[ P ] • wicked, wasting garden

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.

Superstition flourished in the highlands. Since their arrival tales had been spun of otherworldly beings inhabiting the forests. All that Kazgut found was his wraith haunting the birch and pine. The glens were otherworldly, but it was their wildness that held such allure. With the sun rays breaking through the canopy and gilding the moss carpet gold; the eruption of the world unto summer and the chill of spring since faded. The pond was alive. Flashes of silver echoed in the deep and lily pads fanned upon the surface with ample duckweed and moss.

As Vyette leapt once more into motion, Kazgut found his teeth upon the tresses of her tail - feeling as the silk slipped through the grasp. Heart beat once, twice; again marveling a how the warmth left him at her absence. For a moment, pale eyes watched as she neared the shallows. A halo of light touched her ears and made her eyes appear all the more depthless. The grim smiled internally, unmoving where paws had sunk into the ferns.

"You are beautiful," Kazgut told her shamelessly, voice a low murmur. With her wide smile flashing teeth and breathlessness in the face of nature - it was brilliant beyond imagining. The shuck watched her without falter - painting a memory of her there at the pond before moving as well.

The carpet of mosses underfoot were soft and yielding. Staying several paces from his love, the grim waded into the shallows, claws careful upon the rocks. Moving incrementally, he lowered his mouth to the water to lap - to drink - watching again for movement of creatures beneath the surface.

Whilst Vyette fetched for them the curiosities that were of abundance there in the tarn - Kazgut would catch for them meat enough for a lunch. Motionless, he waited; mouth parted slightly as water dripping from lips. Eyes pools of their own.

---

@Vyette

Have you experienced
any strange dreams?

His words washed over her, baptised her in feelings of love, of contentedness. Their cottage and garden could be burned to the ground — this was all she needed: him, here, this moment, forever. She was prone to overthinking, but here in the quiet with him, she felt at peace. The soft murmur of the forest was a sweet lullaby to her, and he —

Tears stung her, threatening exposure. She tipped her face away and distracted herself, harvested a fair share of lilies, as well as some mouthfuls of moss and mushrooms. She stole glances at her shadow until she was done, and then she moved to sit along the water’s edge, basket somewhere safe behind her.

Her attention remained on him, this statuesque void among the reeds and lilies. His predatory nature was far keener than her own, and the hedgewitch would always be inclined to watch him hunt. He was a clever thing, quick and stealthy, and although his hunts were usually quick to be resolved, it was always a fascinating exhibit.

However, she was also prone to mischief. “Do you see anything?” She called to him, sing-song voice far louder than necessary to reach the shuck. Her inquiry was followed by a soft giggling as her tail wagged behind her.

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.

Little time was allotted to be anything but present in the moment. The flash of scales in murky waters deep drew sight - down, down. Attention sharpened. Fins fanned at the algae that grew at the bottom of the pond; larger shadows out of reach. Quick, darting fish moved about - tentatively exploring the intrusion of his self. Still Kazgut did not move. Even as the small fishes began to take assessing nibbles of fur. Patience would be just reward. These minnows would act as bait for something ... far more rewarding.

A frog croaked hoarsely on lily pad elsewhere. There was the slide of snake through grass. Ears picked up the sounds of Vyette stirring in her own hunt. The grim so remained - up to elbows in the water. He allowed the cool waters to wet his underside. By now the sun was high and the heat of the day upon them. Then - ah - brown trout. Kazgut knew it by its spotted coloration, the light brown of its body. Slowly, it began its approach.

Apprehensive. Muscles tensed imperceptibly. Anticipation. The churchyard grim knew that teeth would make short work of it as soon as the trap was sprung; hot blood and squirming prey. But -! The wraith had moved closer to watch the shuck in his game. This had been a matter of pride for he - the chance to provide for his love - and now? Her voice rang out, too loud to be so close.

The trout - veered - disappearing back into the murk. Kazgut growled. Pale eyes shifted from intended target (vanished!) to the reaper upon the rock. Her giggle floated to reach his ears - her tail fanning the air. Brat. Kazgut reacted - (deliberate in this, as he was in all things) - and reached her in two - leaping strides. Stepping into her space (close, close) and his face level with hers.

Oh, he leaned over her (for she was small to he) - and showed her the tips of his teeth in a predatory grin.

"Yes."

---

@Vyette

Have you experienced
any strange dreams?

His growl was not lost amongst her giggles. Instead, it evoked more from the wraith. They evolved into a thick bout of laughter that was enough to put an ache in her stomach. Eyes closed, enjoying the amusement she found in the moment, she didn’t hear him approach. His sudden appearance before her shocked her, laughter swallowed by a short gasp.

Bright eyes glanced over his fangs and another short giggle left her. “Well I don’t see a fish in there,” she thrust her nose at his maw before taking a bold step forward to bump the top of her head against his chest, offering him a small nuzzle as a peace offering.

Then: “Perhaps you should pick flowers while I fish.” And she filled the space around them with soft laughter once more.

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.

Satisfaction was swallowed at the gentle gasp from her lips; the way that dark eyes reopened (in surprise)! For, indeed, she had not expected for he to be so near - so ready to make good on all the promises that her laughter requested of him. And no, Vyette did not back down from Kazgut. Ignoring, surely, the way that his teeth longed to close on the back of her neck (with devotion, of course)! Instead, she teased - toyed - instigated. In want of reaction.

The churchyard grim was about to react when her nose tipped upward. The brief kiss blended with the warmth of her bumping into his chest. Kazgut melted, the tension leaving him momentarily. For just a moment. Until ... her words wound him back up like thread upon spindle. The laughter of that ghost was enough to drive a wolf mad.

"Good idea, my love," Kazgut praised, the low (rough) murmur of voice tilting with humor for just a moment (for a smirk was hidden behind eyes). Then, without warning - the shuck locked neck about hers and pulled backward -

- tumbling the both of them into the pond.

---

@Vyette

Have you experienced
any strange dreams?

The witch gasped again, for suddenly she was falling, rolling, and… wet. She cried out, the shriek literally drowned out as she was submerged momentarily. She flailed, tangling herself with him, but quickly found her footing. She stood, unravelling herself from her attacker. She tipped her dripping face up at him, offering the shuck a cruel glare… as she did her best to conceal a fresh grin.

“It’ll take ages for my fur to dry,” she sighed, but oh! — How the cool water was quite refreshing! She’s been wondering if it was as lovely as it looked, and it had been a matter of time before she'd joined him, surely. (As with any place, and time. She'd be near to him.) But of course, she'd do her best to sway him to appease her. But then! Dark eyes were quick to shift, to peer to below the surface of the water, curiosity tilting her perspective. She turned, slowly, in a circle, admiring the view and choosing her footing wisely.

“It’s a whole different world under there,” she mused, voice dripping with genuine intrigue. “Do you think it would be nice to live here, in this pond?”

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.

Kazgut laughed. After the first shellshocked moments and the untangling that followed; it was all that the grim could do. He had wished only to catch Vyette off guard. To take her by surprise. The attach was well executed, if ridiculous. Oh, and how she glared at him. Kazgut breathed another laugh. Her fair hair spread upon the water's surface - shimmering with motion much like the fins fanning out below.

Then, too, he watched as her outrage melted into warm curiosity. Dark eyes peered beneath the surface. Yet again, the shuck was taken aback by the expression upon her features - the capacity for wonder she held. Vyette was just as graceful adrift as she was on land. Perhaps more so, for he did not often get to see her as this ...

"If we grow fins," Kazgut responded, own eyes looking beneath the surface. Initial assessment had been both false and true; the waters were murky, yes, but also ponderously clear. Motion flashed below - scales and wavering water plants.

Without thought, the grim dove - dove beneath the waters after the sleek-bodied fish that flashed so below.

To seize for her, surely, a prize.

---

@Vyette