Twisted Slough II. Caught in the burning glow.

When he noticed her at last, there was some sort of fury in his eyes. The spirit had not seen such fury before -- he was enraged, looked enraged, as if she was the foulest thing on earth. She looked behind her, even, as he struggled to get up, teeth bared, to see if there was something else behind her. But there was not. So it must be her that he thought to be the biggest scum of the earth. She tilted her head and stared at him, contemplated running, but there was something else there; she felt exhilarated and alive. This was exciting!

She wondered what he was so angry about, though. The distance between them kept him away from her, for now -- the slough between them was not the safest and steadiest place to stand at -- and she just stared at him, a challenging glint in her eyes. Eventually she asked, her voice a little raspy from disuse: "What are you angry about?"