That feeling of being watchedâŠ
Tired as she was, the change brought new blessings as much as it brought a curse. Eyes of cornflower blue soon brightened into a vivid reptillian sunset from times long past, the serpentine gaze completely fixated on the skittish animal creeping ever closer. Still it had not noticed either predator lurking close by, adorable tiny nose only picking the scent of running water - to which would be itâs last mistake.
  Unlike the first time Oleander had changed, her body moved more accordingly to how she wished. The growing tail helped keep her balance, slender legs having lost their formerly puppyish gait. Long clawed toes splayed with all the dedication of a keen appetite, not willing to let this rare opportunity slip by.
As the deer approached the waterâs edge, the Dilophosaurus crept more silently than a falling leaf, slowly closing the distance while the deer drank. Only once the deer drank itâs fill did it finally notice a glimmer of movement out of the corner of itâs eyes. Prey-! They always had better vision than most predatory animals, their survival depending on being able to see from as many directions as possible. To the deer, it was more used to dealing with other hunters than what it suddenly faced now, the small mammal freezing at the sight of thisâŠ
  This thing.
A colourful frill exploded from the monsterâs face, hissing with all the menace of the rattlesnakes that shared their forest home. Snakes like that shouldnât prey on deer like itself however, doe-like eyes frozen in terror as they fixated on the glowing orbs hovering high above itâs own. A wet-sounding smack ghosted past, liquid that wasnât streamwater barely missing itâs face and causing the deer to snap out of itâs trance as it realized it was time to go.
  Oh no you donât-!
Quick as a krait, slender jaws snapped forth, serpent-like fangs flashing brightly in the forest gloom. There came an agonized squeal as those very fangs found their mark, nipping at the delicate hock of the fleeing deer and releasing before it could land a retaliatory kick against itâs attackerâs jaws.
  Yet the deer did not continue running. As soon as it was released, Oleander looked on as it stumbled a few paces, delicate legs shaking and wobbling as though it were suddenly a newborn fawn again instead of the swift forest runner it surely was. Step by step it struggled, the attacked leg seizing up uselessly as the rest of itâs body also began to feel the effects of the predatorâs bite. It had to have taken no longer than ten seconds after being struck that the deer stumbled one last time, stiffening legs still trying to kick in one last frantic attempt to escape before it shuddered and went still.
Was it⊠dead? A careful nudge of her scaled muzzle confirmed that indeed it was, and not only that, but the warm body was positively tantalizing her senses with itâs scent. The change had brought both good and bad fortune, that while Oleander was truly a snake in demonic form, she could also survive as one too. Her muzzle lowered again, this time using her fangs to strip off a mouthful of tender flesh as she finally claimed her prize.
  Life was good again, and fresh meat had never tasted better.
   Twentyoneâs nostrils opened slightly to again take in the scent of the woman as she transformed. This was a rare sight, but it never failed to thrill Twentyone as verdant scales overtook brown skin and bright blue eyes were replaced with a more serpentine gaze. Yes, this woman belonged with the Beast pirates, Twentyone assured herself once again, for the thousandth time this week. It was only natural that she be with her own kind.Â
   How lonely it must be for this creature to be all alone, all the time, without anyone else around who understands what itâs like? To hunger for violence, to crave sinking onesâ claws into the living flesh of another?
   Still, the FRILLS were a new sight for Twentyone. The moment those large and threateningly BRIGHT rippling sections of skin erupted from her face and that loud HISS crackled from her throat, the instincts buried only so deep in Twentyoneâs brain were telling her to meet this aggression with her own. She suppressed the urge with her human self-control --- she was lying in wait right now; that demonstration of hostility was not a challenge to her, but a warning to the prey to frighten it and get it to make mistakes in its escape --- which worked.
   Twentyone watched the deer turn and run, only to be bitten by the Dilophosaurus. Twentyone, uneducated as she was, did not know that Dilophosaurus was venomous and did not make the connection when the deer fell to its death moments later. It confused her, as to what happened, but all that mattered was that this woman demonstrated a willingness to kill a harmless little deer... surely she would be an asset to the Beast pirates.Â
  Twentyone had to have her.
   She watched the young woman rip into the deer, remaining still as before to let her eat her meal. She had earned it, after all. And who knows when the next time sheâll be able to eat would be? It would be days before they return to Onigashima, and it would be hard to hunt in seastone cuffs if Dilophosaurus made her use them.
   When the Dilophosaurus had finished with the deer, however long later that may have been, Twentyone decided it was time to snatch her away. She did, however, want a working relationship with this creature. Twentyone would teach it how to be a raptor --- it had the face and sort of the claws for it, the basic body shape... yes, she could make this one a Twentyoneosaurus...
   â⊠âââ  ⊠!!!â   The sound of a menacing snarl was apparent first, the crackling trilling growl warning Dilophosaurus of her sudden inexplicable presence. She didnât want Dilophosaurus to run --- well, actually, it would be quite fun for Twentyone to chase her and catch her and rip her --- no, she wouldnât rip her... No, she shouldnât make her run. They were going to be partners. Whether Dilophosaurus liked it or not, they were going to be pack mates, and Alphas didnât bully their pack mates unless they needed to.Â
   Slowly, Twentyone pushed through the greenery, her nose first until her heavy head emerged, golden gaze affixed on the creature in front of her, sizing her up... Her body emerged, foreclaws opening and closing, sickle claws on her feet raised high... and all the while, that unnerving snarl slowly creeping up into higher pitched tones before it cut off suddenly, in time with Twentyone coming to a halt, fully emerged from the heavy foliage of the forest and staring the Dilophosaurus down. Her posturing was that of domination, not overly hostile but certain asserting herself, demanding to be recognized by this creature. It was an ancient and instinct-driven ritual --- Iâm bigger, faster, stronger, my teeth are sharper, my claws are deadlier; Iâm in charge here. What do you think of that?
   Had Dilophosaurus ever seen another Ancient Zoan before? Or one that looked somewhat similar in body shape? Was it bold enough to challenge the Velociraptor? Or would it back away submissively? Or... would it make the worst decision of all and run?
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