"Empty yer pockets!" the largest of the dirty-faced bandits grinned nastily as he pointed a sharp blade at Lutik's neck. The other thieves were already investigating Lutik's rucksack, except for one who was eyeing Devis. Both Lutik and Devis were at the center of the group on their knees.
"Hey boss, she ain't got pockets!" the ogling bandit snickered, pushing the cloak on Devis aside slightly with his long dagger. Devis failed to show any reaction, other than a mild eye twitch due to the fact that she was again revising her opinion of the afterlife. After all, she had suffered worse as a slave. But still, she didn't think the afterlife would be this scummy.
"Oh, that's some merchandise!" the bandit boss leered. "I suppose we'll have to take her as well."
"No, wait, she's just a traveler! She's not--" Lutik tried to defend Devis despite the danger, attempting to get to his feet and put himself between Devis and the bandits, but it only served to irritate the bandit boss.
"It ain't up for discussion!" the bandit boss snarled as he cuffed Lutik across the ear, causing him to fall to the ground. Devis' eyes narrowed slightly. Why was this stranger going so far for someone he just met? "I suppose we'll have to teach you a lesson, else others might get the impression we've gone soft!" the boss growled as he raised his blade.
Before he could swing, Devis barreled into him, grabbing his arm. While she definitely had more vigor than before, simply by virtue of her stature Devis could pose little hindrance to the bandit boss.
"Git off, whore!" the bandit boss swore, and instead of swinging down at Lutik, struck his arm out to the side, tossing Devis clear into the bushes and out of sight. "More trouble than they're worth! You lot, go and bring that harlot ba--"
Damn it, why do I have to be so weak? Devis swore as she tried to right herself in the dense brush, her ears still ringing from the blow. It was so unfair, even in the afterlife she was merely a punching bag for creeps. Why did the afterlife have to hurt so much? If only I was stronger than them. If only I was strong enough to stop them. If only I was strong enough to...kill them...
Even Lutik, who was staring right at the bandit boss could not register what had happened. For a second, Lutik thought the man had disappeared. That is, until a few warm drops splattered across Lutik's cheek. Turning his head, Lutik finally saw the mangled corpse strewn across the road, blood still spurting, just like the drops that had reached him.
When he looked back, there were only three bandits left standing, all of whom were beginning to panic at seeing their comrades reduced to bloodied bodies. But it was too late, and then there were only two. Realizing their situation, one of the bandits turned to flee, but he barely made it two steps before he too was taken down in a blur of teeth and claws. The last bandit, realizing there was no place to take cover, made a desperate decision. He lunged for Lutik, who was still kneeling on the road, dumbstruck, in hopes of using him as a shield. The bandit's fingertips came within inches of Lutik's collar, but it was not enough.
Lutik stared blankly at the scene before him. Atop the body of the last bandit was a beast. No, it was not even animalistic enough to be called a beast. It was more like...a creature. Large, muscular, and vicious, it was obvious this was the source of the bandits' demise. And probably soon to be Lutik's demise as well. Too stunned to comprehend the fear, Lutik could not even avert his eyes as the golden gleam of the creature's gaze fell upon him.
After a moment of locked eyes that seemed an eternity, the creature bounded off and vanished into the brush. Lutik did not know how long he sat there, surrounded by mangled limbs and gore. However, one of the last rays of sunlight breaking through the tree trunks brought him to his senses.
"The woman, where did she..."
Jumping up, he rushed over to the bushes, where he found a shredded piece of his cloak.