Hunters

21 - Creatures of Darkness and Light

Diaval felt warm as the Little Wishfulfiller cuddled up against Alesana. He even thought to feel it in the tips of his wings and he had to do his best not to take a larger form. Little Wishfullfillers were very rare creatures. He had only seen one once before, and he knew they only showed themselves to beings who had impeccable hearts but were in great danger. They were what humans called guardian angels. They were as old as the forest and possessed a power no one could imagine. Over the centuries, they had been fiercely hunted, like anything creatures thought they could profit from. Was that also the reason Alesana was hunted? What did they want from her?

The arrival of the Little Wishfullfiller reassured him. Alesana had done something that no normal human could. Yet, it was nothing evil; otherwise, the creature would not have sought her out. Perhaps it was there to comfort her, to convince her she did not have to doubt herself.

Diaval stared at the reflection of himself in the water. You could have told her the same thing. Again, he was about to make himself known to her. Yet he was still afraid. She already had so much on her mind and her loyal raven was the only stable thing about her current situation. Did he really want to take that away from her, despite the added value he would have in his human form? She was already dealing with her insecurities. Surely there would be better a timing to reveal his secret to her. 

Diaval raised his head when he heard footsteps. His heart leaped in his throat when he saw what was behind Alesana. The Little Wishfullfiller lost its color and became invisible, but the girl could not perform that trick. Her face went pale and Diaval felt panic surge through his body. It was more than his body could handle. He tried to control his fear; Alesana had saved herself before. She would be able to do it again. 

"Who are you, stranger?" sounded the Grimm's voice.

Diaval heard Alesana exhale nervously. Was she glad it could speak? Her gaze wandered across the torso of the creature opposite of her. If Diaval had cheeks, they undoubtedly would have turned red, for in a fit he wondered if she was impressed by the muscles the Grimm was showing her so casually.

Grimms were beautiful appearances, with their golden hair down to their backs, their immaculate faces, and their trained half-man, half-horse bodies.

And they are dangerous, Diaval tried to bring himself back to his senses. The gilded skull he wore on his head, with the ram's horns crossing his own antlers, showed that the creature did not shy away from a skirmish. The Grimm brought his hand to his waist, where a wide, silver band covered the transition from his human torso to his horse legs. There were several weapons strapped to it.

Alesana opened her mouth to answer. Diaval could not shake the fear that the Grimm would not give her an opportunity to complete her sentences. He flew up, transformed into a human just before he landed, pulled a dagger from the sheath resting on the Grimm's hip, and pressed it against his neck. "Don't move."