Shards

The scent of blood was gone, replaced by an electrifying ozone taste that curled his lips into a deeper sneer. The permeating song sung by the innocent hugged his battlefield like thick flower-scent, cloying, distracting. The prey had healed, and multiplied. Amongst the thief, zealot, innocent, and valiant stood a man of straw, a man of tin, and a lion. The spider, whom he still had not decided to be prey or predator, prepared to attack with her cybernetic legs — an ineffectual assault but perhaps she was not aware of her own abilities due to being still a pup. No matter. The three new players held his attention for he did not know them from their scent; only their stories.

Very aware how shards allowed one to adapt and change, he growled low in his throat and took a step to the rear to ready a guardant stance. His cybernetic tail reacted to the new threat, revealing three wicked blades. The prey and the spider came at him and he found himself driven back a step further. They were more formidable than anticipated. He would have to use more than his usual weaponry…