The Sentinels after delacroix

the white witch only watched; his predatory nature was appealing to her in that feral manner, and she wished for his success, prayed for it--and as the prayer left his lips, he clutched the throat of the creature that would bring them life. he saw something hideous, but she saw the creatures beauty, even past the moment no oxygen left its body. it was then she was noted by him, and he demanded she keep back in a manner she was flattered by; he, as all of donnelaith, wished for her wellbeing. but she was one of them, was she not? even if she were not as adept as a hunter, yet, she was a powerful witch. she felt her own power as she narrowed her eyes with intent, and watched as the strange creature melted from its place. it was no deer; it was dirted with much and grime and was not at all what it was in all its glory. renoir had but freed it, and it stirred when no longer in his grip. but ah! the waves took them both!

deirdre rushed forward and plunged into the cool waters, ignoring completely the creature that lay limply on the shore. she gripped for renoir and found him, and dragged him toward the earth. this was the limit of her energy, and she sprawled atop him at the finish, coughing exhaustedly and feeling the burn of her eyes even beneath their lids. the creature nearby them stirred and hacked a thousand times itself, expelling many fish from it and then making a mad escape. deirdre did not heed it; she, draped atop renoir, looked to his face and nudged his temple, sought his throat to feel for a pulse.