Sunlight tumbled through the forest canopy, dancing from branch to leaf to trunk in a golden cascade. Overhead, the normally emerald ceiling of the woodlands was slowly turning, the progress of autumn heralded by a wash of orange, yellow and crimson. Even with this sign of the approaching turn of the seasons, the light wind that filled the air remained warm and fragrant. Close by, a pair of songbirds communicated from the low-hanging boughs of one of the trees.

Underneath this gently swaying canopy, a lone creature strolled between the trees, winding a languorous, meandering path through the trackless woodlands. The slight figure slipped by ancient tree trunks, gentle fingers stroking the gnarled bark of a towering oak as she passed. A low, gentle song rose from the heart of the mysterious creature, echoing through the forest and rising to mingle with that of the birds, somehow harmonising perfectly with them.

The figure was slightly built, small of frame, not much more than five feet in height. At first glance, one could be forgiven for mistaking her for a scantily clad Human woman. She walked upright on two legs, hips swaying sensually from side to side as she journeyed further into the heart of the wilds. A cascade of fiery red hair tumbled across slim shoulders, framing a gentle face. Piercing blue eyes surveyed her surroundings, while ruby-red lips pursed around the melody she sang, the gentle tones of her voice rising from deep within her throat. A scattering of freckles danced across a soft nose and cheeks that glowed with an almost golden sheen, a gift from a life living almost entirely under the open sky. There, however, was where all resemblance to a Human ended.

The swaying hips swiftly gave way to legs that were like those of a goat, coated in thick, dark fur and ending in large cloven hooves. Snaking out from under the simple skirt that she wore, a tail could be seen, long and covered in short fur. It twitched from side to side, swatting at the air as she walked. From under her flaming red hair, two horns curled gently, small like a lamb's, but still prominent, and two large, broad ears.

She was a succubus, a creature understood by few in the world. Most who would try to study her or her kin would find themselves utterly distracted in moments, lost in the sapphire gaze or her other… 'diversions'. A creature known as a Hybrid, she and her kind were at least partly magical, and exuded a raw animal magnetism that only the strongest of wills could resist, and even then only for a short time. Some called her 'monster', others called her 'demon'. And a few, a lucky few… they were able to call her something far more intimate, at least for a while. But to most, she went by the name of Vea.

She stalked between two yew trees that stretched up towards the sky, their trunks and branches twisting in confusing knots as they reached for the heavens, the thickest boughs twisting together to form a natural arch. As she passed under their stretching arms, the succubus reached out to touch each aged trunk, feeling a spark of connection as her fingertips brushed against the rough bark. She paused, thrilling in the feeling of being surrounded by such raw natural energy, drawing it into her heart with every breath. She lifted her chin a little, inhaling deeply as she tasted the air that surrounded her. The rich scent of the earth, recently invigorated by a heavy downpour. The scents of countless woodland blooms, now beginning to fade as the warmth of the summer was coming to an end. Somewhere close by, the crystal clear odour of running water. Vea's ears twitched, turning towards the faint gurgling sound that bounced through the ancient forest.

With barely a second's consideration, the succubus set off in the direction of the unseen water source. Her hooves dug deep into the earth beneath her, a pleasurable feeling of connection to the land filling her belly as she walked. How the Humans and Elves could stand to cover their feet with scraps of dead animal, cutting themselves off from the world underfoot, she would never understand. How could they hope to feel the changing moods of the land, the growing warmth of spring, the parched dryness of a summer gone on too long, the crisp chill of the last frost of winter? With every step, the young succubus allowed her hooves to dig deep into the soil, revelling in every sensation. The land spoke to her with every step, telling her countless things that even the best hunter or tracker could not hope to understand.

The faint rustle of movement caught her ear, the horned creature turning to look up into the boughs of a nearby tree. A flash of movement drew her gaze, a fiery streak that bounded along the length of a branch, hurling itself towards the next bough with seemingly reckless abandon. The succubus allowed herself a chuckle of glee. A squirrel, carrying a mouthful of scavenged bounty back to its den. She watched the little creature, entranced by its swift pace and confident bounds, until it was finally lost to her view as it scurried into the hollow trunk of a nearby tree. She waited a moment longer, in the hopes of seeing the tiny beast or one of its fellows, but no further movement caught her eye. She pouted for but a second, before brightening once more, turning away to resume her wandering course.

At last she came upon her destination, the banks of a narrow but swift-flowing river. Somewhere close by, ice-cold water welled up through the rock of the land at several sources, a dozen narrow streams all rapidly converging into one crystal-clear creek. Here, the waterway threw itself over a low cliff, tumbling down a dozen slick rock-faces until it crashed down into a deep pool, a fine mist from the waterfall filling the air. All around the pool, weeping willows sagged close to the water's surface, creating a shield around the water's edge that screened it from the outside world.

A warm smile pulled at Vea's crimson lips, genuine joy filling her eyes as she surveyed her little haven. A favoured retreat of the succubus, it was a secret she had shared with very few. Now, the anticipation tingling inside the pit of her stomach, she approached the water's edge, swiftly discarding the few scraps of cloth that she usually wore, not out of any sense of modesty, but simply to make some of her more… reserved suitors feel at ease. This done, she stepped forward, descending into the pool.

The moment her hooves touched the water's edge, the icy chill sent a delicious shiver up her spine, a shock to her system that invigorated her, setting her nervous system ablaze. She pressed on, feeling the water rise around her fur-covered legs. The sensation of the water caressing her was exhilarating. With a surge of speed, she plunged into the water, allowing it to utterly swallow her. Her skin shivered as the frigid pool accepted her, a tingle that filled her entire being and wanted to drive the air from her lungs. She dove under the surface, pushing down towards the bed of the pool, allowing the chill to utterly take her.

Just as her lungs began to beg for release, she pushed up through the water, breaking the surface and drawing in deep gulps of fresh air. She leaned back, allowing herself to float on the placid surface for a moment, her legs kicking just enough to guide her about. Her tail coiled and unfurled in the water beneath her, creating odd currents that caressed her in enjoyable ways. She let her head sag back into the water, her ears twitching as they cast off a few droplets that still clung to them. Hair the colour of a sunset fanned out around her, drifting gently in the calm water. She lay there for a long moment, thrilling in the sensation of freedom that just existing there gave her. Then, with all the skill and agility of a Rusalka, she vanished beneath the surface again, darting to and fro through the water.

She revelled in the liberation that the sensations of the water granted to her, the utter freedom of movement and weightlessness. In moments like these, when she utterly gave herself over to the sensation, she felt truly alive. It was better than almost any other sensation she knew of. Almost.

~o~0~o~

Vea stretched out on the long, flat rock, leaning back to her full length. The dark slate under her, warmed by the sun, was pleasantly comfortable on her skin as she reached up to tease the last few droplets of water from her hair. She stared up at the sky, just visible past the leafy canopy of the forest. The sun had just passed its zenith, now beginning a lazy crawl towards the horizon. Still plenty of daylight left to enjoy. Somewhere close by, the two songbirds from earlier continued their chorus, a gentle series of chirps that danced in her ears.

The succubus reached out to her side, where a small pile of berries had been gathered. A lucky discovery, and a welcome one. She picked a blackberry from the pile, slipping it between her scarlet lips. The lightest pressure from her tongue popped the berry, allowing its tart juices to fill her mouth. She sighed, closing her eyes as she savoured the taste, both sharp and sweet, perfectly ripe. Bliss. Pure bliss. Almost perfect in every way.

The sound was very subtle. More of a movement in the air than an actual noise. The rustle of shifting underbrush, the slight hush that signalled a presence trying to move without sound. To the succubus' sensitive ears, the new presence was immediately apparent. She twitched, rolling onto her belly as she surveyed her surroundings. She pressed close to the warm stone, presenting as little of a profile as possible.

Azure eyes scanned the shores of the pool, looking for any sign of who might be intruding on her sanctuary. They almost missed it, but a tiny shift in the leaves of one of the willows betrayed the newcomer. There, right next to where the succubus had discarded her clothes, a figure was kneeling in the dirt. Her armour was dark, a mixture of greys and browns that blended into the woodlands very well. Long chestnut hair hung loosely across slim but powerful shoulders, while gentle features scanned the mud at the edge of the pool. Between slender fingers hung the scraps of fabric that belonged to Vea. As the new arrival glanced up, the succubus sunk closer to the stone she was lying on, hoping that she had not been spotted yet as she inspected the stranger.

Eyes that burned a feral yellow scanned the pool. As the stranger turned, a glint of silver around her neck caught Vea's eye, a sight that she recognised, and that sparked the flame of curiosity within her. A snarling wolf, dangling from a chain.

The succubus' breath caught in her chest, her pulse racing just a little. A Witcher, here? What could she want? Surely the monster hunter wasn't looking for her, was she? She'd done nothing to warrant being hunted by one of the professional slayers. Unless…

The succubus shook her head, dismissing the train of thought. She needed to know more first.

With sudden speed, the Witcher stood, turning to leave the pool behind. Still clutching the scraps of fabric, she began to walk into the forest.

Curiosity filled Vea's core, a burning fire that needed to be satisfied. She had to know what the Witcher was doing her. She rose to follow her, moving swiftly between the trees to pursue the strange figure.

Ahead, the Witcher could be seen, moving cautiously between the trees. Vea slowed, watching her warily, careful not to reveal herself just yet. As the succubus drew closer, a smile began to play across lips the colour of a rose. Yes, she'd follow this Witcher, at least for a little while. Finding out what she was up to would provide some sport. And besides, the roguish thought bubbled up in the back of her mind, this Witcher carried an interesting energy with her, a spark of light that the succubus had not seen before in the normally serious monster hunters. It had been a while since she'd tasted the vital energies of a Witcher, especially one so beautiful as this...