She yawns, slowly, savoring the act. She rolled her head to either side, stretched her neck, and contemplated returning to sleep. She enjoyed sleeping — her dreams brought her to vast, curious places of darkness and light and brilliant colors and fantastic creatures. But mostly? Mostly she saw him in her dreams, but the dream-shuck did not compare to her living, breathing protector.

She stirred, deciding she’d rather spend time with the real him. Minimal effort and a flurry of hair and she’s standing, narrow nose tipped high in the air. She sniffed in search of his scent, eyes closed. She knew him by sight, by sound, by smell…

And just as soon as she’d stood, she sat. She was growing to be tall, long, lean. Her voice and vocabulary were growing, too. “Kazgut..?” she called, the sound clear. She was sure he’d be close. He was always close.

@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.

For long moments he had watched her dream. There was comfort in the gradual rise and fall of breath; the pattern of deep inhalation - pause - release. She lay entrapt in a halo of white, silken threads of hair spread, fanning about her. Rarely would she stir from this rest, and aware of each smallest motion, the black shuck retreated small distance to behold the river. For its depths were a gazing pool for reflection.

Sitting upon haunches, at the banks, lunar sight looked deep into the waters. Beneath the surface, there were flashes of scales; quicksilver appear and vanishing as soon as eyes could follow. Patiently, he remained motionless, continuing to observe. Nose twitched, breathing in the cool of the air, the damp of the water so near. Below the surface, he could imagine warm-blooded things in a flurry. Tongue rolled over teeth.

Name was called and head turned, body following. Silently, he retraced the path that had been taken down to the waters edge, wordlessly, quickly. For he was never far from her. Especially when she was sleeping. Stepping back upon the clearing that had been their resting place, he greeted her first with a single, low wag.

”Vyette,” he murmured, voice low, the sound already deepening. For just as she was becoming more lean of limb, a glassblown sculpture come to life - narrow and long and perfect - he was her opposite. Nose touched her neck, quietly, fondly. ”Sleep well?”

Lunar eyes moved across her, checking to find her in singular piece. A circle was down about her before position at side was taken, conversationally. The smell of her, the warmth of her, surrounded him. Home.

---

@Vyette

His voice. Her name. Completion.

Her tail waved, a reflection of her happiness. Eyelids fluttered open and dark eyes took him in. He drew close to her and she to him, eyes closing once more. She inhaled deeply, as if in an effort to consume his essence. He was her beginning, her end, her everything. She was drawn to him and he to her.

Fated, these children, like stars against the midnight sky that they knew nothing of. They knew only of the cavernous walls around, the glowing orbs ahead, and each other. She nodded against him, pressing into his neck. She always slept well.

And then he parted from her, circled her. One may think he a predator circling his prey but she knew his eyes were seeking imperfections, flaws.

“Did you..?” Clear, bright. Her voice was a beacon and he drew back to her. Her words were strong, even as she twisted them up in the shape of a question. She moved to step closer to him, rubbing the side of her body against his. He was already bigger than her, thicker and taller, and she wondered if he’d ever stop growing or if he’d continue until there was only him.

“Where were you?” This time, she thought to add, but didn’t.

@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.

Sleep did not come restfully. Insomniac would be the word, but it was not known, so in own mind it was called fitful. Waking often, the grim would be overcome by a nameless dread. Lulled always by the comfort of her by side, - but alas! - she followed him naught beyond that veil. So he consumed her endlessly whilst waking, and watched as she slept so soundly. Teach me how you dream so sweetly, he might think, moon eyes upon her. Take me with you there. Often the sandman would steal him as he counted her starlaced breath …

"I watched you," Kazgut answered simply, clever in attempt to avoid giving answer. For lay there beside her as he might, his thoughts were consumed by a preoccupation. When she woke, his wraith would surely hunger and they were strangers to this place. Head shifted, running jaw along the crest of her spine, breathing her in. Aligning body and purpose and mind. "Scouting."

But want as the black shuck might, awareness was there that one word would not be enough for such situation. There was a pressing question behind those dark eyes and he best bend to it. "There are fish in the river," he explained, for he could smell that she was growing hungry.

For an instant Kazgut thought to tell her such but did not, deciding to keep that to self. Already the void one was beginning to understand that some information was best kept to oneself. erudite of him. Pressing nose lightly to the gem between her eyes, he stepped away …

Tail gave single wag. Head turned towards the river, and the black shuck led the way, following the path that had been earlier taken. For it truly was not far.

Below the surface the fish were warm in their bones.

---

@Vyette

“Scouting,” she echoed, though her words fell flat, disappointed. She enjoyed his scouting much more when he’d rile her from her sleep to implore her to wake up and observe something spectacular that he’d found.

But as they’d spent some time in The Core, novelties and fascinations had become few and far between. She wondered if they could go elsewhere and begin the cycle anew but she did so enjoy haunting Polaris.

Eyes slowly closed as he pressed nose to gem and she exhaled. Content. Completion. And then he moved and she fell in alongside him. “You will catch them,” she mused as he led her. And then, with a smile: “I will scout.”

Was it perhaps her attempt at humor? Or simply her offering orders? Both. At least, she found herself amusing.

@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.

Fail he did not to catch the disappointment that had shadowed her words; echoing through them and into him. Even as lead was taken and pathway found that would lead them back along the fringes toward the waterside - it was the primary orchestration of mind. For the fish beneath the surface were still intangible. The disappointment was palpable. The crux of his thoughts hung off of it like a question; and eyes clouded with the distraction of it.

The humor, the orders, were taken in stride. They were accustomed; they were life. Purpose became her, and she pulled the strings that dictated many of the hangings of his life. Stride lengthened, a brisk trot to retrace steps. Hope was had that once the quicksilver bodies of the fish were espied; brilliant scales flashing underneath surface! - that disappointment would be forgotten, that transgression would be forgiven. What could he implore?

Kazgut was young, new to the world, but already familiar with its abstractions. Stepping down by the banks, paws were placed right on the edge, by the water - daring not yet to forge deeper. Nose lowered, to smell at the surface, eyes intent to watch. Before head turned, toward Vyette. Mouth opened, tongue lolled, and tail fanned the air - once. All clear.

Ready for her to take the lead this time and scout them a vantage, find the school, so that he could go in for the kill. It would not be the first dealing with killing. The first brush with death and being its maker, its bringer, and as the times before - such was overshadowed by hunger.

For as he grew, so did his cravings … and already he was eating more than she. For Vyette was a elegant and slim bodied - lithe and graceful in motion.

Eyes moved across her, inspecting her. Thinking of her, as often he did.

Who would she come to be?

---

@Vyette

He moved, quickly. She watched as he quickened pace but she did not. She lingered, eyes moving instead to the water then as she following in his path. Ears pricked, for the fish were quite exciting still…

By the time she reached him, he was at the water and his gaze met her. She instinctively opened her maw to vocalize at him, but made a conscientious decision against it. Surely the fish could hear them? Or could they? She, too, wagged her tail, waving silken strands. And then she picked a careful path up a small embankment, taking her time, seeking an advantage.

She could feel him watching her and she felt it: safe, whole. A smile passed her lips as she surmounted the ridge and turned to face the river, the fish, him. Dark eyes were cast down to the river and then across it, waiting. And then, there—! A flash of something, of several somethings, as a school darted by, a meter or so ahead of him.

”There!” She called, less concerned now with scaring their prey. She didn’t point, didn’t give direction. Simply: there. But excitement reverberated in her, caught her breath. All disappointment had long vanished and she felt weightless. ”Kazgut, there!” She tensed, straining forward to see, thrilled to observe his tactics.

@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.

For she was a mirage in the low light; illuminated by cast-off colors of a hundred different sources. Through the world, she moved - no! - the surroundings seemed to part around her as Vyette moved deliberately up the embankment and sought a conscientious perch. From such a vantage, no doubt she could see all below. (And beneath, he, awaiting!) Never once did lunar eyes stray from their orbit of her - their secondary attunement to the way the airs lifted the strands of her hairs (casting her in a glow of silk.) Awaiting.

Cue was given, in voice and in body - she needed not give further direction; for adrenaline was taking hold. Warm bodies flashed mercurial beneath the stillest waves; scales giving away them away. As a school, a pool of blood and sinew and bone they moved forth, darting from cover to cover - unaware of the predator that was hungering above them. It was not a matter of thinking - no. As body shifted into - action!

Jaws parted, maw opening and black lips peeling back in silent snarl to reveal the daggers beneath. Unsheathed, mouth was plunged into the crystalline waters of the river (oh, so cold!) and sank themselves into the school with the intent for blood. At first, there was the feeling of movement as bodies slipped, wriggled, writhed between teeth but - but!

Teeth were pressed together in crushing relief; and for the fish trapped within, there would be no release. By now, Kazgut had sunk up to forelegs into the waters; all too aware of the ravine drop a few inches ahead of nose. But head raised - throwing nose free of the waters and breath was exhaled.

Blood, the warmth of it, ran down through teeth and the taste of it was exhilarating as heart continued to mightily beat. The fish, still twisting in grasp, was silenced as jaws were pressed closer together. (And into the soft of its flesh, moonstone was sunk, until it gave no more motion -)

Retreating out of the water with the prize locked between teeth, the black shuck felt the success of the kill.

And was eager to share in it.

---

@Vyette

She danced along the ridge, back and forth, watching him. His movements were sharp, deliberate. Admiration poured from her as she watched. She watched the water consume him and fear consumed her! But she had faith. She had to have faith, in him.

And her faith was cemented: lo! He was victorious! A loud bark rang out from her, as though she was announcing his victory to the world that they knew! She moved then, quickly, bounding down the embankment and to him!

Nose dipped to observe the scene closely, for she was fascinated. Death, brought on by he. And he, mouth full of blood. Head tipped and she savored the moment. It filled her fuller than any fish could, but she would eat still.

An in lieu of vocalized praise or gratitude. she pressed her nose to his cheek, gently dragged it to his neck, and nuzzled him there.

@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.

Warmth trickled down the back of throat, stained teeth with rust that was now own. From maw it dripped; running, running red, and head raised proudly in order to display it. For nearer, Vyette had come to bear witness and eager was Kazgut to share in it. The fish was a body still now betwixt jaws, the weight lofty and profound. For the body weighed no more, no less, once its life had left it. Instead it remained, merely and simply and as it was to be. Silverline and full.

At the affection given in return for the kill; for the act, a noise rumbled through throat. Much as a purr, but deeper - a pleased growl. Leaning into the touch, for when their forms met it was in wholeness. (Ah, home!) Celestial eyes closed for but a moment, for this was completion. And then, the black shuck parted, just a distance of a pace, in order to place the fish upon a flat rock and set to a bloody work.

With lips peeled back over moonstone teeth, dissection took place in a basal way; with only need pressing the orchestration. Scales were torn and flesh was rended. Bone was exposed. With skin peeled back and meat in emergence; a pleasant stench filled the air. For the iron of blood and the warmth set in deep.

”For you,” the grim insisted, nosing the body toward her. For from its ribs, its bulk, he had severed its tail and its head, and wished for her to have its most complete pieces. Unquestioned to self, such a body was were the heart remained, and such an act would surely bring the wraith future strength.

Head was taken into jaws and crushed without second thoughts; eyes, brain matter, all. Consumed simply and cathartically; pleasantly. For this was the second best praise for work well done. The tail remained upon the rock, fins fanned to catch the airs and spray from the waters so near.

And lunar eyes wished to watch the one he held dear consume the kill; for in this, he had done his due.

---

@Vyette