The young girl, her innocence a stark contrast to the cunning that gleamed in Leif's eyes, had fallen for his trick. He'd promised her a glimpse of Luthien's lush forests, and with a naive eagerness, she had followed him into the embrace of the ocean. A smirk, almost imperceptible, played on Leif's whiskered lips. "Leif the Trickster,"he mused, savoring the title.

As the ocean floor yielded to his hooves, Leif emerged from the surf and onto the hardened sands, pausing to turn and watch the girl. He reveled in the disappointment that bloomed on her face, replacing the wide-eyed wonder she'd carried moments ago. She'd envisioned towering trees, emerald foliage, and shade trees arching over the ocean's edge. But instead, all she saw was a swamp.

"This is Luthien...?" she questioned, her voice laced with uncertainty. Her gaze flitted over the desolate landscape behind him, a stark contrast to the vibrant picture he'd painted.

Leif pivoted his head, taking in the vista. Gnarled limbs of moss-laden trees protruded from the stagnant green water. Mist clung to the decaying branches, swirling like ghostly fingers. Thick Spanish moss draped from the limbs, trailing in the murky water. The symphony of buzzing insects, drawn to the pair, seemed to mock their presence.

"Are you sure?" the girl finally asked, her eyes narrowing, her trust in Leif shattered by the stark reality before them.

"Do you not like it?" he snapped, a flick of his tail betraying his agitation. He lowered his head, his ears disappearing into his thick, knotted mane, and a predatory grin twisted his lips. He moved towards her, less equine, more beast. His teeth flashed, his eyes narrowed, and the glint of hunger sparked within them.

"And if you don't like it," he growled, lunging towards her, teeth aimed at the vulnerable skin of her neck. "It doesn't matter. You are mine now." His words were a promise, a threat, a taste of the primal hunger that burned within him.

He yearned to taste her flesh, to claim her as his own.