[PRP] Follow Me (Al+Zar)

[Baneful]

Nuru never came home.

He'd waited and waited, letting time spool out as far as he dared, trying to move on and trying to shake off the sadness and loss that clung to him like the fog of insanity. Nothing ever did anything but briefly alleviate it. Whenever he smiled, he was pretending.

He wasn't sure why he still came to the haunted house other than some vague hope that one day he might find Nuru here, lost perhaps in the winding maze of rooms and courtyards. Sometimes he came there in his dreams - those times sometimes he'd find the boil, he'd smile and say "It's me Zah, I'm back." and it would be ok - until he woke.

He'd stopped sleeping much.

Today he moved like a colourless ghost through the haunted house, walking because the sound of his hooves on the wood floors was more soothing than the oppressive silence of his room.

 

[Saliru]

It was Al's first time, he was already trembling with fear. He started down another hallway, Nuru held high at the ready. With all his desire to avoid confrontation, he made himself a beacon to that which he hoped to avoid. His fear was almost tangible; apples with that unmistakable tang of dirt and wet dog.

He moved to lead with Nuru, the violet runes on his surface dimly illuminating the darkness ahead of him.

Nuru urged the hunter onward.
 

[Baneful]

Zar moved surprisingly quietly for a creature with hooves, tail curling gently behind him as he went. Naturally predatory, his keen hearing picked up the sound of Al fairly quickly. Humans moved erratically by his standards, inefficient in their footfalls and noisily clothed.

He didn't don human form. He had no reason to pretend any longer, if it was a hunter he wanted them to know what they were dealing with, he wasn't in a hunting sort of mood.

He stepped into the hallway ahead of Al, everything about his posture relaxed, giving him a thoughtful look over his glasses.

 

[Saliru]

The second Zar crossed Al's path, he stopped in his tracks and crouched slightly. His eyes were wide with terror but the calm resolve on the "face" of his weapon remained even as the runes flashed furiously.

Nuru was trying to encourage Al but something was... off. Just plain wrong.
 

[Baneful]

Zar eyed Al first, ignoring the staff as he drew closer to get a better look. His night vision was decent, good enough to see in the dim hallway from where he was. He halted out of striking range.

Only then did he spot what Al held, his posture going from lazy and at ease to stiffening entirely, wings folding tightly against his back. Surely there were a lot of black dogs? Barghests were not entirely uncommon. That was what he told himself until he spotted the collar and all pretence of composure melted away. No longer did a monster stand before Al but a distressed teenager, unable to hold back the shock and heartbreak at what he was seeing.

"Th..that weapon." he said, pointing a talon feebly in the direction of Nuru, normally so careful in his words but unable to find the right ones. "..Nuru."

 

[Saliru]

Al was poised and ready to fight but then something in his mind seemed to slam on the breaks. Full force, both feet on the breaks slam. His own posture went from fearful and defensive to just plain unsure about this whole situation.

He slowly looked to his staff; so uncertain he asked aloud, "How does he know your name?"

Nuru sounded even more confused in Al's thoughts than he felt.
 

[Baneful]

Zar could hardly speak, could hardly think. It was like the world had zeroed in on this single point. He'd been waiting on Nuru. He'd dreamed of meeting him here. And he had. But there was no hello Zar, no reassurance everything was ok. Everything was not ok and it would never be again.

"H.. he. He was." Weakness in front of a human was despicable and shameful. "He was my boilfriend. He was mine."

He clenched his hands, had he gone willingly? Had he been tricked or captured? Was it his fault? There were questions but no answers. This human wasn't even to blame, he understood the humans didn't choose beyond the cell.

It hurt so much.

"And now he is yours."