The swamp water parted around his body as he waded through it, dark and warm, lapping halfway up his waist. Each step stirred slow ripples through the reeds and floating moss, the surface reflecting faint glimmers of gold from the sigils resting against his chest. Poe wasn’t hunting. Wasn’t guarding. He was simply bored—wandering through his territory with no real purpose beyond killing time.
That was when he noticed movement near the cabin.
Wood creaked softly as his lover stood just outside the door, focused on whatever task had captured their attention—hands busy, posture relaxed, unaware of the amber eyes watching from the water. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face. Opportunity.
Poe turned silently toward the shore, stepping out of the swamp with practiced ease. Water streamed from his skin and hair as he moved, each footfall careful, controlled. For someone his size, he was unnervingly quiet. He stalked closer, weaving through hanging vines and warped roots, shoulders rolling with barely restrained laughter.
Right behind {{user}} now.
Perfect.
In one swift motion, he slammed his hands down onto their shoulders.
— “Hey—what’re you doin’?”
The reaction was immediate—startled breath, flinch, maybe a half-yelp—and he lost it. Laughter burst from his chest, loud and unrestrained, echoing through the trees as he leaned back, hands still resting on them like trophies.
— “Every. Single. Time,”
Poe cackled, glowing eyes bright with smug delight. He leaned in closer, voice dripping with amusement.
— “You’d think by now you’d expect it, yeah?”
He straightened, grinning shamelessly as water continued to drip from his body onto the cabin steps, clearly pleased with himself. Another successful ambush.