Captured by the Beast [SS#2]

Chapter 41

"I was so scared. How can that creature be harmless?" I asked, baffled as he softly shook his head.

"I'm unsure, my heart. That makes me wonder though if the people we've talked to remember coming into contact with that creature or if they're repressing the memory of it?" He thought aloud as I quietly pulled my cloak tighter against myself. "Why don't we rest here for a little bit and eat something? It'll help us both to calm down."

"Both? Did something like this happen to you too?" I questioned while unfastening the hooks of the satchel from my side before handing it over to Mizail who nodded.

"Yes. It sounded exactly like you but moved faster and louder than your normal padding against the stairs. I thought it was you at first but I had no way to turn around and help you since my shoulders were practically bumping against the walls. The more I seemed to move, the more aggressive it had gotten with calling out to me until it yelled." He explained as a shiver racked through me. "Eventually, I saw an exit and crawled out of it into the snow before turning back to see only glowing eyes staring back at me. Once it went back into the darkness of the stairway, the entrance closed up and I panicked. That was when another opening appeared a little further down from me and I hurried over while calling your name."

"I'm so glad you did!" I smiled as he broke a sandwich we made in half while handing me the biggest piece. "Are you sure?" I asked as he nodded while taking a bite out of his.

"Yes, you're hurt and you need the energy." He explained as I sighed while biting into my sandwich which was made of grilled Sogo meat, blue ose bread made with yoh flour, these large red vegetation that oddly resembled a tomato but had no seeds and were a tad bit sweeter, and a simple sweet and spicy dressing that Mizail showed me how to make. The sandwich was too good and juicy as I moaned in delight.

"This is really good! We should make more of these often." I exclaimed while quietly humming a little tune as Mizail smiled at me. After we finished up our sandwiches and washed it down with something cool to drink, Mizail fussed over my scraped knees before rubbing some type of salve over it and bandaging it. "I'm okay to walk, baby." I reassured him as I slowly stood up while taking a few steps. Whatever was in the salve took away all of the pain I had. Mizail looked at me with doubt on his face before sighing as I smiled up at him.

"Only if you let me know when it's too much for you." He bargained as I nodded while he pulled the hood of my cloak back over my head. "Shall we proceed?" He asked while outstretching his hand towards me as I nodded while taking his in mine before we moved on from the area. The further we got from the wall, the more snow began to fall. "Here, take a sip." Mizail offered over the liquor we had packed into the satchel as I took it and had a small sip before warmth spread throughout my body.

"Is it the same alcohol from last time?" I asked while looking up at him as he shook his head.

"No, this one was made from the berries around the tribe. For my people, we don't have the same reaction as you do. There isn't a warmth since we're so used to it as we eat those berries in almost everything." He explained as I handed it back to him while he tucked it back into the satchel. Looking around, I stared at the snow in amazement. It had already gotten up to our ankles already.

"Okay." I answered as he looked at me curiously before I dropped down into the snow on my back while smiling. I slowly began to move my arms and legs like I saw the people do on the television set back on Earth. It was oddly fun. I couldn't help laughing as Mizail asked no questions before plopping down in the snow next to me. As I looked over at him, I was surprised to see him also doing the same thing. When he looked over at me with a smile on his face, I truly felt alive again.

"What do you call this?" He asked as I slowly sat up while he did the same.

"It's called a snow angel. I saw people on tv doing it and always wondered what it'd be like to have fun and just play in the snow." I explained as Mizail stood up before helping me up as well while I turned and looked at our masterpieces. They were messy but perfect! I thought while smiling. "Where I lived, there was never snow. I lived my everyday staring out a window or watching things on tv wondering what it'd be like to truly experience things like this. I'm glad I can make these new memories with you." I admitted while Mizail softly smiled at me.

"I'm glad to share these moments with you as well, my heart. What's something else you saw on this tv?" He asked as a lot of things flew through my mind but there was always this one thing I wanted to do especially with a partner. I held out my hand towards him as he placed his in mine before I placed it on my waist. Grabbing his other hand, I held it in my hand while resting my free hand on his waist since he was too tall for me to put my hand on his shoulder.

"There was this one dance that I was always drawn to. The program called it waltzing and it looked so elegant. People used to dance along to this soft song all the time. They were dressed in such beautiful gowns and tuxedos and they'd glide across the room or in our case, across the vast openness. I'm no expert at this but I know a few clumsy steps." I quietly laughed while slowly guiding Mizail as we made a few clumsy mistakes of stepping on each other's toes but we'd laugh it off and keep going. Though there was no music playing, I swore I could hear that soft song playing around us. As he started getting the hang of it, I quietly hummed along with the tune I heard while we glided through the snow as he stared down at me with a warm smile on his face. "I'm glad that you entertained my idea." I softly smiled while leaning on his chest as he released my hand before holding my head while still dancing.

"I love learning new things about you, my heart. I also love being this close to you." He softly laughed as warmth filled me with his words. Such a sweet man. "What were other things you loved to do?" He asked as the snow fell around us and onto our cloaks.

"Hmm, well you already know I love to dance, sew, and cook. I used to do both of those things with my mom all the time when I was younger. Ever since I was able to sit up on my own, I used to sit in her lap while she stitched up things. She even stitched up my scarf. That was the reason I always panicked when I couldn't find it." I confessed while wrapping my arms around his waist as he embraced me, softly kissing my head. "Maybe we should move on now?" I asked after a few seconds as Mizail softly hummed in thought.

"Just a little bit longer please." He mumbled into my cloak as I quietly laughed. I could stay like this for a while if it weren't for our sacred ritual, but that could wait.