:::not here for my _{confessionals:::}

Malignus could barely believe his luck. The clueless lady had fallen for his bait hook, line and sinker and he hadn't even had to blackmail her into following him. This day was vastly improving with every minute that slid by. As soon as the girl had replied, telling him she would follow, he allowed himself to perk up slightly, making a show of swallowing his tears and regaining his composure slightly, “Dear lady, I would be forever grateful to you!” and then a pause to listen to her reassurances, “That makes me feel a lot more comfortable. I would like to ask about it, but we must hurry. I am afraid that every second we wait I could lose my precious baby!”

With that he spun on his heel and disappeared, racing fast enough to look desperate but not so fast as to lose the one that followed. Around them the day was clear and cold and the wind whipped Malignus' tail and pushed at him heavily, as though warning him back. He shivered at the thought, feeling suddenly uncomfortable and wishing to be out of the mountains who were whispered to protect those that dwelt within their folds. The sound of rocks chipped into the air, echoing around the crags as the male skittered across the loose shale, as clumsy as puppy. He was far more used to traversing the free lands, where he kept to the forests and shores of the lake. The mountains had never before called to him, and so he had never practiced maneuvering about on an unyielding landscape. Never, that is, until now.

Every so often, the evil dog gave pause to ensure the light pawsteps of his companion still followed him, until he came to more familiar ground near the border that was lined with a tangle of low-growing trees and bushes. Here, he put on a last spur of effort and disappeared beneath the boughs of two, thorny plants which wept vines of green and brown. Having outpaced the female at this last section he immediately turned back and hid just beside the opening. Around him, the spiny, green flora made a round hollow protected from all sides by inch long thorns. Malignus had earlier paced the perimeter and had found no way out, save for the way in which he had entered. His plan was to leap out behind his unwitting prey when she burst into the thicket, thereby blocking her only exit point.

It was perfect, flawless. And there, lying in the shadows at the back of the hollow, was the carcass of a rabbit he had earlier killed and smeared with blood. In the semi-darkness, the creature could pass as a young pup with its back turned towards where the lady would enter from. The idea was that she would approach the carcass, thinking it to be a wolf pup in trouble and, by the time she would have realised she had been duped, he would already be straddling her, legs clasping her firmly around the midriff.

Malignus grinned gleefully, pale eyes fixed on the tunnel while he waited for his masterful plot to unfold.

OOC: no worries! We have to wait for Winter to truly be here anyway:)