[PRP] A Love Deal? How Boring. [Anzu x Rayne]

[NymiiNym]

'Y'know, they say their's a witch in the swamp.'
'She'll give you whatever you want, but you have to give her something she wants, too.'

Forget her. That's what Rayne kept trying to whisper to himself as he padded through the cold swamp. Forget the red-furred woman who had broken his heart so viciously, stomping on it as if he was rubbish. Those odd eyes had peered at him so anxiously, as if he'd forgive the bearer if she portrayed such a cute expression. It burned into his mind, crawling around and heaving up slime and muck as he tried to erase her. It hadn't been enough to just break his heart - no, she had almost seemed amused when her mouth curled back and tore out the death sentence to what they were from her throat. Yet, she had the gall to cry.

Forget her. He couldn't. Slender blue paws betrayed his mind as they carried him through the cold marshland. He had never wanted to erase someone from his life so much, yet it wasn't that simple. He couldn't obliterate the memories of a warm laugh and honest affection. She had been everything to him, and he hadn't realized it until she smiled and said her last goodbye. Now, she was gone, and he couldn't find her. It tore into his heart knowing that she was out there, somewhere, and he was not by her side. She probably moved on, or hell, maybe that's why she left - to find someone better than him. He was a failure, wasn't he? He wasn't muscular enough, and his voice wasn't deep. He was slender, smooth, slightly small, and his voice was gentle. She wanted someone stronger and more confident like her, right?

His head shook, brown hair flopping into his eyes from the humidity. No. She wasn't like that. He hadn't been told why she wished to leave, but he doubted it was because of that. It was his fault, wasn't it? He had doubted her feelings for far too long, and when he called her to him to discuss his worrying feelings things had died between them. His own insecurities had sent her running, not his soft voice or gentle features. He blamed her for the loss of something he had cherished, but only because it hurt to admit that it was his fault.

Forget her! He needed to stop, right? He needed to put her aside. He had broken what they had, and now this was his punishment. They would never be together again, and perhaps it was more the fact he would truly be alone that hurt him the most. He had experienced such a pure love that he had ended, and now it was frightening to realize he may never have it again. Perhaps. He wasn't even sure. What did he feel? Did he even know himself well enough to predict his feelings? How long had he travelled and been whoever someone needed him to be? How young had he been when he bumped into her and became the hero she had desired from him?

Had he ever truly experienced life on his own long enough to know who he was?
Did he want to?
Did he even know how he truly felt inside?

Yet.... here he was: seeking a rumor. Even if he found the witch what would he ask from her? What would he give up? Did he even have anything he wanted? He had thought, originally, that he wished to forget the one he had loved. Then, perhaps he wanted a new love? And now, well, he didn't even know....

He was just scared of being alone.
 

[NymiiNym]

Summer was far too cruel to Anzu. She despised the suns rays, finding the insufferable heat caused a ripple of nausea to run through her. This may have been what influenced the strange vixen into taking refuge in a damp, cool, and lively swamp. Unnaturally cold, the swamp was a deities-send to her. It provided not only shelter from the horrific blistering heat, but also new customers. Anyone who knew Anzu (which was no one) knew that she loved new customers. She never stayed long enough in one location to have "regulars", but she grew tired of the same type of customer. In her last location the customers had always whined about infertility issues, or the need for new kill. Everywhere she went came a "type": a group of people who needed her assistance for one reason or another and their problem was always similar to the previous customer. It bored her, leaving her restless and needing to move.

She had a few customers here and there. Some couple had come to her wishing for a charm that would give their beloved son a mate and she, out of the "goodness" of her heart, promised them a charm if they waited three days. However, just like any transaction between her and another, there came a price. Usually bizarre and very rarely a bit malicious (if you knew her parents you'd understand why), the odd vixen had not given the couple an exception. She had wanted metal from a nearby humans village. She received payment and delivered the object, later hearing that the male had received a mate as she had ensured.

Anzu prided herself in her service. She never failed a customer, ever. How did she do it? Was it magic? Had the deities blessed her with the ability to grant wishes? The simple answer was: no, they had not. She was not magical, nor was she blessed. She had no powers other than that fierce hot liquid that left her mouth or her glowing tail. She was just like any other average normal, mostly. The only thing that set her apart was her creativity and her cunningness.

How had she found a charm and ensured the male would find a mate? Anzu had left the swamp and followed the couple. She had watched the son in question putter about a woman he had a crush on, and after investigation (more like stalking, but Anzu hated such a word) she watched the woman drop a precious locket. Distraught, the woman drove herself into a frenzy looking for it. She'd never find it, though, seeing as Anzu snatched it up and fled into the night with it. Gifted it to the couple, the son was very aware the girl had lost her locket and returned it to her the next morning. It just so happened that was enough to sway the heart of the female and, in just a weeks time, the woman fell for the male.

It wasn't magic. To Anzu is was both art and business. No one knew why she did these things. Did she enjoy helping others? Did she like the form of payment she received? Even she didn't know - she just did it. It was a part of her. This business completed her. It was, in a way, her purpose. Somehow, without fail, people found her and asked her for help. And she always answered for a price. It was just how Anzu lived, and just what her life consisted of.

The swamp was quickly growing dull, though. A few had come, such as that couple, but there weren't enough requests. It was her own fault though; she shouldn't have chosen the swamps. It was cool, yes, but not many foxes came here and there. Even when she carefully placed rumors about her within the nearby population few foxes stopped by. It was frustrating to say the least.

However, today was different. The masked-vixen tilted her head to the side, smelling the scent of another. Finally. Strange glowing eyes peered through the dark woods, legs leaping over a stream as she followed the scent. She spotted the blue fox pretty quickly, her tail lazing about as she considered how to lure him into her temporary den. Aha. Night had settled hours ago, she could use the glow of her tail as a lantern. Flicking her tail, the vixen whistled sharply towards the male before springing off towards her den, taking care to stop here and there to ensure he could still see the light of her tail.  

[NymiiNym]

Rayne grumbled gently as he leapt over roots, ears flicking back firmly against his head. He did not like this. He was lonely, feeling even more alone as he padded through the swamplands. Perhaps that was why he paused when he saw a flicker of light, paw lifting and ears flicking up.

.....What?

Now, he wasn't the well versed in the creatures of the swamplands, but he was pretty sure nothing with a red glowing body existed. He knew he shouldn't approach, however this didn't cease his paws from suddenly springing him forth. Perhaps it was the witch, guiding him to her den. Perhaps it was a beast about to consume him. Either way, it didn't matter. He wanted to continue, dangers be damned. Sure, he could end up a lifeless body, but what fun was life without risks?

And so, he followed.  

[NymiiNym]

The silly fox followed, as she had expected. Leaping over various rocks and fallen logs, the swamp-fox kept a steady pace as her paws gently leapt off various objects. While she was graceful she couldn't say the same from the male following her. His fumbling and tripping was beginning to grate on her nerves, as she had to stop several times to ensure he saw her tail. Finally, after what took perhaps thirty minutes, they made it back to her cave. Passing through the ivy entrance, the vixen leapt onto the highest rock she could find, flicking her glowing tail around her body and peering through her mask at the entrance, waiting.

Hopefully, he'd offer a challenge. She was tired of deals being revolved around either love or power. Hell, if he wanted power it better be something entertaining, like dominating a tribe or killing someone. She may assist with that. Perhaps. She also didn't want a target on her head. Judging by how much of a bumbling idiot he had been, she doubted it was anything along those lines.

How droll.  

[NymiiNym]

Panting by the time he arrived at the cave, the male took two seconds to reconsider if actually entering the creepy cave was such a good idea. Probably not, honestly, but what else did he have to do? Shaking his head, he had to remind himself that he had come to the swamp for a reason, and he may have found the woman he needed.

Padding right into the cave, the male shook himself off briefly as the wet ivy scrapped against his fur. That's when he saw her, a dark vixen with a rather odd mask and a glowing, vibrant tail. Bone material seemed to poke from her back, and her eyes illuminated the shadows around her. Moving only a bit closer, his spine twitched briefly as her stare didn't cease, simply following his movement.

"Er.... Are you...." He trailed off, realizing just how rude it may be to call someone a witch, of all things. Unsure what else to say, or how to continue his sentence, he merely blinked at her, tail twitching as his nerves took a hold of him.  

[NymiiNym]

Flexing her nails at the males apparent stupidity, an ear flicked in his general direction, eyes unwavering during the males approach. What an idiot, she had hoped she had someone more confident appear, or at least able to muster the courage to call her a witch, as the locals did.

"The witch?" Her cold tone questioned, a brief, hollow laugh escaping. "I won't get offended if you use that term for me, boy. It's not the first or last time I'll hear it." Leaping off her rock and approaching the male, a faint smile flicked across her features as the male backed away once, settling onto her haunches and flicking her tail firmly around her body.

"What brings you to the swamp?"