing himself to sit up. A hand running over the neat bandages covering his injuries as he looks around the room to take in his new surroundings. The room was cozy like something one would expect for a home in the middle of the woods. It was nice.

Jonathan stares out the window, mesmerized by the perfect wintery scene outside. He's never seen so many deer all in one place like this and it took a second to realize that the protector of the forest was nowhere to be seen alongside them. Odd. He figured the creature would constantly be watching over them considering this was where the herd was.

He pulls his attention away from the window once he hears the soft humming coming from nearby. He certainly didn't want to shout or raise his voice to grab the mystery person's attention, instead, he tries to see if he can manage to be on his feet considering he lost a fair amount of blood if the piles of bloody rags on the floor was anything to go by.

Standing up was a shaky ordeal that he eventually gave up on to avoid injuring himself even more. Perhaps, he should just wait, he thinks as he sits at the edge of the bed. ]

[The humming stops and there are footsteps before a man comes to view. He was dressed in worn out clothes with a fur shawl. His hair was in a mess of curls and the other would probably be mostly human if not for obvious details that showed he was far from human. Antler like horns and scales that covered parts of his body. Clawed hands and feet and a tail that was wrapped around his waist and tied with a sash to keep it from dragging across the floor. The horns were the same as the large beast along with the coloring of scales.

The same bright green eyes were staring at the other, but from the face of a person.] Oh! You really shouldn't get out of bed. You'll need quite a bit of rest and recovery after what you've gone through. [His voice is soft.

Newt walks over carrying a tray with a bowl and utensils atop it before placing it on the bedside table.] Honestly, I didn't expect it- N-Not that I would have wanted you to die, but your injuries were much for just any person to take.

[ The stranger that comes into view wasn't what he was expecting at all but answers the original question he had thought moments ago. The other's appearance made it easy to piece that he was the protector of the forest, he wouldn't forget those antlers or the sheen of those scales.

Or those eyes.

Jonathan pulls his gaze away for a moment to not seem entirely rude for staring before he chuckles which falls a bit short as he winces at the movement. ]

Ah...I kind of figured after I didn't get very far. [ He wonders how long he'd need to stay here to recover since he's sure, whoever survived the attack in the woods would be struggling to get back to town and he knows there will be some story about how Newt took him. Another addition to the town's tales. ]

Guess I just got lucky. [ He smiles. ] Thank you again for saving me. Is there anything I can do to return your kindness? [ It was only polite to ask, after all, the other took his time to drag him into his home and patch him up while he was unconscious. Though, he's not entirely sure what he could provide in return in his current state. ]

[While the other turns his gaze away, Newt seems to be looking at every part of the other, but their face. Though, part of it seemed more to examine his current physical state. Otherwise, Newt's gaze seems concentrated passed Jonathan and not at Jonathan.]

You all but passed out the moment you tried to move, actually. You didn't really get anywhere. [Newt's mouth quirks into an awkward smile.]

You're resilient, I'll give you that much. Stubborn. [Newt nudges the bowl of stew at the other.] I don't need anything in return. I do need you to try and recover sooner than later... [He shuffles a bit.] I'm already in a bit of trouble to bringing you here, but I really couldn't just leave you there nor was it practical for me to approach the town.

[A pause.] Although, if you have any stories from the town, I wouldn't mind to hear some. It has been awhile and there are things that I find that I miss. Around this time, the bakeries made the best sweets.

So, I was a completely useless sack of potatoes. I apologize for you having to deal with that. [ That's a bit embarrassing, enough to make him smile as he drags a hand down the side of his face. As much as he had wanted to be less of a burden, it couldn't really be helped while he was the bleeding out. Oh. He holds out his hand towards the other. ] I'm Jonathan, by the way, since we didn't get the chance to properly introduce ourselves earlier with all that was happening.

[ Jonathan takes his hand back before reaching for the bowl of stew and sets it in his lap, though he doesn't start to eat it just yet. ] I try. Dying out there would've been... not my ideal way to go out, especially by being surrounded by a group of strangers like that.

[ He gently pats a spot next him on the bed. ] I don't have much to tell about the town since I only visit the area around this time of year but... I can tell you what I've heard so far. [ He smiles at the mention of the bakeries and the seasonal desserts. ] I could bring you some next time if you missed them that much.

[ Jonathan highly doubted the other would allow him to bring him things from town if his presence here already got him in trouble but it was the least he could do to offer. He takes a spoonful of the stew before humming contently over how delicious it tasted.] This is probably the best stew I've had in awhile, thank you.

Oh, it really wasn't an issue. I just didn't want to leave you there. [Newt stares at the hand and hesitates for a moment before tentatively shaking Jonathan's hand. The scales under Jonathan's touch are cool and they feel like an inbetween metal and leather.] Newt. I realize the hilarity of my name given- [A vague gesture before settling his hands over his lap.] me.

I can't imagine it would have been pleasant, no.

[Newt pulls a chair over to sit down. He unties the sash keeping his tail wrapped around his waist and lets the long appendage wrap around the feet of the chair he was now seated on.] Oh, it's no big deal. It has....It has just been quite awhile. Uhm. Since I've seen the town. Since I've had company of this kind. [He fidgets with his hands.] That's very sweet of you, but I don't know if it would be a good idea. Thank you though.

[And Newt laughs softly.] It's nice to know my cooking skills haven't fallen into the gutter. It's hard to tell after awhile. [Newt doesn't mention what meat is used. Not because he's being malicious, but merely because he doesn't see the need to.] I wish I could offer more, but grain is fairly difficult to come by and I've not had the proper ingredients for bread in quite some time now.

Then we are dead.

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