She wholly devoted herself to the well-earned meal, tasting and appreciating each warm bite as the open rib cage steamed into the night air. Occasionally she pulled back and ran her tongue over the blood on her face, oblivious to what waited in the lengthening shadows. She hadn’t felt the stranger’s eyes on her as she watched the raccoon. She hadn’t seen the appreciation on his face as she struck it down. And she didn’t hear him approaching from the dark. He was only feet from her when she finally looked up, dropping a half-chewed mouthful and lowering her head over the kill to the tune of a low growl.

His eyes locked onto hers and she became aware of how far upward she had to look to meet his stare. He was massive, especially in comparison to her, but no struggle to look at. The fading red of their sunset backdrop set his creamy face aglow, darkened his amber eyes. As Fathom melted into the shadows he came alive, adapted even as she watched him. Her gaze shifted for just a moment, struggling to adsorb details she could barely see. She rose to her full height. If he wanted the raccoon, she wouldn’t fight him for it. He was much too big, and she had mostly sated her hunger already.

He spoke then. Low, easy words; conversational.

She considered him for a moment, somewhat confused by the question. “I guess I’ve always been good on my feet,” she answered quietly. The silver-tipped hairs along her back relaxed somewhat and she took a step away from the carcass. He didn’t seem as though he intended to cause trouble, but she felt safer with more distance between them. It was then that she began to consider the implications of his question. How long had he been watching her? Maybe he was only being polite in allowing her to hunt in peace, and then hesitated to interrupt her meal. Maybe.

She decided to err on the side of courtesy. “I’m Fathom. Do you make a habit of watching others hunt?” She had meant to be joking, but she could feel a strange anxiety winding its way through her. It coiled in the muscles of her legs and radiated from the intensified thuds of her heart. She willed herself to be calm, all the while struggling to maintain eye contact with the stranger. In her mind, if he wanted to hurt her he could have done it when she was distracted. But if he wanted to hurt her now, she would ensure it would be a struggle.