Riella pouted at me as I scooped her up and walked towards Blaithin who barked happily at our sudden attention. "But father, I do think it wants us to go to it."
I looked down at her innocent face, the sweetness there with her little crown and dark hair flowing around her face. "I know my cub, but we cannot riskit right now. Let's see if we can learn more from afar first."
Sighing, Riella nodded, gripping onto the black fur as I placed her on Blaithin's back. Settling into her perch with her back straightened and her face set with disappointment, she looked down upon me so regally that I had to blink hard in order to verify what I was seeing.
But by the time I opened my eyes again, she had looked away, leaning low to pet the pup, giggles escaping her as Blaithin attempted to slobber her hand.
"Shifter?" my soulmate said from above the giant cù-sìth beast.
Hissing, I crouched low before launching myself high up into the air, my soulmate’s hand captured my own and swung me steadily up behind her. Immediately, I inhaled her scent, calming my animal instinct to rip whatever it was watching my family to utter threads.
"Abeamus Sadhbh,"I snarled.
***
We rode as far as Riella could manage, then pulled her atop Sadhbh with us, and rode longer still. Silently we all watched as the twilight of Eithne dimmed and lightened, the white sands rose and fell, and the lights flickered on and off in faraway distances. When we finally did stop to rest again, it was only because the young cù-sìth pup was falling behind.
But it was all for naught, I could still scent the same smell as before…it was of the forest and sunlight and when the bright crystal blue eyes appeared again atop another dune, my fangs lengthened.
"Rest now Blaithin," I purred, patting her head affectionately while she curled up beside her mother, never taking my eyes off the watchful entity.
"It's still there, father," Riella whispered to me, leaning into my side.
I nodded, running my hand through her hair soothingly. "Yes, my cub, I see it." I narrowed my eyes, finally making out a shape of the creature inthe distance.
"Here, my love, have some dragon fruit. I do believe your uncle packed it just for you," Remnant said, kneeling down to place the pink skinned fruit into her hand.
"My favorite!" she squealed, breaking it open its pod with ease and munching on the soft flesh with enthusiasm.
Remnant rose beside me, her arms crossed over her chest, the toned muscle in her arms making her scrolling tattoos ripple. "It hasn't dared to come closer, can you make out any further what it may be?"
I ran my hand through my hair, grinding my teeth at the way the pink fabric of my shirt restricted my movement. But it was necessary for as long as I could make it that way. "It's a predator feline of some sort." I tracked the long twitching tail, "it's not stalking in a way that is threatening…but—"
"It's waiting for something," Remnant said grimly.
I nodded with a low growl. "Or someone."
"Look! The pookah!" Riella cried, dropping her dragon fruit in shock the moment a black bunny appeared before her with glowing red eyes.
Reflexively, I kicked out at the rodent while Remnant pulled Riella away, but it was faster than even my shifter speed, disappearing and then reappearing on top of my daughter's shoulders.
"Hey!" Riella exclaimed as the pookah ripped the crown from her head, and launched itself into the sand, turning to hiss at us through its large front teeth, its ears twitching. "That's mine! Give it back!"
I growled, stalking the edge of the silver path. "Listen you little shit, give my daughter back her crown or I'll be roasting you for dinner tonight."
But the damn pest only hissed back again, before it turned to run away, heading straight for the crystal blue eyes that continued to watch from afar.
"Give it back now!" Riella raged before her raven haired head shot past me in a blurring speed straight into the white sands of the Eithne—offthe silver path.
"Riella no!" Remnant cried, running after her.
Roaring, I tore off after them both, surpassing Remnant quickly. Despite her speed and prowess, my soulmate wasn't equipped for speed like I was and I loved a fucking chase…and roasted rabbit.
But this time the stakes were different. My daughter was involved and currently was goddess damn racing straight into the danger—at a speed that was not normal for a mere faeling.
Riella wasfast.
Faster than she should be. Frowning, I blurred across the white sands to stop her, no crown was worth her being delivered into the hands of whatever was stalking us, and it was clear this pookah pest was setting the trap.
