Once I saw the golden grass fly (Merenwen)[Mature]

[Erzotol Silverden]

Suddenly he was finding himself flat on his back, and Mae circling around out of sight. What was she up to? he wondered, but the wry grin didn't disappear from his face, since after all she hadn't hurt him yet. Another large paw came swinging at him, and as he defended with his arm, a hearty laugh came from deep within his chest, and his eyes sparkled. Perhaps she wanted him to do something, catch her, catch her paw, or whatever else that might be running through that mind of hers, she was quite the wild one.

She hopped up on his belly before he could move to get up, and he rested on the ground for a moment, waiting for his chance to get up, and join in her little game. A small bump hit his side, she had actually head butted him, and sitting up he lunged after her, falling a little bit short of his mark. She was quite quick on her feet, but that just mean he would have to be quicker, and kicking at the ground, he brought himself up, and took a run at her, his arms extended to try and catch her up.

[Merenwen]

It always seemed to be the simple things in life that kept Merenwen amused, and a good game of chase or wrestle sated her quite comfortably. Occasionally it was nice to even be the chased instead of the chaser, such as in this case, but it was rare to make friends in the Sea. Those passing through were usually just that - passing through. Only this time, someone had shown an interest in her, and was eager to give her what she wanted from him.

Creeping low to the ground, she weaved around in loose motions, attempting to lose him in the tall grasses. She knew her disadvantage was his height. He would be able to see her trail ripple through the grass. On the other hand, she was light on her feet, and had speed on him, for sure. At least of this, she was confident.

[Erzotol Silverden]

A slight folding of the grass before him across the planes disguised his own view of the kelvic, a carefree gust of wind hiding her weaving. She was fast on her feet that was for sure, and for a moment he wasn't sure if he would be able to find her, but then he could see a pattern differ itself from the breezes, zig zagging through the golden sea of grass. A crooked smile came to his face, and he immediately chased after her, running as hard as he could, his body leaning forward with the wind, and covering ground fast, but not fast enough as he didn't make it a point to run every day. He was no stronger or no faster than any other of his people, and now it was catching up to him as he fought for breath.

Still he must catch her, and then they could be on their way back to the safety of his pavilion. He enjoyed good play time as much as the next person, but it wasn't safe out here and the longer they stayed the more they were in danger, even if they were not that far from Endrykas. It was too fun to resist at the moment though, and he vaulted over one branching sheath of grass were he hoped he would intercept the path of the racing kelvic just in time to catch her.

[Merenwen]

As Merenwen laughed inwardly, hearing the quickened footsteps fall further and further behind. She continued to crisscross through the grasses, keeping an eye and ear out for Erzotol's approach. She circled back around, and even as she did, she heard it all too late. As Erzotol vaulted forwards, she was bounding through the grass, and she collided with him. She fell to the hard ground with him, tangled with his limbs. With a hard pump with her hind legs she kicked him in the chest and knocked him off of her.

She struggled to right her body and continued running back the way they came, though this time she was running short on breath due to her ceaseless sprinting and the newly inflicted crash landing to the ground. Despite how much she liked this Erzotol, she could not allow him to best her.

[Erzotol Silverden]

He rolled across the grass, golden blades crushing underneath him. She had quite the kick, and coupled with that competitive streak, she was a handful, but that was something quite pleasant about her. A hard push against the dusty soil brought him up to his knees, but by that time she was already long gone as far as he knew, and chuckling to himself, he dusted off the front of his tunic, and looked before him. He supposed he could wait by Airiat for her to come back to the camp, if she wasn't their already, which seeing her speed, she probably already was.

A sturdy hand rested on his hip, and slowly he brought himself to his feet, his eyes ever wary for a surprise attack from her. Now eyelevel above the tall grass that swayed with the wind, he could see his horse a little ways off in the distance, and with a smile on his face he jogged slowly towards his strider, his eyes still wary for Mae, and predators alike. There was no sign of any still, but that could change very fast, and he was determined to be ready for when, or if it did. A last, tall sheaf of grass blocked his way, disguising his strider from the waist down, and with a laugh aimed at no one in particular; he pushed away the stand of grass, stepping into the small clearing his horse stood in. " Mae, I think you won this round "

[Merenwen]

Almost as if on cue, she sprang from the grass, hooking the tips of her claws just barely into his clothing and took him down to the ground once more. Her paws rested on his chest as she sat on his stomach, eyeing him with a gentle growl. Her eyes gleamed in the dark lighting like little iridescent torches, matching the glimmer of the stars high above them.

She scooted back just a little and rested her head on his chest. Her lazy feline eyes flitted at him as she heaved a long sigh. After a moments rest, she shifted in a blur of light, still propped up on him.

"Dear Erzotol," She whispered. "It pains me to think I could have taken you so easily."

[Erzotol Silverden]

A sharp tug and he was down on the ground again. What was it with this girl and bringing him down to the ground repeatedly? Perhaps it was in her nature to want to be bringing down prey and this was her way of exercising that natural instinct. She hadn't shredded him to ribbons yet, so that was a good sign, and it helped him breathe a little bit easier knowing that. Her soft head resting against his chest even managed to slow down his heart beat a pace or two, allowing him a moment of comfort with her body lying on top of him. In any other circumstances, a large, lethal cat laying on someone would be regarded with fear by him, and his strider alike, but Airiat was intelligent, and knew that this one was no threat to him, at least for now.

There was a slight shift of weight, though she didn't move, and then he heard her voice. He guessed she had changed forms into her human one, one where she could be more comfortable laying on him perhaps. " I'm afraid I might need to be more alert next time, perhaps you could teach me? " he answered softly, his arms moving up to wrap around her back, his right hand rubbing gently down her spine.

[Merenwen]

A smile wrapped Merenwen's lips as his arms wrapped around her. The bubbling knots came back into her stomach as she replied, "I could certainly try, though I'm not sure how much help I can be. I can teach you how my kind hunts. Predators, I mean. Maybe it could help you. But this is best done in the day time, so that you can see me a bit easier."

Though she could have probably could have instructed him just fine in the dark night as easily as she could in the morning's light, it gave her an excuse to stay with him. It gave her an excuse to keep him from leaving on his way to where ever he was headed when she had deterred him.

[Erzotol Silverden]

" I would enjoy that very much, in the morning we shall see if I’m capable of learning " he said with a laugh, watching the stars above him. Her skin felt so soft underneath his fingertips, her back a gentle rush under his palm. Thoughts of how such a thing would occur brought an amusing smile to his lips, and he glanced down at her before resting his head back down.

A big part of him wanted to continue laying down on the ground with her in his arms, long until sleep overtook him once more, but he knew, there was running out, and if they didn't wise up soon, danger would be upon him. It constantly drummed at his battle ready nerves to be in the wild usually, but with the debilitating calm Mae instilled in him, it was drowned to a low buzz, just on the edges of his consciousness. " Would you like to come to my pavilion and sleep with me for the night, it's much safer their I assure you, and we can train at our own time in the morning " he asked softly, his hand running up and down her slender back slowly as he stared at the sky.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen's head cocked curiously to the side as she surveyed him.

"What's.... what is a pavilion?" She asked somewhat timidly. The races that wandered the grasses that now surrounded them never took to her as this one did. And here he was inviting her to go to this pavilion to sleep. With careful investigation of context clues, she assumed it was what he called his home.

The thought of returning to his home with him, and spending her night with him brought a nervous wave. Where did he live? What kind of place was it? Would she be safe? Apprehension gripped her stomach as she contemplated. She was sure she wanted to spend more time with him, and to be curled against his warm body and be overtaken by the blanket of sleep. Though, simply put, she was unaware of what this may entail.

She nodded to him silently, gently, though, signaling her agreement.