Hunting: Destiny & Matt - No. 6
The juxtaposition between veterinarian and leather goods didn't seem to trouble Matt. He wasn't a vegetarian, either. He did what he could for the animals that were brought to him, and that did give him a little personal quiet. But he'd done too many things and seen too many things die to get touchy about the circle of life. You protected it where you could, but you wore leather. Why wouldn't you? If anything was old-fashioned about him still, the practicality of that notion was definitely up there.
He didn't notice the smudged eyeliner, or didn't care. If he knew what her profession was - if he'd spotted her when he walked past Hookerville - he didn't make it obvious. He liked her soft smile.
That quiet nudge into his shoulder a few seconds after meeting earned her a brief look that almost showed amusement. She'd got on his good side, apparently. "Know the woods pretty well," he offered. He'd managed to down a beer while he was looking for her, the bottle long-since discarded. It took a lot more than one beer to get him drunk, but it gave him the illusion that he was looser and less aware than he actually was. It would be nice to not be assessing for threats at an Easter Egg hunt, but his occasional sideways glances precluded that. When he was in public, he was never completely relaxed. Warm, easy company made things better, though.
The ground shook.
This wasn't the part of the country that got earthquakes, really, so that made no sense. He grabbed her arm with his free hand, anchoring her to him, and the ground shook again, hard enough that he almost lost his footing.
It was just beyond the edge of the trees. He could see it now, a shadow looming larger, higher, coming straight for them. Nothing could stand against it. The foliage was mulched to a pulp as it rolled over tree and rock and bush, pulverizing everything in its path. The thing wasn't quite out into the dimming light yet, but he could see the reflection of light on metal teeth, circulating like a saw, chewing through everything ahead of it, and treads that rolled thunderously over the ground.
He didn't say anything. He just kept hold of Destiny's arm, turned the other way, and ran.