Deathclaw

An unfamiliar scent tickled his nostrils, the one which shouldn't be there. No one usually got this close to his lair, most simply did not dare to venture that far into the wastes. Those who did were either extremely brave or very foolish. Or desperate. It smelled sweet and warm, neither like a stray dog nor ghoul. He tilted his head slightly to one side. Humanoid. The wind brought him nothing else but tantalising hints as it blew southwards through cracks and crevices of the abandoned complex, where the breeze whistled among the ruins of half crumbling buildings and rusting metal walls. A low growl rumbled in deathclaw's chest - this was his domain, the territory he marked, protected and patrolled, and no trespasser was welcome here. His heavy, clawed steps echoed off the concrete flooring, creating reverberations within the empty, long corridor. Some time ago the military complex was busy and full of life, but now the halls lay dark and silent, the air filled with nothing but dust. The quiet whisper of machinery and human footsteps, the loud humming from huge generators, it all stopped. This was his home now. There was no mistaking it, the smell came from further ahead, from beyond the next doorway. Deathclaw approached in silence and crouched, waiting and listening for a moment. There he caught it again, the sweet, unmistakable smell of flesh, a body drenched in sweat and heat. With a quiet, rattling grumble, the beast's yellow eyes narrowed on the figure that entered his vision. The human was searching through old terminals and crates; and the deathclaw didn't like how this creature invaded his space.

He had many opinions on humans and ghouls alike, which usually were expressed with a low grunt or a huff of air through his nostril. He knew better than to approach them directly though unless provoked first. Humans seemed small, like tiny vermin that could easily be squashed beneath his clawed foot, yet were quick to pull out weapons when startled by anything unfamiliar after all. And though he didn't fear their puny guns and blades, he preferred staying away. Occasional stragglers looking for work or supplies sometimes passed through his territory when heading north toward Diamond City and they rarely stopped until leaving these lands, as if sensed that something wasn't right here besides radiation storms or mutated insects alone. It amused him greatly to watch how frightened they became as soon as their companions spotted him lurking in shadows somewhere nearby, then turned tail without saying anything other than hurried "we gotta go now". He found her under a thick root of an old dried and long dead tree. She lay slumped, half buried under leaves and debris, unmoving save for faint rise and fall of her chest which indicated she was still alive. First, deathclaw thought it was just a very big mutant hound until closer inspection proved otherwise. Aside from obvious signs of dehydration and malnutrition caused by prolonged exposure to harsh elements, he noticed a few scratches here and there. Deathclaw loomed over the female, gave her a sniff. She smelled sweaty and musky. Normally...normally he'd have dealt with any intruders in a swift and effective way, crushing their fragile bones beneath his huge talons. But what do you do with someone unconscious? He grunted. The female didn't stir nor open her eyes even when he poked her ribs gently with a tip of his claw. Well, no clear answer came to mind. So instead deathclaw picked her up between his teeth and headed back to his lair in the abandoned complex with steady steps. It was still a trophy, even if limp and swaying like a ragdoll in his jaws.

When deathclaw felt the human female stir by his side, he opened one amber eye as if wondering whether to wake up or remain slumbering a bit longer. Warmth radiated from her body on the bedding he made from various scavenged blankets and fabrics piled up in a heap of a nest. She yawned. The air in here smelled of dust, warm leathery reptile hide and musk mixed with woman's sweet fragrance. He liked how smooth and soft her skin felt against his scales whenever they touched as she shifted beside his massive bulk. Her foot bumped his hind leg and with an amused huff the deathclaw leaned in close. That was fine, he didn't mind. Her sleepy movements were the same force as those of a small animal. All clumsy fumbling, nothing more. He felt her heartbeat, steady and constant, an irresistible rhythm to match his breathing with hers. Dawn hadn't come yet - the night sky in the thin ceiling crack was still dark, illuminated by thousands of twinkling stars. The deathclaw grunted quietly when she turned around again. It was nice to have someone to share warmth with. His maw nuzzled her cheek, rough tongue swept over the whole side of the female's face. He enjoyed these early mornings. Waking up only to find a comfortable position and keep it for another few hours.