Raven spun one of his chains in a wide arc, the sound slicing through the heavy air like a whetstone across steel.
"Thistlecreep. AX-K9," he called calmly. "Your first time teaming up with me. Glad to have you here. Listen up."
The two monsters stood at attention. One, a panther-shaped beast cloaked in living foliage and venomous orchids, its floral musculature rippling with barely-contained violence. The other, a sleek, angular construct—tiger-shaped, forged from blackened alloy and glowing copper joints, gears hissing softly as it shifted its stance.
Raven pointed his chain toward the looming figure of Grave-Knight Orun. "That one, the guy with the double blade? He's yours, Thistlecreep. He's a stealth predator. A shadow killer. I want you to do what you do best—lock him, bleed him, eat him alive if you have to."
Thistlecreep gave a low growl, vines bristling.
