[The Trough] Need to think (0pen)

by **Bolden Denusk** on July 18th, 2011, 4:20 am

Nightwind snorted in irritation at her useless shifting and Bolden smirked, answering the stallion.

"Listen up, your shifting is throwing off his courtesy gait, making him wonder if you need it. Sit still and behave when you're on a Strider that's not your own. Seriously Khiara stop messing about with your tantrum, you'll twist the Yvas. I've caught you out and that's that."

He held her silly wriggling self more firmly, thanking the gods that a tent was within sight about three clicks away.

"No Denusk will leave an injured female unattended in the desert with no ride--especially at night and certainly not when she's family. That is unless it's your dignity that's more injured?" Bold's voice went quiet and cold with a hint of his anger showing through.

A rarely seen glimpse of temper flared up in Bolden and she was lucky not to see his expression just then.

Nightwind glided into an extended walk, making it lively and eating up the ground beneath them in huge strides.

The young Denusk kept his voice near her ear so she could hear him most easily. This was no small feat considering their differences in height. He pressed his arm forward on the Yvas to help guide Nightwind past some shrubs, with the unintentional side effect of pressing the slim woman still closer to him.

"We have about three clicks to the nearest tent and I'll set you down there if you're still angry. Can you behave as a good passenger until then or will you continue as the over dramatic indignant female?"

by **Khiara** on July 18th, 2011, 5:24 am

Khiara stopped her shifting as she felt his grip around her tighten, unmistakable tone of irritation and anger in his voice. The vantha felt a small measure of concern at the situation, aware that he was a lot stronger than her. Dignity?! He had practically accused her of...well nothing really. Deflated, she sat still as he leaned into her, pressed firmly against the young Denusk as they rode.

"Sorry." She said quietly, embarassed by her outburst. What else could she say? As the strider extended his walk, Khiara couldn't help but relax and enjoy the ride. The wind blew softly against them and the rhythmic movement of Nightwind's muscles as he moved was a familiar comfort. The silence wasn't heavy, but more of a peaceful testiment to the sleepy grassland. Above them, the sky was void of stars, clouds stirring in the prequel to what would be a fresh summer storm. Closing her eyes, the woman could smell the rain in the air. It was still a while away, but definitly a storm by morning.

Opening her eyes, Khiara hoped the youth's temper had cooled. Aside from his snark and youthful cheek, Bolden was a true Denusk. Fiery and passionate about his family and the horses - even if one of the two had caused him pain.

by **Bolden Denusk** on July 18th, 2011, 5:25 pm

With the calming silence of the night, his anger vanished and Bolden grinned smugly.

"I will accept your apology if you tell me where your tent is..."

Now that his temper was gone, he wished it back. Having the pretty little Vantha directly in front of him presented a big new problem. One that really couldn't be hidden in such close quarters.

The Strider's rocking motion was really not helping his developing 'situation' and the scent of her hair ensnared his senses. He resisted the urge to clear his throat and tried to think of something else. Jai alai tournaments? Still no good. He clenched his teeth now. The peaceful night made him too damn comfortable so his body got to think of other, more basic and pressing ideas. More dangerous ones he shouldn't even be thinking....

http://www.mizahar.com/forums/post92099.html#p92099

by **Khiara** on July 18th, 2011, 9:32 pm

Silence broken, Khiara nodded. It was getting late, and by now Vanator surely would be around. Maybe he would take her out later for a proper ride... maybe he could ride Vsenri. As they moved, the vantha shifted slightly, Bolden's belt buckle pressing against her back. With each casual gait, the brunette bumped against it uncomfortably, and it seemed...

A sudden blush rose to the young woman's cheeks, and her eyes widened slightly. Of course, with the rocking sensation and the warmth of a body pressed up...Khiara resisted the urge to sit up straighter, painfully aware now of each rhythmic step of the striders hooves.

"It's the uh...the blue one. See, with the Saphirre Pennants?" She said, pointing out the tent in the distance, before lowering her hand back to the yvas. Goddess, this was awkward. Khiara tried to ignore the pressure behind her, and the scent of dust and sunlight that radiated from drykas skin.

by **Bolden Denusk** on July 18th, 2011, 10:13 pm

A thin sheen of sweat quickly slicked his lean body, every inch of it. Bolden's expression turned to stone. Nightwind whickered so quietly it sounded like a chuckle; that was no accident. His Strider was laughing at him!

"Knock it off Nightwind." He muttered irritably. He felt Khiara's body go very still and it confirmed what they both knew only too well.

The frustrated young Denusk kneed the snickering Strider to get his big butt over to the tent.

In a strained voice he said, "Look! We're here!"

Bold dismounted with incredible agility, his feet making almost no sound on the sand. He walked by the Strider's shoulder, close enough to make sure the Vantha was safe, but not near enough to show his...situation.

by **Khiara** on July 18th, 2011, 10:42 pm

Thankfully, the blue tent of the Saphirre Pavillion came up quickly, much to both riders relief it seemed. As they moved, Khiara heard Bolden mutter to his horse, who nickered softly. One could almost believe it sounded like a laugh.

As they closed in on the pavillion the young man lept off the horse, walking where he could discretely hide his..problem. The vantha relaxed a little, unsure whether she should say anything. As Nightwind slowed to a stop, the young woman slipped her leg over his broad back so she was ready to get down. Her ankle twinged, and with a small clearing off her throat, the vantha spoke softly.

"Well, thankyou for the...for the mead. And the company. It has been..an interesting night." Her violet eyes avoided looking at him, measuring the distance between her feet and the ground. If she moved slowly, it wouldn't put such a jarring pressure on her ankle when she got down.

by **Bolden Denusk** on July 18th, 2011, 11:12 pm

Bolden looked at her ankle that was almost at eye level astride, and saw it noticeably swollen. He swore softly and swallowed back his dignity.

"You can't walk on that petching ankle." he sighed and did what had to be done. Bold easily lifted her feather light figure into his arms. He avoided looking directly at her, walking to the tent she indicated.

"Yea. Interesting night's company, good mead, your hurt ankle, and a smart arse Strider..." the young man shot a quick glare at Nightwind, just before ducking inside Khiara's tent.

He carefully set her down on the largest of the pillows and said quickly,

"I'll be right back. I need to give Nightwind some water and check his Yvas."

Before she could say anything, he sprinted out of the tent like the desert wind.

by **Khiara** on July 19th, 2011, 3:05 am

Laying on the pillows, Khiara stared after the Denusk youth, violet eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. From horse, to his arms, to the tent, all the vantha could do was avoid further embarassment. It was clear Bolden was...peturbed by the situation...and the young brunette found herself thankful for the break, allowing herself to gain some composure.

The whole night had been one big whirlwind, and for a moment Khiara couldn't help but chuckle. What a welcome home. Awkwardness with one's older brothers wife.

"Petching drykas'.." She said with a shake of her head, reaching up to loosen the braids and free her raven colored hair, gold and violet highlights shimmering in the light if the lanterns. Her cheeks were still flushed, her mind trying to push the ride into the back where it needed to stay. Smoothing out the small creases in her grey riding dress, Khiara waited, unsure whether he was actually returning or not.

by **Bolden Denusk** on July 19th, 2011, 4:23 am

Most of the tension was gone when he re entered the tent. Bolden still had a half smile on his face.

"My Strider was laughing at me! He had the gall to ask why I didn't mount you and steal you from your herd stallion!! I actually had to give him a picture of Van beating me senseless for Nightwind to understand. Now he thinks he and I are a bachelor herd! Oh and he'd really like to visit your Strider mare!"

The Denusk laughed and the dim tent lighting darkened his eyes to the color of honey. His laughter faded when he saw her taking down her silky curtain of hair. The Vantha looked so fragile with her sunset eyes and tiny frame that she didn't seem real.

"I.uh...well."

This part of domesticity was usually reserved for the husbands and he hadn't meant to walk in on it. Sitting in a married woman's tent alone, especially at night could only lead to one thing--a great night followed by quick death when Van walked in!

'Van's woman, wife. This is where he comes raging into the tent demanding that I fight him over the dishonor. I shouldn't be here. Seriously, I don't have a death wish, but she's so lovely right now.'

The young man cleared his throat nervously, trying to decide how to end the evening gracefully.

"We both know I shouldn't be in here with you alone, but you still need care. Do you have a servant nearby or a healer for your ankle maybe?"

Bolden stood near the tent flap entrance, making sure to keep a respectful distance to even the most discerning eye.

by **Khiara** on July 19th, 2011, 10:04 am

Glancing up as Bolden returned, Khiara's gaze swirled as his mouth seemed to run away with him. The horse had said that? It wasn't a comment she felt appropriate to acknowledge, unsure of what she should say. Almost painfully her cheeks burned in awkward embarassment, eyes averting to hide the bright violet that flowed across them. It wasn't uncommon for the young drykas men to make such cheeky comments, but for vanthan men, it was. The women were wooed and honored, the men proud and poetic.

The weight of the air in the pavillion felt like a tangible, solid forn as it hung between them. Bolden was the first to break the silence, his voice a lot more conserved then before. Lifting her eyes, Khiara couldn't help but feel a stab of annoyance. Did she really come across as unfaithful? Even to this near stranger?

"If I can't be trusted alone in the company of my brother-in-law, then how can I be trusted to raise an heir to the Ankal?" She said in a soft voice, her ankle the faint annoyance she could do without. Goddess knew there was no way she was going to be confined again. Khiara crossed her arms.

"Bolden, you are a Denusk. Don't you think your brother would rather see you alive after six years than claim adultury?" Her eyes were calm, the sweeping colors settled to a soft dusky lavender. As much as the night had exposed some...awkward moments..Khiara knew what it was like to be away from home. And she wanted to be sure she didn't stand in the way of Bolden coming back to his.