Capturing Destiny

Chapter Six

Predator

Time has lost all meaning. I was aware of the seasons changing, autumn drawing to a close and the cool winds of winter passing my body but it was of no consequence, although I was aware of the cold I did not feel it the way a human would. I walked aimlessly, often hanging around the same area for weeks at a time if it felt isolated enough and the hunting was good. I was even vaguely aware when the sun finished it's trip towards the equator and paused for a number of days, this seemed significant but I could not place it – a celebration that I had taken part in when I was young, a baby, farm animals, three fantastically dressed men bringing gifts, a tree brought into the house and covered with brightly coloured paper... I could not make head nor tails on it

I could not define it, could come up no explanation nor place my thoughts on it in any type of framework so I simply did not dwell, I had more important things to think about. The red of my eyes was fading, the crimson had darkened until it was only a deep burgundy, still unnatural but a marked improvement.

Slowly the weather got better. Leaves appeared and flowers began to bud. The animals began to wake up...

It was early in the day; I was in a large forest and had the pleasure of courting some rather large and disgruntled bears. I had come across them a few days before, they had moved from the west, an area I avoided due to a small town surrounded by trees. I had not got close to them yet though, I was biding my time. I needed the perfect situation, when bears get attacked they tend to get angry and do what any angry animal does naturally, fight back.

Despite the fact there was no way they could possible harm me I was very aware that I was still wearing the nightgown I had been wearing the night of my change. I did not want to cause anymore damage to it or it would be entirely unwearable, and the idea of running around the forest completely naked did not appeal to me in the slightest, despite the fact I knew no one would ever see me. When I finally felt comfortable enough to be around people, and the colour of my eyes fully faded I had promised myself I would never allow myself to get into this kind of state again! I was determined to have a full wardrobe as soon as possible.

Damn dDistractions; I wasn't meant to be thinking about clothes at the moment. I knew the bears' position from the day before and I was confident they would not have moved significantly over the night that I would not be able to smell them. The smell of bear was so much more satisfying than any other of the possibilities I had had in recent months, carnivores were also far more appetising.

Once ready for the hunt I stood in the centre of a small clearing. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to venture out, giving over to the trail and using only my baser instincts was invigorating. Unfortunately I was too afraid to do it often, still too terrified that my nose would pick up a human scent and I would be unable to stop myself. I put my trust in my visions to ensure against that possibility. Not that it was a worry at the moment, I was in the middle of nowhere and who on earth would want to come near here, I might be for all intensive purposes invincible but a human wouldn't last five minutes with those brutes and they were particularly territorial at the moment, territorial and violent

I could smell them. They were maybe a kilometre or two from my current position, by a small stream drinking. It was too easy. There was a large male away from the centre of the family group who smelt especially delicious and I focused on him, quickly and silently stealing through the trees to circle him. It was an easy kill. I jumped on to his back and before he knew what was happening I had my teeth in his neck. The blood was exquisite. I thought back to all the other kills but nothing compared to this moment. For the first time the burn in my throat felt quenched and the pleasure of the moment overwhelmed me, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever tasted.

Too soon it was over and the blood of the bear had run dry. Surely nothing else in this world could make a person feel like this. I did not understand it. I had fed on bear before but it had never been like this. I did not dwell on the why, I focussed on the sensation. Never had anything been so pleasurable and for the first time ever the burning of my thought was gone, washed away by the blood of the bear, I felt warm, not that I had ever been cold but I felt the flush of heat fill me, consuming me from my toes to the top of my head.]

My contentment was such that I lay back in the meadow, the bear still lying next to me, wretched looking in death, contorted unnaturally due to my desperation to drink as much as possible. I do not know how much time passed; the other bears had scattered upon hearing my attack and did not return. #

I felt indestructible. For the first time I was happy simply to lie in happiness, I did not search for danger; I simply enjoyed the beauty of the world around me and the freedom of feeling no fear.

Complete freedom from fear can be a dangerous thing, it can make you sloppy.

Suddenly I was aware of a new scent but I did not have time to consider it before everything disappeared...

There was blood...

There were screams...

And then there was nothing.

A/N: I know, I know, I am so sorry but it just had to happen. I had an errant thought and this is what I ended up with. Thanks again for the reviews and alerts guys ^_^ made me do a happy dance when I saw them, please let me know what you think, good or bad. The next chapter is nearly done, so should have it up tomorrow evening.