The Hunt for the Night-Cursed Crone

The hybrid screamed in agony, its almighty roar bellowing across the land. It made Kivo want to cover his ears. It was ear-shatteringly loud. However, Kivo had foiled the crone's advances towards the village, its glimmering lights shining even brighter now with the hope it was saved from its bleak future. The one thing he hadn't accounted for was that it was now pissed. Every emerald eye narrowed, staring the still-smouldering stallion down with the evilest death stare it could muster. It made Kivo's blood run cold.

Oh shit.

The beast snapped it's formidable jaws in his direction as a threat of what was to come. By now, Onyx had caught up, panting heavily at the pegasus' side. He was soon to swallow his tongue at the fearsome comprehension of the final battle. Despite his war wounds, Kivo stood proud, never backing down from the brute's warnings. He pawed at the ground, snorting aggressively. The ultimate showdown of pure strength. Every odd was stacked against him but where the abomination showed weakness, Kivo had the strength. On paper, they were unmatched with him being the obvious underdog but, in Kivo's mind, he was the triumphant winner.

Kivo screamed, hollering a battle cry which could be heard across the valley. He leapt into a furious gallop, Onyx following closely behind. Every stride ate the ground up, his athletic physique powering him across the distance. At the same time, the monstrous beast wailed once more before beginning its advancements towards him. They were on a head-to-head sprint towards one another. Red eyes glared at green eyes, psyching one another out. There was no soul behind them, though. Neither one feared death. To die on the battlefield would not be a life lost.

With the creature lumbering forwards at such a pace, it was easy now for Kivo to outsmart it. The corrupted brain was haggled and slow, unable to function anymore. Him and his familiar had an understanding that needed no words - it's why they worked so well together. The crone spread its wings, diving forward to crush its enemy into the dirt with its skull. But, Kivo and Onyx were more nimble, allowing them to dodge the attack. Kivo veered left whilst his friend went right, circling its grotesque, charred hull of a body. This miss only angered it more, its squirming extra limbs thrashing about. It slammed them down again and again; Kivo weaved in and out. With all he could muster, he flapped his wings to lift his feet off the ground so he could leap high enough to sink his teeth hard into its thigh. As he planned, the creature didn't take too kindly and started to struggle, stomping its feet like a toddler having a tantrum. He hung on, clenching his jaw tight to the muscle that pulsated against his tongue.

Realising this small outburst was causing no effect, he turned the dial up a notch by spinning violently, throwing its body this way and that. The stallion struggled to hold on but he only needed to distract from the true mastermind at work. Beneath him, Onyx was hatching out his plan. He'd found some old rope laying around. It was a little tatty and frayed but this was sailor's rope - the strongest kind that held even the navy's ships against the docks at night. The tales this rope could tell. It had clearly seen every part of life and had now been tossed aside, probably for a newer counterpart. This didn't matter, though! Onyx still had faith in its abilities. It flailing legs made it difficult but the panther was skilled, managing to lasso the end around one of its deadly talons. From here, he ran round in circles, gripping the end of the rope in his mouth to tie countless knots in-between each foot. With precision and focus, he managed to have the rope entwined loosely. It was tight enough to not fall off but not so tight it impeded the mage's movement. It was so focused on the searing pain in its leg, it hadn't felt the bristly strands rubbing against its crusty toes.

"Ready!" Onyx called, slightly muffled against the heavy braiding.

With that, Kivo let go, allowing himself to fall to the ground. He attempted to land on his feet but he was still weak from his earlier tumble from grace and he thumped to floor on his bum. No time for sitting around though. He darted out the way before he was squished, grabbing a hold of the rope.

3...2...1

With their combined strength, they heaved, tugging as hard as they could against the trouncing beast. Sweat beaded along their foreheads, mingling with the grime and dust that irritated their skin. Kivo dreaded to think how he must look. His usually perfect mane was glued to his neck; his beautiful wings with singed, still smoking from their ordeal; his groomed tail was knotted with clumps of mud and burrs. What a disaster! A trip to the nearest salon was called for after this. He made a mental note.

Anyway...

The rope tightened around it's legs, entrapping it. With nowhere to go and the burn of friction pulling its feet closer and closer together, the crone squawked, falling down to the floor. Its great frame collapsed, sending quakes beneath their feet. The great hunt was nearly over! Kivo had one final thing he wanted to do. The only revenge left to give. To drive that knife even further into its chest. He released the rope, uncaring of the dangers this pathetic creature now poised. They were miniscule compared to what he had left in his arsenal. With eyes glowing blood red, he stared into the green, dead pools of the monster he had slain.

"Listennn..." he hissed. "You will remember me. Even in death, the memory of me will haunt you for eternity."

To end its suffering, Kivo took out his final flask and threw it. Hard. It exploded, its brightness likened to a thousand stars. It was over.

With one defeating wail, the corrupt soul passed away. The plague had ended.