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Drip, drip, drip, drip. That was the sound of water droplets, hitting and melting back into the pond where they had originally come from as the magician scooped up more liquid to clean off the disgusting crimson on his left cheek.
Artful had his gloves off, continuing to smother his face to clean it. He had gone on a killing spree today, and a civilian had struck a particularly hard blow. It wasn’t like things like that didn’t happen, but usually they were clumsy. Even those with their hats and revolvers typically missed, thanks to his wit and luck.
Not this time, though. And it did truly hurt. Although he had it coming, anyway, he thought with a pinch of guilt.
His makeup was smeared, showing his true identity beneath due to all of the water he had been washing the wound with. Through the bright moonlight tonight, looking at his reflection in the ripples, it was mostly just a bruise now. At least the blood had cleared, even if it wasn’t the prettiest thing.
He began to sit up, legs slightly shaky from how long he had been squatting and making sure he was spotless. He picked up his mask and hat, fitting them on and readjusting, glancing around briefly before taking off, trying to remember where he had set his last temporary base.
Artful took one last look at the still pond, getting a small flashback, before truly running away from it for good… Though he thought, maybe he should remember that location in case he needed it again.
After all, water sources are always useful when you’re in hiding, with no way to stop running.
He slowly stopped running after a minute or two, continuing on a walk for a solid while until he began reaching his small, relatively hidden alcove in the forest, just one of the places he was temporarily visiting. Artful was breathing heavily, ready for a somewhat uncomfortable nights rest, with his makeup a mess, before he stopped dead in his tracks.
A large, humanoid thing was crouching low, sniffing around his items in the alcove. Its teal eyes scanned its surroundings, Artful managing to duck behind some thick green foliage just a moment before it could look in his direction. He peeked to make sure it wasn’t looking, before slightly looking over his hidden place to get a better view.
For one thing, he recognized it, a fellow killing machine, maybe worse, and he knew for sure this creature would murder and consume him on sight.
It continued prowling around, though right now it didn’t seem particularly malicious, simply… Oddly curious about his belongings. It had thick fur around its neck, maybe some in other places, and it wielded a sword on its back. He knew its job was similar to his… But did it really know how to use a sword? Or was it some kind of souvenir?
Artful couldn’t help but notice the intelligent expression on its face. Perhaps not human, an alien, even, but it definitely wasn’t some ordinary monster or animal. It was different, Artful could tell.
It took a particular sniff at where he kept his cosmetics, and Artful dared to look even a bit more up to reveal more of the beast.
And it was a mistake, because its head abruptly snapped up at the small noise, staring into his very soul.
Artful’s first instinct came, and he stumbled, but before he could make a move it was already coming straight for him. “Fresh meat!” It seemed to declare, drooling, its razor sharp teeth a similar color to its eyes.
It could speak English? Was his last thought before it pounced on him. He let out a muffled yelp as it grinned down at him. It tapped at the stabilized injury on his cheek, eyeing it with wonder.
“Please don’t. I don’t taste good. It’s not worth it. Not worth it!” He tried saying, but it didn’t say anything back. Instead, it quietly reached its head down, and Artful expected some kind of painful bite.
It tried, but as its mouth made contact with the remains of his white makeup, it immediately retracted with disgust, but not enough to make it get off of him. His wand had been knocked into the dirt, out of his reach. Like it would be of much use against this thing, anyway.
It was a lot of staring, and suddenly it began reaching for the black blade attached to its back, perhaps after realizing he might not make a good meal, and that’s when Artful decided to ask one of the potentially stupidest questions he’d ever ask to something that was about to slaughter him.
“What’s your name!?” He cried.
There was another pause, and it licked its lips to clear its drool, dropping its claws away from the blade. “Pursue.” It said, in broken, wobbly English. “... Er. Mine.” The name was slow to come out, and it took Artful a moment to piece together its name.
“Artful. That’s mine. See? Equals… In a sense.” He sighed afterwards. “So, Pursuer, right?” He asked again, and the creature nodded, and Artful squirmed more, though it only made Pursuer pin him down with more vigor. It had a small, maybe curious look on its expression now rather than the hungry, ruthless one that had been on it just moments ago.
“Not meat. You… Weird.” It seemed to utter in broken English again. “Not afraid now? And… Taste bad.”
“Yes. I taste bad. Now if you excuse me, please… Get off, bête.” Artful struggled before his wriggling tapered down while Pursuer continued to study him.
Just then, Artful was lifted from the ground, and Pursuer gave him an eerie smile as it roughly began carrying him. “With.” It spoke, pointing to itself, which made nearly no sense until it started charging away at what seemed to lightspeed.
He didn’t dare screech as adrenaline coursed through his body. “Where are we going?! Drop me!” Artful yelled, though looking down and watching as everything passed in a blur, that last command was a regret.
He was almost grateful it didn’t listen to him.
After approximately two minutes, it finally released him, tossing him on the ground that made him let out a small oof as he landed. Pursuer crawled over to him with a now unreadable expression.
Artful wasn’t sure if it had decided to eat him after all, but he was ready to accept his fate as it climbed back on top of him, but instead of raising its claws or drawing its sword, it fell, collapsing onto him and breathing deeply, nuzzling.
“What… Is this?” He mumbled as Pursuer began to cuddle and hold him. He felt its teeth graze his neck slightly, making him jump from fear and a small spark of pleasure, but it was only moving its head.
“Fresh… Meat…” It yawned, a low, guttural sound. The two sat there, entangled, and now Artful couldn’t believe it had almost killed him moments ago.
Artful’s fate, according to this creature, was to snuggle, instead of the brutality he had heard it had given to other civilians. Could he accept that?
“You’re not going to kill me?” Artful whispered, hesitating, before wrapping its arms around it, its fur a barrier from the chill of the forest. “No.” It grumbled back. “Too gross.”
Artful grunted with mild offense, rolling his eyes. “Alright. Very funny.” He muttered to it, and it only let out an imitation of a chuckle in response, its grip tightening.
A few, odd minutes passed of Artful contemplating, and he nodded. “Okay. You win…” He stroked its back, before closing his eyes, and accepting this unusual, yet… Sweet, gentle outcome.