[IC] Journey to the East

[Illumin0sity]

Aimee drew quiet, seeing as her words did little to shift Elann’s disposition and attitude towards birthdays. Elann turned to Noah so Aimee stood up and took the dwindling bag of caramels back to her trunk. She swapped out the candies for one of her books, eyes glossing momentarily over the collection of memoirs Elann gave her in Syliras. She retrieved the book and doubled back to her bench to sit down once again. Aimee brought her knees up and rested the spine of the book there as she refound her place from the last time she picked up the book.

With his hands over hers, Noah waited until his forgiveness rekindled the embers in Elann. Her smile returned which told him as much. She accepted him telling her it was fine, saying she wouldn’t forget his next one, also saying he could throw her in the water if she did. He grinned, envisioning himself tossing Elann off the end of a wharf. With summer coming up, and him planning to teach her how to swim, she would at least be able to tread the freezing waters she was thrown in if she forgot again. All that was thought with the assumption he’d want anything to do with her for that moment.

“Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll throw you into the water if you forget again.”

Noah pulled her her hands and rested them on the bottom of his chin, adding to the sense of forgiveness. He didn’t kiss them, just brought them into his space to say she was welcome and he was still open to her. He leaned back next, relaxing before bringing one of his own hands up to his temple were the ache flared up in a pang. Noah looked at Elann through a wince, communicating the increased pain in his head.

“Can I have something to drink, please?” he asked of Elann.

[snelss0]

Aimee went on to read and the two lovers drew close once more. Both were set on making things right with each other and so they seemed to be working things out. Soon her husband would be up in the air once more enjoying the winds of Zulrav and she hoped that the God appreciated her efforts to help get his Stormwarden on his feet again. Who knew what the God would appreciate and what he would not, but Elann was going to try to appease him. Noah didn't have to do anything to do so, but as long as Elann didn't have to worry about being struck by lightning or losing her husband in a storm, she didn't worry.

Elann curled up next to him after getting him a drink, and would encourage to have a little bit of the diluted tea mixed in to take the edge off of his pain. But whatever he decided, that was what she brought to him and ultimately settled at his side to warm up. His heat would likely be unbearable to anyone else, but to her it was like home. She was a magnet to him and lovingly latched on and would sit there in silence while Aimee read.

She didn't feel like talking, just resting there with him, and as the droplets fell, she watched them plop into puddles and was thankful they had a cover on their wagon. The small time she spent at the edge of the wagon had frozen her legs in the short dress. Now though they were a clammy lukewarm.

There she would remain until evening or until he wanted to be apart from her. Eventually he would notice her write in her journal and then start working on a rug for Aimee. The flurry of her hands once more tying knots as a very fast speed.

[Illumin0sity]

Aimee stuck her nose into her book, keeping herself angled towards Elann and Noah so they knew she wasn’t totally against speaking to them. If needed, she’d heed any beck or call her way. As it were, the couple was drawing close to one another and she was drawing close to the story in her lap.

Across the wagon, Noah’s request for water was answered by Elann. He declined the tea, diluted or not, just wanting the water to quench his thirst and aid in alleviating his headache and mild congestion. He figured his own body was tired from healing, though he hadn’t been engaging in anything particularly exhaustive until the trek to the river and bathing in the cool water thanks to Elann. He was grateful to be clean regardless, hoping whatever he was developing would pass by with sleep and water.

Elann came back to him with the water and he drank it slowly as the both of them watched the pattering rain drop down on the edge of the wagon. Noah felt a little bad for the horses since they had to trudge through it all at the behest of the humans. He figured if they were wild they would seek refuge, if they were anything like him or Elann, they didn’t like being wet if it wasn’t their choice. Thankfully for him, Elann didn’t feel like talking, and he was content with that, watching and listening as the wagons rolled, the horseshoes’ plodded, and the rain pattered.

Noah patted Elann and gazed out the back with renewed anticipation and fluttering excitement. Following him grabbing her attention thunder ripped through the sky and shook the clouds, causing the rain to pour heavier still for a few moments before lightening up again. He showed her a small smile, bending down to set the cup on the floor of the wagon before lying down on the bench, using her lap as a pillow for his head, his arms wrapping around her midsection while he nearly buried his face into the front fabric of her dress.

By the time evening fell and it was approaching time for the wagons to pull over for the night, the rain had ceased and Noah was well into his slumber. On the opposite bench, Aimee lay down on her back, her book held over her head before she let out a soft grunt of frustration, folding the corner of the page before closing it altogether then resting it over her bosom.

“I wish I had his eyesight,” she said, looking at Noah. “Maybe I could read in the dark, low light at least.” She sat up, arching her back to relieve built up tension. “Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to smell and hear like I can, but it would be amazing to see like he can. Don’t you think so?”

[snelss0]

Noah would have been fairly deep into his slumber if she hadn't moved, yet as it was with him hugging her and laying there, she couldn't help but caress him. As a result, it was likely he was even deeper in his sleep than should she have not moved at all. Come drool or snores or the hotness of his breath into her dress, none of it caused her to think anything other than the deepest love for him. He was able to fall asleep under the context of love and comfort.

She sat there as the evening got darker, simple speaking her prayers in her mind to Yahal, meditating on what was pure and good, and remembering her promises. As Aimee spoke out in frustration, Elann smiled slightly.

"Yeah, even though I don't think he can see perfectly in the dark, it would be nice. You know we often set up a lantern in the tent. You can feel free to hang it from the binding there and light it if you want to read?"

Elann's voice was soft, gentle, and soothing so as not to wake her husband. Her hands softly caressed his torso, his neck, and into his hair as he lay there.

[Illumin0sity]

Though Elann was there and it was stormy, it took Noah a while to fall into a deep sleep, as deep as it would go given his naturally light sleeping ability. All that was to tell he was truly asleep was the deepness in which he took his breaths and how the bond only communicated the feelings of his quiet existence there before her. As Aimee spoke out from across the wagon his breathing lessened in its weight, his mind drawing up into the state of half-sleep and half-not, stirring readily once Elann’s spoke as well, her voice sounding directly overhead and her torso rumbling as she talked. His arms tightened in their hold over Elann’s midsection after she spoke, a soft murmur of a moan coming from him and spoken over her belly.

“No, but he can still see leagues better than either of us...” Aimee trailed, watching Noah stir. “Thanks for the offer, maybe next time. I’ve lost my appetite for it now, I’ve been reading all day anyway.”

She stood, moving to put her book away then turning and sitting down overtop her crate. She looked out of the wagon to the horses behind theirs, hearing the sloshing hooves as they coursed through once packed dirt now turned to mush.

“I guess everyone will be sleeping in their wagons tonight. The ground’s probably soaked, way soaked,” she went on, pausing for a few breaths. “I think I’m going hunting tonight, see what I can find.”

Aimee looked at Noah sullenly. “It’s much easier to do when you’ve got an eagle to point everything out for you, safer too since he watches while I eat, makes sure nothing will happen to me.” She sighed, coursing a hand through her hair, root to tip. “I’m hungry though, and there’s no telling what the cook will whip up. I may not have the stomach for it tonight.”

[snelss0]

Elann could feel her husband waking slightly as the two talked. As he hugged her tighter, she grew immensely in love and comfort with him. It was adorable to her and though she could tell he was in pain on his back the more he woke up, she wanted him to feel as though it wasn't there with her other good emotions.

Giving a nod in response, Elann watched silently as Aimee moved to put her book away. The thought of sleeping in the wagon wasn't a pleasant one, and while her tent and rugs could protect them from the watery ground, she'd rather not and would much rather sleep in the wagon.

"I am sure he will be well enough to fly soon. Give it a few more days and I'm sure he'll be glad to go with you. You shouldn't risk it. I mean...that's my opinion. You know that world much better than I do. I would feel much more comfortable with Noah watching over you. I could perhaps help the cook tonight, that way you shouldn't have to worry?"

With her helping the cook, the meal would probably be the best they'd had on the road by his hand. She had an insight of spices from her people that seemed to make food taste much better than it could. The last thing she could take right now was something bad happening to Aimee. If she could, she would cook day and night with the cook to ensure her safety.

[Illumin0sity]

“He’ll be elated,” Aimee said, looking to Noah as he resettled on Elann’s lap, falling back into whatever light sleep he roused from momentarily.

The wolf found it curious Elann expressed that she didn’t want Aimee to risk going out, even though she had been hunting alone a fair few times since their initial meeting in Syliras.

“I appreciate your concern,” she addressed, rising from the trunk. “I’ve been here long enough since Noah’s been injured. He’s getting better and you haven’t left his side since, so I’m assuming that your relationship has gotten better as well.”

She turned her back to Elann, bending down to reopen her trunk. “No offense, but it’s quite boring being around camp all day, sleeping... having people look at me like that. They don’t think I notice but I swear humans are nose-blind, eye-blind, and deaf sometimes, think they’re being so sneaky with their glances.” There was a clear tone of disdain in Aimee’s voice, though she was talking quietly.

She began strip off her tights, pulling them down from around her waist to pull off from the leg holes around her ankles. “I guess I lied, it’s not the cook’s cooking that I don’t want, even if it isn’t the best, I’d just rather be away for a little while.”

Aimee looked at Elann, folding her tights. Though she was bare from the waist down Noah’s shirt was long enough to cover her. “Your cooking is great, don’t get me wrong, but like I said, just for a little while...” A soft smile was shown then, partly in apology for rejecting Elann’s offer and ultimately disregarding the Benshira’s concerns though Aimee did address them.

She turned around again, letting the pants drop into the trunk before she went to take off her shirt, pulling at the bottom to roll up over her head and down into the trunk. Her hands came through her hair a final time, fanning it all out before turning back to look at Elann, listening if she had anything else to say in reply, perhaps a final urging or well wish before Aimee would depart.

[snelss0]

Elann couldn't help but smile down to her husband as he fell back into his sleep. She nodded to her sister in her assumptions. It had been quite a few days since they had been getting along. Her desire to listen amongst other things had been healing their relationship.

Letting out a little sigh, Elann wished people weren't so fickle and misrepresenting, though she supposed she had her own vices. Elann often took what she didn't understand in stride and sought to find out more about it.

"I wish it wasn't that way. I actually have learned a little bit about Reinmancy upon coming to Syliras. I met a mage and we spoke of it; how he felt and how people perceived him. You aren't alone though. We love you and I know the more you are around these people, the more they will see you as the person you are." She paused, thinking of what she would say next, feeling inspired to encourage her sister, "I believe you are one of the most kind, sweet persons I've met since coming here, and the things you've overcome and yet still how you remain that way is something Yahal is pleased with. You are faithful to your family and have purity in your heart, so don't worry about those who set their eyes against you in mistrust. There are far greater eyes on you here than them and they approve of you. It's just something to think about..."

Giving her a warm smile, she would let her leave if she so wanted, not so ashamed to see her nude form, though the driver behind them was getting quite the show with the flaps open.

"I hope you find something tasty and have a bit of fun."

The thought of her going into the woods made Elann nervous and though she knew she was capable, many people had experienced some form of loss on this trip. The last thing her husband would want would be to experience the loss of his sister. She knew he would take it far too personally as he already blamed himself for his injuries. This too would compile on it. Her desire to not have Aimee to go was because she loved Noah and wanted to protect him.

[Illumin0sity]

Elann’s words gave Aimee pause, as she was ready to shift if there was nothing else but a goodbye and smile. She didn’t expect the Benshira to grow sentimental in what Aimee regarded as idle comments. She truly didn’t care what the others thought, she simply wished she didn’t have to put up with it. In the long run it wouldn’t matter what the caravan goers thought, they would part ways and Aimee would be at home within the next two weeks. All it would do now was alienate her for a few more days until her brother was back on his feet, then the both of them could take to the wilds as they loved. The humans’ opinions would be but an afterthought then.

It was uplifting though, Elann’s words, and how Yahal was supposedly pleased with Aimee’s behavior and personality. Yahal wasn’t a deity that Aimee consciously aligned herself with, but she did seek the appreciation from the gods, whomever it would be.

“Thank you,” she whispered in reply to Elann’s well wishing. She took a few steps towards the exit of the wagon, meeting the gaze of the driver behind their wagon before the man’s fleeted away.

Aimee shifted, the magical flash of light and appearance of mystical dust taking over her form before the sound of four paws touching wood sounded. The wolf took careful steps towards the edge of the wagon, her snout up as she sniffed the moist air, before she leaped down off to the right, a puddle of water sloshing from her impact. The patter of her paws falling was heard for a moment more before the grass covered her advance into the thicket.

Time passed still, evening grew to night and the call for camp was sounded. It was the loud resounding call that woke Noah up finally, and he stirred once more. His lids cracked open and he sought out Elann first, wherever she was in the wagon. If she was still acting as his pillow, he would tighten his hold around her once more, before groaning in the unwant of wakefulness. His own comfort was immense in that moment.

[snelss0]

The caravan had been making headway and pushing hard for time. Full days of travel were common to them and Elann thought it was normal, since they had done so since the beginning, but as the wagonmaster drew closer to Zeltiva, there were going to be days where they could break for lunch at beautiful meadows of flowers next to the river and actually enjoy a few days off from traveling here and there. The miserable traveling speed in which they held was designed to push them quickly through the cold, inhospitable, and dangerous places rapidly, so that they could enjoy the rest of the trip.

Aimee disappeared from the back of the wagon and Elann remained, watching out the back. As the call came to pull over, the river was very close, if not on the edge of camp. She could hear the subtle waters flowing in the short distance and it didn't sound too fast. That night, the wagonmaster was going to announce that they would remain there until the day after next, much to everyone's relief. Traveling by boat, it was akin to pulling into a harbor along your journey for resupply. The men would go off and hunt to dry meat for the journey ahead and people could enjoy themselves.

As it was, the dreary day was ending for the two of them who remained in the wagon and as he hugged her upon waking, she bent down in her flexibility and placed a kiss on the back of his head. Her hands then ran through his hair as she nudged him from her to wake up.

"Up up, sleepy. I want a kiss. You can sleep later. We've stopped."

She twirled his hair in her fingers, wondering if he would get up. She hadn't invoked her command to him, but it was a want of hers to kiss his sleepy lips. She loved when he first woke up and how his lips felt all warm and squishy.

"Your sister went out hunting," she commented.

[Illumin0sity]

Noah was contented further by Elann running her hands through his hair. Her voice was even more comforting, how even though it was urging it was soft and he enjoyed it. She said she wanted a kiss, to which he groaned further into her front, both in playful hiding and in the want to take in her scent all the more. He felt her fingers tug on his hair lightly as his hair was twirled, but he remained where he was, face buried, as she informed him about his sister, how she went hunting. He hummed in acknowledgement, feeling somber by the information because he wanted to be hunting with her too.

He turned his attention back to Elann though, letting her fingers in his hair alleviate the feelings of his mind. “No kisses,” he murmured. “They’re mine.”

He shifted his head, peering up at her through the corner of his eye to see how she would react. It was in play and mischief, he wanted to keep a kiss from her because of how she said they made her feel. It would be fun to play keepaway with her.

[snelss0]

Noah denied her getting kisses, somehow finding it in him to be a pain in the butt despite his sleepiness. She thought it funny but she wanted what she wanted. Because of his denial, she grabbed the nice warm blanket and tore it off of his body, exposing him to the cold. The driver of the wagon behind had hopped off and so she didn't mind the action.

She then plopped the whole blanket down on his head so that he couldn't view her any longer and wriggled a finger into the depths of the blanket.

There her finger found the bend in his neck where she wriggled it back and forth against him, tickling his muscle by manipulating it in a form of tickle. It was punishment for denying her.

"Give them to me now."

[Illumin0sity]

At Noah’s denial Elann threw the covers off of him, exposing him and his bareness to the chill of the air he wasn’t used to. The blanket trapped his warmth and made it comfortably hot in there for him, now it was gone and it was shocking to his skin. The shock wasn’t allowed to be processed as his vision was quickly muddled by the blanket being cast over his head. Not seeing Elann, but feeling her fingers invade, any initial panic that may have started was swiftly stopped by the ticklish proddings of her weaver’s fingers. He immediately shied away from her fingers but the laughter came regardless, muffled by the blanket over his head.

Noah turned over onto his back as quickly as his wound would allow, his head still attempting to work against Elann’s fingers. He managed to snatch the blankets off his head, revealing her to him as he stared up at her now, the back of his head against her thighs. She requested again for the kisses. The tickling woke him up all the more, and the mischief within was encouraged.

“No,” he said adamantly, tucking his lips into his mouth.

The tickling continued; he failed to hold in his laughter. The next bout of giggles coming from him forced his lips back out but his hands were already going for Elann’s, grasping them to force them to stop their tickling. He lay there, smiling up at her. He trusted her to not rip her hands away from his. Though he could confidently confine one of them entirely, the bad arm would’ve failed to keep up with any jarring snatch she might’ve done.

“Did you write about them?” he asked pertaining to the kisses. “No kisses until you read me what you wrote. If not, none until you’ve written about them and have read to me.”

Noah quirked a brow up at her, solidifying his bargain as truth and also seeing how she would react. It may have been a gamble on his part, he couldn’t exactly stop her from tickling him again once he let her hands go to either grab the journal in order to read to him or to write in.

[snelss0]

Despite Noah's laughter, she didn't care. People knew better than to peek into their wagon given the whole kelvic naked situation. She would move slowly for him, knowing he was injured, but as he would grab her offending finger, her pinky would angle to replace where her index finger once was before grasped. Soon he would have her hands in complete binding and from the darkness, she stared down at him with deep love as the butt tucked his lips in.

Elann had a silent masterful way about her, as if she knew he was weak and that she could win, but was being sneaky and catchable. Her hands slipped from his and went for their second attack, his laughter blurting out again as she went for both sides of his neck. It was then he got ahold of her well and good. She could tell by his strong grip that she wasn't meant to get loose and so she waited with a sly smile on her face there for him.

Soon enough, he asked about her writing, even foolishly letting her hands go. Slowly she rubbed the minor pain from her wrists as it was not much.

"Nnnn...It could be hours, days, months, even years before I read what I wrote." Seductively with a saddened face she asked, "Would you not kiss me?"

Her smile afterwards would tell she was going to be just as much of a butt back. She would not read him what she wrote just because he denied her and made it into a competition.

[Illumin0sity]

Elann expressed it could be a while before she read what she wrote, saying to him she may have already written down what was on her mind pertaining to kissing him. She asked if he wouldn’t kiss her until then, perhaps years between now and then. Noah met her whispering tone with a slight tilt of his head, gazing up at her. He smiled somewhat smugly, shrugging his shoulders.

“A shame...” he trailed, his eyes slowly leaving her before he went to sit up. “How will you ever survive for years?”

There was a subtle sense of sarcasm in his voice as he rose from the bench, a hand coming over his chest to scratch at the skin. Noah took himself and his nakedness to the fore of the wagon, where he went to him and Elann’s trunk. There was a brief moment where goosebumps came over his skin due to the chilled air flowing into the wagon. The moment passed and his skin retook it natural texture.

Noah turned to face Elann then, rolling his shoulders slightly to test the pain from the wound on his back. A slight look of discomfort came over his face, but the pain was much less than the days prior, and he didn’t fear tearing the wound anew any longer since the stitches were out.

He looked at his bondmate expectantly, wondering how she was reacting to his seemingly uncaring nature.

[snelss0]

Noah's shrug indicated that he would continue to torment her. All she wanted was a warm Noah kiss, but now that time had surely passed. He stood from her, which although they were playing, there was some disappointment there. She watched him as best she could in the deepening dark. Ripples of pain coursed over her body as he stretched, but she knew that it was good for him.

"I probably won't. If I don't get them, and get them soon I'll probably wither away you know. Before I wondered what they felt like, but now that I've kissed you, I need them. I will die if I don't get more in the next...two chimes."

Her hand came to her head as though she felt weak, and she slumped back against the canvas.

[Illumin0sity]

Though it was dark, Noah could see Elann fairly clearly. His pale skin tone probably aided eyes in searching for him, but he was tempted to light one of the stormgems in order for them to see near perfectly. He had, after all, managed to tap into their offensive capabilities. Noah watched her, partly taking joy in her having a hard time seeing him. It was adding to his objective flare and how he wanted to play hard-to-get. He recalled her saying it was okay for either of them to either ask for affection, sexual or not, or to pursue and be pursued by the other. He was attempting to let her in behind the walls erected around his heart’s passion. The pleasure and enjoyment derived from having sex with her being the force in which slowly crumbled the walls.

Elann engaged in her dramatics, saying she would wither away and die if she didn’t get his kisses. She once wondered how they felt, now that she knew, she needed them to live. He watched her hand come over her forehead, watching as she feigned weakness. Smiling, he turned his back to her again, counting the seconds aloud from one. Counting still, he rummaged through their chest to find the sack of stones, pulling out one of the smaller ones that immediately began to glow in increasing intensity at the touch of his fingers.

The bright white light radiated through the room, casting their shadows over the canvas and could probably be seen from outside, maybe reminding the caravan goers of the electricity once emitted if they could connect the light and the stone to Noah.

“One-hundred... one hundred and one,” he continued, turning back. He took steps towards her, bare feet padded silently across the floor.

With the light illuminating the whole of his features, he counted still. Holding the gem in his bad arm, he leaned in over her, holding himself up with the good one until he got to one-hundred and nineteen.

With his face directly before hers, he whispered, “One-hundred and twenty... oh no... it’s been two chimes.” He watched her for a reaction, partly believing she would feign death then and there.

[snelss0]

The illumination meant she had no excuses any longer to not read him from her journal, but she retained her stance, ignoring his counting down as she waited with her upper teeth pulled in anticipation over her lips. As he began to move closer to her, she squinted in the light, knowing the other caravaners could see his nude body if they moved toward the back of the wagon. As it was, they were all staying away, likely out of fear.

As he drew closer to her, there of course was a natural desire for him growing inside of her, and as he even leaned down, her heart thumped rapidly in her, her desire growing more and more. She had to play her part though and upon reaching 119, she appeared most faint, as if in the next moment she would die, and sure enough, she flopped down in a slump. In her opinion she was a pretty convincing dead person, but he could still see her breathing, and if he touched her anywhere, there likely would be stifled giggles.

[Illumin0sity]

The more Noah counted, the fainter Elann became. It was minorly amusing, and as he reached two chime fulls of seconds, she went completely limp. He looked at her, examining her features in the light. In the white illumination, her darker skin, still fair, was much lighter and his own was nearly fluorescent. He had seen how the brilliance of her eyes would grow tenfold in the gem’s light, though he could not see it now through her closed lids.

Noah felt her desire piquing and could imagine her heart leaping in her chest as his advance. His own was dormant and controlled, he was looking at toying with her as a game, her reactions being his consistent rewards and encouragement to continue playing, regardless of the ending outcome. He didn’t know how long it took for the cook to sound the call for dinner, thus didn’t know how long he truly had to play his game. He did know they had once managed to wait long enough for Aimee to aid the hunters in tracking down squirrels and hares before cooking dinner though.

“Elann,” he said in a sing-song way. “Elann,” he sang again, “my love, come back to life.”

Elann didn’t budge, staying true to her supposed death. Noah stood straight again then squatted just before the bench. Then, he reached for her, poking at her side, evoking a grunt of stifled laugh from the Benshira. He poked her again, bringing forth another. He looked at her legs, reached for her, then watched his hand smooth up her shin, over her knee, and then her thigh, bunching up the dress’ skirt as it went.

[snelss0]

Elann was no actress, nor did she have experience playing dead. His poking finger sent shocks of giggles flowing through her, quickly ended, causing her to appear even more dead than before. As her husband touched her leg, the shock of it caused her to twitch her leg back a bit before it went limp once more, and as he slowly smoothed up her leg, she began to have less and less control over her breathing.

Each new height her face grew redder in the increasing dark of night and her body would tense under his hand. There was a mix of excitement, fear, and stubbornness in that moment. Her fear came from the fact that he was lifting her already short dress up to reveal her features as a woman with the wagon flaps open and a very eye catching light present.

The more he raised, up to her thigh, the more tense and nervous she became until she shot up and pushed his hand away.

"I'm back, I'm back! Goodness. Give me the journal. You win."

She wanted to close the flaps anyways to give them some privacy, having known the hearts of the people and how they saw such things as abnormal. Glowing lights that were not from flame just set people on edge and reminded them of magic and the terrors it had brought on the world. She would move to close them herself if he didn't stop her, but then would come back and play as though she was still dying on the bench.

"Can't...I...get...just...a little...kiss?"