Panther Park monsters in the shadows

it wasn't revenge that was renard's concern. they didn't think they'd bothered with the idea once since their childhood – it had been stomped out of them fast. yuèlóng meant as much to them as neverwinter forest did. nothing personal. just the job.

but it didn't take much to see it was personal to donovan. the moment the name left the stranger's mouth he started grinning. not his usual grin. no, he had a preferred expression just as much as renard, and that was half of their frustration, getting him to wipe it off his face for even a moment and take things seriously.

he was taking things seriously now. and all it had taken was a single word.

renard watched him stalk forward. there was real malice in his voice now, an impressive amount. for all of that sparring they'd never gotten to see him do anything but tease; this was the insight they'd been missing, and they committed every part of it to memory as donovan's teeth came along the other's flank.

"if you know what's good for you, you'll start running." they smiled. their expression was still much more pleasant than donovan's, but it hardly mattered when nobody could see it.

they'd give the kid a second to react. and then, regardless of whether he'd taken the bait and moved or not, renard would come after him, snapping at his hind legs and tail. nothing too much, for now. not until donovan made his move.

whether the grandmaster wanted him dead or not...they were interested to find out.