#ehehe....

Never had it specifically, but I don't like dumplings, so..............

😅

....... and it’s right,

@llamagoddessofficial​ I blame you. Again. dsjkldk

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It was dark out. The stars were out the moon was full, the night was mostly quiet. The only sounds accompanying you were the sounds of the winds rustling the leaves above you, running water as it flowed down the river, dried up plants crunching under your steps and the chirps of nocturnal wildlife, hidden from view.

You’re out camping with your friends, and it’s well past midnight, and everyone’s asleep... apart from you, of course.

You couldn’t sleep. The tent too hot, your sleeping bag stuffy, and you could hear practically everyone’s snores. You laid still, your eyes wide open as you stared at the tent roof, until you couldn’t take it any longer. You don’t feel sleepy at all, and it made you feel twitchy. So carefully, you crawled out of your sleeping bag, grabbed a jacket and a flashlight, before tiptoeing over your friends and unzipping the mesh door, taking in deep breaths of fresh air. You carefully zipped the door back up as you take in the slightly-damp air, fog settling around the woods you were camping in. The moon shone over the lake nearby, the reflected light dancing and glimmering over the water. You crouched over it for awhile, just staring, before you decided you needed to move.

You didn’t have any destination in mind, really. You just let yourself wander around the neck of woods you were familiar with, the path you followed when the roads stopped and a car could no longer bring you to where you wanted to go. Then, you moved to the other places you and your friends visited in daytime, where you’d chase each other and did a bunch of activities, most of them games, including quite the exciting game of hide and seek that reminded you of how fun it was to play it as a kid. Now though, you’re just watching your step and making sure you don’t stab yourself on some thorns or anything unpleasant like that, deciding that maybe walking around the lake could exhaust you enough that you’d sleep by the time you came back to the tent.

You’d stopped when you found the river, though. You didn’t realize you’ve gone that far away from the path you’re familiar with, and you decide not too push forward- it’s dangerous to get lost in the woods, all alone at night. This part of the woods is mostly safe, relatively close to human civilization. Where the more... Dangerous beasts don’t approach, making it safe for humans to stay in. It is warned not to get out of this familiar area, because then you’ll be in Their territory, and you’ll truly be in the wild.

You hope you didn’t wander far enough to do just that- so you decide to turn back and retrace your steps. But as you think about the warnings, you can’t help the feeling of dread settling around your chest... What if you had wandered that far? What monsters live out here? What would happen if you met one? I-is one following you right now? Your leisurely steps turn a bit rushed, fast paced, your heart thumping a bit faster than before as irrational thoughts fill your mind...

But then you think... No, you couldn’t be that far. Or, even if you were- if you did come across a monster, surely you’d be dead by now. You’ve heard the local stories of them having a taste for human flesh, how quick they are to take their prey down and kill them. Yeah, if you did get into dangerous territory, you would’ve faced the consequences. You’re grateful that you realized your mistake before you went too far and you’re back on familiar trails, remembering that tree with the twisted stump as you pass by it.

... Even so... That primal, instinctual fear still resides, leaking through the logic you told yourself to keep yourself calm as it feels like something heavy was weighing you down in your flesh, your senses acute. Feeling your flashlight dangling from your wrists, your steps on the underbrush feeling especially heavy and clumsy. That lingering feeling of being watched...

A shadow stalks around the trees, footsteps heavy yet quiet. A clawed hand rests on bark as it leans in, watching you as you slowly come to a halt, a look of concentration on your face, a dawning realization on you.

No... No no, stop thinking that. You’re alone, you’re fine, uh... Th-those winds. They’re the cause of your anxiety. It’s rustling the leaves and makes their shadows move and dance in such a way that lights up your instinctual fright.

It breathes heavily. Teeth parted, sharp and dripping with drool as it stares you down, alone and vulnerable, that frightful look on your face, watching your surroundings... like prey.

You’ve heard nothing but the same thing all night, the moment you stepped out of the tent. It’s just... that wind, it’s reminding you that you’re alone, and that reminder’s making you nervous, in the dark of the night.

It can smell you... It can smell your fear... You’re afraid you’re being watched, you’re searching for him... Your eyes dart around, but you don’t know where to look. You don’t see him.

Why... Why do these shadows look more sinister than they did before? Your eyes have adjusted, if anything, you can see much better than you did before you got out the tent. Or.. Maybe your eyes adjusted to that moonlit river, and now that you’re under the trees, your eye hasn’t fully adjusted yet...? W-whatever, maybe you should turn on your light...

Seeing you simmer in trepidation like that... Unmoving, observing, like a bunny that’s stopped grazing to look up, letting its ears swivel around for the first sign of danger... His claws thrum on the bark, his patience thin...

W-why is it suddenly so hard to turn on a fucking flashlight?! Your hands are too sweaty, it keeps slipping, what is that tapping sound you heard over there?! Just get to the stupid switch already-!

Fidgety movements, one sudden move and he won’t be able to hold back his predatorial instincts any longer-!

Light beams out of your flashlight.

You turn your head to look at where he’s standing and he quickly ducks behind the tree, arms and legs as still as the wood in front of him, tail tucked around the trunk.

You stare for a few moments, lighting the trees left and right... Did you just see something..? A pair of lights..? Or... Did you just imagine it?

...

You hear the chirp of a cricket, the winds in the trees, the flow of water. The sounds calm you down and you take a deep breath.

Ah, well. Your heart can only take so much. You just shake your head and tell yourself they were fireflies (though fireflies don’t glow white...) and you quicken your pace, thanking the stars that you’ve found your way back to camp- you’re quite sure you’ll feel much better sleeping in the tent with your friends, not alone.

...

The monster hovers behind the trees. He’s not supposed to come this far. He’s never been so close to this clearing before- to the human-occupied part of the forest. But he couldn’t stop himself, no... He needed to see her, and those white lights followed her every move until she slipped into the tent, closing it back up when he couldn’t see her again.

... He was out hunting when he saw her. A lone human, on the edge of the monster-human boarder, looking into his territory with curiosity, nervousness in her movements as she realizes she wasn’t supposed to come this far. As soon as he spotted her, something had appeared in his chest. Something deep and profound... He knew immediately- he needed her. She was his, and his alone.

He wasn’t sure how to act. He’s never felt such an overwhelming feeling to have something- someone. All he knows was that he wanted her, and he wanted her now. He wanted to take her in his claws and tuck her against his ribs, curl his body around her (she was about half his size), share his warmth with her. Groom her, care and provide for her. He’s your perfect mate.

A deep desire had taken root inside of him... In his daze all he could do was stalk her, follow her, make sure she wouldn’t see him as he moved through the forest, quiet and expertly hidden despite his massive, monstrous form.

Lost in his own instincts, he couldn’t decide what to do, and before he knew it you’re out of his reach.

... But not for long.