Imaginary friend

^^

It had been relatively easy to traverse these mountains. Astoria was hesitant to leave, something strange for her yet she knew her time in them was coming to an end. Little was here for her, no way for her to thrive unless she intended to hone her skills as a hunter -- something she was loathe to do. The coyote was content stealing her meals from wolves or other predators, their eyes too big for their bellies.

Lone wolves fed her the most, often not wanting to remain somewhere too long and quick to move, unwilling to haul along a new meal when they could survive some time without another big one. Whenever she feasted on her scavenge, her mind went to @Taikon. The golden man with sharp features who looked as if he needed the meat but intentionally gave what he found to his coyote daughter. She swallowed delicately, sliding her tongue along her bloodied lip as her large ears perked, multicoloured eyes watching.

Something of him made her yearn but for what, she did not know. Astoria's fascination of wolves was not something new to her yet he was the opposite of her obsession -- yet she thought of him whenever she ate. Astoria hummed, leaning down to eat some more. ^^

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Things have calmed in Northfall… somewhat. There was still the matter of Dragonford to deal with but he was not on the in of the information or plans. Which he didn't mind. Though he liked Ragnar to a certain point, and a few select other members, he wasn't quite... loyal to them either. There was no reason other than duty bound to pay what he owed as a member who was once an ally to the enemy. Once his debt was paid, he would go.

When that was, was left uncertain. For now, he would continue his duties as a healer and guard the borders when not tending to the sick and wounded or the herbs in the den.

There was the matter as well… of him needing something more in this life than an empty den of perfumed herbs. Children, a wife, he wanted it all. A simple life as a husband, a caregiver and breadwinner. Perhaps it just wasn’t in his cards, and that was okay too. A man could day dream.

As he left Northfall’s borders he wandered the mountains in search of herbs and food. He would be away for a few days but not any longer. The smell of a kill brought him in to investigate… catching sight of a cute little woman, coyote most likely. He approached… Certain if he wanted to, he could take her kill from her.

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^^

He came just as she swallowed, her blue and pink gaze falling on him in the distance. He was of her favourite kind, wolf and it sent a delightful tingle up her spine -- she hadn't any company since the Sandman and his daughter, had she?

Pale, so very pale against the mountain landcape and he had seen her, likely drawn close by the scent of food. She smiled, bloody and toothily, "strong nose," Tori drawled loftfily as she stood, using the half-eaten carcass as a perch for her forelegs.

"Do you want a bite?" She left it open, waiting, watching with glinting eyes. Would he catch her playful under words? Maybe. Maybe not. She had been left in sparks since the Sandman and it was just fates work to send her a man pale and reeking of Pack. Astoria's gaze was unwavering. ^^

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She was small. Oh so small. If he wanted to, or was a lesser man, he wouldn’t pause in his advancements and take whatever he desired. Leave her with nothing but the blood off her chin to lick. He didn't need to steal food really, the man could hunt for himself and yet, an easy meal was an easy meal.

And something about her drew him in. Was it predatory? Protective? He wasn’t certain. Either one could easily be the reason why his own bi-coloured gaze locked with hers.

“You aren’t afraid of others stealing your kill?” He approached, blackened tongue flickering from his maw as he reached out to the carcass under her. His gaze remaining on her figure as he threatened to take her kill right here and now. Wolves, cats, coyotes, foxes, all predators ate their kill as fast as possible and hid it away in caches for later - it was either bold or stupid to be so welcoming when the smell drew in another.

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^^

Afraid?

She giggled, just a little bit as she watched him. He so easily threatened with his lowered head, teeth inching towards her meal. Astoria did not move, her blood thumping in her veins. The coyote looked at him, unflinching as she cooed, "should I be?"

Astoria tilted her head, remaining on her perch as she breathed him in through the scent of blood and meat. "Can you steal from a thief in the first place, I wonder," Tori hummed quietly, uncaring if she just outed herself as a thief. She did what she did to survive, as most others did.

"I offered you a bite, did I not?" She mused as she watched him, "a taste." Her tongue slithered along her lips, catching the drying blood. Astoria didn't move from her perch, tilting her chin. ^^

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Should she be? “Not of me.” He reassured. There were monsters out there, and he was not one of them. He was a protector, he knew right from wrong. But she was so small, vulnerable. He lingered around the carcass, hovering... but it was pretty clear there was something more churning in that head of his. The liquid pools of blue and gold swimming with something more underneath it all.

“A better thief could.” He shot back with a grumble. Barely audible or understandable, except for the ones who were attentive.

She teased him. Taunted him. He could tell... She was dangerous, a hazard to herself with these games of hers that she would play with strange men. Of wolves three, no five times her size. What could she possibly do if someone more nefarious came along?

Creeping around the carcass, he made his way around the back of the woman. Rounding and raising to purposely tower over her as he rested his head against her slender shoulder. “You did.” She had no idea of what lurked in the shadows if he had not come along.

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She hummed as she eyed him, wondering if hid reassurance held any truth to it at all. Astoria's weakness were wolves, this she knew, even as aware of it as she were, she was unable to stop herself. As focused as she was on him, the coyote hadn't anticipated a response and hadn't heard his grumbled, low words. A mere murmur.

Astoria knew she played with fire, danced with it even as it licked at her ankles and yet as he advanced, she didn't stop her games. The dance continued on as he slunk his gargantuan frame to be behind her, her head moving ever so slightly to allow her gaze to follow him until she couldn't do so without turning into an owl. She felt him above her, behind her, the heat of him radiating in waves. Astoria's tongue touched her lips in a gentle touch, ears twitching to the sound of him. Tori hadn't anticipated the touch of his head coming to rest upon her shoulder, his breath tickling against her fur.

"Yet you do not take up the offer," she hummed in a low murmur, gently leaning into him, testing his waters as she had been the entire time. "Perhaps you have told me everything without saying much at all," the coyote sighed, almost dramatically, wanting to push him to see how he might respond. Cheekily, Tori went to slink from beneath his touch.

Would he miss the feel of her shoulder?^^

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She watched him carefully... he could feel her gaze and attention on him even as he disappeared behind here. She was so small. He could crush her. Here and now. Suckle the marrow out of her spine and move on. She continued to taunt and play the dangerous game he was certain she would have played with anyone else.

She leaned into him. A feeling he hadn't felt in this lifetime, but perhaps another before this. He remembered partners in the past, women, one, in particular, more special than the last and yet their faces and names were nothing but faded memories. Papers left in the rain for their scriptures to fade.

This body, was virgin. After waking from the belly of a camel, he hadn't touched any.

Placing his paws on either side of her, he placed his teeth on her neck. Placing pressure on skin and muscle until only a scruff was left between his tender, but strong grip. But let Noki rip that carpet from under everyone's feet for a second. He wouldn't follow through what all you perverts will think, or Astoria either. Instead, he'd scoop her up. Like a child, lifting her by the neck and beginning his journey back home with her in tow.

She was far too careless with her own safety to be left to her own devices he had decided.

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Out of all of the possibilities that her actions could have led to, Astoria wouldn't have anticipated this. His touch to her scruff had at first been something she nearly cooed at yet it was the shift in which he hoisted her.

Gently yet firmly he would lift her by her scruff and -- and -- walk away with her? Astoria would gasp and blink, confused and squirming as she let out a sound of disbelief. "Excuse me --" she exclaimed, what did he think he was doing? "Put me down, right this instant," she demanded, voice stern. Astoria didn't know why it tingled her belly so for him to manhandle her but she was facing the sudden reality that she had no idea where he was taking her.

Astoria's blood grew hot with adrenaline as confused clutched at the rest of her. ^^

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She objected to being carried - of course she did. She wanted to remain on her hill of prey to lure in dangerous predators to her and do lord knows what to such a frail-looking thing. “Don't think so.” He'd say muffled with his mouth full of her scruff. When she squirmed he only stopped momentarily to keep his grip tight, and once she was too tired to keep wiggling around, he'd move again.

Toward Northfall. He'd keep her there until she learned how to properly care for herself. Until she could properly fend for herself and not be prey to some thing lurking in the shadows. This would be his new project he supposed. Teaching an adult coyote how to care for themselves and not be mauled by something hungry who will happily take a two for one. They had a long enough journey home, but he would keep his pace and only pause to let her struggle and tire herself out.

They would be back in Northfall by nightfall.

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