Chapter 20: Capturing the King

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!! I AM YOUR KING!! YOU MUST LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY!! THATS WHAT KINGS DO TO SUBJECTS!! C'MON!"

These were the screams and cries of the once proud King Gobbo, as he is being dragged and hogtied by chains and rope from not only by Harvard and his allies who had enough of the prince's antics, but of his subjects in fear that the child would do something much more worse if the king kept talking. It doesn't help that the "King" continued to babble and ramble on and on in trying to proclaim himself above everyone else, promptly angering the child further and further. Zazel would notice this aggression and walked by his friend's side, looking onwards towards Gabriel, wincing in understanding the gravity of the situation. "You know, I could make sure to lead everyone out. You really aren't yourself, y'now?"

Harvard would take deep breaths, trying to answer reasonably towards his friend while the chattering of the "King" kept going. "I know, and honestly? I might actually need to do that. Its....really....REEEEEEEALLY not helping that he is still talking." The boy looked back to see the "king" squirm like a worm as he desperately tries to escape his binds, with Natalie ensuring such attempts are proven futile by holding onto him from behind, gripping down like the jaws of an alligator to ensure maximum detainment.

Zazel would at the very least be thankful the Card Magician has some self control. He couldn't imagine what would happen if they decided one day to snap and bite back. As they would be heading out of such a location, they'd have the Goblins gather their belongings and head out alongside with them. It was clear that these two are at least connected in their own weird manner, with Gabriel watching over them. The Goblins walked alongside to the exit of the Castle, before hearing what seemed to be a strange sound. A Sound that seemed to be familiar with some of the goblins. A Howl. A Howl that echoed across the trees, across the midnight sky, without any other indication than a signal for its approach. A Signal for its hunt.

The Goblins, wide-eyed in fear and panic, would scramble, screaming and returning into their secluded kingdom, trying to raise as much defense as possible, with the children and Natalie watching them run around like rats in a cage to secure themselves from such a beast. Natalie would look towards Gabriel, who was also in silence when such noises were declared "Oi. You hanged out with these folks. What's gotten into them?"

"That.....That'd be the Tree Drinker. The Jaws of the Forest. The Fangs of the Jungle. The Beast that Roams as the Earth. The-"

"Get to the point." Natalie stated, shaking Gabriel a bit to snap him out of his own fear, much to the dismay of his screams, while Zazel would listen in to such a beast.

"T-T-The.....The Marrow." He'd began. Taking strong breaths to calm himself before he continued, seeing his citizens, the Goblins, hiding away behind such walls they constructed in hopes it leads them to safety, much to the confusion of Fleisher as to why they were so frightened. "It is a creature that exists in these woods. Many of my men fell victim to it. No one has lived against it and told the tale. It is only mere rumors, but some say he is a supposed GOD of the Forest. A Monstrosity that only exists to eat and eat! If we do not hide soon, its jaws will bite you to the bone, ripping your flesh out, consuming your very eyes and make you blind, absorbing your nutrients as sustenance for his fill! If we do not hide from this....THING.....We may not survive." He'd continued, much to the curiosity of the children.

"Sooooo A Wood monster, right?" Zazel asked, before Gabriel moved closely towards his face, his eyes being bloodshot as he stared deep within the demon.

"NAY! NAY I SAY! T'is is no monster! T'is a God! A GOD I SAY!! A GOOOOOOO-" His mouth becomes silenced by Natalie, grabbing it with her palm and having her magic create a hand-like construct to gag him in full.

"Will you shut up with that, Gabriel!? You're scaring 'em!" She'd sigh before answering the Demon's question. "As for you, yes. Supposedly a Wood Monster, and from how he's behaving, it doesn't seem to be an easy one. I don't think any of you kids should-" She'd began as she interrupted her panicking sibling, before looking towards the two and see that one of such children disappeared.

Harvard was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh dear.....Quick question, lil' guy. Can your friend...handle that thing?"

"What do you mean by-" Zazel would notice it as well, seeing the child disappear without even a single trace. After a quick strong glance, he'd be able to spot the child far off in the distance, trailing right after the sound that emitted, Fleisher being followed in pursuit. "HARVARD! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?" The Demon yelled, trying to catch up, before being somehow responded despite the large distance.

"LET ME HANDLE THIS THING! YOU JUST FOCUS ON GETTING EVERYONE TO OAKING!!"

Zazel was stunned. He's seriously going to fight that thing alone? Did the boy ever took into consideration what he is up against? He almost went and tried to go after the child to assist him in combat, then he reminded himself of the pent up anger and aggression he was having when dealing with Gabriel. Did he seriously pushed the child that far off? Sighing, and while still worried, he would at least trust the child in dealing with the likes of the beast before him. He'd turn around and focus on getting the Goblins escorted safely, without the need to barricade themselves. Natalie only looked onward as she sees the child disappear into the forest, the darkness of the night concealing him away.

As the child approached the area, the sounds only increased in volume. The boy was practically sprinting towards danger itself, with no ounce of regret nor any signs of slowing down. A Breather. A way to relax himself away from the crazy nagging that was from the King. A way to let out his frustrations he built up for so long. A way to...in layman's terms...let loose.

The sounds grew quiet, the night was cold, yet comforting. The boy merely looked around once he reached far deep into the woods. It was only a mere few seconds before the beast decided to make their appearance....and for Harvard to rip it a new one.