Ariel:
It had taken her a day or so to recover from Williams feeding but she had recovered finally. The days had been lonely filled with fishing and napping and her nights filled with waiting. Will wasn't coming back it seemed, and that left her trapped and alone in this pond. Finally she decided to try and leave herself, she had managed small land excursions before. She waited until the sun had started to set before pulling herself out of the pond.
"Now or never..." She murmured to herself and scooped a dead fish out with her as a snack. She had to find a river or some connected body of water before she dehydrated, which was faster then any normal otter.
~
Sadly Ariel was rather disoriented on land and within half an hour she had run out of energy and ended up laying down in the shade to eat her fish. What worried her was that she didn't think she had the energy to get back to the pond at all. Another half hour later found her laying passed out obviously unable to reach the pond.
William:
William had avoided his pond, a great feat indeed since his den was just within the treeline. But he didn't want to go back, didn't want to confront Ariel after what he had done. He'd spent his nights away from her, hunting to regain his own strength. But it didn't help the other ache. Sometimes, while he hunted, he thought about going to see Anna. Maybe if he saw her and tried to go back to the way things used to be, the ache would go away. He'd even tried going to see her, at least for a drink he didn't have to search to find.
But when he caught a glimpse of her red hood from the darkness of his shadows, he knew it would do no good. Hell, it would probably hurt him more. She was too bright.
Ariel. She was a much cooler star, soft, innocent, welcoming. And for now she was his, if only her presence.
He had turned away from the shop and headed home. He needed company. A soothing song would be nice. Would she sing to him if he asked? Maybe. She was too kind. How could she be so kind to a villain such as himself? He was a seducer in his youth, a user. Now he was a kidnapper, her captor, and still she treated him as if he were her friend.
He moved out of the underbrush, his pond just steps away and a chill went through him. He knew every bit of his tiny piece of the world and he knew something was missing. His gaze fell on pawmarks in the sand and the distinct drag pattern.
"No..." he breathed and ran in the direction Ariel had fled in. He hadn't lied to her about the distance, she would never make it to another body of water on her own. He hoped he wasn't too late. If she died... Hell, if she even took ill because of his stupid decision... he'd never forgive himself.
It didn't take long to find her, she wasn't far from the pond, but he would have missed her and followed her disoriented trail if it hadn't been for her scent. He ran to her side and nudged her face with his paw.
"Ariel? Hold on, okay?" Had he ever sound worried like that before? No matter, what was important was the small female at his feet. Not waiting for her to move or say anything, he slipped himself beneath her and lifted her onto his back, running as fast as he could back to his pond. He should have just taken her back to the main river, but he didn't have a choice. He didn't know how long she had been out of the water and his pond was simply the closest place this time.
Not caring for his clothes, he leapt straight into the water and rolled onto his back, quick enough so that he could grab her in his front paws and rest her torso on his while he floated in the water. He used a wet paw to stroke hair from her face.
"Ariel...?"
Ariel:
Everything felt sore, baked, drained but then she felt a cool wet paw and water surrounding her. Her fin gave a tiny flip an instinct to try and wet herself more. Her eyes slowly fluttered open blue but not as bright as usual. "Will?" She murmured softly dazed and confused. She didn't want to be confused though she wanted to tell Will she was glad to see him again.
"Wh-where am I?" She slowly tried to lift her head and looked around.
William:
Relief flooded Will when she opened her eyes, but his worry still remained when they lacked their usual shine.
"I... You're back in the pond. You were passed out not far from here," he explained softly, wondering how she would take the news. But now that the danger had mostly passed, it gave his own mind time to think. She had been trying to leave. He should have expected she would try to, she was a prisoner here, after all, but that didn't mean he couldn't be angry over it. He grit his teeth tightly to keep from saying anything more.
At least, for the moment anyways.
Ariel:
"I didn't think you were coming back...I had to try and get home." She sighed softly and leaned her head against his chest. "I've managed little land trips before, but I got lost, and then too tired to get back." She knew she didn't have to explain, but William had saved her life didn't she at least owe it to him to tell him why he'd had to? The water was helping hydrate her but the effect was slow, she felt as if she had been poisoned.
William:
He narrowed his eyes a bit, frowning slightly.
"And if you knew I would be coming back? Would you still try to leave?" What a stupid question. He shouldn't have even asked. But it mattered to him. Will had so little control over things in his life. He wanted to have some. But that wasn't it and he knew it. He didn't just want control, he didn't want to have a caged songbird.
He just wanted someone who couldn't leave him, couldn't tell him no.
He closed his eyes.
"I'll always come back."
Ariel:
"This isn't my home..." She replied softly in answer to his question, would she try and leave again though? Unlikely, she wasn't such a fool that she would risk trying to escape again and end up dead. A life trapped was better then no life at all wasn't it? Or was it? She already lived trapped by the water itself, unable to explore land, unable to connect and live among the other otters who roamed freely.
"I'll stay...if you promise to visit every night?" It was silly to try and bargain with him, he knew she had to stay, couldn't go anywhere. She slowly closed her eyes her head resting against his chest.
William:
No, tell her no. You don't need to promise her anything. Will listened to the urging of his darker side and briefly considered giving in. Look where it had gotten him so far? He'd kidnapped Ariel, fed from her, and drove her to weakness when he hadn't been keeping an eye on her.
"I'll visit, before I go hunting at twilight. I may not be able to stay long, but I will visit. And if you need me in the day, just call my name. My den is just within the treeline, so I'll hear." He knew if she called him in the day, he would come. Likely she would be in trouble. Besides, he didn't sleep well, anyways. His days were usually spent writing or carving images into slices of wood. Lately he had been only getting sleep by passing out over his work.
But he wouldn't tell her that. It was a weakness no one needed to know.
Ariel:
She smiled softly her eyes gleaming happily at his agreement as she nuzzled his chest. "I didn't realize you were so close...it's good to know." She slowly flipped her fin again. "It's so lonely out here...you enjoy your solitude?" She looked at him curiously. If he did want to be alone why had he brought her here, and if he didn't then why not live closer to the other otters? William was very confusing, but also very kind, at least some of her fears were put to rest.
William:
"Yes and no," Will replied honestly. No reason to lie about that. He liked having a place were he could be by himself, where he could keep things to himself. He let out a soft snort. He sounded like one of those mythical dragons, hoarding away in a secret spot and then traveling to seek company or amusement. Ariel was a part of his trove, a soft star. If he let her, she could warm him.
But she would probably burn him in the end. He'd learned his lesson. Females were like stars. Beautiful and warm the closer you got. But get too close and they burned. He was a creature of night and darkness. The only way he was meant to see stars was at a distance.
"I like to have a place away from the others," he added, foregoing the addition of "now more than ever" that had popped into his head.
Ariel:
"You have another den?" She asked curiously wondering why he would have two places to stay. Granted now she had two places...of course this pond wasn't home. Her eyes finally had some of their sparkle back her fur soaked with water now and her tail still waving more over her. She wondered why Will was still in the water with her he normally didn't swim in the pond.
William:
Will smiled a bit, his eyes still closed. Well, to be honest, it was more of a tiny quirk upward at one side of his mouth, but it could be read as a smile.
"No, I don't. But I... used to spend a lot of time near the main hub of dens, by my family and those that live around there. Having this secluded place to come back to... I did on purpose," he explained, wondering why he bothered. It didn't really matter if she knew or not, but it would likely prompt more questions. His clothing was soaked through, an annoyance for sure. Some of the otters that were used to warmer climates wore the clothing for the extra warmth, Will wore his as a fashion statement. They would need careful drying, especially his boots.
But having Ariel curled up partly on top of him as they floated on the water, sometimes nuzzling at his chest... It was too good of a feeling to let go, even if he knew he should.
Ariel:
"Your lucky to have family and friends, you should spend more time near them William." She looked at him wondering why he wanted to seclude himself, odd that she wanted more company and he wanted less. She sighed and nuzzled his chest with a soft laugh. "I suppose I shouldn't pester you though, it's probably why you prefer to be alone. No one can bother you if no ones around."
She hummed softly to herself enjoying the warmth Will was radiating. Her hair wound slowly with the currents of water to wrap around him.
William:
No one to hurt me, either, he thought to himself and grimaced slightly.
"My family has... issues. My grandparents are nice, but often busy. One uncle has a family to watch over and a territory to protect, the other's a drunk," who also had Anna fawning over him. "My parents have each other and their friends. My twin has her own family and my older sister... She likes to be alone as much as I do." At least it seemed like that. He knew his father had a dark past and there was trouble about, but he didn't know how bad thing were. And Mel... she had problems too. He should go see her, if he could find her.
"You don't pester me," he added with a small shake of his head. "You're just curious."
Ariel:
"A drunk? You mean he indulges at Mrs Lovett's? I've never been there, but I'd like to go someday. Everyone seems to enjoy it, I've heard it's quite active at night, Xylia tells me stories...about places I can't reach. She's been very busy lately, she's a mother now very happy and proud of her family." She smiled and then placed a paw over her lips. "Oh dear...forgive me I'm rambling on."
"I'm glad your not pestered." She giggled softly and nuzzled his chest happily.
William:
"Xylia Silverware? If she is the same Xylia, then you know my uncle's mate," Will replied, his eyes cracking open just a bit to look at her. He frowned at the thought of her being at Mrs. Lovett's. It wasn't a place for her. Lovett was a good otter, as were her mate and children, and he enjoyed her shop as well. Most of his family did, for their special needs. But it wasn't a place for Ariel. It was a dark place filled with questionable things. His mother and father went there for blood drafts and special pies. Many others went for drink. Some too often.
That was no place for her innocent mind.
"It is an interesting place, but you wouldn't want to go there. Trust me." He could have laughed at the last part. Trust him, she had no reason to. Not after all he had done so far.
Ariel:
"Yes Xylia she's very kind, your uncle must be very good to her, she loves him very very much. It's nice to see a couple so fond of one another." She smiled softly her eyes once again gleaming with health and happiness.
"If it's so interesting why wouldn't I want to explore it? Does everyone who goes there become drunk? Xylia brought me a pie once, it was very good. Though nothing is as good as those nuts you brought me, I've never had nuts until that." She nodded in a matter of fact manner.
William:
William liked the gleam in her eyes. She was so bright and happy, even when she probably shouldn't be. He wondered what it was like to feel that way, for he was sure he never had been that carefree. Even when he was the charmer he was trying so hard.
"No, not everyone. It's just easy to get carried away. I've seen it happen often," he explained. He always worried for the females he knew who went there. He knew what happened to normal otters if they had too much and there were scoundrels worse than he out there in the darkness of the swamp.
"I have some spirits in my den. Tomorrow I'll bring you some and you can try it." Hopefully she wouldn't like it. Not only was it the only thing he could really taste besides blood and the only thing that warmed him anymore... He hadn't thought about it until that moment, but Ariel was warm. He didn't feel so cold at that moment. It was a good, alluring feeling.
Regardless, besides his own needs, Will didn't want the drink to change her.
Ariel:
"Why do you have spirits? Is it usual to have them in your den? I thought everyone went to Mrs Lovett's for that sort of thing?" She looked at him curiously tilting her head and pressing her ear against his chest to try and hear his heart. She slowly stroked her tail through the water to spin them in lazy circles.
"So you often roam around and visit Mrs Lovett's?"
William:
Will's heart had a softer, slower beat than normal otters, almost if it wasn't there at all. He wasn't sure how it was with his father or sisters, but he figured his sisters were likely similar to him in that aspect, as they all had a normal otter mother.
"I trade for them, so that I have them when I can't go," he said and looked away from Ariel. His gaze caught the stars about them and he frowned.
"Not anymore, I don't think. I used to , but not anymore."
Ariel:
"What keeps you from going?" She asked and closed her eyes enjoying the soft thumping of his heart. Her own was strong and steady but paced slower probably due to her half fish nature. She flipped her win over them again sending a wave of warm water over them both.
She suddenly blushed and looked at him, "Oh I'm sorry, your soaked and I'm keeping you in the water..."
William:
How could he answer that? He wouldn't answer that! No. He didn't need to tell her anything.
"I-" he started to say, his voice a little gruff, but was cut off by the water splashing in his face. He turned his head to one side and cough up the water he had accidentally swallowed. He let go of her and fell below the water's surface. Temper rising he swam into a depth where he could stand up and walk and continued coughing, his fur on end in places.
Ariel:
"Oh William! I'm sorry I forget that...air you need air..." She swam after him trying to help him out of the water. She was afraid she had ruined the moment. "Are you alright? I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." She repeated worried for him.
William:
"Don't ask stupid questions!" Will snapped at her, his eyes taking on a feral glow, the moonlight casting a gleam to his fangs. He hadn't meant to snap at her, but he was angry and frustrated and he was doing it again. He had been relaxed with her, open and calm. He shouldn't do that. He would get carried away, he knew it, and then he'd be in trouble all over again.
But he shouldn't take it out on her, either.
He closed his eyes and turned his head away, growling softly at his own foolishness.
Ariel:
She frowned at his words and worse their tone and jerked back away from the bank. He was so angry his growls made her shiver sightly. "I-I'm..." She turned away her eyes filling with tears and dove back under the water her heart thudding in her chest.
William:
Will heard the splash and looked up to see her gone, back under water. He didn't want Ariel to fear him, but it was probably too late. With an almost pained growl, he picked up a stone and threw it as hard as he could into the trees. He walked slowly to his den with the sound of splintering wood ringing in his ears.
He paused at the treeline to look at the still waters of the lake, some simpering part of him hoping she would resurface so that it could apologize to her. He should go out hunting, but in the end he knew he would fail. Or worse, kill something he didn't mean to.
Besides, after the night he had, he could use a good, long drink.
:: The Otter Oasis Guild ::
