While the thugs were distracted with Caelestis, they all too late noticed a large four-legged figure running towards them from the side. The black wolf crashed into the group, tackeling some to the ground while yanking one's gun away with his mouth. After making a sharp turn, Marco jumped in between Caelestis and his attackers and growled at them, gun still between his bared teeth, as if he could use it.
The best-case-scenario would've been that they were intimated by the large canine and ran away, but unfortunately, after getting up, they seemed even angrier. Driven by protective instincs, Marco was ready for attack, but alas, even a supernatural megafauna would be easily overpowered by a simple bullet. He knew all too well that he couldn't take on multiple buff thugs with guns. Not without possibly putting Caelestis at risk of getting hurt as well. The gun fell out of Marcos mouth. He inhaled deeply and let out a howl, loud enough to paralyze the thugs, and most likely Caelestis as well.
However, stunning the attackers wasn't the point the howl, but rather to summon a few auraorbs. Weak ones, unfortunately, as the evening sky didn't reveal a lot of stars yet, but strong enough to charge close to the thugs and distract them long enough for Marco to turn around to Caelestis. "Get on me! Quickly!" he urged him. The second the celestial sat securely on the wolf, he took off, but the man who started the confrontation pointed to the large target and shot Marco right in his front leg. Marco let out a loud painfilled yowl and shortly lost balance. He was high enough to momentarily land on a rooftop to regain his footing, but immediatly took off again to get away.
Any words Caelestis would say during the flight would fall on deaf ears, as the big wolf concentrated hard to keep on going. Marco flew for as long as he could to get to safety, but the adrenalin rush would only carry him through the pain in his leg, accompanied by extra weight, for so long. So eventually, he flew lower, before clumsily landing and immediatly slumping on the ground, breathing heavily.
"I knew I shouldn't have send you away..." He suddendly started speaking, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry..." Glassy eyes looked up at the celestial. Maybe it was the shock of being shot that made him talk to Caelestis like he was in his human form, or maybe he truly didn't care anymore whether or not his lover knew about this side of his.
It was bound to happen sooner or later. Marco was tangled in thick leather ropes, which tightly held him to the ground. A trap set by demon hunters. The wolf was strong, but not strong enough to get out of a trap specifically made for creatures like him, creatures stronger than him, even! Only his right wing was able to helplessly flap around. Suddenly he heard footsteps coming from between the trees. Was that them? As he started to panic, more frantic wing flapping would ensue, but just like a few minutes ago, his body wouldn't budge. Shortly after, he heard something clicking above his head. His eyes followed the noise. A gun, held by a menacing figure, pointed right in his face. The wolf, at the mercy of the hunter, could only whimper in fear.
V ooh that was so good tho! :O