Hunter/Hunted
Introduction

Like so many other nights since her discovery of Rose's departure, Baghiira found one of the large, heavy carriages waiting for her at the end of the Gallica Path. Daytime in the House was bad enough; humid jungle air was thick and warm as blood here, and the drawn shades did nothing but stifle any breath that stirred. But at night... well, the House was more alive then, it seemed; more sentient. At first she had found that comforting; a promise of Rose's return, perhaps, or at least a sign of her lingering influence, her life beyond life. But lately, it was becoming more and more evident that the House was more than Rose's possession, more than a tool or extension of power; it bore a mind of its own; a sense of humor, however twisted, of its own. She was likely to find herself lost deep in the catacombs when she awoke or sprawled in the center of the ballroom's parquet floor, rather than tucked into Rose's large bed where she'd fallen asleep. Either the House enjoyed toying with her, dumb animal, or it simply didn't think she should be sleeping in Rose's private chamber.

Nonetheless, she refused to retreat into the jungle, leaving her own lair deep within the temple neglected. She would wait for Rose's return, stubbornly faithful as those soul-less, twin Dobermans. Rudolph and Gregor, in fact, seemed to welcome her presence in a silent, noncommittal sort of way; was the House playing games with them as well?

Tonight, like so many other nights, she made no choice regarding destination; simply clambered past the expressionless footman into the dark depths of the carriage. The wooden panels had never been removed from the windows; the six jaunty Clydesdales (yes, six - as much for show as for necessity) had to be restrained every time her scent wafted to them as it was. No light reached her and very little sound and yet, when the carriage drew up before the Red Dragon, she knew she wouldn't be going in -- not the Inn itself, at least. She slapped away the footman's extended hand and descended, pausing at the street's edge to taste the air. There was sweat, excitement... and something tantalizingly familiar, something which pulled her without thought beyond the Red Dragon... to the Outback.

She knew why she'd come as soon as she entered.