pentamerone <% /!UseJournal %>
11/15/2007 00:57:00
[info]vengeful_fay
[Thread] Early Morning, Camlann (Hunter)
Dew seeped through Morgan's thin slippers as she wandered slowly towards the center of Camlann. She drew her cloak tighter around her shoulders in an attempt to make herself as unobtrusive as possible. Her breath hung on the air, blowing out passed her lips in short bursts. The urge to change herself into a small sparrow and flit into the forest crossed her mind more than once, but she successfully tempered the urge to try any magic on herself in this state.

And what a state it was.

Bitterness surged inside her with every step she took, bringing up old memories that were best left forgotten. Memories of a time when she had been happy. There had been such a time, brief and fleeting like all joyful things were, but there it was. A time when she'd been immersed in her studies, a time when she hadn't felt such utter loathing and contempt for everything good in this world.

Morgan stopped in the middle of the path, clutching her stomach in agony. If Guinevere hadn't...but she had. Magic crackled at her fingertips, begging to be released, and with a low snarl she aimed her anger on the unsuspecting shrub beside her. In a flash it crumbled, reduced to nothing more than ash.

Tags: morgan le fay, hunter

 
Comments
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 01:18:53  

Hunter decided to get himself an early start. He had wares to sell and the earlier that he did so, the earlier he could be setting back out to Mehrdadstan. His seven-league boots were carefully tucked away, and an array of exotic furs over his shoulders. Hunter had a niche in Camlann now; he came in, he sold his most expensive furs to rich ladies, and then he was gone again.

And he was ready to do the same again today. Making his way through the streets of Camlann, he had little trouble making his sales, and ans he paused to take stock of what he had left, his nose twitch. He picked up a strange smell, a twisted version of what he was coming to know as the scent of magic and then the smell of burning, immediately following the whoosh as something burned to ash. He turned to see a petite woman standing near the un-offending bush and Hunter didn't need to get close to smell her anger.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 01:22:43  

"It deserved it," Morgan hissed, jerking her head up to glare at the intruder on her thoughts. The hood of her cloak slipped off and her hair tumbled down her back. She squared her shoulders and turned to face the stranger with as much dignity as she could muster given the circumstances.
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 01:26:34  

Hunter shrugged carefully. "I didn't say it didn't." She was petite, like he had already noticed, but she somehow carried herself taller. It was interesting to see her glaring up at him as if he weren't the large imposing man he was. "Are you all right?"
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 01:30:27  

Morgan paused. As much as she hated it, she wasn't sure. Instead of answering though, she sneered and took in his state of dress. She could surmise he was a traveler, certainly no one of import. That did not however detract that intense feeling of familiarity she was receiving from him.

With a great deal of certainty Morgan knew she'd never seen him before in her life, and thus would likely never see him again. Harmless, was her final decision.

"Why do you care?"
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 01:35:20  

Hunter blinked at her response. "Maybe because it's not often I see angry women burning bushes to ash whether or not the shrub deserved it? Call it curiosity. Or you can ignore it entirely and not answer if you wish." It didn't matter to Hunter. He could move on without concern; he was just being polite.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 01:38:02  

Color flooded Morgan's cheeks and for a moment she stood there stunned. She couldn't recall the last time she'd blushed in any situation. Hesitantly, she touched her heated cheek, marveling at the warmth.

"I'm fine," she answered in a shaken tone.
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 01:41:34  

Hunter looked unconvinced. "Are you sure?" She certainly didn't look fine. Though that rage was definitely dissipating. He looked pointedly at the bush and then back at her. "So what horrible crime did that bush commit to deserve its fate?" His tone was a bit lighter now, almost teasing.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 01:44:13  

"It's existence offended me," Morgan answered in a dry tone. She truly did not wish to speak of the whys at this juncture. "It was fair too cheerful and it needed to vanish from my line of sight."
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 01:47:29  

Hunter pursed his lips at that. Well, wasn't she just a little ball of sunshine then? "In that case, remind me not to smile," he said, his tone a little more deadpan. "I've grown accustomed to existing and I'd rather not be made to vanish for seeming over-cheerful." He didn't much have to worry; his smiles were a rarity anyway.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 01:54:15  

Morgan arched a brow a smirk forming on her lips before she could stop it. "I rarely have the patience to vanquish such formidable foes, nor do I have the energy right now to turn you into cinder, but I shall keep your plea in mind."
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 11:33:41  

Her moods seemed a bit fickle, Hunter decided, and with magic like that she was probably dangerous as well. Hunter wasn't standing close enough to her to catch the nuances of her scent, and he wasn't really sure he wanted to be. "Thanks," he responded, his lips quirking as he spoke. He tilted his head as he looked at her, wondering what about her seemed somewhat familiar. He didn't think they'd met before, but perhaps he'd seen her in passing. "May I ask your name? I'm beginning to wonder if I've seen you before."
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 13:08:38  

A perfectly average man, Morgan wondered at that. The feeling of familiarity hadn't fled and she couldn't help but infer that he felt the same. Through that familiarity a creeping unease filled her.

"My name?" she repeated, bringing her thoughts into the present. "Is Morgana, good sir, and yours?"
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 13:14:00  

"I'm merely called by what I am: Hunter." Hunter squinted at her and was struck by a thought. "Morgana? Not the same Lady Morgana, aunt to King Mordred?" Hunter may never have seen or met members of the royal family, he knew of its rulers. He'd spied on Camlann in the spring, reporting to Goodfellow for a reason left undetermined. The fairy no longer seemed to care for the information, but Hunter still retained it.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/15/2007 13:30:41  

Morgan shrugged her shoulders in an elegant lift and fall. She refused to confirm or deny his suspicion, but the faint sense of unease bloomed into full fledge paranoia. She didn't wish to have to return home so shortly after venturing out of doors.
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/15/2007 13:49:10  

She didn't confirm his suspicion, and he didn't ask for it. Instead he furrowed his brow, wondering why the question should evoke the sudden sharp and pungent scent he knew as fear. Hunter changed the subject. "Well, pleasure to meet you, lady." He didn't bow, didn't give any other sign. His nose twitched from the scent -- he hated the scent of fear. It was almost sulfurous, and worst it was like bait to the wolf within. Predators often liked it when their prey was afraid, and Hunter's Wolf was no exception. He gave the beast a vicious mental shove, pushing it away. Now was not the time. "Planning to spend the morning window-shopping or merely taking in the sights?" His voice was a little gruffer than it had been, and would be until the wolf obeyed.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/21/2007 17:26:54  

"Neither," she answered, tucking a curl of hair behind her ear. Taking a few more steps forward she stopped, sucking in a breath."Thinking." Morgan hugged herself, rubbing the chill from her arms. "Something far few individuals do."

She wanted to touch him. Desperately, just a finger, a light brush against his hand. She could feel it, the darkness that threatened to overwhelm him, and she wanted to taste it, drink it in with a desperation that hadn't occurred in ages.
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 11/22/2007 09:52:23  

She was moving closer and the scent was abating, at least a little. Maybe it wasn't quite fear he scented, but it was something close and the wolf couldn't distinguish when the hunter was in control. He nodded in response. "I've noticed the same myself. Common sense is a misnomer and it's actually far too rare."

Unaware of her internal thoughts, he leaned casually against a tree. Whatever was bothering here, it couldn't have been him, he surmised. She'd have long made excuses and run off, as had happened many a time before. She was nervous about something, but he wasn't going to press. Maybe just continuing conversation would eradicate it completely.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 11/30/2007 22:44:22  

"Ah, but those who do possess common sense are not always as smart as they believe they are," Morgan commented, stilling herself when she made to move forward. This would be a moment to instill some common sense into her being. Even she noticed how precarious the conversation had become when her irrational paranoia had overcome her.
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 12/02/2007 15:26:49  

"I find that every bit a much the truth." Hunter eyed her for a moment and then said, "Well, much as I'm enjoying out conversation, I'm afraid I'll have to take leave." He had some more business to take care of, and wanted to return to the South and surprise Scheherazade. "But I'm certain I'll see you around again," he added.
From: [info]vengeful_fay Date: 12/02/2007 15:36:31  

"I suppose," Morgan agreed, tucking a rouge curl of hair behind her ear. "Unless either of us depart from this earth, so I shall say it was nice meeting you, and I wish you well."
From: [info]whos_afraid Date: 12/02/2007 15:39:02  

"Well I hope that's not the case for either of us," Hunter replied. "It was nice to meet you too." Hefting his pack back over his shoulder again, Hunter headed back into the bustling market. The strange woman who may or may not have been the king's aunt was still on his mind however, and he was certain he wouldn't be able to shake it soon.
Comments
profile
Community: [info]pentamerone
<% /!UseJournal %>