Oliver Burton

Today was one of those days where everything was off. It was not going well at all. It showed on his face, within that agitated animal that dwelled underneath his skin. His human bones were like its cage. Fill that human body up with tired, hunger, and anger. Well, you have a full-on beast rage on your hands. The last thing this city was an uncontrollable, seething polar bear terrorizing its inhabitance. It would bring way too much-unwanted attention. But that pressure, it builds and it builds. That rage was a match that lit that gasoline. He knew he needed to take better care of that beast, take better care of himself. His plate was far too full, to begin with. He needed to take a moment to catch his breath, the man needed a reprieve. Losing those papers only compounded the problem, just one more snapping thread of an already worn rope.

Those pages had a mind of their own too as they took off merrily down the street. He should have called it, should have let things lie. Especially with how on edge he was feeling. He needed open space or a dark room with absolutely no stimulus. But he couldn't seem to help himself, collecting those wild pages that took off on some phantom breeze.

Breathe. He told himself. He didn't want to take it out on the poor woman who only seemed to want to help. So he grits his teeth and he took in that toxic city air and allowed himself to be led by the timid woman. She owed him nothing and yet she chose to help the surly man, he hardly deserved it with how he was acting. Yet he wasn't about to say no, especially with that fixated resolve that possessed her in these moments.

He mentioned her determination and she responded, her answer surprised him. But it still didn't answer that simple matter that she could have minded her business like the rest of the ignorant city. They both parted ways for a moment, probably the most effective way to gather those lost pages. He had been chasing one down into a rather precarious spot. This was utterly useless and a waste of precious time, time that was already so very limited. Enough was enough.

Hmm. Where did she go off to? It didn't take long for the man to catch a glimpse of her, while people irritatingly were blocking his view. He moved toward her, something had felt amiss. It was at that moment he saw her fall backward in an awkward scramble to escape that man. A frown etched upon his features as he passed the people, weaving his way toward her.

He moved easily in between the two, using his large form as a barrier to shield the petite woman from the man that seemed to be causing her trouble. His growling voice boomed, as he reached a hand to help his companion to her feet. She did not deserve to be rolling along the filthy cement like a gutter rat. Her character was evident based on the simple fact that she would go out of her way to help a stranger. His back to the man, paying him no attention. Something felt off about him, something felt strange in general, in the very air around them. But all he could do was focus on making sure she was upright first before he told the man to scamper off.

It was clear that this looming man's presence was undesirable, a potential threat. Oliver was already on edge, that last ounce of control waning in that very moment.

He hoisted the young woman to her feet, she was so light that it hardly took any effort at all. He searched her face for any sign of harm before he placed that briefcase on the ground. If sheer determination and rage weren't overriding his very senses a look of surprise would have shone through. He could feel a pair of small hands gripping the fabric of his shirt, clinging as though her very life depended on that fabric. She couldn't have gotten any closer as she clung to him for security. He wondered if her form trembled or his. His fight for control was a losing war, her meek words were enough to tip him over. His body started to prepare for that shift. No. He would deny it, with every ounce of control he could muster within himself. He had done it before he would do this now. But he knew he couldn't keep going on like this. His inner bear couldn't go on like this.

"I am not your buddy, you foul-mouthed, egotistical sewage rat....I suggest you go before..." He snarled out that last bit. God, did his words sound strained or was it just in his mind?

That soft cry that left her lips, desperate to stay away from that very man. Then that no good warlock scoundrel dared to reach around him and try to grab the woman from his protection. Oh hell no. His inner bear roared in fury. His whole body shook before his bones started to snap and realign from a man into beast. His frame seemed to balloon and expand. His shirt ripped away from his very body, his pants were reduced to shards of expensive fabric. His face elongated into a pearly white snout, his once human teeth, elongated into what was intended for ripping and shredding flesh. What was once a man turned into a beast, a hulk of a pristine, colossal white bear? He had accidentally stepped upon that suitcase during the shift as it bent in ways it shouldn't have, the locks were entirely sheared off. The shift came hard and fast, too fast. The papers didn't matter, none of it matter to the bear except for destroying the man that dared threaten someone under his protection.

A mighty roar escaped him, a sound that should not have come from a bear at all. No bears did not roar, they made many sounds but never a roar, not like this. No this came from his affinity and the very sound made the ground quiver and shake. It bounced off the trees, off the walls. All he could see was red, blinding red.

As far as the bear was concerned, that woman was under his protection and that man was strictly an enemy. He raised high upon his powerful back legs, towering over that man as a vicious snarl rips through him. He was too far gone to realize he was in deep, deep shit. He had shifted in the middle of the god damn city and he was about to murder some sadistic asshole who smelled of magic. No this was not going to end well. This may very well be the end of him.