[andalusia] gold lion. [tag; circenn]

Thank goodness for fresh air.

It was a crisp, cool and clear summer's night. It had been baking hot all day during her hike up to the mountains but now, the temperature had dropped considerably. Through the canopy of trees, bright stars were peeking out from a cloudless inky blue sky. It was deathly silent and Maisie closed her eyes and inhaled. The chilly air felt like life blood as it seeped into her. The bustling city was left far behind, full of stress, car horns and the crappy leaking tap in her dingy little flat.

Maisie loved camping, she always had. Perhaps it was the freedom that she didn't get with a regular holiday. The young woman was a skilled and frequent camper. She knew how to respect nature. It had taken her the best part of four hours to reach the summit of the hilly forest. So far, she'd gathered wood, built and lit a fire, pitched her tent and boiled water for drinking and showering in the morning.

It was a solitary existence but it was comfortable. No one she knew would enjoy this as much as she did. Her mother would scoff. She only stayed in expensive hotels with fancy restaurants but here was her only daughter, covered in dirt and sweat and loving it.

Sitting in her tent with the door flap open, she sat near the edge of the cliff. Near to her, the fire was crackling merrily, sending little sparks spiralling high into the air. There was absolutely no body around. Her rucksack was sealed and packed in the back of her tent, her sleeping bag unzipped and a fluorescent lamp flickering away, attracting bugs and insects. Maisie shivered slightly as the breeze kicked up the ends of her long dark hair. How nice would this be to share with someone?

Camping in Britain didn't have the same appeal. It usually rained and it was very boring but here? Here was rugged and steep and magical. The sky, though now dark, had provided her with the most exquisite sunset she'd ever seen. Like a watercolour, streaks of pink, purple and orange stretched for miles and she'd been in awe. The air smelt like firewood, pine and soil. She'd picked a spot near the crescent of a mountain and she had an uninhibited view to miles. She could see trees and rocks and a winding river which she'd filled her water bottles up from earlier on in the day.

With a yawn, she blew at her hair as she leaned forward to untie the laces of her hiking boots, aiming to leave her thickly woollen socks on to sleep in when the sound of a branch cracking behind her made her freeze.

Maisie straightened up and was instantly on guard, goosebumps spreading across her smooth forearms as she squinted into the dense trees behind her. She swallowed, reaching for her lamp and holding it high above her head. It wasn't castling much light, neither was the fire. The Sierra Morena mountains in Andalusia were remote and that was exactly why she'd picked them. There was nothing here, except a few dragonflies. Against her better judgement, she took a step forward, the soles of her boots crunching on the uneven ground.

"Hello?" She called out, her voice cracking before she remembered she was in Spain. "Hola?" Maisie corrected herself, sounding silly but another crack of a branch made her heart slam against her ribcage. "Who's there?" She asked into the darkness, feeling less and less sure of herself as she stood there shaking. She got no response. "This isn't funny," she whispered, her voice sounding shaky and uneven as tears began to fill in her eyes. The trees moved ever so slightly and in the dim light provided by the fire, she saw a pair of amber eyes staring right at her and she let out a bloodcurdling scream.


@Circenn Kekoa Teague

The Quidditch Captain watched as the night sky turned from twilight to dusk to darkness. It was so peaceful that he had almost forgotten what this kind of comfortable silence sounded like. Circenn, with his German Shepherd mix named Poco, sat by the fire, the crackling pops that sent a spray of sparks drifting toward the tree line was the only thing that disturbed the otherwise quiet night. That and maybe the trees swaying gently as wind meandered through the forest. And now that he was thinking on it, he could also hear some a few crickets warbling in the distance.

It had been a long day for Circenn. He had hiked this morning then trekked through the forest to find this particular spot. It wasn't on any map and there were no real directions to it. It was more of a mental picture he had of this space that he had visited once or twice before in the Sierra Morena mountains. Originally one of his teammates Rob had agreed to come with, but he had bailed at the last second. And Circenn, who had felt too couped up lately, went anyway. He almost dared to say it was more enjoyable to reacquaint himself the quietness of his mind and forest. Just him and Poco. It felt good.

His body was tired after the long day they had had, but his mind was alive and while his tent was set up and welcoming, Circenn chose to stay out under the stars for now. He was in a small clearing, his fire at the center and his tent off to one side. There was a narrow but deep creek only about 50 feet away. It was the perfect spot. He ran his hand over Poco's back as he moved around the campfire to lay out his long frame on a flannel blanket he had set out. He pillowed his hands behind his head as he gazed up, the stars winking at her from their darkness. It made him feel both endless and alone and he kind of smiled at the contradiction of it all.

He was lost in his thoughts as he gazed at the sky, the fire warming his feet even though his heavy hiking boots, but when Poco started growling low in his throat, Circenn sat up and looked towards his dog. "What is it?" Circenn asked him as he looked in the same direction his dog was, toward the darkness of the tree line to the north. He knew there were sometimes animals in the area, but he had laid a protective spell over his campsite shortly after setting up so he wasn't worried that they were in danger.

And then everything happened at once. Poco started barking and then shot off into the woods just as Circenn heard a bloodcurdling scream in the depths of the forest. He had his wand in his hand and his long legs were already moving him toward the sound. Who was it? Why was she screaming? He followed Poco's trail though his dog was much faster than he was, but he made the decision not to apparate because he didn't know the forest that well and didn't want to end up splinched half inside a tree trunk.

Finally, after what felt like both forever and only an instant, Circenn skidded to a halt, his boots sliding amongst the leaves that covered teh forest floor. Poco had his ears down, tail down, and growl coming from his throat as Circenn took in the situation before him. There was a dark shadow of a large beast to his left and a dark-haired woman to his right, her camp site set up behind her. He wondered if she was alone like him or if her boyfriend was going to come charging out of the woods at any moment.

"Stay calm," he said, his voice low but carrying through the trees. "Don't run or he'll see you as prey," Circenn tried to warn her.

This wasn't how she wanted to die.

For such a young lady, Maisie had given it a lot of thought. She didn't want the traditional family around the bed sort of passing, her mother would only complain that her pallid skin didn't match her nightdress. No. She wanted something exciting. Maybe having her body thrown into a volcano but she absolutely did not want to be eaten by a bear.

Maisie was utterly transfixed to the ground. Her brain was telling her move, screaming at her to back up but she couldn't move a single muscle. She couldn't even blink. She held herself stiffly as the branches rustled and she was resigned to her fate. There was absolutely no one around and her wand was safely in the tent. It felt so strange, it was like a complete and total disconnect between mind and body. Her blood ran cold as a cold sweat broke out along her hairline, cooling rapidly as it dripped down her back gently.

Before she knew it, a large dog stalked towards the trees and with it, came a deep and reassuring voice. Maisie stood still, she didn't even look over at where they came from. She didn't recall the colour of the dog but she could hear it. An unfamiliar not unpleasant scent caught on the cold night air. It smelled earthy, kind of like leather and sandalwood.

Stay calm, the voice said. "How the Hell am I supposed to do that?" Maisie squeaked, her voice quaking as she focused on the moving trees. The growl could be coming from the dog or whatever was lurking. Her breath came shallowly and quickly, soon turning into a pant as her cheeks turned pink. Everything was becoming hot, she was burning up in her flannel shirt, jeans and her hiking boots. She was on fire and the corners of her vision seemed to be going black at the edges. A sudden realisation hit her; she was having a panic attack. She hadn't had one of those since she was six years old.

On the spot, she swayed a little but she made no move to correct or adjust herself as her heart rate felt like it was running away with itself. Keep calm, he'd said, but it seemed impossible. The wave of nausea knocked her side ways and suddenly, she stumbled backwards, slipping on the gravel beneath her feet. This was clearly the wrong thing to do was the growl became louder. Branches snapped beneath the feet of something and slowly but surely, a large and very frightening looking grey wolf emerged from the shadows and Maisie gasped and held her breath.

She'd never had a pet before so it was impossible to reason that this beast was simply a nasty, oversized and bloodthirsty dog. Not that it helped. He mentioned something about becoming prey and despite herself, she gave a snort of derisive laughter. This guy was hilarious. She'd never felt more like prey in her entire life to date. So concerned with the unsettling pair of yellow eyes as it stalked towards her, she hadn't even noticed who he was.

Slowly and unsurely, Maisie took slow, measured steps backwards. "Wolves are pack animals, right?" She whispered as she continued to give it space. "Another five or six?" She needed facts. Facts she could work with. She didn't need this stranger to tell  her that everything was going to be fine because she had to face it, she was in deep shit and sinking fast. If there were more, she'd rather know how many bits she'd be ripped into. It was a dark and dire thought but she found it somewhat comforting.

He'd told her not to run but she couldn't, even if she wanted to. Maisie's legs felt like ten tonne weights and they wouldn't do what she wanted them to anyway so why try? "Oh dear," came the breathly whisper as she realised she'd just about reached the edge of the cliff top she'd been camping on. She was dimly aware of a little bit of scree toppling a hundred or so feet down to a ravine far below. So, this was it; death by wolf or fall? If he was going to be the last person she saw, she might as well remember him. Turning her head, a lightning bolt of nostalgia hit her. Standing between her and a rabid beast was the man she'd been in love with when she was fifteen years old and he didn't even know she existed. Squinting through the dim light and the muddle of forgotten feelings, she lost her footing.

Circenn could feel his heart beating in his ears as he tried to quickly work through the situation and figure out the best course of action. He was clasping his wand tightly, but he wasn't sure what spell to use. He didn't know how effective spells were on animals. He had never had occasion to try it before and he didn't want to chance a spell that might piss the wolf off more than it would scare him. The beast was too close to the woman to risk her safety. At least, for the brief moment they were in, the status quo was steady. He just had to find a way to tip it in their favor.

Her question made him grimace. He could tell just by the tone of her voice that she was on the verge of panicking, and he didn't blame her for that. He just knew that panic didn't always encourage the best decision making skills. He knew he needed to act fast. He took a step forward, a branch snapping underneath his boot. He swore under his breath as the wolf swiveled around to face him and Poco, his stealth and surprise factor taken from him.

But then Poco made a decision for him and Circenn yelled at his German Shepherd to stand down. Poco didn't listen. Instead his dog with fur like rippled midnight raced toward the wolf who had been snarling at his master. They collided with a series of growls and snaps of sharp teeth as they rolled across the forest floor trying to gain a position of power and Circenn raced forward a few steps, trying to call Poco back, his wand at the ready as soon as he got a clear shot of the wolf but not wanting to hit his dog. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl stumble back, his fear for her increasing when he realized she was right on the edge of a cliff. "Watch out!" he said as he ran toward her and managed to grab onto her arm before she fell over the side of the cliff. "Are you alright?" he asked as he glanced down at her from his height, taking a second to look her over before his eyes were drawn back to the wolf and dog fighting on the other side of the clearing.

"We need to get out of here," he said to her just as much as he meant to Poco even though the dog was clearly occupied. He didn't want to leave her unprotected but he could tell Poco was not winning this fight. Circenn made a decision quickly. "Stupefy!" he cast, his hazel wood wand pointed at the duo of the battling animals. It was a risk to put Poco in the line of fire, but at least he could fix his dog later. The wolf he needed to incapacitated and quickly. He cast the charm once more and both creatures fell to the forest floor.

He was a second away from running to Poco, but that's when four more pairs of amber eyes revealed themselves from the shadows of the trees. "Holy hell," he muttered in response as he glanced over at the girl whose hand he still held. "Do you have your wand?" he asked her. There were going to need all the help they could get.

Reaching out to him, her fingers barely brushed against his wrist. In panic, up came her other one, gripping him so tightly she was sure it hurt him. Below her feet, part of the cliff broke away, debris rolling along the steep incline. Maisie seemed dazed. Her big dark eyes were wide and unfocused, her pupils as wide as dinner plates and her brain tried to filter and process the sheer volume of information that was being flung at it.

She was clinging to Circenn as though he was a life raft and she was in the middle of the ocean. Only then did her feet decide to move. Swiftly she moved away from the cliff's edge in time for her to hear him yell. His dog, His dog had gone for the wolf and her heart sank. The gnashing of jaws and teeth made her wince and clench her eyes shut tightly as the cold air whipped around her and she felt utterly helpless as the two animals grappled. She didn't open her eyes. If anything happened to this dog, it would be all her fault. She'd never had a pet before but she imagined the pain of losing one was so intense and long lasting.

"I'm fine," she whispered as she opened her eyes. He didn't recognise her and it stung sharply before she realised that they'd never been introduced. He'd just been the boy who'd picked up her books and walked off. It wasn't his fault that he'd left a lasting impression. Maisie's mouth ran dry as he loomed over her and she was perfectly incapable of speech.

In fact, it was soothing when his attention was turned back to his dog and when the spell was cast, it was deathly silent once more in the woods. Only then did she start to cry. Her cheeks were pink, her breath coming in short little bursts but no tears were falling. Her eyes looked impossibly large and dark on her pale, drawn face and she was sure she'd never looked more terrified. There was a beat of quiet as she looked down at the frozen dog with despair. The wolf, however, could be happily kicked off the edge of the damned cliff.

Oh no.

Pack animals. She was right, he hadn't needed to answer her question. "Pick up your dog," she instructed him as she let go of his hand and backed up. She hadn't realised just how cold she'd become since his body heat was no longer warming up her own. Ducking back into her tent, she scrabbled around and found her wand, lifting it high above her head as she stood next to Circenn again. Was that the alpha wolf, laying motionless on the floor? If that was the case, then surely they'd be okay. Conflicting ideas bounced around her head, bumping into one another roughly. Was she supposed to run or play dead? Was she supposed to be loud or be quiet?

Her wand let out a burst of bright light which made the wolves whimper and paw the ground anxiously, one dropping back. Taking it as a good sign, Maisie kicked a spray of stones towards them, the little jagged rocks hitting their fur as they retreated somewhat. It looked like it was working. "Shoo!" She shouted, directing her wand at the dark trees and instantly wished she hadn't. The wolves she was illuminating were larger than the one lying prone on the floor and she was hard to tell if they were scared and angry.

"Protega maxima!" Maisie called out, her voice echoing as she conjured a shield charm around him, her and his dog, leaving the wolf out in the cold. The remaining wolves started to whimper. Around them, a misty, jelly-like shield encased them and she looked at Circenn, maybe for approval of praise, she wasn't sure. With her wand, she pressed the tip of it against her throat and completed the amplifying charm. "Shoo!" She yelled, the sound sounding like a clap of thunder that shook the cliff top and reverberated around them. The wolves howled and took off, scampering into the dense trees, leaving Maisie woozy. Swiftly, she dropped down onto her backside near the fire, pressing a hand against her clammy forehead. "Is your dog okay?"

Her hands on his arm were gold, frozen almost, and the look in her eye and the short little breaths made him glance over at her, a fierce swell of protectiveness running through him. He was big enough and mean enough that he knew he could get them out of this trouble, he just didn't want anyone else getting hurt in the process. His gut twisted with the thought that he wouldn't be able to heal Poco after this, but he tried to focus on the issue at hand and not get caught up in the 'what ifs?'.

Her quiet voice gave him the freedom to go to Poco as he watched her duck into her tent and come back with her wand. At least they were both armed now. He didn't take a second thought to go to his stunned pet, lying so still on the forest floor. Circenn knelt by Poco's side, his big hands first going over his dog's back and belly. He chanced a small breath of relief. Poco was still breathing, and evenly. But then he took his hand away and saw even in the darkness that it was stained with red. His panic and worry and guilt increased tenfold and the knife in his gut twisted cruelly. This was his fault.

Circenn glanced up as he saw a flash of light in front of him, realizing she had cast a shield charm. A fizzle of pride for her clear-headedness in the chaos rose above all of the other things he was feeling. But the light from her wand made him realize just how big and ugly the other wolves were. "Merlin," he cursed under his breath as he grasped at his wand, the wood slippery since his hand was still covered in Poco's blood. He still had one hand on Poco but kneeling from his dog's side, he raised his wand in an effort to help. But in the end, she came through for them, the sound of her voice scaring away the creatures. As he saw her falling, he reached out a hand, but was too late to catch her. He took another look at her and felt something vaguely familiar about her, but her question made him look back to his dog.

He knew Poco was still stunned, but the spell wasn't going to last long and he didn't want him waking up before Circenn had had a chance to heal some of his injuries. He refused to think the worst. "I need to get him back to my camp," he told her as he ever so gently lifted Poco into his arms. "Will you help me?" he asked her as he looked over his dog's limp form at her. He had a small mediwizard kit in his tent, but he wasn't sure if it would work on Poco or if any healing spell would work either. He thought he might need two hands, but he knew asking her to venture through the woods with him after they had just faced a pack of wolves probably wasn't the nicest thing either.

"It's not too far," he said, his voice gravelly as he felt the weight of Poco in his arms. "It's warded too. You'll be safe there," he added, hoping she'd agree.

Maisie's head was spinning. She didn't register the pain in her backside or her knees as she hit the floor. All she could hear was her own blood pounding in her ears. She'd never really been able to deal with stress that well. Even since she was little, she'd been made to think that she was weak and incapable and after a while, she began to think it too.

She sat on the floor, eyes wide and unblinking as she stared at the dancing flames. Her slender body began to shake as the adrenaline wore off and she suddenly remembered how cold she actually was. She also felt a little bit sick but it was probably best not to let him know. The wolves had scattered but there was still one left, still frozen solid. Her dark eyes slid to the man's dog when he didn't answer and her nausea grew as she saw his hands stained red. Blood red.

Oh, he had to go back to his camp. Wordlessly, she nodded and she felt like she could breathe now. Her chest felt less restricted as she took a breath. Circenn made her feel uncomfortable. Maisie had been a late bloomer. Whilst her childhood friends and classmates were figuring out who they were, she was having her epiphany now, at twenty five. She was trying hard to reinvent herself and forget all of what she'd been through and seeing a remnant of her past in front of her, so calm and so clear, was threatening to send her right back there.

The overriding response she wanted to give was no. There was hesitation clear on her face as she looked up at him, plump lips parted to give a negative answer before she realised that she owed it to his dog. After all, the dog had been the thing that had saved her. Regret and guilt swirled around her gut and her pretty face fell suddenly.

Carefully, she got to her feet and held herself stiffly, as though something was stopping her body from becoming too close to his. She folded her arms out of habit, forming a barrier as she nodded. "Okay," she said, her voice becoming harsh due to being unused. It was also there to break the silence as she remembered she hadn't said anything in some time. Safe he said. Maisie didn't bother to hide the dubious expression that flickered across her face before it disappeared.

She lowered the shield charm as she chewed on her lower lip, lighting the tip and holding it above his head to illuminate the path through the woods again. As they walked, she looked over at the wolf who was slowly starting to stir. "Quickly," she said softly, lengthening her strides and completely on her guard. She felt uncomfortable and it was caused by both the shock and Circenn, though she was sure that he'd never know. In actual fact, it wasn't him, it was mainly her. She followed closely behind. Her skin was buzzing, the hairs on the backs of her arms standing to attention as she forced herself to remember that the noise of the snapping twigs was because they were walking and nothing else was lurking.

It wasn't long before they entered a clearing that she assumed belonged to him. There was a tent and a roaring fire still. She waited for permission to enter, like she'd been taught to do as a child, having spent many a time loitering in doorways and sitting on stairs, listening. Turning, she stepped closer and softly stroked his dog, carefully and gently. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly, her fingers delicate and slow moving, hoping that he might be able to feel that someone was near him at least. "Thank you," she added gently, briefly meeting Circenn's eyes before dropping them again. "For arriving when you did. If you hadn't, I'd probably be --" holding her breath, she shook her head. "You know. Can I hold him?" She asked, figuring she'd just be an extra set of hands as he tried to fix up his pet.

He knew his question was unfair. Circenn knew it. As he glanced at her, her big, dark eyes seemed wide with fright, he knew he should have offered to ward her camp and then be on his way. Why did he think that she could trust someone like him? He was big and ugly and probably scary, rushing at her in the dark. A stranger. He prepared himself for her no, wondering how he was going to do it. How he was going to accept a 'no' from her and also not worry about her for the rest of the night that she would be left to the wolves (literally), and also take care of Poco. His chest felt cold and frozen as he glanced back at his German shepherd. His voice rumbled, low and quiet but fierce, promising his dog he was going to take care of him.

Her acquiescence took him by surprise and he whipped his eyes back to hers, nodding once and then again as he appreciated her courage, her willingness to go off into the woods with a complete stranger. "Thank you," he told her just before he turned quickly on his heel, his booted feet finding their way quickly across the forest floor and through the trees. The light from her wand sent an eerie glow through the forest, casting shadows that were long and dark. He would have been worried more about the wolves return if he hadn't been focusing all of his attention on Poco and the way his breaths were almost ragged. Circenn couldn't help the litany of soft reassurances he told his dog as he carried him through the night.

Finally, he could almost breath a sigh of relief as he stepped through his warded campsite, pausing when he heard her footsteps stall. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw her hesitation. Was she changing her mind now? Was she leaving? But then she was at his side, petting Poco's head with the gentlest of touches and Circenn found himself studying her in the dark light instead of his dog. He had the faintest idea that she seemed familiar. Had they met before? He stood still for those few moments, her voice washing over him like a caress and somehow he felt a modicum of calmness even amongst his fear.

"You're welcome," he said, wishing she'd glance up at him again. He was nodding at her even as he went around his campfire need a red flannel blanket he had set out earlier, motioning her to have a seat. "Yes, if you don't mind," he said, focusing back on Poco. He laid him down, the light of the campfire throwing his injuries into relief. Circenn paled at how deep some of the gashes were. He gently set Poco's head to rest on her lap, looking into her dark eyes for a moment before disappearing into his tent and returning a second later with a bag.

"I need to stop the bleeding, but I'm not sure if normal charms work on animals?" he confessed as he rummaged through the bag, pulling out two jars of salves. He sat back on his heels for a moment, looking over Poco, and feeling the full brunt of the guilt that he was in this situation in the first place. He met her eyes once more before lifting his wand, knowing full well if he didn't get this right, he would have something much more horrible to feel guilty about. His condition was too fragile to apparate away. He couldn't risk it. He set the tip of his hazel wood wand to just above Poco's neck where the deepest gashes were and called to mind a familiar spell he often used when he had a quidditch injury, hoping to all that was good that it worked the same on animals as it did on people. After a moment of casting the incantation, he saw the blood slow and he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.

Circenn was focused, diligent, and steady in his work, his fear for his dog casting silent shadows over every movement he made. He stopped the flow of blood from the other wounds Poco had, cast a cleansing charm to clean the wounds of dirt and leaves from the forest floor, and then tried to stitch together some of the deeper gashes. As he worked, Poco's eyes fluttered open and he tried to lick whoever was closest to him, sometimes Circenn, sometimes the woman, but when Circenn was finally done, his dog's breathing was more even and not as labored. The quidditch player glanced up a the dark-eyed girl, his breath tight in his chest again. "I.. I think that's all I can do for him. Thanks for staying."

Maisie sat close to the fire, the bright light picking out the russet highlights in her otherwise dark hair. It also picked out the holes in her flannel shirt. It was worn and clearly one of her favourites. Did she have money to buy her own clothes? Of course. But since making a valiant effort to break from her mother, all of her money went on the rent in her crappy, cold and leaky apartment. In fact, sleeping in an open wood with wolves in it seemed like a better option.

The petite woman looked down at the dog with a gentle frown. She was still in shock but he wouldn't really know. Maisie was usually stoic and quiet as a church mouse. With care, she stroked the top of the dog's head as guilt and regret swirled around her stomach, like a churning maelstrom of nausea. "I'm sorry," she whispered to the dog, her voice barely audible over the merry crackling of the fire. Convinced he'd know someone was there, she rubbed his velvet ears as she drifted into a daze, only focusing at his familiar voice.

"It's worth a try?" She offered. "They're not so different from us after all," she found herself saying, steadfastly ignoring the matted blood on the dog's dark fur and instead, watching her finger tips trail over the dog's skull.

Maisie sucked in her breath and held it as his wand was pressed against the animal's skin, wincing. It was lucky that the poor little thing was knocked out. She held the canine comfortably and securely, rubbing the small patch of skin on his back that she could reach, being very careful not to obstruct the man. As he worked on his pet, she took the time to look at him. Really look at him.

Her dark eyes trailed across his strong jaw and his wild appearance. This suited him, the outdoors. It agreed with him and she just couldn't picture him in formal wear. Chewing on her lower lip, the firelight picked up on his cheekbones. The shadows made the concentration clear on his face and she shifted awkwardly, just a little bit. With his long hair, he looked every bit the woodsman. Up until now, Maisie had thought of herself as a pretty competent camper, up until she almost died a quarter of an hour ago.

She'd forgotten she was starting until a set of large eyes blinked back at her, causing her to flush deeply and drop her eyes to her lap. She didn't like this, these strange, old feelings. Mary Elizabeth's teenage years were painful and uncomfortable and locked away, which was partly why she went by Maisie now. This all needed to stay in the past. She'd repressed those memories for a reason.

For the first time that night, she smiled, genuinely. It was like a new woman. Gone were the worry lines and in response, there was a flash of clear skin and sparkling eyes and a dimple in her left cheek. "Hi cutie," she soothed the dog as he licked her hand, the other coming up to gently scratch his ears. She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his muzzle, so pleased and relieved that he was at least awake and no longer bleeding out. It was easier to focus on the dog than him. She didn't have much experience with boys, except a few brief and dangerous relationships when she gave too much of herself away.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the campsite, punctuated only by the occasional crackle from the fire and the wag of the dog's tail. What was she supposed to do now? Surely, she couldn't spend the night here with a stranger. Sleeping in a tent seemed horribly intimate and totally inappropriate. Despite knowing that she should, she didn't really want to leave. Maisie wouldn't lie, she was terrified. She didn't want to be alone. The shock hadn't worn off but the adrenaline had. She felt like she was crashing from a sugar high and tiredness was seeping into her bones as she sat, pleasantly warmed by the fire.

"I think he'll be fine," she replied to him gently with a smile. "He'll just need plenty of belly rubs and treats and long walks." Suddenly, there was a horribly vivid image that swam in front of her eyes. Him, the dog and a woman. Small, fit and beautiful and he was watching her with adoring eyes. They were walking hand in hand and laughing and the thought turned her stomach so much that she actually gagged. Swiftly, she clapped a hand over her mouth. How embarrassing.

"Sorry," she whispered, flushing in shame. "I'm not the best in stressful situations," she added with a wan smile. "What's his name?" She asked, referring to the dog whose head was still resting in her lap. "I'm Maisie, by the way, hello," she said, extending the hand that hadn't just stemmed her vomit out for him to shake.

Her caring for his dog as he healed him warmed Circenn from the inside out. He was very grateful for her agreeing to help at all and Poco really seemed to like her. It almost made him smile. His dog was more concerned with making friends with this dark-haired beauty than he cared that Circenn was healing him up from some pretty bad gashes. He found himself glancing at her as she spoke, her voice soft and hypnotic to him and he was nodding along with what she said as he looked back at Poco who was gently wagging his tail.

An unexpected retching sound made him glance back at her and his eyes scanned her face, assessing. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked. Then everything kind of tumbled through him at once. It had been a terrifying, stressful situation and they hadn't really taken care of all the danger yet or had time to process it themselves considering Circenn had put the priority on healing his dog. "Maybe the shock is setting in. Let me get you a blanket," he said quickly as he rose and disappeared quickly into his tent, bringing back a flannel blanket and hesitating as if asking for permission before wrapping in around her shoulders.

Her whispered apology had him shaking his head with a frown. "You did great. Kept your head. Didn't panic. Helped me with him," he said with a nod toward his dog as he moved around to sit on his knees in front of her once more. "His name is Poco," he said in answer to her question. "I can move him if he's getting too heavy," he offered, trying to think of her comfort. He owed her after all. He glanced at her hand and brought his up to wrap around hers, her skin cool to the touch. "I'm Circenn," he said and smiled a little. "I don't know what I can do to repay you for your help."

"Would you like anything to eat or drink? I have some rations here if you'd like something?"

"Oh no, I'm fine," Maisie replied as breezily as she could, slightly unnerved at how he'd heard her mini outburst. "No, really, I'm fi-- oh." Her plump lips down turned into a frown as he up and left. Chewing on her lower lip, she stroked the dog, finding him to be some sort of buffer. In the brief moment that she was left alone, everything kind of came seeping back into her consciousness. It felt like a drop of ice cold water, slithering down the length of her spine. She shivered.

Yeah, shock. Seemed like a blanket excuse for her weird behaviour.

Out of habit, she jumped when Circenn briefly touched her shoulder as she flushed deeply in response. Maisie had always been a rather skittish child but it was good to see she hadn't changed. "Thanks," she said softly as she wrapped the blanket around her a little tighter, covering his dog ever so slightly to keep him warm, too. It made him wonder if he'd been in this situation before as he seemed rather capable. And she was freezing cold. She hadn't even realised.

She managed a weak laugh, completely uncomfortable with praise. It seemed socially acceptable for women not to accept a compliment, to blush and bat it away but for Maisie, she didn't like it. "The star of the show is this little fella here," she said, motioning to Poco as she scratched his muzzle with care. "I've always wanted a dog," she said, her dark eyes on the dog as he settled himself down, her relief mixed with guilt. Poco deserved a plush cushion and lots of food. Maisie met Circenn's eyes briefly; they both knew it wasn't a good idea to stay here.

"No he's perfect," she was quick to reply, subconsciously shuffling towards Poco as though he was some sort of security blanket. Poco, whether he knew it or not, took the edge off her awkwardness.

Maisie gave his hand a brief, businesslike shake, steadfastly ignoring the fact that all of her teenage dreams seemed to be coming true, all at the same time. Sixteen year old Mary-Elizabeth would have killed to be touching him in this way, beneath a starry sky with no one else around for miles but modern day Mary-Elizabeth was scared. Terrified, really. Not of him, per se, but of rejection. She knew it was coming. It was all a case of when he was going to pull the trigger.

"I knew who you are," she said gently with a small, shy smile. Swiftly, she dropped his hand and folded them on her lap, as though fearful that any prolonged contact might hurt her. It was a vague statement and she assumed she was safe. She imagined he might think that she knew him from Quidditch. In fact, she hadn't even seen him play. Since graduating, Quidditch and her love for it dwindled considerably. Her words might sound accusatory but her tone of voice made clear that they weren't. After all, they didn't know each other. He was just some guy that accidentally broke her heart a long time ago.

"It's all good," she said with a shake of her head, her dark hair catching on the wind and sticking up at funny angles. "We're even," she joked with a gentle smile as she shifted her gaze back to the flickering flames. Ready to insist that she was perfectly fine, her stomach gave a loud grumble and she winced in shame. She thought back to the can of beans she'd had bubbling over her camp's fire that had no doubt gone a bit horrific by now.

"That'd be great, thank you," she said, still uncomfortable and confused by his level of kindness and hospitality. "Is there really nothing I can do to help?" Maisie asked. The longer she sat her, warm, comfortable and safe, the more sleepy she became. Poco was a heavy, comforting weight that seemed to keep her grounded and she'd be sad to leave him eventually.

He noticed her flinch when he laid the blanket on her shoulders and he took a step back with a frown to give her space. He hadn't meant to scare her and he hoped it was just surprise instead of aversion to him. Maybe he had asked too much of her when he had asked for her help. His compliments slid away as she turned the attention back to his dog and Circenn nodded, following her lead, not trying to be pushy. "He's a good one," he added with a glance down at Poco before feeling her eyes on him and unable to resist the temptation. He looked back at her and again was surprised at the depth and clarity he saw in her blue, blue eyes.

"Oh," he said with a little surprise in his eyes and a quirk of his lips as she mentioned she knew him. "Quidditch fan?" he guessed. Circenn knew it shouldn't surprise him anymore, the fame that came with his job, but sometimes in settings like this, surrounded by the silence of the woods, his notoriety felt like it was a universe away. It always caught him off guard, the fact that a stranger knew more about him than he did in return, but he tried not to focus on that too much now. He just wanted to even the balance and get to know her a little more.

Circenn shook his head with a quiet smile, but didn't argue. They weren't even close, but he'd find someway to make it up, someway to say thank you to this blue-eyed girl who had decided to help a perfect stranger when she could have very well apparated away and saved herself the trouble. Her stomach growl was an answer to his question and he smiled bigger when she agreed.

"No, don't worry about it. I've got it taken care of," he told her as he grabbed a few lumps of shiny foil. "Is barbecued chicken okay with you?" he asked as he unraveled part of the foil to show her a mixture of chicken pieces, chunks of potato, and a few vegetables. He had prepped several of these meals before setting out on his camping trip like he usually did and it was his pleasure to be able to share with Maisie. He placed a grate over the fire, the heat licking at his forearms and warming his face. Then he wrapped the foil back up and set two of them on the grate, the flames heating them from the bottom. "They should be done in just a few minutes."

He pulled over his canteen of water and found a cup, filling it and handing it to her. His brows were pulled low over his eyes, a question on his mind, but he warred with himself for a few moments before putting voice to it. "I hope.. this isn't too forward. But you're welcome to stay here tonight if you'd rather not go back there," he offered. "You can use my tent. I wouldn't mind sleeping out here," he added with a nod toward the clear area beside the campfire. Another offer was on the tip of his tongue too but for some reason he didn't speak it. He could have just as easily offered to walk her back to her own campsite and set up a ward so no other creatures of the night could bother her, but if she chose that option, he knew he would be up all night wondering and hoping that she was okay.

Maisie held her breath.

Now would be the perfect time to say that she knew him from school. She didn't want to lie but it seemed like the easier option. He looked at her like he hadn't seen her before because he hadn't. Even in school, Circenn  had been a rising star. Tall and handsome and kind, he was so popular, it hurt. She could have punched him right in the mouth and he still wouldn't know that she existed. He was always flanked by girls, whether he was interested or not bore no significance for her.

Again, she offered him a smile but focused on the fire instead. "I'm a Caerphilly Catapults fan," she said honestly. After graduating, she'd fixated on Circenn's team with the tenacity of a serial killer. She went to games, painted her face and cut out anything written about him in various gossip magazines. It was terrifying and now, she hadn't bothered seeing what he was up to in years. She assumed he was still just as fast, just as strong and just as capable as he had been back then.

The offer of barbecued chicken side-swiped her. She blinked as she stared at him like he'd grown a second head. That was one of her favourite meals. As a child, her family weren't big on barbecues. They weren't really big on socialising but Maisie loved cooking over an open fire. "That'd be great, thank you," she blurted out, feeling a little bit dazed. He seemed very capable. He must go camping a lot, she assumed. He seemed very self-assured and rather than putting her at ease, she felt very much on edge. To her, it suddenly became clear there was a world of difference between them and the chasm kept growing, second by second.

Her small hands wrapped around the offered cup thankfully as she took a small sip, aware suddenly of how dry her mouth had become. Silence wormed its way between them as the fire crackled merrily. This, of course, was all her fault. He'd been nothing short of a miracle but long forgotten thoughts kept popping up. She cleared her throat and pulled the blanket closer around her shoulders. How many women would kill for this opportunity, she wondered? It would be rather romantic, had she not been shook to her core and suffering from cripplingly low self-esteem.

Swiftly, Maisie choked on her water.

Flushing scarlet, she coughed as she used the back of her head to wipe the thin ribbon of drool from her chin. Her overriding response was no. Hell no. She'd already overstayed her welcome and she absolutely should not have come here with him. Her large eyes drifted to the tent and her mind went into overdrive. She imagined it was pretty warm and homely. His sleeping bag had already been slept in, probably smelling like him and making the thought of her sliding inside of it to be phenomenally intimate.

"I don't think I sh--" It was like she was waging an internal war and it was written clearly all over face. The petite woman chewed on her lower lip. The idea of going back to her own campsite filled her with dread. She hadn't left anything there, except her own tent and a few belongings that could easily be replaced. Not that it mattered, of course. She wouldn't be sleeping, alone or with him. If anything, she should be the one sleeping by the fire, not him. She felt a bit sick. She hadn't spent the night with anyone, platonically or not, in months. Her head was telling her to stay put. Circenn would keep her safe and his hands to himself but her heart was telling her to hurl herself off the edge of the cliff and pretend that she hadn't been swept up in his debacle.

"Do I get to have Poco?" Maisie blurted out and instantly winced, wishing she hadn't come across so untrusting. Folding her lips in a thin line, she nodded, her long dark air unfurling at the motion. And she'd disappear at sunrise and he'd never have to know.

It was weird for him to think that he felt disappointment moving through him as she mentioned the Catapults team, considering he often didn't like to use his position as a professional athlete to garner friends and favors. But if he thought about it, he did feel a small hint of disappointment at not hearing the Montrose Magpies team name fall from her lips. He was probably falling into the conceited category with this thoughts, but he smiled and nodded, saying, "They're a good team" with honesty. "I like their arena. It's nice to play in." The way their stadium was set up made it feel like there were millions of fans rooting for their home team with the way the cheers reverberated throughout the stadium. As an opposing player, it was sometimes a little intimidating that their fan base could be so dedicated and vocal, but at the same time, Circenn could see himself in the opposing team's shoes and he appreciated the fans dedication. "Have you been to many games?" he asked. He wondered off-handedly if she had ever seen him play. And tried not to focus too much on the feeling that he suddenly wanted her to see him play for some reason.

Her look as he offered her the barbecued chicken stayed his hand. He couldn't quite decipher her expression, but he guessed it wasn't great because she just blinked at him with those large eyes. He glanced about. "I could get your something else if you don't like--" She interrupted him and after an moment of hesitation and silence, he smiled. He wasn't sure if she was agreeing to be courteous or if she was agreeing because she actually did want the chicken. So he added quietly with an earnest undertone. "Honestly, I can get you something else if you'd prefer? I think I have some steak leftover from earlier if you'd like?"

The quidditch player wanted to curse himself out for asking the question. Her reaction to it was the only hint he needed. He felt like a dunce. He reached a hand out to help, pat her on the back something to help with the choking, but he stilled and then dropped his hand, remembering how she flinched before. She didn't want to scare her even more. He didn't need an answer really. He could see the 'no' in her eyes, maybe even a 'hell no.' He knew it would make him sound kind of crazy. He sighed as he rubbed his jaw with one hand, feeling the scratchiness of his beard. When she stopped mid-sentence, he nodded. He understood. He totally understood and he didn't expect or need an explanation from her. He was crazy to think that she might say yes.

"Look, I didn't mean.. I can walk you back to your campsite, help set up a ward, make it safe for you," he offered, his eyes on his hands. But then... but then his eyes flew back to hers and she had him nodding at her question. "Sure. I mean, yes. Yeah," Circenn said, quick to give an answer she might like. Looking over at his dog, who was wagging his tail ever so slightly with eyes closed as he snuggled up against Maisie, Circenn had to smile. "Hell, I think he likes you better than me anyway judging by his behavior right now," he added, hopeful that she might stay, that he might get a little more time to make sure she had enough food and water and wasn't going to go into shock. Hopeful that he might learn a little more about her.

A sizzle and crack of the fire caught his attention and Circenn grabbed a pair of tongs he had with his camping gear, pulling one of the foil wraps towards him. As he opened it, a swift burst of steam made his face hot, but the delicious smell of barbecued chicken and vegetables wafted up to greet him. "It's ready," he told her as he pulled a camping plate from his gear and laid the tin foil meal out on the plate for her, grabbing her a fork before handing her the whole platter. Because he hadn't expected a guest on this trip, he didn't have a second plate so he made do with using the tin foil almost like a bowl and grabbed the spoon from the utensil kit. "Is it okay?" he asked after he had taken a few bits. The thought occurred to him that it had been a while since he had cooked for another woman.

Quickly, Maisie shook her head. Her team's games? Or his games? Even someone has socially inept as she was could sniff out a thinly veiled question. "Nah," she said casually, relaxing as the warmth from the fire seemed to heat up her bones. "I don't get out much," she admitted honestly. Her life consisted mainly of going to work and then scuttling back home before her mother kicked off. To say that she was held in a pretty tight grip was an understatement. Would she liked to go to a Quidditch game? Absolutely. "I kind of fell out of love with it in school," she added but she didn't meet his eye.

Maisie loathed being this confusing and aloof with him but it was for his own good. He couldn't - and wouldn't - get mixed up in her own special brand of crazy. Circenn was a kind soul and a high flyer and he didn't need his good name tarnished by her.

"This  is great, thank you," she said swiftly in an effort to stop him from bending over backwards for her. She didn't need or deserve it.

The hurt and confusion in his eyes made her feel bad and she opened her mouth to try and pacify him before closing it again. This was going all wrong. He wasn't understanding her and she wasn't making herself clear, either. It was a disaster. He was being so nice and she was being so obtuse. It wasn't that she was trying to be mysterious and draw him in. Quite the opposite. She was trying to get him to give up on her and leave so she didn't have to pull the trigger herself. She swallowed  quickly, shaking her head again after the shock had worn off. She found herself warming to the idea of staying here with him but the fact that he'd be outside and subject to the elements didn't sit well with her. When he wasn't looking, she decided, she'd cast a spell. She knew one. It acted like a sort of dome, keeping anyone inside it warm and safe. He wouldn't get cold. Before he woke, she'd disable it and sneak out of his life for good. Clean and simple. No one had to get hurt.

With a smile, she rubbed Poco's head warmly. He must be worn out, she imagined. Maisie decided that the dog could have the sleeping bag. It didn't matter too much to her. She had a feeling that she wouldn't get much sleep if she was comfortable or not. All she could see when she closed her eyes were two amber orbs and she shuddered, pulling the blanket closer around her slender shoulders.

Reaching out with unsure fingers, Maisie blushed deeply. Circenn might not know it but he was accidentally fulfilling one of her fantasies, in a round about sort of way. For her, this would be an ideal date. A night beneath the stars, with a roaring fire and a simple, delicious meal. In her fantasy, however, there was room for cuddling. As he was busy eating, she took the time to examine him. The sparks crackled and exploded around him like orange confetti, disappearing into thin air before they hit the floor. He looked absolutely magical and her heart lurched, sending that delicious feeling of excitement and anticipation that shot through her.

Realising how hungry she was, she tucked in. "s'really good," came the muffled sound as she covered her mouth after inhaling most of her food. She gave a soft laugh, blushing in the firelight as she gently chewed on a piece of carrot. Pausing, she held her hand out and offered Poco a small bit of chicken in case he was up for eating anything. "Don't think that I'm trying to flatter you," she said playfully. "But it's easily the nicest thing I've eaten in a long long time," she admitted as she chewed carefully. It really was. The chicken was still moist and flavourful and it was way more than she'd be able to manage.

"Sorry," she said randomly as she cut up her chicken, her eyes on her foot. "I don't mean to be so quiet," she finally admitted. "I just --" pausing, she blushed before she sighed. "I don't have that many friends," Maisie disclosed and winced awkwardly. "And my head's a bit of a mess. I don't really talk to a lot of people," she finally divulged, feeling really rather stupid and small.