fandomtownies | the preserve: monday morning

Nathan's heart was racing when he woke up. He looked around, expecting to see a Hunter appear from behind a tree or maybe Kieran's face above him. The preserve was quiet though. Undisturbed. There was a feeling in Nathan's gut that he hadn't felt before, though. A bloodlust that had seemed stronger during his sleep but hadn't faded completely upon waking.

Nathan licked his lips and reached for his water, drinking it down in several large gulps in the hopes that would quell whatever this was. Perspiration dripped into his eyes and he chalked that up to the heat, not whatever was going on with him.

"What's wrong with me?" he muttered, staring at the dirt underneath him. "What's wrong!" Those two words were shouted and echoed in the preserve. Nathan took a few breaths and rubbed the back of his neck.

Something was happening. Deep down, he knew what it was but the specifics eluded him. It wasn't happening like it'd happened to Deborah. To Jessica. Something was wrong. It had to be because of who he was.

Nathan gritted his teeth and ignored the feeling of hunger. He had to get through this.

[Open with the caveat that he will not be receptive to just about anyone and I might be slow because work hates me.]

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There was a shuffling sound a dozen or so yards away, then Anders' uncertain voice. He'd gotten pretty good at finding Nathan in the woods, but today was different somehow.

Possibly because Nathan was shouting.

"Nathan? What's wrong with what?"

[OOC: SP is win.]

"Go away," was the answer Nathan gave in a sharp voice. "Go away. I want to be alone."

Anders recoiled as if he'd been slapped. He emerged from behind the trees to look at Nathan, frowning.

"What?"

There was no possible way Nathan meant what he said, was there?

"I want to be alone," he repeated, keeping his back to Anders. "Leave me alone! Please."

He had to figure this out on his own. There wasn't anyone else around here who'd understand what he was feeling.

"Fine," Anders said. "I'm tired of arguing for you to let me in, anyhow."

That ... wasn't particularly fair, but his pride was stung. He would have tried to understand if Nathan had let him.

Nathan turned around and glared at him for that one before turning away again.

"Thanks for telling me how you feel," he snapped, curling his fingers into a fist. "Just go away, then. Go. I need to be alone."

"You know how I feel," Anders said, just as harshly. "You've known for months. I'm the one who has no bloody clue how you feel. But you need space? Fine. Work whatever it is out on your own. You know how to find me."

"Go away," he repeated, glaring down at the dirt hard enough that his head was starting to hurt. "If how I am is so bloody bad, then go the hell away! Now."

Anders held up his hands in frustration, not that Nathan could see the gesture. "Idiot. I like the way you are when you aren't trying to shove me away. But I'm gone, either way. Don't tell me again."

He turned to stalk off.

Edited 2015-07-13 19:49 (UTC)

"Sometimes I just need to be alone!" he shouted, climbing to his feet and taking a few heaving breaths. He had to calm down. It was making the feeling worse. "Goodbye."

If Anders was going to leave like that, Nathan was going to run. Run until he couldn't anymore. Maybe that'd help. He bolted in the opposite direction, weaving through trees and disappearing further into the preserve.

Anders paused for just a second when he heard footsteps, and his shoulders sagged when he realized they were going the other way.

Fine. It was fine. If Nathan needed to be alone to work something out, he could bloody well be alone. Anders wasn't about to go chasing after him just to be told to go away again.

He kicked a rock out of the path harder than was strictly necessary and didn't turn around until he reached the dorms.

the preserve: monday morning

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