Hushed Willows east of the sun

Oh.

The creature was all the more alluring up close, smiling at him like this. All at once, Valiant was sure that it was in a friendly mood rathe than in a murderous one. He was happy to ignore the voice at the back of his mind that told him this was exactly what a faerie would want him to think. It didn't matter, anyway; one of the fae would undoubtedly be able to find him wherever he went, and to chase him down through the thickest brambles. It was best to do whatever this creature wanted, and then do his best to either be rid of it, or to do some ensorceling of his own.

But he doubted this would be possible — what did he have to offer one of the fae? This one didn't even want him to bring it an offering.

"Alright," he agreed, reluctant to accept help when it meant any success would be a joint effort rather than his own victory. And then, to his surprise, the fae gave him its name after all — First a few sound-names that Valiant carefully commited to memory, marvelling all the while over their strangeness, and then a thing-name that was much more in the family tradition. Baby. A girl name, he was fairly certain. Perhaps Alejandro was as well.

After the fae had so kindly given its name, Valiant was embarrassed to be so nervous about giving his own. "Grayday," he said, choosing the first name that came to mind. It was sort of fitting, he thought, if he was going to be courting his own fae creature just as his grandfather had courted the Spiritwalker.

Except — he felt embarrassed and guilty to be thinking about his dead grandfather while being so sorely tempted by the confusing fae in disguise. "I mean — but nobody calls me that. You can- I mean, my name's Swan."

Stupid, stupid, stupid! He was sure the creature must know he had lied (it was written plainly over his face).

"The rabbits are this way," he said, backpedaling several steps to put some space back between them. He felt a little more himself when he could breathe his own air and not the disconcerting, somewhat masculine, oddly appealing scent of the creature. Alejandro. Baby.