[PRP] The Broken and the Beast (Risti and Craevan)

[Baby Pandah]

Risti crouched low to the ground, catlike and long. Her ears were pinned back in concentration, and her lanky body showed the usual signs of cracking. This time it was due to the stress. The handle of her knife was wet in her mouth, it surely had bite marks indented into it after all the pressure she'd been putting on it. She had been hunting for hours. The need for meat was driving her crazy. She couldn't wait to sink her blade into the flesh of a small animal. She hadn't done it before, she had never needed to kill. But he needed it. Or rather, she needed it to find him again.

An ear perked at the sound of movement in the bush ahead of her. This time. She thought, her eyes narrowing in on the fluff of a large rabbit. She stayed behind it, hoping that her bright colors would not give away her position. Hunter or hunted, she was always a blazing yellow flag that sparked the awareness of others. Luckily, the little ball of fur in front of her was busy snuffling about under a bush for fallen berries. You have no idea...no care in the world when you should be so watchful. Your life will be over in five seconds, but it would last longer if you'd just look up. But you're lucky...Lucky that you won't be alive when he gets to you. You're lucky it's me. She found herself thinking. Depressed by her own train of thoughts, she decided to move before the rabbit noticed her crumbling yellow pelt. She pounced as silently as possible, making a stabbing motion at the little creature.

What seemed to have been decades of silence was split into pure chaos as the thing let out a screeching distress call. Who do you think will save you? She shuddered at herself, wishing the malicious thought had not entered her mind. In a merciful act and to preserve as much blood as possible, she inserted another plunging knife wound into the feeble body of the rabbit. It went limp instantly and for a moment she wanted to cry. That noise...the struggle...her thoughts...She took a deep breath, restrung her knife after cleaning it, and swung her first ever kill over her shoulder.

He liked blood, he was going to get blood. As the sun began to set, she took off in the direction of Evarcrest forest, ready to face her fate once again.  

[Regal Renegade]

Lilies covering the clearing made it look as though it was a cloud that had fallen to earth, the moon shining on each delicate white petal and the fragrance attracting bees and other such life. This clearing was not beautiful to him; it never could be, for it had become a tomb for all of the victims whose blood colored his past. The burning sensation of emptiness ate at his heart as acid consumes anything it comes in contact with and he had to turn away from the clearing. Once more he dragged himself away from the light and returned to the darkness that had become his constant companion these past years. Back into the silent, ominous forest that had begun to seem so empty since she had appeared.

A pang of regret at telling her to go arose in his heart but was suddenly quashed as the darkness stirred within him at the very thought of her. It craved her presence as well but for an entirely different reason than he. Her blood had been a constant variable in the equation the entire time he had spoken to her, calling to the darkness within him, tempting it to rear its ugly head and claim her. Even now he shuddered at the thought of her blood upon his lips as the nectar of her life drained down his throat and satiated the curse. Slowing his steps until he stopped he pressed his forehead against a tree and fought back the wave of nausea welling up within his gut. How could he think such thoughts of her? How could he claim to care for her and think of taking her blood in the same instance? The curse took his moment of weakness and used it as an advantage, pushing him and tugging at his desire for blood.

Like stitches slowly being pulled from fabric he felt himself coming undone, felt the black tar of evil slide over his consciousness. Black spots began to appear in his vision and suddenly he felt the sensation of panic cause his breath to quicken. Grinding his forehead against the tree he attempted to fight against his other half but to no avail. He had already allowed the thoughts of her blood to enter his imagination, had already unlocked the door and thrown it wide open. The last thought he had before his sight was utterly blacked out was that he was glad she was not around to see this side of him.

Th-thump. Th-thump. Th-thump.

A wolfish smile revealing his sparkling fangs distorted his normally cold countenance into one of lust and insanity. Suddenly he could hear every heartbeat in the forest calling to him, playing a beat that he could almost dance to. Stepping away from the tree his weaker side had clung to for support he tossed his head egotistically and began walking through the forest. Already his throat had begun feeling a bit dry and he was not in the mood for some pathetic rodent, he wanted something that would fight back. That is when the breeze brought a familiar scent to him and excitement kicked up within him. “She comes…” He chuckled.  

[Baby Pandah]

The beating of her heart grew louder and pumped faster as she pressed onward through the trees, the same trees that had seemed harmless and only a little forbidding before. Now they seemed haunting and sinister. The moonlight that peeked through the leaves was barely enough to see, and it painted ugly and threatening faces on the trunks of the tall, strong trees. Instead of saying, "turn back" they gave off the eery feeling of "come in, he's waiting."

Despite the intimidating darkness around her, Risti's hopes perked at the thought of him waiting for her. She wondered if he had even thought of her since her last visit. If he was waiting for her, he would find her soon. Her earlier kill was beginning to smell, the scent of the blood caked into the fur was wafting through the chilly night air, filling her nostrils and making her wretch horrendously. The moonlight that turned the trees dark and formidable did not extend that favor to Risti. The yellow of her pelt was highlighted and given a glow. She would have considered it flattering were it not for the fact that she was hauling a less than fresh kill and looking for a damned prince in a forest that did not want her.

She stepped carefully over a treacherous root, but paused in doing so. Her heart leapt to her throat and her previously heavy breathing stopped altogether. She had heard a laugh. She looked around hopelessly in the darkness, silently allowing air to pass her lips so that her breath could even out. "Craevan? Is that you?" she asked the darkness of the forest. She had never heard him laugh, it didn't seem like something he would do. It was an odd thought that she hadn't considered before. But each time she tried to imagine him laughing, it just didn't seem right.

"I brought something for you, Craevan," she said, a little less afraid, telling herself that it was just him and that soon he would be here. She still wasn't sure if attracting attention to herself was a good idea, but she slowly reached for the rabbit on her shoulder and laid it on the ground in front of her. The animal laid in a sprawled heap and she gagged again at the sight of it and at her earlier actions. But it was all worth it. He would be here soon. She had missed him so, in a way that she could hardly understand or explain. This rabbit, this one little kill was her key to seeing him again. So she took a deep breath and gulped down her fears and invited him to come out into the open.

"Are you hungry?"  

[Regal Renegade]

He could almost taste the anxiety in the air, a sweet and seductive flavor and one that he greatly enjoyed. Each movement he made through the trees was graceful illustrating his predator like prowess as he circled his prey. He could have been there by now, bursting forth from the foliage and sinking his teeth deep into her jugular. The thought had him quivering with uninhibited excitement but he calmed himself, keeping in mind that it was so much more fun to play a little. He did not even stop or flinch when she called out his name, just grinned the grin of a carnivore cornering a helpless animal. Oh if only she knew what she was in for! The scent of the rabbit’s blood next to hers was nothing. He could only assume she had brought the rodent as some kind of peace offering. He would enjoy draining her first and then going after the prize she had brought for him, after all, waste not want not.

No branches or twigs snapped at his approach, he was as careful walking as a swan darting over a still pond in search of some tasty morsel. The trees seemed to part for him, drawing him the perfect path that would eventually lead to her. His heart began to beat rapidly and he nearly allowed himself to start running haphazardly toward her but he had not forgotten her little knife. This is what caused his blood to heat with excitement and lust; this is what would make the game more fun than any he had played before. She could fight back. His teeth shown more clearly as her voice rang out above the silence once more. “You certainly have…” He whispered.

His pace slowed to a peaceful walk as his eyes rest upon the delicious looking mare. She had just bent her head to lay the rabbit upon the ground causing him to shift and nearly pounce. A move like that would have given him the perfect window of opportunity, but that would have been far too simple. Clearing his throat and calming the urge to taste of that sweet blood he stepped calmly from the bushes, a hardly readable expression upon his face. “I thought I told you to go.” He murmured, mimicking the tormented and worried tone of his lesser self. He caught himself glancing at her shoulder where a small smear of blood had drained from the animal. “You have no idea.” He answered, the corners of his mouth just barely pulling up into a nearly invisible smile.

And so the game begins….  

[Baby Pandah]

At first she wanted to run towards him. It didn't matter what he was saying, she just wanted to be near him. But after a couple hasty steps in his direction her advance was immediately halted. Something was wrong. The air which had once been crisp and clean had immediately turned flat and then sour, as if the darkness in him had caused the forest around them to rot. The trees stretched upward ominously behind him, the moon shining on that ever so subtle but devious smile. He was right, she should have stayed away. Chills met cracks once again and she felt the need to run.

Slowly, ever so slowly and keeping up his illusion of safety for just a moment longer, she backed away and smiled falsely. She wanted to say something, wanted to beg him to return to her from the pit of despair and darkness that he was snared in, deep down within himself. She was sure the darkness could read her every thought, sure that he knew that she could see which side she was speaking to. She reached slowly to her beads where the knife hung, swaying slightly in the air. With one quick and sharp movement, she ripped it off, tearing her beads and sending the knife flying through the air towards him. It wasn't meant to hurt him, she could only hope that the blade would skim his skin and awaken him from his prison. But to her horror, the knife passed his cold expressionless face and was wedged in the bark of a tree just behind him. The tree laughed maliciously, claiming the knife as its property. Oops. And then she bolted.

The gears in her mind began to whirl, despairing at the mistake, panicking over her temporarily lost friend and making new plans all at the same time. Survival instinct eventually overcame the other thoughts. Find cover, hide, double back for the knife. So she would do just that. You won't get me too, darkness. She thought defiantly as she began to execute her chaotic plan.  

[Regal Renegade]

All seemed right, if not a little boring, as the mare began to approach him with a gleam of excitement lighting her eyes. He would have felt pity for her had it not been for the fact that he wished to devour her blood and feel her veins grow feeble and thin under his fangs. Shrugging off the thoughts that gave him near chills of ecstasy he narrowed his eyes at her as she stopped. Quirking a brow at he watched as her demeanor changed from excitement, to confusion, to concern which alerted him to the fact that the game would still continue. It was obvious that he had underestimated her knowledge of his other self, a thing which did not disappoint him. It was often a tiresome and dismal act to try and mirror the weaker side of himself, at least this way he would be able to play the game with his own rules.

Dropping the façade of the Princely figure he allowed a smile laced with maniacal tendencies to highlight the blood dripping from his chin. He watched carefully as she began backing away and his chilled laugh echoed out over the still trees. He didn’t run at her nor did he begin to dodge as she slowly reached for the knife hanging from her necklace. He feared neither death nor pain, and at the moment he was so focused on the delectable sound of her blood pumping through her veins that he hardly gave the weapon a second thought. “Come now Risti-“

Whatever he was about to say was cut off as the glint of the knife flying through the air caught his attention. Rather than dodge it he stood perfectly still, his icy carnivorous eyes fixed intently on hers. He heard the object whizz by his face, cutting the air with precision and ease only to stab with a resounding thunk into the tree behind him. Yet again the air was impregnated with his laugh, only this time it was one with a joyous undertone that shared his excitement with any who would listen. He did not even stop when her hooves hit the earth alerting him to her sudden departure. After a moment he was once more the calm and collected hunter who was the subject of all the dark tales of Evarcrest forest. “I can still smell you…” He called out in a playful lilting tone.

In a flurry of purple fabric and a silver flash he was once more in the trees, his ears constantly swiveling to hear where she had gone and his nose ever pulling in her scent to give him direction. Pink drool began to trickle down his chin and fall to the earth as he gave chase, his hunger mounting with every stride. Leaping over rocks and fallen trees, tearing through the brush with the most frightening of ease and all the while keeping tabs on his prey, the hunt had truly begun and only when the curtain of blood was drawn would it end.  

[Baby Pandah]

She flew over tree stumps and large rocks that didn't seem to be there before, her heart working at fifty beats per second. She wished it would stop beating altogether, she could hear the beats echoing and bouncing off of the trees, providing her opponent with a sonar map to her location. Realizing he could smell and probably hear her made her run more frantically. Bump bump bump...here here here, I'm over here! She didn't have a clue where she was going, didn't know anymore where the knife was or how to circle back to it. Chaos gripped her, pulling her downward into its spiky pit of blood and death. He can hear me, he can smell me, he knows, he knows...STOP.

Her legs seemed to stop for her, as if some outside force had locked them in place and frozen them. They resisted against the ground, bending and creaking under the pressure of her body as she slid to a stop on the mossy earth. She breathed finally, panting and sweating. With the air flowing back into her body, she came to a realization: If he could hear and smell her, why not change that? She could start by slowing her heart beat and her motions. It was so obvious when she thought of it that she felt naive and ridiculous when it came to her.

Her body flicked on, and with it her thought processing. Her ears perked and swiveled, listening for that hollow laughter, for any signs that he was near. She was sure he had to be somewhere close. Was he watching her now? She assumed that if he was he would already be upon her. Time to move. Slowly and carefully, she began to pick her way through the forest. She kept her breathing continuous and her heartbeat calmed and low. It still had so much force in her chest at the pain of being hunted by him. She worried he'd be able to hear the heartbreak, but now was not the time to consider such things. Her smell was something that needed to be taken care of, and soon. But how to...

She stopped again at the beautiful yet somber sight before her...
"Some say that he buried all of the bodies and planted the seed of the signature flower of the kingdom on the mounds. It would be a beautiful sight to see white lilies covering the hills of the dead. Others say that he ate the bodies without a care in the world, and that he could never again touch lilies as a condition of the curse..."
How she had come across the lily field she did not know. Each petal glistened in the moonlight, covering the ground and swelling around tree stumps and bushes. She had almost missed it in her focus and as she looked around she could see she had strayed into the middle of the patch. It was as if they had fallen out of the sky and surrounded her in a protective circle. How could she have stumbled upon such beauty in so much chaos? She was convinced they had found her instead of her finding the lovely flowers herself. She recalled the lines of the story as she looked at them, wondering if it was true that he could not touch them. She knew what lay below the lilies...past kills, those that had trusted him and those that had fallen victim to his bloodlust. Innocent beings that had been ignorant enough to walk into his trap. She wondered if others had willingly come here, if they had willingly walked to their deaths. Would she be among them someday? Today? She looked upon the lily grave with tears in her eyes, tears for those who had passed, tears for the one who hunted her. Not for herself. She felt she would not be joining them, she felt that she had a different purpose here. She would help to set them free, all of them. And only when she was old and frail would she join them here.

Guilt welled within her at what she knew she had to do. Dropping down to her knees one by one, she began to immerse herself in the heavy and sweet scent of the lilies, hoping to mask the heavy iron odor of her blood. After she felt she was thoroughly covered in the smell, she knew it was time to move again. Though she felt safe here, she knew to leave the dead alone. She also knew that the darkness was hot on her heels...But now the game was even.  

[Regal Renegade]

He was getting closer, he could feel it in his gut as each leap and bound brought him nearer to his desperate prey. His teeth were clenched hard and he could feel the sensation of his fangs against his bottom lip as though they were hurrying him along, demanding to receive their tribute. His breathing was rhythmic and steady as he ran through the woods and he began once more congratulating himself for his foresight and training under many moons among these trees. If he had allowed the weaker part of himself to take over he would have been lost in this forest, wandering helplessly and near starvation, but he was too cunning for that. His ego was mounting as was his excitement as her heartbeat sang out louder and louder guiding him to her, but suddenly it quieted. A frown turned the corners of his mouth down as he realized she was beginning to play more seriously now. She had figured out that calming herself would be the best way to throw him off but he still had her scent to follow, that much was enough on its own.

Sniffing the air here and there as he went he began picking up the pace, following the sweet scent of her blood. The game pushed on and once more his confidence was building when suddenly her scent faded. Reigning himself in to a complete stop he listened for any sounds she was making and continued to sniff the air but everything was muffled. How had she managed to do that? He had pegged her for a decent opponent but he never would have imagined she may escape him. Frustration caused the darkness surrounding him to swirl as he turned this way and that in an attempt to catch the simplest of clues as to where she was hiding, and then it hit him. The only thing in this forest that could hide her from him was the lilies. Without a moment’s hesitation he took off toward the clearing a familiar knot forming in the depths of his stomach at the thought of those pure, delicate flowers.

He arrived at the clearing just in time to see a look of despair upon her face as she gazed over the beautiful field of death. Walking slowly he exited the thickest part of the forest and stood just on the outskirts of the flowers. “Are you not proud of the work I have done Risti?” He asked with an edge of false hurt in his tone. He tried as best he could to mask the affects the flowers were having on him, their very fragrance had his mind foggy and a queasy feeling arising in his stomach. “I must say, you are more clever than I gave you credit for.” Issuing a quiet laugh he tossed his mane and stared up at the moon above. “Though I didn’t take you for the type who would roll in flowers grown from the blood of the innocent,” lowering his head he looked at her once more, “I must admit, it is rather attractive.” Momentarily forgetting his place he stepped into the field only to jump pack with a hiss of pain. Where the petals of a flower had grazed his flesh a thin red line of blood appeared, as though the blade of a knife had cut him.  

[Baby Pandah]

She had moved only too steps before his voice stopped her again. She cursed at herself inwardly. If she had moved just a little quicker she could have evaded him completely. Or perhaps her efforts had been pointless all along. She didn't answer his question. The air stank with the stallion's ego, and it was pointless to argue with it. Of course she wasn't proud of him for this. He knew that...he was messing with her. She stood still, trying to pinpoint him in the darkness. It was good that he was talking. If she could stall him, she could figure out a way to run before she became dinner. But how to do that? How could she interest him enough to avoid being attacked for just a bit longer?

An idea popped into her head, and she didn't like it, but it would work. Her face turned soft as she painted a flirtatious expression upon it. "You think me attractive, do you? You're not so bad yourself," she said, her tail wrapping around her body and her eyes peeking up at him sensually. "Tell me, what should I call you...this side of you. I'd like to fit a name to my perpetrator and Craevan hardly suits you. I think you'd be suited to something...stronger," she batted her eyelashes, fueling this beast's ego with all she had. But she felt strange, as if the flirting was not all that difficult...as if there was something inside her that was enjoying this banter. There was something about being called attractive and the lust in his voice that drew her to him. She hated herself for it immediately. He was cruel and vicious, and disgusting...but dark and mysterious and alluring. Of course she missed the Craevan she had first met, of course she wanted to see him again. But this was...interesting. She told herself that it was simply all of the running and the smell of the lilies getting to her head.

His leap of pain caught her eye as she peeked at him in the darkness, giving her confidence a little kick. Ah, so it's true...you can't touch them. She giggled a little despite the seriousness of the situation and moved towards him, her motions fluid and dreamy. She stayed just out of his reach in the lilies, knowing that it was a dangerous move but finding joy in toying with him. If he could play, why couldn't she?
 

[Regal Renegade]

A new tactic was presented in this game of theirs and one that was not at all unpleasant by his standards. From what he recalled of his weaker self speaking with this mare she was not at all sultry or seductive but in a matter of mere seconds the image he had formerly painted of her changed. His ears perked eagerly at her words and his baring became all at once more confident and robust than before. And the posture she had assumed was far more intoxicating than even the scent of her blood. Though his hunter’s sense told him she was only stalling for time he allowed himself to slip into her game, after all it wasn’t as though she could dash from the clearing and survive for very long. Making his assessment of her no secret he gave her a sidelong glance and found himself very drawn to this side of her. “Well, aren’t you quite the little tease?” A smoldering smile formed and his fangs shone more brightly than before.

This was all so new and exciting to the cursed version of Craevan for it wasn’t very often that he was able to socialize with his victims before crushing their windpipes in his teeth. Normally he had them by the throat before they could issue a scream let alone attempt to seduce him. This time the darkness that was smoothly coursing through his veins jumped with eagerness for something other than her blood. His chin rose as she acknowledged his superiority to the guilt ridden, and pathetic half of himself that she had first met. “Mmmm you are quite right, though I think you already know the name to which I answer.” A devilish smile made his face look handsome but all at once terrifying as he huskily answered her inquiry. “The Beast, of course.” With a princely bow that hardly seemed to suit his character he finalized his introduction.

When he looked up she was beginning to make her way toward him, and even though he knew it may mean her bolting once more into the forest he did nothing to prevent it. The pain in his wound caused by those damned flowers hardly seemed to matter now, if not for her giggle that drew forth his frustration. “Shame you must find a grain of weakness to me in this manner, if it had been my will these flowers should never have existed.” He looked down at them in disgust but then turned his attention back to her. “Fie fie, let us not speak of this now. It is a dreary subject.” Eyeing her once more he smiled. “Tell me more of yourself, my surprising little lynx for I believe we shall be stuck here for a spell.”
 

[Baby Pandah]

"Of course, silly me," she purred, drawing as close to him as possible and turning away with a smirk. Withdrawing further into the clearing of lilies, she looked over her shoulder as she spoke, "Everyone has weaknesses Beast...but you're right, it is a bit of a let down that you cannot join me." He was onto her, she could tell as he said they would be stuck here. They were in a stalemate at the moment, each waiting for the other to make his or her move. She turned before saying anything else, stretching out upon the flowery grave and making herself comfortable. Had it been any other case she would not have taken it upon herself to lay upon the dead. But her legs were tired from the running, and she was sure there would be more to come. She would rest now while she had the chance.

Her tail twitched atop the petals of the lilies, warning him that she could be on her feet within seconds. She leaned ever so slightly giving herself the overall effect of a calm but aware appearance. "If I told you about myself, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?" she winked at him, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. Let him guess. Let him chase her. Her insides were on fire at that thought and she found a dark happiness in the idea that had not been there before. Was his evil rubbing off on her? Why was she enjoying toying with him? She looked him up and down, drinking in his haughty stance and the bulge of his muscles beneath his cape. These were things she had hardly taken note of before, but perhaps she had grown up a little since the last time. Or perhaps she had become twisted somehow...

"Are you glad I came back Cr-- Beast?" she asked, catching herself quickly and hiding her near mistake by plucking a lily with her tail and placing it near the pink strand of her mane, slightly rubbing it in his face that he couldn't touch them, daring him to try with her eyes.  

[Regal Renegade]

Each step she gracefully took through that hideous field brought her closer to him and the scent of her blood grew ever more enticing as did her body language. His eyes flicked to her feet a moment and he couldn’t help but to feel angered by the fact that the petals so gently touched her while they cut him to the bone. Flashes of his weaker half nearing death whilst planting each seed and stem caused his throat to tighten and a fire to run through his veins, idiotic. Tearing his eyes away he found himself staring at a mare that, now, was nearly close enough to reach out and touch. Cocking his head he wondered if she believed she had subdued him enough to draw near but when she turned away he found himself sorely disappointed. “Quite. The scent of your blood is ever enticing, even with the stench of the lilies concealing it.” He was tempted for a moment just to push through the flowers and take their punishment but previous experience taught him it wasn’t really worth all of the agony. “Though I am sure we will be inseparable before long.” He smugly added.

Her fragile looking body glistened in the moonlight as she gently lowered herself onto the lilies and he knew she was just biding her time. Sooner or later the showdown would have to arrive and he had no intention of losing her blood. Still, he did take time to admire the catlike movements she was so good at and the way she looked nestled in amongst the glowing white flowers. He began pacing the border of the meadow, stalking as a jungle cat would and all the while keeping his eyes upon her. “Ah yes, I would dearly hate to find you to be a charlatan after all.” Pausing a moment he chuckled a quiet chuckle. “Did your visions,” he spat the last word as though it disgusted him, “foretell of you being in this predicament with me?” This would surely test her smoky exterior.

“As a matter of fact, I cannot determine the reason behind your reappearance here.” His brows furrowed as though he was in deep thought but he soon looked up at her from the corner of his eye. “You know, they say there is great power in a name Risti. Some even say it binds one being to another.” Turning so he was looking directly at her he gazed at her as a spider gazes upon an insect caught in its web. “Risti.” He breathed, a cyanide edge mixed with seduction coating each syllable.  

[Baby Pandah]

She struggled to keep her composure, her skilled opponent breaking her down with each word. And so the flirting came to an end. She hissed at him and stood, having collected a bouquet of the lilies in her tail. "I think you know why I came back. I care about Craevan, and you do not belong here," she sneered, practically spitting in his face. Though there was no denying how captivating this side of him was, there was no ignoring the pure hatred that created the Beast. Her ears bent back against her head at each syllable of her name. It dug deep into her heart, this time in a different way than when he had first said it. She felt a pulling in herself towards the seduction in his voice, and she thought that instead of cracking her legs would surely melt if he said it again. But it was mixed with hatred for him, one that she could not stifle no matter how much she told herself that Craevan was somewhere underneath all of this.

Her legs moved for her again as they always did, pulling her in towards him. But as she walked the world seemed to fade...

The world was spinning while she was standing still. Trees rushed and passed the lilies to the east, she felt as if she was being propelled around boulders and rocks and little streams and then there was a pang of metal against wood and the knife came into view. It was still where she had left it, still wedged into the tree. And now she knew where her weapon was. But the vision took another turn, past the knife and up to the north, winding around trees once more and ending upon the strangest thing...a castle.

She pretended it hadn't happened and continued to sneer at him, noticing that she was now very close to him indeed. She was a master at hiding her visions from others, though this time she was sure she had cut it a little close. She had hidden them from her own family for years. She knew it was important that she get the knife, but the castle...the castle intrigued her. It was more of a cave, a rock formation...But it was fit for a king and was worth investigation. No, get the knife and get out...But it was impossible to resist the urge to explore. She could already feel her legs moving in the direction of the castle as if she didn't have a choice in the matter. She looked at him, smiling and slowly moving around the edge of the lilies. "I am not bound to you...no matter what my visions may say." With a sudden movement she pitched the bouquet of lilies she had collected at the stallion's face and took off running.  

[Regal Renegade]

There it was, the delicate and juicy soft spot that allowed him to break down the act she was putting on. Even though the sensation of triumph was overwhelming he also felt a pang of disappointment within his blackened soul. Somewhere hidden deep down inside of him he had hoped her act was more than just mere show, that somehow she was that dark and seductive. The regret quickly faded as she spoke of caring for Craevan and he tossed his head back in a laugh that was full of gloating as much as it was pity. The poor little creature didn’t even realize that he and the prince she had come to care so strongly for were one and the same; it was impossible to love the prince without having the beast waiting in the shadows.

Leveling his gaze with hers once more he relished the ripples of hatred feeding the darkness within him and giving it life. Closing his eyes for a mere moment he allowed it to seep into his conscious and to savor the stale taste of it as it coated his being. Upon opening his eyes he couldn’t help but take note of the way she seemed to be looking right through him. Sweeping his tongue over his crimson lips he eagerly awaited the moment she would spring, sensing it was near at hand. It was evident that she was having a vision of some sort but he did not interrupt for he was still more interested in the hunt than in the spoils. If her visions gave her the upper hand in a playing field that he owned it would make everything all the more exciting.

Her words were quick and resolute but he hardly paid attention to them once the flowers hit him. They fell upon him like hundreds of small blades cutting his flesh and he barely was able to close and shield his eyes before they sliced into him. A howl of pain resonated throughout the woods as he stumbled back, rubbing his face on his foreleg before jerking his head up in search of his target. Gritting his teeth and emitting a growl of rage he tore off into the forest after her, no longer playing a game but seeking revenge. Her blood would serve to heal his wounds and rejuvenate the strength that had been taken from him by the lilies; her death would bring him joy. More intent than ever on catching her he allowed the full extent of his instinct to take over and lead him to his meal.  

[Baby Pandah]

She headed for the knife first despite the tug of curiosity she felt for the castle-like cave. She decided it would be better to have some sort of protection before investigating a new and dangerous area. She had little remorse for what she had just done. She reserved only a small portion of her pity for Craevan, who would regret it more than she would later. What scared her was the fact that the searing hot pain of the lilies upon his face had not driven the Beast away. The darkness still consumed his heart, and now she had only angered it. Still, she was glad for the distraction the beautiful flowers had provided her.

At first she had been able to hear him behind her, bursting into the forest after a painful scream. Now she heard very little, but she knew that he was not as stealthy as he had been before. He was hell bent on bloodshed, but what he didn't know was that he was running for his dinner while she was running for her life. She knew she could outrun him simply based upon that fact.

The knife glinted in the moonlight, calling to her from within the heavy bark of the tree. With no concern of her heartbeat any longer, she ran full force toward it. Grasping the handle in her mouth, she gave a tug. It was stuck tight. In a hurried and panicked frenzy she began pulling with all her might. The knife decided to punish her for abandoning it, freeing itself from the bark all too soon and sending her flying through the air. She landed with a thud, her body letting out a loud crack and alerting the whole forest of her whereabouts. She cursed under her breath and quickly heaved her breaking body from the ground, trailing pieces behind her as she ran for the castle.