#cardinal beasts

The beast was nearly as big as a horse, but had the slender snout of a crocodile. “I do not want to fight you,” Tegan stood still, as the beast regarded him. He made no move to defend himself even as the beast leapt upon him, knocking him to the ground. One large paw was placed upon his chest while the beast’s jaws clamped his throat. The man swallowed his nerves even as he felt the beast’s hot saliva and breath on him. There the two stayed still while seconds stretched out until the beast released the man’s neck with nary an indent in his flesh. 

Then the beast threw back her head and howled. A melodic howl which Tegan couldn’t understand, but he didn’t need to. He had passed and the beast had accepted him. The beast sniffed him then sat in front of Tegan like a docile hound and opened his jaws. Tegan had studied this ritual for years with his friends and so, with no fear, his stuck his hand inside the beast’s mouth and pulled out a tooth. There was no blood or even a flinch from the beast, just a small nod once Tegan withdrew his arm. 

The man inspected the tooth, it felt surprisingly cold to the touch, smooth and sharp. The beast snorted as if to say ‘hurry up’ and stared at Tegan expectantly. Tegan smiled, showing a gap in his own teeth where he had pulled it out years prior. He held the beast’s tooth up to the gap and winced at the odd feeling as it rooted itself in his gums. Tegan stood and grinned at the beast, showing off his new tooth and the beast grinned back. 

Lalia had faith she would find the beast as she walked through its home. Suddenly, distressed call of an animal broke the general wildlife sounds that had accompanied her journey until now. Deviating from the path, Lalia happened upon a small animal trapped under a very large branch. It called pitifully as it struggled. Small claw marks already in the earth around it marked that a useless effort, but it didn’t stop from trying. She approached slowly so it didn’t panic, but from behind her she heard growls. Could it be the beast behind her?

She turned only to be greeted by a hungry looking fox snarling and snapping at her. She examined her options but only two came to mind. Run and leave the creature, or defend herself and save the creature. She picked up a large stick and, as the fox jumped she swung. Only to miss. Lalia braced herself for impact, only for none to come. A flash of green whizzed by, knocking the fox away. The beast stood before her, green scales shimmering in the sunlight. She looked back for the animal, but it was gone!

Tamora panted, catching her breath after that last puzzle. Going through so many rooms was beginning to take its toll on her. Though, if what she read was correct then she was through most of the beast’s puzzles. There should only one more to go before she was through the labyrinth and that thought alone kept her going. This was it. 

She opened the next door to see what looked like a giant floor sliding puzzle waiting for her. Tamora sighed and began, sliding the pieces this way and that to complete the picture. It took a while, but finally she completed it. The image was of the beast she had come to find. It’s feathered likeness disappeared from the puzzle and standing there was the beast. It threw back its head and howled, a melody she couldn’t understand, but she didn’t need to. The beast accepted her.

Rayla confronted her beast, it’s yellow skin was helping it blend into the sands and was tough as a rhino, it’s wide, head sported a horn. Cuts from where Rayla’s weapon had landed were bleeding while the beast stared her down, looking ready to charge with its horn pointed at her. Rayla adjusted her grip on her weapon, only to cast is aside in favor of grabbing the beast’s horn. With her own strength she wrestled the beast down to the ground, or at least as much as she could manage with the size of the beast. 

She stared the beast in the eye while she held its head to the ground, both of them breathing hard. The beast began to howl, a howl that she couldn’t understand, but she didn’t need to. The beast had accepted her strength. She released its horn, allowing it to stand fully once more. The beast lowered its horn again, this time in acknowledgement. Rayla felt behind the beast’s horn, removing one of the small loose ones that grew along its snout. She removed one and pressed it to her forehead, wincing at the odd sensations of it fusing to her, but this was necessary to be able to understand the beasts. 

WIP #2 The Four Heavenly Kings Lineart is finally done. I will try to color this tomorrow or something, maybe while watching the new episode of Sailor Moon Crystal hurrr durrd *fangirl derp laugh* But I'll put the definitions of each panel here already, in case there are people curious about it <3

KUNZITE Uniform color:  white Beast: Byakko (Tiger) Cardinality:  East Season: Autumn Element: Metal Stone: Love and Emotion (stone of Aphrodite and Astarte) Flower: Myrtle (symbol of aphrodite) Heavenly King: Komokuten, who discerns and punishes evil

ZOISITE Uniform color:  Green Beast: Genbu (Tortoise and snake) Cardinality: North Season: Winter Element: Water Stone: Creativity and Vitality Flower: Iris (Fleur de Lis, wisdom flower) Heavenly King: Tamonten, the All-knowing king

NEPHRITE Uniform color: Red Beast: Suzaku (Bird/Phoenix) Cardinality: South Season: Summer Element: Fire Stone: Dream Stone Flower: Poppy (Orpheus Flower) Heavenly King: Zochouten, King of spiritual growth