Fallen (Kovac)

[Shayth]

12th Day of Spring, early morning.

There was still a sharp bite in the air, winter snows now passed and spring showing her face. It was cool enough to cause the bared arms of the endal to raise in goosepimples as she stood at the edge of Turiska's perch, breathly deeply in the early light of the rising sun. The wind tugged at her loose scarlet mane and whipped it about her face. Turning away, she moved closer the the huge eagle tucked into her nest. She'd convinced Turiska to take herself and Kovac down to the archery range, where they had first met. At first, Turiska had argued, threatened and whined. But reluctantly, she accepted with the silent thrill of giving the avora something to remember and being able to keep her eyes on the endal. Now, it was just a matter of convincing the sleeping Kovac.

Entering her abode, Shayth sought her way to the thick lustrious bed she had shared with the archer the night before. It was strange, seeing her room so occupied - even the fireplace had seen use. However, with the events that had unfolded during the tense winter, Shayth felt a sense of contentment...even if she still danced around the topic. Love, commitment...terrifying words uttered in a heated moment, now slowly being accepted. Still, they were no giggling newly joineds. Climbing up into the warm furs, the woman smiled as she slipped in to lay atop the slumbering man, skin chilled from the cool breeze.

"Mmm...wake up you lazy-arse drudge." She purred, ensuring her cold form pressed against places that were much preferred warm.

[Kovac]

In a semi-awake awareness, Kovac had noticed Shayth slipping from beneath the furs. He had dozed in and out after that, completely content to linger in the Endal's room, even though he had his own room across her aerie. The Avora enjoyed sleeping in her chamber, for the entire room held her scent. And when she summoned him to her chamber, he knew they would share more than sleep. The arrangement was working well. Yes, the Winter had its difficulties, not the least of which was coming to the understanding of their feelings for one another, and the rights each claimed over the other. 'Arrangement' was actually inaccurate, if Kovac was honest with himself. It was a ...relationship. The archer confessed that he wanted to be with Shayth, that she had his heart, what little bit of one he possessed. If Love was a word Kovac spoke, he would admit that he loved the fiery Endal. They still had epic fights, some drawing blood. His eyes still wandered, which had brought a few deftly placed bruises to remind him to whom he belonged. A few females that had been too forward with him suffered minor injuries as well. In truth, Kovac relished her violent jealousy, what better way to know someone really cares for you. In the end, he gave himself to Shayth willingly, to do with as she pleased. And in the privacy of her aerie, Shayth gave herself to him, where he exacted some discipline of his own. And he was very happy with that. Happy he was as well when Shayth slipped back under the furs with him. Happiness soon turned to shock and irritation as the cold-skinned rider stretched her body over his. His warmth was stolen by her chilled flesh, causing him to cry out between gritted teeth and shivered violently. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her until the temperature of their collective skin equalized. "You petching bitch! You beautiful petching bitch!" Kovac exclaimed finally with a laugh. "I hate it when you do that!" The Avora pressed a kiss to her mouth, giving her a weak swat on her arse. "Lazy Drudge huh? Well, what does my Mistress desire for today? Are we actually going to do some archery training? I think I have taught you enough tricks in here." He chuckled mischievously. "I am holding back a few for special occasions." He rolled over twisting them in a mess of furs and limbs and skin, laughing and jabbing her in her bared ribs.

[Shayth]

Grinning as the avora complained,  the redhead allowed him to gain some warmth between them. Chuckling as he cursed her, Shayth raised an eyebrow.

"You'd think since you hate it so much you'd have learned to get out of bed with me. Your sleep patterns are terrible!" Welcoming his kiss with a receptive mouth, she made a little wriggle of her hips as he slapped her rump, moving to lift herself up on her arms.

"Ha! Need I remind you, there are some tricks avora, you didn't even know existed till I taught you!" Squealing slightly as Kovac rolled them over suddenly, the endal laughed at the tangle and the poke in her ribs. They had healed up long ago, but regardless, they presented a very ticklish spot for the rehead. Meeting his green eyes with her own blue ones, the young rider's smile turned slightly contemplative as her fingers traced the curves of his shoulders and biceps. 

"Holding back? Well as your Mistress, I demand you share these details at a time in the near future." Biting her lip, Shayth paused before continuing.

"Actually, today I do have plans. Archery on the field, alone together." The endal was embarrassed by her aim, still struggling with target. She didn't want to look the fool in front of the inarta. Leaping right into her next idea, Shayth wrapped her arns lightly around his shoulders.

"And Turiska will take us. Both." Her tone implied it would be fun.

[Kovac]

Kovac relaxed next to Shayth amid a mess of furs on the floor, reaching to brush a long, stray crimson lock from her face. He grinned and nodded begrudgedly at her boast, for it was true, she had a few tricks he was all to happy to learn from her. So, with his mind on more imtimate things, the clever Endal lead him towards her goal for the day. The Avora nodded, affirming his agreement that they needed to actually work on her bow skills. Working alone with her in the field sounded great, away from all the bustle and prying eyes of Wind Reach. But it would be a long hike to get there, and would take the whole day to get there and back. The archer should have known by the way she draped her arms around his shoulders, but she struck fast, like a honey-tongued serpent. Turiska! She wanted Turiska to take them..both?! Kovac stared at the Rider as if she had suggested he put crabs down his pants while drinking elk piss. His face darkened with a scowl and he pulled back slightly, as if needing to get a better look at her, to make sure she was still lucid. Shayth had adorned her suggestion with a lilting tone that made the idea sound simply delightful. A wonderful spring day, just the three of them like a happy little family. Turiska was not fond of him. It was most apparent from the very day he and Shayth had met at an archery range. Kovac had to dive to the ground to avoid the eagle's giant talons. He should have been grateful, Turiska could have killed him right then if she wanted to...she probably did, only restraining herself for Shayth's sake. The Avora had the same bewildered look in his face when the rider first suggested he move into her aerie. Only once Kovac was assured the surly Wind Eagle could not enter the human living quarters had he agreed to moving in. Since then he had stayed out of Turiska's way, behaving respectfully when she is present, and doing nothing that would seem threatening to Shayth when she was around. "Shayth...do you know what you are saying? Do you trust her? You know she wanted to kill me!" He protested, shifting to prop himself up on one elbow. He wanted to trust Shayth and believed she would not suggest such an idea if she beleived he was in any real danger. Still...Turiska was very large, and they would be flying very high. Kovac would not admit it, but Shayth could surely see the thought of riding Turiska scared him.

[Shayth]

Shayth had expected Kovac's reaction, and with good reason. Turiska made no secret to her feelings towards the avora, viewing him as a threat to her bond with Shayth. The wind-eagle wished much harm on the man, and indeed when the bird first finally agreed to fly them both, the endal had used their telepathic bond to search for malicious intent. It was...not without thoughts of harm, the redhead had to admit, but there was restraint. Turiska knew of the events at winter. Dek eaten by a wind-eagle...it wasn't a good time to stir the pot again. She knew killing an avora would be..innapropriate.

Still the idea entertained her.

Watching Kovac as he drew away to prop on one elbow, Shayth continued as diplomatically as possible.

"I know, I remember. But its different now. Before you were...just a nameless threat. Now, your my...tutor...and stuff." She looked at the furs, twirling a clump of fur in her fingers.

"Besides, Turiska knows the death of an avora so close to winters unfortunate events would be...unpleasent. And I can hear and feel her every thought. So your safe." Her tone wasn't entirly convincing as she ended the speech. Pausing, the rider looked at him.

"She can't reach you where you need to sit. All you have to do is hold on tight." Briefly, her eyes wandered his firm torso. Lust still managed to thrum her veins everytime she was near the avora, infuriating and entoxicating. Turning aside the slight irriation at the effect, she looked into his green eyes and put on her best smile.

"I'll hold your hand sweetie, just in case." It was said with all the innocence of a fox in a hen house.

[Kovac]

Kovac, his free hand on her hip, listened to Shayth explain her qausi-believable explanation why she thought this was a safe bet. He returned blatant cynicism on his face before bursting out in laughter. He grinned at the rider, running his fingers through her long crimson mane. "You are telling me that, because I spend more time with you now, tutoring you, living with you and other...stuff, she is going to hate me less?"  He chuckled mockingly. "And surely I can count on my safety if things could get... unpleasant... for her if she would kill me!  You seem quite confident when it comes to my life." But the petching Endal held his gaze with her piercing azure eyes.  She poured a lot of guile, affection, and faux innocence into those sapphire pools. The kind of eyes she knew could undermine his will. He held his finger up to her with warrning.  "Oh no you don't..." But it was too late.  Her devious smile had snagged him, the warmth of her body in the cool air of the spring morning proved too irresistible.  He had come to trust Shayth implicitly, an annoying side effect of the passion he possessed for her.  The petching ginger could probably convince him that if he jumped off the Lookout with his arms outstretched he could fly over Mt. Skyinarta like an eagle. Kovac held Shayth's scheming gaze a moment more, then he sighed and a wry grin twisted up the corner of his mouth.  "Alright, but if this is your plan to have that big bird kill me off, think again.  You aren't getting rid of me that easy!" He entwined his fingers in her hair behind her head and pulled her into a kiss.  "Now let me up so I can get dressed, I don't want anything exposed that Turiska could rip off!"

[Shayth]

Shayth's smile turned into a grin as the avora gave in to her. Allowing herself to be pulled into a quick kiss, the rider slipped a sly hand between the furs and giggled.

"Yes, we definitely don't want to loose any of your...best assets." Pulling away before he had the chance to keep her under the furs for the rest of the day, the redhead jumped out of bed and threw his bryda at him. Reaching for her sontav's on the rockcarved shelf by the bed, Shayth pulled them on and watched him as he dressed. It was one of her guilty pleasures, allowing her eyes to dance over his well travelled frame and her mind to remember the journeys. A private smile came to her lips as she turned away to pull on her boots and collect her bow. A new bow, made since her unfortunate accident by the river. Such memories she pushed away. What once was merely a skill gap, the endal now feared. Water, even up to her waist, was enough to cause a rush of anxiety. 

When she was ready, Shayth moved to stand by the bedroom doorframe, staring out at the archway to Turiska's nest. She could hear the bird, or her feel her at least. The eagle kept her thoughts calm and guarded, although a simmering hint of dark delight poked at the edges. The rider planned to hold onto Kovac when they were in the air.

[Kovac]

An involuntary gutteral noise escaped Kovac's throat as the teasing rider reached beneath the furs to lay hold of him. She was right to pull away quickly, for her touch drove all from his mind but the return of her warmth beneath the furs. He chuckled at her jibe, reluctantly dragging hinself from the comfort of her covers and tugging on the bryda she tossed at him. He grinned as he dressed slowly, knowing she watched him. "Pervert." He muttered under his breath. Once clothed, Kovac moved to stand behind Shayth as she stood in the doorway. His arms encircled her waist, and he spoke quietly in her ear. "Is she already plotting my demise? Perhaps a sudden spiral that throws me from the saddle, or maybe she will just carry me in her bloody talons until she is high enough that dropping me on a rock would dash the life out of me. Personally, if I were her, I would find most pleasure from gutting me with that petching hooked beak." He laughed weakly, his morbid comments failing to conceal his apprehension."Don't get me wrong, I am not afraid to die. I am just concerned for you, devastated at the loss of such a fine lover as me, and for Turiska, who would certainly have her talons slapped for killing off a skilled Avora." Kovac gave a short sardonic laugh before kissing her soft shoulder, his hands slipping from her waist, one giving her a smart whack on the arse for good measure. The archer slipped past Shayth to retrieve his bow and quiver from his room. "Lets get going Endal, don't want to keep your darling birdie waiting."

[Shayth]

Shayth smiled and leaned back against the avora as he muttered in her ear, knowing most of his cheek came from a more grounded emotion. It wasn't that Kovac was without reason to fear the bird, but Shayth felt mostly sure Turiska wasn't going to kill him. There was definitely thoughts the bird was trying to hide, but death didn't sound itself just yet.

"Yes, my soul couldn't bare the loss of such a fine specimen of masculinity. And poor Turiska, she would be so frazzled for being reprimanded. Tsk, your so thoughtful to think of us like that." Making a little sound of mock pain as he slapped her rear, Shayth moved to the archway of the aerie, waiting for Kovac before moving outside.

"Just stay close to me okay?" She said softly, before walking towards Turiska.

"We are both ready when you are." The endal called as she moved, watching the wind eagle perched on the edge of the aerie stretching her huge wings. Turiska's golden eyes watched them as they approached and she shook herself, feathers plooming before settling.

"About time. I was just thinking of leaving without you. Well, let's get this over with then shall we. The sooner I can get you grounded, the sooner I can get his filth of my feathers." Shayth had reached the bird, and rested her hands on her neck. That was not a response she'd expected. Calm, direct and no hint of simmering disgust. Curious. Placing a foot on the edge of the eagle's wing, she hoisted herself up into place into the highly decorated saddle, and settled between the bird's shoulder blades. Looking down at Kovac, she extended her hand.

"Come on, your in front." She instructed. Once the archer was on, Shayth would pull him tight against her, thighs locked around the outside of his own and hands wrapped around his torso to hold the thick straps of Turiska's guide reigns. Reaching down, she locked the man's feet into the stirrups of the saddle and lifted a strap from the side which had been looped into the saddle. Bringing it over the man's lap, she buckled it firmly on the other side. It was a learners saddle, made for the days when Endal and Eagle were still learning how to fly.

"Wrap your hands around the leather here, like this, hold on tight. Lean down a little to stop the wind catching you, and whatever you do, don't look down." Wrapping her hand in the leather reign, Shayth signalled to Turiska. The eagle shifted slightly, opened her wings and with a push they were off. Flapping her immense wings, Turiska climbed as they soared out over the rocky scape below. Her powerful muscles pulled them higher and higher, working hard to get them out beyond the suction of the mountain, before she caught a thermal vent. Snapping her wings out, the bird glided in a wide lazy circle, riding the current even higher still, finally settling on a path. Shayth looked around as they rode.

"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" She spoke loudly against the rush of the chill spring wind in Kovac's ear, a grin from ear to ear. This was her element, and Turiska and extension of her own body. Her red hair streamed behind her like some war banner and her blue eyes sparkled.

[Kovac]

Kovac returned with his bow and quiver, and a long knife sheathed at his belt. He looked warily at Shayth as they stood in the entrance to Turiska's aerie. The giant eagle's wingspan was enormous, and their movement sent gusts of air that circled around the humans. His usually sharp tongue was still, following Shayth's intructions and staying close the the tall redhead. The Avora caught a glimpse of the Wind Eagle's golden eyes glaring at him, and the man turned his gaze away respectfully. Kovac watched Shayth mount the raptor and settle into her saddle. He paused only a moment when she called him up, taking one more glance at the large feathered head. It was if he was waiting for Turiska to suddenly spin around and clamp her hooked beak around his torso. But the bird didn't so much as flinch, and Kovac stepped onto her wing and up into the saddle, placing his gear in the appropriate harness. He had ridden eagles before, mostly with Amon, and a few others when necessary. But never like this. Kovac felt secure with Shayth wrapped around him and the straps that held him in place. Grasping the leather where the Endal indicated, the archer held his breath and waited for the great eagle to lift off the stone cliff. Kovac's heart lept to his throat, as it always did when he took off with an eagle. He was terrified, but also amazed. It was always a pronounced thrill to fly, to see the ground shrink below you, the cold wind tugging at you. This flight held elements that made it especially exciting and nerve rattling. He finally was riding with Shayth, and they were riding the ill-tempered Turiska. He could almost feel the connection between bird and woman. Her subtle movements were mimicked so closely by Turiska that he wasn't sure who was giving the commands. It impressed him, as well as brought a pang of jealousy for their closeness. Kovac pushed a bit into Shayth as he leaned forward as she had told him. Hearing her comment over the roar of the wind in his ears, Kovac turned his head in an attempt to speak behind him. "No, it wasn't that bad! We can always go back to scrape my stomach of the rocks later!" He yelled with a smirking grin. To be honest, he was thoroughly enjoying the moment, soaring over Sky Inarta with Shayth. Few were those who had the privilege to be free of the mountain, even during the spring and summer months. To break free of the stone warrens and rocky cone and to see the vast expanse of peaks and wilderness that stretched out from the Inarta's home was so breathtaking even the hard-to-impress Avora was rendered speechless.