Symbols in the Sand (Kaie)

[Skyard Underwood]

Summer 1st 516 A.v

The Sun emerged from beneath the horizon and returned the gift of its warm grasp to the large body of water below. The water had been rather wild today, with rampant splashes and relatively low tides. The wind raged somewhat heavily for a few chimes before it too reached a calm state. However that did nothing to resolve the heavy scent of salt that floated about in the air. The skies possessed a unique combination of colors amber, turquoise, and a hint of blue. The cloud coverage had been interesting, and elongated strips stretched across the heavens. The Sun seemed as if it rested upon the very “edge” of the sea itself. The sand that was typically walked upon by visitors appeared to have been unscathed; the water washed away all the foot prints that once remained. Along with the dawn arose the Kelvic from his extensive slumber from the previous day. He had barely managed to escape the imprisonment that some may consider to be a “Bed”. Skyard hated the idea of waking up; especially at the current bell and felt disturbed about the fact that he rose so early. The Feline shrugged off the fact that he woke up when he had not intended to.

A deep inhalation filled the boys lungs for a brief moment; which was followed by of an exhalation of the same caliber. Skyard changed clothing, and decided that he would much rather look somewhat approachable. He made a swift observation about the fact that a large margin of Akalak wear leather instead of cloth. Therefore he decided that he would follow the trend and adapt to what he saw to some degree. He grasped hold of his newer suit of leather armor; so black that it could almost be compared to lava that had been freshly cooled. Following the change in clothing he swiftly rose from the ground and grasped hold of the door-knob. His home had no lock like several other homes within the city due to the fact that thieves tended to be a non-factor. Skyard wondered where his instincts would take him today; unlike a few seasons ago he lacked the drive to hunt down every woman he came across. After a brief moment of thought he decided to visit one of the most beautiful places in the City. Valkalah's tears had been quite the excellent choice for Skyard to visit.

Upon his arrival he very swiftly realized that people were in the middle of traveling away from the city. He could not properly judge the distance between himself and what appeared to have been a massive sea vessel. However when he saw the silhouette of the large object his curiosity peaked, and he trekked across the sand bare footed. He wanted to get a bit closer, and investigate what went on; why were there people lined up in front of the vessel? Skyard began to question whether or not he made the wrong decision to come here. Was he in danger, or was there something far more subtle going on like a trip to a land beyond this one? The moment he got closer the people seemingly vanished, and with them the ship. However there was a single person left, and at a distance the person appeared to be a woman. Her hair was long, and blew about in the wind furiously, at his distance he could not tell who she was. He could not even tell if she was a female or a male with lengthy hair; due to the fact that the crack of dawn lacked the incredibly bright light of noon.

He swallowed hard, and took a brief moment to gather his thoughts before he approached. He began a slow stride toward the person; he wanted answers and the person was the only one present to answer his questions. However, if the person rejected his subtle approach several questions he knew that he would have to walk away. Yet, he was a brave individual and he did not intend to back away from someone that easily. If he truly wanted the answers he would find out one way or another. Skyard proceeded with caution and could only hope that the person was friendly.

[Kaie]

This is it. Today, I go home, the Myrian woman thought with a wild grin as she threw the bed covers from her bronze skin, and swiveled her long legs over the edge of the mattress. Bare feet stretched down in the dark to plant themselves within the bladed boots waiting below. Then the morning routine, albeit in far more of a hurry, began.

She procured a loincloth from the dresser and shimmied it up her hips. Her brown leather vest, which had been thrown carelessly over a nearby chair, was shrugged over her shoulders and secured by the single button in the middle. It was only when she felt the weight of her weapons' belt strapped upon her waist that the jungle-born truly felt clothed. On her way out, she scooped up her spear and packed backpack before leaving her domicile. There wasn't so much as a glance behind her.

Syna did not yet rise above the welcoming waters of the Suvan Sea to Riverfall's east. Not so much as a single of the Sun Goddess's rays had cast its gilded glow across Laviku's domain. Yet the Myrian, who had been wide awake long before the first bell of the day, trekked through the streets with nearly the same gear as she toted upon her initial arrival. It was strange for her to look back upon her time away from home. The years were full of heartbreak, adversity, adventure, enlightenment, and growth. She'd sailed with the Svefra, sparred with the Akalak, battled with the Ebonstryfe, drank with the Knighthood, ridden with the Drykas, and waged war in the streets with the thugs of Sunberth.

Kaie had certainly hollowed her share of ground with barbarian blood to glorify her Goddess Queen. Now it was time to take her rightful place in her divine mother's service. Her crooked grin widened. Perhaps I'll prove myself to Navre and earn the great honor of Tiger Rider. For once, she wasn't held tight in place like a stick in the mud. Ahead finally existed a future with endless possibility. She hadn't felt the sensation of such optimism since she was a child idolizing the very adventure that was coming to a close.

The soles of her bladed boots clipped a deliberate rhythm across the planks of the dock. Further down sat a formidable cargo vessel with giant white sails. Sailors were scattered about its expanse like giant ants satelliting a hill. Some grunted beneath the weight of heavy wooden boxes, while others hustled about the upper deck ensuring the ship would maintain its stamina and fortitude upon the open water. Standing on the dock end of the loading plank stood the unimposing and yet gritty-looking captain. His clothes were plain and faded from the salt air, and the pipe he held between his teeth had discolored the whiteness of his beard. A puff of black smoke swirled from the tobacco-holding bowl when his blood-shot eyes spotted her.

"Earliest passenger I ever 'ad, Myrian. Welcome 'board," Captain Westwind called out to her with a tip of his tattered hat. One of his mates stumbled over an uneven dock plant, shouldering his captain while he attempted to right his balance and preserve the cargo in his calloused hands. Westwind, steadying himself just in time, let out a flurry of foul curses and obscene gestures. He shook his head but jerked his free hand forth nonetheless. "Nice t' see ya made it. Jungle's a short trip. Got that coin ya promised?" The Myrian seized his hand with a firm grip and arched a brow at him. "I always keep my word. The price stands as we discussed," Kaie affirmed and maintained a more neutral expression with a bit of effort. Westwind nodded profusely and chewed on his pipe. "Yessim! A chime an' we'll be set. Kenash be waitin' after all."

The odd captain gave a hop up the gangway and immediately barked orders to the men aboard with an experienced finesse. Meanwhile, Kaie remained in place as the last of the cargo was boarded and sailors rushed toward their positions. She stared out at the great blue beyond just beginning to feel the grace of daylight. She pivoted on her heels to face the crushing waterfall that had given the city its namesake, amber eyes casting a final glance upon the tiers that held the various homes and buildings she'd come to know. Kaie breathed in the salt air and savored the fall's mist as it dewed on her cheeks, making a point to remember this world just as it was in that moment. Then, with a final call from Westwind, she turned to take her first step back toward the world in which she always belonged. Somehow she never managed to take that step.

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Not even the beauty of the Suvan from her seat on the beach of Valkhalah's Tears nor the picturesque lava flow, were potent enough to ease the turmoil of emotions churning like a sickness within. She was a hollow shell of herself, and the bitter wine she drank from her water skin was the closest medicine she had to soothe her tortured soul. Her brown hair whipped violently in the breeze and her arms wrapped loosely around her folded knees. All the while she watched as the bright white sails shrunk before her very eyes on the horizon. Only the gentle sound of shifting sand behind her drew her from her downward spiral into the hopeless abyss.

The jungle-born's head snapped to the sound, brow furrowing and free hand instinctively ripping up her spear from where it stood in the sand beside her. A lanky body with billowing platinum-blond hair approached. Her tongue probed the inside of her cheek. Her amber stare searched the man's face, finding a strange familiarity in his piercing blue eyes. The butt of the spear was driven back into the sand. With a facetious smirk, the Myrian extended the water skin toward the newcomer. "You wouldn't let a woman drink alone, would you?"

[Skyard Underwood]

Skyard stepped forward the moment he heard the womans invitation. For a brief moment he was reluctant to move for fear that she may strike him. Her voice sounded incredibly familiar; her scent was rather earthy and at the short distance he felt as if he recognized it. He approached slowly, and cautiously as he responded to her brief speech. The platinum-blonde males hair fluttered about within the breeze. He fought himself internally, and debated on whether or not he should truly approach the woman. Would she attack him the moment he let his guard down? Perhaps he was being far too irrational and worried for nothing. He had a habit of being paranoid and wary of nearly anyone who he spoke with. However, he decided that he would respond and not show even the slightest hint of fear.

“Well that would most certainly be rude wouldn't it? How can I refuse an offer like that? After all, a beautiful woman like you shouldn't ever be alone. I will join you, but you must tell me something.. Why did you not get on that ship? “ He beckoned the young woman with a simple question. The Kelvic could only hope that she would respond in a friendly manner. He had not yet seen her face in order to analyze her features. Her voice was familiar as was her stunning hair which whipped about in the wind. He took another step forward and closed the distance between himself and the young lady in order to sit on her right side.

His knees bent slightly before he came to rest directly beside the woman. Never once did he turn his head so that he may see her features. Skyard focused all of his attention on the horizon, and could not help but comment about how gorgeous it was. “Today is quite beautiful isn't it?” he spoke again following his first question. His right knee had been raised upward and toward his chest and he rested his forearm upon it. With a single motion to look at the young woman he made a swift realization. He had seen her a few years ago at the training facility, but he would not bother to mention it unless she remembered as well.

Why did a simple conversation have to be so complicated? Skyard questioned himself as he put on a confident smile. He was rather talented at lying, and pretending to be something that he was not; perhaps today would be the day that he truly put that theory to the test. He had never been in a situation like this one before; the setting was absolutely perfect and he had a beautiful woman right next to him. How much more incredible could the day become for him? At first glance he wanted to immediately ask her whether or not she was interested in him. However, he knew that his impulses often led him in the wrong direction. He could only await a response from the beautiful yet oddly familiar young woman.

[Kaie]

The Myrian woman raised an eyebrow at the man as he stood there for a tick to deliberate her offer, and the corner of her lips twitched as she watched him precariously find his seat in the sand beside her. She released her hold on her knees and leaned against her stuffed backpack lounging just behind her back. Her guest had apparently refused her first offering of wine. It mattered not to the savage. Her shoulders gave a shrug before she returned the water skin to her own lips, tilting it up to her lips while her new companion spoke.

Surprise, surprise. Another charmer, Kaie narrated with a roll of her eyes. Quickly, however, the confident voice prodded innocently at the crux of her position. Her mood became more bitter than her red drink.

"Guess I just forgot my sea-legs today," Kaie deceived lamely with a sardonic flash of teeth. Tight amber eyes stared outward at the ship once more. As Syna rose with each tick, it was becoming harder to distinguish with the bright morning glow. She took another sip of her wine.

"Yes, today is a perfect day." At least that was how it was supposed to have been, and while she enjoyed her brutally honest inclinations, she cared to neither spoil the meaningless pleasantries or indulge to a stranger personal anecdotes. She cast her gaze upon him, realizing that he had hesitated from the moment he had to truly look her in the face at all. The Myrian furrowed her brow and studied the side of his avoidant face. Why do you look so damned familiar?

He was a young-looking man. He couldn't have been much older than she was, that was for certain. Yet, like an elder, his hair was nearly as white as snow and his eyes as blue as glacial ice. "Where have we met? Have you ever been to Syliras?" It was the best guess she had at the tick. When she had bartended at the Rearing Stallion in her early days in Syliras, many travelers had wandered through for a tankard of good ale. Given the nature of her adventures that would come later in Sunberth and Ravok, had she known him elsewhere it was doubtfully as a friend.

Once more she extended her water skin out to bump it against the man's chest. If nothing else, perhaps it would convince him to unintentionally turn his head so she could get a better look at him.

[Skyard Underwood]

The Kelvic immediately turned his head toward the young woman as she made contact with his chest. She still held the waterskin filled with ale in her hand; as he looked down he realized he made the mistake of looking at her. He did not intend to do so however he decided that he could not possibly turn back. Skyard grasped hold of the waterskin gently, and removed it from the young ladies hand. He took a split-tick to look up and found that he could not look away from her. She asked him whether or not he had ever been to Syliras, and he responded in a short series of words. Yet, the moment he caught her scent he remembered quite a bit about their first encounter.

“Yes, I have been to Syliras. I was raised there where I had a dear friend of mine disappear. Although I am fairly certain that is not where we met.” He concluded his brief speech as he continued to examine her features. She was absolutely gorgeous, and in his opinion flawless in comparison to majority of the women he had ever come across. His aforementioned confident smile remained upon his face the entire time he looked at her. However he suddenly locked eyes with her and became lost in thought. Skyard suddenly found that he had lost the ability to speak to her, and his gaze became a blank stare. The entirety of the scenery changed in his mind. After the split-tick it took him to blink he realized that he was back in the training facility.

The person that stood before him appeared to be the woman he had just recalled being on the beach with. However, she was far more feral and aggressive than she was just a moment ago; what happened ? Skyard wondered whether or not he had encountered the same person from this time period; had this been a figment of his imagination? Perhaps not, and maybe this somewhat distant memory came to him as a warning. They were in the middle of a training session, and she attacked him ferociously. She struck at him with the intention to truly harm him, and likely shatter multiple bones in his visage. He had finally seen it; the moment of truth where he somehow exited the “Spar” without being harmed by the savage.

She attempted to crush him with multiple blows, and Skyard used all of the strength in his core muscle to bring himself upward. She rested atop of him with her bottom pressed against his pelvis, and she had total control of the lower half of his body. However the moment he brought himself upward the entirety of the fight changed. Just as swiftly as the fight began it ended with a gentle, and passionate kiss upon her lips. He cupped the young ladies cheek, and wrapped his arm around her waist as she rested atop of him. She was dominant, and an incredibly strong woman never to be underestimated. The moment she realized what went on she snapped, and attempted to murder him.

Had it not been for the instructor and several other Akalaks Skyard might have died the moment she struck. Luckily he was saved from her enraged strike at his throat with teeth; much like that of a wild animal. Skyard was smitten with her from that day forward, and he had been lucky enough to encounter her once again. She was even clothed in the same fashion that she was before when they had first met, and even more beautiful than before. She was a sight to behold now, and as the bitter-sweet distant memory faded away from him he began to sink back into reality.

Her amber eye coloration astonished him, and what was once a smile became a smirk. He wondered if she would remember the day they met as vividly as he had. If she did then he was most certainly in luck, and he decided that he would mention it now. “I do not ever recall getting your name... However I am positive that you and I are both well aware of how we met the first time.” He concluded his speech in a soft tone as he continued to look her in the eye.

[Kaie]

Her mundane trick paid off. The gentle prod of her water skin against his body caused the stranger to indeed mistakenly turn his head to lock eyes with her. She could feel the water skin slipping from her hand as the man elected to take her up on her offer. What is it about you is something that I know? her mind coaxed itself. The planes of his jaw were defined but his features were soft, lacking the ruggedness she tended to find among sellswords she'd crossed paths with. His body was lanky and lacking any obvious markings from her point of view that would make him unique to her memory.

His answer to her question slowly dulled upon her ears. The crashing of the waves even seemed to fall quieter and quieter upon her ears. The tick she settled her fiery eyes upon his piercing blue and noticed the shape of his lips, the sound of the world around them nearly vanished with the mind of the Myrian woman.

It was as if she were watching some odd screening of her own life upon the surface of his pupils. She could see a young girl before her. She was naive with youth and wild with pride, stance like a feral beast before her foe with a wicked sneer. Her opponent was a boy her age, tall and skinny with nearly white hair and a confidence in his silent stature. They tangled and twisted against each other in a battle for dominance. Their warfare brought them upon the ground with the girl atop him. Kaie could feel the corner of her lip twitch at the image. Yet before the certain victory came, the boy beneath the girl surged up to meet her with the peaceful touch of his lips.

The girl seemed to be paralyzed by the gesture, lost like a ship at sea with its mast fallen. Yet then she found herself caught up in a powerful tide of rage, and sought to punish the pacifist with bared teeth looking for the river of blood hidden beneath the flesh of his neck. Firm arms scooped the belligerent little predator from her opponent before true harm could come to him, and dragged her literally kicking and screaming from the scene as it fogged away.

Kaie snapped back to the present just in time for the not-so-stranger man to speak his mind. Her eyes blinked, and she hoped only that she wasn't losing her mind and that her companion hadn't noticed her tick of mental absence. She cleared her throat and shook her hand back through the top of her hair. "My name is Kaie," the Myrian began, choosing not to include her clan name in this introduction as it seemed to have no weight in the barbarian world. A sheepish, mirthful grin crossed her expression. "I never did catch your name either. Even if I had, I think I was too pissed off at you at the time to have remembered it."

[Skyard Underwood]

Skyards hands trembled a bit due to the fact that his nerves got the better of him. He had never drank before, and this would be his first experience with ale. He wondered whether or not he would enjoy it; perhaps it was sweet and delicious. The Kelvic inhaled softly before he decided to raise the water-skin toward his mouth and pour in a mouthful. The taste was quite the opposite of what he expected; it tasted like a bitter-sweet spoiled fruit. The muscles in his jaw flexed for a moment, and he swallowed rather hard. He had barely managed to choke down the liquid, and it left a rather unpleasant aftertaste in his mouth. His salivary glands overreacted for a moment and saliva filled his mouth and he swallowed yet again. He began to speak as he handed the ale back to the young woman that offered it to him.

She remembered how they met, and finally told him her name. However she did mention that she was incredibly angry with him during their first encounter. He completely understood why she would be upset with him. After all he was nothing more than a stranger that practically humiliated her within mere chimes of meeting her. He stole a kiss from her lips and she did not even know his name; he was incredibly rude. Skyard lacked any and all respect for her in that moment, or so it seemed. Instincts tend to get the better of his kind, and he knew that very well. He had no clue in the world how to show her his compassion other than to be passive-aggressive with his affection. Skyard had never been used to the art of courting a woman. For the most part when it came to situations like this one; he would take the riskier approach and advance. Yet, in the back of his mind he knew that this was not a typical woman. He had dealt with many other women before, and none of them were like Kaie; she was far more threatening.

Skyard enjoyed a woman that he knew could hold her own, and challenges were never often found for him. Therefore he decided to be blunt and take the risk of being rejected immediately. The Kelvic learned quite some time ago that often times risk can outweigh reward. However, in this case he knew that if the risk was higher than the reward was certainly worth the possibility of a loss. “My name is Skyard Underwood.” He was not about to apologize for his actions upon their first encounter, and perhaps he could use that to his advantage. The fact that she grinned at him when she told him about how upset she was at the time made him think.

Maybe this is what she wants, and if I do apologize then I will have shown her a sign of weakness. He thought to himself as he gathered his thoughts for yet another series of words. The perfect moment arrived, or so he felt it did. When the wind picked up yet again and whipped about a bit more violently, and the warmth was replaced with somewhat of a cool breeze. He decided to beckon the woman with a single question.

“I have always been quite the rash individual instincts tend to get the better of me. I apologize but I do have to ask. Would you like to kiss again, and this time without trying to slay me?”

[Kaie]

There was no hiding the amusement on her face. Between the tension in his angled jaw, the mild alarm in his eyes, and the audibly hard swallow, it was plain to see the blue-eyed man was far from a seasoned drinking veteran. He lives in Riverfall for petch's sake and he can't handle his wine? Her grin turned momentarily crooked at the revelation. Once he had his torturous fill she took back the water skin and tipped it back against her own lips. The bitterness of the red drink was comforting, and though the experienced drinker would feel the buzz of its effects only when she had nearly finished his container's contents, each sip felt as though it brought her closer to her center all the same.

"Skyard Underwood," she echoed, tasting the name on her tongue with her thick Myrian accent. It was an odd name. A pretty name, even. Thankfully, he spared her the odd pleasantries of a handshake. The gesture had always felt appropriate in Sunberth, where both parties could use it to ensure their companion held no weapon up their sleeve to bid them ill will while they treated. In peaceful cities like Syrlias and Riverfall, however, the Myrian always found it to be more out of place. What was it about barbarians that made them feel as though they needed to touch every stranger they met?

Staring out at the sea again as Syna moved to conquer the sky, Kaie watched as the last discernible shape of the ship vanished over the horizon. The swig of wine she consumed was of higher volume this time around. The sea breeze sent soft ripples through her free hair, moving the ends of each strand to startle and dance to its own brief tune. The Myrian woman sat up again with water skin in hand, drawing her arms loosely about her knees again as she had grown tired of her backpack's lumpy lounging support. Her head turned back to Skyard while he spoke.

For what it was worth, she was rather amused to find his assuming confidence had not ebbed over the years. Not even her belligerent reaction to his previous advance had seemed to have deterred him. It was as though the man condemned all logic and reason. She arched a brow at him. A shyke wine drinker flirting with a Myrian after she had tried to quite literally end his life years ago? Is Lhex sending me some kind of sign I should already be halfway down this beach running? Kaie narrowed her eyes a bit at the man, sizing him up in tangent with his challenge.

"Aw, now where would be the fun in that?" she joked poorly with a glimmer of mischief flashing across her eyes. The water skin was extended once more toward Skyard as she continued. "What makes you think we should kiss again? Don't you remember how well that worked out for you the last time?" The Myrian stared at him and shook her head suddenly, the question in her head becoming an obsessive perplexity that distracted her and needed to be voiced. "I mean, gods, Skyard, you do know your lack of affinity for wine as a local is tragic."

[Skyard Underwood]

The moment she said his name he wanted to fall flat upon his face. Skyard absolutely loved her accent, and with each and every word she spoke he was driven mad. He could not possibly take his eyes off of her, and she made him want her even more with her subtle attempts to taunt him. His smile died immediately the moment she teased him with the remark about fun. She was practically asking for him to take action rather than to ask her. Skyard felt as if he knew exactly what she wanted, and unless he acted upon his desires he knew he would never receive them. The Kelvic chose not to speak as she shook her head and stared at him. He did not bother to respond to her remarks, and as she extended her arm toward him he acted.

Skyard did not hesitate for even a tick, and turned the entirety of his body toward her whilst the water skin had still been passed. Just as her hand reached him he grasped hold of the outside of the young womans hand. He felt her incredibly soft flesh as his fingertips ran along it, and his opposed hand made its way beneath her chin. Skyard was not a man who used the commonplace skill of “Rational Decision Making”. He lacked the capacity to think on that level, and simply acted before he knew the costs in comparison to the benefits. His head tilted to the right at a slight angle, and he brought forth his visage toward her own.

Skyard did not intend to knock the water skin from her hand, and was incredibly gentle to ensure that he had not. His lips finally collided with that of her own, and the humidity of the air combined with the new found warmth of Synas embrace gave him an odd sensation. His platinum-blonde hair fluttered about in the dim gale as he locked lips with the young woman. The sensation he felt in his body was akin to electricity, and caused him to shudder in a very minute fashion. Skyard was a firm believer in allowing his instincts to take over. Never once had he been led in the wrong direction by doing what was innate to him. However, she was different and he knew from the experience with her in the past that she was just as wild as he was.

The Kelvic could only hope that she would not attempt to murder him again. If she attacked he would have no time to react, and Skyard prepared himself for the worst. He knew that if she so chose to; she could take his life in an instant, and he was prepared to die. Before the sudden disappearance of his master he was taught a single philosophy. If a man has not discovered something worth dying for then he is not fit to live. Skyard discovered a beautiful young woman that he had encountered for the second time. No matter how the remainder of the world viewed her; even if she was a “savage” he did not judge her. Kaie was a double edged sword, one that could harm just as easily as it could protect, and he was willing to die if it meant that she would understand how smitten he was.

[Kaie]

The past, they had said, could never be repeated no matter how much one wished or cursed it to be so. Perhaps that was the case, but when Skyard's hand surpassed the water skin to cup the hand that held it instead, a new truth became evident: the past could be rewritten.

Amber eyes dipped down to spy the gentle fingertips leaving an electric trail along her flesh, and flickered up to find a familiar look in those stunning blue eyes that seemed to now hold her in place. He made his move far more smoothly this time than he had previously. His other hand rested below her chin. His eyes dipped to settle upon her lips before he gracefully moved in to meet his lips with her own.

Just as before, his lips were soft and yet deliberate as they pressed to hers. They were warm, welcoming her to succumb to his desire. Sunlight heated her tanned face, wind blew her hair sidelong over her shoulder to billow softly behind her back. Kaie could see the indignant stare of her younger self in her mind's eye, remember the burning fire of a wounded ego fresh on the heart of her soul as if time had reversed. She capped the water skin, pressed a hand against his chest and wandered until it balled to a fist around an edge of the leather armor she could grip onto. In a tick her body adjusted so that she too was facing him head-on.

Mid-kiss she pulled back from Skyard with a tightness in her eyes...only to shove him roughly in the chest with her free hand to force the presumptuous man down into the beach sand. With the help of her grip on his armor, the Myrian woman had no trouble going down with him. Bracing herself over him from the side, she was the next to initiate the touch of their lips. They moved upon his with a slow hunger. Their bodies rested against one another, casting a single shadow upon the sand beside them. She quickly grew bored, adjusting her position so that her hips were directly atop his. Kaie broke their kiss to lunge in for his throat instead, planting her affections along the side of its length from earlobe to clavicle. This time, when she did occasionally use her teeth upon him there, it was only for their mutual pleasure rather than violent end.