Let's Do This Right

Willa and Tanuki kept track of Deimos alongside Ikigai. The snowy fae spread her scent on rocks here and there, doubling back to rub her cheek on this and that to further confuse her mate. In doing this, Ikigai was everywhere and nowhere. She didn't need to be a fighter or a hunter or a scout to carry out her plan. The woman was clever and cunning and full of ideas. She hoped that Deimos wouldn't figure out her plan.

Gradually, giving Deimos glimpses of herself here and there, she herded the big, purple man in the direction that she wanted. The rocky outcrops became more sparse and a great deal of grassy space stretched between each. This was exactly where she needed him to go. Iki hoped that he would follow the natural dip in the land, the path of lease resistance. Waiting in the middle was her trap; a big, strong net that she had crafted herself. This net blended in with the grass, but was also sprinkled with bits of debris, as was the rest of the area. Once Deimos walked fully upon it, the net would be triggered by his weight and the man would be hefted into the sky by a system of pullies hitched to a nearby tree. She simply had to get him there.

On the other side of the natural path, Ikigai stepped into the open, letting herself be seen, though not for too long. She didn't want it to be obvious. Instead, Iki made a show of looking around to see if she had been spotted, then she lowered her head and crept off down the path. She knew that Deimos had seen her, but she pretended that she hadn't seen him. He need only follow and she would win the day, or so she hoped.

"Ikigai"