Arken's head long strike was rewarded in its foolishness with the coppery taste of her blood on his tongue. It was not a very pleasant taste at all as it seemed stale and stagnant. The coppery taste almost tasted as if it had been rotting for many long days which was not something pleasant. He spat out what he could as he looked to the creature that was now in retreat of him. Her speed and agility was something to marvel at as she clambered up the tree. He was not about to let her escape and ran at the tree hoping to catch her before she got too far. With a slam of his teeth, all he tasted was the splintering wood of the tree his teeth sunk into. The bitter taste of sap hit his tongue as he yanked his jaws away. His teeth tore into the meat of the tree and it sent splinters flying as he pulled away. The bark between his teeth were taken care of quickly with a snap of his jaws as he glared up at the woman overhead.<br/><br/>One of his biggest flaws was to be a ground dwelling creature. In his human form, he would have the agility to bound up like she had but in this form, it was far too illequiped to be able to make the distance. His claws would not hold his hulking frame or his heavy armored skin. That was not something he cared to worry about. Like a crocodile, his back and head were covered in touch scales to allow him protection from above and behind but his thinner belly skin was where his teeth and claws were needed for protection. Those were enough to detour any one from attacking him from the front. His gutteral hiss was very audible as he hated himself being grounded but he would be able to take notice that something was developing around him. They were planning something and he could see it as he was finding himself now flanked at all angles.<br/><br/>He was glad to see all pieces of this grouping he had run into now surrounding him because it let him know that his friends were to be safe on their way home. That was his goal. Nothing else mattered but getting them home. Arken was one to always sacrifice himself for the others he protected and this was one of those instances. With his senses heightened, his eyes would begin to scan how his instance was beginning to develop. His more guarded defenses would come forth as he hunkered down a bit onto all fours. It was to help him protect his softer underbelly for what was to come. The claws of his hands and feet would dig into the ground for anchorage as he began to use his head a bit instead of relying on his anger. As the creatures kept their distance, he would grin a bit.<br/><br/>"Come on...Why be afraid now? After all, you seemed so confident when you had my friend on the ground and tearing into his neck. Where is that monster now? Did you find someting scarier than you?" He was taunting them. It was his own little tactic to cause them to make a mistake. He was not here to kill them as they had been so ready to do to him and his friends. Something so sinister was ties to the darker side of this world. He could almost smell the influence of the demons upon them and it was acrid to his senses. He dared not strike first this time because he was unsure of their intentions now. If they were to feed off him, he would make them work for their meal.