A-Hunting

[mordredeschain]

 *It's a nice day for a hunting trip. Mordred is still in human form, but his mind is reaching out to look for prey like the creepiest of spiders. Somewhere not far off there are deer, birds, other hunters . . .*

(So, what shall we catch today? There are humans near, I'm sure at least one of them deserves to die.)

Comments

[mordredeschain]

Aye, but you aren't eatin' them. When Mordred's hungry, fresh meat looks awful tasty.

I'll make thee a hammock not too far off, an' I'll sleep up there with them afterwards so they know better than ta run. Not that they could if they tried, say true, but it'll keep them from gettin' loud enough ta wake thee.

[wordsofwater]

Not being woken by a man begging for his life or crying with pain is a definite consideration. But then, so is being left all alone in the night.

"You won't be too far away will you?" concern etched in her voice.

[mordredeschain]

Of course not. I'll watch over you, sai, I promise.

[wordsofwater]

"Well okay then," she still sounds a little unsure but takes his hand anyway and starts to lead them near the water. "I'd like to sleep near the river, if that's ok with you."

[mordredeschain]

It makes sense, sai. Why, I was half expectin' ya to sleep in it!

[wordsofwater]

"I can't, it's not my river."

[mordredeschain]

Interestin', that.

Now then, let's get you a hammock.

[wordsofwater]

While Mordred sets about spinning his web into a hammock, Coventina stands to one side watching with interest.

"Yeah, I mean, technically I could sleep in the water but it's not polite and it would be too cold after a while anyway. It's not the same as being in my own spring.

[mordredeschain]

*Once Mordred is finished making the hammock, he climbs back up to his web and becomes the boy once more.* All this changin' be hard work. Mayhaps I'll be havin' a midnight snack tonight, sais? *He licks one of the poor hunters with a grin that only widens as the fellow tries to struggle.*

[wordsofwater]

She climbs into the hammock. It's actually a lot trickier than it looks. She doesn't have the advantage or agility that comes with being a spider and although she's usually fairly graceful, it takes a little while to get her balance right and settle in to the hammock comfortably, without falling out again. Once she's properly in it though, it's lovely.

[mordredeschain]

*It seems that Mordred is kind (or is it 'cruel?') enough to forgo his midnight snack: she wakes to Mordred still playing with his food.*

I don't suppose you want ta share my breakfast, water girl? Not that I mind keepin' it ta myself, sai--I waited for you ta wake afore I started, so I'm awful hungry.

[wordsofwater]

She looks up into the tree canopy and yawns. "Thank you for the kind offer I do appreciate it." And she is well aware how much mordred is looking forward to eating these Huntsman, so it is generous of him. "But I'm not really a meat eater at the best of times never mind when it's raw. I think I'll stick to something I'm used to. I have a cereal bar in my backpack."

At the sound of her voice one of the Hunters calls out begging for mercy.

[mordredeschain]

*Mordred gives the begging one a playful poke.* The more ya beg the hungrier I get, ka-hume. Shut thy ugly mouth now, afore I rip out thy wagglin' tongue. I'd make ya eat it yourself, but I like tongue too much for that.

[wordsofwater]

"You really are fond of playing with your food Mordred." She doesn't sound displeased by this, as she tears open the wrapper to her cereal bar.

[mordredeschain]

There was a long time when I had no other fun or conversation, sai. *He pokes the human again.* Shall I go inside thy mind, sai hunter, and make ya feed thy self ta me?

[wordsofwater]

She thinks that sounds quite sad indeed, and unfortunately familiar. But considering that she is still essentially talking to a spider, things haven't really moved on much since she was a child. Except now her best friend can turn into a boy every now and then. And talk back to her, so there's that too.

"No no," says the hunter.

"Please do," says Coventina, who is fed up with listening to him beg, it's spoiling her relaxation time.

[mordredeschain]

*Mordred becomes the spider again, then opens his maw and grasps the hunter's mind with his own. It's not long before the man sticks a hand into that fanged mouth, whimpering with terror but unable to help himself.

*A moment later there's a loud crunch as the human's hand is bitten off.* (Mmm, tasty! Now I want ya to give me thy eyeballs, iffen it do ya. Aye, just like that. Good man.) *The eyes, and the hand holding them, slide into the mouth as well and are chewed slowly. It seems that Mordred's savoring the taste.*

[wordsofwater]

The sound of crunching bones is actually quite nice, if you don't know the cause of it. Luckily she can't heat what Mordred is saying to the man in order to get him to cooperate. If she did she might get a little worried about how cruel the spider can be. But then again, she's happily munching on her cereal bar, in a hammock spun from spider web, looking out over the water and listening to him eat a live hunter. So she can't be that bothered about it.

"It's such a beautiful day," she calls up to Mordred. "The sunrise is quite something over the water. It makes waking up here all the better. And the hammock was really comfortable for sleeping in. Tightly woven silk is actual.ly quite warm"

[mordredeschain]

*Mordred is cruel as a child is cruel: thoughtlessly and selfishly. The struggling amuses him, therefore he encourages it.*

(I be glad that ya like it, friend o' mine, an' I agree that the sunrise be nice.) *Crunch. Slurp. Mordred's very much enjoying his breakfast.*

[wordsofwater]

His playing reminds her of a cat with a mouse. Or the way that she toys with people who piss her off. She doesnt eat them of course, but the amusement factor is just the same.

"I'm just going to go for a quick dip. Give me a shout when you're finished."

[mordredeschain]

(Of course.) *He'll just be finishing up his breakfast for a bit, then, before joining her for a swim.*

[wordsofwater]

Getting out of the hammock is not as easy as she thought it would be. She falls to the floor and is glad that the landing is soft Earth and leaves. She brushes a few leaves from her clothing and then walks out to the edge of the water, takes a deep peaceful breath and keeps walking. At first she appears to float above the surface of the water like it is iced over, as she steps towards a place where it is deeper. Once there she allows the water to swallow her whole. Sinking slowly vertically beneath the surface until submerged.

[mordredeschain]

*Once Mordred finishes his meal he checks up on his lunch, then changes back and goes for a swim himself.* It really is nice here, is it not?

[wordsofwater]

She swims towards him as soon as she sees him entering the water. "Beautiful and clear. Really well maintained unpolluted river."

[mordredeschain]

Not the sort o' thing I'm used ta, but it feels nice for certain-sure. *He dunks his head in for a moment.* I'm keepin' a mind's eye on the last hunter, don't worry.