Metaphysical Mojo

[Arkyn Rane]

"Yes," she said. "Let's begin." She reached up and explored my face with a delicate touch, setting my blood aflame with the press of her fingers to my collarbone. She held my eyes with hers, and touched her lips to mine. It was chaste, almost, and quite nice, even though I longed to feel her pressed against me, to feel her hair in my fingers and her tongue pressing against mine.

She pulled back, icy blue eyes boring into mind. For that moment, everything was still, as if reality had paused to witness her.

Then she looked away, and reality continued. She turned her attention to the frir, delving deep into the Force to facilitate the healing. Her presence in the Force brought a smile to my face, for she was as powerful as she was beautiful. I returned my attention the the frir's mind, to its weakened, but still marginally present urge to rip us apart. I'd thought it would be harder to focus, since I was so aware of her presence, but it was easier, in a way. The Force seemed to flow easier, now, turbulent, still, but manageable.

I could feel her healing take hold, feel the frir's wounds healing. I worked ever harder to cleanse his mind, to turn him into a true companion, or as close to that ideal as possible. I wasn't exactly a master at the technique, or even really experienced. But I was smart, and stubborn, and I wasn't about to fail.

Teenine had left at some point, returning with a box of parts and circuits. Probably for the protocol droid he was helping me build.

The frir's eyes snapped open. I could feel the strength returning to him. Now to see if my labor bore any fruit.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

It took a far amount of effort to concentrate, one cannot simply push away the last moments of that kiss from ones mind with such ease, everything is still very raw and fresh in her mind's eye, not to mention Kale is close to her and she can smell his scent, a strong masculine scent most appealing. She let out an audible breath in order to help focus, as her force senses began to delve deeper into the flesh would of the Frir. The burn from the blaster bolt was spread wide and had bitten into the lower layers of skin and part of the muscle. Aerin firstly concentrated on mending the fibres of the muscles, knitting them together form a whole once more. That part was relatively easy, the skin would prove more difficult, as more structure and nerves need to be reunited.

Reconstituting the lower lay of skin, the burn of melted flesh until it form as if new, took much energy from her, but little by little Aerin mended the burn and closed the wound. She sat back on her haunches breathing hard as she looked at Kale. "I am not strong enough to reconnect the nerves within the skin, but over time the cat's body will do that naturally, but for sometime it will have no feeling in that area".

Finally, she pulled herself off the floor and stood up, looking at the patch of bare skin of the cat, the fur would grow back eventually as well, "How do you think you did with it's mind?". She started to laugh more so for a release of all tension and emotions they both had encountered recently. "There is nothing like training on the run?". In a short space of time Kale had used his force abilities on all accounts and had strengthened them considerably in the process.

"If you feel you would like to test so see, maybe we should do that outside?".


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

Healing, I saw, was hard work. Aerin seemed almost exhausted by the end of it, and all the more adorable for it. I grinned at her, holding out a hand to help her to her feet. If someone had told me a week ago that I would be falling for a Jedi warrior princess on a giant hunk of ice I would have laughed in their face.

And yet, here I was.

"All things considered, I think I did pretty good. I don't think he'll try and kill us, anyway." I hope.

Her hair was still loose, a long curtain of fire that had felt like velvet in my hands. As Aerin started to laugh, tension flowing free, I threaded my fingers through the auburn tresses, lips spread in a smile.

"Training on the run is the best sort, I think. It gets to boring otherwise. Though I imagine any sort of training with you would be far from boring." I waggled my brows and gave her my sexy face, lips puckered, eyes narrowed. Like those bantha-brained leading men in the holodramas.

My stomach still flipped whenever I looked at her, and even the scent of her excited me, but if I didn't inject some sort of humor into the situation, I was going to jump her bones. I wasn't known for my self control, and every second spent near her was a struggle to contain myself. I couldn't recall ever feeling quite like this before.

Even now I was thinking about pressing her back to the wall and showing her just how I felt --

"Yeah, ahem, maybe we should go outside." Maybe the cool air would calm me down some. I doubted it, but I still had hope.

I grabbed hold of the "operating table/floating bed", and counted it as a success when the frir didn't snap at me. Teenine beeped about something or other, but I ignored him. If it was urgent, he'd have made it known.

We started back the way we'd come, heading back out to the snows. I made sure to throw my furs back on so as not to freeze my arse off. When we were situated, I unstrapped the frir, stepped back, and hoped for the best.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=12pt]She took his hand as she stood and had failed to let go of it until she had too. Aerin smiled back, a little tiredly but she had never felt as good as she did after the use of such energy, a sense of achievement filled her. But moreover, the look of his face as he gazed at her sent her heart soring and no one had ever made her feel this way. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Although her vision as revealed the meeting it had not disclosed meaning, and now Kale is important to her on levels she had not dared to even hope. As his fingers threaded through her hair, heightened sensation tingled her skin which ran down her body once more. Made even more by what he said to her, and all she wanted to do was spin him around and pin him to the wall and show him just what she was feeling. “Something tells me you don’t require training in ‘certain areas’”, she jested back with a rising smile. “And I doubt that life would ever be boring with you around”.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Aerin followed after Kale as they moved outside with the Frir on the makeshift sled, the cold bit into her skin immediately as her face was flushed with the heat of the moment, but she watched with anticipation as Kale unfastened the restraints, and Aerin’s hand found the hilt of her lightsaber, just in case. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The Frir took only a second to realise it was free before the cat scrambled to it’s legs, shaking it heads as if to rid confusion. A low rumble of a growl formed deep within it’s throat and issued through a snarl as it’s head turned to the side. It’s eyes drinking in the sight of both Kale and Aerin, but there was no desire to attack, through the force Aerin sensed it’s lack of desire for blood. “I think you did it”, she exclaimed moving close to his ear, and with delight, but with a quiet voice fearful of startling the animal. “You need to find a name for …”, Aerin leaned to the side, and smiled, “Her”. Aerin took hold of Kale’s hand, her finger’s lacing with his, her thumb caressing his skin, she turned to look at his profile taking notice of his features, a sharp nose, strong forehead, and a plump bottom lip she only wanted to taste again and again. “Ever laid bare in the snow?”, she whispered, “It is invigorating, to the skin, sets the blood pumping and stimulates the mind”. Her eyes narrow to gauge his reaction, as he is not the only one that possess the gift of cheek. Aerin let his hand go and walked over to the agitated horse shifting with fear. She place her hand on their necks and they settled.[/SIZE]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

The frir didn't attack. He paced back and forth in the snow, tail flickering from left to right and back again. I tasted his thoughts and found a severe lack of murderous tendencies. Well, not towards Aerin and I. The frir was eyeing the horses like breakfast.

There were still some kinks to workout.

Aerin's breath against my ear sent prickles down my neck. It took me a moment to realize what she'd said. "...Her?" How had I missed that? "It's a her?!" Aerin took my hand in hers. Our fingers laced, thumbs tracing circles on the back of each other's hands almost absentmindedly. It was all so... pleasant.

My thoughts turned to possible names. Icefang. Snowclaw. Lady. I could feel Aerin's eyes on me. I was purposefully not looking at her. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands -- or lips -- off of her if I did. Not with her hair loose like that, blowing in the wind.

He wracked his brain for better names. It had to be something badass. Something fierce. Something like --

"Ever laid bare in the snow?" Aerin whispered, voice husky, breath warm on my face. I could feel the blood rushing from my brain to... other places. "It is invigorating to the skin, sets the blood pumping and stimulates the mind."

Oh, my blood was pumping alright. My mouth may have dropped open, I'm not sure, but for a few seconds, my brain shut down. There wasn't enough blood in it to facilitate complete thoughts. Error, error, error. Too much mental stimulation. She had the audacity to walk away and tend the horses while my brain shutdown. How...how dare she!

So, I did what any lovesick fool in my situation would do.

I tackled her.

Straddling her waist, I tried to pin her arms above her head, then leaned down and claimed her lips with my own. I kissed her eyes, and her nose, and her cheeks. I kissed her lips again, more urgently, tongue probing. Great Jawenko! She tasted like heaven. Like everything good all rolled into one. I sucked at her bottom lip, nibbled at it, and a groan slipped out of my throat. In a bout of playfulness I licked her face, laughing. I trailed kissed down her jawline, to her neck, nibbling, sucking. Her neck was long, so there was a lot to kiss. The base of her throat, the hollows at the side of her neck. I took my time, at first, savoring the flavor of her, working my way back up to her lips.

I pulled away, breathing as if I'd just run up a mountain. "I suppose it is rather invigorating. Even with clothes on." I heard a growl and looked up. The frir was right in my face, breath misting in the air, fangs long and ridiculously sharp. By the Force, had I messed up? Was I about to die --

She licked me, leaned down and licked Aerin, then bounded off into the treeline. I could feel her desire for food. And her intention to return. I eased my grip on Aerin's wrist and sat up, and a pleased smile spread across my face. "That'll teach you not to be cheeky," I told her.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

[SIZE=12pt]Suddenly she felt like she was flying, only to land in the snow on her back. Aerin thought the Frir had attacked, but no it was Kale, just a furious, wild, however. She had spoken those words for a reaction but got more than even she expected and she laugh despite herself. And with his hungered kisses and bites on her neck Aerin grew weak and laid there enjoying every single touch. Her breath audible expressed her enjoyment, and her way her body reacted could have melted the snow, and growing longing rose inside her rapidly, had the Frir not intervened, well.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The long raspy tongue grated on her cheek before the Frir bounded away to hunt, and she is left facing Kale once more, sitting astride her. Aerin was considering her many options in the situation, all of which scintillating to the senses “Oh you want to wrestle” more of a statement than a question. It would be easy enough for her to simply reverse positions, as she is four times stronger than an average man of the galaxy, the males of Midvinter more so, she could over power Kale in seconds instead she decided on a different cause of action.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her hands dug into the soft snow that surrounded them, then grinned as she looked up into his face, in a quick motion a curtain of snow fell over him, as she threw the soft ice toward him, in the same motion she sat up so he would be on her lap, her arms grabbed his hips pulling him forward, her hands moved up the full length of his body until they reached his hood, pushing it back off his head, Aerin moved in as if to kiss him, but all he received on his lips was more of the soft icy powder. She laughed loudly... [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I think we had best resume our journey to the mountains, the gems are awaiting us, remember? And the Frir is not the only one that needs to hunt, I shall get us our dinner soon.” [/SIZE]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

I was feeling pretty proud of myself until Aerin started throwing snow at me. She sat up and pulled my closer, snatched down my hood; I was expecting a kiss, but I got snow rubbed in my face instead.

It was kriffing cold. Thank the Force for body temperature regulation. I was getting better at it by the hour. I would've long since had a terribly cold otherwise. As it were, I was only shivering a little bit as I wiped the dreaded snow from my face and pulled my hood back up.

My devious mind was already plotting ways to get her back, but she was right. We had a journey to get back to, and gems to find.

I climbed to my feet, glaring at her all the while. It was a task not to smile; just looking at her made me happy. I couldn't remember a time in my life when I had felt this giddy. "That was a dirty, underhanded trick, and I'll get you back for it, mark my words. Your beauty won't save you. Nothing will save you. You'll be begging for mercy by the time I'm done with you."

I licked my lips. They tasted like ice and Aerin. A magnificent flavor, all things considered. I could've done without the ice though.

I messaged Rex, thanked him for his swift response and bid him farewell, then messaged Teenine and threatened him with a scrapping. The Star Spinner's engine engaged, a vibrating hum that nearly set my teeth to rattling. Or was I shivering? The ship lifted off slowly, and once it reached a reasonable altitude, shot off into the distance.

I climbed atop my horse. I was starting to really like the thing. They had eopies beat in all accounts: appearance, temperament, smell. Not that it was hard to stink less than an Eopie. They had gas to rival a hutt. "Now, treacherous lady o' mine," and I gestured towards the w covered path that led further up the mountain, "lead the way."

My mind turned to Aerin as we rode. She hadn't been far from my thought since this morning. Naturally, I wanted to know more about her. We'd talked some last night, but we hadn't covered all the bases. Curiosity got the better of my faux-anger. "How'd you find out about the Force, anyway? Or that you could use it?"


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

"Promises, promises", she shot back with a grin at his threats and mounted her horse. They, still unsettled somewhat since the release of the Frir which had bounded off somewhere to hunt. She had to wonder what would happen when it reappeared, she doubted the horses would ever get used to the cat's presence around them, but maybe with time and work on the Frir they would grow to be less afraid around it.

Aerin pulled the horses head toward the snow covered path that would lead higher and steeper into the mountains. They needed to reach the bluff before nightfall, and had to get a move on. She pulled ahead of Kale, only to hide her face which displayed a grin all the while, a reason to be happy once more now that he is in her company and she liked his company very much. But moreover, she liked the feel of his body against her's even more.

The thoughts of which played on her mind as she rode on, making her shift in her saddle, until he rode up beside her and offered questions which she consider in her reply.

"In retrospect I guess I had always known about the force, but I just did not have a name for it. As a child I could do .. things, that to the Valkyri is considered unnatural. I have visions, I could always do things with my surroundings, and I never missed with the bow, an uncanny eye for a mark and I have a natural ability with creatures. All these things made my people suspicious of me, and they would .. still, call me witch", she shot a smile to him, once this name had pained her but now she simply finds it amusing.

"I had always wondered what lay beyond the night sky, and if it was possible to travel among them, I was so very innocent than until one day I met Offworlders and it was then I knew I would leave Midvinter one day".

"As I travelled, I learned of the force and so my abilities and so I began training". She urged the horses forward as the sight of the bluff loomed ahead of them, which she indicated to Kale with an outstretched arm.

"We make for that bluff and that will be our camp for the night".

 

[Arkyn Rane]

"I'm not sure I feel safe making camp with a witch. Especially one so devious as you." I smiled to take the edge off my words, pushing my horse to a canter to stay even with Aerin. It was getting colder, and the wind was a steady howl now that swept across the snow crested hills and set the trees to quivering.

The bluff Aerin had pointed out didn't seem far away, but as far as I knew the lack of visual distance could have been a mere trick of the eye, in much they way things seemed closer when traversing the sweltering heat of the Dune Sea back home.

I looked to the sky, a pale sheet of gauzy whiteness that was graying by the minute, dappled with swarming clouds the color of fresh snow. The shafts of sunlight that slanted through the clouds to splash across the ground were thinning. Here, sunlight was precious. I went out of my way to guide my horse through the slanting shafts of light. Back home, I'd have been going out of my way to avoid them.

"Say, love..." I angled my horse so that I rode directly at Aerin's side, and our knees touched. "I'm not one for labels, but you and I got pretty intense back there. I don't think I've ever quite felt like this, ya know? Considering you're pretty much royalty here, no one's gonna try and slit my throat or run me through with a sword for stealing you away, are they?"

I could feel the frir returning in a great circle as opposed to heading straight for us, scouting, its thoughts said.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

The horses hooves dug deep into the snow as they climbed toward the bluff, Aerin could feel the strength of the creature beneath her as the muscles strained to life them up. But Midvinter stock is strong and made for this environment as pushed on with little to no effort, just as much as the hardiness of the people of this ice planet.

Aerin turned her hooded head, to find Kale's face and she considered his question. Yes they had got intense, but nothing compared to how she felt for him now and how .. given the chance, she would express it later. "Well yes", she began with lips turned up at the corner. "There is always someone trying to gut you on Midvinter. It is the nature of the people to desire power over lands and people so by association you would be marked as well, but because of this not because I am promised to anyone. I am my own woman".

With three last strong strides the horses reached the bluff and leveled out onto the flat surface. Atop the bluff are large boulders that would provide shelter from the high winds and cold, a night fire would help to keep them warm along with the furs for bedding. Aerin followed after Kale and looked to the skies, the night was falling fast and the opportunity for hunting all but gone and so they would have to reply on the supplies that Red Beard had provided for them. Knowing the man, Aerin did not doubt there would be plenty of provisions.

Finding a good place to camp, Aerin dismounted and stretched her back before rubbing her backside to massage out the days ride, "We need to find some wood for a fire, we should find some over there", she pointed toward a line of tree that grew on the edge of the bluff. Long tall pines with scent that hung in the air filling the senses with vigor and refreshing the blood. "The wood will be cold but not wet so we should find something", she said walking toward the edge of the bluff. For a moment Aerin took time to look out at the view, it never ceased to fill her heart with the joy of Midvinter. For miles you could see the long line of the mountain range stretch out into the far distance until one could see no more, the valley below almost blurred to the sight and Rildonmark only a dark dot in the scene. She smiled dispite herself.

"But tell me, is there someone that might not like the idea of my presence in your life? You are very good looking Kale and I am sure you have attracted the attention of other girls, I would not blame them of course", she looked down a little coyly. "I have not felt like I do now as well and I will tell you I am a little scared by it". She could feel her heart racing once more as he moved up beside her but more from the fact she was revealing her growing feelings for him.

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Aerin smirked as she explained that while someone might very well try to kill me, it wouldn't be because of her. "Your own woman, ay? And what a wonderful woman you are..."

The bluff was bordered on one side by a line of boulders that served to shield us from the cutting winds. The other side was bordered by rows of snow-capped pine trees that jut up from the ground like arrows.

Aerin led us a little further before she dismounted. I took the time to watch her, still in awe of her languid grace. She stretched as a cat might, limbs long and lithe. She walked to look over the mountainside, and I saw wonder dance in her eyes.

I dismounted myself, petting the horse's powerful neck while Aerin spoke, then walked over to join her at the edge of the bluff. Everything was white, as if the planet's surface had been scourged clean. Mountains rose and fell in the distance like the mighty waves of a great white ocean. I was intensely glad to be here with her, sharing this magnificent view.

"There have been women in my life," I admitted, curling my arm about her waist and pulling her close. "But nothing like this. This is... " I trailed off, searching for the right word. "Transcendent? I hesitate to say I'm in love after only a few days, but..." I searched her face almost frantically. "If this ain't love, it's pretty darn close. I think a little fear in the face of such powerful emotions is natural. I'm a little afraid myself." And then I kissed her. When my lips pressed to hers it was like the world fell away, like we were the only people in the Galaxy. Her tongue against mine was like warm velvet. The press of her body made me ache. The very scent of her drove me wild.

Like I said; it was intense. Scarily so.

Reluctantly, I broke the kiss, grinning like I'd just won a lottery. "I'll go collect that firewood. You'll set up camp?"

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

Why does it end, it always ends.

She stood still for a moment holding her breath before releasing a long sigh as if only now did she breath for the first time in her life. The warmth of his lips remained in place after Kale had moved away to find wood for the fire. The feeling of his arms around her waist as he had pulled her close, still lingered on her body. His words filling her mind, no it could not be love they had only just met really, it could not be that. But how would she know? Never been in love before, not really. There had been intrigue, curiosity with others but this .. him, something she could not understand. The only thing that Aerin did know was that time just stood still. This kiss .. different to the last and one that would remain within her heart forever.

Her eyes look out over the view, but nothing did she see, her mind completely on Kale. And yet she moved to the horses to unpack them to form camp for the night. The pack horse grateful for the load removed off its back shifted in it's stance allowing her to slide off the leather pack. Aerin removed all the furs and spread them on the ground to make the bed, the Alk fur would be more than enough to keep the cold away. She checked the rations and as she suspected Red Beard had packed meats and breads, and a large tankard of mead, water was abunant enough in the environment to make the tea to warm the body.

All the while her eyes found Kale, watching him gathering the wood for the fire, then she felt it. The presense of beings close by. Four .. no five people closing in ..

Kale we have company, beware of arrows, she quickly found his mind. This time her hand found her lightsaber, the hilt cold in her grip as she disappeared behind one of the large boulders of the camp. The men from the mead hall had tracked them, with ill intent and disgruntled by the insulting loss of the fight back in Rildonmark. Moreover, they had come to assassinate Aerin by order of their chieftain loyal to the Usurper.

But there is another presence lurking close by, the Frir .. who had also picked up the scent of the man and their intent and now stalked them. Aerin smiled at the wild nature of the Frir, this time her intent is to protect them ..

Can you sense them .. my love?.

 

[Arkyn Rane]

I had just collected a respectable load of wood for the fire when I heard Aerin's voice in my head. No sooner had she mentioned arrows than one came whistling past my head. Instinct had me moving before my mind could catch up to what was happening. The feathers on the end of the shaft tickled my ear. I reached out with my senses, even as I ducked behind a particularly wide pine tree.

By the Force that was close. I palmed my lightsaber in one hand, and my blaster in the other. I heard Aerin's voice again, and couldn't help the smile that broke out over my face. You called me love! I'd found them. And her.

There were five of them. Their minds tasted of murder and hatred. It was a familiar flavor.

Another arrow sliced through the air to land in the snow just beyond my foot. I came up shooting, and the forest was lit by streaks of red light. The five had split up, three of them breaking from the others to advance upon Aerin. They were in for a terrible surprise, as the path they took led them passed the frir's hiding place.

My first two shots fizzled out against a pair of trees and set the bark to smoking. My third clipped a shoulder, the fourth a knee, and then I was running, sprinting across the snows. One of them fired an arrow. Almost of its own volition my sword arm snapped up, green tinted blade flaring to life and turning the arrow to slag. As if in slow motion, I watched the half-melted arrow arc past my fast and fall, twisted and smoking, to the forest floor.

Closer now, I took another four shots with quick depressions of the trigger. Again, my first two shots impacted against trees. The third struck home, burning through fur and armor to scorch the flesh beneath. My fourth shot went wide, as my target dove behind another tree, bow and arrows lying discarded. The man I'd shot wasn't dead, but his wailing was enough to wake them.

I heard the sharp song of a sword carving through the air. I ducked, lashed out with my lightsaber, allowing instinct to guide me. Humming green plasma burned through my foe's armor as if it had no more substance than snow. I felt the life leave him, felt his soul part it's fleshly confines to return to the Force.

Immediately, I turned back and rushed to camp. I was more than confident that Aerin could handle herself, especially with the frir in the mix, but my heart was pounding nonetheless.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The boulders that would provide them shelter had now become problematic in that they restricted movement with the swing of a sword. But the same could be said for the attackers, it was like she had her back pressed to the walk and cornered. And yet Aerin smiled, as they rapidly approached her position, grabbing her bow and quiver from the pack horse, she disappeared behind on of the larger boulders.

Heat. Her cheeks ran hot. And she closed her eyes realising what she had said to Kale as he replied to her. Unsure herself where that had come from, but she did not wish to take it back or deny it. I said no such thing!, and yet there was a smile in her communication.

She waited for a moment, sensing Kale close by and alive more importantly, and she could 'feel' the caution of the men as they slowed their pursuit uncertain of her intent. This was not Valkyri like to hide behind rocks! But they only know on way of life, one way of fighting and that was of the old stock of berserker, the heat of the fight pounded in their blood and would never be satiated unless blood reddened the white snow.

Aerin is a shieldmaiden, a warrior in her own right, but moreover she is a huntress. And now with the Frir in alliance there is two stalking prey. With mind single focused, she summon the force to her body and channelled the energy to her legs and arms. With light steeps, delibrately placed as her toe of her boot placed firstly on the snow, to roll back until her heel completed the move, her back foot slowly drawing up rolling until her foot left the ground, and with marked placement, she would repeat her approached behind the men who now searched the rocks for her.

With bow already in hand Aerin nocked an arrow and pulled back with a delicate touch so the bow would not creak under the tension. Her right foot forward, her left moved sideways to shift weight to the side and reveal her line of sight between the boulders, with her eye looking down the length of the sharft and the tension of the string at it's zentih Aerin waited patiently for one of the men to move. She steadied her breathing until shallow, which calmed her heart beat. The Frir was near her having moved up onto one of the boulders and lay flat against the surface of the stone, with legs primed to spring forward, eyes firmly fixed on the nearest prey. The Frir waited and Aerin knew she waited for the arrow to fly.

As one of the men turned around, the hiss of the arrow fizzed through the air as Aerin released it. The arrow hit the man in the neck and protruded out the other side. Immediately he fell dead to the ground. From atop the boulder, the Frir sprang forward and took down another gripping him by the neck with her long saber teeth, he yelled a gurgled sound issuing from him as his blood spirted from his veins. The Frir dragged the prize away and out of sight. Although Aerin had nocked another arrow to her bow, the third man had vanished, and a sense of fear filled the air. Aerin lowered her bow and arrow, searching for the man through the force, but he was running and th and for all purposes in flight. Finally she breathed again.

"I did", she suddenly said, as Kale come up. "And I meant it". She searched his face for any reaction, not only to what he had witnessed or experienced here on Midvinter but moreso for her admission. As if expecting a negative response and as one does in these situation, she waved it off before he had a chance to say a word. "It was, it was just a silliness", she said before moving over to the horses to check them, not that they required it, but more to keep herself busy. But her heart pounded in her chest and her mind raced with the possibilities of Kale and her feelings for him. She was so unsure of herself now which had never happened in her life. Kale had simply turned her world up side down with that kiss and the idea of it, felt amazing.

Her body lurched forward as it suddenly jolted, seering pain burned through her side as she looked down to see an arrow piercing her side, the tip of it sticking out of her leather jacket dripping in blood .. her own blood. The arrow had pierced her from the back just above her right hip and through, lucky for Aerin had not hit anything vital. She fell to her knees beside the horse and grasped for air as the pain began to overwhelm her. The last of the men had doubled back and from the trees fired another arrow toward her back.





[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

As I came upon Aerin, it seemed like the coast was clear. Queenie, as I had thusly dubbed the frir, was off hidden in the stones, crunching away on her kill. It was kind of disgusting, actually, her eating a person like that, but it was the sleemo's fault for trying to kill us in the first place.

"I said it," Aerin declared. "And I meant it." Well of course you meant it, I thought with a smile. I opened my mouth to say so, but she cut me off and said, "It was, it was just a silliness," before walking off to tend the horses.

"Right," I returned, expression dubious. "Just silliness my sweet ass. And don't tell me it isn't sweet. You had a handful of it not to long ago."

I followed her over to the horses, clipping my saber to my belt. I gave my blaster a spin and went to holster it--

An arrow pierced Aerin's back. It seemed as if to appear suddenly, cutting her deep. She fell to her knees, gulping for air, and my mind went blank.

It was as if I'd stepped outside of myself into a vast void absent of existence. My body was on autopilot, reacting at speeds almost beyond my comprehension. My free hand snapped out and grabbed the second arrow. My gun arm slid over, blaster poised to shoot.

I didn't advertise my genius as much as I used to, but I could calculate hyperspace coordinates in my head. Geometry and trigonometry were child's play. Calculating angles was like simple addition. As I was now, there was no thought needed. My aim was instinctual as much as anything, like breathing, almost. The angle of the arrow shot, the possible distance traveled, changes in trajectory from the wind -- they all came to as if summoned from some vast hyper-intelligent hive mind.

I angled my gun further up the mountain and squeezed the trigger. TSEER! TSEER! TSEER! TSEER! TSEER! TSEER! It was as if a tiny red sun had manifested atop the bluff. I felt the man's life suddenly end upon the third rapport, but my finger seemed frozen in place.

The void slipped away and my finger unclenched. I stumbled towards Aerin to get a better look at her wound. It didn't seem to be fatal, but the rage in my heart didn't much care. If I could kill that sleemo again, I would. I knelt beside her and send a message to Teenine to do a sweep of the surrounding area, just in case there were more. Between the few bacta packs I'd taken from the ship, and Aerin's own ability to heal, I figured she would be alright in no time.

I hoped so.

"You reckon I should pull it out?" I grabbed a bacta pack from out of my furs. "You can heal this, can't you?" I may or may not have had a hint of panic in my voice. My hands were steady though, for all that my heart was racing.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"Help me to my feet", she barely said as her breathing remained laboured. Aerin used the horse and it's straps to pull herself up as well the assistance from Kale. The pain almost enough to render her unconscious but she clung to the light of day. Using both the horse and Kale she steadied herself, taking in long breaths which seemed to assist the pain to lessen somewhat. "Yes you will need to pull it out, but firstly remove the arrow head and pull it back through".

She hold of the saddle to prepare for the new pain that would come from the arrow's removal, trying to focus on the force to use to deaden the area move but it would not be complete. "Will you clean my wound? use snow to boil water and after that I will start to heal myself".

Aerin closed her eyes and focused on an image, an image set in her mind forever now, his face. She will use this image to lessen the blow of pain as the arrow pulls out. She could feel the arrow burning her internally, the foreign object offensive to her body and as Kale prepared to remove it, she turned her thoughts to other things.

"Firm, sweet", she said even managing a smile at the thought of his rump. "Be quick", she whispered.

[member="Kale Arkin"]