Now that you're home, what do you intend to do?

[iambetadraconis]

He was, until now, asleep in a small cave. Something however, had conspired to awaken him.

Look. Listen. Who or what was out there? Death Eaters? He hoped not. It had been dumb luck that he did not end up anywhere near where they were, but rather in a Muggle city. The door had opened into yet another tavern, this one more Muggle than Milliways. People had looked up in surprise to see the stranger in such odd dress show up from out of nowhere. Well, as out of nowhere as one can get, coming out of a public restroom that was supposed to be out of order and thus, unoccupied.

That was three weeks ago now, and here he was, outside a forest, sleeping. Trying to. Now listening for the signs of danger he'd been on alert for the moment he arrived.

Nothing came. Nothing.

Save for a small rabbit that sniffed about, then turned and fled when it smelled "human". "Human" and "wolf".

Certainly not a Death Eater in animal disguise. By now he'd know if one of his ex-companions had such an Animagus form. And only Mulciber and Pettigrew were known to have an animal form.

He sighed, his heart still racing.

This was important, he had to keep reminding himself as he strengthened the security charms again.

Important to the Wizarding World.

If only he could sleep on that thought...

Comments

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

And then Arianrhod appears at his side without warning, standing and watching over him with bright, white eyes.

"Rabastan," she says softly, form silhouetted by moonlight, "you need to sleep."

She is worried as well, but it does not show.

"I am here now. Rest."

[iambetadraconis]

No sleeping tonight; her arrival has startled him badly.

He's been on-edge ever since he got here, and it'll take several minutes for him to recover his composure.

"You... You startled me..."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"Shh," she says, bending down and pressing a hand to his forehead.

"You need to sleep. Your energy levels are dangeously low - how do you expect to protect anyone when you cannot even protect yourself, in this state?"

She sounds... different, much more stern than usual.

[iambetadraconis]

"I could not ask someone else to keep watch over me while I slept," he protests. Even with security spells in place he would not take any chances. "Protecting people tired is easier than protecting them while dead."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"Then do not ask me."

[iambetadraconis]

Buh?

"Ask you what?"

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"Do not ask me to watch over you. I will, whether you want me to or not.

I will wake you if anything happens. You need to sleep, Rabastan."

[iambetadraconis]

Oh!

"...know," he mutters. He is tired. Running on very little if anything. Sooner or later he'd run out completely.

He lies down, feeling very grateful for this care from Arianrhod.



—ten hours later—

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

Arianrhod is keeping watch on Rabastan's little campsite from a branch not far above the ground. She's been in and out of the cave all night, checking to make sure his sleep was a restful one.

She knows he will be awake soon, and so she hops down from her branch and peeks into the cave.

"Wolf?"

[iambetadraconis]

Restful as it's possible to be, when a small part of your brain insists upon keeping watch. It took effort, but eventually that part became quiet. Allowing him rest.

"Mmmm?" comes the groggy reply.

He's not entirely awake yet.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"It is morning," she says softly.

[iambetadraconis]

With light now filtering its way into the cave...

"Mhmm..," he mumbles. "You wouldn't know what time it is, exactly, love?

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

She glances toward the sky.

"The sun rose about an hour ago."

[iambetadraconis]

Such a sense of humour.

Or maybe it's not.

"Quite possibly it's after seven. Or eight. It's late fall now."

Speaking of which, the breeze takes this moment to remind him of that.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

Gaze remaining on the sky, she asks: "Are we close?"

[iambetadraconis]

Close to...?

Seems like he's got a bit of mind fog going on.

"I .... think we are?"

Kind of makes you wonder if he even had a plan.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

It does, and the look Arianrhod gives him is a very stern one.

"Do you not know where we are?"

[iambetadraconis]

Smart remark incoming?

"We're in a cave. Near a forest. Judging from the topography I'd say we're near Dorset."

Okay. Not exactly a smart remark.

"Since there has yet to be a sign of Death Eater activity in these woods I'd say we're not close."

Or Rabastan would be very dead.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

Her eyes flicker green for a moment.

"Should we be?"

[iambetadraconis]

"Depends," he says thoughtfully. "Alone it would be unwise to go near any place where the Death Eaters are likely to be. And even now, that I am not alone, it's still unwise. Because if there's a place where they're most likely to be, they'll be there in numbers."

Pause.

"Malfoy Manor. Draco said that they were using his family home as a base of operations. We don't want to go there. Better to go where they're likely to be found singly or in pairs."

Another pause. He's reconsidering the idea of going to Malfoy Manor. Like it or not, if you want to know what they're up to you have to go there.

"No. We should go to the Manor. But, we need to use stealth."

Pause again.

"Asar-Suti helped me learn another animal form. A swallow. It's just small enough to not be noticed. Horse is just too noticeable to be much good."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

Arianrhod listens carefully, head tilted slightly to the side.

"Alright. Would you like me to stay with you?"

[iambetadraconis]

His cheeks flush a little. Of course he would!

"Certainly. I'd feel better knowing that my back is being watched."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"I will follow you, then, wolf."

Beat.

"... or swallow."

[iambetadraconis]

Coming from Arianrhod, that bit of ribbing doesn't sound so bad.

Mostly because he's thinking that they're going now, not later.

"If we go now."

Now, before his worry sets in.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"Then we shall go."

This is all very simple and clear, in Ari's mind.

[iambetadraconis]

No getting out of this one.

"Right. Perhaps we should..." His stomach rumbles a little. He hasn't eaten a lot of much since he got here. "Go after a little food?"

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

She glances around the surrounding woods, then looks back to Rabastan.

"Go after?"

[iambetadraconis]

He nods.

"We stop in some Muggle store for nosh, then visit the Manor."

His idea of a battle plan.

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

"Oh."

She smirks.

"I thought you meant we were going to hunt."

[iambetadraconis]

Stare.

"No. Though that is easier."

He ... just doesn't want to use his wolf form in that way.

"Still. A trip to the grocer's would be more practical. I don't know how to dress a kill."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

She shrugs. "I suppose. You are the leader, after all."

[iambetadraconis]

So much trust in him, even when he has no real strategy to work with; just the desire to NOT be on the wrong end of a green flash.

"The we'd better go. Sooner I get some nosh the better I'll feel. And be more willing to go to Malfoy Manor."

[ladysilverwheel.livejournal.com]

Arianrhod nods, eyeing a clearing between the trees.



And off they go.