A Walk in the Woods

I managed to combine Trifecta's writing prompt with the Write at the Merge prompt this week.  It is revisiting a story I haven't worked on in a while but it fit well.  To completely understand Emma's comment at the beginning, be sure to read the rest of the story, or at least the piece just before this one.  They are in the tab labeled One Night in Dusseldorf at the top of the page.

Here are the prompts for the week:

Trifecta -
This week's word is:

BITCH (noun)

1: the female of the dog or some other carnivorous mammals
2 a : a lewd or immoral woman
   b : a malicious, spiteful, or overbearing woman —sometimes used as a generalized term of abuse
3: something that is extremely difficult, objectionable, or unpleasant

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

 

 

Write at the Merge gave us these two things:

 

This week, we have an image and a quotation for you:

image courtesy of lynnsta (via Flickr Creative Commons)

So here's my 333 word take on the two prompts:

            “Well,” I blinked, trying to find words, “Ain’t that a bitch.”

He was right.  We all knew it.  I didn’t want an ordinary life.

            “Come with me,” Kris said in a tone that almost commanded.

            Part of me wanted to refuse just because he expected me to listen.  His jaw tightened.  He saw my instinct to refuse out of spite.

            “Lead on my furry friend.”

            That didn’t seem to go over well either.  But, what can I say?  I tend to be a smart ass when I’m uncomfortable, which was a massive understatement right then.

            I followed Kris through the house, though mansion would be more accurate.  We stepped out onto the huge stone veranda.  I noticed a heart set in stone near the door.  It seemed odd, yet fitting, for Kris.  James trailed behind us.  I got the impression from James that, no matter what Kris did or where he went, James would be right there with him.  Again, I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.  But, what the hell, I was already in way over my head.  What difference would it make to see this through now?

            The formal English garden that greeted me was impressive.  I didn’t think there was a single pebble out of place.  The huge tract of completely untouched land just beyond the garden didn’t fit the scene.

            “Okay.  I’m here.  Why’d you bring me out here?”

            Kris didn’t answer.  He passed through the garden into that undeveloped land and chose a game trail.  James stopped at the edge of the trees.  I hesitated, unsure of what to do.  James gestured for me to follow Kris.

            “You feel better out here,” Kris said once James couldn’t hear us anymore.

            “And how do you know that?”

            “I told you.  You’re a druid.  I’m a faoladh, werewolf for lack of a better translation.  I know what you feel, what you need.  That’s my job.”

            This guy was seriously creeping me out.  What the hell was going on here?