Closed Just Be [Spirit]

[Kaden Swift]

He was glad she had agreed, holding a piece of cloth in his mouth wasn’t the most fun of things. It tasted horrible ad he had to be careful to rip it, but also not to loosely hold it so that he could drop it. Yet that was nothing to the pleasure that washed over him as she said it wasn’t only worth it; but he was better than the horse. Even if it seemed she debated saying that he was. “Yes.” He made a humming sound but he then shifted without saying anything else.

Stretching he gave himself a firm shake then laid down so Spirit could again sit on his back. It didn’t seem to take her long to grip his scruff again, but he felt the difference in strength of her legs. Not wanting her to fall he got up slowly and started walking. This time he took his time but once more he refused to let Spirit be shaken or jostled. Despite the slow pace his gait was smooth as before. His ears were lazily set as he walk back the way they came, albeit the fence. He had gone around to the entrance rather than attempt a second jump.

It was relaxing to walk even though he enjoyed running a lot more. People seemed to scatter more when he did, and it was fun to see them panic when he hadn’t done anything. Tilting his head back he was just able to see Spirit. Chuffing he lifted his ears, silently trying to check if she was okay. He really hadn’t known it would be hard for her to hold. He had never ridden a horse but to sit once on Silvers back and that hadn’t gone well. Stopping for a second he twisted to try and better see her. She didn’t have to use her legs.

He couldn’t just shift and tell her that however, she would be sitting on his spine and he didn’t think that would go over well. So he returned to walking, vowing to try and remember to tell her when they were at the horse home. Happy again he lifted his head to look up the way they would walk. People were still out talking and purchasing wares of all sorts. He was watching this all warily, his nose telling him more then he needed to know for a few people. One teenager in particular smelled wrong, old blood and a sour thick tang of fear. Neither came from humans, it smelled like dogs.

He skirted the teen and didn’t give him a backwards glance. Many people had secrets. He had found many mated pairs smelling of others, he had smelled the lie of a cub that didn’t belong to the male the female courted. He knew the old woman they now passed was tainted and eating her would kill him. He knew the child held by its mother was sick and not just tired, liquid in its lungs. None of these people he trusted to get near him or Spirit; but especially her. He knew them for what they were, but humans didn’t seem to know. They lied. Ears fattening he turned away from the shopping people and took them down a quieter path.

After a while they came to their stop and Kaden lay down so Spirit could slip off. When she did he shifted and stood human again. “Next time you can wrap your arms around my neck, then your legs won’t be so tired.” He trusted her to touch his throat, something he didn’t give easily. He just knew she wouldn’t put a collar on him. In truth he wasn’t sure he would stop her if she did. “Clothes?” He held out his hand for his bag, looking in no hurry to shove himself in a bunch of clothes.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

By the end of the walk, Spirit was feeling much better. She was able to slide off Kaden's back before he lay down, slipping one leg over his side like a horse's and hopping into the snow. She felt her knees buckle when she landed, but overall... she felt better. Stretching slightly, she picked up the bag from where it had fallen, before passing it to her friend. She didn't want to fish for his clothes herself, as that would be sort of... intruding into his stuff. He could find them himself, anyways.

She nodded when he commented about her wrapping her arms around his neck. She hadn't really thought about that. She only knew riding horses, and then... she'd only ridden the 'official' way. That tactic probably would have be a lot more comfortable... and a lot fuzzier. She couldn't get over the furryness... the cat was just so... soft! "Sounds like a better idea" she admitted, forcing her mind off the subject. It was sort of an awkward thought in retrospect.

While he dressed, the Frostfawn politely turned her back, watching the snowy world in front of her. The stables were to her back, meaning she didn't see the 'attacker' until it ran into her. With a yelp, she collapsed, spotting the black and white fur of Wind as he tackled her to the ground. Despite his old and calm appearance, the Zypherian was big. He licked her face excitedly, only calming down after a thorough cuddle. She was lucky Ticker and his sister didn't join in, as those two were busy taking down the 'larger' prey: Kaden.

Once dogs, Vantha, and Kelvic alike were calm and not running around like crazy, Spirit finally stood up again. She brushed snow and a little big of dog slobber off her pants, before grinning at her friend. "Well... now that they're settled, shall we go deal with some calmer animals? Horses, for example... though I think we have a bull caribou in residence today... he's quite the sight." She shrugged, flashing another quick grin before heading off into the stables, checking once or twice that Kaden was actually following.

Lusina was seemingly busy dealing with an injured horse, so off at the other side of the building. The stables weren't too crowded today, with only one or two other grooms going about their work. One of her friends waved while mucking out one of the spots, and Spirit waved back, before leading her companion into a more secluded corner... she didn't know how her boss would react to a visitor, and didn't hugely want to find out. The woman was nice, but could be a little stern. She quickly found a calm, docile mare, and slipped into the stable, letting the Kelvic follow behind. Along the way, she'd picked up a grooming kit, since she knew this particular horse was in need of a clean-up.

"Here... want to help groom?" she asked, after letting the horse sniff her hand once or twice. "Let her get your scent" she instructed, hoping this wouldn't cause more panic in the creature, rather than calmness. Setting down the small basket she'd brought, she pulled out a comb for the mane, and passed it to Kaden. "Run that through her mane... get out the knots. But don't pull." Once she finished that explanation, she dragged out another brush for herself, one that would provide a basic cleaning of the mare's hide. She began rubbing along the hairs in small circles, getting dust and dirt out of the fur. Every once in a while she glanced at her friend, checking to see how he was doing.

x

[Kaden Swift]

ooc :

I think when I'm tired I write better. 2.51 Am as I post this one.

He took the bag and started to shift through it for the right things to wear. Pants shirt, he glared silently at the boots. He hated those the most. “Yes, it would be better, safer.” Then he could tell if Spirit was holding on okay. She didn’t put enough pressure on his sides for him to really notice it past his bruises; and the touch to his scruff was nothing but an itch. Privately he was slightly unhappy with the particular hold. He wasn’t a kitten, even if he knew Spirit wouldn’t understand that. She liked dogs.

Letting his bag drop he pulled on first his pants then his shirt. He felt his muscles already stiffening, warning him he had done too much. He was just finishing straightening his clothes when he looked up to see Spirit had turned her back to him then suddenly she was bowled over and with two hard hits he wasn’t far behind. He had not expected Ticker or the little female to have followed them. He was sure the puppies would stay in the mass of fawning children. Growling he batted the puppies away and righted himself.

He was embarrassed to be caught by surprise by the dogs. His thoughts were far away from anything. Mostly thinking of Spirit and watching the glimmering colors of her hair. Not that he really knew what he was thinking about. It was second nature thoughts, just simply there with no effort or attention on his part. Yet it was enough that he had been pulled away from the surroundings and he wasn’t happy. Pupils contracted he brushed snow off his clothes much like a cat would turn shoulder and clean its fur, utterly ignoring the fact it had just been startled.

With a huff he cast a world wary look to the puppies. “Yes, too much energy. He should be tired by now.” Ticker had played all day yet the animal seemed to have endless energy to waste tackling people. Yet now he was going to horses. He still didn’t like them. Even dogs seemed to have some will to ignore people; Kaden saw the horses as food that bore their hunters on themselves. “Caribou?” He visibly perked and hurried after Spirit. “Do we eat it?” The thought of soft warm organs was nice. He didn’t have to eat he had days to remain full but he wouldn’t pass up food.

He followed Spirit as she took him through the building, looking here and there to see horses and things he couldn’t name. Tack bindings ropes and tools all looking menacing to the Kelvic. Still he entered the stall as Spirit did and faced the animal inside. Of course it was a horse, but if was a different one then he knew. “Sure,” he said but as she told him to let the horse sniff him he balked a bit. Last time one smelled him it panicked. He held up his hand, watching its mouth carefully and quickly snatched it away as the velvet nose grew too close to his hand for comfort. Then said hand was soon full with something else.

Blankly he looked at it. “I have one of these,” didn’t mean he knew what it was for. He had neat and groomed hair only because he regularly bathed, not as a human might but a tiger. Still he lifted it and pushed it at the horse’s mane. He mimicked what Spirit was doing with the brush and was surprised to see the hair part and straighten under the little device. “Oh.” He started brushing the mare in earnest, watching with rapt attention as her mane slowly started to become orderly. As he kept going he started to relax into the simple movement, remembering doing something similar to the horses in the ship. He had been so tired then and so worn, but it was calming.

Soon the comb slid effortlessly through the horse’s mane and he was forced to stop as he saw no more need of the little tool. He looked from the mare to Spirit and saw it wasn’t just the mane that looked well. The little horse was gleaming. “Least they can be clean.” He frowned however, wondering why the horses didn’t clean themselves. What did they do if humans didn’t brush them?

[Spirit Frostfawn]

OOCI'm really sorry about the delay! I kept putting stuff off... sorry

Spirit sighed to herself when Kaden asked about eating Caribou. "No. Some caribou - wild caribou - you eat. You do not eat anything in the stables. They are friends, like Silver is a friend." She tried to put emphasis on the word 'friend', so the Kelvic knew not to eat any of the animals in the stables... That wouldn't end well, anyways. The horses (and caribou) were under the Vantha's protection, under her protection, so even if they were 'food' in her friend's eyes... they were not for eating.

Once they were in the stables and brushing, she glanced up at her friend and smiled. He'd been at first confused about what to do with the brush, but had seemingly gotten the hang of it. He dragged the comb through the mare's mane, working out the knots, while she continued her own brushing. She circled the horse's side, rubbing particularly hard on those spots that seemed to have more dirt and dead hair then usual.

She was just poking over the Windrunner's back when Kaden began speaking again. She stood on her tippy-toes, trying to get a good vantage point on the wide surface. "Your point?" she asked, a little confused. They were always cleaned - it was her job. Just... what she did. Care for horses. Though... she would have loved to work as a Vet, healing the horses as well. Or maybe even get a job in the Icewatch for that... the creatures she would tend to there certainly wouldn't be afraid of he friend - they would be full on polar bears! She giggled a little at that, before shaking her head.

"Well... you can be clean if you want" she mentioned, wondering if that was his point. But then she frowned, considering. "How do you stay clean?" she asked, a little bewildered. He couldn't exactly get wet... he'd freeze to death like that. She considered giving him a grooming, like she did with horses, but decided that wouldn't be the best of ideas... the fur would get crazy, and she didn't know how Lusina would react to her using horse brushes on a tiger... it probably wouldn't work.

x

[Kaden Swift]

ooc :

No problem, I know you are busy. If you hit a writers block tell me and we can see about fixing that~

Kaden had looked at her with confused dislike. Friends, what those even were that he could not eat them? They were prey and prey was to be eaten what else would they before? He said nothing however, just looked ahead of them as they walked. He knew his reply would upset Spirit if she was so upset from his question before. Silver, her horse, he saw the mare as nothing but food. For now the creature had another use, Spirit couldn’t run as he could. It would age and no longer run. He doubted Spirit would eat it event hen.

How long did horses live? Would he age before the beast? He had never been bothered by his short time, but he had never been around humans. The humans here glowed and gleamed. They would live as Morwen’s children long after he was gone, and Kaden did not understand why this scared him. He was no afraid of death or age, but the thought of the horse out living him agitated him. So as he brushed another horse he let it still, let all his worries flow off him. He spoke to Spirit but kept to his task until the creature gleamed and she spoke to him once more.

He had to look for her; he had not seen her walk around the horse. Seeing just her head was a surprise that he blinked. “Point.” He puzzled this out. “Horses hardly ever look clean, but now this one is.” His nose wrinkled. “Still smells of horse.” It was not unpleasant smell but it was something he made a silent mission to erase once set on Spirit. He tilted his head to the side as she giggled, watching her silently. At least she seemed happy, but they laughed when they were sad or angry as well. His wonder on what it was had to wait as she spoke again and made it no clearer how she felt.

“I am clean,” but his voice faded as he looked at himself. His eyes actually widened and he made a small sound of distress at the sight of his clothes. He was dirty, worse he knew he smelled of horse. His distress over this caused him to slap at his clothes to try and dislodge the dirt and only smeared it to him. “How?” He was distracted, unable to make up his mind if he should look to himself or Spirit. Finally he gave up and looked at her. “How do I stay clean?” He didn’t understand the question she asked. “I groom myself, I am a cat. For Ticker to, dogs are unable to be clean just like horses.” That was something that bothered him.

“Is it bad that I do?” His brow furrowed, so many things he did distressed Spirit. So many things he didn’t understand. Uneasily he looked to her and tried to understand again, but it wasn’t in him to. Self-concisely he frowned and swiped a hand through his hair only to spread the grime. Realizing this Kaden actually hissed, jerking his hand away. It wasn’t just now that he was thinking about, and it was hard. “What do you want of me?” He stared at her almost fearfully. “It is hard to remember what you want, it hurts and I don’t understand.” The last was a softly, but he closed his eyes as if it were a physical pain.

He wanted to be more human to make her happy and he didn’t know why. Not why it hurt him, not why it pressed him to think. It was so much easier to just be; but being with her didn’t allow him to do it, yet he would not make himself move away. The small time he was away from her his days blended together again and he forgot, but once by her side he was made to think and to listen and it hurt because he could not understand. So now he stood not like the powerful creature he was, but something brought low and defeated.

It wasn’t Spirit, it was something and it was that something he couldn’t grasp. As he tried Kaden didn’t hit a wall; he hit an empty space inside himself. When he was with her that space seemed to waver and he could almost feel as if he understood, but then it slid away. Wary and worn he opened his eyes and looked at her. “It hurts,” and in his voice was a plea for help; and he didn’t understand enough even to know what it was for.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit frowned when Kaden commented about the horse smell. ”Well… of course it smells like a horse. It is a horse.” Vaguely, she wondered where an animal’s ‘smell’ came from. She basically had no clue. The fur? Something inside them? Or was it just another thing, like appearance. No… there must be something solid to it. She shook her head, again remembering the funny statement. When would a horse ever not smell like a horse? Unless you added some other scent on top, of course. But horses smelled like horses, dogs dogs, Kaden like Kaden, and so on… The whole topic simply confused her, considering she barely smelled any of these… her nose wasn’t as keen as her companions.

Her mouth drew into a frown as the Kelvic began worrying. ”No, it’s fine, don’t worry about it”she told him, face deep in concern. He was panicking, and distressed, and it was getting worse. Her statement was half to console him in general, and half to actually answer the posed question. As he began asking what she wanted, the Frostfawn slipped from behind the horse to stand in front of the much taller Kaden. He seemed to be seriously distressed, and he felt distressed, if that made any sense .

On a sudden urge, she took a step forward and hugged him, tight. She had to stand on her toes to get any sort of height, but clung tightly, hoping this would help. Only after ten or so ticks did she finally answer the question. ”I want you to be happy… don’t worry, don’t panic. If you don’t know, just ask.” She glanced up at him worriedly, but soon enough changed the expression to a small smile. She didn’t like him panicking, or worrying… it made her stressed too… and that wasn’t good for anyone.

She kept holding after he whined ‘it hurts’, hoping it helped… though she didn’t know what hurt in the first place. It could have been the hug, for all she knew. Wait… he’d related it to not knowing what she wanted, so maybe she’d already solved that problem. Sighing quietly, she let go, still smiling in an attempt to calm Kaden. Only when she was a few steps back did she notice something… odd.

When she’d hugged the Kelvic, she’d felt sort of… connected. She’d dismissed it as a physical thing, brought about by the hug. However… it was still there, sitting with her, being… strange. Her face turned into a confused frown, and she stared at the hay-covered floor, deep in thought. It wasn’t her. It didn’t feel like her own… her. But, it felt… fuzzy? That didn’t make any sense. Even though it felt foreign, it was still nice. Though how could you have a foreign… feeling? They weren’t exactly something you could sense straight out… right? She was bewildered and confused by this, and started shaking her head.

”I don’t get it” she muttered irritably, to no one in particular. She didn’t elaborate, not really seeing a need to. Her frown turned into an annoyed scowl, and she glanced up at Kaden in exasperation. ”I don’t get it” she repeated, this time louder and more demanding. As if this was all his fault, this strange feeling that didn’t… fit. But she liked it. She really did. It was comforting and fuzzy, and… nice. There was really no way to describe it. What really confused her was how it had gotten there. Where was it from? What did it do? What was it anyways? All this was just one big mystery that she really, really wanted to figure out.

x

[Kaden Swift]

ooc :

I am sorry. I finally got some time off and my extended family refused to allow me to spend it at home or sitting at a computer. I only get a few days off every two months or so. When it comes up I get dragged off by force and my computer wires stolen so I can't work from home. I apologies, I forgot I had time off this week and I was surprised when my friends let themselves in and yanked my cords. Wont happen again.

Kaden had huffed. He knew it was and he knew the smell would always be but it didn’t change the fact it wasn’t an agreeable smell. He looked at the horse, wondering how many animals it had run down, how many things it had carted dead or dying. He disliked it, weak; prey yet they worked under humans doing things that were wrong. Prey should never hunt, yet it did. He did not like this horse or any other. The only reason he was close to it now was it made Spirit happy. Given option Kaden wanted to tear the beast’s throat out then pull free its organs till it frozen in the snow dead.

She said now not to worry, he had to. She wasn’t happy with him. Not as man not as a tiger. He didn’t know what she wanted from him or how to fix it so that she was happy and smiling. Anger fear, all those were sharp and nasty smells and just her frown was distressing. Then she was hugging him. He hadn’t been hugged by anyone. There was the time she had in the library but she had been upset, this time all he felt was warmth. So he relaxed into her, slowly and hesitantly he moved his arms to hug her back and his eyes slid closed.

Tiny and frail, something he wanted to protect and make happy. He never had anything he wanted to protect before save Ticker; but the puppy had many to pet and hold him. Spirit was only one. How would he make a human happy? “I will ask next time,” he promised. She had stepped back to talk but he drew her closer and hugged her tighter all while trying not to hurt her. He knew she was strong but he was very sure he could break her bones. Then she stepped away and Kaden hesitated to let her, in the end he did. He sighed and looked to his clothes and hers. Dust and dirt, she was worse than he was.

He felt calmer, and happier. Kaden had never known something as odd as a hug could do that and he vowed to try it again sometime. There was many times he hurt or was angry. Petting worked but no one was so brave to hug a tiger. He watched her curiously as she stood there sort of dazed. He continued to observe with some distress as she frowned and shook her head. Had his hugging been bad? Spirit got more agitated before she spoke then repeated it looking at him almost angrily. Wanting now to ease her worries, Kaden looked down to his toes.

How did Spirit make him happier, that twitch thing with the lips. He could try and hug her but it seemed to have upset her now. So he looked back to her and smiled. He didn’t flash his teeth as he normally did, it was well and truly a soft and warm smile. “Don’t get, I can get it for you?” He wasn’t sure what she wanted. His smile dropped as he looked around, searching for the thing that she couldn’t get. He saw things on shelves and things on hooks. “What do you want?” He offered her again, watching her with keen interest. He wanted to make her happy again, she was angry. “Kill something?” Kaden stiffened as he drew ready, he could help if she wanted something dead. “I am good at that.” He could kill it and make her happier.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

OOCNo problem On another note, I apologise for my own delay... the combination of a few tests, plus finishing NaNo (I'm done, yay!) has made me put off everything but writing for Lacerta... but now that I'm done, I'll be up to normal speed... and I'm putting off mod stuff till tomorrow >.>

Spirit nearly laughed when Kaden took the word 'get' literally, but was too confused and annoyed to do so. She petted the mare's nose absently as the creature snuffled around for some kind of treat, not even remembering to be careful about getting her fingers bitten. The horse's warm breath was familiar and reassuring, unlike this... feeling. This annoying feeling.

"No, not 'get' as in 'fetch'. 'Get' as in 'understand'. I don't understand it. I.. I have this feeling. Not bad, it's kind nice, but... fuzzy. And its not mine." She scowled, wishing she could look through emotions like she looked for snow clumps in a horse's tail. But... your mind was invisible, and intangible... meaning she could only think on it. She was confused, incredibly confused about this whole thing... she simply didn't understand where it had come from, and what it was.

That was where the Kelvic came in. Maybe he'd know, he'd understand. Maybe he had felt this before. Maybe this was... because of him... though how would it work like that? She remembered vivid stories about love, and wondered if that was what it was. But... no. It didn't feel like that. Similar, but not the same... though she was clueless about what true love felt like, unless you counted love for Wind, her Uncle... and stuff like that. No... this was something else.

After some thought, she decided it felt like a... connection. Or something strange like that. Like a string between points A and B that she could nearly follow... but not quite. As she returned to staring at the straw-covered ground, she became innately aware of Kaden's presence before her. Though she could see the tips of his feet from her view at the ground, it felt like more than that. She she knew he was there, even if she couldn't see him. A presence that held more than just 'being' though... something more, but she simply didn't understand.

Glancing up, she spoke in a tense, stressed, tone that showed her irritation. She wasn't irritated at her friend, of course, but rather this feeling that wouldn't explain itself. Oh, if only feelings could talk. "Kaden..." she began slowly, meeting his eyes carefully with hers. "Kaden, have you ever heard of a... feeling. Like... feeling a... connection. A... oh, I don't know how to describe it." She waved her hands around in an attempt to use them to explain the feeling, but it didn't work. Instead, she ended up smacking the mare lightly on the side, causing the creature to snort quietly.

She turned the touch to a slow rub on the horse's shoulder, letting the physicality calm her down. "Do you g-understand it?" she finished, hastily changing the word 'get' in case it was misunderstood again. She was slightly tired out from the confusion and irritation, but she had to admit, if asked if she wanted to get rid of the feeling... she would keep it. It wasn't that she didn't like it, just... she didn't understand it.

x

[Kaden Swift]

ooc :

Congratulations on finishing! You must be happy for that at least.
No mind on the speed, I understand why you were busy but I shouldn't have taken so long without warning. I just forgot I had two days off.
Oh mod stuff?

He huffed as she laughed. “Not your feeling, you are not happy?” He was happy, more relaxed. He didn’t think he felt anything else odd but Spirit wasn’t happy any more. That bothered him. He watched her was thinking, just happily staring and waiting for her to understand. Oh he knew something but she hadn’t asked and why would you answer something no one asked you? That and Spirit was smart, much smarter than him. He rubbed his nose a bit as some dust started making it itch.

Annoyed again he looked at himself and nearly growled. Dirty. How did a horse stand this or a dog? Why couldn’t they bathe themselves as he could? He did not like the idea of how long it was going to take to get this out of his fur or off his tongue. Lifting his arm, Kaden gave a bit of dirt a testing lick only to grimace and jerk his own limb away. Well, that answered one question. Humans didn’t groom themselves either. How did they stay clean? He looked back at Spirit but she seemed still deep in thought as she stroked the clean horse.

Clean, he doubted it. Where did the animal even find dirt? All he had seen was snow and ice. Suddenly Spirit was looking at him, startled Kaden blinked. Now she seemed scared. “No, but I know mine.” He wasn’t sure what feeling she was talking about. Connections on the other hand, he knew only one and he would be willing to give it to her for certain. Wanting to make her feel better he stepped to her side and brushed himself against her much as any cat would. “I am a Kelvic; we have one special bond to give.” He reached through himself for the hole, but it was gone.

Surprised he shoved at that odd place inside him but it didn’t give, he saw the rope leading off. He only had to follow it before he saw Spirit. Warmth filled him so suddenly that he shivered. He had bonded, without noticing save for a soft feeling of belonging. He looked at Spirit then, so this was his bonded. She didn’t like him touching her like this, but he suddenly felt that she might disappear if he didn’t. He still needed words so he ignored her dislike. Reaching out he hugged her to him tightly, even lifting her from the ground as he straightened out.

“My bonded, finally found you.” He had known she was special from the very start but now he knew she belonged to him and woe any who tried to take her away. He tucked her head under his chin and chuffed, still holding her tightly as he did. Pushing the bond he finally did feel her. He couldn’t find her emotions but he felt she was safe and close. He was worried she would be upset from this, wouldn’t like it. He shivered at the very thought but couldn’t make himself move. “Happy?” He asked her, because he couldn’t tell. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t tell.

She could feel him, and he didn’t think that was so good right now. Fear wanted to choke him at the idea she might not want the bond, she might break it. He wouldn’t live after and Kaden knew the fear didn’t come from his death but leaving his bonded. He held her tighter and closed his eyes willing it to stop.

[Spirit Frostfawn]

OOCMod stuff, as in grading/moderating/development in Ravok (I'm the AS, Abstract... did I tell you that? ) I need to catch up on a lot of stuff >.>

Anyways... another really cute part

When Kaden mentioned something called a ‘bond’, Spirit frowned. Right… like the bond between the Icewatch bears and their riders, right? Kelvics bonded… but she never thought it would happen to her, of all people. Though Avanthal had numerous Kelvics roaming through it, she’d never really spent time with any of them, until now. She had… a bond. A bonded. Wow.

She stared at her friend – no, her bonded – for a moment in pure shock, until he reached forward and hugged her. She squeaked a little at this, and squirmed once or twice, before eventually deciding that she liked the hug, even though she wasn’t really standing on her own two feet. After a moment of wriggling, she freed her arms from where they’d been squished, and awkwardly wrapped her arms around him as well. She felt calm, content, happy now… and so did Kaden, actually. Her lips curled into a massive, but unseen smile as she considered this.

When the ‘happy’ question came, her grin grew even wider. ”Yep” she replied, giving a slight squeeze. After another moment of hanging there, she swung her legs a little, finally deciding that the position was a little to awkward for her tastes. ”Um… can I stand now? Please?” She could feel the itch of fear coming from the Kelvic, and wanted to help it… but how? She didn’t know what he was afraid of. Her mouth twitched into a frown for a moment, before returning to the smile brought on by the newly minted bond.

Once she was (hopefully) returned to a standing position, the Frostfawn fixed her shirt and rolled her shoulders as a minor stretch. Though she would have liked to see what else came with their new bond… her brain was too tired to figure that out right now. She’d wasted enough mental energy trying to find out what the feeling was in general, that once she’d answered the question… she didn’t want to go any further. Stifling a small yawn, she turned to the horse… who had returned to sniffing at her pockets.

”I don’t have any treats for you” she told the mare in a scolding tone. Still, she rubbed the creature’s nose… she always loved the incredibly soft hair and skin that was there. After a moment of silence, Spirit realized she probably needed to say something, anything. Though she liked the general companionship that Kaden brought, she quiet was growing… awkward.

In a vague attempt to change the subject, she asked the first question that came to mind. ”So… uh, Kaden… where do you work? Do you work?” She was unsure if her bonded actually had a job, or managed to fend for himself out in the wastes. She knew of the woman who gave him the ‘sweets’, and she knew he hunted every once in a while… but what about clothes? Things like that? Did he seriously sleep outside all the time? It sounded a little cold to her. She knew that his recent clothing was of her own purchase, but… what about before that? What had Kaden been doing before she met him? That was actually just one big mystery to her…

x