Love Poison No Cure Needed

Hiding or Hunting 3.20

Kayad waited for the last supervisor to leave and then waited a few minutes more to allow the two competitors who were watching each other as they moved away to pass him before he stepped out of the bushes.

A rustle from above him preceded Sorrel swinging down to sit on the lowest branch of the pine tree on the edge of the clearing. “So, hunting or hiding?” Kayad asked.

He didn’t care either way it would be amusing stalking the other children as they attempted to play top predator. He would also have an equally good time just spending three days on a secluded camping trip with his treasure. So, win win as far as he was concerned.

“I feel like since it seemed like people were planning for terrain advantage it would be negligent not to take advantage. Besides, I’ve never had the chance for a proper hunt in home ground. The elders tended to send me into urban areas or just make the thing very controlled. Completely no fun.” Sorrel c****d his head in thought before he dropped to the ground and smiled.

“Hunting it is then.” Kayad looked around at the towering pine trees of the forest dotted with ferns and shrubbery creating winding paths and blocks. “Though while we catch our prey, we should keep an eye out for a meal and a place to sleep.”

“Okay. Though come to think of it, does the no killing rule apply to game? Will you be right eating nothing but fruit for three days?” Kayad stared at a large pheasant as he made the comment and Kayad restrained a laugh. He somehow wondered exactly who it was that was going to miss the meat the most.

“Who knows. Better safe than sorry. While just have a BBQ when we get back.” Kayad shrugged as he offered the consolation. A smile tugged at his lips at the slight droop of Sorrel’s shoulder’s.

“Right, I wonder if we can finish earlier if the competition is out?” Sorrel wondered.

“That would be confidence crushing, I also doubt it would work given that there is the potential to lose points by being spotted.” Kayad gestured Sorrel up and followed him into the high branches. Kayad pulled an obscuration charm around them while Sorrel placed a hand on the tree which moved its branches before a fine green mist drifted over them.

A moment later the Feyskin supervisor appeared with his three students in tow. “Now you three, it is simple enough. If you’re in trouble you just need to come past my patrol area. You have been trained in this forest for more than twelve months. Do not disappoint me.”

“Yes, master.” The three yelped and then hurried off in different directions. The supervisor waited for a few moments and strode off across the clearing.

As he went, the Feyskin muttered, “At the very least they’d better do better than that bunch of pretty boys from BPA.” Once he was well gone Sorrel turned to look at Kayad and frowned.

“What does being pretty and a boy have to do with winning?” sorrel wondered.

“It's just a matter of some people being sore losers. Thinking that since the fey by reputation are pretty that it is some karmic crime to look better.” Kayad shrugged and dropped to the ground. “Though that does mean it will be twice as much fun taking them out.”

“Huh, actually is this meant to be a team thing or individual?” Sorrel asked as he dropped to the ground behind Kayad.

“Points are individual but there are no rules against working together. Most people are too competitive for that.” Kayad replied as he paused to examine the tracks of the various people who had passed through.

“Oh, so what do you want to do?” Sorrel leaned over to see what Kayad was looking at and Kayad immediately had to yank on the chains of his control, as his beast leapt to the fore in an attempt to claim the treasure.

“I’m happy to cooperate.” Kayad replied keeping his tone as even as possible as he struggled to keep his beast under control. He hadn’t had such a violent response at any other time. It took him a moment to figure out the reason. True opportunity. He’d been alone with Sorrel before, but their familiars had always been present or there had been people in the next room over.

Now since Sorrel had asked Sephy to stay behind and keep an eye out for the vine moving around and Noir had elected to stay as well, they were no longer a buffer. There were no other people in the immediate vicinity and there would be ample opportunity to stay away from others, so the beast wanted to take advantage.

Kayad struggled internally; he understood the beast's desire, but he had promised himself that he wanted a Sorrel free and unfettered that enjoyed every moment he couldn’t be the one to put the chains on. That needed to be Sorrel’s initiative. Otherwise Kayad might never forgive himself for stepping into the grounds that the other Kayad had headed towards.

“Oh, in that case I can scout. Want to see something neat? I can’t use it around school cause each of the woods are separate. Different ages different groups means that I can’t tell the way time passes between. But here it's all one forest. I can be incredibly precise here.” Sorrel sounded excited as he chuckled and ran a hand along the bark of the pine tree.

“Sure.” Kayad needed the distraction, and he couldn’t bear to interrupt him when Sorrel sounded so excited.

“La, it will be nice to show the others why it is unwise to compete with a Dryad in the wilds.” Sorrel laughed aloud as he stepped back walking around the tree. His entire motion was clearly circling the trunk, one hand even remaining on the surface of the tree and yet when the hand disappeared, and Sorrel should have reappeared around the other side he didn’t.

Kayad froze for a moment as even Sorrel’s scent vanished. Taking two steps forward Kayad looked behind the tree specifically checking the ground. He could see Sorrel’s first step clearly, but the second step was impossibly faint. That mark should have been much deeper if weight had actually been put on it. Moreover, there was no third step. It was as if Sorrel had rounded the tree and then stepped out of space.