Keep Moving {Benji}

[valerierhodes]

Val wasn't sure how she had wound up in the middle of some forest. It was all so surreal, this place. She must have been walking all day and she always seemed to be reaching some place new. How big was this place? Maybe if she could find some other sane people she could find a way off this island. She had been told numerous times that there was no way, but Valerie had never been one to quit easily. However, she was beginning to doubt if she was going to find anyone who thought the same way. Maybe the only way off was to find someone who wasn't quite sane.

Eventually, Valerie found herself in a forest, it was impossibly beautiful but there was something about it that made her pause before entering. It was darker than the rest of the island, which was very sunny and warm. Once inside, she could hardly see a thing. She felt her way through sharp branches and trees holding her hands out in front of her. What on earth was she doing? Maybe she should just go back to the village ruins that Lilith had shown her and talk her way out of this situation. No, she had to keep moving.

The forest only grew darker as she moved farther inside. This was a bad idea, she thought to herself, nothing good could come of this. All her life she had been taught to avoid dark, closed spaces, especially when completely alone and without her purse. It was just a bad idea. But something kept her moving forward, farther and farther into the darkness, maybe her curiosity, or maybe just her desperation to find some normality.

Valerie let out a screech as she felt something run up her pant leg. She jumped and swatted at her leg. If there was one thing that Valerie could not stand it was spiders, or any other sort of bug. She was not generally a fearful person, in fact she had always considered herself a brave person, but when it came to bugs, any sort of sanity went out the window.

[benjamin]

Though she was not alone, his presence was undetectable to human ear or eye. Cushioned, silkened paws followed those large imprints, the warmth of previous wanderer sending sparks up the length of tawny leg. An illuminated single iris ran each inch of her body, judging her every move to keep the girl herded in the dark. She could not leave, was trapped in his damp spider web of trees. This female had traveled to sanctuary that was claimed unjustly to himself. His residence, his home, the place he lay body, mind, and few possessions he'd gathered. The black was impersonal, not to match any by face but rather by voice. And without a voice, without a word, Benjamin didn't exist. Those brave or foolish enough to give themselves off like the girl before him were prey. To be hunted, killed, and consumed by his anonymous self. It would be so easy. . . couldn't he do whatever he'd like on this prison ground ? Nobody was watching, following. . . nobody even knew his name. Hell, he didn't have a name anymore. Benjamin Rutt was no longer a cry he could respond too. The Raccoon didn't exist, the black-eyed bandit was no longer a part of this earth. . . because without reason, goal, or even acknowledgment, who would notice if he just disappeared ?

He was not beautiful. His life was not beautiful.

Therefore, he could not amuse those. . . and only work for length of his life. Only beauty could survive; hung up like meat until thrown upon the shredder when this beauty faded. Valerie had not faded yet, entertainment was in every spotless limb of face and body. The swish of her hips like the cinema, flick of chocolate mane, Hollywood. So therefore The Raccoon had no business hurting her. . . had no business mangling and tearing her body for this mindless intrusion. And so he watched. Used her for all he believed was worth, knowing that this source of entertainment would only run out as the territory ran dry and clean.

Silent and reeking of death his talons clawed the dirt with the ease and grace of mastered animalistic instincts. He could follow her until the end, reach his fulfillment of what he called social interaction for the day. No human dare to enter, just as no shifter would dare to urbanize itself. The Raccoon was just waiting for her to grow ill and frail on the spot, crumple into herself in a fit of hysteria. Just that thought sent electricity through his body, tingling at nose, ears, paws. This panic only continued when she shrieked, a deafening sound that stood his fur on end. He gripped the moist dirt beneath him and froze, involuntary terror ripping through his body and locking the animal in a halt. The Raccoon assured himself of his safety, for if she spotted him an escape would be simple. He'd learn to treasure this curse as a gift, use what he had to better himself. Faster, smarter, keener. Now that he was in control of this form he'd taken advantage of the very thing. Learned to love wiry tail and muggy nose alike.

Benjamin was a bandit and would remain a bandit.

A few steps closer to spot the center of chaos, a small lump in her pant, inconspicuous for someone who wasn't looking for it. As fur ripped and limbs grew a smirk tugged at now peach lips. Still a jumble on hands and knees the human form sprang forward from a limb where he could once hide, fingers outstretched toward Valerie's pant. In a fluid movement he was upon the mass, palm pressing against the hidden spider in a quick, sharp slap. "Got it," rasped voice unleashed his very own existence, now making Benjamin appear, taste and feel when he was only numb before. It was now unnatural to stand on two legs, when he had grown so used to quickened pace of four.