Sylenei Nereus

She had arrived to these lands as the sun began to sink lower in the sky, giving herself time to clean up and rest before she had to be on the move again. As glad as she was to finally be in this new place so far from what she had run from, arriving this late was not ideal. Proper exploration would have to wait for the following day, but with dawn would come a new beginning for her. The start to her new life, where she finally took control of her own future. Freedom.

The thicket had seemed and obvious choice for cover. She was small and could make use of the foliage to cover her lighter fur when shadows alone would fail her. Unfortunately, the cover it provided worked both ways, and it wasn’t long before she sensed the presence at her heel. Someone, or something, was following her.

"Speech."
@Asphodel
153 words

ASPHODEL NEREUS

What a fun game this was!

Asphodel could feel the strain in his legs as he stalked onwards, his posture slinking through the setting shadows of his surroundings. Her scent was strong and he could even see the fresh prints left in her panic; a smile tugging on his lips.

It seemed his bride was trying to run from the altar.

Unfortunately for her, she was the piece the Prince needed. The Key to his Kingdom. Determination settled deep within his dual-colored optics, and with a sharp inhale did he veer left and aim to strategize the way he’d spoil her escape.

The sun had set completely and no more than a few moments had darkness taken over the land. He couldn’t see her - not with how deep his position was in the foliage - but her scent was still lingering. Some of her fur even stuck on the thicket debris. His tongue licked along the edges of his lips, and he finally let a stick crack underneath his weight.

He wanted her to know he could see her - and that she couldn’t see him.

"Speech."

Sylenei Nereus

She had snuck off plenty of times, creeping out into the forest late at night to go and find some peace for herself away from watchful eyes. Away from the pressure of expectation and responsibility. She had been stalked before, too. Plenty of predatory beasts roamed the wilds outside the shelter of her home, but none had made her feel as exposed as she did now.

The weight of eyes on her back was a physical thing, weighing her down and slowing her steps. The sound of a twig snapping somewhere in the dark had her whirling to face the direction the noise had come from. Her throat was dry and it felt like a struggle to suck in enough air to fill her chest. No matter how deeply she inhaled through, she couldn’t still the subtle tremble in her legs.

She swallowed the urge to call out, knowing her voice would not project the strength she needed it to. She lifted her chin, staring into the dark void of night. She could not see whoever it was that pursued her, but she would not allow them to see her fear. Sylenei had worked too hard to get this far, and she was not about to go down without a fight.

"Speech."
Thread WC: 549

ASPHODEL NEREUS

There was no telling how loud the crack had been - but it seemed the night had stilled the moment the sound echoed through the air. His heart rate increased, and the idea of her skin crawling at the unknown brought an odd sense of... satisfaction. He enjoyed playing these games with her, but even more? He enjoyed knowing he would win.

She had a lot to learn about her new Husband.

From his position, he could finally see her through the thicket vegetation. The slight tremble in her legs - causing his ears to perk up. Good. Let her be scared, nervous, terrified... whatever she felt, he could solve. She would learn just how powerful his presence was, and how important he should be to her... her salvation, and currently the only one who wanted her. Even her family sold her off to the highest bidder for their safety.

And yet, he wouldn't do it peacefully. He wanted to prove a point to her, one she would carry throughout their marriage; you do not run.

Seconds ticked by, and his legs began to move, large paws stepping over the ground as he closed the distance from her left side. Muscles tightened, prepared to pounce and tackle his bride to the ground, but something stopped him. A feeling, eerie as the fur on his spine rose - skin crawling.

He was not the only predator out tonight.

Anger caused his jaw to snap shut, an audible noise that followed with his swift movement of pushing out from his hiding spot. He attempted to advance at her swiftly, features hard, jaws splaying in a quick attempt to latch them around her tender scruff at the back of her neck. The growl leaving his throat was his attempt to signal her to silence - at least until he was sure she wouldn't run again and he could explain their new situation.

That a third player had entered their little game.

"Speech."

Sylenei Nereus

In her head, she counted down from ten as she faced off with the unknown before her. There were no visible outlines in the darkness beyond, but she could image a big, hulking shape stalking closer with each breath. The chill in the air hardly touched her as the adrenaline kicked in, heat pumping through her veins and loosening her frozen limbs. Whoever followed had the wind on their side, keeping her from being able to identify any scent as time ticked by ever so slowly.

By the time he emerged, she had regained control of her body, but her mind was now spiraling. Sylenei had been prepared for an enemy, a large, blundering beast that she could try to out maneuver and escape. But this, she didn’t know what to do with, even as he swept closer, jaws aiming to grasp her. Ducking down, she tried to dodge out of the way, but in her surprise, her movements were too slow. She could feel the low snarl rumble against the back of her neck, causing her throat to tighten and her stomach to twist.

She didn’t know exactly what the warning meant, but all of her senses were now zeroed in on him. Her stalker was the husband she had tried to escape. Wasn’t that just her luck? Her mind races with ways to cover her tracks, to try and smooth over her treachery. “You finally caught up.” She tried, her voice strained but steady, as though she were only mildly annoyed and unsure why he was grabbing her in such a way. “Now the honeymoon can finally begin.” As if this had been her plan all along, as if she had expected him to be here sooner.

"Speech."
Thread WC: 1,166

ASPHODEL NEREUS

Part of him wondered what exactly she thought she was going to find in her escape - where was she going to run? Did she have somewhere that would take her in that no one else knew about? The Prince scoffed the thought away - everyone who cared about her gave her away. She should be grateful for him even chasing after her like he had!

For a moment, he thought he might find only air between his jaws by how fast she reacted. Yet, fate was on his side... or he was just that talented? He liked to believe the latter. Asphodel attempted to keep his hold firm, tight enough that she couldn't run off, but not so much that he drew blood. Bruises? Well, maybe she just bruised easily.

"You're a lot slower than you think." His voice finds itself in a muffled sound from around her nape, mind lingering on the way her tones were tired and strained, almost feeling bad for her. She had a smart wit and a fast mouth, and he felt his ears flicking on top of his head in disapproval. This was how they raised the women in her kingdom? He was told far differently by her Father.

"Hush." He commands then, grip letting go of her nape and instead attempting to sharply direct her attention with a shove of his muzzle. In the direction of the two sharp feline eyes locked onto them.

"That is what you should be running from." He growls lowly in the direction of the mountain lion, eyes unwavering as his bodice tries to take a defensive stance over her. "Think you still have enough energy to?"

"Speech."

Sylenei Nereus

His grasp on her was tight enough to prevent escape, uncomfortable, but not quite as aggressive as she might have expected from him. The spot was tender, but he didn’t seem to want to crush her beneath him just yet. All of her senses were now tuned into him, the firmness of his hold, the tension in his muscles, the tone of his voice. Exactly how angry was he, and how willing was he to unleash that wrath on her?

A mild jab about her not being quick enough had not been the reply she expected. He sounded disapproving rather than angry though, and before she could launch a retort of her own he was hushing and releasing her. He was not the only threat present. She spotted the feline just as he pointed it out to her.

She heard him speaking just above her, but she was tuned into the mountain lion now. Exhausted she may be, but her survival was on the line in more ways than one and running was the farthest thing from her mind. As much as she would have preferred to have not been found by her husband, she was grateful to have some extra bulk at her back and even more grateful for the opportunity to show him exactly what kind of wife he’d bought for himself.

Ignoring his defense posturing over her, she shot out from under him, charging straight for the opponent without a word of warning. She lunged for its back legs, landing a swift nip before darting away and taking the cats attention with her. Hopefully Asphodel would take advantage of the opening she had created for him, but if she had to run this show solo then she would.

"Speech."
Thread WC: 1,737

ASPHODEL NEREUS

There wasn't a lot either of them could do yet - not when it seemed to be a stare-off between them and the predator. They had the numbers though, in a technical sense - but from where Nereus was from, traditions forbid women from fighting.

So when Sylenei lurched forward, shooting out from under him with her lithe frame, Asphodel felt his jaw slacken. A mixture of both awe and shock; disbelief and confusion.

Just who had he taken as his wife? His Queen?

Nevertheless, he couldn't think about how tarnished her image next to his side would be, he could only hope to keep her away from the feline's claws enough so that she wasn't scathed too horribly. Growling in irritation, he felt his own body take off, his eyes hardening as the cat's attention focused on his bride. He saw the opening she had created, but he was also blinded by the disbelief she even knew how to do such a thing - or that she even was. So much so, instead of taking the advantage; he continued on the route of her defense, unable to believe her to fend for herself.

Jaws splayed wide, and he latched himself to the feline's tail, yanking backwards roughly. The cat yowled, and he managed to release his grip as claws came flying for his shoulder. They scathed him, blood drawing fast, but thanks to his speed no hold was taken.

The cat's attention was back on him - and as he began to turn off and create distance, three loud words rang from his lungs. "Women don't fight!"

"Speech."

Sylenei Nereus

As soon as she was within the feline's reach, the rush of battle washed over her, releasing her from the other issues that she would have to shift through when this was dealt with. That was tomorrow's problem, and right now she was fully in the moment. The mountain lion twisted to follow her and she could feel as a paw snapped out and caught her hip. The claws just caught her skin as she dodged to the side, able to avoid any major shredding of her flesh.

Had her new husband been smart, he would have gone in for a powerful move while she served as a distraction. Of course he couldn’t take the opportunity she gave him though, seeming to opt for his own stupid plan that made him the distraction instead. She whirled back around in time to see the shock still lingering on his face as he addressed her actions.

“Hah! Who told you that?” It was in fact extremely frowned upon where she came from but she had never let it stop her. Sylenei was unwilling to rely on the very people that bought and sold women like property for her protection. A skill she had honed in secret, but if he wanted her as his Queen, she would not hide herself from him. He would get all of her, or he would get none of her. Jumping back into the fray, she bit down on the loose flesh at the cats armpit, digging her teeth in hard enough to draw blood before darting back to avoid a flurry of furious swipes aimed for her face.

"Speech."

ASPHODEL NEREUS

Pain throbbed along the lacerations at his shoulder, a steady flow of blood dripping down as he advanced onwards. He wasn't running from the feline - he intended to get enough distance between them before attacking. Further from his bride, and further from where she could interfere.

However, she was one surprise after another, coming to jump on the cat and land an attack. Muscles tense, seeing the way the claws of the cat unsheathed to go for her face. His bodice launched forward, this time saving the argument of her involvement for after the battle. It was obvious she wasn't budging yet - and this cat wasn't going anywhere until they focused. Or he focused at least.

The Prince rammed into the side of the cat, and his jaws extended to bite down onto tender flesh by its armpit. He continued his attacks, getting in as much damage as he could before fleeing back to avoid his own damage. Of course, the red welts on his body and blood stains on his fur suggested he wasn't dodging every attack, but it was seeming like the feline was running out of energy faster than she and the Prince were.

Sylenei Nereus

She knew that launching head first into the fight would rattle him and that alone was nearly as satisfying as beating this mountain lion would be. He’d obviously made plenty of assumptions about her and this was a much more entertaining way of giving him a crash course on who he’d picked for a bride than sitting down and spelling it out for him. Ideally, she would have been free of him after arriving here, but she would find a way to make this work for her as she always did.

Though the rush of battle was exhilarating, she was beginning to feel the strain from a long journey, followed by unexpected combat. She was ready to finish this and sleep. Asphodel caught the mountain lions armpit after she retreated and she could see the crimson stains on his golden fur from the hits he’d already taken. The cat lifted a paw, seeming to prepare to swat for him again, but she lurched forward to catch the paw in her jaws, digging her teeth between the pads and hanging on tight as the beast began to thrash her from side to side.

"Speech."

He wondered what might be going through the Mountain Lion's head. If there was regret, panic, or sheer anger? They could have all continued on about their night had it just minded it's own. Yet, here they were, in the midst of battle while the moon hung heavy overhead. His Bride created another opening, even saving him from an assault from the feline as she chewed down on the paw. This time, he didn't waste the advantage presented, and took his opportunity to execute the killing blow at the exposed neck. Moments stilled, and as the life of the creature before them drained away, their own futures were secured by no longer being near a threat. He didn't let his fangs remain too long in it's neck and soon dropped the weight of the creature to the ground with a loud thud. His head instantly snapped around, looking for his daring bride. He hardly wasted a moment before he attempted to shove up against her, bloodied chest looking to close their distance. It was no embrace however; and instead his snout went to nuzzling hard against her figure, searching for each and every wound. Every scathe to her beauty. "You have lost all reason." His words are sharp, cold, gaze idly glancing back to the dead corpse afar - the proof of their feat. "In fact, you have made all of this extremely hard. Why? Why are you not pleased with the life you have the opportunity to live with me?" Straight to the point, the adrenaline rushing his veins causing his patience to thin and his desire for answers to become truth.

Sylenei Nereus

He took the opening she gave him and before long it was done. She released her grip and took a few moments to collect herself, but before she could fully process her own condition, Asphodel was practically on top of her once more. His nose pressed into her, examining her condition with a brutish intensity that sent a shiver of rage through her. Letting out an offended scoff, she shoved a paw against his chest and stepped back to try and regain at least a fraction of her personal space. “Excuse you!” Shooting him a scandalized look, she attempted to assess her own condition. Bleeding cuts at her hip, minor scrapes and bruises on the side of her face, and a bone deep weariness that demanded she rest.

He immediately began to interrogate her though, peppering her with questions she didn’t have the energy to concoct replies for after the day she’d had. “What makes you so certain I’m not?” She shot back, knowing he had probably a few good reasons for his accusations. She let out a sigh and shook her head, aiming to cut him off before he could really get to answering her own rhetorical question.

“This conversation is best saved for tomorrow, though.” She spoke with a sort of finality that made it clear she would not be giving him any answers tonight. Turning, she made off to search for a safe, sheltered spot for the two of them to rest, sticking close enough to him as she moved that he would feel assured she was not about to make another escape attempt.

-exit-

"Speech."