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

[Erzotol Silverden]

Her question caused him a moment’s pause to consider it, but then he remembered that not a lot of people knew of the grand tents that graced the grass. " Pavilions are enormous tents that drykas families live in. Often times, they travel together, in a moving city known as Endrykas, and that is where my pavilion currently rests. It is a place of friendly company and safety, and much better than sleeping in these wilds, not to mention much warmer. " he said softly, his head craning to look at her, and he smiled wide as his eyes met hers.

" It is a good place to bed for better rest, and make sure to see you protected " he added, sitting up, while holding her gently in his arms. " It is only but a short way from here, and then we can be well on our way to pleasant dreams ” Slowly he would get up, helping her to her feet in the process if she allowed it, and holding out a hand for her to hold, he would walk over to his strider and turn to help her onto Airiat's back.

Grasping her hips firmly, he pulled her up and onto the front of the yvas, before climbing up behind her himself, looping a arm around her waist, before placing his free hand on the bridle, and gently digging his heels into Airiat's side. The horse broke his grazing, and started trotting before running, his strider's long strides covering the ground quickly, and soon just beyond the halo of grass, the city of tents came to view. Gently he tugged Airiat to the side to gallop towards the left side of Endrykas, where his family had set up their tent, and where he and Mae would find refuge for the night.

Soon they arrived outside of his pavilion, Airiat slowing down to a trot well before he came in range of it, the tent resting on the outskirts of Endrykas amongst other Diamond Clan pavilions, a place of warriors, and one of the safest places in Endrykas because of it. With a firm push against the yvas, he slid down the back of his strider, and fell to the ground well balanced, and looked up at Mae with a smile on his face. Extending a hand, he would offer to help her down, and once she was, he would immediately begin unstrapping the yvas from his horse, and tossing it to the ground. Taking a brush out of his pack, he combed through Airiat's fur carefully, but also quickly, as he knew that the horse wanted its own rest, but also wouldn't mind being a little bit more comfortable during the night.

As soon as the knots where out of his sleek coat, he patted the striders back, and watched a brief moment as he trotted off, seeking the water barrel, and some tasty grass before succumbing to sleep himself. Turning around, he looked at Mae " Here we are, I hope you like it "

[Merenwen]

Merenwen was at first apprehensive, having never been on a horse before. She knew she wouldn't be okay with someone mounting her and making her a means of transportation. But this Airiat seemed quite honored by his rider, and she allowed him to help her onto his back. She leaned back against him comfortably, thinking of the how awkward the two of them must look. A nude woman and a man on a horse. She snickered lightly at the thought.

When the great tents came into view, Merenwen found herself leaning forward for a better look. Never had she seen the likes of a city, whether tents or buildings. She avoided what one may refer to as civilization, sticking more to the welcoming wilderness in which she had been born. She looked around curiously once he had helped her from his horse.

She admired the bond between Erzotol and his Strider, watching as he brushed the knots from Airiat before allowing him to go and take his own sleep.

She responded to him, "I do, I like it."

[Erzotol Silverden]

" That is good to hear " he said, and for a moment he just stared into her eyes, a warmth spreading across his chest. Then he remembered she wasn't wearing any clothes and why she was not, and a thought occurred to him, something he had forgotten about. It did not matter now, in the dead of night, but come daybreak it would assume relevance with the revealing light of day.

" I forgot to mention something about cites or at least in this one, something you might not like. The watch seems to look down on walking around nude, whoever the person may be and might be prone to do something about it whether it be a warning or fine. It doesn't much matter to me, but I thought I'd give you warning. I can get you some loose cloths if you want when we go out in the morning " He said studying her carefully, not sure how she would take his words. He was sure he had heard something about kelvics not really liking wearing clothes, and because of that she might not too much like the city now, it wasn't very clothing optional friendly after all.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen looked confused for a moment before looking down at her own body, to his, and around the vicinity. Never did she understand the concept of wearing clothing, nor had she ever invested in such. Again she looked at Erzotol, the look on her face rather blank. She finally found her words and replied, "I... suppose that could be arranged."

The truth was, she had never worn anything to cover her body, and didn't quite like the idea of changing to suit these people. The last thing she wanted to do was cause a stirring within Erzotol's home, amongst his people. This, she decided, was more for him than her own benefit. It made the agreement seem easier, at least in her eyes.

[Erzotol Silverden]

He smiled and walked beside her, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek. " I'll go first thing in the morning, and pick you up something comfortable, that is easy to get in and out of " he said, trying to make it not so bad for her to have to wear clothes when she would need to. " For now though, let us retreat into my tent "

Walking past her, he pushed back the canvas fold, and stepped into the tent. Inside, the entire right side was curtained off, posts marking the divisions of where each member chose to bed, but he headed off towards the left side, where just half of the side of the tent was curtained off, the place being only separated once, his sister Emi sleeping on the left portion, and he sleeping on the right. He made his way towards the back of the tent, looking over his shoulder a moment to make sure Mae was following, before peeling back the curtain, revealing a lone bed role resting against the grass, already unfolded and unmade. He shouldered off his pack easily, and then tossed it too inside, before entering himself after the Kelvic. " It isn't much, but it is home " he said in a softer voice none too eager to wake up his sister just beyond a thin sheet of fabric. The weariness from his travels suddenly caught up with him, and he sat down where he stood, his back propped against the canvas backing of the tent.

[Merenwen]

Erzotol's generosity somewhat stunned Merenwen, yet at the same time released a warm wash throughout her being. He wanted to bring her something comfortable to make her stay with him easy. His thoughtfulness made her smile, and she followed him timidly into this strange new place. She eyed the separated room, tiptoeing forward only the slightest bit. When he sat, she sat nervously in front of him, with her arms wrapped around her knees. She drew them in close to her chest, and rested her chin.

"I must admit, this is no where near where I expected things to lead when I met you in the grass..." She wasn't sure what she actually had been expecting, but this wasn't it. Not to say she was complaining, but at this point, she was beginning to question her own motives as much as Erzotol's. What drew her to him? And would it ever diminish?

She hoped not.

[Erzotol Silverden]

An uneasy relief flushed his face for the moment, a mixed response stemming from the fact his sister was still asleep, and Mae's response. It brought the memory of what had happened not long ago, and the events that led up to it, both from a fresh point of view seeming unrelated. The point was still unclear to him why what had happened between them happened, but the emotions that remained in him where real enough, and perhaps he had possessed such feelings for her from the start.

" I did not either, but neither am I unhappy that it happened. It was the first time I felt such a way " he offered, some hesitancy in his words as if he was embarrassed to speak him. After all for all he knew, he may have offended this one on some level, but he wouldn't know for sure until he knew more firmly how she felt about him, and what had occurred. When did things get so complicated?

[Merenwen]

Merenwen inched toward him the slightest bit, her toes touching his. As she spoke she wiggled them lightly against him.

"To me, you were just like any other passersby. I had decided to toy with you, and yet I was intrigued by the fact that you treated me as your equal. I don't know what made me so determined to get under your skin, but it went in the complete opposite direction." To a point she berated herself for being so easily attracted to him. It was something she had always considered nonsense, and yet she was quite pleased with the outcome.

She looked around the tent, eyes becoming heavy again. She closed them for a brief moment before continuing, "I'm not sure if I should even question it. I think I'll just leave it be... I'm happy I have met you."

[Erzotol Silverden]

" You are just as clever as anyone else, perhaps more so, in my eyes you are an equal " he said, ignoring her comment about trying to get on his nerves. He had mused that she was trying something of the sort, but couldn't be sure if it was just a kelvic's unusual behavior. Now that he knew, he found it even more amusing, and more than bolstered the feelings stirring within him concerning her, the fact that she admitted something potentially personal out loud making him feel more comfortable with his own admission.

Who cared if they tried to sort it all out in one night, it just didn't seem humanly possible, it being much easier just to accept each other’s company as was, and the feelings they harbored. He was sure that he liked her, everything that he knew about her was pleasant, and beyond that while he hadn't felt he quite knew her yet, he had a yearning to get to know her more, and perhaps he would follow that gut feeling in the morning. For now he was sure she along with himself desired sleep, and after their exhausting day who could blame them.

Lying down on his side, he continued looking up at Mae, a soft smile on his face as his hand rubbed gently up and down her calf. " I’m happy I met you " he said in a warm tone, his eyes not leaving hers for a moment.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen's eyes flittered, surveying his expression before laying down next to him. Exhaustion began to wring her body, sore from the running. Her head swam with the many words they had exchanged, they looks, the touches, and she wondered to herself. What was it about this Erzotol that drew her to him? She nudged him gently to roll over onto his back so that she may lay in the crook of his arm with her head rested on his chest. A weak sigh left her nose as she traced little circles on his stomach.

The heavy pull on her eyelids finally drew them completely closed as her breathing regulated itself. Her last glimmering thoughts consisted solely of Erzotol and the way he had made her feel. She tried to rationalize her behavior towards him, but the hand of sleep gripped her, and gripped her tight. Exhausted, indeed.