(ahh thank you so much for always understanding it does me more good than you know)
She genuinely smiled at Rick, gave Albert a dry nod and half a smile before setting off towards the forest, treading light and silent on the dewy grass.
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(np, glad to help! ^^)
The closer she got to the river, the quieter it seemed. There didn't seem to be many animals around, and even the birds were silent save for the occasional nervous alarm call in the distance. That was the first sign that something dangerous was nearby. The second sign appeared in a patch of open marsh near the water–a tall dead tree stood among the cattails, and it was covered in huge claw-marks. Tracks filled the muddy ground around the trunk: some looked human, and others….not so much. They were reminiscent of raccoon or squirrel tracks, but of course much bigger.
Charlotte scanned her surroundings, taking mental note of every information she was to bring back to Rick.
She paused by the tree, crouching to get a closer look at the tracks in the mud. Silence reigned, and except for the squelching of her boots and her steady breathing not a sound was to be heard.
Was it just her, or had it gotten even quieter?
After a moment, there came the faintest, most stealthy splash–somewhere in the haze and reeds up ahead.
Her focus sharpened in an instant, and she was on the shore hidden behind a shrub. A residuous ripple bothered the otherwise calm water, and she kept her eyes trained on the area, awaiting the slightest disturbance.
After a long moment, the ripple reappeared, this time cutting through the water towards the dead tree. A large green fin rose above the surface, and at first it seemed as if something reptilian would follow. But then it climbed out onto the bank and revealed that it wasn't a reptile at all. It was a pine marten, roughly the size of a small horse, its brown fur slick and dark with river water. Its back, legs and tail sported mottled green fins, which shrank and disappeared as it gave itself a quick shake and started to sniff around the base of the tree.
A moment later, it stiffened, nose rooted to Charlotte's footprints. Its hackles slowly rose, and a growl drifted through the perfectly still air. It lifted its head, its pale green eyes glittering angrily as it tried to follow the scent to its location.
Run. Every inch of Charlotte's body told her to run from this abnormal animal.
But she kept stock still, crouched low, watching the creature watching her. What else could she do without putting both of them in danger?
For a moment, the creature didn't move either. Then its muzzle wrinkled and it bared its thin teeth, growling even louder. Without hesitation, it slipped back into the water and started directly towards where Charlotte was hiding.
(I gtg do some cooking, I may not be back again this evening but it was good to get back into this! I'll see you again asap! ^^)
(Ooh fun, let me know what you made when you're back!)
Taking advantage of the creature's inability to see her, she made a quick dash for cover further back in the trees, in spot strategically far enough from the water that the creature wouldn't smell her but she could still see and hear it, like it could she.
(We made popovers! They are delish, especially with honey or butter <3)
(I have to go to bed next but I'm gonna drop a reply here anyways. Seeya later!)
The creature made it to the bank in record time, bounding out of the water and pausing to find her trail again. It was bristling like a hedgehog, and every time it inhaled her scent, it snorted with increasing levels of rage. As it stalked closer, mist began to billow from its coat. The temperature began to gradually but noticeably drop.
She felt the cold rage rippling off the animal in waves, making the temperature drop as it went.
With every step it took, a strange mist eked off its fur and low to the ground, seeming to reach for her with thin, opaque tendrils. She took a single step back, almost landing on a stick behind her— at the last minute, feeling the solidity of something other than leaves, Charlotte stepped aside.
(do you have a plan? What kind of solidity is she feeling exactly? I minor confuse ^^; )
(sorry that was just a stick that would have snapped)
(Oh I get it lol smacks forehead)
The monster was almost upon her, so close that every droplet of water clinging to its whiskers was perfectly picked out against the mist. But then, without warning, it stopped, as if it had reached an invisible wall. It still clearly knew where Charlotte was and could have easily attacked her, but it didn't. Instead, it puffed up its chest and gave one last furious hiss, flaring its fins out intimidatingly. Then it settled into a crouch as if to make sure that she did not return to this spot.
(haha you're good)
Charlotte stayed still for a few more minutes, observing the creature as it settled into its position.
Must be territorial. Moving an inch each time, Charlotte gradually stepped back from her cover, more or less out of sight but most importantly further and further away from the animal.
It didn't move, only hissed at her again when it spotted her. After a minute, it seemed satisfied that she was leaving and rose, trotting back towards the marsh. Once it was gone, the mist and chilly air dispersed with surprising speed.
Once she was sure the creature had gone, Charlotte let herself relax and kept going, now acutely aware of every sound and movement around her.
Now that it was clear how the creature marked the edges of its territory, it became much easier to tell where that territory began. There were trees with gouged out trunks all along the edge of Albert's fields, following the river back for quite a distance. When there wasn't a tree nearby, the creature had evidently had to get creative: some low shrubs had been ripped to shreds and a couple had animal bones resting among the branches. All the marks were clearly quite fresh, which matched what Albert had said about the monster having only just arrived. One of the skulls looked suspiciously like a sheep skull, and wool was scattered nearby. It definitely seemed like this thing ate more than just fish.
As she went, Charlotte couldn't help but admire the creature's ingenuity. She made sure to skirt its territory, keeping an eye out for any more odd creatures of the brush. She circled the lake, eventually seeing Rick in the distance as a thin black dot.
He spotted her about the same time and waved, heading in her direction. Albert was nowhere to be seen–perhaps he'd gone to see to his livestock.
"Hey," Rick greeted her when he was within earshot. "See anything?"
"Did I?" she sighed with a tired smile, jogging to meet him. "How about you, where'd he go?"
"Oh, he went off to make sure the Deorn hadn't stolen any more of his animals. I got a few more details, but nuthin' we hadn't already guessed. What did you find?"
"Well, I found a– if not the animal. Some sort of oversized ferret. Over by the marsh," she told him, pointing. "It's marked its territory and was ready to shred me when I trespassed."
"Pretty sure that's the critter we're looking for. The young ones get pretty defensive when they're settin' up house." Rick scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Albert said it was an Ice Deorn….was it chilly at all when you ran into it?"
"Sure was, and misty. I haven't seen one of those in a long while, I'd forgotten…" she trailed off thoughtfully. "Fire is a weakness?"