Ravensblood Forest you're by my side, but are you still with me?

hunger he did, both for flesh and for other things. he smirked at the nightshade, bidding her go off upon her own path while he wandered after the far-ranging caiaphas.
his thoughts wandered to the crone ahead, and then to his mother. who had found her remains, merrick wondered idly to himself, wishing he could have been there to drink the shock upon that discovery. or had the wheeling vulture plucked out her staring eyes, made a meal of her tender cheek-flesh?
the image repulsed merrick; he wanted the last thought of indra to be the beauty of her fading eyes as at last she saw his nature, at last he curled in a semblance of tortured peace against her breast.
at last, at last, at last — merrick spun about, trembling, for the rush of red near the edge of his vision was surely she returned to exact a vengeance.
but there was nothing.