[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 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.

[hell_in_highheels]

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."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

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.

[hell_in_highheels]

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.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"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.