The Taming

Chewy

The slithering creature whipped a thin tail to tuck it around it's many legs. It was fixated on Chastain. Eyeing her as though it might launch from the shrubbery to attack her.

Chastain's mouth was dry, her hands trembled, and she instinctively knew that this horrible little thing was evil.

The penetrating look in its eyes was disorienting.

She'd never seen anything like it.

That tail whipped again. Then it did just what she'd feared. It launched up at her with a violent hiss. Cracking off branches in its momentum and tossing leaves in a swirling typhoon.

She screamed and threw her arms up to shield her face. But nothing made contact.

There was such silence that it was haunting. Like everything in the forest had hushed.

As she peeked open an eye she caught the glimmer of opalescent white scales curving just above her to traverse upward at such incredible speed that one moment it was there. The next, it was high above. Blending with the brightness of the sunlight. Though it's great wingspan had left a forceful gale in its wake. Knocking her backward and onto her behind.

She watched it in wonder.

It was the same scintillating creature that'd launched from the treetops earlier.

But when it was necessary for her to finally blink and her eyes were open again.

It was only a distant white shape. The silhouette of something lumbering, carrying the jerking black creature in its clawed feet as it crossed a cloudless sky.

Sebastian and Acharius crashed through the foliage to reach her.

Skidding next to her as Acharius teetered, holding Sebastian back so they didn't trample her on the ground.

"What...?" Acharius looked from her to the sky. "Happened?"

Chastain turned a frozen expression to him. Astonishment written over her face as her head turned like it was mounted on a spike.

"Chavias." Bast muttered.

Acharius dropped next to her. Inspecting her face and shoulders for injury.

"I-I...Don't know." Her fingers clutched at the tiny white flowers twining the mossy forest floor. Seeking something to steady herself.

"Did he come after you?" Acharius demanded.

It's unlikely he'd have missed. Sebastian thought. Doubting that.

"There was a creature. A-a black, awful, horrible...thing." She pointed to under the leaf where it'd been.

"It-the" Her pointed finger lifted to the sky as she weakly finished. "Carried it off..."

Acharius strode over to lift the leaf with a finger and inspect the imprint in the soft dirt. He glanced sideways and found Bast at his side.

"Cimmerii." Bast snarled.

Which would mean that Chavias came down to take the noni.

Sebastian and Acharius exchanged a quizzical look.

Acharius numbed gaze returned to her.

The same question haunted both men.

Did he do it to save her?

Bast shook his head in utter confusion. Trying to clear his bemused thoughts.

I need to get back to the castle.