Blacktail Deer Plateau somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

✹☾❂

 

The very moment that the mountain lion stepped onto the scene, Eleuthera was aware of it. The realization was immediate, as soon as the wind turned and the feline scent drifted past her nose. Immediately, all intention of finding a bed for the night was abandoned; tossed to the very same wind, an abruptly replaced with a sense of alert-ness.

Then, when she turned tightly on her heels and saw the fluffed up tail and predatory gaze, stalking her amongst the grasses, all that drained from her body and panic rushed to fill her. Leu’s pale, lavender eyes grew wide and her mouth fell slack. All she had ever known was that mountain lions were killers who destroyed senselessly — or simply because of their interminable bad moods. If a bear could destroy the entirety of Elysium, then she was nothing against this car’s teeth and claws.

Eleuthera was mentally steeling herself, preparing to dart away and give chase, but the cat’s words not only stopped her, but almost completely disarmed her. "Are.. are you here to hurt me?" Eleuthera regarded the cat, not certain if such an innocent display could be trusted. “I —" the lilac woman started, but her voiced cracked. Her wariness completely audible in her shaky tone, she managed to continue. “I could ask you the same question." and then she waited, feet on fire, to see what would happen next.