hell_in_highheels | [oom] Hunt (Cubefall, Day Three)

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[oom] Hunt (Cubefall, Day Three)

For once, River is actually awake before Richard. Her whole body is flush with excitement. Today she takes the final step. Today, they will visit the Library and find a book with a full moon and prey, and she will hunt beside him for the first time.

She watches him as he sleeps. Watches the way his chest rises and falls. Watches the dreams flicker across his face. She knows about the nightmares, knows there are times when he relives that night over and over again. But tonight she thinks she succeeded in wearing him out, as he is sleeping as soundly as she's ever seen him sleep.

She casts an eye at the clock. It's a quarter of five. She can wait forty five minutes, she thinks.

And so she waits.

And watches.

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She lays next to him across the carcass, closing her eyes and holding still to let him clean her. She laughs a bit as he gets into her ears, and she has to shake them out again.

One clawed hand reaches out to rest against his broad chest and she sighs contentedly, resting against him.

Good chase. You did well. All three of them are a bit meat drunk, and they doze half the night away before heading back to the stand of thick trees. Dam gets pounced by the black werewolf there, held down while he's thoroughly cleaned by both of the werewolves.

The alpha leads them in packsong, testing the area for other wolves. When none respond, they play a game of chase, an excuse to get out and explore the territory. The males both approve of the lack of demon rabbits.

Satisfied that nothing is terribly out of place, they settle back in the hollow and sleep, waiting for dawn to come.

She curls up with him, long chin hooked over the crook of his elbow, content even with his breath whurfling in her ear. It's all right, she used to his snoring by now, and probably couldn't sleep without it.

Her dreams are interrupted by a searing pain, a twisting in her gut as her body rearranges itself. Her claws dig into his arm and she holds on, feeling him ripple and tense behind her. For whatever reason, perhaps because she was relaxed, or perhaps because she'd been through the transition once, it didn't seem to last as long this time.

When she opens her eyes, the world is again in color, and she's back in human form, trying to remember her dreams of running wild through the forest with him.

Normally, Richard would be rolling over to go back to sleep, but somebody dug their claws into his arm. Sure, it's healed now, but that doesn't mean he hasn't still got blood dripping down.

Ow, he says plainly, giving her a look. His scent'll tell her he doesn't really mean it.

Oh love, oh I'm so sorry, she answers, her scent a bright pulse of terror, afraid that she'd actually injured him. But the wounds are closing up right before her eyes, and his blood is wet on her hands. And it smells good.

There is no conscious thought as she bends to clean the blood away, her tongue laving over his skin. Her eyes close and there is a quiet, almost awed, hum on her lips.

There's a pleased deep little hum of his own in return. He lifts a hand to run through her hair, a little smile on his face. Feeling all right?

Dam stretches and yawns on his other side before resting his head on Richard so he can see them both.

Tired, she confesses, closing the distance and nuzzling his chin before kissing him gently. He fills her senses, and her scent ripples with contentment.

Her hand reaches out to idly ruffle Dam's ears before coasting up to curl around Richard's back.

We did it.

Yes. He smiles lazily, a hint of concern in his scent.

You...liked it?

He's holding his breath.

She can smell his worry, and she smiles, bringing a hand up to stroke his cheek. I loved it.

He exhales, grinning.

Good. He nuzzles her, resting his head at the crook of her neck. I am happy you had fun.

She nestles close, pressing her nose into his hair.

It seems like a dream, and I wouldn't call it fun, necessarily. But it was -- exhilarating. Necessary. Everything she thought it would be, and more. Terrifying and difficult, but joyous as well.

It felt -- right.

Like this feels right, huddled in a bower at the base of old oak trees, surrounded by the earth and the forest, and by her pack.

Though it is a bit drafty.

He should've brought blankets. He didn't think that far ahead. Bad alpha.

He is rather intrigued by her goosebumps, though. He runs his fingertips over them.

It was right. You should be here. With me. With us. It's that simple, as far as he's concerned, and his scent does everything to back that up, deep and strong.

She closes her eyes, a transcendent smile spreading over her features as he trails his fingertips over her skin. His touch raises new goosebumps and he chases those as well. A little shiver goes through her, and not from the temperature. Time could stop right now, and she'd be happy living the rest of eternity in this moment.

Her eyes open, bright and wide.

I have to accept the changes before Cubefall is over, else I revert back to human.

He meets her eyes, blinking slowly.

...do you want to? He's not hopeful enough to assume that one exhilarating night means she wants to spend the rest of her life like this.

She can't believe he even has to ask. Doesn't he not know by now? How can he not know?

She shifts closer to him, rolling until she can rest her forehead against his, taking his face in her hands. Her scent is thick with that same powerful emotion he smelled on her that very first night, only it's stronger and deeper now.

I want this. I want this life. I want -- you.

He grins again. How could he not?

Fair enough, he says simply, relishing that scent and knowing he smells the same.

We should get back, then. In case time acts oddly between here and there.

She nods, nuzzling his cheek again, resting against him.

She's only had this nose for three days, and this is the only scent she's ever smelled from him. But she can see it in his face, can feel it in his embrace. The rest will come with time.

Right. Clothes. She grins, laughing a bit. Can't go traipsing back through the bar in our altogether. Against the rules.

And the last place you want to be right now is the cells. There's almost a growl to that as he recalls his recent conversation with Baby.

No, there will be no growling, she chides, nibbling at his chin. Not today.

Come on, I want a shower.

She stretches in his arms, her scent carrying a thread of urgency to it.

He is appeased.

Off, Dam. Time to head back.

'kay, yawns the Doberman. The pair of them stretch at the same time before Dam snuffles around for the bone he brought back and Richard gets dressed.

She stands slowly, stretching out all her limbs. The moon pressure is still high here, so she feels like moving. (Now she knows why he runs.)

She brushes the leaves off his skin and stands while he does the same for her. They dress quickly and head back to the portal at an easy lope.

The Library is a vast change from the forest.

Dam stops just inside the portal, obviously struggling with his bone. River turns and speaks to the center of the room. "CAL, can he keep this one little bit?"

The girl appears, looking a bit chagrined. "Only if he can come back for a visit later."

"Yes, of course he can." River leaves Richard's side to bend to speak with the girl.

"You're coming back too, aren't you?"

"Yes, dear. How could I stay away?"

"But you're not -- the same. And you're not going to revert, are you?"

Yes, of course, she saw everything that happened in the book. "No, I'm not the same, and I don't want to revert. That doesn't mean I'm leaving for good."

CAL looks at her with big, dark eyes. "Promise?"

"As much as I can, my dear." River gathers CAL in her arms and gives her a tight squeeze. "As much as I can."

Edited 2009-06-02 06:04 (UTC)

Richard stands back, keeping out of their way. He never quite knows how to act around CAL, who is, for all appearances, a child but in reality so much more.

Dam wins his fight with the portal and steps back into the library. That was strange.

CAL had to make arrangements to let you keep it.

Oh! Cos it's a book thing. Dam wags his tail and prances up to the woman. Thank you, CAL.

River puts a hand on Dam's head, still speaking to CAL. "He says thank you for the bone."

"You're welcome." The young girl has a very serious look on her face as she pets Dam's face. "But you have to come back and play sometime."

River grins at the two of them. "Oh we will, don't worry. Maybe you can come play with us on the beach one day."

CAL's eyes light up. "Oh, I'd like that! Very much!"

"I can't stay any longer, CAL. I have..."

CAL cuts River off, giving Dam a big hug goodbye. "Yes, I know. Hurry! Before you miss it!"

River laughs and gives the girl another hug before rejoining Richard.

"Good bye, CAL," Richard says with a dip of his head as he puts an arm around River. She's really going to do it. He's almost giddy.

Time to go, Dam.

Yes, sir!

The dog proudly trots ahead of them as they return to the bar.

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[oom] Hunt (Cubefall, Day Three)

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