iliana amaranth

She's habitually paradoxical, a parallel perpendicular;

Those worrisome thoughts shoved far back within the furthest recesses of her own mind at the sight of Marcelo. Not even Mr.Crow and his insufferableness could continue to ensnare her so. That cheating crow, who snow smugly roosted, fluffed up in a state of utter contentment upon his newfound branch that locket dangling from betwixt his beak. Yet even though he appeared quite happy where he was, one singular eye remained open, watching the jackal with an endless-increasing judgement. But animals never seemed to perturb him for long.

A giggle burst through her lips, her silver gaze watching him with a certain delight at the sound of that happy bark filling more than just her ears. She was genuinely happy to see him, that much was evident. "It could never be just you." No, not after she knew him.

She informed him of her futile plight then, Mr Crow hardly finding it within his mischievous heart to play by the rules. That playful growl rumbling within his throat toward the bird, although he hardly seemed to mind, responding with little more than a mischievous wag of his tail feathers. She climbs down the tree with lithe ease just as she had climbed up that thick trunk. She hardly cared how the forest debris stuck to her hair or the scent of pine seemed to follow her. How that woman was more animal than she thought. Her heart belonged to these woods and the creatures that inhabited it. Finally, when her feet planted firmly upon the forest floor she whirled soundlessly to face her wagging companion with an almost dancer-like smoothness. Teach Mr Crow a lesson? Now that was a thought. Surely it had to be someone with wings. "Someone ought to.." She all but hmphed but lacked the conviction, how could she ever hold any true hatred in her heart?

She met his golden eyes then, surprised he had found her again. That question seemed to perplex her though, pondering those words sweetly. Did she doubt that he would find her, no of course not! But she would have never faulted him if he had disappeared either. A subtle tease of a thoughtful frown, caused by intense concentration seized her then. "People come and go with the current of the wind sometimes, nothing is sure, except everything is unsure." How oddly insightful those words were. It hardly bothered her the way the world worked, the woman content to enjoy things while they were here. Perhaps that was why she hardly missed her old home as much as she should of. Not for lack of love or caring, simply because that's just how things were.

That was when suddenly she heard something deep within the tangle of those cold woods. That fear was immediate and gone just as quickly then. She could hardly help the way she jumped, her skin began to feel prickly with that abruptness. Her companion seemed to respond to her own jumpiness, instead of while she was prepared to cower, he was prepared to fight. That growl left his lips, no longer that playful sound she had offered her avian counterpart. This felt more filled with intent, more savage in a way. If she could not trust what dwelled within that very forest, she could trust in him, entirely. Only when nothing happened for several long moments she willed herself to calm. It hardly took any time at all, those ruby eyes pushed to the back of her mind for now. A gentle sigh slipping past her lips as her jackal turned to face her once more. That question uttered with undeniable concern. He sat, and at that moment he looked insightful. If only she could have read minds too. She lowered easily to the floor before him, uncaring of that coolness of the ground that bites through the fabric of her pants as she kneels. She does not answer immediately as if unsure how to respond, absently the woman reached out in to run her fingers through his coat, enjoying the feel and texture of it. "Oh nothing to worry about, I just had a fright. I thought I heard something." She hardly wished to mention it, or him. He hadn't actually harmed her, not truly, but there was something empty and dark within him that even her light couldn't touch. Her telling features seemed to shift into a contemplative frown all the same as continued to run her fingers through that fur. Her sleeve crept upwards, allowing those still fresh bruises to peer through from where Cobain had held her still. She could still remember the hurt from that embrace.

She seemed distracted then, that she hardly noticed that he had spotted that unsettling wound upon her flesh. From Jackal to human he emerged so easily that it had all but taken her by surprise. She hardly seemed as awkward or sheepish as the first time and yet still it startled her, that abrupt shift from beast to man. That, she was sure would never get any easier. But his concerned features, now human seemed to give way into something else. His human voice no longer mischievous and light as the creature he turned into.

She had already had risen to her feet with haste when he shifted, his hands already snatched her hand. Just what he was looking for she hardly knew then. All she could wonder was the lingering question. Wasn't he cold? Illy hardly fought him when he lifted up the sleeve of her jacket. Oh that's what had him unsettled. "Oh. The boy in the woods." She shrugged as if unbothered by it. But it hardly seemed to sit well with him, or her, not truly anyways. That growl, even human was just as menacing as that growl at that supposed threat. That promise to kill the man had her eyes widen in surprise. Oh no! That sounded like a bad idea. "I think.... He may have already been." She uttered softly, simply. "Dead, that is." She whispered as if nervous someone or something could hear those forbidden words.

"He looked young and innocent.. but he was.. something else. His eyes.. I will never forget them Celo.. They were red like blood. He told me he could kill me. I think he might have wanted to. I don't know." She wrinkled her nose, looking right at his glaring chest without looking at it. She lowered her gaze to her own wrist, it was a pretty purple. Not the bright and usual kind, but still pretty in its own way. She didn't mind it, not truly.

"I am okay though, no need to fret. Really. But... he.. Uh.. Did a... thing." Finally her silver gaze rose to meet his own again, bringing her free hand to her lips once more. He did do that. That crushing kiss upon her very lips and the words he said afterwards. "He told me he hated me. I don't think anyone ever told me that before. " She seemed confused for a moment, lost in a sea of sound. She remembered those tears that streamed down her face. That overwhelming sadness as she cried herself to sleep within her cave. Not even the glinting gemstones could bring a smile to her lips. Simply reliving it brought a pang of sadness to her, gripping her tightly. She looked down at her feet then, in an effort not to let the moisture that built up within her eyes them catch the moonlight.

barefoot in nightgowns, that's how she dances in the rain;