Golden wings

Chapter 15 - Torn

Lykaios' eyes were fixed on the distance. Alexis was sitting at his side, trying to focus on his net. Both were following the daily routine they had established. But Alexis could barely concentrate today.

"...Would you stop?"

The wolf did not look at him when he answered, he did not even move an inch.

"I'm not doing anything."

Alexis snarled and looked sideways at those red eyes. His pupils were sharp as knifes, red as blood. Lykaios was looking at something; and he did not like it.

The angel kept telling himself that Lykaios would never dare eat him. But he could not avoid feeling uncomfortable, because the wolf was staring at a deer in the distance, at the other side of the big lake.

"Y-you don't need to hunt it. I am fishing already."

"I'm bored of eating fish."

"You are not even hungry!"

"It's not that. It's not the same. I miss hunting."

"Oh, come on... S-stop looking at the poor animal like that!"

The wolf let out a sad growl and lowered his ears, unable to look away from the unsuspecting deer.

"...I won't chase it."

But he still kept on looking at it, like if it was the only thing around him.

Alexis sighed, unnerved.

"I swear, your eyes freak me out when you are like this."

Lykaios could not help himself. He had transformed into his true form when he had picked up the scent of prey. His tails were long as ever, his paws clawed the ground, his fangs were sharper, and his pupils smaller. Even if he was sitting, he was as big as a bear. He was a predator deep inside; a calm one, reflexive and thoughtful. But one nonetheless.

Even like that, Alexis was grateful that Lykaios had self-control. He was frozen at his side at the shore. His claws were not moving, he was not showing intent in chasing the possible meal. He was just looking at it, only having eyes for the deer. He was surely imagining the excitement of the hunt.

Alexis guessed it was enough, that he could not complain, because he did not know how hard it was for a demon to control itself. Lykaios was quiet; he was giving him company in his solitude. And he was not devouring a deer, and so, not freaking him out. A thing he could do without regret.

Alexis focused on catching their dinner, while Lykaios kept on daydreaming.

Neither was paying attention to their surroundings. Neither was worrying about a demon that would never attack, bound to his word. They had stopped looking for Uriel with their eyes, because Lykaios was always there. Both had lowered their guard. And it was a mistake they soon would regret.

An angel was too focused on not falling into his wild depressive thoughts; a demon was too entranced in his blood lust. Neither saw the three humans sneaking in the shadows of the trees. The scent of a human was never as strong as the one of a demon or angel. And if there was such scent, any hunter always knew how to deal with that. There was no trace of their presence in the air.

The three women leaned against the trees, wearing their light leather armors. Their mouths were covered by their iron masks, which only let their sly eyes be seen.

The three had followed Godric's directions diligently. They searched in these woods for days, and finally, they had found that waterfall in its core. They found the nest, but the angel had not been there in that moment.