Emberwood goodbye, sweet prince

fine by me!

the girl gasped again as aaron's dashing frame melded itself into that of a hunter, and with swiftness he and madeleine swept down and quickly dispatched the pair of rabbits in a jagged spray of blood and burst of thrown snow. a curious thirst seized the child -- in the next moment, she had flown from below her cover of bracken and juniper to her guardian's side. "donne le moi!" she hissed, and madeleine heeded quickly.

aaron went unremembered for a moment as the scarlet-cloaked woman tore open the still-pulsing jugular vein of her kill, exposing it to her charge's ravening mouth. claudia's lips descended upon the font; she drank deeply, ecstasy filling her soul as the blood warmed her chilled limbs.

presently she returned unto herself; she blinked her long-lashed eyes apologetically at aaron and smiled, as did madeleine, her emerald eyes full of affection for her charge. "merci, monseiur," claudia murmured in the direction of the man, her voice somewhat breathless.