Lilly tried to catch the scent again.
She glanced at the big red woman near her. She couldn't help but be a little intimidated by her. She seemed so big... and her hooves looked dangerous. She tried to put it behind her, and got to her task. She had to find Jenny... but there was another problem on top of all that.
"Can you smell her?" asked Robert as the child seemed to be hesitant.
Lilly glanced down and around a bit uncomfortably. "Can... you turn around?" she asked quietly embarrassment plain on her voice.
"Huh? Why?" The priest said blinking.
"I-It's just... I have to sniff around.. an'... I can't do it when someone watching me." It was hard to be an animal when people were looking at her... it felt bad. She could do it on her own... but... with the devil woman here...
Robert sighed a bit and turned around. She didn't really know what was wrong with the child, but the squirrel was her only hope. She had to comply.
"You're... not lookin' are you?" Lilly asked.
"No child.. I'm quite in the dark," She replied. In more ways then one... How did she get dragged into this? The strange girl seemed so... odd. She wasn't sure why. Apparently, she had some kind of magic as well? Did transformations do that? Could the Devil Himself be bringing magic-
No... she would not allow herself to think that. Magic... could not be the work of the Devil. She had a mistaken belief once already. There was no way she would allow herself to fall into a trap of hatred again.
Lilly darted off quickly in a direction.
Robert turned hearing her move, and was about to call out- but she decided it might be best to let the child concentrate on her task. She followed her, as she scampered in the grass, and brush. The devil woman was starting to work out 'running' on these legs. Being on grass certainly helped... still... she missed her human feet. Having them end as 'blunt stumps'... hooves... she knew they were quite ugly- but then, was vanity a sin as well?
The devil woman still had a lot to learn.
Minus four regarded the group. The large one brought a strange... emotion to it. Then there was her counter part... at last, their eyes met face to face. There was another presence... ah.. yes... of course. It would have one of 'those' with her. The small creature... perhaps that was the one fundamental difference between them. It had no other... just...
just.. it self.
The gland in it's eye were still glistening with salty water, for no purpose. Having been in this form for no less then a few hours, It knew it might be doing many in this world a favour. Why were they so scared of it? Who was the larger woman? It- She seemed familiar...
The strange metallic object she had was on the grass. A talisman of some sort perhaps? It recalled the distaste of symbolism- the naming of things... that is what they always did. It was affront to their essence... their own nature. They were not to be named!
It slowly reached out a hand, outstretched to number four, even as its counterpart jumped away. A contact was all that was needed... they were even in every way. As numbers neither of them could physically tire... but even so, resolve and will was finite. Eventually, Four will surrender to the end... while it had the resolve of eternity behind it.
"I... I don't want to fight you!" Said Jenny quickly.
Minus four processed the words. She did not wish to fight? "Touch..." it spoke.
Jenny shrieked as she shortened the distance... but every step she took, the anti-magic girl remained close. She tried hold out her magical weapon as if it would shield her..
Minus four glanced at the weapon... and promptly summoned her own. It looked identical in every way.
"Don't use your weapon Jenny!" Screeched Tetra. "Your weapon is part of you. It's the same as touching her!"
Jenny swallowed and put her weapon away... how was she expected to fight this! She didn't want to fight, and she didn't want anyone hurt... the girl felt panic rise. She had to get away from this!
Minus four put her weapon away at the same time. "It.. ends..." the being said. Though perhaps... it was referring to itself, as much as the situation. So close... so very close...
Muriel had now recovered from her shock. She saw the two identical girls in their standoff. She immediately raced to minus four, and wrapped her arms around her. "Don't do this! Please... She's my daughter!"
More touch... sensation. This one was warm... even the exoskeleton felt nice. Comfortable... She glanced up with those wet eyes- seeing the same salty water on the bigger creature. Emotions filled it again... it sent a magical charge through its body, instantly throwing the police woman several feet aside.
"Mom!" Cried Jenny. She tried to rush to her- but Minus four stepped between them.
"Touch. It... has to... end..."
"You're gonna kill me, an' my friends' an everyone!" Screamed Jenny. Why did it want to do this!
The minus number blinked. "What... is... kill?" It asked. "Become... Null..." It wasn't sure what these creatures made of existence... this was the way of things. The way things should be. it ran its hand through it's eyes. Why did the water come out from there so much now?
Suddenly, darkness enveloped the park...
The two magic girls glanced up not quite believing their eyes. Even Minus four, seemed perturbed by what it saw.
... A solar eclipse.
Lilly continued to move... smell.. lots of smells. Food- it wanted some nuts. No! Focus. Find Jenny. (maybe she'll have some nuts afterwards) she said to herself. It at least appeased her instincts when moving like this.
Robert was running behind her, tail swaying, even as she glanced up at the solar eclipse. "Im- Impossible..." Is that why the day seemed so dark today? But a solar eclipse wasn't even scheduled for centuries in this area! All around them animals became still... as the sounds of the suburbs took on a twilight feel. Robert had to utter a prayer, as she didn't know quite what this meant.
Lilly looked up at the moon. "Artemis..." She whispered.
They continued to move, though much slower now, until they arrived at the clearing.
Robert looked wide eyed as she took in the scene. "God..."
