Maea
And I only needed one more touch
Another taste of devouring rush
Another taste of devouring rush
Never knowing the closeness of the Attuned bond, Maea felt the moment of quiet understanding between two predators as something profound, a closeness without words she had scarcely experienced with another person. Humans talked too much, lost themselves in words and forgot the fundamentals. It would be easy to remain in the tiger, forgetting all else to the colorful scents in the wind and never reach for anything else. Why the Attuned ever changed back was more than she understood - and it was a mystery to ponder later.
For now, she was being left behind. The burning crocodile shuffled off into the underbrush with a scorched trail left in its wake and Maea had to decide fast how to help in the hunt. On quieter feet she chose to angle away from the lial's path, off to the left. Creeping stealthily through the woodlands she sought to cut off the deer's path in one direction, and with some luck and skill they might be able to corner the prey against some denser brush or other natural obstacle. Now that the hunt was on the hunger rose like a tidal wave within; all other thoughts shrank away, and though there was a brief stab of concern... Maea bravely let herself be taken over by it. Letting go, giving in - the hardest thing she knew.
Time ceased to matter. There was only the night and the forest, the prey and the other Ancient, moving separately yet joined under a common purpose. When a dell appeared ahead of them, the molten tiger made a sudden rush toward the deer, that sent it careening down into the narrow gulley. As it burst from the bramble she could see it properly for the first time; limping with one leg torn from viscious thorns, it was a young doe, nearly fully grown.
Plenty of meat for the two of them.
For now, she was being left behind. The burning crocodile shuffled off into the underbrush with a scorched trail left in its wake and Maea had to decide fast how to help in the hunt. On quieter feet she chose to angle away from the lial's path, off to the left. Creeping stealthily through the woodlands she sought to cut off the deer's path in one direction, and with some luck and skill they might be able to corner the prey against some denser brush or other natural obstacle. Now that the hunt was on the hunger rose like a tidal wave within; all other thoughts shrank away, and though there was a brief stab of concern... Maea bravely let herself be taken over by it. Letting go, giving in - the hardest thing she knew.
Time ceased to matter. There was only the night and the forest, the prey and the other Ancient, moving separately yet joined under a common purpose. When a dell appeared ahead of them, the molten tiger made a sudden rush toward the deer, that sent it careening down into the narrow gulley. As it burst from the bramble she could see it properly for the first time; limping with one leg torn from viscious thorns, it was a young doe, nearly fully grown.
Plenty of meat for the two of them.
But the room was so quiet
Whose side am I on?
Whose side am I on?
