Hellfire (with Leon)

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

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Ceres lived alone out in the woods. It was where she felt more comfortable anyway amidst nature and the rest of the world just couldn't understand her anyway since she was an earth witch. The common folk feared what they didn't understand. Yet, they still came to her from the nearby village for help from time to time. It was a peaceful life and that was exactly how Ceres liked it. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt about it, with her long red hair that shined with gold highlights in the sun, sweet face and expressive golden eyes. Even that though couldn't get folks to truly accept her for what she was. Since she helped them though, they kept quiet about her and that worked just fine for her.

Until the war came with several kings going warlord and trying to conquer the next. Her peaceful world was shattered and she was on edge all the time. Sure, she tried to help out the nearby village by placing wards to keep the soldiers away and it worked very well. For a while, she thought that the rage and carnage that had seemed to have engulfed the known world would pass them by. That was until a large part of it stumbled into her woods. The wards hadn't worked on him for whatever reason but he'd managed to find the only place that wasn't yet burned to the ground and pillaged.

Ceres had been out gathering firewood when she'd first seen him collapsed in the snow. Of course, she'd ran to him concerned immediately until she saw that he wasn't human. What was he? There'd never been anything like him that she'd ever seen before. Fear flared up within her as she wondered if this was the scourge of war that the locals whispered about. The one that was always in the thick of the killing. He seemed to be gravely injured and it'd be better for her to leave him to his fate and do the world a favor. Yet, she couldn't leave him. It wasn't her way. So finding the courage somewhere, she'd managed to get him home with the help of her magic and her horse. She actually had to use her magic to alter the door of her home to make it into a double-door, otherwise, he'd never fit, and yeah, she had to drag him inside settling him on a pallet beside the fire. At least, she had her magic to make him lighter and easier to maneuver but that spell wouldn't last long. She dressed his wounds that she could find and then began the tedious process of removing all the hexes and curses that were binding him as they'd restrict his healing as well as his movements. There were so many that it took her the better part of the day and it wasn't until late at night, when the moon was high, that she banished the last one.

Exhausted both physically, emotionally and magically, she found that she didn't even have the strength to move from his side. So, she simply rested beside him with one hand lightly touching him as a comfort since she could feel a shiver going through him. Sleep came for her then and she let it figuring that whatever or whoever he was would probably kill her later. At least, she'd stayed true to her principles and helped him. Whether that was the right choice or not was still to be seen.

 

[Leon]

Loseidon

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The ongoing war between the creatures of the land was pathetic. It was a game of chess from the other side of the veil. The way they went at one another was almost laughable as they used such small weapons and the magic was deplorable. The only thing these so called 'kings' could accomplish is trying to out do one another by taking a step further into the unknown. His unknown and it wasn't long before a mage would delve into ways that were not to be. It wasn't that the creature was dragged into the mortal plane, dragged would mean that it would be brought against its will.

That was weeks ago. The monster had never left the fields of battle since then, bringing death and blood for the ground to drink. It was the target of much on the battle field from all sides. At first, everything that was thrown at it seemed to break against the towering creature in an almost god-like fashion. Though, after a day and a half had passed, the attacks bore no fruit but instead of simply breaking before the might of the monster, the attacks would simply bounce off. Another few days passed and in that time, it would be impaled but its movements would not seem to be impeded. Another day, come and gone and the arrows, swords, lances and magic could show the visible signs they had begun to take their toll but it still fought and killed on.

The creature had begun to falter in its onslaught and in a final ditch effort to avoid death at the hands of these mortals, it would send out a pulse that would cause it to simply, disappear, massive amounts of the creatures blood left where it once stood and a crash not too far off near the mass of forest. It was here that the creature would push tree after tree out of its way, blood pouring from the gape of its 'mouth'. It was not too far when it would fall face first into the ground and find darkness to great it.

There was cold. Cold that it had felt time and time again. The embrace of death that would come for him so many times before. And yet again, it would slowly start to diminish but this time was...different. This time, instead of fighting and screaming, it was a warmth that took a liking to him. The warmth was unlike anything he had ever known. It did not burn or scold him, it was just simply warm. There was a slight aura emitting from the head of the creature as it would awake.

He would see the ceiling that was unfamiliar and it sure as hell was not a battlefield or the forest that he remembered before taking to ground. The monster would go to raise an arm but find that its wounds would not allow this to happen and it was then that he saw the fiery creature against him. No, it was a female of this plane and he mistook her hair for the warmth. He would turn to see the fire not to far from him. He would look back at the woman, his arm simply wanting to take her in his grasp and crush the life from her so that he could continue moving back to the battle but it was in no shape to do such an easy task. "W....wh.....ere...." The creature would force out in an attempt to communicate.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Long lashes lifted slowly from those golden eyes. What... what was going on? Where... where was she? She was on the floor on a bed of furs and she heard a voice. Her eyes opened wide immediately startled and she was ready to move in an instant backing away a step and withdrawing her touch from his arm. He'd spoken? His eyes were open and looked hostile. Her eyes were wide still and the light of her fear was apparent but there was also a stubbornness as well. "Where are you?" She said quietly unsure. "This is my home. I found you injured and cursed in the woods and brought you here to see to your wounds."

Her body was shaking, visibly shaking and every moment that she was close to him awake, it was getting worse. She expected him to be violent toward her. Expected him to kill her. She didn't know what he was. Yet, she stayed beside him. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm just trying to help you heal." A few stray fiery hairs were in her eyes and she absently pushed them away trying to keep her movements a little slow and smooth. So as to not startle him or incite him into violence. She didn't think that he was really feeling up to doing much of anything but he wasn't human and she wasn't fully certain of what he was capable of. Even if he wasn't a heck of a lot bigger than her, he still looked like he knew how to fight and knew a lot of violence.

She reached to pour a glass of water from the pitcher on the table nearby that had all her medical supplies that she'd used on him still strewn across it. "My name is Ceres." She said quietly as her eyes lifted to meet his. "Let's see if we can get you a drink and I'd like to check you for a fever as well. Can you sit up at all?" She'd had to rest his head in her lap when he was unconscious to get him fluids since he was so big. That may have to happen again if he wasn't able to move on his own. He'd be able to feel that she was trembling too if they had to go that route.

 

[Leon]

The creature wanted nothing more than to be done with this place, everything in its being pushed for it to burn the building to the ground. When his eyes would find her own as she would quickly distance herself from him which would cause an audible rumble. Whether it was because he did not want to be left to himself or because the idea of her being out of striking range though, more than likely the latter of the options as it was the only thing that made sense to him.

He would be told that they were at her home and he had been found badly wounded and that it was her that had brought him back from deaths door. The small woman could barely stand still in his presence and that was how it should be. He was to instill intense fear into all that laid eyes upon his visage. Though, he could not bring himself to actually do any of the fearmongering that his body desired to do so badly. Part out of the fact that his body had not come into its full strength and the other was...it was...something.

He could not put his claw on it but she spoke of not wishing to do him harm. Something that he had heard before though she wished to only help him. Surely his appearance alone would simply wish him dead yet he had been moved with no small effort to a place that she called home. His eyes would follow what movement would occur and she didn't seem too quick to do away with him. Her hand went to a container of some sort and give him a word, no, not a word, a name. Ceres. She spoke of making him drink and checking for a 'fever' but would bring about the idea of sitting up. There was a shifting of his arms but no more than a few inches from the ground where he lay before coming back to ground.

His head would struggle to rise as well but it had the same result. "Lo...Losei....Loseidon..." The words would once again come in broken speech, as if the language was not his first.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

The redhead slowly let out the breath that she was holding. Well, he seemed a little disabled for the moment, which may be a very good thing for her because it meant that she might survive a little bit longer. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully when he spoke again and she had to wonder if he'd understood anything that she'd said at all. Yet, what had he said? "Loseidon?" She asked softly tasting the way that the syllables rolled off her tongue. Was it his name? "I'm Ceres." She touched her chest thoughtfully before pointing to him. "You're Loseidon?" She asked trying to be sure of what he'd meant. Listening for a moment, she considered the fact that she should continue checking him. It was her decision to take him in and that meant that he was her responsibility even if she was more than a bit worried that he might decide to gnaw on her arm.

She moved slowly to approach him and touched a hand to the tip of one of his horns ever so lightly casting the weightless spell. If he was sensitive at all to magic, he may sense it. If not, he shouldn't feel any different at all. At least, that was in theory. She'd never tried the spell on herself before. Taking a deep breath, she gently lifted his head and moved closer that way some of his shoulders were across her lap and his head rested against her stomach. Her blue corset pressed closer to her skin from the contact with his. Yep, she was still shaking being this close to him awake and expected something to happen at any moment. She took a sip from the cup trying to show that it wasn't poison or anything like that. "It's water." She told him before holding the cup to his face near enough that he could inspect it and make a judgement for himself. "You should drink something. You've lost a lot of blood."

 

[Leon]

There seemed to be a calming in her appearance after his movements failed to produce anything. He would not blame her for this, caution would keep one alive if they took it to mind more often. She would hear his words and repeat them lightly back to him. She would place her hand to herself and repeat the name Ceres. So that was her name and as she would point to him and repeat his own, there would be a weak nod in agreement that she had connected the dots correctly.

He would watch as her hand would touch him and it seemed that little had happened though he would take note that when she moved around to lift his head, she did so with so little effort. She must have used some sort of magic but he felt no different so he assumed that it was no something harmful. He would look up at the woman, her chest taking the majority of his view. The most note worthy thing was the fact that while she had calmed, she was still horrified as her shaking would make its way through his body as it touched her own.

She would then take a small drink from a cup and then explain that it was simply water. To have taken it prior would mean that if he were to die, she would soon follow and added to that, his body craved the substance. He would move his head ever so slightly forward to take the edge of the cup to his mouth, letting the water pour itself into his mouth and in moments it was gone. It was simple water but in his state, it was almost heavenly in taste. "M...more C..Ceres."

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Loseidon was his name. He didn't seem quite as daunting now that she knew his name. It was a foolish notion really but a bit of familiarity would go a long way to making her feel at least the slightest bit more at ease. Her breathing was coming slow and shallow making her breasts rise and fall with each draw. Still shaking. That was something that she couldn't help. Her fear was a very real thing and every instinct that she had was telling her that she had better get out of there now while she could. It was only with strict determination that she stayed to offer him that water holding the cup for him as she let him drink it down. His expression was one of enjoyment perhaps. She couldn't quite tell but he'd asked for more. Well, more like commanded her but that mattered little at the moment.

She reached for the pitcher having to stretch to do so but it was out of her grasp. Her fingers only barely brushed the handle. With a huff, she snapped her fingers and the pitcher scooted closer to her as if it had been drawn forward by some invisible force. That was just another sign that she was no mere human but a witch. Or he could be just seeing things. Regardless, she had the pitcher and carefully refilled the cup offering it to him once more. While he drank, the back of her hand would lightly touch his brow. "You're not as warm as you were. I don't think you have a fever still," she mentioned. "I wonder if you're just naturally warmer than I'm used to." Her hand lightly smoothed over his brow before removing her touch politely. "What do you typically eat? Please don't say me."

 

[Leon]

It seemed that having a name to the face worked both ways for different reasons. For her, knowing his name gave her some sort of comfort. For him, it was always good to have a name to a face if she were to betray him at any point. Regardless, she did not seem to wish him any harm which he simply could not get through his head completely. He thought that maybe she wished to wait for him to awake before finishing the job but it never came. She could not possibly wish to fight him at his best but there were those that have tried the tactic before and it ended all the same way.

He would turn his head ever so slightly as she would reach out for the water he demanded and was unable to reach. At least, that was only for the moment, then with a snap of her fingers, it was pushed into her hand. She was a witch, though, that would make more sense on a lot of accounts. She would offer the cup and as he did prior, take the contents with renewed vigor now. Though it was paused as she would place a hand above his vision, speaking that he was not as hot as when she last checked. Her touch was...soft. Softer than anything he had ever felt, usually metal and stone were the most common assaults on him.

There would be no movement from him as she withdrew her head with the exception of his head tilting just a bit in the direction of her hand, as if not wanting it to leave. She would then ask just what it was he ate and upon hearing her speak of herself, there would be a low rumble from his chest that would come from his mouth as a bit of a laughter. "No Ceres. M..meat. B..blo..blood. F..food."

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

His gaze was upon the hand that she'd just withdrawn from his brow and she had to wonder if he was contemplating biting her. The wild thought brought on the little addition about herself not being on the menu when she'd asked what he liked to eat. Although, his response made her blink. Had he just laughed? She couldn't be sure but at least, it sounded like she wasn't on the menu... for now. "All right. Thanks for not outright chomping on my arm." Maybe she shouldn't tease but she was thankful for that fact. So it was truthful.

She considered the food in the kitchen and how she was holding him. It'd be awkward to have to get up, move him and then reposition everyone again. So, her eyes trailed toward the kitchen seeking what she was looking for. Another snap and a plate drifted up off the table, some food shifted onto it before it floated across the room into her hand. She supposed that it really didn't matter if he knew that she was a witch. He wasn't human and probably wouldn't have the prejudice that the other humans had against her. Of course, humans tended to fear what they could not understand nor control. She set the plate down beside her. It had some chicken, slices of bread and some cheese on it. "I don't have any blood for you save mine but I kinda need it. Maybe we'll try some of this and see how you like it." She torn a piece of chicken off. It was cooler from having been cooked earlier and she concentrated a bit of magic into warming it some since he wasn't feeling his best. A little timidly, she offered the piece to him just before his mouth. Would she keep her fingers, she wondered.

 

[Leon]

This one was rather entertaining to be around as a usual cause for his laughter was at the weakness of those whom thought they could defeat him. There was just something about her remarks that would cause the low rumble from his chest, once again happening as she spoke of not removing her arm. Once more, in felt like while it was something that he would do on many other occasions but in context, it brought him a different kind of joy than he was used too.

He would hear the snap of her fingers once again as they were outreached and not even a moment later, a plate would hover through the air into his view and then to her hand. While he would not be able to sate himself on the life essence of the mortals, she would deny him her own. His attention was on the piece of meat in her hand and as it began to heat, the smell would find its way to him. It smelled delicious and he hoped that it would taste the same, else he grow unsettled. She would move the piece before his mouth, his head would come up to pull the meat down in it. It tasted...sublime. There was an low hum of enjoyment as he ate the meat quickly. "Mo..re." This was something he would have to find more of once he was fully recovered.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

"Oh, would you look at that," she wiggled her fingers lightly in front of her face. "1...2...3...4...5... all there," she chuckled softly to herself and fetched him another piece of chicken like a good nurse would. She'd made him laugh again. The sound was rather appealing. Well, in comparison to a lot of other things, growling... snarling... scaring her... making her fear for her life... yeah, she'd take a good chuckle out of him any day. Of course, was it a sign of humor or that this creature, who, no doubt, was dangerous was biding his time and just waiting until he was strong enough to dispatch her. Who knew, he might see her as his captor and once free of her, he could go on his merry pillaging way. Ceres really wasn't sure that she saw a way out of this for her. Not at all.

She fed him until the chicken was gone and thought about it before offering him a piece of cheese. "I can't say that I've ever fed anyone before. You're the first." She was talking a bit too much probably to play off just how nervous that she was. His form was very imposing and impressive to say the least. "Do you like being fed, Loseidon?" She asked with a little nervous grin. Maybe if she came off as casual and relaxed, he might do the same and not think that she was a threat that needed eliminated. Man, she felt like she was walking a tightrope.

 

[Leon]

He would watch as she would look at her hand, counting all the digits and count them off and once she came to the conclusion that she had the same amount she started with, she seemed content. He would watch as she would take hold of another piece of chicken and he would follow the meat eagerly. She would give him another piece and he would find it completely delightful but she would then offer him something else that was not meat. He would stare at it for a moment and think the idea over, she had not poisoned the meat so why would she do the same here? He would take a bite of the cheese as she would speak of never having fed another before and that he had the honor of being that first place.

Loseidon would let his head rise and fall in a nod to her answer, getting a bit more motion than he had prior. Being fed by someone else was something he had never had the pleasure of doing. The most he had ever cooked anything was something that happened to be on fire shortly before devouring it. "Ceres li...lives al...alone?" Whilst the time they had spent together was an illuminating one, the idea of someone coming in and wishing him death after all this would surely sour the mood.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

His suspicion of the cheese made her smirk just a little bit but she dared not let too much of it show. It was just amusing that he hadn't experienced cheese before. The chicken seemed all right for him. Did she have more of that? She'd have to see or perhaps prepare another. Yet, she also didn't want to overdo it for him either. She stole a bit of cheese for herself chewing thoughtfully as she tried not to think too much about having a giant beast in her lap. Of course, she seemed a bit stronger just from eating, which pleased her to see. That meant that he was healing or at least, she hoped so.

She wondered how long that they'd been asleep. She'd passed out from exhaustion after clearing away the last curse from his body. The fire was low in the hearth and probably needed another log added but it wasn't that cold in here. Maybe it was because of how warm that Loseidon was naturally. Still that meant that sleeping probably had to have been the better part of the day. That was surprising but she had worked herself beyond her strengths.

His question got her attention. Why was he worried about that? "I do live alone. Humans don't care for my kind." She answered truthfully. "Thinking about making your escape?" She asked curiously with a tilt of her head. Some of those red locks of hers drifted into her face. "You leave whenever you want. I'd rather you wait until you feel better but you do what you feel that you need to do. I won't stop you from leaving."

 

[Leon]

The cheese was not bad, it did not sate him as the meat of the cooked chicken did but it was okay. She too would take a bite of the cheese and it would give him a bit of assurance that it was a safe food. His strength would slowly but surely continue to flow into him. He was healing faster with the rest, healing and the nourishment, regardless of how small it had been. It was simply how his body worked, thus why he was as warm as he was, a sign of his body accepting the sources as positives.

The more important part would cause him to pay closer attention to her as she would answer his question. It seemed that she was not like the other mortals and that human's did not care for her. This would cause the idea of finding the closest human settlement and ravaging it, maybe as appreciation for what she had done for him. She would question his motives, hair falling over her face as she would clarify that, while he was free to leave when he so desired, she wished him to stay till he was better.

The idea of her standing in his way was at first enough to cause yet another rumble of laughter to come from him but he would clarify. "No. Will not...lea..ve Ceres." While he did not like being in such a weak state, he was not in a hurry to leave either. There would surely be a war out there when he wished to leave and if not, he would simply create one himself.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Ceres wasn't sure why he laughed that time when she said that he could go if he wished. She tilted her head to the side considering before he mentioned that he wouldn't leave. Nodding her head thoughtfully, she agreed before nibbling on a bit of bread herself. She offered a bit to him as her gaze traced over his large horns. Seems she was more curious now than frightened. That could be because of what she'd seen of his actions or the simple fact that she'd seen a bit of what he was capable of at the moment, which didn't seem like much. There was still cause to be wary but her trembling had quieted some to the slightest shiver. He'd have to really look for it to discern it.

"What are you?" She asked softly and her curiousity got the better of her inciting her hand to reach out and trace one of his horns thoughtfully with her fingertips. She'd seen much of his body simply due to the fact that she'd had to treat his injuries but touching him this time served no purpose other than to satisfy her own imagination. "Did they summon you from your home to fight?" She knew that it was possible to summon creatures to serve but it would take a very strong mage to hold Loseidon in servitude. This recent war was bloody and ugly. She'd been cleaning up little messes from it all the long. Tending to the civilian casualties that simply got in the way.

 

[Leon]

The movement of her hand along the horns would be felt by the creature but there was no will to stop her from doing so. She had hurt him none and such a thing would do him no harm. She would then ask a simple question that would have a simple enough reply. "Mon...ster." There was no need to beat around the bush as he knew just what others called him and what he had come to truly be. It bothered him none at this point.

She would ask if he was summoned to this war to fight to which he would slowly try and move his arms. While they would not work with him, his fingers would move ever so slightly into an open palm. "War...Magic...Open..ing..." He would then let his hand form into a wall packed fist. "Stu...pid mage." There was then a small bit of a chuckle, a bit louder than normal as he would open his hand once more, pinching the claws of his index and thumb together. "Mis...take. Squish."

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

"A monster?" The witch echoed his answer quietly. That sounded like he was parroting someone else and perhaps his kind would not have a more suitable term in her own tongue. That much was fairly plausible. She studied his face a moment and lightly traced her fingers over his cheek as if exploring the shape of him. "Don't seem like one to me but I could be wrong. Might eat me tomorrow." Another little tease as she playfully shrugged her shoulders.

His elaboration of the mage summoning him interested her until a little laugh left her. "Hmmm squish? Serves 'em right for dabbling over their skill level." That sounded a little harsh yet, Ceres had no patience for fool's of the war. This was one such case. They'd gotten in over their head and they'd brought a creature from somewhere else against their will. "Do you miss your home?" She asked softly.

 

[Leon]

The way that she moved her finger along the side of his face was an odd feeling. There was never a time where something as soft as her hands come to touch him. It was usually something far more destructive with the very intent to bring him down. But he was already down and even before this, he was in such a manner that any wandering soldier could run him through and surely be called a hero. She would even find the name of monster something foreign and it would cause him to actually doubt the term as she would speak about being eaten. A shake of the head would affirm that that would not be the case. "No Eat...Ceres."

She would even find his murder of the idiot mage funny for their lack of knowledge and stepping to far. He would laugh as well, enjoying that she found it just as enjoyable. His laughter would slowly die down as she would speak of missing the place that he would call home. "No...Hate...ful...place...Stay here." He truly had no wish to return back to the place he had come from. While killing in the mortal's war was all fun and games for him, he did want to get away from that place. "Dark...So Dark...Alone."

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

"You won't eat me?" A soft laugh left the redhead at the idea and she leaned a little down to look into his eyes for a moment. Those golden ones of hers curious and trying to discern if he was telling the truth or not. That way she'd know if he was just using her, which he might be. Yet, she couldn't find anything that would think that she should doubt him. She chuckled good naturedly and tilted her head to the side some. "Are you sure?" She teased him lightly and a few strands of hair had tumbled from her shoulder to brush his cheek. She pushed it back hesitantly before sitting up a bit more. "Heh, sorry."

It was amusing to her that the mage, who'd summoned him had gotten in over his head. Striving to better one's self was one thing but outright just stretching their luck was another. Yet, she was curious enough to ask after his home wondering if she'd have to find a way to send him back. Could she do that? It'd take an amazing amount of power. Of course, with the right node, that may be a possibility but she'd be out of it for days afterward to recuperate. His answer about his home was curious enough and almost a little sad. Hateful? Dark? Alone? That didn't sound enjoyable for anyone. Well, that answered that question about sending him back. She nodded her head lightly. "Stay then." She yawned lightly and looked into the fire a moment as her hand absently stroked his cheek like he was a small child. "Are you still hungry?" Ceres was not at her best, at the moment since it'd taken a lot out of her to dismantle the magic cursing him, work on healing him and get his big self in here. That's what attributed to the yawn. "If you're not, I might try to get some more sleep since I'm pretty tired."

 

[Leon]

The way that her eyes stared down at him was curious. There wasn't any sort of ill intent or bloodlust or will to do harm. At least, none of these things were pointed toward him. The way that her hair would fall to brush against the side of his face was far more...intense in ways that caused more questions than answers. "I...Won't..." The idea was something that might have crossed his mind when he awoke, needing something to sustain him, it would have surely been something he would have done and left the home burning to the ground. But that was then, this is now.

There was a bit of contentment in his chest as she spoke of letting him stay and it was followed by a sleep filled yawn. She would let her hand pet the side of his face and asked if he was still famished and seeing she was low herself, the amount of power it had to have taken to put him in this state of non-death had to be taxing. He would shake his head. "Ceres...Rest."

He did not wish to push her further than she had already had been and the rest would be good for her and for him as well. He was already starting to be able to move himself more and more, there was little knowledge on what the time would bring when she would next awake.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Never had Ceres imagined when she'd found Loseidon that she'd be teasing him about eating her of all things. Yet, it seemed to fit at the moment. It made her eyes a bit brighter with amusement when he repeated that he wouldn't be eating her. A soft chuckle left her. Anyone looking in on this scene would have thought them both crazy. Well, perhaps that thought may have crossed their mind after they'd run away from the monster that Loseidon looked like. Ceres wasn't sure. He hadn't acted like one toward her yet. That didn't mean that he wasn't capable of it. Or rather not yet. So, the possibility was still there. Yet, if he did, wasn't that just the embodiment of the phrase biting the hand that fed him. Interesting.

It was a fact that Ceres was very tired. If he had been at better strength and tried something with her at that moment, she'd have been hard-pressed to defend herself. That was not the way of it today though. So, taking a deep breath, she nodded her head considering their situation. Her bed was a good ten feet away from his pallet and if he needed her, she may be too tired to wake easily. She considered her options and a small shiver ran down her spine. Shifting him carefully, she made sure that he was comfortable before pausing on a bit of the furs a few feet away. "Is it okay if I stay here? I don't want to be too far away in case you need me." That would put her within arm's reach of him if he needed her. It also was putting a lot of trust in him or just proving how foolish that she may be.

 

[Leon]

The was that she acted around him now was offsetting to say the least but it wasn't completely unwanted. It was different and that was not always a bad thing. The usual solitary creature had very few relationships in its lifetime and they were not what one would consider to be normal, or even sanitary. The use of another to further another was something that even animals could learn. To keep oneself alive while also finding things that they enjoyed.

Rarely did Loseidon find anything interesting for any great length of time. If it were not for his current state, he may not have even gotten this far to find Ceres interesting. But he was and he had. The docile way that she handled him and cared for him was...still confusing but wanted none the less. She would ask if she would be able to keep herself close to him in order to come to his aid if the occasion arose. "Yes. I'd...like that..."

He would let his attentions watch Ceres as she moved onto the newly formed bed for herself. Why was it that he wished to move to her, she was not even an arms length away from him but something inside him felt as though even this distance had become far greater than it was.

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Ceres had been holding her breath. A part of her wanted him to say that he wasn't okay with her being that close and the other part didn't. It was more responsible of her this way. "All right, then I'll be right here if you need me." She said with a nod of her head as she knelt down onto the furs feeling the softness against her knees even if her skin was covered with a skirt and shielded from direct contact. The woman carefully loosed some of the ties of her corset just so that she could be comfortable.

Leaning over closer to him for a moment, she lightly touched his arm and earnestly looked up to his face with a gentle smile. "I hope that you recover soon." She told him because it was her earnest wish for him and nothing beyond that. Not that she begrudged the work that she'd had to and still needed to put into him. She did worry for herself, of course, but she could manage her fears for now when faced with what needed to be done. Well, didn't that say just how much that she was a gentle soul?

Retreating back to her side of the pallet, she laid down and pulled a blanket up over herself. Tucking one arm under her head for a pillow, she could feel him watching her and smiled a bit before a soft yawn passed her lips. She watched him lazily for a moment before closing her eyes. Would she really be able to sleep with him so close or even in her cottage? Well, he hadn't done anything yet and she'd just have to trust him. Drawing a deep breath, she decided that she'd do just that. "Rest well, Loseidon," were the quiet words off her tongue as her one hand held onto a bit of the blanket. It took a while for her to fall asleep as easily as the first time beside him but she'd been exhausted at the time. This time, she was still tired and after a bit, her breathing did shift to something more even and quiet betraying that she'd found sleep once more even if it'd seemed impossible sleeping next to a self-dubbed monster.

 

[Leon]

The creature would give a silent and yet noticeable nod in agreement that she would be there. He would watch as she began to make herself ready for the oncoming sleep that would inevitably come with time. As her hand came out to find a place on his arm, she would wish him well. She, the small creature would wish him, a monster in every sense of the word, well. He would continue to watch her as she rested against the furs, sleep slowly encroaching on her before whispering his name goodnight. "Sle..ep...Well...Ceres."

Her breathing had become slower and almost inaudible to which he would assume he had gone. Loseidon would simply wait in the glow of the fire, watching her. His fingers would twitch ever so slightly. The creature would slowly place the hand onto the ground, his arm finally becoming available to him but he had no ability to do much beside that. The longer the night went on, the more motion came from the creature in the night. Nothing that would cause too much noise aside from the shifting against the pallet under him.

The hours that came later would seemingly go by in moments for him. He had moved himself onto his knees, body leaning over to stop the horns from catching against hanging from the ceiling. His breathing had become heavy from pushing himself to this point. He now had come to find himself at her side, a clawed hand hovering just over her chest. There was something in him that was telling him that all he would have to do was press down till his hand met the ground and she'd be another stain to add to the others.

But there was something else, something that was stopping him from letting the hand fall. She was in a similar position and she showed him a kindness. He cared little of what was right and what was wrong. He cared about what was best for him. What kept him alive and what he could use. Taking this one life, the fiery hair that had brushed against the side of his face came to mind as he looked down at her. The thought brought him a different type of happiness and would he want to take that away from himself?

 

[Innocent Anathema]

Ceres

Ceres had always been a rather deep sleeper able to sleep through most anything. Not that was a good thing since she lived alone. Sleeping lighter may have been the smarter thing but who had control over that? Still, it was how she was and as such, she didn't notice the small noises of him shifting beside her. She had turned a few times in her sleep to find a more comfortable position until at least, she'd ended up on her back with her head off to the side and her auburn hair over her cheek, shoulder and spread across the furs beside her. Those lips lightly parted in sleep. She'd never have believed that she would've been able to sleep that well beside Loseidon but it was true. She needed to trust him and so, she found it within her. Somewhere.

That being said. She did stir sometime later. Those thick lashes lifting from her cheeks for golden eyes to see the world about her a bit blurred. It took her a moment to focus on what was going on, where she was and what had happened most recently. Yet, the memories came shifting back to her and she gazed up to see his face not far above her own. A bit of confusion crossed her sleep-filled mind. That wasn't where she'd left him. Had he moved on his own? Was he feeling better? She hoped. Oh, she hoped that he was. Then her gaze found his hand just above her chest and damn, if that didn't stop her heart right there. Her gaze took in the way that her deep breathing made her breasts rise and fall almost brushing his clawed hand. Was he considering ending her life? She'd known that it'd been foolish to trust him. She knew that and yet.., everything about this had been foolish. There was no going back and the guarantee that she could do something to defend herself with her magic quick enough before he could bring his hand down was slim. Taking a deep breath, she tried to settle herself as her amber eyes lifted to his once more studying the depths of his. Her body was shivering once more noticeably but she paid it no mind as she looked at him without a word. Her body hadn't been crushed yet which was strange since all indications pointed in that direction. "Loseidon..?" She whispered his name softly before she added more foolishness to her list for the past few days. She closed her eyes and put her trust in him. Not that she thought that he was good or bad. More that he'd find enough value in her being around to keep her around. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to decide her fate and his own as well.