[1] WEEPING MONK // you're not what I was looking for

22| Close Encounters {Part One}

═ 𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 ═

[TW// Threatening language]

Tensions run on high as the trio seek to rest in a nearby Fey camp. Lancelot tries his best to be there for Ari as her patience gets tested.

They were getting used to their evening routine and Lancelot found it strangely comfortable, how there was an order and structure to their nights. Lancelot would take first watch to make sure that Ari got enough rest and he would wake her as the moon started to drop and the first streams of daylight broke through the horizon. Their evening had been so calm and Ari felt like she had finally gotten through to Lancelot in some way with the way that he had smiled at her, but the night had quickly turned sour.

Ari just happened to turn by chance and saw red beads in the snow creeping slowly towards where Squirrel crouched retying his boot and preparing himself to sleep for the night. Her eyes flew wide open and her heart sank deep into her stomach.

"Squirrel!" She cried out desperately. His eyes shot up to her as his hands stopped moving, unbeknownst to what exactly was behind him. Everything happened so fast.

The beads chased forwards towards the boy with its great fangs bared and Ari panicked. She pulled her dagger out of her boot quicker than she ever had done before and she had almost let go, but she was too late, as the beast pounced through the air...or so she had thought.

Lancelot.

Ari's breath hitched at how she'd almost released the blade, how she'd almost killed him. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her dagger still held out in the air in her hand. She pulled herself and her adrenaline filled mind back together quickly, rushing over to Squirrel's side as he scrambled on his hands backwards.

She didn't know where he had come from or how he was in front of them now but Lancelot was there, and she was beyond thankful. His sword was unsheathed and held out low at his side, unbloodied and prepared to cut down the beast with ease as he put his body between it and the boy.

Ari grabbed Squirrel and pulled him into her, stumbling both of them back in the ground further towards the fire. She sheathed her dagger back into her boot as she shielded the child, protecting him with her body as he whimpered in her arms. Tears formed in both of their eyes as their hearts beat rapidly out of control.

Her head picked up to see the beast stood still before Lancelot, staring up at him as if he were its master. The thick white coat of the beast blended in with the surrounding snow while its ears were pulled back like bloodied daggers. If death were an animal then this would definitely be it. It looked like a wolf but it was much larger, eyes red like hell's fire. Ari felt her heart beating out of her chest but the animal made no attempt to move, it just stood there staring at the man before it. Lancelot did not seem to move either and she could not see his face to know what he was thinking. Ari held the boy closer, wrapping her arms around him protectively.