Nate !
After a time, several clumps of moss carpeted the bottom of the basket. Enough to get by with, Nathaniel thought. He wanted to return home swiftly, while the moss remained as cool as possible. He spotted some more just a bit further on, though. A sizable cluster between the roots of a broad oak. Nate crouched to carefully remove it.
He did not expect company. He definitely didn’t expect company in the form of a silent, naked stranger. A large, silent, naked stranger with alarmingly pale eyes. Nathaniel forgot about being angry, at least. He forgot about everything aside from fight or flight as he flinched, stilled, and slowly rose to his feet, his dark eyes never leaving the naked man.
The stranger did not appear violent. Instead, he appeared to be mimicking Nathaniel’s movements. Which was somehow even worse than being attacked, Nathaniel decided quickly. “Uh…” He stepped back and made a vague, helpless gesture. “What the fuck are you doing? Who are you?” Where did you come from? Why do I have to deal with this? And myriad other questions lay thick on his tongue, waiting to be given voice.
But after the initial shock, his reflexes decided there was no need to run. Not yet, at least. Nathaniel’s free hand moved cautiously toward the knife at his hip, anyway. A practical tool more than a weapon, it had never been used to dispatch another person, but the blade was sharp enough to do the job. Nathaniel did not particularly want to use it. He also didn’t want to be in this situation, in this time period, with gods running wild and an evil queen presiding over his home.
So, if he had to stab a guy… he was going to stab a guy.
He did not expect company. He definitely didn’t expect company in the form of a silent, naked stranger. A large, silent, naked stranger with alarmingly pale eyes. Nathaniel forgot about being angry, at least. He forgot about everything aside from fight or flight as he flinched, stilled, and slowly rose to his feet, his dark eyes never leaving the naked man.
The stranger did not appear violent. Instead, he appeared to be mimicking Nathaniel’s movements. Which was somehow even worse than being attacked, Nathaniel decided quickly. “Uh…” He stepped back and made a vague, helpless gesture. “What the fuck are you doing? Who are you?” Where did you come from? Why do I have to deal with this? And myriad other questions lay thick on his tongue, waiting to be given voice.
But after the initial shock, his reflexes decided there was no need to run. Not yet, at least. Nathaniel’s free hand moved cautiously toward the knife at his hip, anyway. A practical tool more than a weapon, it had never been used to dispatch another person, but the blade was sharp enough to do the job. Nathaniel did not particularly want to use it. He also didn’t want to be in this situation, in this time period, with gods running wild and an evil queen presiding over his home.
So, if he had to stab a guy… he was going to stab a guy.
