Completed [Sunset Falls] Beneath a Watery Veil of Gold (Jervis)

[Kaie]

70th Day of Summer, 513 AV
19th Bell

There was nothing but a whisper. A gentle and soothing hiss enticing its listener, drawing them nearer in a gentle lust. The very sound was seductive enough to bring travelers from all walks of life into its vicinity. A captivating sight from any perspective. Nothing short of gorgeous in every way. The voice belonged to none other than Avitar, the tallest mountain of its sisters in the Cobalt range. Water flowing from its summit free fell from a remarkable height, misting down the rocky drop angelically. As the water plummeted closer to the ground, winds arrived to buffer the severity of the drop. The breeze caressed the liquid into a beautiful mist that captured the last of Syna's rays. As the vibrant Goddess of the Sun made her journey down the horizon to make way for Leth, her light was reflected wildly. The plume of water itself turned incredible shades of golds and oranges. The bottom of the Sunset Falls was divine and tranquil. And that was just where one found the savage Myrian woman.

Kaie stood before the natural fountain of beauty serenely. The glow of the fading sun glittered across her bare bronze skin. Somewhere behind her she had stored her loincloth, vest, cloak, and weapons cleverly. Standing alone before the awe-inspiring falls, the Myrian listened to the sentient whispers. Let them race about her body with the mist and dampen her skin with gentle moisture. All the while her bold eyes were closed. It wasn't until she finally took it in that she opened them once more to step into the light.

Cool water rushed over her very skin as she stood on the edge of plunge. Water splashed across her face, exposed body, and bare skin like a blessing. It was moderately cool and equally refreshing. She could feel the dirt and dust from the previous days of travel being purged from her, purified with every rush of cool water across her flesh. She ran her bronzed hands through her wild hair that seemed to almost become tame under the natural spout. Curls and waves temporarily disappearing into a uniform line of hair. The Myrian tilted her head back to let the water soak over her face. To let it pelt her and cleanse her thoroughly. It was like healing water. And for a moment one might even question if it could've erased her murderous thoughts. A question left only for philosophers.

It was in this moment of peace and pure, solo bliss that Kaie had forgotten it all. In fact, she had forgotten her travelling partner Jervis who had to have finished setting up camp only moments ago. Perhaps even if she had remembered the water might've once again made her forget. Hypnotizing her and wrapping her within its watery tendrils. Trying to hold down a predator who could never be tamed.

[Jervis Hill]

It'd been three days but Jervis had managed to keep his promise to himself in the glade and not spoken to Kaie unless she spoke first or he had a serious question. By the end of the second day Jervis started to go a little mad from boredom. Determined not to be the first to start with question though he ached to do so, Kaie had caught him several times on the second day with his mouth half as if he meant to say something only to be met with silence or a quiet mumbled "Yes Mistress" always seeming a question.

He'd started a game for himself this morning to try to force her hand and start a conversation. He had been trying to get a smile or even laugh from the grim warrior using responses to her commands. The game had come to an abrupt end at lunch with Jervis on his knees pretending to worship her as his warrior goddess. She'd only snapped at him to stop his foolishness and pack their things. Not the slightest hint of a smile and he had not pressed further the remainder of the afternoon when he noted anger in her voice at all.

She was doing this out of the graciousness of her own heart after all, he was still a little amazed he had been allowed to come at all, though he still wondered what had changed her mind. He liked to think it was his rugged good looks and charm but he seriously doubted it.

He'd just finished lighting up the fire, figuring Kaie was off admiring the waterfall he took a short stroll after her pushing into the clearing ready to say Mistress, Shall I prepare your meal? but all he got out was "Mistress!" Louder than he'd meant too, going slack jawed and turning bright red again embarrassed to again been caught peeping at a naked maiden.

"I .... I'm sorry Ka .. I mean Mistress." Jervis stumbled over his words in obviously shell shocked. Bold barbarian girls, Did they not even tell warn you of these things Jervis thought as he quickly turned around taking a deep breath before continuing.

"I shall prepare your post bath meal, Mistress" Loudly enough for her to hear past the waterfall he thought, while still trying to regain his facial composure. He hastily returned to the camp.

Maybe she's still angry from lunch and embarrassing me this way is her way of trying to get me to break first. He knew she had seen him in front of Ardea and held no doubts Kaie would use every advantage to win anything she considered a challenge. Maybe this meant she was warming up to his presence a little. He hoped as she set out the cooking items he'd planned since lunch.

He gathered Kaie's and his water skins and cleaned pot with as little water as possible to get the road dust out not daring to go near the waterfall for fear of looking at the naked myrian again and offending her after a few minutes had passed and she had not cleaved his head off, though the night was still young he thought grimly. His pot cleaned set up the cooking tripod he had and hanging the pot above it. The remains of the water from their waterskins followed with the remains of a coney Kaie had caught and he had prepared making cooked meat buns with travel bread he'd found in his rations.

The left overs he'd salted and preserved as Kaie had shown him after catching him trying to stumbled through it on his own the first evening and doing it wrong. She been angry accusing him of trying to kill them both with his stupidity but had taken time showing him what she knew so he could do it more properly.

He'd been on his own with the hide though she had taken it from the creature and allowed him to have it so he'd started trying to learn to tan leather a little through trail and error. Though the night was still young maybe she'd yell at him again yet. That would be preferable to this embaressed, ashamed feeling he had now. He could still feel his cheeks flushed crimson and thoughts of the naked forms of Ardea and Kaie kept popping into his head distracting him as he added things to the pot. Though fleshy and human they were still the only women Jervis had seen naked before.

Dried mushrooms and peas, a handful of both rice and barley he found among there shared supplies. He dropped in a half dollop of traveller's stock to enrich the flavor. For a finishing touch added some walnuts hoping to add a slight nuttiness. Though not a great cook, making soups and stews to him seemed more like food smelting than cooking as bizarre as the concept seemed. In his mind they were similar to making metal only the end result varied. Smelting metal you were your were removing impurities here you were trying to achieve a decent flavor.

He'd made enough for 2 and a half bowls hoping to get some meat at this meal, though he knew his chances might still be slim. Whether as a challenge or to try to convince him to turn back she eaten all of his previous soups and stews leaving none of the small portions he'd made for himself. Jervis hadn't said a word though he'd gritted his teeth a little yesterday as the quail she had brought down looked tasty. He was determined to earn the warrior's approval somehow and get her to open up to him.

He pulled a small carving he was working on out his pocket caving slowly as he watched the stew using his skinning knife to carefully carve out the sharper details. It was a highly stylized gladius inspired by Kaie's own and he was working on the form, he'd spent today's ride fiddling with it while they rode. Though nowhere near done it was beginning to take shape.

He waited patiently by the fire watching the stew and trying to shake the thoughts of his previous encounter with naked maidens from his mind, though failing leaving him as red as a tomato.

[Kaie]

She was enchanted. Completely wrapped within the misty plunge like a blanket. Droplets of water swirled and danced about her with each gust of wind. So soft did the mist feel on her back she was almost fooled into believing it was nothing more than a soft pattering of rain. Like the Goddess Makutsi was the one showering her like dew drops upon jungle leaves. It was nice to be clean. She embraced the feeling. Kaie knew exactly what it would be like to feel her dry, fresh brown locks flow behind her freely. The way they'd feel like and feathery in the wind rather than ravaged dirty by nature. It was a satisfying sensation. An odd thing for a woman who didn't mind getting her hands dirty to admit.

Kaie ran her fingers through her thick brown hair, which darkened naturally when soaked. She lowered her head to feel the water rush down the back of her neck. Eyes fluttered open to stare down at the slick rock she stood on. And then she finally looked up. Everywhere was gold. The edges of the trees, the sides of the mountain, but the most striking of all was the Sunset Falls themselves. From afar it looked like a liquid rush of the valuable metal crashing from the depths of the earth. But there, under the fountain, it was all around her. Light, drifty clusters of water flowing over her like a sunset haze. Beauty was everywhere.

Oddly enough she thought she heard something. Turning suddenly, the Myrian narrowed her eyes and scanned the tree line. After much searching she found nothing. No people, no animals. Considering the volume of the falls, she figured it was nothing more than an odd splash upon the rocks. Really, it drowned out much else outside of her bathing area. All else was largely unheard. So the Myrian woman shrugged and turned back to the natural faucet, finishing her scrubbing. A last preparation before she would return to see what mess Jervis had set up and called camp.

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis tossed down the carving in his hand frustrated. Perhaps 5 ticks had passed as Kaie would say but he still couldn't shake the sight of the Myrian woman. He'd finished the stew faster than he thought, moving swiftly trying to take away the impure thoughts.

She hadn't stormed back to beat him, kill him or worse yet. Maybe she didn't notice or maybe Mistress Coli was right. His only other encounter similar was when he'd stumbled on his teacher changing, though she had only been topless at the time he'd reacted in much the same way. It was actually one of the few moment her kind side had emerged. She'd just laughed and said it's okay because maidens feel most beautiful when seen naked.

It'd maybe have been a touching moment if Auntie Tenni hadn't been there with him. She'd told Coli not to fill his head with such nonsense before dragging Jervis off by the ear and giving him a stern lecture. He rubbed his ear at the thought, she'd been really unhappy, using her right arm, it had felt like she had meant to tear the thing off.

Even so this painful memory couldn't drive the thoughts of Kaie's well muscled shoulders, Graceful back with it's soft looking, smooth curves and her graceful powerful legs. His male lust finally overpowering his teaching he removed the pot from fire, setting it onto his toolbox.

He scanned the small pine clearing Kaie had picked quickly but carefully, examining his work. He'd tried to remember all of Kaie's complaints from the last few days, though he didn't doubt she'd find some fault. He placed the tents to the south placing them five feet apart after getting told she didn't want to curl up beside a smelly barbarian. Kaie's was protected by a large pine, though Jervis was much less protected from the elements with foliage he had some at least in case of a sudden rain storm.

He'd placed all of Kaie things in her tent only taking the rice he had seen and her gladius to make sure it was sharp and well oiled. He'd tend to her other weapons later but tend to dote on the gladius like it was his own child. Well not all things, he thought she'd be more comfortable without her saddle taking up room so he'd placed it in his tent with his own. The smell as well, He thought as she seemed to have a sensitive nose.

He'd left his toolbox by the fire as well as his bag of walnuts and shoulder duffle. The rest of his things he placed in his tent as it had plenty of room and another of Kaie's complaints had been his clutter as he worked, so he had been working on it. He wouldn't feed the horses or groom them until after eating so they sat munching on grass on the far side of Jervis's tent, hitched to some smaller pines.

Even as he took the first step he felt his heart quicken, as well as shame grow.Was he really going to do something so shameful to a woman had been so kind to him in her own way. He thought but he continued on undeterred, the lust he didn't fully understand consuming him.

I haven't been able to talk to her and learn from her otherwise, maybe just seeing her form could provide some insight. Jervis desperately moralized as he entered the far side of the glade heading towards the waterfall.

He'd have to be very careful, he'd hoped the alert woman hadn't noticed his presence but doubted it. Still he wasn't dead so it gave him hope. Jervis pulled the hood of his cassock over his head. The dark clothing he normally wore as a smith was well suited to sneaking around in the dark forest at sunset and his natural night vision was a boon as well. He recalled watching her take off to hunt on the first night, He'd watched her go for as long as she was in sight but hadn't asked to go. He recalled the way she had crouch just before disappearing from sight. She'd glared at him before she'd left so he knew she'd seen him watching and didn't know if the crouched stance was part of hunting or sneaking but hoped it would help keep him hidden from the alert woman.

Carefully avoiding sticks, and setting his feet as softly as he could among the bed of pine needles he made his way back to the waterfall. His blood continued to thunder through his body, rumbling in his ears like the waterfall he approached so he truthfully had no idea how quiet he was truly being. Finally arriving at the waterfall he stayed about seven feet into the woods, hiding behind a large pine with some thick bushes beneath it he peered out carefully into the glade with the waterfall.

The sight before him was majestic and not just for the natural scenery. He was off more to the left side than he had been when he first so found himself here, staring at her profile even so he was entranced with the sight of the exotic myrian woman. He hugged the tree not daring to peer out with more than one eye for fear of being seen.

His eyes started at her head, wanting to know if he'd been spotted but seeing she hadn't glanced at his approach as her hands roamed her exposed flesh he assumed not so he dared trail his gaze lower. Slowly his went lower examining her graceful neck and powerful shoulders.

Lower still his eyes went more brazenly, gazing on her muscular bronze torso as her left arm casually scrubbed her perky left breast. His gaze stopped utterly enraptured with the sight. He flushed deep red again but could do nothing to avert his eyes, her muscular form combined with the waterfall and lighting stealing his breath from his lungs. He absently tugged at the collar he had made it feeling tight suddenly as he continued to watch.

[Kaie]

Goddess, she never wanted to leave the embrace of the Sunset Falls. It was so beautiful and soothing to such a cold, savage heart. A place where it seemed nothing could touch her. A place where she could let her ever racing mind find peace. Had she no where else to be and no journey to get back to, Kaie might've never left the. Just let herself waste away and enjoy the treasure nature provided. Except that would never be true. Even the Myrian woman knew there would come a time when Myri would call upon her. And her warrior heart would flare with a new fire. Not even the more peaceful and loving of waters could tear Kaie from her Mother's calling.

Kaie raced her fingers through her hair once more and let her face lift to be splattered with water, before she finished. The Myrian woman then turned back from whence she came. Pruned feet navigated carefully across the slippery stones through the thick, angelic mist. Within a few moments the savage had passed through the golden plume back toward the forest. Exiting the divine golden veil back toward the forest. As she walked she pulled her brown hair over her bronze shoulder. Fingers wrapped rightly around the threads and attempted to liberate the absorbed water from her locks. A steady stream of water flowed from the ends down off her shoulder. She then flipped it back behind her where it belonged and ran her hand down her face. A try at brushing the accumulated droplets from her eyes.

Kaie walked straight toward the brush in a confident, nature gait. Unfortunately, whoever was shifting his feet in the brush wasn't very stealthy at all. Of course it hadn't helped that she could see his hood peeking out clearly against the greenery. The colors clashed so obviously it almost made her want to laugh and shake her head. Probably much to his surprise, Kaie did nothing. She did not beat him, nor scold him. Instead she appraised him coolly with her bold brown eyes. A single brow arched at the poorly hidden figure as if wondering what he was doing, though that was very clear.

"You know, most would think hiding like that while you spy on me is sketchy. What's the matter? Haven't you seen a naked woman before?"She asked as she approached the area beside his hiding place.

[Jervis Hill]

"You know, most would think hiding like that while you spy on me is sketchy," She claimed, eyeing him coolly

Jervis nearly leapt from his own skin when she addressed him and started over naked as the day of her birth. His mind raced trying to come up with some lie for being here so she would not kill him or worse send him away. Distracted and embarrassed instinct took over, he turned to run but tripped over a stone flying from his cover, further embarrassing himself landing on his chest a few feet away from Kaie as she approached.

He was defeated and caught, he knew it. He crawled to his knees quickly, His eyes fixed firmly to the ground from his shame. All thoughts of lying to the fierce woman fled from him in terror and disgust with himself, he found himself blurting out the truth in an embarrassed tone, abandoning the act he'd maintained for the last three days.

"I came to ask if ... if you'd like me to start dinner and I ... I saw you bathing so I went back to camp and started but my weakness drew me back. I ... I've never seen a naked woman really nor been with one and ... your ... your very beautiful Kaie. Please forgive my impulsiveness." The final phrase seemed to be quickly becoming sort of a catch phrase with him recently. He blushed an even deeper shade of crimson before finally realizing this seemed to be the least angry she'd been with him since there journey began together.

[Kaie]

Like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Jervis practically stumbled over his words as effectively as his own feet. Within a moment he was flat on his chest and then scrambling up to his knees. His eyes were glued to the ground and his cheeks were flushed a bright pink. Kaie snorted internally at him.

This excuse outta be good...

Male weakness was something she was quite accustomed to. Coming from a society ruled by women, how could she expect less? Though Myrian men were far more commendable than the average barbarian, their urges were no less. The savage society was far more straight forward. There was no great span of courting and fancy dates to places of fine cuisine. They did not dance around the matter in such a foolishly teasing way. If one wanted the other and the feelings were mutual, one sure wouldn't find them eyeing each other from such meager brush.

Kaie brushed some moisture from her torso and casually moved forward. Her feet moved in a careless gait, though it was one of natural confidence. Her upbringing did not lead her to be shy about her bare skin. Nudity was not so inappropriate as it was in these strange lands. It was a simple part of life. One that Jervis didn't know much about. He still seemed to blush as she reached the tree just a few paces away from him. She pulled her things from where she hid them in the branches and returned. Standing in front of him for the sake of eliminating any need to shout, Kaie finally liberated the man.

Her brow pulled together some in confusion as she stepped into her loincloth. Lips pursed in thought while she adjusted it upon her hips. It wasn't until she reached for her undone vest that she finally addressed him.

"Thanks I guess," She said with a ghost of an amused smile, rolling her eyes at the nervous guy. Kaie slipped her vest over her arms and began to fasten the single button in the middle as she continued.

"What do you mean you've never seen or been with a woman? You're not some type of eunuch are you?"

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis face shot up at the words, awe on his face. Thank you I guess. It'd taken him a year to get anything close to that from Coli and she wasn't angry. Relief flushed his features but was quickly replaced with embarrassment as Kaie was still topless. He stared at her mysterious front for a second, wide eyed, before he cast his eyes back down to the ground. His shame only grew as she continued.

"What do you mean you've never seen or been with a woman? You're not some type of eunuch are you?" Kaie asked seeming half teasing, half wanting to know.

"Oh no ... no" He protested quickly. Then took a deep breath to regain his composure.

"It's nothing like that Kaie ... I'll tell you anything you want to know ... at whatever length you want me too ... I've been dying to talk to you and I think you know that but can we do it over dinner. With a beautiful half naked maiden in front of me, it scrambles my thoughts." He asked Kaie pleadingly as she buttoned up her vest.

[Kaie]

The man-child still stole sneaky glances at her while she dressed, which the savage noticed. It was funny to see Jervis so flustered and abashed. To be honest the more she thought about her sarcastic comment, the more possible it seemed. Did anything go a bump between the legs of such a harmless, woman-less man?

The way he kept complimenting her made her almost feel like he really was her servant, though she made it clear from the start that wasn't an image she wished to display. Now, though one could've probably convinced her it was actually true.

"Alright then," She agreed with a shrug, seeming to decide only because of the urgency in his voice. The Myrian woman finished buttoning her vest and pushed her hair behind her shoulders. As expected, Kaie let Jervis hurry off ahead of her toward camp. With another sarcastic roll of her eyes, she attached her gladius belt to her hip and strapped her backpack over her shoulders. She followed him a bit into the forest until they had returned. The hiss of water still a constant sound in the background as they arrived.

The Myrian woman dropped her bag and sat back against a half risen, fallen tree. Crossing her arms and watching him with an expectant expression, Kaie waited for the Isur to speak his mind. It seemed he'd been so adamant about trying to speak with her. Most of the time she simply brushed him off. With so much bottled up she wondered what exactly the man had on his mind that was so pressing.

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis already had the stew back on before she had returned and had picked up his carving from where it lay placing it safely placing it them on his toolbox. The hammering in his ears and that flushed feeling had resided but thoughts of the exotic woman's body kept racing through his mind, making it hard to think. He wanted to just tell her everything in one long explosion of words like a volcano but didn't want to lose any headway in the friendship he'd been trying to build and somehow mysteriously aided with his indiscretion. Maybe Coli had been speaking the truth more than he knew back then or Tenni had wanted him to know that young.

He decided it best to ask her. So after stirring up the coals in the fire with his left hand and adding some more wood he looked into her eyes.

"So Kaie, The long version or the short one?" He asked cheerfully but still blushed slightly from looking at her fully clothed after what he'd seen. There was also something in his eyes that said if she picked the long one they may be here a while.