High times, how do you tumble?

[Erzotol Silverden]

She was moving forward, not looking at all mad or out of swords from his advance. It was comforting to say the least, having her move close to him as could be, her gentle lips pressed to his neck. The feel of it had a sobering effect on him, transforming the passion that had built inside of him into raw emotion for the woman cradled against him. He cared for her, a unusual feeling when he rarely cared for anyone outside of his family, and it felt a bit strange within him. Instinctively his arms reached out and returned her hug, his broad arms slipping around her back and holding her close to him. It felt comforting having her body so close to him, and her arms around him. His eyes as they met hers for a brief moment, before her lips found their way to his, and he kissed her back, returning thanks for her understanding. Their lips parted to soon but she was still clustered against him which was nice. He aimed his head carefully downwards and kissed her shoulder, leaving his lips against the soft skin, as he stared down the gentle slope of her back. If this was what every morning would be like with her, it would be quite nice indeed if she decided to stick around for a little while.

Moving his hands up to her shoulders he pulled her back just a fraction, angling his head to look more fully at her, and into her eyes. " What would you like to do today? " he asked, his tone soft and gentle, earnestly seeking what she wanted. He felt a need to make sure that she was kept happy though he did not know why. For now though, it didn't really matter as long as she was satisfied with the way things were going, so was he.

[Merenwen]

Her eyes lulled sleepily still as he spoke to her. It took a minute to register, but she shook her head questioningly.

"I have no idea... I've never been here before, I don't know what to expect. I can't lie; I'm nervous, I think." Her voice was still raw from having only barely just awoken. "I'll do anything, as long as you don't leave me unattended." She laughed uneasily, aware that she was no longer in her own territory. Her haughty, arrogant nature was subdued here.

She forced herself back to his shouted anxiously, looking around the tent. Never had she slept in shelter before, other than hidden in the grasses or in dens dug into the hills. With a heavy exhale, she blew the hair from her face and shifted closer to him. If she had her way, she would sit with him all day. But this was his home, and she was curious as to how he lived. At last she spoke.

"Show me how you live. What do you do from day to day? What are your people like?"

[Erzotol Silverden]

It was hard for him to imagine anyone being nervous in Endrykas, but of course he had grown up among the horse clans, lived practically all his life in the city, and knew it all too well. He offered her a smile, she was a kind girl, and he would make sure she found the city well to her liking, or at least be able to remain comfortable within it. The only question was how to express its wonders to her, its intricacies, and the way of life that was presented by his fellow people. It was hard to think he could explain it all to her by word of mouth, just because of the sheer amount of time it would likely involve just to detail it to her, and then explain it afterwards. Yet, he wished to let her know many things about his people, perhaps not everything, like the secrets they held sacred, but he would tell her all a outsider was allowed to know as best he could. His soft eyes searched hers for a brief moment before they roamed around the tent, and he let out a soft sigh, relaxation oozing from his body. She had a survivalist spirit about her, and he had no doubt that she would be able to learn quickly, and fast whatever she needed to know to live amongst the drykas. It was just that intelligence about her that prompted the notion.

Her words struck a chord within him. Yes, if he showed her it would all be much easier, and he could perhaps get a few chores out of the way in the process. Of course it wouldn't be much of a chore laboring in her presence, Mae providing a good way to pass the time just by standing still, whether he would go to water the horses or something else that needed doing around the camp of his family’s pavilion. It would be quite the nice experience for the both of them he hoped. " I will show you as you wish " he said with a kind smile, slowly rising to his feet and dusting the dirt caked the knees of his pants. Slowly he extended his right hand to help her up, and gestured to her sift. " The first thing I do in the day is go check on Airiat, and Laeon " he said with a smile, putting a hand on her shoulder and caressing it gently before turning on his heel and walking out of the pavilion, towards the back where he expected his fox and horse to be up to something.

His eyes weren’t disappointed as they noticed his strider running around in tight circles, Laeon playfully chasing him, and at the same time careful of the flying hooves even though his strider knew very well to be gentle with the smaller creature. Putting two fingers to his lips, he blew out a sharp breath letting out a single tone whistle loud enough to be heard across the few yards that separated them. Instantly his small white fox's ears perked up and he bounded over to Erzotol, who now sat in a crouch and opened his hands up to scratch Laeon behind his ears. Airiat trotted over soon afterwards, pushing his head into the side of the drykas's face, and eliciting a small chuckle that prompted him to reach up and pat the strider's cheek affectionately. " You have met Airiat already, but come and say hi to Laeon " he offered, and then looked at Laeon, tapping the fox’s nose to get his attention and then pointing at Mae. " Be nice " he whispered to the fox, and crouching down on the ground, he followed its path as it bounded towards the kelvic. Drykas lives revolved around animal companions. Airiat, and Laeon where certainly a big part of his life, and it was most important that she like them, or at least get along with them to a point where they all got along peacefully. It didn't occur to him the irony of seeking companionship in the arms of a kelvic so mimicked that drykas sensibility.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen eyed the furry animal as it bounded over to her. Careful to pull the hem of the sift up first, she dropped down to her knees. Absentmindedly, she wondered how awkward she looked. Wearing clothing was the last thing she had ever imagined seeing herself doing, and yet here she was. She shot a look to Erzotol, silently asking his approval of her posture as she reached a hand out to the little fox Laeon.

She stuck her hand out for Laeon to inspect before reaching out to touch his head lightly. She scratched behind his ears and under his chin, recalling all of her own favorite places for attention. With a smile she glanced up at Erzotol.

"He's soft..." She said. "I wonder how my own fur feels to human touch."

[Erzotol Silverden]

A smile came to his lips as he met her eyes, nodding to tell her that it was safe to pet the fox. It was a good relief to see her seem to get along with his fox, Laeon having been a long time hunting companion of his and very useful as well as just plain fun to be around. Out on the grass during a hunt a animal, trained like his fox, was especially useful for locating prey and keeping track of it without giving yourself away. They had been together for a long time, and he knew his fox well, the various things they had been through forging a bond almost as close as that which he shared with his strider. She was smiling again at him, something he was quickly growing to love, and standing back up he walked towards her, Airiat in tow. Laeon of course seemed to love the attention, rubbing his cheeks against her hands, and even bringing his paw to rest on her as it tried to lick her face. He always was quite the affectionate one, as much so as he was curious and he was sure that the girl had a scent that was quite interesting to him. Looking from the fox to her, he smiled back at her, dropping to his knees beside her, and running a hand through her hair. " I have felt your fur and it its quite soft in its own way " he said softly, the other hand scratching Laeon behind the ear.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen snickered at the little fox. He reminded her of herself; playful, attention-loving. He was a curious little thing, something she could identify with as well. She smiled and put her nose to his, looking into his intelligent eyes. She blinked slowly, conveying her newfound trust in the animal. Felines often kept their eyes open and alert. To shut their eyes in another's presence was to drop one's guard. Any friend of Erzotol's deserved her alliance as well, she concluded.

As Erzotol ran his fingers through her messy hair she shut her eyes again, savoringyhr touch much like Laeon had being rubbed behind the ears. She cupped her hand over his and drew it to her cheek, where she laced het fingers through his. His presence brought her calm, settled her wild nature. Oddly, she welcomed the feeling fot the first time in her life. She had never been one to allow others to control or assert themselves over her. Erzotol's approach was different. She felt his equal, something she had longed for for a while now.

Her affection for him grew every moment she was with him, every moment she thought of him. The way he felt against her made her certain they fit together. She smiled at him as she opened her eyes. Never had she felt so overwhelmed by her emotions before. Could it get any better than this?

[Erzotol Silverden]

The fox stood still, a rarity for the little fellow, as he stared back at Mae, twitching slightly as if it wanted to do something but felt it was more important to stay still in this moment. Then he hoped down off of her pacing around her in circles and tugging at the cloth that covered her every once and a while like he wanted her attention. It prompted a lighthearted chuckle from him, knowing all too well Laeon's antics and seeing the comparison on how similar they where to Mae's. Hers though where a little bit more clever, but the little fox sure could give someone a good run if they let him, and it reminded him of times chasing Laeon all through Endrykas, the fox thinking it was all a game, when in all seriousness he was trying to get out into a hunt. He could never stay mad at the fox though, no more than he could his strider Airiat or his very own family, including Emi. It felt nice being around such companionship, what with his two closest friends prowling around him, and the girl in front of him that he was starting to like more and more. It made him feel a rare spot of warmth inside, a feeling that dismissed all darker thoughts for the moment, and simply let him be free in this one.

He turned his hand over slightly, cupping her soft cheek more fully in his rough, callused hand and leaned his face closer to hers, planting a small kiss on her lips before drawing back. His thumb gently stroked her cheek as he returned her smile, looking deeply into her curious golden-green eyes that had a distinctly feline like quality to them. Inside he could feel a twinge of longing to connect with her, not so much on a physical scale, but more so on emotional level, something he felt himself beginning to do with each passing moment, but there was still a great gap between a start of getting closer to someone, and actually becoming as close to them as he was with his strider. Still so many things unshared with this one, facts about his life, family, and other things. Perhaps he would tell her things about him later on when the sun disappeared into the golden grass background, hiding once more its face from the world. He was sure there where things he didn't know about her as well, but for now just this simple connection was enough for him, and such concerns about spilling out everything about himself was far from his mind. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Laeon tug on Mae's sift again, and he laughed.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen couldn't help but giggle at the little fox. A soft purr parted her lips as she watched Laeon circle and tug at her. She felt like chasing him through the grasses, like playing. Her true nature tugged at her, but she held her composure and swatted back at him as he darted around. She teased him back, more than pleased to have met the little fellow.

As Erzotol graced her lips with another kiss, her smile blossomed. She thought about her connection with him, and how she was beginning to favor his company over that of the grasses and rodents of the Sea. She felt equal in his arms, and valued his presence more and more each passing moment. Then, she considered Laeon and Airiat. Her connection with them would have to be of grave importance to him, she was sure. They were close, and now she was entered into the equation. They were animals, much like she. She felt them and saw them on a different level than Erzotol, in a manner of speaking. Again she batted back at Laeon, considering this.

[Erzotol Silverden]

Laeon responded to the onrushing hand much like he always did, jumping up slightly to catch it between his paws, and gnaw gently on its capture. Letting the hand go, he watched it move away and disappear from sight, and decided to go for the tempting him of her cotton sift, grabbing the end of it in his fangs, and pulling on it, trying to drag her off onto her back. Perhaps in a effort to provoke Mae even further, still aiming to get her to chase him. Erzotol still laughing, smiled and settled back onto his elbows, his eyes flickering back over to Mae's and capturing her eyes. " I don't think he will stop till you indulge him " he said light heartedly observing the wily wolf as he tried everything he could to get the woman's attention. All was well that Laeon liked Mae, and even to engage in play with her was quick to assure Erzotol that his trust in the kelvic was not misplaced. She seemed quite the entertaining companion herself, their own chase the previous night every bit as fun as chasing the wolf around, and perhaps even more so. The fox grabbed another mouthful of fabric and tugged before letting go and bounding a short distance away looking to see if Mae would follow him. Over to the side, Airiat nickered as if amused by the fox, and Erzotol smiled reflecting the same.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen settled onto the balls of her feet, watching the little fox scurry around. He was a sly little animal, fluid in his movements. She continued to swipe at him and each time he tugged at the hem of her sift, she snatched at him. Each time he escaped her, and she was lucky to graze even his fur. Her eyes narrowed as he pounced out of her grip. One was not easily able to avoid her feline reflexes. She laughed, though slightly determined to catch him at least once. With a focused stare, she watched his movements to try and decipher a pattern to his little game. Nothing seemed to be disguised as a line of escape, so timing wouldn't help her. He was quick and agile, surely to escape predators as well as catch prey. He came bouncing back over to snap at her sift again, and swiped at his tail. As he bounded out away from her, she finally hopped to her feet and darted after him.