Wretched and disfigured, the rain fell on his back as he walked further away from civilisation. The full moon peeked through black clouds; its effects diminished from their usual strength. His clothes had ripped, and the bulges of muscle were mismatched and uneven. He could smell his fur, like wet dog. He held his nostrils; they’d crept away from his face but had yet to become a full-formed snout. It didn’t help much.
“Rhadd! Wait up!”
A call came from behind him, just about reaching his ears. Rhadd turned, covering his face with his hand. One piercing yellow iris peered out from behind his fingers; unsure which eye if any had changed, he picked the left.
“Owain? Go home.” Rhadd turned back to the hill, trudging up its muddy façade.
“You can’t just leave in the middle of dinner like that! Your sister is worried about you, and you’ve been acting strangely for months. Your father has about had it,” Owain stepped closer, not noticing Rhadd’s physical changes in the darkness. His torchlight was made murky by the rain and shrubbery.
Rhadd felt his lip curl into a snarl, and he snapped back at Owain, “Get back!”
“Rhadd… Is it something that I did? Please, tell me. I… I’d do anything for you.” Owain’s eyes grew wet with sorrow, as Rhadd’s indifference and anger tore into him like claws.
Noticing his partner break down, Rhadd softened. “It’s nothing that – Don’t think this is anything to do with you, please. I just need to be alone. I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.”
“Please, Rhadd. Talk to me. Let me in,” Owain took another step.
“Stop!” Rhadd snapped again, baring his canines. Feeling his anger well up once more, Rhadd fought back his own tears. “Please, just go back to the village. For your own good.”
Today's prompt: break down
This week's worldbuilding prompt: spring
If you'd like to participate too, the contest/prompts can be found here:
@mariannewest/day-1604-5-minute-freewrite-sunday-prompt-break-down
