With or without you [cont]

Caiside did not find his heightened senses strange, nor did he really even notice them, so focused was he on the chase. The trees were thick, would have kept his quarry out of sight even if they were visible, his eyes chasing the small signs he had to go with. The footsteps, and voice, and fresh claw marks on the wood. Claw marks? That seemed... strange, the things he was chasing sounded like children, and for the first time apprehension stirred in his gut, slowing his frantic pace. He knew, of course, they weren’t children, but he hadn’t put any thought into what they were. What if...? Wings, and brambles, and goading words drove the worries from his mind. The owl, and the crown, had surprised him, nearly made him stumble and fall, but he kept his footing, just barely. His hand came up to brush against the crown, fingers feeling the thorns without being hurt. All of this was so strange, but... so eerily familiar as well. Caiside redoubled his efforts as the voices came again, urging him on faster than before now that he had recovered. He had to be catching up, didn’t he? How much more could be thrown at him? I enjoy tempting fate Caiside You know how it goes, this story’s been told again and again A love, pure and light, that makes stars align Well that’s not the case here