Quill and Talyssa moved silently through the dense, island forest, their paws making almost no sound on the thick carpet of leaves and sand. The moon was high, casting an eerie glow on the ancient trees around them. Quill, led the way, his mind was filled with memories of his father's kingdom, now abandoned and forgotten by most. But not by him. Back when he was a child, his father had been infallible. No longer. Chimera was dying, last he'd heard. Kings didn't live forever.

They reached a clearing where the wooden compound stood, half overgrown with vines and moss. Quill looked back at Talyssa, her golden fur shining under the moonlight, her blue eyes filled with curiosity and trust. He had told her stories about this place, the kingdom his father once ruled with twisted morals and an iron fist. Now, it was a shadow of its former self, a silent testament to a past glory.

"We'll rest here for the night," Quill said, his voice a low growl.

Talyssa nodded and nuzzled against him, seeking warmth and reassurance. They found a sheltered spot in Quill's old bedroom, of all places, and curled up together. Quill kept his ears perked, listening to the sounds of the night. He wanted to relax, to enjoy this moment with Talyssa, but something felt off.

As the night deepened, Quill's instincts began to prick at him. He lifted his head, sniffing the air. A scent caught his nose, foreign and dangerous. He looked around, his eyes narrowing. In the distance, he saw movement – shadows creeping closer. His heart pounded as he realized they were being watched.

"Stay close to me," he whispered to Talyssa, his voice tense.

She nodded, sensing the danger. Quill stood up, his muscles tensing, ready for a fight. He saw them now, a band of roving slavers, their eyes gleaming with malice as they closed in on the couple. Their leader, a burly wolf with a notched ear, stepped forward, grinning wickedly.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the leader sneered. "A pretty little thing like her could fetch a nice price."

Quill bared his teeth, a deep growl rumbling in his throat. "Touch her and you're choosing death," he warned.

The slaver laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "And who's going to stop us? You?"

Without waiting for an answer, the slavers lunged. Quill met them head-on, his claws flashing and teeth snapping. He fought with a ferocity born of desperation, every strike aimed to protect his woman. The air was filled with the sounds of snarling, yelping, and the clash of bodies.

Quill took down the first attacker with a swift bite to the throat, but more kept coming. He felt a sharp pain as one of the slavers raked his side with claws. Ignoring the pain, he spun and lunged at the assailant, his jaws closing around the wolf's leg and snapping it with a sickening crunch.

He could feel Talyssa behind him, her presence a mix of comfort and urgency. The leader of the slavers circled around, his eyes fixed on Talyssa. Quill saw the movement and launched himself at the leader, but the other slavers grabbed him, holding him back. The leader approached Talyssa, his grin widening.

"Looks like your protector is a bit tied up," he taunted.

Quill struggled against the wolves holding him, his eyes burning with rage. "Run, Talyssa!" he shouted, then snapped his jaws shut on the face of the nearest wolf holding him back. The brute squealed in pain, the high pitched sound drawing the attention of the leader.

Seizing the distraction, Quill broke free from his captors with a powerful burst of strength. He launched himself at the leader, his teeth sinking into the slaver's throat. They tumbled to the ground, the leader struggling desperately, but Quill's grip was relentless. With a final, savage twist, he ended the slaver's life.

The remaining slavers hesitated, their resolve wavering as they saw their leader fall. Quill stood over the body, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his jaws. Mismatched eyes were wild, daring any of them to come closer.

"Who's next?" he growled.

The slavers exchanged nervous glances before turning and fleeing into the night, their courage shattered. Quill watched them go, ensuring they were truly gone before turning to Talyssa. He moved quickly to her side, raising one paw to her cheek and assessing her for any damage.

Quill winced as he felt the pain from his wounds, but he shook his head. "I'll be fine," he said. "Are you okay?"

They settled back down upon the old mattress and furs, Quill keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The danger had passed for now, but he knew they couldn't stay here. The compound wasn't safe enough to stay in for longer than a night. Really, they should leave immediately, but the battle had taken a great deal of his strength. He would rest for a time then they would be on their way.

As they lay there, the bloodied brute curled around his woman, Quill realized that he had been scared. Scared. Him. Not afraid of fighting or afraid of death, but afraid that Talyssa would be hurt or captured. The man's heart beat hard in his chest and he looked down upon the resting fae with blue and pink eyes. "Talyssa..." he spoke tentatively, his usual gruff tones much softer than normal. He hoped that she was asleep. Part of him hoped, anyway. "I believe that I love you, Talyssa Carpathius," he spoke softly, curling himself around her more tightly. Just a little rest and they could be gone.

Quill Quilin Klein

WC-942

Talyssa watched as Quill's gaze softened, the ice in his eyes thawing for just a brief moment. He looked so out of place in this crumbling ruin, his striking coat gleaming under the moonlight like a warrior's armor, his posture ever dominant. It was a strange contrast to the ruinous compound that was once his father’s kingdom.

Talyssa was oblivious to Quill's apprehension, her eyes huge and starry as she regarded their surroundings. This was the place of Quill's stories, a kingdom long fallen from its once glorious heights. There was an air of wistful nostalgia enveloping them, intermingling with the quiet rustles of the night time ambiance. She pressed herself closer to him, her fur mingling with his. “It’s beautiful.” she whispered. Wild. Reclaimed by nature. Ominous in a sense. But beautiful in its own way.

It was a view that she was lulled to the edge of a blissful sleep to. Taking solace in the closeness she shared with her companion. However, she could feel the tension coiling in his muscles where she rested her cheek against his chest. After the pressure in the air became unbearably heavy, here eyelids fluttered open, her peaceful reverie shattered. “What is it?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she peered into the darkness.

Talyssa felt a chill spreading through her body, her heart pounding in her chest as a shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes met his, filled with a silent question. But all she saw was the intensity of his gaze, the unflinching determination etched on his features. It was enough to make her swallow her questions, her instincts blazing a quiet alarm in her veins. She nodded, pressing her body even closer to his sturdy frame, the warmth of his fur doing little to soothe her escalating fear.

The prickling unease reached a fever pitch as she finally made out the figures of the oncoming wolves. “Quill…?” Her voice was a whisper, her heart pounding in her chest as the reality of the situation began to sink in. She watched as Quill rose to his full height, his body radiating strength and power as he faced their adversaries. His eyes flickered with a silent warning. Of course, as one separated himself forward, he didn’t hesitate to make his address. Talyssa’s pale gaze widened as he insinuated what they wanted. Her. She couldn’t help the shiver as the man’s gaze raked over her, his predatory grin making her stomach churn with disgust. She felt Quill’s protective growl rumble through them both- through the contact she fought to maintain.

Talyssa felt a spark of fear, realizing that this situation was far more volatile than she had imagined. Quill's threat hung ominously in the tense silence that followed. She tightened her grip on his fur, but of course, her hold on him didn’t last for long.

Talyssa could only watch in horror, staggering backward as her heart hammered against her ribcage. Quill was a whirlwind of fury and strength, his every movement laced with lethal intent. His sterling coat was stained with red, but it was unclear whether the blood was his or theirs. His eyes, alive with the glow of battle, held no hint of mercy. It wasn't until Quill's dark grey adversary took advantage of a momentary lapse in his defense, when he was too engaged with another foe, that she realized the impending threat that lay waiting for just the opportunity the group had influenced.

The leader's eyes were dark and malicious, like a raven eyeing its prey. She could see the lust in his gaze, and it made her blood run cold. Quill was being held back, struggling against the others. She took a step back, her back hitting the wall, her mind racing as she tried to formulate a plan. There was no plan. She couldn’t see the escape. She heard jeering around her- cruel laughter piercing the air. Quill’s furious roar. And the weight of the world suddenly on their shoulders.

She watched as Quill's chest heaved with exertion- as he threw himself at the man who had threatened to approach her. His aim was viceral. Brutally fatal as he ripped the leader’s throat out. A sudden spray of blood misted across her features, splattering her face and chest the deadly crimson that now stained Quill’s almost head to toe. Out of reflex she flinched, glancing to the side with her eyes clenched tightly. Her body trembled with terror and revulsion

Quills growl sounded through the space between them- the last remnants of fleeing men disappearing into the hidden darkness. The silence that had once been filled with jeering laughter and terror was now replaced by a quiet hush of the wind. And it was only then did she open her eyes once again, to see his familiar mismatched gaze staring back at her. She was numb, but the sensation quickly began to fade. Looking him over, she began to see the evidence of what had happened. The wounds that littered his body. Panic surged forth as she reached for him. To hold him out from her so she could see. I’ll be fine. “Quill, you are not fine! You need to be treated!” Talyssa whined. His coat was matted with blood, most of it still fresh and warm. She really couldn’t tell what was his and what wasn’t. A particular gash brought a cold shiver up her spine. Long. Ugly. He needed medical attention.

But of course, he was having none of it. He guided them back to the pallet of furs, never lowering his guard. His mismatched eyes seemed to observe every shadow, every rustle of wind in the night. Talyssa watched him with in silent distress. It was easier to worry about him rather than worry about what could have been.

She felt the rhythm of his heartbeat against her back, a steady force that would have lulled her back to sleep on any other night. However, with the adrenaline coursing through her veins, there would be no sleep to be had. Her mind raced with thoughts, each one more terrifying than the last. The scene replayed over and over agin in her mind- Quill, blooded and bruised. Ruthless. Avenging. She was still in his arms. The glow of moonlight washing into the room. Though she lay frozen- as frozen as she was during the assault. He heard her name on his voice. Soft. Hushed. Her mouth was dry, as she tried to swipe her tongue over her lips. To find her voice.

She felt her heart stop, the background noises seemingly dimmed, and all she could hear was his confession. He loved her. She didn’t know how she could possibly begin to process it all. It was too much- the fight, the fear, his love. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she blinked them away as she lay still.

Quill was still breathing slow, deep breaths behind her, his chest rising and falling against her back. She could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck with every exhale. She wanted to respond, to tell him she felt the same way, but the words got lost before they ever found their way past her lips. She shut her eyes tight, the sting of unshed tears burning at her lids. She felt as if she were on the precipice of a great chasm, a leap in the dark that could lead to her undoing or to unparalleled joy. How could she possibly know? “I love you too.” She finally managed to whisper, revelling in the increase of pressure as he tighted his grip on her. For a moment, everything else faded away- the fear, the pain, the uncertainty. There was only her, and the words she had spoken that wrapped around them like a lifeline.

Yeah, that was the aching she felt in her chest. Grieving the thought of losing someone as he lay encompassed around her. That had to be love.

"Talyssa Carpathius"