ORIGIN - bones exposed

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He moved. She moved. She followed him, a ghost haunting a shadow. Nose tipped up and she inhaled deeply the scent of death, of meat. She was famished, she found, hungry. But the fish would only fill her so, no. She already knew she would want more for more: more hunting, more death.

But she watched in admiration, in awe, in contentedness, as he continued with his work. And then, an offering. Gaze caught his and she nodded, readily accepting it. A step forward and it was in her mouth and she chewed, own fangs slicing the meat and working it into pieces small enough to consume. She took her time, absently watching the tail fin as tinted light shone through it and onto the rock.

She finished, stomach full. ”You need more,” she noted. It was not a question, nor really an observation. It was Truth. ”Again?” This, however, she did pose as a question. But already she was scaling the path to her vantage point, stomach sated but eyes and mind hungry for more.

@kazgut

Kazgut

I will come to be — I will submerge myself in the body of the earth, sink my teeth into its flesh; and rise in my own skin.

To one another, they were beings of hunger and of great appetite. Gluttons for substance, for that which could be consumed; not merely a matter of flesh, of bone, of marrow but - oh! - how these were to be revelled in. The black shuck watched (greedily, perhaps) as the bits of meat disappeared into maw, as deliberately the pieces were chewed, swallowed, disappearing but oh, sustaining. Tail fanned the air, a high wag, at the thought of repetition of such process.

”Again. Agreed without hesitation; for in hesitation there would be admittance of wrong. No sin was seen here. Teeth wished still to sink deep. Tail of the first fish was picked up from the rock and nearly swallowed whole; crunched minimally (a marrow sound of breaking delicate bone) and added to the gut.

Tongue was passed over lips as form found self near the edge of the river. Predation sharpened eyes to the want of flashing scales. Ah, here - and there! And yes, nose could detect the gathering warmth beneath the surface, as body, as mind stilled. Head raising to find Vyette - to find other half upon her station.

Awaiting; for he was patient in this. Impatient in soul but steadfast in her tone to strike. As the waters continue to flow and as a statue, so he became. Aware of the things that should fear of the future they were to lay …

(Run from me, darling.)

@Vyette

Atop her perch she, too, watched. Dark eyes remained still, still as he. And she watched the water, watched him. Everything grew quiet, still. Some swam near but she wanted a school of them to draw in close. She wanted to witness as fear rippled through a family of them, send them scattered.

She lowered herself, patiently waiting. And then! Their patience was rewarded. She leapt to her paws and called down to him: ”Now!” Her voice was high, tense, and she was elated, prepared for chaos below the surface and blood above it.

@kazgut

Kazgut

I will come to be — I will submerge myself in the body of the earth, sink my teeth into its flesh; and rise in my own skin.

Beneath the surface, many hearts did beat, pumping blood through veins dilating with each heave. Unknowing, unknowing, of that which lurked above with many eager, snapping teeth. Stance was steady there upon the shore, paws upon the edge but never more, as lunar sight was raised to the sky - the stars of life - to Vyette wherest she had decided to perch, to give command. The air ripe with their expectation; for history was bound to repeat itself in flashes of scales and rended, torn skins.

Her voice was pitched on elegance; on frenzy - for she fueled the chaos that ensued. As soon as the word rang out like belltones to the eaves below; he struck! The black shuck leapt with readied maw and eager jaws - into the depths - purpose aimed and chosen for the school of fish that wandered too close, too close. And fear would rippled through the thick of them - but oh, it would do them no good, as gemstone trap of jaws was fastened about the throat of three!

Success was tasted even before the blood burst over the elation. As head, as body, pulled free of the river and upon the shore, carnage was dealt with the forcing of teeth through bodies. For oh, how they wriggled and writhed - twisted and twined - tried so desperately to get free! But no, no, as teeth closed and speared them through their insides - guts; gore. Dripping. Victory tasted.

Tail wagged, fanned the air, as the corpses were dropped upon the rock for all to witness. Three! Three bodies of spectral, fading life and eyes looking up so hollow - hallowed! And Kazgut, with dripping maw, ravenous, and able still to remember their fear, their bodies fleeing and the chase.

This was the hunt, this was the chaos, and in this he knew what it was like to not save.

@Vyette

Chaos, a frenzy, the fish darted every which way. It was madness. She was elated, giddy. A soft string of laughter left her and spilled down below and she followed it, bounding toward him. At first she’d been satiated with just the discorder he’d caused but oh! He was triumphant and then some!

She bounded towards him, slowing as she neared. Eyes were wide in awe and her gaze shifted to Kazgut, tail wagging quickly behind her. Nose to his neck, she nuzzled, and shifted to move her face against him there. But oh… a mistake. Obsidian shifted, too, and a soft pain began to radiate in her head, subtle at first…

Tongue lolled out and she dragged it across his cheek before looking down again in awe at his catch. She was impressed, but she did not quite know how to express that to him yet, but they had a lifetime ahead of them for her to learn.

The throbbing of her head made things grow a bit hazy. She stood, eyes drinking in the carnage before her as the river continued to flow beside them, tail wagging still. Happiness.

@kazgut

Kazgut

I will come to be — I will submerge myself in the body of the earth, sink my teeth into its flesh; and rise in my own skin.

The cavern ceased to contain the black shuck. Pride elevated him; her approval elated him, and in a suddenance he was more. Own tail fanned the air, a mimicry of her own; their movements paired as they met and shared in the simple triumph that the day had brought to them. For although in their youth they had tasted of plenty; this plenty overshaded those that had come before. And yet …

Kazgut was attuned to her. For she was his celestial body; lunar orbit and there was something not right in the way that body shuddered, making own skin prick. Nose was pressed to cheek (as though one could sniff out pain!) but Vyette seemed whole and of herself … although unsteady. The roar of the water ceased to be.

”Pain.” Not spoken as a question; for it was not. Simply observation, as worry flashed behind eyes. ”What hurts?” Had she fallen from the rocks? Slipped somewhere? There was no tang of blood other than from the fish below. In the manner of one young, nose dropped, nudging fish toward her.

Eat. Strength came from such. It would ease the pain, surely, as those eyes questioned wordlessly, tail still and body holding a tension that was known only as - worry.

Without way to abrogate.

@Vyette

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