Completed The Time Together Will Be Relentless. [ Licearsvansan ]

[Samantha Grenth]

Samantha watched as Svan turned away and folded his arms. She didn't approve of his comment on her keeping the cloak but kept her calm and watched him. Even though they had a rough relationship, she still found him interesting and profoundly annoying. Half the time she saw him she kind-of got hungry. But as of right now when she saw him. She saw a gross snake with an endless amount of sass. Samantha growled at him when he accused her of causing heart attacks and headaches. But she realized that she didn't need to deal with his crap and accusations. So Samantha chose to be stubborn and walked around him. Sitting next to her kill Samantha used her nails to tear some bloody meat from where she had already started eating. Samantha threw a small piece at Svan after turning to him and grunted, "Eat." Turning back around Samantha took a bite of her large piece and hummed with satisfaction. The meat was still warm and tasted well fed. While the deer was small it held plenty of meat and fat. The food she needed. Too soon the meat of the tiny dear was starting to disappear. Samantha sighed and pushed away the amount that was left, "If your hungry..." Samantha whipped her mouth with her arm and began to lick herself clean, "You better get what's left." Samantha turned a tiger eye onto the snake before looking to her pack. She sighed and stood. The cloak sliding a little and exposing the fresh burning scars on her back. Quickly fixing it Samantha picked up her pack and looked to the sky, "I need a bath now. You need to rest. And it's almost night. We maybe..." Samantha squinted at the sky, "Maybe three hours till it starts getting dark. " Samantha turned to Svan and gave a slightly less bloody toothy grin, "Wanna ride?" Samantha actually hated the idea of carrying the snake, but she couldn't leave the bloody mess the was called Svan here. He was sure to get eaten. And Samantha felt that if he was to get eaten it was to be by her. As much as she owed him her life, she had decided she was to be his end. Samantha dropped the pack and cloak and shifted. Samantha knew she couldn't hide the scars for long but it was better than they were before. They were pink against her skin and in small connected patches. They traveled from her shoulder blades, spared the middle center of the back, and connected just above her back dimples. They spanned out a little on her right side but they didn't reach the front. Samantha grabbed her pack turned her head to look at Svan. He was getting a once in a life-time chance to ride the back of a tigress. She knew he wouldn't last out with his 'injuries' alone. But she needed a bath. She hated dried blood in fur and on her skin.

[Licearsvansan]

A large handful of meat flew to the ground beside Svan.

"Eat."

So let me get this straight. I nearly kill her once, and she gives me food? It seems Father was right. Violence does work best. While he wasn't fond of the way she had commanded him, he wasn't about to pass up a free meal. His hands fell upon the morsel of meat and he immediately began to tear into it in large chunks. In a moment, Svan's entire piece had been devoured, and he stood sucking his bloody fingertips in satisfaction. No sooner had he finished than he began staring hungrily at the tiger's meal. He was aware that she had been the one to make the kill but he couldn't help but consider snatching the food and bolting. Common sense and some trace of respect kept him in line and he merely sat on his haunch like a dog awaiting the scraps. before she even finished telling him he could have the rest he already had a deer leg half stuck down his throat.

The snake tore at the food in such a fashion that one might think he a hadn't seen a good meal his entire life. Bones were cleaned to the point that they nearly looked polished, and even the dripping blood was collected on a small plate to be funneled into a flack for later. As Svan engulfed the remains of the deer he caught sight of the drooping cloak and noticed the tips scars peaking out from under it. He immediately lost his appetite, and began to wrap the slight left overs for later. However, it wasn't disgust that had turned his stomach now. It was guilt. He saw the manner in which she had quickly tried to hide her burns, and realized that she had taken his cloak not out of her body but of the wounds he had caused her.

When she spoke to him he looked up slightly dumbfounded. She was inviting him to come with her. No. She was inviting him to ride atop her! He wondered if he wasn't the only one who hit his head, but he said nothing. He didn't even take the opportunity to poke fun at the idea of 'riding' her. Instead he stared at her with the same look a child gives a stranger when an unfamiliar man offers a ride in a car. When she turned into her tiger form Svan realized that she was serious, and moved to grab his pack and cloak. Fastening them tightly around his body, he hopped on to the tigers back and gripped tight with unmorphed fingers.

Svan didn't say a lot during the ride. He spent most of the time in a solemn silence. He did however, say one thing. He said "Thanks."

[Samantha Grenth]

Samantha was slightly surprised he actually got on. Especially after the look he had given her. It reminded her the look that a dark skinned woman had given her when she had slipped up several times about her true predator nature in front of her child. Samantha shook her back a little to test his grip and nodded in approval that he was on tight. Then she started at a light jog. She set her pace and footing in places that he wouldn't actually get jostled too much and figured it was the least she could do for the snake. Though he owed her for this. Samantha was grateful for his silence. It allowed her time to think and pay attention to her surroundings. A couple times she herd rustling of leaves and twigs breaking under heavy weight but kept her cool. Not showing to Svan that they could have a problem on their claws. Samantha had just caught the old faint sent of a territorial claim when Svan spoke up. Samantha couldn't actually answer him but she gave a slight nod. Samantha quickly focused on her surroundings and slowed down. She walked at a brisk pas with the new found weight on her back. It wasn't the weight of Svan that bothered her. It was the smell. Something fairly large was in this area. How far away she didn't know. She did know that she could hear a small creek in the distance. Samantha stopped and looked over her shoulder. Samantha nodded to his water-skin and then pointed her head towards the sound. Then started up her brisk walk. She really didn't have time for any questions or comments he would decide to make up later. She did have time for making sure they stayed alive and made it to the water. A deep growl went silent through her chest as she caught the smell of old blood. It was old... maybe several hours but that was it.

[Licearsvansan]

This wasn't normal. From atop the tiger's body he could feel the slight tensing of muscle. She was getting slower, but he felt that it was for a reason other than simple exhaustion. Something had spooked the tiger. THE TIGER! The beast with fangs, claws, and layers of corded muscle. Currently lacking any strengthened senses (aside from strong tastebuds) Svan was unable to know just what it was that was bothering Samantha. He did however, know that there was a serious threat if it was putting her on alert. Petching useless human eyes a beast could sneak right in front of my face and I wouldn't know it until it had it teeth around my throat.

A wave of pain rushed though the dhani's head and pinched his eyes shut until it passed. When he opened his eyes he had trouble focusing on the path ahead. it wasn't that things were blurry, but rather he was having trouble focusing. He shook his head and slowly the disorienting feeling passed.

Suddenly Svan felt an uneven movement beneath him and realized the tiger was trying to tell him something. She seemed to be looking at his water flask, but Svan's head was to clouded to completely understand the meaning. Without words he simply nodded his aching head, and prepared for whatever came next.

[Samantha Grenth]

Samantha had felt, rather than seen or heard, the sway of Svan. Samantha inwardly cringed and mentally whispered a soft, 'Hold on Svan.' Samantha wasn't sorry for her actions as she was provoked but she did feel sympathetic about the woozy and pain he must be feeling. He herself had felt it before. Just thinking about the pain caused her new scars to ache and Samantha had a small fight to stay focused. Things weren't too quiet so the creature wasn't near them but the sound of the creek or small river was starting to get louder and blocking out sound. Samantha carefully stepped over a large log, using her claws to ground her, and about threw herself back when she stepped into the dead body of a large deer. Samantha curled her lip in disgust as she walked a couple more steps in it. Samantha let out a verbal hiss when she stepped on soft ground but there was a sharp pain in her paw. Samantha couldn't sit as Svan would fall off of her so she walked with a small limp as she tried to avoid the sharp object prodding her. Samantha moved quicker and almost ran into a tree a couple times trying to get to the water. Breaking through some bushes Samantha let out a chuffle when her feet prodded into water. The discovery was short lived when she remembered Svan on her back. Samantha moved back to shore and slowly lowered herself to the ground. Rolling a bit so he was off her enough Samantha quickly walked behind the large bush and threw on her yellow chemise and white pants. Coming around again she sat down and pulled out a small bone from her foot. Cringing in pain as she threw the menace under the bush Samantha fixed her shirt. It had fallen down on one side exposing a little bit more of the right side of her chest. Tightening the neck and fixing the sleeve ends to hide the pink scars on her skin Samantha finally looked to Svan. Instantly regretting it Samantha put herself to work. Going through her back Samantha pulled out her skirt and tor the slits. Now two half's Samantha dropped one half and used her sharp teeth to make smaller lengths of cloth. Samantha took three of the several pieces to the water and dipped them in. Wrapping one around her foot Samantha tied and knot and moved to Svan. "The bigger one will wash your wounds. The other we can....." Samantha stopped and froze when her eyes landed on a dark form behind the bush. "Svan," she whispered, "Svan, get your ass in the water." Samantha didn't let her gaze drop from the form as she started to loosen her clothing again, 'Why again do I even wear it?'. "I swear to Caiyha, if you don't not haul your ass into that water. I will eat you, alive or dead, after I'm done protecting your ass." Samantha's eyes watched the form as it started to creep towards the two. Her shirt was already gone and once Svan would get in the water she would kick her pants off and shift. 'How could I be so stupid! This is what I get for living like I did 'mother'!' Samantha had a internal struggle about her mother. She cursed her for having her live a life so sheltered life when things like this happened but she prayed for her when she felt alone and didn't know what to do with herself. Usually both sides happened to come out around the snake.

[Licearsvansan]

Svan really wasn't enjoying this as much as he should have been. The mere fact that he was riding a tiger should have made his day. The fact that it was Samantha should have made his month. However, the moment was poisoned by both Svan's guilt at the wounds he caused her, and the pounding headache that seemed almost to be spreading beyond his head and into his very soul. To make matters worse? Aspirin hasn't been invented yet.

When the tiger finally stopped moving and let Svan down, he hit the ground with a wet slap. Ow Svan placed his hand on the ground and stood hunched over on all fours. The sudden fall, small though it was, had caused his headache to grow even stronger, and Svan was nearly crippled by the pain. Svan could force his mind to ignore things like bruises and cuts to some degree, but a headache was an entirely different kind of pain. The dull endless thumping of blood though his wounded head made it feel like his skull had a heartbeat. The pain scattered his thoughts and he found it nearly impossible to focus on anything but the drumming wave of pain in his head. As the drumming grew softer, Svan let out a groan and lifted himself onto a rock near the shore.

Sitting on the rock, Svan began to take off his shoes and kick them to the side. As he finished removing his second shoe he looked up to find Samantha coming toward him with newly soaked strips of cloth. She looked at the sitting snake and spoke, "The bigger one will wash your wounds. The other we can....." Samantha cut her sentence short and began staring at something behind Svan.

"The other we can what?" Svan spoke back curiously.

"Svan, get your ass in the water."

Caught off guard the snake looked at the water, and then back at Samantha as if to say "are you crazy?", but what he was really thinking was, "Are you petching crazy?!" Apparently she had forgotten either that dhani's are coldblooded, or that water in early spring is still as cold as winter. Svan folded his arms in refusal and glared challengingly at the tiger.

The tiger however, was too busy stripping and focusing on something else to bother with Svan's stubbornness, "I swear to Caiyha, if you don't not haul your ass into that water. I will eat you, alive or dead, after I'm done protecting your ass."

Realizing that Something serious was going on, Svan decided that the best course of action would be to at least comply to part of the tiger's demands. He lifted himself up lazily, and snatched the pieces of cloth. As he slowly made his way to the river he used the wet cloth to wipe the blood and dirt from his wound. Bits of wood and pebbles fell from his hair as he tended to his wound and once he felt that the area was sufficiently cleaned, he wrapped the second cloth around his head as a tight bandana. The blood on his skull quickly began to flow back out and soak the second bandana, but the pressure that Svan had tied the cloth with kept any serious leaking to a minimum. Once he reached the rivers edge he looked back towards Samantha and spotted a figure moving in the bushes.

The snake's eyes went wide as he realized that she was trying to defend him from whatever it was that was hiding behind the bushes. He had wondered what she had meant by 'protecting his ass'. There was something wrong about this whole thing. She had fed him, carried him, and now was defending him. Even after all the things her said and did to her. It didn't make sense to him why she would do all of this. Svan looked at the burns on her naked torso. It didn't make sense, especially after he did that to her.

He felt weak. His mind was spinning and his strength was compromised. If she needed help, he couldn't do anything to save her. The last thing he wanted was her to die for him, at least not when he felt he didn't deserve it. Unfortunately, in his current state Svan would only hinder her so he had little choice but to take her advice and get into the water. He quickly unfastened his belt, dropped his two pairs of pants, and dove into the stream until he was fully submerged. The last moments before Svan closed his eyes and dipped his head in, he unfastened the buttons on his cuffs, and took a final look at the scars on Samantha's body.

When he returned to the surface half a minute later, he hoped that there would be no new ones.

[Samantha Grenth]

Once she heard the sounds of splashing water Samantha quickly got out of her pants and shifted. As soon as she was on all fours she was being tackled by the other animal. They both went tumbling along the muddy bank before Samantha was able to get the other creature pinned. Samantha let out a roar in the face of what she now noticed was another feline. A Kougara at that. Probably trailing Svan just as Samantha had and then when Samantha had made her kill the sent of blood was stronger. 'Fucking Felines. Can't mind your own business.' Samantha let out a hiss of pain as the Kougara's nails scrapped down her chest and tried to get her belly. Luckily they missed her belly but her chest stung a little. Samantha hissed again as she swatted at the Kougara's head. Her paws connected along with her claws and she tore in. The Kougara let out a cry of pain as Samantha's claws left a nice trail of deep bloody claws marks from its jaw to its snout. As is raised it's neck Samantha went to get a grip on it but was stopped when the Kougara grabbed on to her bottom jaw and jerked down. Samantha quickly pulled back as pain shot through her jaw. It wasn't unhinged but it was weak. A couple good swats and she'd end up with a broken jaw. Samantha's raged eyes turned to the Kougara as it got up and faced her. When it seemed as though it was getting ready to pounce at her Samantha charged. Startled the Kougara tried to back up but only stepped back into the water. Samantha took her chance and rammed her whole body into throwing the Kougara back. Samantha fell into the water and instantly had a small panic. But not for her, but for Svan because the water was ice. And he was coldblooded, in more ways than one. Samantha quickly got over that when the Kougara came back at her. Standing up to meet the Kougara Samantha realized she had an advantage and a disadvantage. While she was bigger and had more power, the Kougara was smaller and more agile. But they were in water and while the Kougara had fur for the cold it didn't have the love of the cold like Samantha. The two felines let out hisses, growls, and crys of pain as they two swatted at each other. Soon the Kougara had to drop on all fours but misjudged the depth of the water and went under. Samantha took her chance when the cat started to come back in a hurry and let her open mouth be filled with the neck of the other feline. Samantha instantly was on a blood high when her jaw locked on the Kougara neck and her teeth cut through skin. Samantha dragged the struggling Kougara to shore and messed with it until it was on its back again. Samantha took her claws and racked them down its stomach, earning her yips and frantic clawings at her head and body. Blood went everywhere as she Kougara inside where exposed to the outside world. Samantha backed up and spit at the Kougara. The bloody panting feline struggled to get to its feet and run but a loud roar from Samantha and a couple threatening steps forward and the Kougara was off. Samantha dropped to the ground and panted. She didn't know the dmage she had but she knew she had a tun of new small scratches. Samantha pulled her muddy bloody and wet self into the water and submerged herself. Shifting under the water and coming back up human Samantha stayed in the water. Small cuts around her body stung as she floated. Samantha swam back a little and stood. The water was about waist deep so when she turned she was met with an angry growl. Panic set in as she realized the Kougara wasn't giving up just yet and had come back. Samantha went to shift but she was being tackled and thrown under the water with out air in her lungs before she could. Claws pricked her neck as she struggled to breathe. Samantha was starting to panic as her lungs burned for air. Samantha brought her arm up and punched the feline in the jaw and with her other hand reached into its exposed innards and grabbed. Pulling down Samantha let out sigh as the Kougara finally went limp. But she regretted the sigh as soon as it happened. Water invaded her mouth and Samantha found herself drowning. Pushing the dead feline off her Samantha struggled to get to the surface. OOCsorry for the long post. Also Samantha is still under the water in the end

[Licearsvansan]

As anyone who has taken an ice water bath can say, the first moments after you submerge are the worst. For human this is a horrible feeling. For a coldblooded creature it might as well be murder.

As Svan's body hit the water. He suddenly was filled with a massive disdain for a certain tiger. His entire body tightened as the river swallowed him, and he fought to hold his breath. Underwater Svan thrashed with frustration at being unable to return to the surface, but quickly stopped when he realized he the movements were just making him colder. Once he finally stopped moving, he pulled what little was left of his focus back to the task of helping Samantha. Slowly his body began to undergo the awkward movements that shifted him into his dhani form. His muscles stretched, his skin grew thinker, and his bones melted together as the shift began to take place. There was a certain relaxing feeling associated with his natural morph. It was like a a stretch that relieved him in a way no other stretch could. This feeling was sadly nullified by the pain of the cold water on his body.

A pain he would soon miss once it was replaced by the feeling of a large cat paw digging into his back. Svan opened his mouth to scream in pain, but only succeeded in taking in water. His transformation was now complete, but now he was drowning. At least the ice water felt good on his head. Svan looked up to see what had assaulted him, but was unable to see through the waves in the water. It seemed that whatever was above him was fighting....fiercely. The snake managed to deduce this by both the severity of the splashes as paws hit the water, and by the repeated stomping on his back by the cat atop him. Currently half drowned, Svan decided against politely asking the tap dancing cat to find a new location, and instead simply swung back his tail and let it slam into the cat's stomach. With the cat's weight now lifted onto his tail, Svan pushed himself as far away as possible, and lifted his head out of the water to breath.

Once above water, the dhani let out little snake coughs and bent his head to let the water drain from his throat. He told himself that would be the last time he ever to the cat's advice. As Svan remembered the tiger, there was a brief pause were Svan's muddled brain worked to remind itself why he had transformed in the first place. The snake whipped around just in time to see a charging kougara headed straight for a human Samantha. Svan immediately took off to intercept the tiger, and even called out a warning. Unfortunately, Svan called out in his native tongue, and quickly realized that he sounded little different than a large snake. "Turn the petch back around already!" The dhani whipped his powerful tail in the water, as his hands stood out ready to grab the kougara. Just as the beast launched itself at Samantha, Svan coiled his tail and kicked it against the river bottom. His body flew forward, but not fast enough. He missed his mark entirely, and his only consolation was the kougara's tail in his mouth.

Knowing of nothing else he could do, he gave the tail the hardest pull he could summon and found that kougara tails are removable. The snake feel back on what could be referred to as his butt, and stared dumbfounded and panic-stricken as the beast attempted to maul the woman. Samantha was about to die, and not for any worthy purpose either. In complete honesty it was Svan who deserved a mauling or two, but instead the woman he had taunted and nearly killed was in his place. Svan would not let this stand.

If there was any life in the kougara left after Samantha began to yank out its intestines, it was quickly knocked out as the dhani slammed into its side with inhuman force. The limp body was tossed into the air with the snake chasing it and delivering a series of crushing blows to its skull when it landed. The beasts face was quickly reduced to a paste under the barrage, and only once Svan could no longer recognize the creatures head did the snake relent. The snake was breathing heavily, but he payed no mind to either his wounds or his exhaustion. Right now, Samantha could be bleeding out and he had to help her.

Without a moments hesitation, the snake rushed back into the water to catch a struggling Samantha and drag her to shore.

[Samantha Grenth]

OOCI was going to use the boxcode that I named 'Sassy Samantha' but I was like, "I made this one for traveling with Svan soooo" Samantha didn't know how far from the surface she was when clawed hand gripped her. Samantha went to fight off the clawed predator but found her self being dragged to shore. Laying naked on her stomach Samantha coughed up murky water. Breathing in deeply Samantha quickly shifted her eyes to her helper. It was Svan but it wasn't. He was half snake and shivering. But he was Svan enough for Samantha to get pissed. Sitting up Samantha pulled her legs under her and glared at Svan. She didn't talk, didn't make a sound or movement other than sit there and glare. Her skin started to dry and the sand/mud stuck to it. Small patches of blood mixed with water trailed down her in droplets. Her hair stuck to her back and some strayed forward to sit on her chest in a black color. Several minutes passed of Samantha glaring at the snake before she finally spoke. Well more so growled, "You are a goddamn idiot." Samantha stood and swatted sand off of her. "You stayed in the water so I give you points for that. But you had to go and fucking shift." Samantha walked back to her bag and took some of the torn cloth to the water. Her rant not stopping, "Not saying your ugly or that your useless but you pretty much are. Your head is still bleeding and probably is only numb cus of the goddamn cold ass water." Samantha ignored the scratches on her arms and chest and walked back to Svan. Samantha didn't care if the snake was now taller than her or more pointy and battle ready. She reached up, hooked his neck and brought his face down her level. Glaring in his eyes she flicked his nose and then began to wipe out the blood. "If you so much as hiss I swear to every god. I will throw your ass back in the water and keep you there." Samantha's heated stare moved to her work, "And I hope that you freeze to death because it's going to take time for me to get a fire going. You get to clean the cub for an early dinner and some snacks along the way." Samantha pulled back but didnt let go of his neck. Moving her hand to his chin she moved his head around slowly to inspect the wound and her work. "It will take some time to heal, not long, but you'll feel woozy and have a head ache in the morning." Samantha flicked him once more on the nose before actually looking at his form. He was definitely interesting looking. he wasn't scary looking to her but Samantha was sure a cub or child would be scared of the snake. Samantha's gaze traveled along his torso and down his.. tail. His scales were actually very nice to look at. Samantha though, wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Looking back up she patted his shoulder, "Not bad snakeboy. But I think you could do better if your going to try and scare anything." Samantha poked the large bite mark on his shoulder before turning away.

[Licearsvansan]

OOCSvan is speaking with a dhani lisp

He really should have expected this kind of reaction. Actually he HAD expected it. What else would Samantha do? Thank him for trying to help? Unlikely. Apologize for forcing him into the water? Doubtful. Admit that he may have just saved her life? Impossible. To expect any of that would make Svan a mad man. However, desite realizing how pointless it would be to count on a show of appreciation from Samantha he still secretly had hoped for it.

Unfortunately, instead of being grateful Samantha was her usual sour self.

With his addrenalen quickly draining, Svan's headache was coming back with a vengence and he was in far from the mood to deal with Samantha's attitude. When she began to glare at him Svan put up his arms as if to say "what is wrong now?!", and turned with an annoyed sigh to go gather his things. As he bent down to grab his pack, shoes and trousers, rivulets of ice cold water streamed down his head and hands to drip onto his dry clothes. The snake made a look of frustration and shook his hands vigorously in an attempt to dry them. Realizing that he wasn't going to take several minutes to get dry enough to put on his pants without soaking them, the snake came up with a different use for them. His scaly wet brown hands wrapped around the cotton pants and he lifted them to his face. After a few moments of rubbing it against his skin like a towel the dhani was finding himself noticebly dryer, and not nearly as cold. Unfortunately Svan still had a sopping wet shirt on that was sending streams of water down the bottom of his torso. Svan clutch at the cloth and peeled off the parts that was clinging to his skin before poping it over his dhani head and onto a nearby tree branch to dry. As he was putting his shirt onto the tree, Svan noticed a splash of deep red lined the backside of the collar, and upon remebering his injury his headache suddenly began to pinch his head like a cruel vise. The dhani turned around half expecting so massive crab to be crushing his skull, but only saw the angry tiger simmering in a dim rage several feet away.

"You are a goddamn idiot." The tiger finally spoke.

The insult caught Svan off guard and he barely managed to mutter an "Excuse me?" before she continued.

"You stayed in the water so I give you points for that. But you had to go and fucking shift. Not saying your ugly or that your useless but you pretty much are. Your head is still bleeding and probably is only numb cus of the goddamn cold ass water." The dhani watched half dumbstruck as the woman walked over to perpare more cloth for Svan's wound.

You're blaming me for shifting? I did it so that I could help your sorry keister! Svan was now growing visibly angry. Refusing to thank him could be forgiven, but insulting him for trying to help and belittleing his dhani form? Svan had to fight the urge to walk up and sucker punch her before she was even done soaking the cloths. When she came up and force his head down without her permission, Svan nearly lost it. Inside his pounding head he was practicaly screaming. Oh I really MUST have hit my head hard. For a moment there I thought that helping you was a good idea. Here, just let me grab you by your jugular and finish what the kougara started! He nearly spoke his mind too, but just as he opened his mouth to speak his voice left him.

"-it's going to take time for me to get a fire going."

Svan's mouth hung slightly open as he remembered the look of terror on Samantha's eye when he had nearly burned her alive. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to strangle her, or simply start a fire for her so she wouldn't have to do it. In the end Svan decided to do neither, and instead he shut his mouth, nodded at Samantha and turned go over to the dead kougara. As he turned away he felt a pressure against the scars she had given him. Lightly annoyed by her continued teasing, the snake licked his thumb, and adjusted himself so that he could catch the retreating tigress. Svan's other hand cupped Samantha's shoulder and drew her within range of his right arm. He then placed his thumb firmly against a cut on her cheek and brushed by it with the saliva coated digit. "You said not to hiss." The dhani said in a flat tone that made it seem as if he was forcing himself to tease her.

Without another word the dhani went back to the carcass of the kougara and began preparing it to be eaten.