Beast had been watching her for a week now; he'd watched her come into the dead city; watched her wander around the place. Watched her movements; and her nervous twitches. She was beuatiful in every sense; she had a beautiful dress; gorgeous hair; a sexy smile.... no matter how she smiled; no matter how she looked; how scared she seemed or angry or flustered or upset... she was beautiful. She just drew him in. He had to have her. He would make her his.


Belle was curious by nature, and while she read every scrap she could get her hoofs on her curiosity often led her into foolish situations. She knew in her heart that this place was dangerous and yet she had been oddly drawn to come and explore. Sadly she had then promptly gotten herself lost and now trod through the dead city very carefully and as quietly as she was able. It was just her luck to be out and about in the least sensible outfit she had. Worse she didn't even have a a book to relax and enjoy in this distressing time. A nice atlas or book of maps would have been useful, her guardian had no doubt been a librarian and instilled this adoration for the written word within her.


Beast kept close to her and generally made sure she kept out of harms way. She reminded him of someone; though she was by far more excellent. She listened to her talk to her guardian. It was interesting to say the least; she sounded so smart... beuaty and brains how rare~ He mused to himself as he stopped for a few minutes. Trying to figure out in his head for the hundreth time how he would approach her and convince her to come back to his home. It was safe there; and beautiful. The windows had somehow remained in tact over the years and the bomb shelter was still filled with good food to eat. They could live happily there.... but how would he convince someone as lovely as she... to become his mate.... He growled to himself before lifting his head; suddenly going quiet. His ears twitched and his whole body stiffened. Something was wrong... something was very wrong.



Carefully Belle picked her way along, her hooves testing the earth as if being on stable ground would somehow also help her orient herself. Sadly she was just as lost now as she had been the moment she set off. Pity because this place was rather fascinating, and oh so quie-she jerked up. The sudden screeching sound came from above and sent a shiver down her spine. She looked around afraid now for a place to seek shelter and then slowly tipped her head back her hazel eyes narrowing on a small shape above. The shape grew in size as it came down, down, down, the vicious bird of prey and natural enemy of the herla, a raptor. She turned then and bolted pure fear driving her, which left no room for reason or calculated steps. She tumbled head over heels tangling in yellow satin and trying to stand quickly. Not quickly enough however for she felt the sudden p***k of talons as the raptor descended on her.


Beast watched and snarled as he witnessed a lone raptor attack HIS female. With a roar and a rearing of his front hooves he charged forward; eyes blazing and a sort of blood lust coming over him. How DARE that THING attack HIS prey. He rammed it hardly his whole body jarring; but he'd fought these things before. He was used to the bone jarring repercussion. And though he was dazed lightly; He growled again at the thing; rearing up on his back legs and bringing them down on its head. Hitting it's eyes. That was a hard to hit place but he'd perfected it over the years. "RUN." He demanded to the female; slamming his hooves back into the things head; slamming it into the hard ground with a satisfying crack. The thing let out a screech and Beast was afraid for a moment that the others might have heard it and come running. He turned to the female and glared at her; rushing towards her and trying to herd her back to his hide out. "QUICK! THIS WAY!" He screamed leaving no room for debate. Those things traveled in packs; in a few more minutes they wouldn't be able to get away.


The raptor had believed in easy prey, and when it's talons dug into flesh the days meal was assured. Except out of nowhere hooves had come crashing down, it's grasp on tender flesh was gone. A screech escaped as it beat it's wings furiously, talons struck out trying to gave as good as it got. Then the sudden gush and painful slam into the earth with hooves falling hard on his body. It's beak opened and it let out a louder piercing screech a call for help.

Belle cried out and then gasped and cried again when something came charging out on the attack. Was she to be savaged by both monsters? Except she quickly realized the dark shape fighting like a whirlwind was another herla! RUN he yelled at her and she quickly righted her legs and sprang away dashing like mad away from them. She paused though and looked back worried for her would be hero until he rushed for her and started to herd her away. Her ears pinned back at his screams but she ran with him because she knew that some dangers were worse then others.

Beast brought her through the streets weaving in and out of dilapidated buildings but there in the center of it all was his sanctuary; their sanctuary. An old cathedral; long since abandoned; but built so well that it had withstood the test of time. He picked up his speed and nudged the beauty at his side to do so too. These things had followed him to the cathedral on more than one occassion; but never had they been able to find his secret entrance. A hidden door on the side of the church that refugees might have used at one point; made out of solid brick but touch it in one specific spot and it slid open with ease. "Quickly." He told her breathlessly; his legs beginning to feel like jelly from the adrenaline rush. Once she was in looked back and saw the glint of their eyes as he rushed into the safety of the space and closed the wall behind him. He turned back to his beauty now; as he tried to catch his breathing and he stared at her long and hard. God above she was beautiful. "Are you an idiot?"

Her legs trembled beneath her as they stopped in what she hoped was finally safety. It certainly seemed safe everything around her seemed solid and built of stone. Her breath came out in tiny gasps before finally evening back out. She slowly raised her eyes examining the large herla before her, he looked positively terrifying. She gave a tiny shudder before nodding and opening her mouth to tell him she was alright, until she realized...he hadn't asked 'Are you alright' he had asked 'are you an idiot'.
"I most certainly am not!" She hissed at him infuriated by his rudeness. She might have kicked him or marched right out of there, except there were probably over a dozen raptors waiting outside. He had saved her life after all, so she ought to be a bit grateful, but his words had been...unexpectedly cruel. She tried to think of how to settle things down and introduce herself properly.
"I'm alright...incase you cared." She added, and then frowned at her tone which was probably equally as rude as his own. Her skin had been pricked, but it was only a dull ache, she could see marks on him and wondered if the raptors talons hadn't done far worse to him.

"What kind of idiot female goes wandering around the dead cities like that alone! You've been here for almost a week! LOST!" He growled at her, stepping closer to her and baring his teeth to assert his dominance from the start of their encounter. "You most certainly ARE an idiot. What would have happened to you if I hadn't have been around when that raptor attacked hmm? Your pretty little throat would have been ripped open and that dress of yours would have been ruined~" He rolled his head. He really had thought she'd be smarter but apparently not. What a disappointment.

He glared at her and his expression softened if only just a fraction of a hair to try and not seem so threatening. "Well it doesn't matter how irresponsible you are anyways; you're going to be staying here for a very; VERY long time. You're my prisoner now. Whether you like it or not. I think I'd rather kill you then let those things out there get to you first. Atleast I'd kill you quick."

He walked past her; he always kept some medical supplies close to the door; that way he wouldn't have to drag himself anywhere if he was ever seriously hurt. "Come here." He commanded as he pulled out some ointments and bandages. He was pretty good at wrapping wounds at this point.


How did he know how long she had been there, and how did he know she was lost? Well she wasn't about to agree with him and let him think her an idiot. She wasn't! She simply allowed her curiosity to lead her into unfamiliar areas and sometimes a little dose of danger. Except this time the danger had been rather great and she had been terrified. He was right that the raptor would have easily managed to rip her open and when his expression softened she opened her mouth to thank him.

"Th-thank yo-" Except he started to say something right over her. She would of course be staying for as long as the raptors swirled dangerously about outside. Prisoner?! Kill her?! Had she run away from one danger only to fall into another?
"You can't keep me here!" She yelled and then frowned as he walked right past her.

"I'm FINE! I don't need your aid!" She wasn't just going to waltz over there and let him examine her for wounds that weren't there. The nerve of this, this brute! She took a quick step back trying to regain control of a situation that had spiraled out of her grasp.


Beast chuckled at her outburst and the fact she seemed to think he wouldn't be able to keep her here. "Who's coming to save you? does anyone know you're here anyways?" He shook his head knowing that she'd come here alone; otherwise she wouldn't have been here for so long. "And who would come into the dead city? Everyone knows it's raptor infested. The only fact that none of them have attacked you thus far is becuase I have been keeping you safe. I've always made sure to scare you away from them, I think keeping you as my prisoner is a good payment for that alone. But the fact that I put my life in danger to save your own~ You should be falling to my hooves in gratitude." He really did beleive that; had she ever fought a raptor? Under that vest of his was like a picture of all he'd gone through while living here. He was riddled with scars; but his vest hid those for the most part.

"I didn't ASK if you were fine. I TOLD you to come here. I saw that raptor get you; do you know how riddled with disease those things are? if you don't treat it at all; it will fester and become infected. Now." His voice got a bit more stern as he stared her down. "Get over here before I come to you."


"Well...no...I came alone. I didn't realize those things would be all over!" She glared at him annoyed at his assumptions and more so that they were...correct. How dare he, he was really planning on keeping her here. What did she look like somekind of pet? Then he really startled her, he had been following her? Who did that and why would he do that? It bordered on stalkerish and frightening and...she was lucky he had.

"Alright, I owe you for saving my life, but not to this extreme! You can't just keep me here like a pet mion!" She stomped after him furious at his tone of command but not wanting to have him come over. She could just imagine him cornering her, it would be terrifying!

Beast burst out into laughter when she told him that. ALL of that; that she hadn't know there would be raptors EVERYWHERE; that she had come alone; that she thought he COULDN'T keep her there!! He lifted his head and laughed tears coming to eyes that he wiped off on his robe and smiled at her. "Thanks." he told her still chortling. "I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."

He shook his head; the amused look still on his face. What an idiot; or maybe she was just naiave? A sheltered doe to be sure; especially if she didn't know about the raptors that hid in the dead city; and the other awful things that happened here to pretty does that goe into places they shouldn't be. "But I can keep you here~ I won't treat you as pet~ no~ just think of yourself as my geust for the time being. But there's no way to escape me; and no reason to either~ I can be agreeable when I want to be. And think of it this way~ it's either me and this nice safe enviornment with plenty of food and water and warm places;" He smiled widely to himself; god he loved this place. "Or out there; with those things; who knows how long you'll last now that they know about you~ they don't bother me becuase I've killed so many of them~ but you~ they'd snatch you up in a heart beat."

His laughter was so deep and mocking she cringed and then glared at him infuriated by how casual he acted. Oh how she'd like to bring him to tears in ways besides laughter! The brute! Her frown was fixed in place even as he rephrased his previous statement. A guest who couldn't leave was still just a prisoner though.
"The lesser of two evils..." She muttered unhappily.

Still his description of the place did sound nice and she took a moment to glance about, as far as shelter went she could do much worse. However she had lived in a cozy little bookshop and the idea of this stone cold place was intimidating. Would she ever leave here now that she had come, ever see other herla, friendly faces? Finally she sighed and looked back at him "Fine..." It wasn't as if he needed her to say it, obviously she wasn't going anywhere. Still it consoled her to pretend that he needed her consent, if only just saying the word.


"So~" He said as he inspected her over and was happy to see that the only place she'd gotten hurt at was on her back leg; but that her outfit was still nice and intact. "What's you're name beautiful?" He asked nonchalantly. This of course hadn't been the way he'd seen himself luring her back to his place; but it was as good as any he supposed. So what if she hated him now~ She'd come to accept her fate of spending the rest of her life with him. She'd find it enjoyable here eventually; he'd make sure of that.

He moved his head and took hold of a spray bottle with something that killed all the bad things in a wound; and awkwardly maneauvered his mouth around it; his lower fangs postioned around the trigger and he sprayed the cut. If it was badly infected it would sting a bit; but nothing too severely. He reached back and set it down; grabbing for bandages as well; usually on him it was so much easier to apply all of this..... it was almost impossible to do so on someone else.

"I'm going to have to get a bit closer than you might like." he told her straight forward; not caring if she objected or not; he took the start of the bandages and held it in place with his knee against the inner portion of her leg; before unrolling the bandage around her leg; having to stick his head up and underneath her body. God she smelled amazing; even if she'd been out in this place for so long. This was definitely the female for him he mused as he continued wrapping her up. When he was done he pulled away; deciding he'd invaded her personal space enough. "Would you like me to show you to your room?" He asked; as if he didn't care one way or the other. Truth be told her room was already picked out and would be one of the few rooms with a fireplace in it. He'd moved as many of the mattresses he could find into her room; with plenty of pillows and blankets and things to make her comfortable.


Her name? He was just going to pretend they had civilly decided to shack up together was he? Hmph! The absolute nerve, but she had done enough fighting, yelling, and snarling for one day. Besides he was right, she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, might as well attempt to be civil and get some information out of him.
"I'm Belle..." She finally replied though her voice still had a sullen edge to it.

"W-who are you?" She asked unable to disguise the same curiosity that had gotten her into this mess. She gave a sudden gasp as he moved in closer, hadn't he heard of personal space? She let out an indignant squeak as his head moved under her and her hoof came up to whack him. How dare he!

Oh a room? He wasn't going to shackle her in a dungeon? How quaint...still she would keep the comments to herself lest her situation become any stickier. "As long as it's MY room and not YOUR room, fine." She replied and eyes him suspiciously.


Beast had easily avoided that kick; though he did have a great idea of trying to snatch up her leg. He smiled and stood up straight then; a dark sort of smile he eyed her up and down. "Well at least it won't be a boring existance~" He told her chuckled and wanting to lick her cheek to see what her reaction would be. But he decided against it enjoying his tongue just fine thank you.

"Your room; my room. OUR room; what's the difference?" He smiled and nodded his head towards the old stairs that were wide enough for them to climb. He made his way over to them and started up them; they were made out of marble; and well worn from years of use. He climbed them to the second floor easily and continued on; showing her to their room. "Here we are."

"It makes a great deal of difference, I may be temporarily indebted to you for saving my life, but don't think I'll allow liberties." She followed him up the stairs enchanted by the soft click-click of her hooves on the marble. She found herself lowering her voice and pausing in the bickering to look around. The place really was amazing, built to last, maybe later alone she would explore further.

She followed him into the room ready to pick the argument right back up were she had left off. "If I'm staying here, then your certainly not." She stated firmly before trying to get a better look inside.

Beast rolled his eyes. "So much drama from you~ so ungrateful too~" He commented not really caring if he stayed in her room or not. "I have a much nicer room right next to yours~" He chuckled and let her go into the room; respecting her enough to give her this much space and feeling of control. Her room would be all her own; and he wouldn't trespass on it. "If you want to decorate the place; go ahead; I don't mind. there are plenty of other rooms around here; but this room is the only one you're allowed to use as your own." He stepped away from the door and went to move away from the place and go off on his own duties. It had been a week since he'd been in this place; he needed to make sure it was alright.

"My room is just across the hall; I don't want you in it EVER." He told her flat out; walking off.

She shook her head but was pleased he would allow her to remain alone in the room. She certainly wanted her privacy and time to formulate a proper escape plan, maybe once she found out where she was and how to get out. Decorate? Well that sounded pleasant enough, but she wasn't about to make it all homey and settle down. Still she gave a soft nod a tendril of chocolate colored hair slipping down her neck to caress her shoulder. "Thank You" She said reflexively though her tone was still edged.

His parting words made her neck crane curiously and once she hooved the door closed behind him she leaned against the old wood. "Hmmm...I wonder why, what is he hiding?" She shook her head determined to figure out sooner or later and turned to settle herself into her new room.