Mikoto took a deep breath, feeling the long exhausting experience coming to an end. She sat down with her legs over the edge and looked across the treetops' miles of soft dark greens. Then, with a smile, she looked down the descending side of the cliff, down to the bottom. It was nearly vertical, but about the middle, it bowed out into a gradual slope until it reached the bottom. With it, tall grasses bent with the wind as it made its way up the side of the cliff and over her, carrying the smell of a living garden filled with who knows what but she could smell the water and her heart beat a little harder.
By the gods… an excitable little avatar spoke with gusto. So good… Smell it… Take it in…she laughed…. no more god-forsaken heat! She screamed.
Mikoto nodded with a satisfied grin as she listened to the voice in her head as a sudden gust whipped her long brown hair in a frenzy.
Her grin grew larger, feeling the chill, looking down the slope of black rocks, "about a mile or more down too." creasing her brow, reaching up and pulling her long damp hair out of her face.
I can smell water…. closed her eyes and listened for more hints.
The wind rushed through the branches, strange animals calls, and water splashed over rocks.
"there…" She raised her chin, smelling the air, "there it is…" slowly standing up from the edge, thinning her eyes. She pulled her shoulders back and stretched her arms over her head with a deep breath. Her legs ached from the walk's heat. But she was not about to let that stop her. She put her hands on her waist, rose on the tips of her toes, and flexed her thighs and calves, her thighs burned a little, but as she relaxed well, they felt ok, slowly let her boots lay flat.
The slight burning in her legs faded. "No cramping."
She pulled her armor up, slipped her arms into the sleeves, and zipped up.
The girls enjoyed it… Little Misaka sighed.
"Of course," Mikoto grinned, adjusting her ample breast.
She picked up the extra belts off the ground. "Going down…" she said, taking her first step over the edge. After you… little misaka laughed
She plunged like a stone, hitting the sloping surface. Her not so graceful landing sent
Rocks bounce wildly down the slope, kick high, and disappear farther down. She grinned mischievously, blushing, leaned backward to counter the angle of the descending slope, and made her way down into the canyon, followed by the beginning of a little avalanche.
The black rocks rolled, banging loudly against tree trunks and grass clumps, disappearing into the forest.
The dark forest erupted with the loud squawking, flapping of wings from the disturbance. "Sorry…" Mikoto said.
The slope became more manageable the farther she descended. Crouched like a surfer riding a wave and slowed her descent, nearing the edge and glided to a stop at the border.
She quickly applied a force field with a quick satisfied grin and breath. The remains of the little avalanche she caused on her way down bounced and crashed against the barrier, shattering to pieces, turning to dust, hanging around the barrier like a thick fog. But was quickly grabbed by the wind and carried up the slope and over the top of the canyon. Mikoto laughed as she released the barrier and stood at the edge of the woods.
In front of her, only an arm's length away, the tall, thick grasses, as tall as her shoulders, growing in clumps. She smells it. A pleasant, calming aroma. Memories flooded and surrounded her like a warm blanket. The smell of grass was nearly impossible to define, from the vast grassy fields of the four kingdoms to the small patches in Academy City. The grass had its own smell and feel. Her face flushed, breathing it in, then gone with another gust of wind.
She slipped her hand between the thick stocks, pushed them aside, and fell into the dark forest. Walking a few meters, she stopped and leaped onto an exposed root. Its diameter, thick as an oil drum, put her hand against its cool bark and looked straight up. "it's almost…. like the trees in the cathedral." She said, leaned her head, and walked around the tree's diameter. The memories of the forest of the four kingdoms flooded her mind. The walks, the games, and the long strolls. She swallowed down the memories with eyes shining.
"Awesome…" she said, looking up, quickly sniffing, her gaze following the sound of the flowing water. She jumped down and went deeper into the forest. The small animals scampering in the underbrush made her smile.
Rabbits? Little Misaka joked, BOAR! She really hoped.
"I wish…" Mikoto said, remembering the smell of wild boar cooked over an open flame. The taste of the meat was lightly seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper. Shewolves laughing, drinking, enjoying the night. A warmth rolled through her chest. "Anastasia…" Mikoto whispered, seeing her image slowly appear across the light of the roaring fire. "It's a good memory…." Little Misaka blushed,
-Vampires are predators and carnivores, but they just don't feed off the blood of humans but all living things. Also, there are known substitutes for human blood. Manmade options. Like stigma or true blood. It tasted ok, but many preferred going natural. Of course, said with a grin. -
Mikoto nodded, lifting her hand and wiping a small tear from her cheek. "Here…" she said, feeling the moisture in the air, seeing it glistening across the thick leaves of the underbrush.
She stepped out of the brush and into the shimmering glow of twilight.
The light of the twin suns buffeted by the thick foliage of the taller trees. But the streams of soft golden rays found their way through the low hanging tree branches, illuminating the mist-covered glistening pools, sparkling waves reflected the glowing lights high above them. Small pools fill smaller pools, supplying a good-sized stream, meandering, and disappearing into the forest. Mikoto slipped into and past the shafts of sunshine, walked across the smooth wet black rock surface, slowly kneeled, and dipped her finger into the water.
Don't wake me… Little Misaka said, so warm. She tried not to laugh.
Mikoto looked over the shimmering water at a large pool covered in a thick blanket of steam. "That's a hot spring, and the runoff cools the farther away it gets," she said with a soft smile.
"First…" With her finger in the water, a little caution, the bluish-white glow from her fingertips. Electricity shot through the water, sparks leaped from the surface, ran across the wet stone surface, "no surprises." Looking across the popping surface. Nothing floated to the surface.
Nice…
Satisfied, Mikoto shook her head, took her finger out of the water, reached over, unlatched her boots, took them off, and set them to the side.
She slowly stood up, raised her chin, and unzipped her armor, letting it fall. She slipped her hands underneath the fabric, wiggled her hips, slipped it to the ground, grabbed it, and stood up.
The soft light reflections played off the water's surface danced over her naked skin. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, The image of her mother, painted in the brush strokes of a vampire, is the perfect predator. Built to attract both males and females, to entice and entrap. Predator, succubus, and goddess. All words that barely had the power to describe her.
She held her armor over her forearm as if it were just a towel. she stepped into the water, sinking to her waist, taking the armor, pushing it underneath, and letting it sink. "It stinks…" Mikoto laughed, rolling it over in the warm water and soft electrical sparks danced underneath the surface. When it was done, she stepped out of the pool, walked across the wet black flat stone surface, and hung it over a branch to dry.
"Now…" she said, going through the compartments of one of the extra utility belts next to the spring.
"I knew she would have it." Mikoto hesitated, her tongue slipping over her lower lip. "Chloe…" she whispered, "always one to carry toiletries." She laughed, taking out a small carry-on bottle of shampoo and conditioner and a couple bars of soap.
With moisturizing oil… Little Misaka laughed.
Mikoto's eyes softened, thinking about her friend Chloe. The prissy one they would call her. "I bet there's perfume."
Chloe had been the daughter of a very wealthy merchant in Venice before being turned. A young aristocratic woman who wanted nothing but to look good, smell good, and marry well. And have beautiful children. "I'm sorry, Chloe," she whispered, soaping her hands as her shoulders sank underneath the warm water.
"Eh…" Chloe would shrug her shoulders, "despite it all… Who else can look this good at 200…." She said, "I thought you were three."
"Shut up!"
Mikoto blushed, remembering as she shampooed her hair, slowly slipping underneath the warm water and swimming closer to the large, hotter pool. She felt the smooth edge of the pool and popped her head above the water. The hot steam was heavy and thick enough. One could not see in it or through it. Even with her vampiric vision, she could barely see the edge of the hot spring as it bubbled up out of the ground.
She rose from the water, clean and revived, shrouded in a heavy mist. She sat on the warm black smooth surface, pulled her legs up, and buried her face against her knees, breathing in the warm air and listening to imaginary soft music. She had a faint, sad smile, slowly closed her eyes, her finger lightly tracing over her knee to her inner thighs, "hey…" she said softly, another slow breath of warm wet air. It felt good as it filled her lungs.
Mmm hmmm… The little avatar nodded as she lay on the ground, "what?" She said, slowly grinning.
"I want to see her face again…" slipping her fingers between her thighs, the soft electrical glow slipped off her fingers, "something like…." Mikoto closed her eyes when we were at…" her face flushed as she sighed.
I can do that, Little Misaka sighed. I certainly can.
Covered in the thick steam of the hot springs. She closed her eyes and held her again. She remembered the light in her eyes, the smile with the tips of her fangs peeking out from behind her soft mouth, a gently touch, playful giggle, her smell, her strength, and the moment and deep sleep that followed afterward.
She could feel the warm mist covering her like a blanket with each breath. Slowly opening her eyes, wiping the sleep away, Mikoto looked into the thick mist.
"How long?" she asked in a waking voice, slowly rising to a sitting position. She knew it had been a while. Since arriving on this planet, she'd barely slept, what with the battle, watching Brym die, burying her friends, dealing with Ava, and the horrendous heat. She was drained of energy, but now, as she lifted her arms above her head and stretched her back, she felt relieved, revived, and relaxed.
Four days… Little Misaka answered.
Why didn't you? Mikoto answered with little concern.
You needed it…. besides… No one can see inside this little fog bank… So why not take advantage of it? She laughed.
"mmm… hmmm…" Mikoto rolled her head and popped her neck, listening to the relaxing sound of the flowing water. And her predatory instincts kicked in.
She lowered her head, hearing an odd distant sound barely audible deep in the forest,
Her thin eyes shaded red, "what is that?" she raised her chin up, her nostrils quivering, leaning her head towards the sound. She waited.
The forest had gone silent. She knew what that meant. Wetting her mouth, she felt her anticipation growing. And Mikoto, being the predator, knew something was off. Her fingers curled slowly in towards her palms. A long slow breath, taking in the smells of the forest, over her tongue, holding it in her lungs, she listened to silence. Her fretted brow tightened as she focused.
In the distance, running footsteps, laughing, unfamiliar voices getting closer as if a chase was happening. The closer the sound, the heavier the tension., filling the air as all creatures watched and waited for the kill. But this was off. It felt unnatural. Something unnecessary.
"What is that?" straightening her back, stretching her neck, inhaling more of the warm steam into her lungs, she looked toward the sounds.
Little Misaka closed her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and listened. Sounds like… She nodded, the sounds of a chase! Opened her blood-red eyes, showing her fangs wearing a predatory grin. The little avatar slowly nodded as if to confirm her decision. A nice long rest…she thought…. now, a chase and a meal, perhaps. The corners of her mouth stretched unnaturally longer than usual.
A life and death struggle happening in the forest. So, what she thought. It happens every day. Whether you hunt it yourself or go to the market. There was nothing wrong with it.
Mikoto sighed, closed her eyes, focused on the chase, and listened to the little avatar. She shook her head, feeling the excitement building despite trying to hold it. She didn't want to say it or beg, but little Misaka wanted to run and chase it down.
And why not… we're on a strange planet, lost in the woods…. might as well enjoy it…. she giggled an unnaturally low, throaty giggle.
Mikoto rolled her eyes, letting the light flicker across them. Her eyes glistened a crimson red, the color of the blood moon. She thought.
There is nothing better than running through the woods, feeling the wind and leaves rushing by. The beating of their little hearts, rapid breathing, and fear in their eyes before…we…she let out a breath, letting the thought linger…. images of past chases rolled through her memories.
The dark night, the moon high above them, the wolves running, heavy paws hitting the ground, heavy hot, foggy breaths, the heat of their bodies rising into the cool of the night. Moving like machines around trees, over gullies and the kill…whether it be deer or a large boar, even the bison brought over from America…. it felt natural and incredible. How clumsy was her first hunt, but how perfect was her last one…. the right edge of her mouth slipped up, her fangs slowly dropping over her lower lip, the tip red from cutting her lip, but it quickly healed.
… Get it… Hurry… It's good eating tonight…and there it is…. But something was off. The something that didn't feel right. Something that shouldn't be there. These hunters had no respect for the hunt. It hit her like a punch in the belly, laughter.
"no respect…" she said, gritting her teeth, getting angrier, for the hunt. Her words faded into a growl.
A loud, robust laugh cut through the forest, "get it!" the person yelled with a hearty laugh in his voice, followed by others reveling.
She clicked her tongue, "Get what?" slowly turning her head to follow the voices. Mikoto's eyes widened. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and blood poured through her veins. Her nude body tensed, rising under cover of the mist. She heard it.
CHIRP!…. a familiar sound resonated in her chest. CHIRP!
"That's not a…" her chest tightened, feeling nausea, "can't be…" a twinge of fear and worry.
A chirp again, a guttural calling, and another chirp. Sent a rush of cold chills, a primal reaction. The tiny hairs on her neck stood up, "is that?" rising to her bare feet, taking that first step. No longer caring, her body following her primal urges slowly coiled. The chase receded deep into her thoughts. Something else took its place. "It's close…. but it can't be…she growled. Little Misaka clenched her fist, gritting her teeth. How…no way…Another step, for the love of the gods, it better not be, or I'm ripping them! Mikoto nodded at her words. And other words filled her waiting ears. "Quick… Hurry… snatch it… So easy… more laughter.
"we're…. her words quickly swallowed up by a deep growl…. going."
The situation changed. The chirp and guttural calls changed everything.
Had given her hope….
An average vampire increased their numbers by biting, but only royal vampires gave birth to young vampires, young royal vampires like Little Gwen and Senessa. They used chirps and guttural calls and their scent for help when they were in danger. These vocal calls are deep-rooted in all-female vampires. They cry for help, and every female vampire within hearing distance will answer the calls. And it meant that vampires could live in this world and because vampires existed on the earth, a way home was possible.
"Whattaya says we have some fun?" she said. Why not… Little Misaka grinned.
She closed her eyes, lifting her nose, her chest filling with the warm moist air, her heart beating like thunder in her ears.
The wet black stones cracked underneath her feet.