THIRD PERSON POV
"Who are you?" Astrid demanded again, her voice firm and commanding.
Claw hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to reveal his true identity, but he also didn't want to lie to her.
"I...I'm no one," he stammered, trying to think of a way to deflect her question.
Astrid's eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer to him. "Don't play games with me," she warned. "I won't ask again, who are you?."
Claw felt a shiver run down his spine as he met her gaze. He was trapped, and he knew it,
"I'm nothing but a lowly refugee from the village of Flavin. I fleet from my village when Claw and his men attacked" He said the first thing that came to mind. If he was to tell Astrid the truth they would have do battle and he would hate to hurt her.
Astrid's mouth fell open as she threw her bowl to the ground "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frightened you. Could you please move into the light" She demanded, her eyes pleading.
Claw hesitated, he wasn't sure if going to her was the right thing. How was he going to explain his pit black skin, and the magical bandages that coded the better part of him. Yes the bandages aided in absorbing moisture and preventing fallout his cracked skin, which had plagued him for years.
Claw took in a sharp breath, covered the better part of his face with a cloth and moved forward.
He moved swiftly, ending two meters in front of her. Close up Claw would come to find that Astrid was twice as beautiful as he had anticipated.
Astrid on the other hand only pitied him upon seeing a glimpse of his bandaged skin "What happened to you?. Did those animals do that to you?" She questioned approaching him but he instinctively stopped her.
"Stay back" He commanded, his voice panicked, Astrid obliged attributing his behavior to fright.
"I wouldn't hurt you. My names are Astrid Davisa, I am the daughter of alpha Von of Gavida and one of the heads of the HLF, an organization built to help victims of Claw like you and protect what is left of the human race" Astrid explained all the while Claw gaze never leaving her. "We will like to offer you aid for your wounds and also ask you a couple of questions"
At this point Claw should have taken his chance at escaping but instead he stayed cause he loved talking to her.
" I will talk to you only" He demanded and Astrid nodded "As for the bruises and color of my skin, this is all natural. I was born with a rare condition which causes my skin to look like a tree's back, and it usually breaks from time to time hence the bandages"
Before Claw could finish, Astrid used her superhuman speed, capturing him in a tender hug.
"I'm so sorry you have to live like this" Astrid said, her voice etched with concern. Claw was dump stuck, speechless, no one had ever been this close to him talk less of hugging him, and she felt so warm against his skin.
His heart was racing. This was the kindest anyone had ever been to him, Astrid wasn't human but she was more human than anyone he had ever met, and he couldn't deny the connection he felt to her.
He so badly wanted to retaliate the hug but unfortunately he never knew how to and before he could understand it, Astrid pulled away.
" I'm sorry about the hug" She apologized as she told out a small bag of coins and handed it over "Manage these on your travels until we can recapture your village back from Claw and his hedge men. I wish I could aid you better but unfortunately that's all I have"
Claw's heart skip at her kind gesture. She barely knew him and yet offered him all that she had. Although money wasn't Claw's problem he still accepted the peti funds, as a token to remember her by.
" Thank you" Claw gratified, a visible spark igniting in his eyes.
"I should be on my way now" He spoke after staring at Astrid for what seemed like eternity "Take good care of yourself Princess. I look forward to seeing you in the future"
" As do I good sir" She voiced as he took his leave.
Just then, Adam returned with a jug of water for Astrid. "Here you go," he said, handing it to her.
Astrid took the jug, "Thank you, Adam," she said, picked up her bowl and hurried towards her horse.
"We have to head down to Flavin. The people need our help"
Adam's brows fell "I thought you weren't going" He doubted mounting his horse.
"I changed my mind. Eren is way too incompetent to be trusted with people's lives" Astrid said casually, as she mumbled to the horse and it began running.
Adam just shaked his head, smiling. He knew his Astrid would come around. She was way too much of a softy to let people die, that was one of the things he loved most about her.
Adams and Astrid rode down to Flavin as fast as they could but when they got there hell had already broken lose.
Blood and bodies everywhere, as a fierce battle between the forces of the HLDF and Claw's was on the horizon.
Adams and Astrid hopped off their horse attacking with their swords.
Astrid being a vampire with a form superior to other Vampires thanks to her wolf heritage could have easily vanquished the better portion of Claw's army but unfortunately she couldn't summon her alter ego on command, plus it was too scary for most humans to behold.
Adam and Astrid held up Claw's men for the better part of the night but as time past they drifted apart.
As the battle grew to a close, the greater amount of the living dead approached Astrid, It was as though they had sensed something, the power emanating from her.
Astrid tried to end as many as possible, cutting down one after the other but in the end her power was no match for them.
Astrid was backed into a concern, her sword flew out of her grip onto the ground.
Astrid was left defendless, surrounded by an army of living dead, with no where to run to.
Astrid moved back trying to create an opening but is pushed to the ground by one of the living dead.
On the ground Astrid scrambles for escape to no avail.
The living death army surrounding her raised their weapons ready to strike her. Astrid closed her eyes, braced herself as she waited for impact.
An impact that never came. Astrid waited and waited but yet no impact. All she heard was a loud bang, then a gentle pad on her shoulder.
She opened to see the last person she was expecting to see, Claw. He was still wearing the cloth over his face.
She looked around, to see that all the living dead who tried to kill her, lieing death on the ground.
" Are you okay?" He asked, worry etched on his face.
Astrid, trembling from fear. She told she was going to die. In her state of panic she did the only logical thing, she pulled him into a hug.
"You're safe now" Claw assured, as he padded her back in a bit to curb her shaking.
Astrid truly felt safe, she closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. When she opened it she saw Adams with a raised sword at Claw's back. A murderous intent on his face.
"Adams stop" She screamed, ruining Adam's plan. Astrid pulled away from the hug stopping Adams in his path.
"Astrid move out of the way" Adam commanded, but Astrid stayed put "No Adams I wouldn't let you hurt him"
"You don't understand Astrid, that man is Claw" Adams informed. His words took Astrid aback.
"What???..." Astrid doubted, searching Adams eyes.
"Ask him" Adam commanded, his eyes filled with determination.
Astrid's heart skipped a bit, as she slowly turned to Claw, a dull expression on her face.
Claw stood firm as he observed them quietly, the scenario he had long avoided was now playing before his own eyes. How was he supposed to explain things to Astrid that he wasn't who she thought he was and that he lied to her.
"Mr, what's your name?" She probed slowly approaching Claw with nonplussement.
" Astrid, I..."
Claw tried opening his mouth, but his words wouldn't fall out. He couldn't bring himself to break her heart.
"Answer the question. Are you Claw?" Astrid yelled, her eyes turning red with immerse rage.
Claw looked at Astrid, his eyes still pleading as he took a deep breathe, and confessed.
"Yes" Claw voiced and Astrid's world collapsed
"You lied to me. You played with my intelligent" Astrid screamed vexed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know....." He tried explaining but Astrid cut in fuming with anger.
"Adams he is all yours" Astrid said, turning her back on him.
"With pleasure" Adam boasted walking towards Claw.
Astrid stood in a distance, hearing the sound of swords clanging. then suddenly a loud cry.
Her heart skipped a beat, that voiced belonged to no other that her boyfriend Adams.
" God please" She prayed, hoping for the best.
In her panic, Astrid turned to see her boyfriend Adams, on the ground, covered in his own pull of blood.
Adam wasn't moving. Astrid worst nightmare had come true, Adam was dead. Claw had killed him.
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