Golden wings

Chapter 48 - Trade

A loud growl echoed. Something moved in the dark, long black tails, which avoided the light that reflected between the trees. A big wolf roamed, slowly, with no hurry.

His red eyes glared down at his claws, when he came upon yet another flower. It was blooming. It was beginning to show life. It was truly beautiful...

Its petals were pierced by his sharp nails. The flower seemed to bleed when it was torn apart. He clawed at it, until he could not discern what it once was.

His eyes narrowed while he moved away his claw. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. He refused to look around him; he was deadly tired of the landscape that surrounded him, a forest full of flowers. His forest was full of red. They were everywhere, and far too many to claw at.

He shook his long black mane, and gave them the most hateful look he could. The flowers were blooming too early this season. It was something uncommon. And he hated it.

Lykaios yawned silently and outstretched lazily. He tried to wake up fully, because the day was dawning. With a clearer mind and less hateful thoughts, he decided to see what always brought peace to his cold soul. He made way easily through the now blooming forest. He headed east, towards human territory; to see Ayako.

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The wolf leaned his head sideways, with a deep frown.

He had arrived two hours ago... But she had not been there, inside her home. He knew she was coming back. He could discern her scent in the distance, closer with every minute.

He waited... He watched from the shadows, he saw how the girl neared her small cabin, with a bag over her shoulder. He felt suspicion, because she arrived from the northern path, the one that led away from her village.

For heaven's sake, he could pick another scent around her, while she stepped unknowingly into her cabin. He did not enjoy the idea of what it could mean.

Ayako placed all the herbs she found in jars, and closed them to ensure they would not wither. She was unaware of the huge shadow that crept into her living room, without a single sound. Two bloody eyes watched over her silently, while she walked towards her closet and pantry.

Lykaios leaned his head a little, with a blank expression. He watched calmly how the human began to pick up clean clothes and more food, to place it all in her bag. Ayako blinked when his voice echoed behind her.

"You just returned, and you are leaving already?" Ayako sighed and turned around slowly, to face Lykaios with a pout. "Where are you going now?"

Ayako hated how the demon behaved like an overprotective and controlling father.

"You could call before coming in, you know. Can't a girl do her job?" She rolled her eyes and walked around him, to reach a nearby chest. "I am going to search more herbs."

Lykaios took a deep intake of breath, and he could not avoid smelling the scent of the angel. It was always there for a demon. Ayako had been in that clearing. His red eyes narrowed, but he hid well his anger. Ayako did not notice how his tails shivered subtly, or how his claws sharpened.

"If what you say is true, why are you taking money with you?"

Ayako blinked, with a small purse of coins in her hand. She smiled sheepishly and scratched her ponytail, nervously.

"Oh! You see... There was a man in the forest, and-"

She was surprised when Lykaios snarled deeply and hit a tail against the floor.