Asmo leapt up into one of the houses. After a couple minutes, he opened the window and jumped in through the window of another home, crashing through the glass. This process repeated a few times until he jumped down to the ground, holding a single rose in his teeth.
He approached Patches. "How you holding up?" he said, very slightly muffled by the rose in his teeth.
He began walking. "I think we could get away with me turning into one when I see it, but... we would need to see it before it smelled us. Whether or not it's downwind is a crapshoot."
Some time had gone by when finally they came across a very large footprint. "Finally. Now remember, I just need to look at it. Then we get away."
A large manticore suddenly appeared in their line of sight. It looked to be sleeping, but it was in a light sleep and the faintest of noises might wake it up.
Asmo whispered, "I don't know if this'll wake it. If we can't get away I'll take it on." He morphed into the manticore.
Stuffy Began breathing quickly, nearly hyperventilating. She made small squeaky noises and dove up a nearby tree, the branches creaking under her. "Get it away! " She yelped quietly.
Asmo looked at Stuffy, whispered, "Chill out! It's me!" then looked back at the beast to see if it was still asleep. He looked anxious. Though he knew he could take it down, the thought of his new friend being involved in such a conflict in this state worried him to no end, and taking it on himself might take upwards of an hour. The beasts are durable; nothing short of a massive fall would even incapacitate it quickly. Even another manticore would be hard-pressed to be effective against a manticore.
Asmo noticed the beast awakening. "Well, s***." He turned to focus his full attention on the manticore. He thought about scooping Stuffy up and flying away, but he wouldn't outrun something built exactly like him while carrying his terrified friend. Maybe it would leave them alone.
(I'm not good at being a manticore. Stuffy yelped and growled, her moods switching around. She looked down at it and was about to jump on it.
Asmo growled at the beast. He had a very angry look on his face, as if to say, Approach me or my friend, and I will not hesitate to destroy you. Rarely did he get so protective, and so ferocious. (Want me to take control of it?)
(Yep.) Stuffy leaped towards it, her arms and closed outstretched and teeth bared. The furious gleam in her eyes caught the light and they seemed to glow.
