He was swathed in the black of night, cradled and clutched, entirely melted into the shroud of darkness that hung so thickly over Sylva. Once again he stood in the water, hooves sunken into the clay beneath as he stared out to the deeper parts. Longing. Dark blue eyes had faded to a murky gray, and they slid over his shoulder to the bank. Calculating. His head tilted.
Something comes.
His head tipped in a short nod.

With gradual movements, he glided through the pond to the earth that kissed the air, and not the small lake. Water slid easily down his smoothed skin, a rich black akin to an orca. His nectar seeped like dew across his body, sitting like water on a flat-haired coat. His jaw ached, his tongue lined his flattened teeth. Not right, all wrong. But it would do.

A white man appeared then, a pale and mottled moon with four legs. It was so much bigger here on earth, bigger than even he. Thicker too. A body built of power and strength. Black head tilted. Calculated. The moon made sounds from his throat, deep and neutral. They annoyed him, but he didn't express it as he circled the beast curiously. He stopped when the man was between him and the water, and looked down at his own hooves. The same as the white beast, but different. Smaller black ones on legs shaped more slender and attractive.

He looked up to the eyes that were shading with suspicion. The moon-man was tensed, sensing something off. The black stallion smiled -the creature grinned- but it didn't seem to ease the pale one. So large. Another short nod. Yes, he knew. Very large. Strong, too. But still.

A flash of movement. He collided with the other as it dodged to the side, tumbling them both to the shallow bank in a splash. Black was rolled to the water, and white slipped to the land like a foam of waves, lengthening to stand on feet. A hungry noise rattled from a dark throat, eyes filled with a lust. He lunged for the moon being, throwing his side against him and immediately dropping to the water.

The white fell with him, helplessly attached to the silk of his black skin. A secret they never lived to tell. He rolled violently, putting prey beneath him. He detached, stood over him and pressed his skull beneath the water, flat teeth tearing into the carotid artery at his neck. White thrashed and dislodged him, moved to stand again but he was breathing water, and was overpowered. Blood spilled into his pond. He didn't mind sharing with his lover, the water, but he thirsted. He drank. The beast eventually stilled at his feet. He lowered himself and continued, murky eyes swimming with satisfaction.

When it was done, he lay in the water a while longer. He licked the pale coat almost lovingly. Mellow. Content. The body was slightly sunken and drained, but he'd been sated long before the source dried up. Still fleshy, still obvious identity. They would be devoured, usually. Not a trace left behind but an emptiness and doubt in the hearts that knew them. This time, it could not be done that way. But it meant nothing to him. He stood, walked to the bank. Hair reappeared on his coat, left only water resting on his skin.

Drowned.
He nodded, staring blankly at the limp form.
Pale. Half-in, half-out of licking waters.
A likely conclusion.

Be wary of still water.
He didn't respond to that one. Only walked away.
Made it to a dark cave, and slept for a full day.