Chapter 107

Chapter 107: 107 It was slow work using a human sized tongue to clean up all the majority of the blood staining the loong’s maw but Bran was persistent and the creature was patient and eventually it all got done. The loong gave a satisfied sounding trill while Bran wasn’t quite sure how he felt. He’d quite liked watching nature documentaries as a kid and he couldn’t help but wonder if this jaw cleaning exercise was something to do with certain rituals that some animals like to do. Certain... mating rituals. Just the thought of that made Bran’s head spin and his whole body heat up. If that was the case, then he felt even more justified to feel like he was cheating on Misha with... Misha, but also not Misha, in some weird kind of way. The loong turned back to its fish and nipped at its tail. Then again, maybe he was just over thinking it? Maybe Misha the loong wasn’t thinking along those lines at all. The half eaten fish landed in Bran’s lap. Or perhaps it was best not to think about that at all. Bran was alive and, so it seemed, was Misha. If this was it, if Misha never returned to his human form, then, what would Bran do? Even as Bran thought this, he felt himself calm down. He knew what he would do. He would do nothing, but continue to accompany the loong. It didn’t matter if they were separated by a species. To Bran, there was no one else he’d rather be with regardless of everything. He picked up the fish. All the blood had drained from it leaving only pinkish white flesh behind. It didn’t matter what form Misha took. He was who he was and Bran loved him. Bran held up the fish and took a bite. -- For a day that had started with rather high tensions, the rest of it was pretty relaxing. Misha the loong apparently liked roaming about in the water for fun, not just food, and Bran found himself content to watch. That is, until Misha circled round him on the beach and nudged him to the water’s edge. To be completely honest, Bran was still a little frightened of Misha from that cut earlier so he kicked off his shoes, rolled up his jeans, and walked in. The water was surprisingly cold, in stark contrast to the sun above and Bran it quite nice. He took another step so that the waves nearly touched the edges of his rolled up jeans then reached down to wet his hands. That was a mistake. No sooner had he leaned over than a much larger being pushed him into the surf. Bran twisted and spluttered and sat, legs splayed apart with the water coming up to his elbows. He looked behind himself at the loong who could only be described as chuckling. Bran scowled and splashed a good handful of water at the creature. No more fear. Misha whistled and gave a little jump causing a minor wave to upturn Bran. God dammit... But before Bran could get truly annoyed, a serpentine head pushed up under his hands and a long, elegant body swept beneath him carrying him up out of the water. Bran instinctively wrapped his arms around Misha’s neck and the loong turned to give his hair a little nibble. It was something the Misha of the past would do. Bran reached up and gently touched the softer underside of that powerful jaw. "Do you remember me?" he asked. The great creature’s eyes blinked then opened his mouth. Bran swallowed. "Misha..." The loong’s tongue unfurled and he used it to slowly lick the wound on Bran’s cheek again and the fear in Bran’s chest gave way to guilt. That attack on him earlier must have just been an instincts thing. He’d reached for him while the creature was eating. Maybe he thought he was going to take his food away? Come to think of it, he was pretty sure he’d once tried to pat a dog who was eating who ended up doing much the same thing... A shiver went down Bran’s spine. After finishing with his cheek, that tongue had continued down his neck and now caressed the exposed bone of his sternum. At least there seemed to be one thing the guy remembered... Bran looked up and down the beach to confirm that there really was no one about then turned back to the loong. -- Bran had been a little concerned about water at first, but when the sun was at its apex, Misha had walked, with Bran on his back, into the shade of some trees and there Bran had discovered the suspicious looking patch of muddy ground under the brush. After a quick rest after their exertions, he’d taken the time to trace the trickle back some distance and discovered that, as he’d hoped, it was a proper, freshwater river. Water problems solved. Misha had followed him into the forest as well, keeping close to him almost like he was afraid of him disappearing. And could Bran blame him? The loong may not remember much or anything, but Bran was very aware of all the recent losses the guy had gone through. Not just being kidnapped by that little kid Mikhail or himself being kidnapped from the manor, but even his father betraying him all those months ago had to still be a fresh wound. He’d gone through so much and now that there was some down time, Bran couldn’t help thinking about it all. Pity Misha couldn’t think along with him. Bran stroked a hand along the tuft of hair that trailed down the centre of Misha’s neck and rubbed at the spot near the loong’s shoulder that he liked. "What is it?" he asked in a soft voice. The loong’s tail thumped on the ground behind where he sat, probably a consequence of the fondling, but his head was still looking off in a different direction, alert-like and watchful, his ears twitching. Bran leaned against the loong’s body and closed his eyes, trying to hear what the creature clearly could. The wind, the waves, the rustle of small creatures going about their business in the brush... and the distant yell of a human voice. Bran straightened and looked in the same direction as Misha. "Should we take a look?" he asked, wishing he’d get a response but knowing he wouldn’t. He felt more than heard a rumble deep in Misha’s chest then the loong headed off. Alright then, though Bran, quickly falling in behind. There had been birds happily chirping earlier when it had just been him and Misha roaming about, but now the forest was silent and, even as a human, Bran felt uneasy. The pair, Misha at the fore and Bran behind, continued their quiet way forward until they came to an opening in the trees. Misha stopped just in the shadows and Bran stood to the side of him so that he could see what all the fuss was about. The man, whoever he was, was still shouting though his words were becoming slurred perhaps due to exhaustion. The loong beside Bran tensed then, out in the sun, a reddish brown blur whipped between the grasses, shooting over the open area then darting into the shade not a few metres away from them. Bran swore it almost looked like a small animal with a styrofoam lunchbox clamped in its jaws. "Y... you... blasted..." The shouting man finally came into view, nearly tripping as he slowed to catch his breath. Bran stepped forward only to be stopped by an annoyed loong’s maw pushing him back. He raised a hand and rubbed Misha’s snout. "It’s okay," he said quietly. "We need to find out what’s happening. I don’t think this guy’s a threat. Okay?" Misha nipped the edge of Bran’s still drying shirt in response. "You can come with me," added Bran. There was a small whine then Misha let go, following behind Bran. "Hey!" The man looked up then tripped for real and rolled on the ground like he was trying to get out of the way of a speeding car. He looked about Bran’s age, or maybe a bit older, and rather worse for wear with a jacket that looked like it had seen better days and ripped jeans that did not look like a fashion statement. "Hey! You okay?" Bran called out in Cantonese, rushing up to the man. "Ah! Oh, oh, a human! But..." The man’s eyes rolled around though he clearly failed to see the loong standing among the trees. Bran offered a hand and the man took it. "You okay? Anything broken?" Bran asked again. The man looked himself over, patting the dust from his clothes. "No, I’m okay," he said. Then he looked up and Bran got the distinct feeling he was being carefully watched. Something passed behind the man’s eyes then he smiled. "Thanks. I owe you one."