Places to be.. (Cass)

[Darian]

The urgency of her lips against his served to draw him further into this web of passion that surrounded them, and he ran his hands along her sides with a gentle firmness that spoke of knowing what he wanted, and what she liked. Her lips enveloped his again, them feeling velvety and warm, and he knotted his hand up in her shirt as he kissed her more reverently, his lips not seeming to get enough of her. Even breathing scarcely mattered anymore, only taking breaths off and on as his hands and lips explored her body, and he wrapped her tighter and tighter to him, her firm, warm body against his, separated by only the thin double layer of fabric between them.

Even the feel of his clothes rubbing against his skin because of the pressure her body was exerting felt good to him, and he lost his fingers in the tangle that was her hair as he kissed her deeply. Cass smelled better and better as the moments went by, and her scent was intoxicating to such a degree that he could hear nothing other than their breathing and his own heart beating hard in his chest as he squeezed her hip with one of his hands and continued his feeling of her hair with the other. The soft locks ran easily through his fingers like silk, and kissing her deeply again, he scarcely heard her comment about their possibly being company watching them. That didn't matter to him at this moment, only his want for Cass did right now.

A sharp pain and the sudden departure of the one he loved was all that brought him back to the real world, and in a sudden rush he sat up, and felt his lip absent mindedly. The blood was making a thin trail by then, and felt warm and wet against his fingers but it didn't really hurt anymore at the moment, and he stood up and went to the tent to see if he could catch up to Cass. How could he blame her for a little bit in amidst a passionate kiss after all, and he hoped she hadn't taken it too personally. Rushing into the tent he stumbled to a halt, turning to look at Cass. " Its alright it was only a little love bite "

[Cass]

Bursting through the small flap that served as the tent's entrance Cass skidded to a halt as she glanced around the tent. She heard her heart pounding in her chest as the taste of Darian's blood on her tongue played endlessly in her head. Echoings of her "friend's" eariler whispers clogged her ears as Cass dropped to her knees, shaking. Holding her head in her hands she pressed her forehead against the ground, squeezing her eyes shut. What was wrong with her? How could she have let that dreadful Zith persuade her into acting in such a manner? How could she even think of hurting Darian? After all that...no, the answer was obvious.

Hearing Darian burst into the tent Cass opened her eyes but didn't lift her head from the floor. Instead she remained frozen as she listened to him brushing off her bite as a love bite. And a little one at that. Slowly picking her head up off the ground she looked over her shoulder and found that her bite hadn't done much damage. Yes there was a little blood, but not a lot. But there was no sweet relief as Cass stared at Darian. Slowly shaking her head she looked away and back down at the ground. "It...it's a small bite now. B-But it could have been worse." Hearing snickering coming from her right Cass snapped her attention over to the darkest corner of the tent where her imaginary friend stood, grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you smiling at?!" Cass growled as she jumped to her feet and charged towards the tent's dark corner. Swinging her clawed hands out she watched as the Zith suddenly vanished, escaping her attack as always. Anger flared deep within her. Growling she lashed out at empty air once more. "You have the guts to sneer at me but you can't even stand to fight! What the hell do you want from me!"

[Darian]

He wanted more than anything to console Cass, but before her could she looked to the corner of the tent and launched herself at it. It was all so surprising to him watching her barreling into empty air, and as soon as she stood still he would make a run for her, wrapping his arms around hers, and holding her close his chin resting gently on her back. " Its alright, it’s going to be ok, we are safe right now " he cooed softly into her ear, rocking her gently back and forth, and rubbing the sides of her arms gently. Whatever had possessed her could surely be worked through by them surely, and whatever demons plagued her would eventually wash away with time. He wanted to believe that, he had to believe that as he held her close and rocked her back and forth gently, threading his fingers through her hair. Everything would be alright, the bleeding had stopped probably by now, and then Cass would calm down Darian hoped for that’s all he could do, kneeling with the woman in his arm, and trying to soothe her as best as he could though he knew no other way. It surprised him how naturally this came to him, but maybe it truly was in his lot if it came this easy. He just continued to rock back and forth, and would keep it up till Cass was more at ease.

oocOf course if you dodged his grasp or something otherwise this is all hypothetical

[Cass]

The annoying Zith didn't return. At least, not to the darkest corner of the tent. But that didn't make Cass any less angier. Here she was, finally confronting her "friend" and the only thing there was an empty corner. She opened her mouth to growl again when warm strong arms suddenly wrapped around her. The sudden surprise attack caused Cass's eyes to widen in fear before she started to struggle for freedom. The feeling of a warm body pressing against her back only caused Cass to struggle harder. But in this position his strength outmatched hers. Glaring at the dark corner she didn't dare give up her struggles. "You can't hide behind others forever! You'll have to get your hands dirty eventually!"

Her growls were suddenly silenced by Darian's soft voice in her ear. She slowly began to stop struggling, listening to his voice while her heart hammered in her chest. Slowly all the pieces began to fit together as his hands ran gently up and down her arms while he rocked her. Soon she felt his fingers gently running smoothly through her hair. The bubbling anger calmed deep within her as she felt Darian slowly bringing her down to kneel on the ground with him. Dropping her gaze down to his strong arms she closed her eyes and silently let him rock her back and forth. His every touch was soothing. It was like his touch and voice injected her body with a brand new calm.

"I hurt you," Cass whispered, her head hung in shame and sadness. "I let her push me...push me to hurt you."

[Darian]

He could feel Cass relax in his arms, if only slightly, and he took that it meant well for her, and his words where reaching her. It didn't matter that she had been yelling at nothing, or the fact that she tried to fight him, it only mattered that she appeared to be hearing him, and that was a good sign, at least he hoped it was. Darian still felt wholly alien in this role, a supporter to Cass in her the dark hour, so used was he to making his own way, caring only for himself, yet finding himself consoling this zith who had come to mean so much to him. Her breathing sounded shallow to him, but then he realized that it was his own breathing gone irregular from the spike of stress he felt at seeing Cass so distraught. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face as his exertions caught up to him, and his breathing became so ragged that he had to take a moment to compose himself with a series of deep breaths. If only he knew he was doing this consoling thing right, but he felt like he wasn't, like he was screwing up in some unforeseeable way, or he was going to mess it all up in the end somehow. The feeling was maddening.

" You didn't hurt me, it's ok " he said softly, still continuing to gently rock her body back and forth, the smooth ground only making a soft crunching sound as he shifted his weight back and forth. A stiff wind outside would dim the warm orange light that had filled the tent only moments ago to barely anything, but Darian continued to hold Cass unfazed by the change in brightness, and he would use the moment to rest with her, his eyes filled with compassion, and his lips a slash of comfort for the woman in his arms.

[Cass]

The hammering in her chest finally calmed to a slow steady beat as Darian's warm arms continued to rock her gently back and forth. She felt her tense muscles all slowly unwinding as her fists unraveled. She was silent for a long time, simply staring at the ground as they both rocked quietly within the tent. It wasn't until the light in the tent dimmed that Cass picked her head up. "I-I'm sorry. You...you don't have to sit here with me and gamble with your life." Even as the words escaped her lips she silently begged for Darian not to leave. To not let go of her and leave her all alone in the tent. She wanted him here but...but what if she couldn't control herself at all next time? Then...then there wouldn't be a Darian at all!

The thought of Darian possibly dying by her hand caused her to shiver violently. Just as she was about to speak again Cass heard the soft snapping of a twig in the distance. That single snap ripped a loud, deep growl from her throat. Once again she found herself fighting against Darian's strong hold as she tried to stand. "And you will die tonight as well! Don't think you can't trick me!" A dark chuckle followed her growls as her wings tried to open but Darian's body kept them pinned to Cass's back. "You think all I bring is shame? Well watch me bring your death in all its sweet bloody glory!"

[Darian]

" It is a gamble worth taking " he told her softly. He had already decided in his mind to stick by her side, and he wasn't going to start abandoning her now with his life more or less at risk. His heart gradually began to beat in time with hers and his hold around her tightened gently, pulling her closer into his arms. She had saved his life twice, and for that he was eternally grateful to her, and the least he could do was stay by her side during this trying time. Her behavior had caught him of guard certainly, but he couldn't blame her for he had his own demons as well. They tended to manifest them self for brief moments over the face of a passing stranger, but would fade just as quickly as he looked at them, but thankfully the faces had disappeared when he met Cass. It was a welcomed reprieve, and he had almost forgotten about the haunting images, remembering only now since what was going on.

A sudden ripple ran through Cass's body, and suddenly she was struggling against his grip again, and he tried to keep a hold of her as she attempted to separate herself from him. " Cass! It's alright, what’s wrong? " he called out in her ear, hoping to reach her, and quite possibly calm her. His grip had grown to slack however, and his hands finally slipped from her, causing him to sprawl out on his back. Raising his hand in front of himself openly as if to welcome her, he locked eyes with her. " Cass, snap out of it " he called hoping beyond all doubt that his words had reached her.

[Cass]

Cass heard Darian's voice in her ear but her eyes was focused solely on the tent's entrance. They were watching her. Laughing at her. Her brothers were most likely there too...waiting and watching for the shame they already deemed would come. Yes, they were all there...outside...in the wilderness. And she was going to show them all. Their laughter will finally be silenced! Darian's warm strong arms were slacking as Cass continued her struggles until finally she was free. Rising up completely she turned to face the tent's entrance. Without missing a beat she darted toward's the flap, ready and eager to prove her worth to all those who had looked down upon her.

She had just shoved the flap aside when she heard Darian's voice again. This time it was louder, shaking Cass's trance like state. Turning her head to look over her shoulder she found Darian on the ground but with his hand held out towards her. Her grip tightened on the flap as she suddenly wondered why and how he had gotten on the ground. Shaking her head she looked back out at the dark wilderness. That's where they were...but...Darian wasn't out there. Torn between what to do she caught sight of a young fawn jumping around, outside the fence. Cass silently watched the fawen as it carelessly snapped more twigs before disappearing into the shadows.

No...no they weren't out there. Nobody was out there looking for her. Nobody cared about her. Nobody but-

Releasing her hold on the flap she turned around to face Darian. "I-I'm sorry." Hanging her head she sank to her knees before him. "It's over now...I think." Her gaze quickly glanced about the tent before dropping to the ground again. The other Zith was gone and the noises outside had stopped. It was just them. And a scary lonely part of her believed that it had only been them to begin with.

[Darian]

He relaxed visibly when he saw that she was not going to leave, and his chest heaved a sigh of relief and slowly he sat up, and shifted his weight, adjusting it so his legs where properly situated underneath himself. " It is fine, I understand the plague of demons " he said softly, his eyes hazing over just so slightly, and he blinked slowly to clear his fiery, hazel eyes for a moment, before looking back at her. " I'm glad you will be fine " he added, his eyes meeting hers and locking with them. She was full of surprises but it made him feel better knowing he wasn't the only one with issues, and he would watch over her none the less either. Inching over to her by dragging himself sideways across the ground, he draped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, resting his chin on her shoulder, and looking deeply at her. She really was good company, even forgetting the fact that she saved his neck on more than one occasion, and she was a good alley to have on the shady streets of Sunberth when hardly any could be trusted. He suspected that her mere addition to his side had turned many a blade from his back during his walks through Sunberth and thus kept him still breathing even now.

" Shall we retire to bed for the night, it has been a tiring day " he asked, looking at her, and raising to his feet, letting his arm drop from her back, and he headed to the area just behind them where their bed roll lay. " We will need our rest if we are to continue to maintain our lives out here after all, and I do believe to quiet time with each other would do us both some good " he commented while stripping down to only his loin cloth. Looking down at his bedroll, he quickly slipped under the warm covers to lie on the nice comfortable cloth, snuggling up in the fabric, hoping that Cass would join him shortly.

[Cass]

Cass didn't dare lift her head to look at Darian even as he spoke. It wasn't until she felt his arm wrap around her waist that she finally pulled her gaze up to meet his own. His chin rested on her shoulder and for a moment Cass stared at him before offering Darian a small smile. It was a relief to know that even after freaking out on the other Zith and issuing death threats to those who were not around, Darian was still there at her side. She thought back to the very first day she met Darian. It was out of pure curiousity and now...now she had an ally she could trust on in battle and someone who actually cared about her.

His next question gently pulled her back into the present. Nodding her head she let out a small sigh. She watched as he headed over to the bedroll and began to strip down to only his loin cloth. Her small smile grew as her eyes roamed his body once again. If she had learned nothing else about the free humans it was that the free humans were far better looking and much healthier than the enslaved humans within the tunnels. "Quiet time will definitely help." Cass rose to her feet and stripped off everything minus her own undergarments. Heading over to the bedroll she carefully slid underneath the covers with Darian as she snuggled up against his warm body.

"I promise I'll fight harder to control myself," she whispered as calming sleep began to sneak up on her.