Shortly after the encounter, Idel was dragged by Snappy—the male anger Emontarion—from Voldmoth forest, across a shallow swamp, and finally, by means of a bridge, into the simple village of Rifa… the police station!
The main reason he allowed for this to occur was due to the Hitter's eyes being on him during the entire incidence. The Hitter was a grade 1 anger Emontarion who was ever situated in a small hut erected on the highest mountain in the forest.
He, a living legend, was basically the surveillance of the village, and armed with an ability to strike anyone with lightning from the stormy clouds, he was not someone Idel would like to antagonize.
Plus, unlike other Emontarions, the anger type had it way harder to discern that Idel lacked an emotional Cole. Perhaps it was due to the fact anger kinda kills all sense of reason, or maybe it was because of their tolerant nature toward other Emontarions.
Yeah, tolerant… weird for those who always throw a fit.
The anger Emontarions were the only type that allowed others into their kingdom. So they might have thought of him as a rare Emontarion… one who happened, in Snappy and the muscular officer's eyes, to have committed a grave offense.
The mustached officer, with his red eyes and larzor sharp jaw, looked at the handcuffed culprit sitting in front of him, and to think that he would look not in the least concerned was peeving the officer with each dying second.
The officer hissed and spared a glance at Snappy. His eyes were fixed on Idel, his jaw trembling in fury.
The only thing that stopped him from strangling Idel was the officer.
"Outsider, do you know what you've just done?" the officer looked at Idel intensively. He too was trying his best not to strangle the inattentive culprit.
'Do not use violence against anyone, huh. Why create a rule that confines you?' Idel questioned the choices made by the ruler of Voldmoth.
He silently mused as he understood his situation. If he were to make anyone lay a finger on him, he would be free… or the sentence could be dropped.
"Answer the damn question," Snappy roared.
Idel stared at the officer and saw his trembling mustache.
His silence and annoying "face" had already gathered the kindling; the only thing that was left to do was get a match stick, strike it against the matchbox, and light up the fire.
He remained silent for a bit longer before he spoke in a dreary tone, "I walked in Voldmoth forest."
The mustached officer's eyes widened, and before he could raise his mouth to speak, Snappy gritted his teeth and hit the wall he leaned on with a fist.
"Walked, huh?"
Idel turned his head to face him. He found the "match stick."
"Yes, just walked… in the forest."
Snappy grinned.
"I can help you to stop walking permanently, you know."
"Hmm… that would be helpful, since walking in Voldmoth forest is now, all of a sudden, liable for offense." He pretended to be in deep thought before he added, "Wait, but how am I going carry out errands if I can't walk? I need to raise funds for my wife and child, so no.
"By the way, what were you doing out there in the open, and shouldn't you also be apprehended for being in the forest as well, cause for you to be there, it meant you also had to walk. Oh… I see, is it because I'm an outsider? Is that the reason why my walking is an offense? Racism, huh."
Snappy had heard enough. With the red veins on his forehead being more evident, he stepped forward and reached out his hands. He gripped the arms of Idel's chair and stared at him in the face.
"Walking, walking… don't give me that crap, freak. You embarrassed my girl. I don't give a damn if you saw me in that state. But that was my girl, and I alone have the prerogative to see what you saw…"
"And that is?" Idel stared blankly.
In truth, he knew why Snappy had brought him here. Back when he met Snappy and Screamy, the two were indeed in a vulnerable state… well, as far as Emontarions' culture is concerned.
The two were actually trying to form a new Emontarion. So yeah, they were mating—but in the open field.
How was that, honestly, Idel's fault?
And it's not like he even saw anything that might arouse the common demon back in reality.
Idel could literally see the heavy breathing of Snappy, and from the corner of his eye, the mustached officer covering his face with his pulsing, veiny hands was in sight.
'Both raging.' He gathered his words as he prepared to "strike the match stick" and "ignite the kindling."
However, as he slowly opened his mouth, his eyes widened in alarm instead. He sensed something…
…Enormous.
Malevolent.
It was running, fast!
Towards the village! And with it was a suffocating energy he was familiar with.
A nightmare!
Perhaps a grade 3, 4, 2… or 1.
"…" Idel gasped as the energy suddenly vanished. He felt like a chokehold on his neck had been released.
He turned his face away from Snappy and looked at the ajar door as he pondered, 'A nightmare walking around during daytime and daring to attack Voldmoth in the presence of the Hitter. Has it followed me? Then why has the presence vanished?'
After a while, he concluded that his lack of sleep was perhaps beginning to take effect. This was, after all, his 17th year and 5 months of not sleeping. Hence, the effects would be feasible, and surely nightmares did not somehow learn how to conceal their presence, right?
Crack!
Deep into his thoughts, he heard a cracking sound. His vision, restored, was met by the mustached officer. His eyes were suddenly gleaming, as though he were delighted.
'Wait, wasn't I looking at the door a while back… and why does everything look sluggish?' He blinked, and from the corner of his eye saw Snappy.
He was breathing heavily, and his hand was scrunched into a fist—one that slightly arched towards his shoulder.
Idel slowly lowered his gaze and saw almost half of his back.
A realization sat in. "That was my neck, huh."
His eyes rolled up, and immediately everything went black.