Rising Sun Valley too metal

@Apollyon, maybe?

Fiona strayed from the hollow for a spell, finding time to reunite with Prowler for a time. The young racoon had been more than thrilled to see her, and the witch had shared with the bandit a kill of rabbit she had made that afternoon. After parting ways, she had heard a sound that piqued her interest. An open call from a suitor. She snorted at his audacity, but she could not contain her curiosity.

However, when she arrived, he was nowhere to be found. All that remained were two scent trails: one from a pack wolf and another who appeared to be alone. Perhaps he was looking for something Fiona couldn't provide; perhaps he was like Anselm.

:o

apollyon's defiant return to the rising sun was rewarded by new fallen snow and the absence of his sable pursuer.

he stirred from a nap, whiteness falling from his insulated shoulders, and regarded the tiny black wolf who seemed to be following in his faded trail.

a woman, though his nostrils said she was not alone. not quite. apollyon crooned her way, approaching with a confident step and a flash of his teeth in a simmering grin.

what can i say? i'm a sucker for an ebony thread.

The man's voice matched that of the openly announced bachelor, and Fiona knew she'd found her mark. He was handsome in an unremarkable way. He had reddish-brown fur, a white marking across his back, and unsettling dark eyes that stared back at her. In stark contrast to the two men she had been spending most of her time with, this man oozed confidence.

Fiona retracted her previous thought: this man was nothing like Anselm.

The witch smiled back in return, glad that the herbs continued to do their work and keep her fertility at bay. And yet, she knew of the relief that could come with such an act, even if it did not result in children. She had been in such an "all work and no play" mode these past few months, perhaps letting of a little bit of steam would do her some good. Clear her head.

She would not move away if he approached her.

FLATTERED MY GOODNESS <3

her mismatched eyes drew him in. apollyon noted no seasonal fragrance lingering around her hips but this was all right.

he was taller than her by quite a bit; as not to tower, apollyon crouched in a playbow and snapped at the air, then pretended to feint toward her, snow rippling up between them.

the black eyes were bright with interest, all captured entirely for the woman before him.

A cloud of snow briefly obscured her vision when he feinted toward her, and Fiona sneezed, then shook her coat free of the flakes that gathered there. He didn't speak, but Fiona found she'd had plenty of speaking as of late. Right now, she yearned for something else. Perhaps it was simply the lingering sensation of being in the hollow when Heda's scent had permeated the entire place. Even now, there was the faint smell of fever on the wind.

She returned the play bow with one of her own, teeth gnashing toward his cheek before pulling away. Fiona would not make contact with him—not yet—but this was part of the game: the flirting, the foreplay.

while apollyon tended to be rather one track minded, this was a welcome reprieve. the woman was playful and took up their game easily.

his tail waved with excitement when she came near, then he darted stiffly forward.

they did not touch, his eyes dancing each time they neared one another.

he courted her toward a run, prancing sidelong and pretending to lunge her direction before he jerked back gracefully with a rolling baritone chuckle.

He galloped ahead, and Fiona chased after the nameless stranger, blood coursing through her veins. The rush of cold wind in her face and the easygoing nature of her present companion made for a pleasant combination. Fiona bounded forward alongside him for several strides before veering off to the right. Trees whirred past between them before she swerved back to the left to join once again in his path.

Then, she skidded to a stop, hoping to pull a fast one on him and make a quick u-turn away from him. He would need to be both quick and fast in order to catch back up with her, if all went according to plan.

she swerved; he put on the brakes and looped after her, a bit behind but trusting in the speed of his youthful body to overtake the woman again.

now apollyon was racing, wanting to match their speed as his tongue lolled and he managed a wink against the rush of wind.

he darted close now, nipping for her hip.

His teeth pinched her hip, and Fiona curled a lip at him, though her eyes smiled. She slowed more gradually now, panting hard from the expended energy of the run. Bright eyes observed him carefully, but still she did not speak, thinking it might ruin whatever fun moment they were having here. Already, she felt more relaxed and less pent up than she had when she had first found him.

they panted together, something made erotic by the set of her hips and the way she looked at him apollyon grinned hotly before he could speak again; when he had caught his breath, he purred, "you've already worn me out."

she had not, but he feigned the part, grinning mischievously in her direction as he pretended to sink into the snow.

last one from me! <3

He spoke, and Fiona flinched. She had not realized how quickly it could ruin the magic of what they'd had for a few fleeting moments. The witch couldn't even pinpoint why it killed the mood for her, but it had. Perhaps there was something alluring about not knowing his voice. The less she knew about him, the better, but he'd already managed to lower her expectations a great deal.

His flirting grin and words put her off, and Fiona found herself rolling her eyes at him, bored at the sight of him appearing to sink into the snow. He wasn't interesting at all, she saw now. Just a horny young man hoping to get some tail. He had served his purpose to her, and so she blinked at him with bored eyes and trotted back toward the hollow.

<3

the illusion they were spinning faded away to the flawed reality.

they stared at one another.

she turned away.

he scoffed to cover a spurned heart.

illusion would disprove the memory of this. and yet he would carry its learning.