[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

[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.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He stops, just inside the door, letting himself adjust. It's not as abrupt as the last time, merely an increase from half to full.

It's all right, he soothes. That change is normal. It'll happen every time you change worlds.

And it's nothing compared to what happens when the moon rises.

We still have a time. Just breathe.

[hell_in_highheels]

She does as instructed, unconsciously matching her breath to his. His confidence also helps. While she may be off the map, he's in familiar territory. That goes a long way towards reassuring her. (A distant part of her thinks that she can't imagine how terrifying this must have been for him, going through this the first time alone.)

The sight of Dam racing across the meadow with a huge grin on his face, also helps.

She gives him a little nod, her gratitude readily apparent in her scent. Atrocious penmanship, she mutters, sheepishly.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He had myriad other things to worry about, his first time. He's trying to keep hers simple. He rubs the area between her shoulder blades with his palm. We should find some place secure.

He's a little anxious. He can't help it, in new territory and without knowing the lay of the land. His hands are on her, but he's looking around the meadow and sniffing the wind. The sun is setting, but they should have more than enough time to find what he's looking for.

[hell_in_highheels]

She leans into his touch, but eventually moves away, her body language deferential, and her eagerness returning as she becomes accustomed to the moon pressure.

I'm all right. Let's get moving. He shouldn't have to worry about her so much. She's not helpless. All right, not that helpless.

She falls into stride behind him. This body seems to appreciate running more than her human form did, and she needs to move now.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Yes. Moving is a good idea. He heads for the woods immediately, getting out of the open. Dam races back across the meadow to join them, falling in with a happy grin.

Richard just wants to run, to move, but he knows he should be instructing her.

We're looking for something secluded, not easily seen. A close stand of trees will do. It's half instinct and half training that's guiding him now, but he knows they don't need anything permanent. They're simply not going to be there that long.

[hell_in_highheels]

For a den? Or simply to conceal us during the transition? Running is helping but there this compelling sense of urgency pressing at the back of her skull.

Her eyes are scanning the forest. Aside from a few game trails, there are no paths. No roads. No sign of civilisation. Somewhere off in the distance, she can hear water and she alerts on the sound.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Preferably, both. A bit of wryness enters his scent. There's a good chance, though, that whatever we find before hand won't hold up to scrutiny on the other side. We may have to hunt for our clothes in the morning.

It would not be the first time.

He sees her alert and tilts his head himself. Water is good. We should at be in the same area when we wake. This way.

[hell_in_highheels]

Wouldn't be the first time we had to hunt for our clothes, would it, love? Even in the fear and anticipation, she can't pass up that straight line.

Smirking, she follows him, head down.

There, she gestures towards a thicker part of the glade, a stand of hundred year old oak trees huddled together like old men in a windstorm. Does that look good?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Good eye, Richard praises. Dam, scout the area. The Doberman bounds ahead, eager to put his training to use.

Of course, he explores the trees himself once they get there, sniffing for anything out of place. There's nothing, naturally. They're years before there ever will be.

He circles round to bump River. How are you doing?

[hell_in_highheels]

Better. Ready for the waiting part to be done.

For all her love of research, once she's made a decision, she is not one to stand around and quibble about it.

That and the insistent thrum in her skull is making her skin crawl.

She leans against him for a moment, catching his hand again. How long, do you think?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Richard rolls his shoulders, trying to ease some of his own itch out.

It doesn't work very well.

He shakes his head, wanting to pace. Soon. You feel it? Of course she does. The sun's near completely set, leaving long dark shadows beneath the trees, and the moon is terribly close to rising.

Start taking your clothes off. There's no romance in his language, just a simple urgency. He gives her a quick kiss before pulling away from her, stripping off his shirt.

When it comes, it'll hurt. Don't fight it. It'll only make it last longer.

[hell_in_highheels]

She feels it like she's hanging on the edge of freefall, her stomach tight, and her skin itching and crawling. She nods at his instruction and does as she's told.

She's been briefed thoroughly on this next part. She folds her clothes and clears away a hollow at the base of the tree to stash them, taking Richard's clothes and doing the same.

That accomplished she stands, her fists clenching and unclenching. Her neck and back feel like a spring twisting tighter and tighter, and her stomach is roiling.

Richard. Richard!

When he looks into her face, her eyes have gone golden.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful. Even in black and white.

His fingertips are itching as his claws start to grow. He'd love to reach out to her, but between the claws and what he knows is coming next he doesn't dare.

It'll be all right, he tells her as his jaw starts to itch, then burn as his teeth fight for room. I love you.

He doubles over with a gasp.

[hell_in_highheels]

She manages to respond, her human hand reaching out towards him. Love you...

And then she's beyond language.

Pain for something you want is significantly different than pain for something you don't want. That said, River has never felt anything like this.

There is a searing agony deep in her bones as they stretch and grow, her entire frame readjusting to accommodate the new mass within and without. She wants to curl into a foetal position, but her body is not her own anymore. Her skull is changing, her heart and lungs, every inch of her skin sprouts fur and stretches to cover her new mass.

It is the longest minute of her life. At some point she fell to her knees and when it's done, all she can do is look at the the ground, and breathe.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

There are two separate noses sticking themselves in her ears, whurfling in curiosity and concern.

Is she okay?

Think so. She's bumped on both sides as the whurfling continues.

[hell_in_highheels]

The world is black and white and rich with scents. Their human clothes, Damocles, and her mate stand out strong against the background of the forest.

Her pack is around her. She lifts her head, shakes her ears and blinks as she looks at the world through new eyes.

Her shoulder meets his and she turns to look him in the eye.

Hey.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Hi. He meets her eyes, unblinking, ears pricked towards her. A hint of aggression works it's way into his scent. Okay?

Dam is still bouncing and bumping on her other side. Hihihihihi! River! You changed! The dog laughs happily.

[hell_in_highheels]

She blinks, confused at the aggression, and a bit bewildered at Dam's response.

Grinning briefly at the dog, she looks back at the black werewolf and then looks down, leaning forward to brush her muzzle against his chin.

You?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He relaxed as soon as she blinked, ears splaying sideways a bit as his mouth opened in a smile.

Glad you're here. Wherever here is. He licks her nose, then rises a bit to look around. Dam?

New place, sir, just for tonight. Should be safe. Water's a short trot upwind.

The black werewolf turns his attention back to him, ears listening to their surroundings. Well done. To River: Can you stand, pup?

[hell_in_highheels]

She doesn't know. Her limbs feel -- odd.

So she tries, feeling the new muscle stretch. Ooo, stretching feels good. She tips her chin up and yawns, a nervous flashing of teeth. Her arms come up and out, and she splays her claws, curling them in just as quickly.

As she stretches her torso, she feels the emptiness of her stomach.

She turns back to him, ears flat, whining a bit in the back of her throat. Hungry.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

All right. Can fix that. He grins a bit, standing. Dam's ears get tousled with his knuckles as he passes him, headed upwind.

We'll find a trail at the water. He doesn't look back.

He's hungry too.

[hell_in_highheels]

She follows him, her eyes taking in the woods, searching, seeking. Everything in this world is new to her, and while she seems to know instinctively that there are very few things that actually pose a threat, she is still wary. He is her mate, she knows this, but there's something new about him as well. She does not know quite where she fits in this new order yet.

The night is quiet here, and she can hear the sound of running water ahead of them. Something small darts away through the leaf litter and without a thought, she's chasing it, crashing through the brush with a singular intent. It goes to ground in a wide mouth hollow and her jaws snap closed on empty air.

She growls in frustration, pacing around the hole for a few steps before she realises they did not join her. She races back to rejoin them, following her own scent back to them.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Here she comes, yips Dam, wagging his tail. You can't catch prey like that. You gotta be sneaky!

Too small anyway. Come on, pup, you have a lot to learn yet. It's patiently said, but one ear flicks a bit in annoyance as the black werewolf turns away to finish the trek to the water.

It's a good sized stream gurgling past and there are several sets of track leading down to and away from the water. He crouches at the water's edge, using one hand to steady himself, and laps up a quick drink.

Here. This scent, this is deer. We'll follow this.