Moonsong Glacier [m] going toe to toe with an enchantress

he'd been too preoccupied to notice light footsteps behind him, not that he would have picked up on those careful footsteps anyway -- aventus was stealthy, and it wasn't until he spoke that val realized he wasn't alone.

he startled instantly, remembering the last time someone had taken him by surprise. he couldn't help the rash of quill-like spikes along his back, or the way his ears flattened and heart raced. "oh fuck," val half-whispered, finally spotting aventus's silhouette against the pale wash of moonlight. "you scared me." val admitted, realizing he'd been asked a question and had yet to answer it.

val wasn't sure this stranger would appreciate the things in life he did: they might be the same age, but something about aventus was much harder, more developed even. for all of val's self-perceived masculinity, he wasn't sure he measured up to this stranger in any way worthy. "um. i can be honest, but it's kind of embarrassing." val finally answered, turning his gaze back to the wall with its spidery thread glinting in the navy light. "that rock is weird. i've never seen anything like it. i was going to catch a nap under it and then keep heading north in the morning. who are you?"