Metaphysical Mojo

[Arkyn Rane]

So she was royalty, in so many words. I puffed up a little at that, something like pride working it's way into the set of my shoulders. I had managed to snag a frakkin' princess as a traveling companion! That sucked about her dad, though. With a name like the Usurper, I couldn't imagine that he was a jerk of galactic proportions. He couldn't have been all bad though, right? He did contribute to the making of Aerin, and she was pretty nice. A woman of conviction, if she'd fought a war to sit the rightful heir on the throne.

"You don't bore me," I confessed. "I don't think you ever could." I could listen to her talk about sewage drains, and so long as she kept looking at me with those pretty eyes of hers, I'd be interested. "But, you're right, I am pretty tired." I climbed to my feet as she sat a thick log on the fire. I tried not to stare at the way her body moved, but I couldn't help it. She couldn't sense my thoughts, could she?

Probably can, my mind supplied. If not the exact thoughts, then the gist of them. Frikking fantastic. Flirting was one thing, but I hoped she didn't think I was a perv... But it's not everyday that you meet a amazonian warrior princess with a face like a holomodel, ya' know? Rarer still that they were genuinely nice. Even rarer that they'd been trained in the Force.

It occurred to me, then, to check to see if I was dreaming. I pinched myself and waited.

She was still there. Nope. Not dreaming.

Well, you know what they say -- in for a penny, in for a pound. I let my feelings flow free. I kept a tighter noose on my thoughts though. "Thanks again for your help. And the food. And a place to sleep." I smiled, and stifled another yawn with my fist. "Good night, Aerin." I summoned my considerable courage -- born of a complete lack of self preservation skills -- and stepped in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. I hoped she didn't slap me. Or punch me. I could tell she liked me at least a little bit, but still... the possibility existed.

"See you in the morning!"

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She brushed her hands against each other, ridding them of any dirt from the log. Aerin could not 'read' his exact thoughts but rather got a 'sense' of them. She could not help but smile slightly, because what she felt coming from him was nice. The situation became even nicer as Kale placed a quick kiss on her cheek, she could not help but flush in the cheeks after it. And it had become apparent that she was correct, his lips are soft and warm to the touch.

"Until the morrow", she said in return and turned to watch him walk to his room. Unfortunately for Kale his room is not warm, the temperature of which would be akin to the outside, so using alter environment, Aerin began to agitate the air molecules in his room sending them in a state of friction to heat, she did the same for her own room while about it.

After he had left, Aerin went into her bedroom and changed into her night clothing and climbed into bed. She lay there for a moment thinking over the days events, she was not to pleased with the intrusion of the northerners, she had a feeling they had not seen the last of them, but as to their purpose for the visitation to Clan Sabina that remained unclear. She suspected she was still being targeted, loyal followers to her father, the old king, no doubt.

But try as she might, she could not stop her mind wandering to the 'guy next door'. She hoped Kale was comfortable, but as she closed her eyes to sleep his face was clear in her view and she could still feel the touch of his lips on her cheek. For the love of the gods Aerin go to sleep. she chastised herself.

--------------------------------


The morning come with the ringing of the hammer and anvil, the forge and the smith awake before the birds and with fires stoked and bellows blowing the smith began to ply his trade.

Ca-clink, clink .. clink echoed in the distance all around Rildonmark. Aerin stirred in her slumber and stretched her arms above her head before slowly opening her eyes, she hated getting out of bed, it is cold but threw back the covers regardless, there was much to do this morning to prepare. After bathing and dressing in her brown leathers, Aerin went to see if Kale was awake. No sign of him in the main room so she went to the door and knocked.

"Kale?, it is time to rise", she said softly and waited for a response.


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

That night, I dreamed of a girl kissed by fire.

Morning dawned with a mess of noise. It was a steady clanking sound that was almost rhythmic. Arnine probably, tinkering on something or another. He so enjoyed ruining my sleep.

Eyes half closed, vision blurred with sleep, I rolled out of bed. It was taller than it should've been. And the floor beneath my feet felt oddly like wood. There was a knock at the door. My confusion level heightened. Arnine didn't knock. Neither did Rex, not that he ever left the cockpit.

Blearily, rubbing the sleep from both my eyes, I walked over to the door, stubbing my toe on the way over. Had Arnine rearranged my quarters while I was asleep? I was gonna junk that little turd.

The door... didn't open when I stepped up to it. What in Force's name was going on? Was I still dreaming? It had been such a nice dream too...

I scratched my chest with one hand, following the line of a scar that curled from just below my collarbone to my stomach, and reached down to turn the knob. Wait, knob? There were no knobs on my sh --

It all came to me just as I pulled the door open. Aerin, the Mead Hall, the northerners, last night...

"Aerin. Oh, err, hehe..." I rubbed the back of my head, expression sheepish. "I thought I'd dreamed you up. Is it morning alrea --" I glanced down. Not only was I shirtless, which wasn't much of a biggie, but I was wearing boxers with little baby dewbacks on them. And it was morning. As in morning you-know-what. My whole body turned red. I sincerely hoped Arnine never found out about this. He'd never let me hear the end of it.

I shut the door in her face. "Sorry! That was, I was, err -- I'll be out in a sec. Just -- hold on." Jeeze Louise. I was Kale Bloody Arkin! I'd never been flustered in my life! I'd stared death in the face and laughed! Flew across the pull of a black hole! Brought down a Hutt crime boss! I wasn't some blushing maid! I'd been with a woman before. I wasn't a specieist either. And yet here I was, tongue tied and blushing.

I washed and dressed quickly. By the time I exited the room, I was my cool, calm, collected self. "Sorry about that. I was... delirious. It happens, in the mornings. I think it's the dreams..." They were always pretty intense.


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Her face contorted trying to stifle her laughter and a beaming smile as she stared at the closed door. Aerin did not take offense a him slamming the door in her face, she would have done the same, had it been her. However she backed up and waited, perching on the arm of the sofa leg crossed over the other and her hands holding her in place on the plush arm rest. She could not stop her shoulders from shaking however, as she laughed. But the sight of him practically naked burned in her mind, and those boxers! his lightly tanned chest and torso fit and firm and he looked even more handsome when sleepy, but his brown eyes they had softened and she wondered what was behind them in his mind and soul. Nasty scar that, she thought. But that was not the only thing that had caught her attention. As Kale came back into the main room, ready to go, her face softened but held her smile.

"Well it is good you are up, it would be a shame to have missed such a glorious morning". she could not help herself, but kept a straight face. But she is kind and to save him any further embarrassment she jumped down and gathered her bow and quiver and her sword. "Would you mind bring that pile of furs? we will need them for bedding". In the corner on a low bench Kale would find a large pile of black Álk furs, heavy and thick. Aerin pulled for a cupboard a smaller and thick fur and went for the front door.

As she stepped out, the cold morning air hit her face immediately making her cheeks redden and her breath issue in frost. Pulling on her coat she quickly fastened it around her waist with a leather belt. "This way", she indicated toward the side of her home. The back of the house faces the forest, tall pines reached for the skies laden with night's fallen snow, the air is crisp and fresh as if cleansed and she took in a deep breath to enjoy the vitality of it. Place her two pinkie fingers to her mouth Aerin let out a loud piercing whistle which echoed through the forest. Only a few moment pasted and she heard the pounding hooves of her horses.

To her surprise, the small herd was led by BlackWing, her old war horse, the biggest smile broke on her face as he charged toward her. "Hello my old friend", she greeted him with a hug around his strong neck. BlackWing tossed his head high and let out a loud whinnie while pouring his hoof into the ground. The other two horses came up behind him but kept their distance, BlackWing clearly the alpha not only with them but with the entire Sabina herd. He did not stay long, Aerin had freed him after the war, and vowed never to ride him again. She watched him as he ran back to the shroud of the trees.

"Lady Firebrand?", came a timid young voice. Aerin turned to see the young boy that works in the sable of the mead hall. "Red Beard prepared the pack horse, he has pack the food rations and camping items". "Thank you Hal", Aerin smiled. The young boy bowed before securing the reigns of the pack horse to the pole, be bowed once more to her and than to Kale before leaving them.

As Aerin went about saddling the horses, she looked to Kale, "You can put those furs on the back of the pack horse". She stopped to hand him the smaller fur, "And this one place on your saddle, it will soften the ride for you. We will be a long day in the saddle". Aerin's rump used to the saddle, would not need one. After securing her weapons to the white horse, she mounted up. "You ready to go?", she looked down into his cold kissed face.




[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Teasing, I could handle. I'd have been more embarrassed if she had said nothing. "It was quite glorious, wasn't it?"

She gathered her things and asked me to grab a stack of thick, black furs that were sitting on a bench in the corner. I nodded my acquiescence, but put my own furs on before grabbing the bundle. They were heavy, but not outrageously so. I hefted them up on my shoulder and followed her out the door.

Crisp air hit my nose, and when I breathed deep, I felt icy tendrils reaching down my chest. The village hadn't changes since last night. Everything was white, and snow topped every house and tree like a hundred white crowns. Aerin led me to the side of the house. She whistled, and a trio of horses broke out of the tree line, led by a magnificent black steed. Aerin wrapped her arms around his neck in a warm hug.

A twinge of jealousy lanced through me, but I stamped it out quick. No way was I gonna let myself be jealous of a horse.

The black horse galloped off into the trees, but the other two remained. I saw where this was going. I'd never ridden a horse before, but they couldn't be all that different from riding eopies or dewbacks. That's what I hoped, anyway.

A kid came with provisions from Redbeard. He was an alright bloke, I decided, even though I'm pretty sure he still didn't quite approve of me. The kid bowed to Aerin, then me, and scurried off. I watched him leave, somewhat flabbergasted. Why had he bowed to me too?

Aerin directed me to put the furs on the pack horse while she saddled them, and gave me a small fur to serve as a cushion. "Thanks," I said sincerely, after I'd strapped the furs in. Eopies didn't have nearly as much space as horses, for all that they were longer in the legs.

"You ready to go?" she asked from atop her horse.

I climbed stop the other one, settling into the fur-cushioned saddle. "I suppose I am, oh sweet Lady of mine." I smiled at her. "Hopefully this date is as enjoyable as the first." I'd meant to be teasing, but there was a softness to my voice that I hadn't anticipated. Last night had been enjoyable. I waggled my brows. "You know what that means, right?"

Vast hills and fields and mountains of snow spread out beyond us, pure and beautiful. Breathtaking, even. I glanced at Aerin. However beautiful the vista was, it just couldn't compare...


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"Of course I do, you would like a nice fire, warm drink and good chat, right?", she smiled in return to him with a hint of teasing. "So it is a date, My Lord". She held his gaze for a moment .. just considering many possiblilities but she hold herself in high regard and nobility of brow will not permit her to give herself with ease. She had only been with one man before which did not end well and so Aerin is very guarded. Not that she did not wish to, Kale is very attractive to her and the idea appealed greatly. "We should find time to train as well I think, yes?" she asked before urging her horse foward and turned her head to take the road westward.

"We shall be climbing up to the mountains soon, there is a place I know where we will sleep for the night, before we travel ahead to the caves, it will take the best part of the day to get there. I will hunt in the eve for our supper".

Soon Rildonmark was behind them and they are alone along the road, the snow thicker here and the higher they climb that will increase, it would be a cold night sleeping the open but the furs will keep them warm enough to survive.


"Are you alright back there?", she looked around to find him.








[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Fire, drink, conversation, and a kiss, I thought. My eyes dropped to her lips. Were they as sweet as they looked? Get a grip, Kale! I chided myself. I was starting to think I'd watched too many romantic holodramas. They were affecting my brain. I mean, anybody with eyes would be attracted to Aerin, but my feelings were a bit stronger than just attraction. Especially after I'd felt her in the Force.

"So it is a date, my Lord," she teased. Her eyes though...there was a weight to her gaze that made my skin tingle. So beautiful... "We should take the time to train as well, yes?"

Right. Training. I'd forgotten, after last night... and this morning. "Second dates also involve the first kiss," I said with a wink. If I kept my tone light, maybe my stomach would stop doing flips every time she looked at me. "But yeah, I reckon a little training might do me some good."

She said that she knew a place to camp up in the mountains, and it would take much of the day to get there. The caves came after. It was cold here, on the ground -- I could only imagine how cold it would be on a mountain. I was already dreading it...but maybe the cold would give me an opportunity to get closer to her? One could only hope.

"I can't let you go hunting on your own," I said, guiding my mount to follow behind hers. If anything, riding a horse was easier than riding an eopie. The ride was smoother, for one, and the horse was better trained than any eopie he'd ever ridden.

We rode in silence for a while, the road angling ever higher. The drifts were deeper here, and even through my furs I felt the cold seeping down into my bones, breath by breath. I pulled my furs tighter around me, shivering, and pulledy goggles over my eyes. I reached for the Force, for warmth, but I wasn't sure I succeeded.

I was still cold.

"Are you alright back there?" she asked, twisting around in her saddle.

"Yeah," I returned, kicking my horse into a brief canter to pull up alongside her. "Yeah," I said again. "Just cold. I'm a desert boy. This place is a far cry from the Dune Sea." And then I heard something like a growl reverberate through the trees. "You hear that?"



[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Aerin was not feeling the cold, in fact it had become stifling but that was not due to the weather, it had everything to do with that kiss Kale spoke of. The truth of it is that Aerin had never been on a date, she knows nothing of the 'protocols' and besides knows nothing of how the galaxy at large works in this regard. Her last kiss, she remembered was in the heat of battle, just after she had killed a man by hurling him over the waterfall and listened to his screams as he fell to his death, hmmm maybe that is where I go wrong? she thought, but she turned away from Kale to hide her reddened face. But away from his gaze, she smiled considering the idea and hoped she would find out if those lips that are warm and soft .. taste nice too.

She was grateful for the tension breaker when he spoke of the hunt. "Oh I will be fine, but you are welcome to join me. I have hunted in these woods ever since I could shoot an arrow", she cast her eyes to the skies. "Hmm we will get snow tonight", we always get snow in the night, it is jest with most Valkyri as if one portents a greatness.

Aerin turned as Kale rode up beside her, he looked very capable on the horse more than she had expected. "You ride well", she smiled. "Can you use Tapas? I have learned that skill I had too. Any weather hotter than 20 degrees and it could kill me, so... I have never been to a desert. I would like to see one one day. But here, take my hand", she held her hand out for him to take, she would be able to transfer energy to him to warm his body temperature. "Besides should we not at least hold hands before a second date? ... ... Yes I heard that too", she looked around her eyes darting into the right of the forest after the sound of the growl. Force senses alert and searching. A Frir, a large saber-toothed feline white coat with black stripes hard to see with the naked eye, nearby and had detected them and the horses.


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Great. More snow. Can't say was surprised, considering the locale. It might even be to my advantage; the colder it was, the better my chances were of snuggling under those furs with Aerin -- for warmth only, of course. So I wouldn't freeze, not because I liked her or anything.

And I wasn't lying to myself. Nope, not at all.

"You ride well," she said, smiling. My stomach flipped.

"It's not so different from riding eopies back home." I hadn't ridden one in years, but riding wasn't something you forgot. "They're like horses, only uglier. And smellier." Eopies had terrible gas. As bad as a Hutt's, almost.

She asked if I knew Tapas, and mentioned that warm weather upwards of twenty degrees could kill her. I was a bit shocked, as I hadn't known that about the Valkyri. No wonder she seemed so at home in the cold; she was made for it! And she'd never seen a desert because of it. With the right tools, I could show her a desert. A hermetically sealed suit with environmental stabilizers would do it. It wouldn't even be that hard to build...

I reached out to take her hand, but paused half way and drew it back. "It doesn't count with gloves on," I said, peeling mine off. I immediately regretted it. Force it was cold. My fingers felt like icicles. But I ignored the discomfort

Bare handed, I reached out for her hand. It was like grabbing hold of fire. Warmth rushed through me, and I sighed, content. I might have also "forgotten" to let go of her hand. "I suppose Tapas will be our first lesson then." I'd read up on the technique, but I had never really used it; not successfully, anyway.

Aerin heard the growl too. Beneath me, my horse twitched, fearful and agitated. I felt anxious fear welling up in his mind, and reached out to soothe him as best I could. That's when I felt it. There was a beast lurking in the trees, hunting. I had no intention of being dinner.

My blaster was out before I could even think about it, dial set to stun. There was a sound like crunching snow, and then a big feline creature was leaping onto the path, sinister black stripes running across it's back. My horse twitched harder, trying first to escape, then buck me off. I clamped down harder on its mind. Be calm.

With a rumbling snarl, the feline pounced towards Aerin. I knew she was tough. I knew she could take care of herself.

I panicked all the same, squeezing the trigger almost compulsively, so great was my anxiety. Red streaks of light cast a rosey glow across the white snow.



[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The horses had sensed the danger first, innate in animals to do so and Aerin’s mount began to shift unease under her. The large Frir, native cat to Midvinter and Midvinter’s primary predator is cunning, wanting to startle its prey to flee only so it could track them in sport before the kill. The bolt from Kale’s blaster had hit the snow in the spot where the Frir had stood, but the cat had jumped off the trail and back into the safety of the snow laden forest to blend once more into its natural surroundings. Now camouflaged, the Frir began to circle back but Aerin could sense it.

“Kale keep your horse calm, and move forward slowly. The cat wants to stalk us, hunt us”. She whispered. Using animal friendship Aerin calmed her mount, the two are developing a friendship but complete trust is not established yet between horse and rider. But the white horse soon relaxed and began a slow pace forward. But Aerin wished she had BlackWing under her thighs. “There is a clearing up head, if we can make it before the next attempt we will be able to kill it”. The large cat does not like open spaces.

“Use your senses to ‘see’ it, to feel its instincts and it’s want for our blood”, she did the same, “We will know when the cat will try and attack again”.

As the two riders moved forward to the clearing, which now can into view, the Frir doubled back and was stalking behind them hidden within the trees, it’s coat providing protection to sight but unknown to the Frir they both knew exactly where it was. Reaching the clearing Aerin immediately dismounted, pulled her sword secured from the back of the white horse, her lightsaber in the other hand. She faced back down the trail, she would be last defence, and Kale the first since he had the better weapon to kill it before it could reach them.

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

The white-furred hunter darted back into the trees, moving before I'd fired the first shot. The snow sizzled where the bolts hit. I took aim, trying to track it through the undergrowth, but between the trees and the jittery horse and its camouflage, I couldn't get a clear shot. The danger was gone, but only for the moment.

"Kale, keep your horse calm and move forward slowly," Aerin said. "The cat wants to stalk us, hunt us."

Right. Calm the horse. I reached out with the Force, tentatively, at first, and touched its mind. I felt its panic, its anxiety, and in much the same way I would clear my own mind of such feelings, I pushed its panic away, fed its anxiety to the Force, growing increasingly confident in my ability as it calmed.

She told me to track it in the Force through its instincts and desires. I reached for the Force again, delving deeper this time, searching. I could feel the trees and their roots reaching deep into the earth. Small things scurried through the forest.

And... there, preparing another ambush, was the feline. It's desire for food was as strong as anything I'd ever felt. I took a moment to admire its savage beauty, it's every instinct geared towards the hunt. "Alright," I said, blaster still in hand, "I'm ready."

We pushed ahead to the clearing. Aerin dismounted behind me; I closed my eyes and did the same. It was easier to sense things with my eyes closed. Easier to discern the ever shifting currents of the Force. I lifted my arm and took aim, waiting...

The beast burst out of the tree line with a leaping bound, mouth open wide, dagger-like fangs ready to tear me apart. I felt its muscles rippling, tasted its hunger for flesh, took aim, and squuezed the trigger, once, then twice, and a third. The best roared in pain when the first shot hit, and it was only then that I realized my blaster was still set to stun. Against a creature so big, stun shots were painful, but not crippling, and nowhere near fatal.

It leapt at me. I collapsed to the ground, shooting as it arced overhead, feeling the spikes of pain as the bolts hit it. I adjusted the knob with the Force, and saw one bolt burn through its flesh. The cat landed behind me.

Right in front of Aerin.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=12pt]She was in mentor mode, and she could feel everything Kale sensed, he is much more powerful than even he realises, that much was apparent to her, or his training with the Jedi had now come into play. Like anything, the more he uses it the more he will grow and become the force user of formidable skill. His experience through the galaxy, evident as well in the way he handled the situation, something told her he had been in trickier situation than a Frir had to give him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Aerin held her sword with a practiced loose grip ready to use in defence of their horses but as the beast fell between her and Kale, on the ground writhing in pain for the burning bolt, Aerin moved the horses back with a tug of the force on their reigns, they moved with agitation but back away. However, Aerin did not bring down her sword to end the beast there, but looked to Kale.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“This is your kill, end it now”.[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] She hoped he would do so with prudence as the pelt would be useful to him. “An unfortunate reality of the galaxy is that you must be prepared to take a life, but more so that you can actually do it”. She knew he could he had told her as much, but philosophies of life and death in the galaxy are seldom remembered. Kale was made of stronger stuff than most. To hunt, to be hunted and survive it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]A twinkle in her eyes, knew the end of the hunt was near, it is always thrilling to her as her Valkyri blood sored with it, it is innate in her race and they use this ability to survive on their harsh home planet. Her heart pounded and force senses heightened as she reached out around the surrounding searching for any other beasts that could sense the kill and became curious. [/SIZE]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

I holstered my blaster, pulled out my lightsaber, and walked over to the feline. Even with the steady, whistling howl of the wind, the crunch of snow beneath my feet seemed abnormally loud. I felt unexpectedly grave, as if what I was about to do was some great, profound thing. I'd killed wild animals before; in defense of my life, to eat, and, a couple times when I was young, for sport.

This wasn't like that, though. The beast hadn't the faculties to attack me now. Not with that hole in its stomach. If I didn't kill it, something bigger would. This... this was a mercy.

So why couldn't I do it?

I crouched down beside the beast. It waved a clawed paw at me, a feeble, pitiful attempt to defend itself. "Why don't we keep him?" I asked Aerin. I made the mistake of looking up at her, and got lost, for the span of a dozen heartbeats, in the blue of her eyes. "His, ahem, his mind is just as simple as a horse's. Shouldn't be that hard to keep him calm and non-murderous." I could feel his pain in the Force. The wound was bad, but not quite fatal. Barely.

I still remembered how it had felt when Master Synlin-whatever had worked his fancy Jedi magic on me. I was no healer, and I was no mentalist, but... I could do something, right? I reached out and lay my hand against his side. He growled, a deep rumble that shook my arm, but otherwise didn't move. "What do you say, sweet Lady o' mine?"

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

"You .. you want to keep it?", she looked down into his face with total surprise. "We would have to work on more than the cat to keep things calm", she looked back at the horses. "But where? I could not keep it in Rildonmark, it would not last five minutes once the Clan saw it, not to mention it would spook the herd", the presence of the Frir would probably put the herd of foaling, the villagers would be none to happy with having Midvinter's primary predator living so close to them no matter what Aerin would say. They know nothing of the existence of the force, let along how is works.

The Frir's wounds are deep but not beyond healing, she could do some healing to help the cat and animal friendship would help subdue the mind of the creature somewhat. "Well, if you want to try, but you keep it", she smiled back. Well this was a turn in events, the cat would need time to heal its wounds and than where would they put it? on the back of one of their horses? Oh boy... Aerin could not help but chuckle at the idea.

"You are clearly one for surprises Kale", Aerin knelt down beside the Frir, it continued to growl low, eyes flicking around as if wanting to shred them from limb to limb, it large paw twitching with the desire as claws gripped into the snow. She rested her hand on the stomach of the cat, feeling for the extent of the injuries, which would be difficult to mend but not impossible, the more impossible would be to train it's mind to not kill them.

"We would need to work on it's instincts to hunt and want to kill us firstly". He is close to her now and looking into his face she wondered how she could ever deny anything of him.

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Yep -- I was chock full of surprises. I beamed at her, pearly whites gleaming. She was willing to help, and that was good enough for me.

Aerin kneeled beside me. Her shoulder brushed against mine, and a jolt shot through me. I was intensely aware of her presence, and I couln't quite stop myself from leaning into her. "We can keep him on my ship," I said, eyes on the cat. "I'll send a message to Rex and have him bring the ship around. What are these things called any...way..." I had looked up. Another mistake.

Aerin was staring at me. She was close enough to kiss, if I but dared to lean in. My eyes flickered down to her lips. They were delicate, almost, but shapely, and slightly chapped from the wind. I very much wanted to kiss them.

I searched her eyes for a hint of what I felt. I saw something, but she was, "So beautiful," that I couldn't be sure it wasn't just wishful thinking. And then I realized that I'd spoken aloud, and I felt my cheeks burning. Well, there was no turning back now. "You are, you know. Beautiful." My eyes dropped to her lips again.

Hadn't we been doing something? As if he heard the thought, the wounded predator before us let out a yowl.

I rocked back on my heels, nearly falling to my butt. Right. The cat. I was supposed to be comming Rex to bring the ship to our location. There was nowhere to land nearby, though. Maybe we could beam him up via tractor beam?

I fished my comlink from out of my furs, and sent the message. "So, instincts first, right?"

When I reached for the Force, I fell into a torrent, like a rock plunging into a river. I felt even more open to the Force than usual, as if by acknowledging my growing feelings, I had unlocked a door that I never knew was closed. The cat's instincts and urges became my own. I gave them, bit by bit, to the Force. Beside me, Aerin seemed as if a star, bright and vibrant and rich. It was hard to focus on what I was doing, being near such majesty. My thoughts turned to her constantly.

Soon after, I heard the distinctive thrum of a ship overhead. My ship. It came from the south, cutting a blazing track across the sky.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=10.5pt]She felt the press of his shoulder on her, which made Aerin start. The cat lay before them on the ground still for now as it’s pain had quieten the mind, it had become resigned to its fate it seemed to her and lay awaiting the final blow. But none would come. However, something else was happening which surprised her further and looking back into his eyes she saw there more than the casual look of a flirtation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Only inches away from her face, she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek, his eyes dropping to her lips which sent a wave of warmth through her body as she could feel the emotions behind the look. Kale spoke a soft word, unintentional, but left her without doubt to his growing feelings. She shook her head as if to deny the words, but she could not move or turn away from him. He held her in place with his eyes and she wanted him to lean in and kiss her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]But it was not to be, as he stood up and contacted his ship to come round for the cat. At least on the ship the two could better manage the cat and the healing as best they could, and secure it so as to not endanger them or itself. Strange but she felt the torrid of emotions in him, open to all that could sense him .. A sense of the wild raging with in him as if he wanted to rip the world apart. Aerin stood up and moved to the horses, securing them once more as the ship approached. They are not used to the foreign noise of the engines and began to become unsettled once more. Much like herself as she watch Kale a little way off. She did not know what to say to him, their situation had shifted very dramatically and now she stood a ball of nerves as she wondered what this would mean for them both.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Aerin kept her hands on the horses to calm them as the landed some way off in a snow coated clearing, the horses followed her toward the ship but she would secure them to a tree nearby, a safe distance should another predator come to prey.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“Do you have something on board we could use to transport the Frir back?”,[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] she finally spoke in so doing answering his previous question as to what this cat was called. Aerin found it difficult to make eye contact with Kale, not because she does not want to, but for fear of letting her own feels release. She is guarded, many years she had spent avoiding the threat of arranged relationships, vowing to not be caged by heritage. She had had feelings for others, in the past, a young man that was too self-centred to see her and simply vanished, another that prefers to wallow in grief for a lost wife and remains trapped within that world, but these experiences have made Aerin wary and cautious. But Kale is here and is not hiding. And Aerin is torn. Yet she very much likes him and what the future may have in store for them both. [/SIZE]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

A frir, huh? "Yeah, I have something. And if not -- "

The Star Spinner's engines shut down and the repulsor lifts activating, keeping the old freighter above the snow. The ramp lowered, and a gust of warm air escaped the hold and washed over is. Down came Arnine, or Teenine, as he preferred. The blue astromech was beeping up a storm, head spinning 'round and 'round as he berated me for my usual failings. Namely, being a reckless oaf with all the sense of a rusted bolt.

I ignored the little shavit, and instead focused on what the Force was revealing to me.

Aerin was... conflicted, and nervous. I didn't think I'd imagined that spark of desire when I'd been about to kiss her. Which, in retrospect, I should've done. Coward, I admonished myself. I hadn't missed my chance though, not if what I was feeling from her was real. The trickle of doubt I'd felt that had stayed my hand dried up to dust. Alright Kale. Let's do this. Don't wuss out.

"Arnine, hush up and fetch me something to haul this frir up on the ship." That prompted more almost frantic, definitely agitated beeping, but he did as I asked, returning with a couple durasteel panels with a mattress and repulsor lifts strapped to them, with a series of belts hanging loose that had been bonded to the panels to strap someone down. I had to lean pretty far over the frir to slide the strap beneath it's heavy body, but when the deed was done, Arnine activated the lifts and floated the frir up into the hangar.

Now was my chance. I licked my lips, surreptitiously checked my breath, and invited Aerin aboard the ship. "My Lady," I bowed, staring up at her as if she'd disappear if I took my eyes away, "May I present, the Star Spinner.

It was warmer in the ship than outside, much warmer, and I made sure to adjust the environmental settings to account for Aerin's sensitivity to heat. Then I shed my furs, and proceeded to lead her through the hangar and into the corridor that ran alongside it. Arnine had led the frir to a relatively empty room at the end of the corridor, a rather standard sized guest bunk, one that I rarely, if ever, used. I walked with one eye on the corridor and the other on Aerin, close enough that I could almost count her eyelashes.

The ambient lights in the corridor was naturally dim, and yet Aerin's eyes seemed all the brighter, for all that she didn't really look at me. She was nervous, and in all honesty, I was a little nervous myself.

I stopped before we reached the room, and pushed my nervousness into the Force. It would be no use to me here. Deep breaths helped immensely. "Aerin?" I'd been watching her out the corners of my eyes, but now I turned to face her, giving her my full attention. I took another moment to admire her, oddly breathless, as if I'd just finished running a marathon. I smiled, and stepped even closer to her, so that our bodies were almost touching. "There's something I think I should tell you. Or rather, show you. Just...don't move."

My heart was beating so hard I thought it might leap out my chest. Tentatively, I reached out a hand to touch her face, fingers just tracing the line of her jaw. "If you want me to stop... just say so, and I will." My thumb ghosted over her bottom lip, hand drifting down to cup her chin.

I closed my eyes, leaned in, and kissed her. So soft, was my first thought. Then, so sweet. She was just enough taller than me that I had to tilt my head up to capture her lips. I felt a sort of electric tingle shoot down to my toes and out the tips of my fingers when our lips touched. Lights danced behind my eyes.

I felt emboldened, and reached out to slide my arm around her waist and pull her closer.


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=12pt]The warmth of the ship prickled the skin on her face, it was nice unlike the heat from other planets. Although Aerin has the ability to control and maintain her body temperature through Tapas, and couple that with her ability to alter environment she can changes things to suit, but she dislikes the touch of the heat on her skin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Aerin is fascinated with ships, only recently learned how to fly her own, with little skill but enough for her to travel off world, landings are still a problem, however, and if someone was to fly with her they would be grey of hair by the end of the journey. She does not see landings as a problem though. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Kale’s presence is close, uncomfortably close, the good uncomfortable as they entered into a room in which the Frir would be kept until healed. The small droid seemed talkative, not that she would understand binary, but she likes the little guy. “We had better start as best we can on those wounds”, she said as the cat enter on the makeshift sled.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Aerin was about to move when Kale stopped her. A shift in the force, in Kale which immediately caught her attention. He moved to stand in front of her, only inches away from her body, and she felt the heat of her body temperature rise but not from the environment controls. She could not take her eyes off him, looking directly into his and finding a gentleness and want to give into emotions. Don’t move? She couldn’t even if she wanted to, which she did not. His touch on her face, delicate and revealing which only cause Aerin’s heart to race and her breathing to become laboured with the anticipation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She opened her mouth to say something, but no words would fall from her lips, he had stopped them with his kiss. Nothing existed, only the softness and warmth of his lips, she did nothing only for a moment before she parted her mouth and kissed him back. Feeling him pull her close, she raised her arms and placed them on his shoulders one hand finding the back of his neck and she let herself go allowing full reign to her emotions as their bodies pressed together. [/SIZE]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Aerin wound one arm around my shoulders, the other on my neck, and parted her lips against mine. Something like a growl rumbled up in my throat, and I pulled her tighter against me. I felt like I was flying. The Force flowed through me, through her, in a cycling loop; this was more than a kiss, more than simply physical. Her feelings meshed with mine, sensations conjoined, thoughts ground to a halt. This was a meeting of souls.

My desire was her desire was our desire. It was almost overwhelming, and yet, I had never felt better in my life.

I deepened the kiss, nibbled at her bottom lip, pulled back to twist my head and lean in again. Our noses brushed, her breath warm against my lips. I guided her backward to the wall, ran my tongue along her top lip. My hand at her waist seemed to lift on its own, following the contours of her body.

Her hair. I had to run my fingers through it. I lifted a hand to tug her braid loose --

And then I heard, as if from far away, an incessant beeping noise. Then the gentle whir of servo motors. Something poked at my side, prodding me, and all at once, I became intensely aware of a part of me that was poking at Aerin. I was grinding my hips before my brain caught up to what I was doing.

I jerked back, chest heaving, desire naked on my face. Slow down, Kale. "Sorry, sorry, I... ahem, I might've gotten a little carried away." I licked my lips. I could still taste her on them, still feel her fingers at the back of my neck, still feel her pressed against me. One more kiss. Just one more...

I was poked again, only this one came with a jolt of electricity. A spike of pain lanced up my back. "Ow!" I glanced back and let out a groan. Of course. "Arnine --" he beeped at me, "fine, Teenine, you dopa-maskey sleemo, I'm going to junk you for parts!" He beeped back, photoreceptor flickering between colors. "Yes, I know there is a giant pred -- wait, what? You stabilized him? How did you --" he beeped and whirred, and his head spun. I frowned at him. "I'm restricting your holonet access. There's no telling what else you've downloaded. You're a decade overdue for a memory wipe." A sound like blowing a raspberry emenated out of his audio systems. I almost kicked him.

I looked back to Aerin, grinning. I couldn't see my eyes, but I imagined they were twinkling. Teenine beeped again and wheeled away, towards the room where the frir was. I seized the opportunity to kiss her again. Just a peck really. And another. And another. And a fourth, if I could get away with it. She was just so... Amazing? Wonderful? Beautiful? Breath-taking? I couldn't quite find the word I was looking for. She was all those things, yes, and so, so much more. I hadn't felt this giddy since... well, ever.

"Soooo... you wanna see to the frir?"

The room wasn't overly large. Teenine's makeshift stretcher was pressed against the back wall. There were a few spare parts in one corner, and a lot of them in the other. "Sithspit, Teenine! You already have a workshop! This room isn't for your gadgets!" He beeped back, and I blushed. "Her name is Aerin, and yeah... she is pretty, ain't she?" I shook my head. "Stop trying to distract me. Go pester Rex; leave this to the professionals."

He gave the astromech equivalent of a scoff, and wheeled off.

"Sorry about that," I told Aerin. "I love the little bucket of bolts, really, he just irks my nerves." I was oddly nervous now, intensely aware of her, thoughts returning to the kiss we had shared, to the feel of her. I gestured to the frir. Teenine had hooked him up to a couple monitors -- where in the hell had he gotten those? -- much like the ones I'd seen in various medical facilities. "Shall we commence to healing?"

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Stars, a universe of them raced before her inner sight, planets came near rotating on their axis of all manner of colour, suns burning bright, nebula swirling in clouds of gases as if set by fire, all of which she travelled through as their lips pressed together. But even so, Aerin is aware of him, the touch of his mouth, his firm body pressed against her and the wall behind her, he was traveling with her through space locked in each other’s arms.


Feminine instincts began to rage within her and pleasurable waves ran through her body as his hands explored her body, her hunger for the kiss grew, hunger of the body as well and she gripped his shoulders tight to pull him closer arching her back to lean into him. She could feel her hair loosening from its braid only to fall free and down her back well passed her bottom.


But this rapture was ripped away as Kale suddenly broke their embrace. For a moment she looked at him stunned, rudely plunged back into reality and social restraints prevent the moment from flowering into more. He was not the only one to have been carried away, her mind and body wanted him there and then, but she too felt the need to adhere to a much learned lesson, taught to her by her father, the man that raised her as his own. "A noble never compromises integrity". Her father's voice entered in mind now. Damn it father not now.


Kale had ignited something within her she had never felt before, it is frightening, dangerous, deadly but beautiful and she never felt so alive than in this moment. Her body memory, remained with him on her lips, they tingled as if his was still upon her. Her eyes set on him, she said nothing as he spoke to the droid, of the droid. But remained fixed and oddly ... calm.


A Shieldmaiden of Midvinter, warrior of her planet, ruthless in battle and defence of those she loves, fixed with determination and unwavering in purpose, undone by a man clad in white, the man that appeared in her vision. The vision had not portent of any future but rather have given her a glimpse of what would be, but the future would be spread ahead of them, she had a strong feeling life is about to change dramatically, not only for her but for Kale as well.


They walked the corridor to the small room in which lay the Frir, the droid is most resourceful and had prepared everything for the large cat’s comfort. Aerin looked down and along the body of the beautiful creature, one of the majesties of Midvinter, and began to think about what to do to heal it. The short walk had done her good, it had given her time to return to her normal commanding self in which she is in charge of her emotions and behaviour. And yet there is a smile on her face, a smile in her eyes and on her heart. Finally, she spoke.

“Yes .. Lets being”. Was all she said in this moment. But rather than move toward the cat, Aerin stood in front of Kale. Her hand raised up to his face, her finger tips danced across the line of this set jaw feeling the stubble, she watched as her fingers explored his handsome features before moving down his neck. He is truly handsome, there was not question of that and she smiled as her finger found it’s way along his collar bone as far as it could before stopped by his jacket. She moved closers, her eyes flicking up to dive into his before closing as she leaned in to kiss him, a lingering kiss barely touching.

She pulled back only holding her gaze for a moment, before she turned to crouch down and reassess the nature of the wound of the Frir. Aerin raised her both hands palms facing downward only inches from the fur, but she had an overwhelming urge to touch the Frir, it is not everyday one gets this close to such a beast, and she laid her hands on the soft warm coat. She stroked the black and white fur, so doing she could feeling the body rise and fall with every breath and without thought Aerin summon the force and poured energy into it’s body, needed energy for it to live and battle the wound. Moving her hands to the wound not touching, a soft blue haze of light flowed from her palms and into the wound as she began her healing.

[member="Kale Arkin"]