The Poacher (solo)

After the intense training Stratus returned to the city, as usual he rotated his hunting area. This time he chose an area along the northern portion of town. Once he found his perch he opened his sense. Plenty of signals could be felt around him, tasty humans. A nice hunting ground, but then on the edge of area he felt something odd. It wasn’t human, and for some reason it seemed tastier than the other morsels. Suddenly another signal came within his range; another hollow. It was moving towards the strange signal. “Well that’s that.” Stratus muttered, dismissing the whole thing. But for some reason his curiosity got the better of him, he raced toward the two signals while suppressing his own. Why was a hollow going after the strange signal, what was it? The hollow signal was moving fast it got close to the odd signal before it started to move. It could see the hollow? It was trying to escape? Thanks to that Stratus was able to catch up to both of them. He was nearly a block away when he saw something round fly into the air and fall back down. There was a loud crash beyond the buildings outside his view. Knowing that getting closer might bring more trouble he still advanced. “Curiosity killed the cat…” he whispers as he makes his way across the remaining buildings. The hunter and prey come into view. The hollow is completely round measuring some seven feet in height. It’s arms and legs thin and boney almost like twigs with three clawed fingers on the end. It looks almost like a cartoon, something a third grader created on a whim. It’s head looks like someone had tried to put another ball on top of his body. The bone white half sphere had two circular sockets and what looked like a toothy grin. Stratus turned his attention to what the hollow was chasing; it looked like a human male, but something was different. The person seemed translucent even at his distance of twenty feet away. And the signal the person emitted made them seem all the more tasty.

The strange human screamed as the rotund hollow moved forward. “Please don’t eat me, somebody help! Please anyone!” the man cried, oddly enough there were other people on the street, none of them made any motion to help or run for their lives. “So the people can’t see the hollow or the man, but he can see the hollow.” Stratus observed. “Is this human special? I didn’t want to get involved, but this is something I can’t pass up.” With mighty leap he cleared the distance from the building to the street below landing between the two. Both the hollow and the human were surprised by the sudden appearance, without even a second wasted Stratus threw a punch at the hollow’s massive body. The unexpected attack connected knocked the hollow backwards the monster bounced and rolled fifty feet. It finally came to a stop near some parked cars. Stratus looked down at his fist in disbelief; he hadn’t meant to hit him that hard. His training must have paid off, the other creature didn’t move. He now turned his attention to the strange human, who now cowered before him.
“Please don’t eat me! Oh gods please don’t eat me.” He wailed. Stratus sighed.
“So you can see me. I had hoped it was limited only to him” he said as gestured at the other hollow.
“Y...you can talk?” The fact he could speak had dispelled some of the man’s fears, but not all of them. He stood up slowly and took a step back. Wish a flick of his wrist Stratus launched his hand and grabbed the man’s arm and lifted him up. “NOOOOO! You are going to eat me!”
“Stop your bawling human!” Stratus started “I’m not about to eat you, I’m just curious. Tell me what are you?” The man continued to sob as he danged from one arm. Another sigh came from Stratus. He lowered the man to the ground and loosened his grip.
“Listen human, I did save you, but only so you can answer some questions.” He made his voice as gentle as possible. Which was a hard task, even then it sounded like a growl. “After that I shall release you.” The tactic must have worked the man stops his wails and looks up at his dark savior. “That’s better; now what are you? You’re not human.” He points now to the people still on the street. “You’re not like me.” And you’re definitely not a shinigami, he says to himself.
“I I was...” He stammers. “There was a man crossing the street, I swerved to avoid him.” He stops, with his free hand he points down the road. “The ambulance, all the blood, I remember it all. I felt like I was asleep and I woke up like this.” A simple story, but a lot of information; this was a ghost, a soul even. When people died their souls live on, but he didn’t recall seeing any such souls after he fed on humans. Did he in fact eat the souls and he ate their flesh? Perhaps that was why he found this human so tasty, a soul without the flesh wrapping. He releases the man’s arm completely and he crumples to the ground stuttering staring at Stratus.
“What is it now!? I let you go as promised.” He says very irritated. The man continues to stare, but then points above Stratus’ head. Stratus jerks his head up only seconds before the round hollow belly flops upon his head.

There is no time to dodge, Stratus was hammered into the ground and remained motionless. The round hollow makes a sound like giggling and advances on the shivering soul. Stratus stirred, the blow wasn’t as painful as it looked, or he was stronger than he thought. He pushed himself off his stomach and into a low crouch; there was a slight impression upon the concrete. He made a small jump and launched a kick at the hollow’s exposed back. The kick easily connected and knocked the round hollow away. Actually worked too well, the hollow was sent flying towards brick wall nearly thirty feet way. Again Stratus didn’t think he had hit that hard. The round hollow spun through the air and impacted with the wall, and suddenly came flying back at Stratus. The surprise on his face was mirrored in the man’s soul that watched. The rebound sent the fat hollow flying back head first. Stratus was too shocked by the event to even defend. The hard head slammed into his stomach and the extra momentum launched him backwards into a parked car. The car crumpled as he hit it, but the impact was painful. He was wedged in the wrecked metal, in front of him stood the round hollow giggling yet again. “You little tosser!” Stratus growled, and tore himself free, and leaped forward his claws reaching. His claws struck the round hollow, but didn’t dig in, his blow merely glanced off. Despite the appearance the round hollows body was impossibly smooth. The monster’s skinny arm made no motion to defend, but made a swipe at Stratus. Stratus moved away from the swipe, and pulled back his hand. “Let’s try this!” He made his hand flat with all his claws pointing forward and jabbed at the round creature. This time his hand sunk into the monster, but it didn’t pierce his skin. It was as if the area he hit collapsed, his arm was stuck. The skinny clawed hand made several swipes at him now; he could barely fend it off with free arm. The big hollow continued to giggle, as it’s second hand now clawed at him. The claws were sharp, but due to the monster’s size their reach was limited. Stratus suffered several cuts and scratches, but no mortal wounds. The creature realized this too and snorted in disgust. Suddenly Stratus’ arm popped free from the creature’s hold, and it’s body was once again round. The round hollow made a short hop and bumped Stratus. The smaller hollow bounced off the beast’s belly and into the wall behind him.

While the impact was less than that of the first head butt, it was enough to stun Stratus for a moment. The larger hollow turned away from the still body giggling and dancing from foot to foot. Stratus stood up shakily, his ire at full. The body check had sent him over the wrecked car and into brick the wall. He picked up the junked car in front of him and tossed it at the hollow. The twisted metal hit the hollow mid hop and knocked it from it’s foot and rolled onto the ground in the opposite direction. The ball of flesh ping-ponged off cars and building till rolling to a stop on it’s back. It squealed angrily. Even though he knew it didn’t do much damage, he was happy to make it made. It made him even happier as it struggled to right itself. Stratus calmed down abit as the hollow used it’s thin limbs to stand. From what he could see it body was like rubber. Smooth and tense any impact sent it flying. When he had tried to stab, it made itself soft and supple to avoid being pierced. It obviously could be hurt, but he needed to strike when it was tense. His thoughts were interrupted by the creature fully righting itself squealing again. It’s legs suddenly sunk into his body and it began to bounce in place. Stratus walked into the middle of the road standing right before the creature. The bouncing got higher until it flew up into the sky. Stratus followed the flight with his eyes. It bounced down and hit a car; the car was smashed in an instant, and ricocheted sideways at Stratus. He dodged to the left, and the ball hit the wall and ricocheted back. Stratus had to dodge again; he looked at the now cracked wall, but turned his attention back at the large projectile. The thing was moving pretty fast, and everything it hit was nearly destroyed. “Is he really like rubber? How is he directing himself like that?” Stratus wondered as he dodged another pass. The area was now wrecked, what humans on the street now ran in terror of the sudden impacts crushing the cars and walls. It was getting harder to dodge, the speed was getting faster, and no window for a counter attack. Another pass, but this one grazed his body and he was spent spinning to the ground. He finally realized this narrow street was perfect for this creature’s ability. Stratus waited for the next pass and jumped up and over to the nearest rooftop. He looked down at the still rebounding hollow; he had gotten himself some time to formulate a plan. The building suddenly shook. Stratus looked down from the edge to see the ball rapidly hitting up against the building’s wall. He could hear the screams inside as the people wondered what was happening. There was a loud crash as the ball pierced through one of the buildings windows. There were then several more crashes and rumblings as the living wrecking ball went to work. The ball then exited out the build via a newly made hole. There was another rumble and the building tumbled, Stratus barely had time to leap away as the four story building collapsed into rubble. Mid air he looked down just in time to be struck by the round hollow’s flying head butt. He cart wheeled through the air and fell nearly a block away.

Stratus crashed though a glass window front of a store after the midair collision. He staggered to his feet, around him the building lay in ruins. It was some type of clothing store, the mannequins were broken apart and the cloths littered the floor. One of the heads gazed up from his vacantly. For some reason it annoyed him, he stomped his foot down crushing it. His anger only continued to rise. “That fat bastard is going to pay!” he spat and moved out of the store. As he exited the destroyed shop his sense zeroed in on the hollow, it was coming towards him. It knew he was alive or knew that last blow wasn’t enough to finish things. Stratus looked at his surroundings; he was standing in the middle of a wide intersection of two streets. There were several other moderately tall buildings and streetlamps. A big enough open space, but still somewhat advantageous to the round hollows fighting style. Stratus wondered if he could draw him up to the rooftops. The signal was getting closer; it didn’t leave much time to plan. The signal stopped just short of the intersection. Perhaps the creature didn’t know Stratus could sense him and was trying some kind of surprise attack. Startus stood in the middle of the street, but a building was blocking his view. He could feel where he was, but couldn’t guess what he was doing.

Suddenly the round ball came into view, it ricochet off a build’s wall and barreled at Startus. He dodged deftly to the side. The attack carried the ball past into the very same shattered store. Stratus smiled to himself it couldn’t have been better if he planned it himself. A wide area was just as good as an enclosed area; it made it harder for the ricochet. True enough the creature crashed into the back wall of the shop, but didn’t bounce back out. From the wall he hit the low ceiling, then the floor, then the ceiling again, and finally coming to a spinning stop. The creature started to right itself as Stratus rushed to cut off it’s exit. Within feet of the store there was a large shriek and a gush of wind hit Stratus like a ton of bricks. The gust of wind had also knocked over a nearby car and it tumbled into the middle of the street. The force picked him off his feet and threw him back across the intersection. Stratus impacted against the building parallel from the shop, the hit nearly stunned him. The wall cracked and a deep impression formed around him. For a moment he couldn’t move, the force of air pressed him then finally vanished. He looked across the street at the store

“What hell was that!?” He didn’t expect answer from his enemy, but he got one. From the hole I the building emerged a thin figure with a very familiar hollow mask. The round body was gone instead now was a very slim near skeletal form. It truly looked like an elementary school child’s drawing nearly comical in appearance. It’s arms dangled to the ground it’s claws scratching the pavement. The now skinny hollow opened it’s mouth and inhaled. Just like a balloon it inflated, the skinny body vanished as the skin stretched. Less than a second later the creature was once again a round ball. It shrieked again this time Stratus got to the monster’s belly shrink and the large ball of distorted air fly at him. The burst of air hit the wall behind him with as much force as the last one. The wall crumbled and there were screams, the quiet street had woken and people were running in terror of the sudden commotion. Stratus tried to shut out the noise to think. The rubber body wasn’t the only ability the creature had; the burst of air was just as devastating.
“How can I use my ability against something like this?” He didn’t have much time to think, the creature inhaled again. This time it bounced once and flew at him. Since seeing it’s second attack he now wanted to keep his distance, exactly what the creature needed to set up either attack. He dodged the bounced charge and spun around in an attempt to counter as the creature moved past. Unfortunately, he turned only to be facing the creature’s head.

The creature shrieked and the burst of air knocks Stratus backwards. He slams into another wall and down in a clump. He recovered quickly and jumped back at the hollow, but he had already inflated himself. The monster shrieked. Being in the air dodging was impossible. Almost by instinct Stratus fired a strand of slime from his right hand to a wall. As the air bubble came hurling at him he yanked the strand pulling himself sideways out of it’s path. He pulled the strand too hard nearly slamming into the wall. He smiled despite the somewhat dangerous situation. He lay against the wall he had nearly crashed into. He jumped from it’s surface and he fired a strand towards an adjacent building. The slime hit a window ledge and held. As he began falling the strand went tense and the momentum made him swing forward. With a yank he pushed off from the line and push forward higher into the air. It was like jumping, but much faster; a swinging leap. He flew over the hollow’s head before it could aim it’s next shot. His feet touched down on the roof of another building behind the monster. As he landed the creature took aim and fired. Stratus turned just as the blast destroyed the ground beneath him. He jumped from the building’s ledge almost into a swan dive. He shot another strand of slime at a lamp post as he fell. The slime hit and he was able to yank himself out the fall into a swing once more. This time it took him straight at the enemy hollow. The hollow was surprised, almost as surprised as Stratus. He released the strand and tackled the deflated hollow. The two combatants collided and the momentum sent them into another wall. The creature flailed him with his claws; much more effectively than in his ball form. The scratches cut deep drawing blood from his attacker. Stratus tried to defend himself, but was more worried about the creature inflating again. He had to get him now before he used that rubber defense. Unable to think of a plan he acted. He build up the pressure in his arms released a large glob of slime. The wad of glue pins the skinny hollow against the wall as Stratus jumps backwards.

The monster still flails wildly at the air, unaware Stratus has backed off. It’s body plastered with the slimy gel. Seeing it’s enemy standing back it tries to move from the wall. Arawn curls his fingers and fires a barrage of spheres at the skinny hollow. As the balls of glue pepper his body it tries to pull the slime off it with it’s hands. Too late does it realize that its hands would become trapped as well. Hand now stuck to the slime as well it opens it’s mouth and inhales deeply. The skinny body starts to expand, but as it gets halfway full the slime tightens and contracts. Half inflated the hollow’s face is one of shock. Stratus laughs. The creature growls and tries to inhale more air, but the cocoon of slime prevents it’s body from expanding much further than the half way point. It’s completely trapped. Stratus calmly walks toward the confined creature. It struggles more knowing full well what’s coming next. The effort is wasted; Stratus stands a foot from the creature. It looks at him and chuckles nervously.
“It’s not funny!” Is all he says before he releases a flurry of blows upon the creatures face. The bone white mask cracks under the assault. It starts to chips as the claws scrape across it’s surface. Finally the mask breaks and the body limp. There is a hole in the wall were the monster’s head once was, and blood covers his hands. As he admires his work he notices a pang of hunger. All the work has given him an appetite. He opens his senses and instantly zones in the signal of a soul, and wastes no time hunting it down. The source is close; he finds the soul of the man he had saved from the ball hollow. He had hid himself and watched the fight unfold. “Wow, you really took care of him, I don’t know how to thank you.” He stammers.
“Well you can thank me by not moving around much. I’m in too hungry to chase you down.” As Stratus speaks the hidden crack in his mask opens revealing his maw. Drool rolls from his mouth as his long purplish tongue snakes forward. The man’s eyes widen in disbelief, he doesn’t run. It’s not out of respect of Stratus’ request, but utter terror. He starts to shiver and cry. The tears stream down his face, but have no effect on the monster before him.
“But you said you’d let me go!” he wails. The hollow snickers at the comment. “I did let you go, but now I’ve caught you again.” With a single hand he lifts the unfortunate soul off the ground, and turns him feet first into the air. The man stares down at rows of fangs as he whimpers. “It’s not my fault you didn’t run away.” Is all Stratus says before his mouth closes over the man’s head.