.: Bloodfeather :. || Lilliana ||

[Wolfbane]

ALL THE DOUBT YOU'RE STANDING IN BETWEEN

Slanting in hazy beams, the forest light illuminated everything in a radiantly soft afternoon glow. Halos of filmy gold burned tree trunks, setting leaf edges on fire too. The low sun winked through the tapestry of overgrown woods each time Bane took a rolling step, just off to his right. This place had the smell of dust motes and animal musk, but most of all it has the smell of Lilliana in the air, lingering. Electricity danced across Bane’s skin where they walked side by side, hinting as to what it might feel like if they were to suddenly bump into each other. He felt like he could drown in the smell of her; pungent summer fruit.

That’s wonderful, she told him but he thought it was a lie. No way to be sure of that, just a feeling of intuition. Maybe projection. For fuck’s sake, man, Wolfbane silently snapped, angry at the weakened state of his mental well-being.

He was acting out of character around her. Or was it because of her? Why was he questioning himself all of a sudden? “Oh, I plan on entire world domination.” The Pegasus pretended, straight-faced. If he couldn’t reel in his wayward emotions he could at least do his best to feign good conversation. Which was growing much harder the longer he caught himself staring at Lilliana, who was completely bathed in the white-hot glow of liquid sunlight.

He’s known the girl for less than half a day and already he’s mirroring her bright grin, catching himself edging closer to the cloying scent of her sweet, gasping laughter by leaning even closer. When she slows, he slows. When she looks back over her sloping copper shoulder, sweeping him up in a wave of smoky blue lashes, Wolfbane sensed his stomach drop. I’ll try to keep you on your toes then, Lilli warned, I wouldn’t want to get boring on you.

Bane swallowed, hard.

“Thank me?” He muttered at the back of his throat, “Thank you, Lilliana.” The striped horse murmured humbly. Under the shadow of his blue mask Wolfbane’s hard eyes softened and his mouth had lost its edge. Deliberately, he slid one hoof ahead of the others and pulled himself close, quietly telling her, “You didn’t have to trust me, yet you did.”

He became statuesque as he hovered there, beside Lilliana, breathing calmly over her and letting his eyes admire such an intimate angle. They lingered at her sharp, pixie-like cheeks and imprinted the color of her sienna skin into his mind for safekeeping, eventually settling where they always tended to. Then he smiled.

“We’re here.” Bane spoke louder than he’d been speaking, hesitating for a second longer before turning away and plodding onward, as if he hadn’t been contemplating much more devious things a moment before. That was it, he promised himself, she’s just a girl and you’re… you. That’s all. The thought swept through him. Underfoot the ground had turned soft and damp, the soil was black. Wide, prehistoric ferns sprouted in waves while thick brush grew up like verdant walls on either side of a wide, flat trail. Above all were the redwoods, which loomed as infinite sentries along the border of Taiga. Their massive size seemed impossible, made all the more imposing by a backdrop of invisible insect noise or the occasional, melancholy cry of a bird. As twilight descended, a light fog began to rise like mist from the pine-needle earth.

“Mysterious enough for you?” Bane quipped in a soft voice, looking back at Lilli. “I’m sure you’re tired and ready to rest.” He guessed after waiting for her reply, “I can give you some privacy, if you want.” The suddenly stoic brute offered.

“Ooooor,” He drew the phrase out into one long, extended vowel, “I could show you around. No extra charge.”

WITH WOUNDS THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS SEEN

WOLFBANE

@[lilliana] cont. from their meadow thread