Hunter Prey

seventeen

I'm..not even going to ask.

I gaze up at him quizzically, unsure what's about to happen next. Are clothes gonna sprout from his arms, or something?

I spoke too soon, because shortly after the beast pulls a long moss-like gown from behind him. It actually looks wondrously comfortable.

He gently lays it in my arms, before pointing a claw at me. My eyes go from him to the dress, in a frequent manner, before I nod.

I stand there expectingly, waiting for him to turn around, or something. He doesn't.

"Could you..ah, turn..around?" I murmur politely. He does so leisurely, he doesn't look against it, though.

I very quickly slip into the gown, which is soft and hugs me snugly, warm and cozy. I bite my lip, glancing at the pile which is my dirty clothes. My eyes flicker back to the large creature.

"You can turn back around." I call out. He does so, and studies me. At least, I think he is. He makes a sound that alludes me to think he's satisfied with what he sees, before he picks up the pile of torn, dirty clothes. He examines them for a moment, making me feel embarrassed, slightly.

He then closes his fist, making the clothes dissolve into soil. My jaw drops.

He can..what in the world-

I gasp softly, my hands flying to my mouth.

Okay, so, this may be a crazy dream that I definitely hope to wake up from.

I pinch my arm.

Nope.

The beast shakes his head, equally amused and unamused at the gesture.

He sweeps me into his arms in seconds, and I let out a squeak of surprise.

As always, he moves silently through the trees, and I assume that he's taking me back to where he has been holding me for the last few days.

He doesn't. My eyebrows knit together when the surroundings change. The trees grow taller, thicker.

And it gets..colder?

I have to do a double take when a tower comes into view.

Not just one, two.

My eyes widen as a cobblestone castle comes into view. It looks abandoned, almost. Almost. What's even more surprising is when the beast walks around it, down a path, towards a..

Tree?

This tree, though, is massive.

I gasp. It's abnormally tall, and its overall thickness is something straight out of a fantasy movie. Or book, humor me.

The beast ceases his movement just in front of the tree. I look up, dumbfounded, but I'm given an answer soon enough, when the tree opens.

Yes, opens.

He steps inside, and gingerly plops me on my feet. My wide eyes swim over the interior. It's very..homey. There's prolonged vines, with warm light emitting from the little orbs nestled in the leaves. The floor is a soft moss that warms my toes as they sink in, there's woven baskets and blankets, and little father away, is what could be a bed. A very, very big bed.

I turn to look at him, curious. He points a claw at the nesty bed.

I take the hint and reluctantly wander towards the bed. I hesitantly sit on it, and let out a soft oh when it feels surprisingly soft and bouncy.

When I look back up the beast is gone, and tree is closed again.

I purse my lips. Now what?

I look around, letting out a sigh.

The next few days go by in a blur. The beast has began bringing meats, now. Along with the berries and vegetables.

At first, they were raw. However, after telling him I cannot consume raw meat, he began bringing them in cooked. The first time he brought them cooked, they were burned. The next, they were too undercooked.

Eventually, he got it just right, and started to do even more.

Like bringing all types of flowers, that soon became meticulously made bouquets.

It was then that I realized that I was being courted. By the beast. Me.

I fidget with my fingers nervously, watching as he slices the cooked meat with his claws, hunched, resting his elbows on his legs.

"Beast?" I utter quietly. It's become a norm, calling him beast. Because I don't know his name, and he hasn't made much of an effort to communicate. Not verbally, at least.

He doesn't move much, but I know his eyes are on me now.

"All..all of this is very, very sweet, and all," I bite my lip, looking down at my lap. "But I cant help but not understand what your goal is...are you courting me?" I inquire carefully, looking back up.

He doesn't react much, but after several moments of silence, he huffs a puff of air. "Yes." He murmurs. It nearly knocks the air out of me, and I gasp lightly. "I..oh," I probably look like a fish out of water, the way my mouth opens and closes.

He pushes the large leaf with the sliced meat close to me. "Eat." He speaks. I wordlessly take it, staring down at it for a while.

I slowly begin to eat with leisurely, lost in thought.