Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: This is the last of the written chapters the I have so the next update will possibly be slow in coming. I don't have a lot of time these days. Wish I did though, writing is way more fun than studying! Oh well, it's a decent place to pause the story so I suppose I'm okay with it. :P Not for long though! My test is in a week! :)

ANYWAY, hope you're enjoying it so far! :)

-S

P.S. So sorry about the mistake in letting the chapter repeat! Completely blanked and left the old version at the bottom. It's been amended. Thanks for letting me know! :)

Miss Imprint

Chapter 5: Toro

The grass crunched under my feet, it had been dry for the past week. The rains had been elsewhere and the grounds were missing them. I was sure they'd be back soon though. Washington never saw sunshine for long.

The house began to disappear over the hill as I head towards the base of our yard where I had been painting. Our house was modest at best but the yard was incredible, we lived at the top of a shallow hill that swept down in stages to a creek at the base that separated us from the woods. It was shallow but icy, coming straight from the north. Seth and I used to take turns pushing each other into the waters during the brief heat of the summer.

It usually ended when I fell to the ground in protest and poor, lanky Seth (muscled he was not back then) would attempt to drag me in and then give up. I'm still completely convinced that's why he started working out.

Nothing like the shame of not being able to toss an eight year old into the water to get you into the gym.

I came upon the spot we'd been laying, our impressions in the grass still faintly visible.

I had just leaned down to fish through the grass when I heard breathing.

It was odd-like panting really-and it was close, much too close to be my imagination.

I looked up and gave out a soft cry of horror. I was looking into the eyes of an enormous…thing.

And it was looking right back at me.

I lifted my foot to step back out of instinct when all those discovery channel specials on facing beasts came back to me and they all dictated stagnation in the face of adversity was the best maneuver. I stilled myself, slowing my breath and lowered my gaze.

Direct eye contact was a challenge. And I was definitely not looking for a hoedown with the silver-gray behemoth across the river.

I heard a snarl, it echoed out into the stillness, and I felt my heart skip a beat. That was definitely not friendly.

I chanced a glance only to meet a row of razor sharp of incisors bared at me and I lowered my gaze almost instantly.

This was really bad. Like there was no coming back from this bad.

If I died the first time my dad left me home alone, he'd never leave the house again.

I clutched the paint brush in my hand tighter.

What was that thing the little African man did in the God's must be crazy? Something about putting a stick on his head to look bigger; I didn't have much but the paintbrush was about a foot long and while that really didn't get me anywhere near close to the…sasquatch; it was something. I raised it carefully over my head and then looked up only to see it take a step forward, brushing it's paw against the ground.

"Toro?" I said softly, scared to the point of being hysterical.

It reared its head back, uttering a resounding roar and I trembled at the force of it.

Well, that answered that question. It spoke Spanish. Unfortunately, I didn't.

I took a step back and then another but it was matching me step for step. Screw animal planet, they'd never had to face down big foot. I took one final look behind me before taking off, I could hear it breathing behind me, great heavy breaths ending in guttural snarls but somehow I managed to out run it. I'd never run so fast in my life. I looked behind me, almost expecting it to be right there but it was gone and then-

"Woah, Cassie where're you going?" Seth's hand wrapped itself around my forearm and he tugged me towards him.

"Seth! We have to get inside, come on!" I tugged at him but he wouldn't budge. He was glaring out behind me and he was tense. His eyes were turbulent, and his brows downturned.

"Seth, please, please you have to move, it was right behind me, I don't know if it'll come again!" I was getting hysterical but I couldn't seem to stop myself, everything was so confusing and I couldn't get him to move, he just stood there, staring out into the darkness and then finally he turned towards me and then his face softened. I saw his hand reach up and brush my cheeks.

I had been crying.

"Cassie, it's fine. You're safe." He pulled me into him but I shook my head, pulling him towards the house.

"Inside. Now." The words came out hitched and breathy but I needed to get away from that, that thing.

"Okay, okay." He pulled me into him tightly before moving us towards the house. Once inside, he shut the door firmly, sliding the deadbolt into place before pulling me towards the couch and kneeling on the floor beside me. He grabbed my hands, warming them up quickly as I stared at a point on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Seth tugged at my hand to get my attention.

"Yeah-yes, I'm fine." I looked up at him. He was concerned but there wasn't an ounce of fear in his face.

He knew.

He knew what that thing was.

"What was that Seth?"

"Later, I promise. But right now, I need you to tell me that he didn't touch you." His eyes were tight, but I felt his thumb slowly running up and down my wrist to calm me down.

"It didn't do anything, just snarl a lot and toss its head."

He looked upset for a second, something passed through his eyes and I looked him quizzically but he shook it off and he sat up quickly before pulling me to him.

"What the hell were you doing out there, anyway?" He shook me slightly but I don't think he meant to.

"I forgot my paintbrush." I said sheepishly, it had seemed like a good idea at the time to go get it.

"Cassie, you have to be careful okay?" He pulled me towards him and I sunk into his arms, my head tucked firmly on top of his clavicle. I pressed my cheek into him and then giving into a whim, my lips. I felt him freeze, but I covered my tracks by brushing my nosing against him quickly.

We could both pretend it was a mistake. I'd let him make the call.

"It's late; I should let you get to bed." I felt disappointed. I wasn't sure exactly what I was hoping for but that wasn't exactly it.

"Oh yes, I should. I…are you heading out?" I tried not to look at him, I didn't want him to stay unless he wanted to, but I had to admit, spending the night alone wasn't entirely appealing right now.

"I'll wait until you fall asleep, okay?" He brushed my hair, his fingers dipping between the strands and I shivered at the sensation before holding him closer.

"Thank you." I could feel him relax into a sigh as he pressed his cheek to the top of my head.

"Anytime."

And then as the wind rustled through the trees and beat against the side of the house, the rains returned, falling in torrents and lulled me to sleep against his impossibly warm chest.