[AW] When Exploring goes Bad (Open!)

[Coraline]

She was lost again. This is why she didn’t explore places alone – she got lost and when you were lost, it was easier for the bad things to eat you. Nervously, she fidgeted, hiding in the trees, button eyes wide and searching for any sign of danger. It was bright and warm, the sun at its highest point, so there was truly little danger of a predator, but in her mind…it didn’t matter. Something was stalking her. It was always stalking her. In the human world, it would be called “paranoia,” and she would be heavily medicated, but alas – we have no such things here in this world. Instead of being medicated, she whipped her neck to and fro, ears twitching constantly, searching for the next foot-fall, the next snapping twig, the soft growl or licking of fangs. She fidgeted a little more, prancing in place, tail flipping to and fro. She was not a fighter. She never had been. Hell, when the diseased dragon appeared and wanted to kill everyone, she wanted to save it! She was not made for fighting. She was a lover – and not even really that. She had loved him, and only him; but he never knew.   Another sound behind her (probably a pinecone falling from a pine tree) sent her nerves into a frenzy, and she bolted from the trees, a guttural, fearful sound bubbling up from her throat. She had no knowledge of where she was going, or where she might be. All she knew was that something was behind her, salivating and nipping at her heels, seeking out her Achilles tendons so it could then fall upon her exposed throat, killing her with its giant fangs. She gave a squeal as the imaginary creature (damn pinecone) neared, and she ran headlong, button eyes not seeing clearly, senses working overtime. Finally, she collided headlong into…something. It was hard enough to stop her flight, but soft enough to not kill her. She struck and then fell sideways, landing on her knees, her rump quickly following suit, sending her rolling once…twice…and almost a third time before she stilled, lying dazed on the earth. She knew that whatever was chasing her was going to pounce any moment, but she couldn’t move. The earth was spinning, and her breath was coming in ragged gasps. What had she hit? She strained to see what it was, and thought she saw another body.   She gave another squeal – this time, one of surprise. Had she hurt whomever she ran into? She hoped not! She had to warn them that there was something about to eat them both! Struggling to both breathe and move, she strained until she rose unsteadily to her feet. You would think that for one who was built for endurance, a run through the trees wouldn’t affect her so much, but apparently, she was out of practice. Wobbling toward the body she struck, she searched desperately for the monster. There had to be one…it was breathing down her neck only a moment ago! ”I…was…being…chased…!” The words came slowly, in short bursts as she struggled to slow her breathing. What felt like months later, her breathing came slower, easier, and she was able to speak more clearly. ”It was right there! Behind me!” Searching the deep holes her hooves had made, she realized there were no other prints – no predatory tracks, no extra hooves…there was nothing. IF she could have blushed, she would have been red as an apple by now. ”I’m so sorry…did I hurt you? You aren’t going to kill me are you?” She ducked her head and glanced up behind hooded eyes. She figured that she had probably hurt this other, and they were going to punish her with death. Oh, she hoped not! But… what if?   ”Speech”

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