She crouched high in the tree, her dark pelt aiding her in melding to the shadows. It was a perfect vantage point, she could see them but most would never see her. After all, it was precious few who looked up. The skinwalker in feline form waited patiently, her gleaming green eyes fixed on the path below. The prints of hooves promised that this trail was one taken often. And why not? It lead down to the water after all. Everything that lived needed water. This path was perfect for her, it was only a matter of time before some sort of new prey wandered along it. Caoraigh's claws kneaded the branch she was draped along softly. It was so exciting. So exciting. She would have a new toy to play with, it was only a matter of time.
Eagerly, she wondered what sort of creature would walk along this path. What sort of games she might play. She had watched those who lived nearby for a while, only ever from afar of course. It seemed some knew they were being watched, unfriendly eyes had a way of being sensed by the cautious. She had abandoned watching them when heads had begun to lift and turn in her direction. A week-long walk had been her prescription for letting things settle down. Now she was back, and about to drop into someone's life like a nightmare made real. The only question was whose.
A bad friend for someone's good little girl? A bad example for someone's precious little foal? A misunderstood mare to charm the hero's heart? Oh yes, yes there were so many games she could play. So many awful things she could do. The pain, the suffering, the stunned heartbreak when her performance reached its conclusion, oh, it made her mouth water just thinking about it. Tearing someone apart from the inside was just so satisfying. It made the waiting worth it, so very worth it. She was good at waiting.
Char's tail did not swish like his mother's or sisters' when he flicked it, and for perhaps the thousandth time he wondered what sort of creature his father might have been. Mother had seemed surprised by the tail after all. Perhaps father had not had one. Just as it was mother's mother who wore flames in her fur.
His father was not terribly important. Some foals, or young stallions as he was now, they might wonder and wish but... but he'd never felt like he lacked a father. He didn't have one, true. But it wasn't as though something had been... eh, missing? Mother was all he'd ever need, her strength and wisdom had been more than enough for Char and his sisters. Besides... he knew well enough what manner of blood he had in him. Fire and water was certainly an interesting mix, complicated, but it was his and he didn't mind at all.
Of course, complicated still took a bit of work whether he minded or not. He disliked when he got too dry, it was really very uncomfortable actually. But the river wasn't far, and it was a pretty path to walk along anyway. As a foal it had been more inconvenient, he had not liked the idea of bothering mom to walk him to the water all the time any more than the idea of just taking off without telling her had appealed to him. Now though, now he could probably leave altogether and she would not worry overmuch. She had taught him well, taught all of them. He could look after himself, when he had to. He didn't need someone to worry over him. But he did need a drink, and maybe some time to dabble his hooves in the river.
Well well well hello. Cao grinned, her feline form baring wicked fangs as she watched the stallion pass by beneath her. He was completely unaware of her pretense, calmly making his way to a place he had probably traveled to many, many times. No frightened tension. No sorrowful drooping. Just light, easy steps along a familiar route. She pondered as she watched him pass and continue on. What games could she play with him? He was big and strong, and he seemed confident or carefree. It would be more difficult to play a game of pain with him. He was too big, and he did not seem to be dogged by any suffering.
Cao swallowed a chuckle as she watched him go, let him get enough ahead of her to not see movement in the trees. He was not dogged by any suffering yet. But he had not yet met her. Like a shadow the skinwalker peeled from the branch she had waited upon, stealing down the tree and flashing through the undergrowth. This path led to the river. She would beat him there, and then they would play a game. Something fun. Something deadly. She would have to make it up as she went a bit, she did not know him so well as she often chose to. It would be interesting to have to stay on her toes, instead of starting with several weeks of watching and waiting for the perfect moment. Patience always paid off, but to test her wits would be an exciting game indeed.
The mare she'd become paced briefly along the edge of the water, deciding and thinking in the quick moments of time she still had left. Big and strong. Unafraid. Maybe she could have fun with a damsel and a hero game. That might be best. And it started well enough for her to nudge it in other directions as well, if the damsel in distress was not his thing. Carefully, she folded herself to lay quietly beside the river, covering the tracks and allowing the cold water to run across her legs and tail. Eyes shut, grins gone behind a pretty little mask, the skinwalker waited for her 'hero' to arrive.
Char's ears perked forward as the soft wash of the river's running up ahead slowly came into hearing. He loved water, dabbling in it, drinking it, splashing about like a foal... water was great. It did not mesh well with flames though, and the little fire-thing that swirled around him seemed to hate it. Something in him longed to dive deep into an endless expanse of water just to see how far down he could go... but the fire didn't want to, it didn't even want to dabble the way he always did.
The stallion's pace quickened to a trot as he drew nearer the river's edge, then skidded to a halt as the bank came into view. “Hello?” he called, uncertainty entering his voice as the glee of seeing the river flip-flopped in his stomach to sudden paralyzing worry. There was someone laying there. Were they hurt? Something had to be wrong, he didn't know anyone else who thought being wet while they slept might be fun! “Are you alright?” It was a mare. She wasn't as fluffy as he'd thought either, she had something else's fur plastered over her flanks. Uh oh. That wasn't a good thing... but then again, neither was abandoning a strange mare to her fate. What if she really was in trouble? But what if she was trouble?
He paused, still a few steps away from leaning over the stranger to check. If she was trouble... if she was... then... Char straightened slightly, squaring his stance. If she was trouble, then he would handle it. And if she was in trouble, then he would help her. “Miss?”
Perfect. He was leaning over the edge. She could make him fall, it would not be so complicated after all. Pity. But. Still fun. Ah yes. Always fun.
Cao stirred faintly at the worried voice, blinking her eyes open tiredly. “Mhm?” she mumbled, then moaned and tried to get up. Her legs trembled, and she wound up splashing and floundering instead. “Oh, oh, who are you?” she squeaked, quivering and shrinking away from the stranger, her sleek ears folding back in fear. “Please don't hurt me,” she added tearfully, just for the expression that was sure to follow on his dumb face. Was he a bully? She doubted it after that display. If he was, or thought himself, a hero then that would sting him, or at the very least worry him. Either way, it would be fun to watch, and easier to catch him.
Just a bit more, and he would surely fall before her.
Char's ears flattened as the mare struggled to rise and... and flee from him? The stallion swallowed, hurt by the idea that anyone could be afraid of him, but especially that he had apparently done something to distress a mare. How could she be afraid of him though? Everyone knew mares were so much better than stallions!
“I won't hurt you, I promise I don't mean you any harm,” he assured her, anxious that she understand and slowly finding that the fire lived in his belly as the smoldering began. For her to be afraid... to be so afraid... someone had hurt her. Someone bigger than her probably. How dare they? “Don't worry, I want to help... please?”
Too easy.
“Oh... oh, I...” the mare stumbled over words, once again trying to lever herself to her hooves only to fail and cringe again into the banks of the river. “I didn't mean to offend you, sir, I... I swear...” Would it be too much to cry now? Maybe. She could always save it for later. Better not to play all her tricks at once, spread them out, make it last. The longer the game, the more satisfying the finish after all.
“I'm not offended!” Char assured her, shifting his weight slightly before starting to carefully circle around to the river. “Let me help you up, you must be freezing. How long have you been stuck here?” the stallion asked, tentatively moving towards her. It felt so good to be standing in the water... like his skin wanted to soak it all up. Maybe it was instinct... maybe the feeling that this mare was trouble was also instinct. And... and maybe instinct could be wrong sometimes. Or complicated. Fire and water was complicated too after all. Maybe she wasn't the trouble, maybe the trouble was just stuck to her. Poor thing...
Got him.
“Oh... thank you,” the mare said softly, letting him help her to her hooves and nudge her out of the water again. Her muscles trembled, and she almost fell only to lean against her savior instead. “I don't know... they were chasing me I... I guess I fell...” Cao let her features crumple, though she kept the tears for later. “It was so scary, I thought... and then... oh thank you for your kindness,” the mare said abruptly, looking up at the warm color of his eyes. “I don't mean to trouble you, I'm sure I'll be all right now.”
Really too easy. Really. Almost disappointing, but it was just beginning.
Char was startled when she slumped against him, though he quickly tried to brace her. The fur she wore felt oddly warm against his, as if the dead creature fastened to her back were somehow still alive. It was... unsettling. But how could he possibly ask her to not lean on him? Not when she needed his support so badly. What had happened to her?
“It's no trouble,” Char assured her, feeling lost and floundering himself. “Honestly. You don't have to rush off, why don't you rest a little bit before you try going anywhere?” His insides shriveled up as he spoke, it didn't feel right trying to tell a mare what to do. How presumptuous of him to do such a thing! But she seemed lost, like a foal who needed a bit of guidance. It was only because she'd been through some sort of terrible ordeal. She'd come to her senses soon enough and when she put him back in his place he'd know she was feeling better.
So very easy.
“Are you sure?” the mare asked in a quavering little voice. “I mean... I don't know if I should stay. I wouldn't want to bring you trouble...” Such a delightful lie that was. “If they found me you could get hurt too.” Not that anyone was currently searching for her. The last game had reached its conclusion perfectly. It had been such a delicious ending.
“I'm sure,” Char said firmly, trying to guide the exhausted mare to a grassy patch in the sun. “I'll look out for them, you just rest until you feel better. Um. Okay?” Why was it so easy to be bossy at this mare? It was so very out of his place to do that! But he wasn't sure at all what to say... he only wanted to help. Why did he feel so uncomfortable about it?
“You really are too kind...” She would break him of that. That would be the game. She would twist him into a monster, point out his reflection, and smash him to bits. “I don't even know your name...” she added softly, letting him guide her to lay in the sun. Mm. She enjoyed warm patches of sunlight. It felt even better when she wore her feline shape, but even like this it was quite a lovely sensation.
Oh geez that was rude of him! “Sorry, sorry, my name's Char.” Carefully, gingerly, he helped her to the sunshine. It took him a few moments deliberation before he dared to lay down near her. If she was cold or if she started to fall or something, it would be better if he was closer to catch her or protect her or something. But only for now. Just... just while she got her hooves properly under her again. “Um. May I ask your name miss?”
“I'm Cao,” she told him shyly, sweetly, every inch the honey tongue. Just watch for that deadly sting. She was going to have some fun with this. He really was too easy to lead about. But that only meant more opportunities for playing really. No harm in that. “Thank you for helping me,” the mare added meekly.
“It's lovely to meet you, Miss Cao,” Char said warmly, “And it is my pleasure to help.” That sounded about right, didn't it? “How could I possibly do otherwise?” Er... was that too much? He didn't want to make her uncomfortable or anything, he just wanted to put her at ease a little was all! “If I'm bothering you please let me know?” he finally added, though immediately after saying so he felt like smacking his face against the ground. She really should have been found by someone else... someone more competent at this than he was. So... basically anyone.
“I'm not bothered,” Cao assured him, shifting as though to get more comfortable and allowing her side to brush his as she did. “You've been a perfect gentleman, and I do appreciate it. I'm just... a bit tired. You'll let me know if they come back?” she asked, letting her eyes slowly start to blink closed.
“Well I'm glad you don't mind.” How had this happened? He'd only been going to get a drink, and now... how had this happened? “Who's looking for you? Why?” Was she about to fall asleep? Not that he could blame her, but he really, really wasn't sure where to go from here. If only he could ask someone... but everyone was too far away for shouting to be any use. Well... he could look after her for a while at least. He knew how to fight, mother had taught all of them.
But seriously... what was going on? How had this happened? All the adventures he'd imagined as a foal, how was this seriously happening now?
“They think I'm a monster... I look scary...” Cao mumbled, listening to his breathing to see how it might change. She did not want to be attacked if he figured it out. But he seemed slow enough. “But I'm just cursed. I can't help looking like this... it's just... how I look...” Sleepy and innocent and tired and hurt. He fell right for it. Way too easy. Usually these introductions took a bit more effort.
“That's silly to judge by appearences,” Char said, frowning heavily as he looked around. “I'm not going to judge you. You're safe with me.” For now. Hopefully he could get an extra opinion on what to do soon, but forcing her to stumble all the way back to his family, or abandoning her to run and fetch them... yeah, those both seemed like terrible ideas. So he'd have to do for now.
“You really are too kind...” Cao mumbled before falling silent and letting her breathing even out. Lazing in a puddle of sunshine, that would be a nice way to spend a few hours. Char would have her attention though, she would like to see how he spent that time. If she was guessing right, it would be nervously keeping an eye out for her mysterious unprovoked attackers. Maybe she could round someone up to play a villain for this game. Char would probably fall all over himself to protect her. It would be so funny.
Finished
