The Bird and the Wyrm

The leaves on the trees flitting past them us mostly still green but there was a noticeable increase in the oranges, reds, and yellows. Autumn had arrived and with it a frosty wind from the north. It wasn’t so noticeable on the ground near sea level, but up on the mountain or, worse, in the air, it was spitefully cold.

I was alright, but there were only so many clothes I could force you to put on that still let you wrap your arms around my neck which meant semi-frequent breaks between bursts of flying, which worked out well since I also needed time to recheck the compass jar. I was pretty nervous at first about checking it - what if I check it and it’s pointing the exact opposite direction? - but after a while, I kind of got used to flying for a while, then finding a spot to land and checking it while you warmed up again.

We were standing on the rocky ridge of one of the longer mountain ranges that snaked along and across the New Territories. I had the compass jar positioned between my clawed feet to see which way the ink was tugging, while you stood a few feet away with a blanket wrapped tightly around you.

Do you need blood? I mentally asked you.

You didn’t respond so I transformed into my human shape, picked up the jar, and I walked up behind you. "Do you need blood?" I asked again.

You turned and I immediately saw the answer to my question in your eyes.

"Okay, then-"

Your lips were soft against my neck but your teeth weren’t quite as much though they did make me go weak at the knees.

"Bran..."

Your arms went around me, holding my naked body tight, pulling the blanket around the both of us. Reason abandoned me and I gasped as my blood flowed out of me and into you, binding us ever closer together.

There’s something magical about mingling blood and I couldn’t deny that there was a growing impulse in me to bite you back and drink your blood. But I pushed it back. I knew that if I let myself faulter in that, then it would only be a moment later before I acted on more base impulses.