#kellian

Kellian smirked. He preferred it this way. Slow, careful steps led him down the streets. Nothing could resist quivering before him. As he moved, he was careful not to crush anything underfoot. Being so big could be a burden, sure, but it did help when it came to establishing his might. Speed wasn’t everything.

Steam curled around his lips, framing the edges of his face before dissipating into the night air. Had the stars been out, they would have illuminated the stark whiteness of a fanged grin. While the scent of the humans was weak, he could pick out a few among the amalgamation of sweetness. One in particular caught his attention. Fresh. Sweet... His nose twitched as he followed the twisting trail.

Eventually, his search brought him to a small batch of trees. The branches barely reached his knees, thick overgrowth covered in a wonderfully rich smell. He took in a deep breath, let it out, and chuckled. A poor choice for a hiding spot if he’d ever seen one. It was easy to reach down and pry the trees apart. Pointed ears perked when he heard the sound he’d been searching for all night: a shriek.

To his left, he caught movement. Kellian crooned, eyes latching onto a brown headed figure. It darted out from the trees and into the open air. He stood, stretching his back and rolling his shoulders. How long had it been since he’d had a good hunt? It was hard to remember...but the idea of a chase bought a purr from his throat.

The human continued to sprint out from the trees, casting a glance over their shoulder. Kellian remained there, watching them. He let out a bemused chuckle, his voice heavy and thick.

“Mmm...runnin’ so soon?” he grinned wickedly. His body turned, fully facing the little creature as it fled from him. A little mouse running from a dragon. Funny how they always thought their little legs could save them…

He took a step, nearly closing the distance between himself and the human. Instead of kneeling though, he stopped again. There was something so satisfying watching them run, seeing just how far they thought their meager chance to get away would be. Eventually he’d tire out and end this. But for now, he chuckled again, eyes trailing the human. He memorized their scent, indulging in the sweet and hearty smell it had.

It wasn’t until the human was out of sight he decided to move. He cast a glance to the town behind him and smirked, plodding along. Really, this felt more like a midnight stroll than a hunt. With the human out of the city’s limits, though… He shook his head, keeping up his relaxed pace. Tonight, he was enjoying taking his time. Dragging this out. Grinding into the human there was no escape. It would do good to start breaking their spirit quickly. The scars splayed out on his back itched, a reminder of just how well one’s spirit could be broken. This was a small hill of beans compared to all that had been done to him. But it was something. It was justice.

~~

Chris gasped as she continued to run, her chest aching with every ragged breath. The night was already damp, making her sweat feel like another layer of skin. How long had she been running now? She couldn’t keep this up. Had she always been running this slowly? Already, the ground began to shake with footsteps. The brunette shook her head.

Up ahead was another forest. Chris pressed onwards, each slap of her feet against the ground anchoring her to where she was. She couldn’t lose focus. Moving was all that mattered now, moving and getting away.

It wasn’t long before she reached the cluster of trees. Chris sprinted to the largest one she could find, an oak coated with a blanket of ivy. She ducked beneath the curtain of green, her chest heaving as she tried to replace the air she’d lost on the run. Her lungs burned, screamed, ached, but slowly she came to her senses. Exhaustion pricked at her fingers, a warmth replacing the numbness of adrenaline. She slouched.

Everything is gonna be just fine.

The haunting voice made her jolt. She scrambled backwards, back pressed against the bark of the tree. No, she couldn’t lose focus now. Her hands felt around the small space, mapping out what room she had. There was nowhere else to go but further against the tree.

The ground shook in time. Each cycle became stronger than the last, a steady drumbeat in the dark.

One...two...one...two...one...two...one...two....

Sweat dripped into her eyes. Chris’ hand slid across her forehead as she pressed herself further into the tree. She could see it now. Fingers stretching out from nowhere. Reaching in, brushing against her skin. Her hands flew to her throat, as if blocking it from the world would help save her.

One...two...one...two...one...two...

They were closer now. She could hardly sit still, each tremble of the ground tossing her off balance. Her hands dug into the ground, trying to bury what she could. In her mind’s eye, she saw teeth through the vines. A wide smile, opening to a cavern beyond...eventually closing in. Her blood ran like ice.

One...two...one...two…

The drumbeats were thunder now. Booms in the night sky, warning her of an impending storm. Of her doom. Chris lowered her head into her knees, a silent sob shaking her chest. She’d seen the smoke in the sky. She’d heard the battle cries of the sirens. Why didn’t she run then, head into her home and lock the doors?

One...two…

It was here. Somehow, everything darkened all the more. Chris curled into herself.

One. Two.

Her eyes trailed the greenery. She squinted in the black, trying to pick anything out among the shadows cast over her hiding spot. It was silent. Her heartbeat fell away, a dull knock compared to the overwhelming quiet. Nothing stirred. Nothing moved.

And then, there was a puff of air. Chris closed her eyes, imagining the giant kneeling down. There was a rustle, a gentle schiff of the vines as they swished.

But she wasn’t there anymore. She wasn’t in the woods trapped by a giant, she was back at home, sitting in her mother’s lap. It was the night of a drill. The sirens were silent, but she was scared. She didn’t know what the shrill blares meant. To her, giants were still a myth, a story that her daddy told her to get her in bed. To her, she was going to be okay. Her mother’s lips pressed into her head, whispering a familiar and comforting mantra.

Everything is gonna be fine...

Everything is gonna be fine, fine...fine…

Something brushed her side.

~~

Kellian grinned as he heard a shriek. The human thrashed against his fingers, which worked to ensnare her before she could go anywhere. His fingers pinched around something warm and wriggling, and he slowly drew them out. Sure enough, the human was there. He took in a deep breath, sighing at the wonderful smell she had. And, if this fight now was any indicator, he was going to enjoy having her around.

“Now now,” he tutted, lifting his hand into the air. The human whimpered, brown eyes meeting his as he lifted it to his face. “Settle down, little one~. After all that runnin’, ye’ve gotta be exhausted, hmm?~” He couldn’t help but lay on the sappily sweet tone.

His prize’s face wrinkled, forming what would be a sneer if there wasn’t terror in those chocolate eyes. Kellian smirked. Trying to be brave… A cute, but foolish strategy.

A growl from his middle reminded Kellian why he’d gone out, and he sighed. While he wanted to toy with his little treat, there would be plenty of time for that when morning came. For tonight...he let his tongue trace his lips and lifted the human all the higher. He didn’t miss the way it stiffened, eyes wide as another scream tore the silence.

So dramatic...he snorted as he opened his mouth, allowing the point of his tongue to flick out, which only served to get a more frantic reaction. His lips pulled into a grin, and he purred as he let his fingers relax, and the human fell just a little closer, only dangling by the back of a tattered shirt. He stayed like that for a moment, watching the squirms and kicks he got from the little morsel.

Eventually, he tired of the view. His fingers fully relaxed, and it didn’t take long for a slight weight to flop onto his tongue. Once he could feel it fully slump into him, Kellian drew his tongue into his mouth, and snapped his teeth around the human. The struggling began almost instantly. It was delicious, feeling tiny hands and feet scrambling against him, as though that would do any good.

Oh yes, he’d chosen well. He chuckled and turned back towards home, rolling the human around his mouth as he did. They were much easier to swallow slicked up...he’d made the mistake of being too eager only once. The result had been very uncomfortable for both parties. Though he could snap his teeth at any moment, taste the iron tang of blood in his mouth, but couldn’t do that. Not for a human. Never again.

For now, his tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth. He relished every little squirm, shout, whatever form of battle the human put up. It made all the searching he’d done so much more worth it. The perfect town, the perfect time, the perfect human. And now, he’d be able to have a human snack wherever he pleased, without having to put in all the work.

Somehow, this felt like a fitting form of revenge. His hands slid into his pockets, and he rolled his shoulders as the scars began to itch again. The sound of the whips cracking was still fresh in his mind, the sounds of human shouts encouraging him to rip, to tear, to kill. Dust, blood...everything about the arena haunted him. Always had. Always would.

A firm shove drew Kellian’s attention to his mouth. He smirked, rolling his eyes as he tilted his head back. For now, he’d indulged enough. It was time to get the little human down and get himself to bed. When he felt the little figure reach the back of his throat, he threw his chin upwards. One thick gulp was all it took. Fingers tracing his throat, he purred as the human’s weight sank into his chest, and vanished into his middle. He let out a sigh.

“Mmm~ settle in there, little snack~,” Kellian smirked and patted his middle. “Yer gonna be in there a while…” His hands dropped to his side, and he began the long walk home. Keeping the human inside overnight seemed the best for now. He could make sure it wouldn’t get away...and the feeling of those tiny kicks and fights were well worth it.