A step back in time part 2

"Lycosia... Wake up girl. Wake up!"

Soft slaps on her face brought the ranger to full attention. She looked up at the attendant to the Ranger Shrine. The woman was dressed in soft green leather armor covered in the symbols of the animals that lived within the forest.

"You sure picked the right Stalker. Just as stubborn as you! Your job isn't done yet. It's in pain. Get up!"

Lycosia sucked in a deep breath and hefted herself to her knees. She felt a strange shakiness and held out her hands in front of her face. Her tongue was thick. Strangely her head was clear. Preternaturally clear. A shiver ran up her spine and a wave of nausea passed over her. A feeling of deep longing drew her forward. She staggered to her feet.

The attendant to the shrine watched helplessly, knowing that the path was Lycosia's alone to travel. Once a ranger cast a companion spell, nothing could stand between the ranger and the animal companion. Until the spell was completed the animal and the ranger would feel the agony of separation. She watched as Lycosia crashed through the bushes, heedless of the noise she made.

The stalker lay next to a tree, a small way away a spider half its size twitched in the throes of death, claw and bite marks covering its hairy body. Lycosia ignored the spider and sank down next to the stalker who snarled. Lycosia felt their mixed anger, and fear as one emotion. She winced when she saw the spiders savage fang marks in the cats haunch. The ranger reached out with both hands and lay them on the stalkers body. A blue haze covered the cat.

"You...you will ...be mine...", Lycosia whispered. She shivered violently. "I will..."

In one last ploy, the stalker sank its fangs into Lycosia's arm. Her voice strained against the pain that echoed between them.

"I will HEAL you, and be...yours!"

With the rangers effort, the blue haze retreated back into the stalkers body and the rangers eyes glowed. A burst of magic swept through one, then the other.

Memories, painful and sweet. Milk, meat, the thrill of the chase. Blood lust, anger. Lycosia felt her own memories mingle with the stalkers. She felt the stalker startle at her understanding. Then assent. The spell released them. When Lycosia came to her senses again, it was to the stalker pawing her anxiously and circling her. She winced as his rough tongue swiped her sensitive arm.

"I'm fine. I'm fine."

The stalker pushed her to her feet urgently. Together they made their way back to the shrine. The harsh light of noon beat down on them both as they drank from the water of the shrine.

"A fine pet you have Ranger Lycosia."

Lycosia lifted her head to look at the attendant. The stalker next to her huffed. Lycosia shook her head.

"This is no pet Master Ranger Merck. He is a willing assassin. A wild animal at heart who chooses to walk my path. He was willing to die rather than be ruled. The spell may have been completed, but it will never make me his mistress."