[IC] the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel would not wake up for some time longer. What had happened before, well, it really took a lot out of her. She had used a lot of energy that previous day. Her eyes remained close for a bit after Andrew checked on her.

She would wake up around mid-day. She would groan a bit as she tried to sit up. She blinked. She managed to glance around a bit. She was silent though.

[amberly]

"Angel, you're up." Andrew called as soon as he noticed her sitting up. He came over and sat down beside her. "We need to go find some food, I don't know about you but I'm starting. I've been looking, but there isn't anything around here that I want to try. Do you remember what way we came?" She was the professional tracker. Andrew really hoped they weren't lost or they might have to try eating those questionable mushrooms he'd seen at the base of a tree.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She was still holding her head a bit when Andrew called out to her like that. She winced a bit.
"Not....not so loud!"

She gasped a bit. She blinked when asked if she remembered the way back.
"....perhaps."
She sighed.

[amberly]

"Sorry," he began more softly, "do you think you will make it on your leg? I could try to carry you piggyback, a little bit at a time. Some progress is better than no progress, isn't it?" He was worried about her. They were both in bad shape really. There weren't towns anywhere near them to go to for help.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She sighed.
"...i suppose."
She looked away for a bit. She almost closed her eyes again.

[amberly]

"Point me in the right direction and I'll carry you a bit." Andrew said sanding and holding out a hand to help her stand up. Then here could crouch down and she could just ride on his back. She wouldn't have to be very awake for that.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly

Angel blinked. She raised an eyebrow.

"What about.....?"

She did not finish that question. He would know what she was talking about, or so she assumed. Anyway, she did try to stand up though.

[amberly]

"The curse is gone. I won't hurt you. See? The veins that drained life are gone. I'm human again, just human." He assured her holding out his hands for her to see.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She frowned. She was not sure what to say.
"i.....do not know what to say."

She was speaking the truth. She did not know what to say.

[amberly]

"Say what direction we need to go, then." He said gently. The poor woman was hardly functioning, they needed to get out of the woods. That's what he told himself to fight back the disappointment that she wasn't happier for him. He's just gotten his life back! But for now he needed to focus on helping both of them get out of the woods. He opened his back and crouched down for her to hang onto him.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
"um....that way?"

Angel pointed towards the southeast. She was not sure what was wrong with her. But, something felt...different. She felt more unsure and everything. She was quite confused.

Anyway, she shook her head.
"You, um, you do not have to carry me."
She winced when she tried to walk though.

[amberly]

Andrew looked over his shoulder at her. He adjusted so his back was facing her again.

"I don't have to. But I want to try to do something to help your leg. And there isn't much of anything I know, except offer to carry you a little while. I doubt we will get very far. If your stubbornness can keep us moving without further damaging your leg, I'll take it. I'm serious, hop on."

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel sighed.
"Very well."

She climbed onto his back. She had not wanted to, feeling bad for some reason. Anyway, she waited.

[amberly]

Andrew stood and carried her southeast. He said as much attention as usual to the roots and shrubs, but this time it was to protect himself from tripping, to protect Angel, than to protect the plants. He made it farther than he had expected to get, but had to stop and sit down a while afterward.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel took a deep breath. She felt bad. She glanced around. She blinked when they stopped.

"See? You should not have carried me. You are too tired to keep going."

[amberly]

We're both tired, Andrew thought leaning back against a tree and stretched his arms out in front of him over his knees.

It was a long and very slow journey, but finally the pair made it out of the woods. The first buildings of the town could be seen through the trees, the road running past it, smoke coming through the chimney and the smell of something cooking drifted on the breeze.

It was a welcoming sight, but Andrew worried no one would welcome him. He stopped, hiding behind a tree out of sight of the house.

"Do you think they'll be able to trust me? Believe that you killed the other monster and pay you? Let me live? Even if they don't let me live here, at least I can live, if they don't capture and kill me themselves now that I'm not in my castle. Do you think they'll believe you if you tell them what happened?" He had all kinds of worries eating at him but had put off voicing them to Angel until right now when it couldn't be avoided any longer.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She frowned. She sighed a bit.

"I....can not say."

That was the truth. Her words were honest and sincere. She found herself looking away for a time.

"We will have to find out."
She finally spoke again after a bit.

[amberly]

"You lead. They'll be glad to see you." He said stepping out from behind the tree. They would probably be scared of him. But he did follow Angel to the house for some much needed food, help for her leg, and to pass along her news.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She sighed a bit. She nodded once.

"....Very well."

She approached the house. Then, she carefully knocked on the door. She waited silently after that.

[amberly]

The woman at the cottage welcomed Angel and gave them both food before pressing about what has happened. Andrew ate quickly, delighted to eat bread and some stew and be warm and satisfied. Not thirsty.

The woman waited until three hunter and the man has eaten before pressing Angel with questions.

"We worried you'd never come back. Did you do it? Have you saved us? Is he dead?"