Wapun Meadow grind to a halt

His mother ignored him, but for now, Riley's attentions were steadfast on the startling imitation of his late aunt and the girl's companion -- the very familiar, very unsettling Merrick.

Riley remembered their last meeting; the memory invoked the involuntary lift of hackles along his spine. His mother was making no sense, and worse yet, seemed totally unhinged. Riley was trying to grapple with the total (alarming) change over his dam when Merrick spoke of Indra, of putting her in the ground himself -- meanwhile, he laughed as if recounting a funny joke.

The yearling's gaze lifted slowly to Merrick in mute horror, observing the wicked burn of that single eye. He had killed Indra? Riley hadn't known Merrick was Indra's son up until that moment, and now a ripple of true fear fluttered to life in Riley's heart. For the safety of his mother.

"Mom," Riley stepped forward, his offset gaze holding Merrick in full. "Mom, leave." His tail climbed gradually higher, and while outwardly his body language seemed assertive, within Riley was but a quivering boy facing a many-fanged demon. No matter -- if Laurel came to her senses, he might hold Merrick off long enough that she could escape before she too was put in the ground.

Riley had never loved Indra, and Laurel had never loved him, but an instinctual pull overtook him then to protect his mother no matter the cost.

"There's something wrong with you." Riley directed towards Merrick, his speech slow while his mind raced. Fumbling over ways he might hold Merrick's attention in full, invoke wrath, anything that would draw his wicked cyclopian interest from Laurel. Riley's thoughts flickered to Orlaith, and how no matter what, she did what was right always -- this gave him short-lived confidence. "I thought I was fucked up -- but you --" Riley stepped forward, hiding the quivering of his breath: "You really take the fucked-up cake."