[open] illicit affairs; any

[Sparrow]

I sometimes used to wonder, absently, how I might handle myself during a crisis. I think most horses who haven't lived through one do. We like to believe we'll be brave or noble or quick-witted. It turns out, I am none of those things. The appearance of a large, muscled black cat sends my mind into a free fall. And as chance would have it, I don't respond with fight or flight. I simply freeze, terror rising so that my eyes widen and I feel like I’m choking, a slightly strangled noise escaping from my throat. In my head, I am running far away. In reality not so much. Good to know a sarcastic voice says from somewhere deep in my brain. Wouldn’t want to be one of those pesky brave idiots. No, instead I’m cringing in terror. My chest heaves with the effort to keep breathing and my legs shake, almost imperceptibly. I’m not even sure I could fight back if he springs. Fucking hell, if this is how I die I am going to be so pissed. I could have stayed in my usual haunts, but no, I had to try and be adventurous. Who enters a world of monsters and ghosts and dies because they are prey? Suddenly my eyes catch movement and fall on a tiny creature nestled on the predator (panther, puma... do I know? does it matter?) and my mouth falls open to let dozens of useless words fall out. "D-d'you you know you have a bird, just there, on your back? I mean, I guess, I don't know why I'm telling you that. I don't even know if you understand. If you do, could you maybe not keep me in suspense... I always sort of hoped when I died it would be quick?" Rambling. Ah yes, rambling to my apparently imminent death. I'd always considered becoming a diplomat in my father's kingdom but I never dreamt my first attempts at negotiation would come at the expense of my life and would be so apt to fail. S P A R R O W texas x redbird this time it's different