[Aquillar Hot Springs] True forms amidst relaxation (Kalila)

[Stigandr]

Stigandr felt her body against his, felt her lungs fill with air then the soft and gentle sigh as the air escaped between her lips. This was a new feeling, this closeness and intimacy. He was not sure where it had come from, or why he was acting on these feelings and urges. Everything was a blur in his memory, how things had happened and played out. He could feel his body starting to warm up even more to hers, going to the next moment when she was pushing him away suddenly, not harshly but gentle. He was confused as his feet moved with body, his eyes meeting hers. "I have..never done anything..l.like that before, with a m..mate," she spoke softly, her face still red from their moments close to one another. He stayed silent as she moved to grab her comb, starting to run it through her hair. He was not sure if he had upset her, or if his actions had been good and she was just not ready. "I did not mean...I am sorry. I should not have moved so much on you. I am sorry." He stepped back and waited for her anger, for the inevitable reaction her wanting him gone for pushing too much. "I really am attracted to you and desire you." His hands moved idly through the water, coming to a rest at his side. Not sure what to do or how to go about things, he sat there for a moment in silence as he waited for her reply before he made a move. "Do you want to go and talk? Maybe eat if you want to. I could also just leave" Standing up, he began to move towards the edge of the spring and stepped out, letting the water run off his body for a minute before he started to put on his pants and sandals, getting ready to leave regardless of her answer. Things were awkward for him now. Any previous advance on a female had been beaten back and forbidden, making the whole process now awkward and slow-moving for him to make advancements.

[Sahashkalila]

She was still nervous, her heart hammering in her chest from the closeness that their two bodies had been in as she brushed the comb through her hair with a shaking hand. Her breathing had calmed down somewhat, and she listened as he spoke, his voice rolling over her like the steam surrounding her. She did not mean to hurt his feelings, because she didn't quite understand her own, only what her body seemed to be telling her and that was a language all on its own.

"No, pleasse do not apologize,"she said, turning around to watch as he began to climb out of the spring, adverting her eyes politely from his form as he began to get dressed. "You did not do anything wrong, I jusst....I have never...I wasss nervouss iss all,"she finished lamely, frowning to herself as she made herself sound utterly ridiculous. She placed her comb on the side of the springs along with her other belongings and stood up, looking away from him and moving to get out of the springs. The situation had turned awkward, and Kalila felt like a snake trying to swim, her cheeks flushing once again as she grabbed a towel and began to dry herself off. "I do not wissh for you to leave."

She turned and looked at him now, wrapping the towel around her small frame and letting herself dry completely before she put on her clothes, she did not like staying wet. Her body preferred warm, dry environments, but she did not mind the springs much. "Jusst sstay and talk to me for awhile,"she said softly, her golden eyes fixed on his as she stood there.

[Stigandr]

Still trying to sort out how to react to her pushing him away, Stigandr stood with his eyes averted from her as she stayed in the spring longer than him and then moved to get out and dressed. She spoke to him, telling him that he had not done anything wrong, but if that was so, why had he been rejected? For Stigandr, a Kelvic and more importantly emphasizing he was more animal than human, if he was rejected it meant something wrong had been done or he was just not desired. Nervousness was not something he understood, not for this. He had been scared before, hesitant to do something but that was out of fear of higher authority around him and punishment, and scared to act for what might happen that could harm him, but being shy and nervous in a moment like this was beyond his grasp as it was unnatural for him to feel. After a long enough time after he heard her get out of the spring, he looked up to see her wrapped in a towel and dry, her eyes looking into his as she spoke, "Jusst sstay and talk to me for awhile," she said. She still wanted him to stay, but it did not immediately make him feel better. It just raised new questions into his head as to what things meant and more questions on how things worked with humans and other beings of similar nature, where emotions and words became a cloud of confusion for the Kelvic. "Okay. I will stay with you. Stigandr moved to sit back down near the edge of the spring, his legs folded and crossed in front of him. He waited for a moment for Sahashkalila to sit as well before speaking again, "What would you like to talk about? I would like to know more about you, or talk about me if you want." The tone of his voice revealed the still remaining confusion of events and the swirl of emotions he felt. "Why did you join the Crimson Edge?" He asked suddenly, the tough one he had though previous to this day, wondering how someone as gentle as her found there way into a ragtag band of thugs, thieves, murderers and mercenaries.

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila was relieved that he he had decided to stay, and she let out a breath that she hadn't realized that she was holding, watching as he sat down near the edge of the spring. Something caught her attention though as his body turned, and her eyes widened in surprise. A plethora of poorly healed scars coated his back, some jagged and some smooth. They spoke volumes about his behavior, and she assumed that his sometime skittish reactions were because of what may have happened to him. Her curiosity would have to wait though, and she sat down close to him, letting her feet dangle in the warm water.

She turned to look at him when he said he wanted to know more about her, his next question catching her off guard. She remained silent for a few moments, her hand reaching up to touch the jade necklace that glittered at her throat as she thought about her answer. "I....I had no where elsse to go,"she said finally, keeping her gaze on her toes in the water. "I left Ahnatep with a trade caravan, and they left me here sshortly after the sstorm. I have been tryin to find my way ever ssince." She paused for a few moments, shifting on the stone she sat on and twirled her her feet in the water. "Thiss group sseemed to need my aid...and provided a family that I do not have,"she said softly, her hand tightening on the necklace around her throat as she thought of the family that she had lost, her expression growing sad.

"I do not alwayss like what iss done in thiss group, but thiss sseemss to be my path in life for now, and I will look after my family,"she said, turning to look back at him, a small smile on her face. Her heart still seemed to race when she looked at him and she blushed once again, her mind returning to what had happened only moments before....and to the scars she had seen. She did not want to upset him, and his tone when he ha asked her questions implied that he was uncomfortable, making her wonder if her next questions were even a good idea. But her curiosity was getting the better of her. She scooted a bit closer to him, pulling her feet out of the water so she could get close. She then reached out slowly and placed her hand back on his chest, looking up at him shyly. "You have been hurt,"she said softly, her hand traveling along the expanse of his smooth skin to his shoulder, the muscles rippling underneath her touch. "May I ssee?" She hoped that he understood what she meant, and hoped that he wouldn't be offended from her invasion of his space, her eyes watching him hesitantly.

[Stigandr]

Stigandr heard her exhale suddenly as he said he would stay, meaning she was waiting for his reply and was...relieved...he was staying. He came to sit near him, letting her feet play in the water. She explained what had happened to her leaving Ahnatep and getting dumped here, finding the solace that comes with a family, whether they are blood or not. She seemed to have fallen into the group and filled a gap that was needed, and one that was filled for her in the form of protection, and this slowly grew into a more defined part, filling in smaller areas of companionship and the need to be needed and accepted. It was similar to Stigandr and how he was drawn into this group through a slow and loose process. His love for her grew slowly, even if he had not realized it was happening, his feet continuing down a path that they had started not too long ago. Sometimes the journeys one was unaware of were the best. His eyes were on the water and the dancing ripples as he looked up, his eyes glancing up and catching the fading redness in her cheek from her blushing, her gentle and sweet smile making him smile slightly in return. She moved closer to him suddenly, hit heart skipping a beat, then skipping two more as she placed her soft hand on his chest, letting it glider over his skin to his shoulder. Her next words, talking about how he had been hurt then asking to see caught him off guard. His body tensed a moment and he realized he has exposed his back to her, exposing his scars and his past. His eyes danced as he looked past Sahashkalila to a time where she was not present, to the life of training and beating, of punishments and rewards that brought more responsibilities, to a time when he was never free to change and run. His breathing became a bit quicker for a moment, his instincts to run and pull away taking over until he gained control. His eyes settled down on hers, his breathing becoming shallow and steady. He placed his hands on her sides gently to give him a semblance of reality and where he was, reminding himself that those days were over and he was with someone who seemed to care for him. "Yes. Yes you may." His voice was a bit shaky, but he stood and removed his clothing before slipping slowly back into the spring, turning his back towards her, feeling the phantom pains erupte across his back. His breathing picked up and slowed down sporadically as he began to push and fight through this barrier of trust.

[Sahashkalila]

He seemed to be fighting some kind of inner battle with himself, his breathing hitching every now and then as she sat there with him. He did not truly seem to be here, his mind seemed far away as he looked past her, and she wondered what was going through his mind. She began to feel like it wasn't a good idea, maybe she had pushed past a boundary she shouldn't have as all of his skittish instincts seemed to return in this one moment. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable, she wanted to.....ease the pain that he seemed to be in. Desperately. And she had no idea why. He made an impression on her the day that they had met in the wilds, and it seemed that she hadn't been able to forget it, nor did she want to. She seemed to keep traveling into unfamiliar territory with him, feeling a sense of peace that she was not used to but welcomed, and he seemed to accept her for what she was and that.....that lifted a great burden off of her.

He suddenly turned to look at her, his eyes meeting hers, and her heart skipped a beat as she felt his hands along her sides, his breathing returning to a steady rhythm. They seemed to be frozen like that for a few moments, her golden eyes staring into his chocolate ones before he spoke, his voice slightly unsteady. He was agreeing to let her see, a major step forward for him it seemed. His hands left her sides as he slid back into the water and turned his back to her, letting her see the ravaged skin. She inhaled sharply at what she saw, sadness filling her as her eyes trailed across the jagged lines that crisscrossed his back. "Ssstigandr....what hasss been done to you,"she said softly, undoing the towel and sliding back into the springs with him, her hands touching his back lightly.

"I cannot heal the hurt that you have been given,"she said softly, her fingers tracing a particularly jagged line along his lower back. "But maybe I can heal your ssspirit jusst for a little while." Her hands then dropped from his back and into the water, giving him back his personal space. "I jusst want to easse your burden."

[Stigandr]

He heard the inhale and catch of her breath, he eyes taking in the scene on his back. Scars crisscrossed from should to hip, all of varying lengths and widths, though most were what you expect from a whip hit meant to cause superficial damage and pain over a deep lash. There were, however, several that had come from a crueler hand. There was one on his left deltoid that stretched from the edge of his shoulder towards his spine. Two others overlapped at a shallow angle to the right of his spine just above elbow level. The last of the major scars was the one on his lower back, the one he knew Sahashkalila was touching because of the pressure of it being touched, the scar having no nerves with which to feel pain or pleasure. His body was stiff as she spoke, her words sweet and heartfelt, warm and tempting. To share his life with someone else, to ease the pain he carried. And maybe find a bondmate. The deepest desire of any Kelvic, to find someone to bond to and share their life with, serving with a willing heart and longing to please. Could he attain that? Shaking his head, the Kelvic turned around to face his companion, his eyes meeting hers. He was silent as the thoughts replayed themselves, the battle of opening up versus staying closed and untrusting waging fiercer than it ever had. Little did he realize how much this battle would wage in his head in the months to come. For now, he pushed the thoughts aside as he brought his left hand up, his eyes looking at the black half-sun it, the mark of a Ravokian slave. ”This is the mark of a Ravok slave, given to all slaves in Ravok so their place in society is known to everyone. I was sold into slavery.” His voice quavered for a moment, anger so evident it was as if one could see it roiling in his eyes. His feet shifted under the water as he moved with agitation until he met her eyes again, seeing her standing before him once more instead of gazing through her. ”You have already eased part of my spirit, Sahashkalila.” They were simple words with no explanation, but true none-the-less. Remember her reaction to forward advance, Stigandr touched her hand and held it, finding some comfort in this moment from his past and who he was, or who he had been.

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila looked up at him as he turned around, a range of emotions that seemed to cross his face. She looked at the hand that he held up to show her, her eyes riveted to the mark in the center. So much pain, and so much sadness in such a short time, his behavior suddenly making sense to her. He had lived the life of a slave, a horribly life from what it seemed, and her heart went out to him. She could see all of the built up anger inside of him when he looked back at her, and she looked down at the hand holding hers before back up at him.

She let go of his hand and turned it over gently, her hands tracing the mark lightly. "You have sseen many thingss in your life Sstigandr, very little of it good,"she said softly, her fingers still tracing the mark on his hand. "But thisss doess not make you who you are. Who you are can only be found in here." As she spoke she placed her hand over his heart, emphasizing what she meant. "And that can never be changed by a mark on your hand,"she said softly, placing her hand over his marked one.

"To me, you are my friend, and that iss who you will alwayss be,"she said with a gentle smile up at him, squeezing his hand lightly. Her heart seemed to be traveling down a path that she had not expected....and she didn't want to leave that path.

[Stigandr]

Stigandr watched her as she held his hand, turning it over to trace the black pattern there, the touch of her finger moving smoothly, slowly over his skin. He could feel the pressure change slightly as she moved over the raised area of the mark and back off onto his unmarked skin. Her words, spoken softly, were hard for him to comprehend. He knew what he had been, where he had come from, but that was not who he was? He had been a slave, and it had affected him. He pondered her words silently, trying to work through the meaning she meant, the way humans spoke sometimes confusing to him. After a a few minutes in silence, he looked up at her and smiled, thinking he understood what she meant, but still thinking it over slowly. "You are my friend as well. The first one I have had." He smiled at her, then looked around the spring, wondering how much time had passed. "We should probably leave for our homes. We have been here for a long time." With her agreement, he moved out of the spring and dressed, letting his back stay turned to her so she could dry and dress as well. He walked with her to the exit, "I am glad I saw you here, Sahashkalila. I hope to see you again soon. With that, he turned and departed towards the direction of the city exit, seeking peace in the empty hills.

[Archelon]

Thread Award "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course, unless that horse, of course, of course's name is Mr. Stigandr" And the Results!!!!: Stigandr : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Rhetoric 3 Persuasion 2 Swimming 1 The first step is to get into the water, and float Seduction 1 Lores: The anatomy of Sahashkalila's human form Parting ways with a friend Sahashkalila : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Rhetoric 2 Persuasion 1 Swimming 1 The first step is to get into the water, and float Interrogation 1 Seduction 1 Lores: The anatomy of Stigandr's human form Parting ways with a friend Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Interesting thread Any questions,comments,or concerns please feel free to send me a nice pm.