From the prompt: "Poison glen..."
"Bane"
Fur rippled; silky hair became smooth pale skin in the moonlight. He rose up from all fours, stretching luxuriously. He yawned happily and reached for the t-shirt that was hanging from a low-bowing bough. He pulled it on over his head and smoothed it down, turning to go.
Crack.
Tobias froze. �Who�s there?� he demanded, turning slowly.
�You shouldn�t be here,� someone said.
Tobias watched the tall figure step into the light and frowned. �What?�
The man was older, maybe in his early twenties, dark-skinned, and probably what women considered handsome. A whimsical smile crossed his face.
�Didn�t you know this place was dangerous? It�s a poison glen, like in the fairy tales�the wolves like to come here.�
Tobias shrugged nonchalantly. �I�m not afraid of wolves.�
�I�d guess not, seeing how you�re sometimes one of them.�
Tobias tensed. �Who are you?�
The man shrugged, walking towards him slowly. �They call me the Angel of Death. Death for short.�
� �Death? Oh, give me a break,� Tobias cried, rolling his eyes.
�I know what you are,� Death told him.
Tobias�s eyes flashed. �And what is that?�
�A shape-shifter, if my memory serves me right.� Death smiled.
Tobias shrugged on his jacket. �Interesting observation, sir, but I bid you good night.� He turned to go, but that crisp English accent sliced through the night air.
�Where will you go, young Tobias? You�d rather stay here, with the pack, where the wolf�s bane grows,� Death said in a low voice.
�I knew someone was watching me,� Tobias muttered. �What do you want?� he asked without turning.
�I was just going to offer you a place to stay for the night,� Death said with another shrug.
Tobias snorted. �How do I know you�re not some kind of killer or something? The Angel of Death doesn�t exactly have a friendly connotation.�
�You�ll have to trust me. You�ll have to trust somebody,� Death told him. Tobias sighed and shook his head, slipping into the trees. He could hear the crackle of twigs underfoot as Death followed him, but he said nothing.
�I knew you weren�t a real wolf the when you stepped into the glade anyway,� Death chattered on. �None of the wolfbane blossoms opened. And I know you�re more dangerous than you appear � you can talk to all the animals, and they�d kill me at your beck and call, but I�m sure my place is a tad more comfy than the trailer you share with your uncle, no?�
�You sure do know a lot about me, don�t you?� Tobias muttered, quickening his pace.
�I have been watching you,� Death admitted.
�What for?� Tobias slapped a branch out of the way, frustrated and irritated.
�Because I can show you how to strengthen those gifts of yours.�
Tobias stopped short. �Really?�
Death nodded, his eyes full of earnest sincerity. �Really.� He gestured with one hand, and Tobias stared as the trees bowed down, the night sky displayed in a full panoramic view graced by the moon.
�Wow,� Tobias breathed, gazing in awe as the trees straightened themselves again.
Death grinned when he saw Tobias�s expression.
�I�m telekinetic.�
Tobias blinked. �Like, you can move stuff with your mind?�
�The same way you connect to the animals.� Death smiled gently.
Tobias looked away for a moment.
Death jumped when something soft brushed against his leg, and he looked down to see a young wolf.
Tobias stroked her ears gently. �She says I can trust you.�
Death beamed. �I�m glad.�
The wolf howled, then bounded away.
�So, uh, where�s your place?� Tobias asked.
Death laughed. �This way.�
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© Agent Duo 2004