Day 1
Nighttime
The moon was full, not that she could see it anymore to confirm the bright orb still hung in the sky. The tree canopy was thick, a lush ceiling of green that made the night seem far darker than she could recall it being before. It had rained lightly earlier, making the soil beneath her feet soft, the scents of damp earth heavy in the air. Raven leaned heavily against the rough bark of a large tree, trying to catch her breath. She had been running blindly for some time, long enough that she was utterly unsure exactly where she was or in which direction she would need to travel to find civilization once more. It was summer, but the dampness in the cool mountain air made gooseflesh rise on her arms. Absently she rubbed her hands over them, her amethyst eyes darting about at every soft sound and perceived movement.
I'm lost, she thought to herself with a shake of her head. She'd been battling against the concept for a while, but it was the unavoidable truth. She didn't know where her campsite was. She didn't know where one of the marked trails were. She didn't know where she was. Robin had told them all that the Appalachian wilderness was one of the most dense in the country. He'd been clear about staying near their campsite and not wondering away from the trails. And yet here Raven was, slumped against the broad tree trunk, hopelessly lost.
Something large rustled in the foliage and the empath held her breath, flattening herself against the tree in an attempt to blend into the bark. It was dark and if she didn't move . . .
A low growl rose from the shadows. The eyes that had been scanning the wood saw her well enough. There was a moment of conflict in which the empath felt torn between the innate instincts to run or to stand and fight. In the end she ran, her feet moving swiftly over the forest floor, her knees lifting high with each stride in an attempt to avoid tripping over a fallen branch or the clutching vines that seemed to be everywhere. At full speed she sprinted, gracefully weaving between trees, until she could no longer hear the tell-tell sounds of pursuit. Panting, she came to a stop, her hand clutching at an outcropping of rock. She was tiring and with a curse her nails dug into the outcropping.
"Is that your game? Run me until I'm too exhausted to fight back? Coward," she called out to the night itself, unconcerned about giving away her position. Her pursuer knew where she was. There hadn't been a moment since she'd wondered away that she'd honestly been alone. Crickets sang and in the distance an owl called. "I'm not running anymore." Bushes shook for a moment in the distance. The crickets paused in their song, a low rumbling sound reverberating from the top of the tree just to her left. "I'm not running, I'm done." She repeated the statement more for her own sake than that of her stalker. Apprehension was slipping coldly up her spine, her leg muscles tensing. She could feel the hungry gaze so intensely, she was nearly certain that she could see eyes, burning into her from the leaves above.
Run . . . run . . . run.
Raven could not read thoughts, but somehow the emotions of her hidden pursuer screamed the word. The anticipation, the patient certainty, the tension that grew and grew . . . it all pushed at her, willing her to flee. Her will weakened, her stomach fluttered. Tighter and tighter the muscles in her body wound, preparing for the dash she didn't want to make. Was this the way the mouse felt as the house cat's unwavering gaze assaulted it? Was this the reason the hare ran from the fox? She was suddenly certain that this was indeed the compulsion that gripped every small and furry thing under the burning eyes of impending doom. If she didn't run there could be no chase and the stalemate might last forever. Her very own predator lunged slightly, nearly leaving the concealing green of the tree branches. Those tightly wound muscles sprang and before she could remember that she was going to stand her ground she was running again.
Raven pushed herself to her very limit, forcing her legs to propel her despite the protests of her tired body. This was it, the final run. She had been worn down and she could feel the elation of her chaser as they closed in for the kill. Closer and closer the presence loomed until a paw darted out in an attempt to trip her. The empath managed to avoid the brunt of the contact, feeling nothing but the fleeting caress of fur against her ankle. It was a short lived victory though. The paw struck out again, hooking around her calf. She tripped and stumbled forward, the forest floor below unavoidable. At the last second arms snatched at her, catching her before she could tumble to the ground.
"Gotcha," a familiar voice muttered before sharp teeth bit insistently, but not overly painfully, into the side of her throat. Raven lay prone and panting in Beastboy's embrace, allowing him to do as he wished. She trembled from exhaustion and the adrenaline that still pumped through her veins. He growled playfully, reveling in his victory before he looked down into her face, a frown touching his lips. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. It . . . it was just more intense than I thought it would be."
"You could have said the safe word," he reminded gently, bending to kiss lightly at the skin he had assaulted. "I would have stopped if . . ."
"No . . . no, it's okay." A soft laugh suddenly bubbled from her lips and she shook her head. The tree canopy wasn't as thick here and as she lay in his arm, against his chest she could see the moon once more. Her clothes were damp and her body ached, but she felt elation swell in her chest. She felt vividly, spectacularly alive.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure." Languidly she stretched in his embrace, nuzzling her nose against the underside of his jaw, before catching him by surprise, biting sharply at his own skin. He growled again, louder this time. "Well, you caught me Gar. Now what are you going to do?" Even in the cloaking shadow of the surrounding night she could see his sharp teeth glint as his lips curved in a predatory smile.
"Oh, Rae . . . what do you think? I'm going to eat you alive."