[oom] Hunt (Cubefall, Day Three)

[hell_in_highheels]

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.

Comments

[hell_in_highheels]

"Very well, thanks to you." She grins against his jaw, nestling closer.

Do you know what today is?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He lifts his head to look at the clock before settling back into his pillow and her.

What's today? His scent has amusement all through it.

[hell_in_highheels]

She could answer 'decision day', the final day of Cubefall, when she decides whether or not to make this form permanent. She could answer 'transformation day', when she greets the full moon for the first time.

Neither of these is in the forefront of her mind. Anticipation and excitement, and a bit of that wild ecstasy he knows she had in her before she ever touched that vidscreen.

Today, we hunt.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

There's more than a hint of anticipation in his own scent, now.

You're rather eager, aren't you? He teases anyway, smiling. Dibs on the liver.

[hell_in_highheels]

She's used to the teasing, and grins right back at him. It is the third day of this, after all, and he's been incredibly patient with her.

"The what? The liver?" He startled her out of canine. "Is it good?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He snorts a bit, laughing.

"One of the best parts. Warm and juicy..."

Dammit, now his mouth is watering.

[hell_in_highheels]

Her eyes flick to his mouth, and back to his eyes. What is that smell, she wonders?

She leans, nuzzling at his chin a bit before moving to capture his mouth in a gentle, exploring kiss. Tasting and breathing him in.

Hungry, love?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

No thanks to you, he grumps unconvincingly. He sighs dramatically. I suppose we might as well get up, then.

Sooo put upon.

[hell_in_highheels]

She grins, kisses him again and then rolls away, her bare feet hitting the rug in record time.

Thought you'd never ask!

He's never seen her this chipper this early in the morning.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

You are eager, he observes with some astonishment. All right, all right, I'm going.

He's out of bed shortly himself and over at his dresser a moment later.

What did you want for breakfast?

[hell_in_highheels]

She's blinking at her clothes, finally settling on a pair of old khakis, and a plaid flannel shirt. Work clothes, he'd heard her call them. Eager, yes, but still a bit sleepy eyed.

She turns back to him, dragging a hand through her hair to pull it back and twist it up into a knot. Her eyes draw down to slits as she considers.

"Eggs, for protein. Bacon. Potatoes, for the carbohydrates?"

She's trying to think of what the transition will need. Instinct isn't filling in the gaps.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Food, he amends with a grin. And a lot of it.

He pulls out clothes that are comfortable but will keep the wind off of him.

"Trust me when I say you'll be hungry anyway," he says as he pulls on his pants.

[hell_in_highheels]

Yes, love. I've seen you eat. I believe you.

She watches him from across the room, dressing quickly. Usually she shambles off towards the shower first thing, but his scent is all over her, and she's loathe to wash it off.

Are we bringing Dam?

It only seems logical, seeing as Dam goes with him every full moon.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He'd be rather disappointed if we didn't. He's looking forward to showing you all the tricks.

It's like they're planning a trip to the beach or something. A normal, happy occasion.

[hell_in_highheels]

Yes, except that frisbee isn't on the menu.

"Tell me again. You said it only takes thirty seconds or so? And how long after moonrise?"

I hope I don't embarass you. She looks up from where she's lacing her boot. Oh hell, did I say that out loud?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

I doubt you'll remember most of it. Events tend to be a bit blurry at best. Did he mention that before? He doesn't remember.

"I suppose the only way you'll know is to record it." He smiles softly.

[hell_in_highheels]

"I could, but I'm going to try to retain as much information as I can." She joins him, her scent telling him she's eager to get going. "Much like you've talked about trying to control the change, who knows how successful I'll be?"

"Also, that way you'll have no horrifying home movies to inflict on the neighbors." She gives him a playful bump.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He bumps her back.

"You'll do fine. Even if there are a few mistakes, you're only a puppy. Atrocious penmanship is to be expected, remember?"

He finishes lacing up his boots and stands.

Shall we?

[hell_in_highheels]

As much as she loves the sound of his voice, now she's learning to appreciate his canine bodyvoice. It has the same smug confidence, the same gravitas that she has enjoyed about him since the first moment he ever spoke to her. It is, simply, his voice. Only now, she can hearsee all the nuances she was missing before. Another check mark in the 'this was a good idea' column.

They ate breakfast in the bar, Richard slipping Damocles his standard ration of slices under the table, and River sharing an egg with him, tearing it into slices and letting him lick the yolk off her fingers while she giggled, ignoring the disapproving looks of their fellow diners.

She ate so much she thought she would burst, and Richard still thought she should eat more. She offered to stuff her pockets with toast if he thought that would help. He only rolled his eyes at her and pointed at her food.

She ate. And ate. And ate. Finally, when her pack had decided she'd eaten enough, they head towards the Library.

There was a tense moment in the hallway beyond her Door, when CAL did not recognise River's file. Luckily for them both, she recognised Richard & Damocles, and that hesitation allowed River to provide her security code. While Richard searched through the stack of books that met his very strict criteria, River reestablished a baseline archive of her file. Everything before was only to be used in extreme circumstances. (She almost deleted everything but Richard gave her a sharp look, and she decided against it.)

After ten minutes, the flickering blue light around River finally fades. "Baseline archive complete for River Song. Please review archive and confirm."

"Confirm archive," River says with a certain finality. "Two copies, please."

"So, have you decided where we're going?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Not Scotland," he says firmly. The Bar's version is one thing, but he sees no reason to start her experience there. He is holding on to a book, though, something deep brown with tan lettering.

"A bit further south, no humans in existence yet. Plenty of woods and the same sort of deer." That's how he began his search, adding more limitations as he went. Summer. Plenty of prey. Clean water. An area without other predators.

An area without humans.

"Does that suit you?"

[hell_in_highheels]

"Oh Richard. It's perfect."

This is happening. She can't believe it's actually happening. Her knees are getting a bit wobbly as she crosses from her desk to join him.

She looks from the book into his face, her green eyes bright and wide. Her heart is already pounding with excitement, and her scent is a complex tapestry of hope and longing and trepidation.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"You're so excited," he grins, pulling her in to get a good whiff. His own is still rising, though he's more eager to be going with her than going.

There's a bit of apprehension there, though, well hidden. Everything he's worried about since she asked him to bite her is still in his mind, merely subdued. Everything is going so well. For now.

Are you ready?

[hell_in_highheels]

She holds tight to him, pressing her forehead to his chest as he buries his nose in her hair. She's breathing in his own excitement, his joy at her presence, and it both soothes and inflames her heart.

Ready as I'll ever be, love.

Pain, violence, blood. All of it scares the hell out of her, but fear never kept her from anything she wanted. And she's never wanted anything as much as she wants this chance to be with him.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He kisses her, trying to soothe that away. Everything will be all right. It will.

Ready, Dam?

Yes, sir! The Doberman is easily as excited as River is, with none of the matching fear. He sees nothing to worry about.

It'd be best if we had at least an hour before moonrise, to explore and make ourselves familiar with the place. You'll feel the pressure shift once we step through the door, so be prepared for that. You'll feel...well. You'll see.

[hell_in_highheels]

She nods, closing her eyes and centering her thoughts as best she can. This body makes it difficult to focus, but she manages somehow, to bring her heartbeat and breathing back down to a reasonable rate.

She puts the book on the shelf and opens it, stepping back as the portal forms. The world Richard has chosen, prehistoric Europe, is lush and green, the humidity carrying the scents of a world untouched by industry into the almost clinical office space of the Library. Her composure is undone almost immediately.

She holds tight to Richard's arm, eyes wide as she peers through to this new world. It's twilight, and as they step through, her entire body quivers with this new sensation.

Her scalp draws tight, and her entire body tingles with electricity. There is a pressure behind her breast bone, exactly the opposite of the first time she experience zero gravity. It's as if the whole of creation turned its baleful eye to look at her.

If he wasn't here, solid and warm at her side, she just might bolt.