CHILD PRODIGY.

painting by Lily Thula

                  euriel is somewhat caught off guard by the other’s offering.     a  feat  many  of  his  enemies  would  envy.     his eyes flicker between hunter’s face, to the strawberries, and soon back to his face.   they have exchanged small - talk and brief words with one another, yes,    but he nonetheless wouldn’t expect him to want to engage in anything FURTHER.     (  considering the cold tension always surrounding him.  )      uncertainty at first rests across his face, but upon further inspection of the strawberries ....    they  were  well  -  grown.     inciting a rare notion of temptation,  euriel appears to submit to it, his posture relaxing itself as he crosses his arms over his chest.     “  very well then.   i do not see the harm in your offer.  ”

holding the basket in one arm, he guides the other through a tunnel of trees, along a dirt path that has been walked into the earth. they soon enter into a clearing, with an old bench, a barely-invisible engraving on the back & a soft patch of sunlight. hunter sits, making room for the other to join him & gesturing to the basket, ❛ you look ... like you need this, honestly. help yourself. ❜

" why did you run ? did you get tired of it ? "

❛ look, if you knew what i do, you wouldn't even think to question why i left. why lots of people are abandoning their posts & rebelling. just — i won't ask you to trust me, i get why that's not possible, but i have information. i just need someone to be willing to hear it. ❜

"Aren't you worried about me being a werewolf, though? With the rumors about us and all." She adjusts the bandanna around her neck, pulling it up to her chin. "You'd get to fight my other forms as well."

❛ actually, can you ... turn into a wolf ? is that rude to ask ? ❜

As he suggested of helping her find some fairies her smile grew a bit bigger, giggling softly as she nodded. "Oh, that would be wonderful! Yes, I would love for you to join me! Don't worry, I will make sure neither of us get harmed by a fairy." Her hand reached over and gently took his. "Let's go! I think I seen one earlier hanging by a maple tree. Let's go check it out!"

he looks down at the lemon, turns it over in his hand & says, ❛ yeah - okay, let's go. lead the way, uh ... what is your name, anyway ? ❜

Audre Lorde, from “Power”, seen in What is Found There: Notebooks on Poetry and Politics by Adrienne Rich

some dana terrace inspired hunter sketches to loosen up 😌

❝  in  this  town,  there's  a  peculiar  tea  shop.  ❞   ren  says  very  suddenly.  ❝  it's  small;  you'll  miss  it  if  you  don't  know  where  to  look ...  i've  noticed  certain  people  coming  and  going  from  a  door  hidden  in  the  back.  ❞  he  can't  help  but  roll  his  eyes  a  bit  —  it's  almost  insulting,  how  clumsy,  how  transparent,  how  amateurish  the  attempt  to  be  subtle  is.  (  wasn't  his  problem,  he  had  reasoned  at  the  time.  )   ❝  anyway,  you're  in  LUCK.  i'm  in  the  mood  for  tea  —  so  you  may  as  well  FOLLOW  ME  if  that  information  was  of  any  use  to  you.  ❞

he snaps to attention when the stranger speaks of the tea shop, almost forgetting his position — the potential for a successful mission weighing out his pride. he eagerly leans closer to the other, trying to take in every word, every bit of information he's willing to share. ❛ wait, really ? you'll really show me ? ❜ catching himself, he straightens his back, coughs. ( come on, you're representing the emperor's coven ! ) ❛ i mean, that's perfect. i'd be very grateful. please, lead the way, citizen. ❜