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NEAR MEAN PEAK - MORNING
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Nesseth yawns a bit as he stretches out the slight aches from having slept on a mat of woven leaves and plants the previous night. It wasn't comfortable, but it certainly beat sleeping directly on the cavern floor. The cool air that wafts through the area in front of the cave causes him to shiver a bit, the wind feeling all the more cold from his lack of clothing. While he waits for Erika to wake up, he goes to the campfire they'd set up in front of the cave and adds another couple of logs to the ashes and embers smouldering from the previous night, in the hopes of stoking it into a good source of warmth.
Erika shivers for a bit and slowly blinks awake. It's obvious the naked okapi has been pretty cold this night despite the lizard sleeping next to her. She glances at Nesseth working the campfire's remains and smiles: "Hey, you."
Nesseth looks over and smiles at Erika upon seeing the okapi awake. "Morning, Erika. Give me a few seconds to get the fire back up and we can warm up a bit." He pokes at the embers a bit, pushing them closer around the logs without stifling their access to air, "How are you feeling?"
Erika gets up to sitting position and smiles... though shivers again as she holds her arms under her chest: "Mmmr. As good as I really could be I guess. Cold night."
Erika sneezes as though to accidentally make her point.
Nesseth hums quietly, nodding as he puts a little more effort into getting the logs to catch fire, which he's successful at doing after a few more seconds. "Yeah... it's going into winter time now, isn't it? Come here so you can warm up."
Erika scoots closer to the campfire and Nesseth, resting her arm on his hip: "Don't have to tell me twice~." She sneaks a kiss to Nesseth's cheek.
Nesseth scoots back just a little from the edge of the fire and sits down beside Erika. He slips an arm around her hip in turn. "Nice way to start the morning, cold aside~"
Erika leans onto Nesseth: "Can definitely think of worse ways. Quite a few of them, but let's not go naming them."
Nesseth hums as he leans against Erika, sharing the little warmth the two have since waking up while the fire slowly builds. "Well, we don't have to worry about those, anyway. Once we're warmed up, we can go and snag our stuff."
Erika smiles warmly as she warms up herself: "Y-yeah. Let's hope that whatever it was that ambushed us lost interest." She pauses: "...and left our stuff be."
Nesseth nods. "We'll find out soon enough. Only thing I can think that would have been of interest is the food, but I had it all packed away pretty far down in the pack."
Erika shrugs: "I probably had worse food in there than what's just growing around, anyway."
Nesseth chuckles quietly. "Yeah, maybe... still, if we can get our stuff back, that'd be great. At least the camp bed would be something good, and would beat sleeping on the ground."
Erika giggles: "You're soft, but not that soft." She leans closer to the campfire, shivering once more as she slowly warms up: "Definitely no need to repeat that night though. My tits were freezing all night."
Nesseth experimentally squeezes one of his biceps for a moment to test the softness of his muscles. "Hmm... yeah, probably not the most comfortable of pillows, really." He chuckles and sneaks a kiss on Erika's neck, "You should have said something, though. I would have done more to try and keep them warm."
Erika giggles and squeezes her upper body towards Nesseth in a very obvious way: "Well, can always fix that mistake now... you know, just to get warm, obviously~."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully as he leans against Erika... then lets a hand wander over her belly and up towards her chest, though he pauses short of copping a feel. "Uh... hopefully my hand is warm enough to not make it even colder."
Erika pushes her breast into Nesseth's hand... slightly winces at the relative cold, but then grins confidently anyway: "Warm enough soon enough, at least." She leans to give Nesseth's frills a lick, for really no reason besides doing exactly that.
Nesseth gives Erika's chest a teasing little squeeze, but otherwise just leaves his hand in place for the moment to actually help her warm up a little. He wiggles his frills a bit at the lick, and chuckles quietly. "Give it a few seconds, and we should be good, I think. The sun rising is definitely helping, too."
Erika glances at the increasing amount of light entering their little cave and smiles: "Yep, it's going to be another beautiful day! ...for getting our stuff back, but that's not the point. After that, maybe we can even focus on the gathering we came here for!" She pauses, takes a humming look at Nesseth's hand on her chest and grins: "Well, later~."
Nesseth teases across Erika's chest a bit as his hand slowly warms up against her fur. "While the sun's still up, anyway. That gives us..." He trails off, doing a quick bit of mental math, "Ten or eleven hours, give or take?"
Erika shrugs with a smile: "Don't really care. Time until not time left. We can do it."
Nesseth smiles and leans up for another soft kiss. "Fair enough, dear. Though... maybe we should go and see if we can grab our stuff sooner rather than later? We did get chased off mid-afternoon yesterday, so... it might be sleeping still?"
Erika hms into the kiss, closing her eyes for a second. After a moment of quiet thought, she speaks again: "Let's hope so. I don't really like running for my life all that much."
Nesseth holds the kiss for a second or so, then smiles as it breaks. "We'll be fine. Once we get our stuff back, we'll be able to take our time again."
Erika gives a soft grin: "Your confidence is very inspiring, you know that~"
Nesseth grins in turn as he teases a finger over Erika's chest fur. "I just know what I can do, and how to do it well, is all. We just work with what happens as it happens, after a certain point."
Erika giggles at the touch, not-quite-pushing Nesseth's hand away. "Whatever it exactly is, you're good at it. Though I guess I'm not the worst at optimism either... "
Nesseth shakes his head in amusement as he eases up on the teasing. "You've a sunny outlook on a lot of things. It's a little infectious."
Erika smiles warmly: "I actively avoid moping. It's not good for you. "
Nesseth continues to smile as he starts to feel the warmth of the sun and the campfire washing away the lingering chill of the early morning. "A little moping for a moment, but definitely not good to linger too long on it."
Erika leans back and sighs: "Yeah, I can't really stay down... there's too much life to be had out there... out here? To really stay put all that much, you know?"
Nesseth laughs and nods. "Yeah, that's part of why I became an Explorer before settling here. I wanted to see stuff beyond just my hometown and the neighboring islands in Orela." He shrugs a little, "Thanks to that, I got to see places I wouldn't have visited otherwise. Glaushire, Westport, Ondoga, all of the smaller towns and villages in between... There's a lot out there."
Erika gives a soft sigh: "I've never seen all those places... I have no idea what that actually looks like when you all describe those bigger cities to me, really." She smiles softly, hopefully: "But maybe one day."
Nesseth hums in affirmation. "Mmh, definitely. One day, when our obligations aren't really tying us down."
Erika shrugs: "Whenever that is, I guess. I don't really have anyone to take care of the garden for that long, and I definitely don't want to bother Mom for that anymore."
Nesseth tilts his head a bit, leaning a little against Erika's side as he thinks, then shrugs. "We'll think of something, I'm sure. Not like we're in any real rush right now, anyway."
Erika giggles: "We're rather too naked to be in a hurry."
Nesseth laughs and nods. "Just a bit too naked, yeah. At least that'll be a temporary thing."
Erika sticks her tongue out: "I sure hope so. Even if you look great like that~."
Nesseth smirks playfully. "You look great like that, too, of course~"
Erika wiggles slightly: "Oh? Never would have guessed from the way you look at me~."
Nesseth grins and wiggles his eyebrows. "Then maybe I should make things a little more obvious, when I look at you~?"
Erika laughs: "If you made it more obvious, they'd never let you Guard my side of town again~."
Nesseth chuckles. "True, true. Half the fun is when I stop by your place on patrol, just to check in and see how you're doing."
Erika smirks: "Gotta keep me from doing all those dastardly criminal activities, after all."
Nesseth nods sagely. "Exactly! I never know what you're doing in that garden of yours~"
Erika grins sharply: "Wouldn't you like to know~."
Erika bursts into helpless giggles.
Nesseth laughs as he leans in and hugs Erika warmly. "I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later~"
Erika hugs Nesseth tightly: "Or something like that."
Nesseth hums as he settles into the hug. "Yeah, something like that."
Erika sighs softly, then finally, reluctantly straightens up: "...s-should we start to get going, then? Find what's out there waiting for us."
Nesseth hums again as he eases up on the hug and starts to stand. "Probably. The sooner we go to grab our gear, the less likely whatever it is will be awake and nearby."
Erika takes Nesseth's hand as she gets up as well, smiling: "Besides, you're just as curious as I am."
Nesseth nods as he helps Erika up. "Of course. I'm the inquisitive sort, you know that."
Erika gives Nesseth a kiss on the cheek as she gets up: "I do. Someone's gotta watch out for you out here, might as well be me."
Nesseth chuckles and grins. "I couldn't ask for a better traveling companion out here at Mean Peak."
Erika winks: "Watch it with all that flattery, I might start getting used to it~."
Nesseth smiles innocently. "I guess I could tone it back a little, if I'm laying it on too thick~"
Erika sticks her tongue out: "I didn't say stop doing it~."
Nesseth chuckles. "Who said anything about stopping completely?" He nods towards the direction the two came from, and hopefully where their gear is still scattered, deeper into the trees, "We can keep flirting while we go and grab out gear."
Erika swishes her tail as she starts walking ahead of Nesseth, smiling brightly: "Well, let's go find out! I'm not done flirting with you, after all."
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ABOVE THE FALLS - AFTERNOON
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Louma moves around just behind Xochicoatl, glancing toward the hopping path they had to take to get up here; a series of plateaus just high enough most don't bother to scale them, but good for a fledgling flyer to make short jumps. She pats and flexes one of Xochicoatl's wings, both examining how strong the muscles feel and how flexible her joints are, as well as stretching both in preparation. "Your exercises seem to be working faster than I'd expected, Xochicoatl."
Xochicoatl grins, clearly excited by this entire prospect, and feeling alive with each short flight, even if it is just a few short hops. "I have been most diligent! I have anticipated this for years. I am sure it must be the same for all with wings when they reach my age, yes?"
Louma pauses, humming a moment before she starts on the other wing, careful enough with the beautiful feathers even though her efforts are still firm. "Perhaps some do... Not a terribly large part of Orela's population is so blessed. You are right, anticipating my first flight was certainly exciting."
Xochicoatl relaxes the first wing, stretching the other out for Louma to inspect even as she bows her head. "It seems obvious that whoever my captors were would deny it to me... escape would be easy. I am blessed that there were those loyal to me who left the way open."
Louma nods, smoothing the feathers down. "Yes, friends among the guard such as Aktzin are likely the only reason you've made it here. Even so... It was the will of the lizards that spared you." She thinks for a few moments, speaking quieter. "And flight does not guarantee escape... Unfortunately your wings make you so unique that hiding is very difficult."
Xochicoatl hums quietly, "I have no intention of hiding who I am. If the lizards wish to stop me..." She stops short and shakes her head, breathing out a sigh. "I will not be made captive again. I wish to fly. I wish for this freedom, Louma, more than anything."
Louma smiles, raising herself up a little and spreading her wings, casting their shadow to either side of Xochicoatl's shadow. "And I will be honored to give you a hand toward that freedom."
Xochicoatl does her best to mirror Louma's pose, stretching her wings out in a less impressive wing-span than the swan's, but the feathers are iridescent, shimmering slightly in the sunlight, the rainbow of colors indeed quite impossible to mistake for anyone else. "In that, you honor me. Thank you, for everything you do for me, Louma. I apologize for any hardship I have caused you and your partner with my presence. I hope to be able to repay you tenfold -a hundredfold in the future."
Louma blushes ever so slightly as she considers the 'hardship' that may have been caused, turning to slither over next to Xochicoatl. "No, you are welcome in our home for now, though we should endeavor to give you a private space of your own. I think there may be a place available, and one of my guards may be able to help keep watch over you there, as well." She shakes her wings, some white down falling free.
Xochicoatl flaps her wings in place and nods, "It is still a service to the Royal bloodline. It deserves reward, when the day comes. I will see to it that all who aided me are justly recognized."
Louma chuckles quietly, nodding. "Just being able to help you would be enough, but I would be a fool to deny any gift. Your wings feeling ready?"
Xochicoatl forces her wings to relax a moment, though the excitement gives her away. "I- they are. They do. They feel ready, yes. I am quite ready to fly."
Louma nods firmly, showing the steps with her wings as she explains. "Alright, then as we were on the way up, but follow up faster. Out, tilt, push off and down." She repeats the motion once more before pushing off the third time with her tail, bringing her wings down with intent and force rather than instruction. She finds a balance in the air a couple dozen meters off the ground, flapping to stay aloft as she observes Xochicoatl.
Xochicoatl observes closely, wings twitching eagerly. "Out... tilt... push off, and down. Just like the way up." She takes a deep breath, then copies the movement, wings out, tilt, she pushes off with her tail, and brings the wings down, but not hard enough, causing her to faulter at first. She slips back down towards the ground and stumbles forward, (as much as a snake can stumble anyways), only to quickly recover and repeat the motions, pushing up again and this time flapping harder, maybe too hard at first, but hard enough to give her lift, enough to keep her in the air. Her eyes light up appropriately in awe.
Louma almost returns to the ground on her first stumble, but doesn't have a chance before the coatl is off the ground. She grins, nodding. "Excellent! Don't come up too high yet." She lets her own weight drag her down to roughly Xochicoatl's height as she maintains a good clearance between them. "Good form. You'll earn more royal grace with practice, don't let the turbulence discourage you."
Xochicoatl 's wings flap a little out of sync at first, and she's having trouble keeping herself at a steady altitude, going too high at first and nearly overcorrecting to drop herself down. The air pushes her about a bit, but still, she maintains the flight. She laughs gleefully, as she looks down at the ground below her (even if it's not that far below her.) "Louma! Louma! I did it! I'm flying! I... I am flying! Where to next? Fly back to the town? Or... those mountains! The ocean shore? To the south?" She's definitely a little overeager, and has no idea what her limits are.
Louma laughs, unable to help smiling at Xochicoatl's eager attitude. "How about we start with a circuit over the meadow, Xochicoatl. We can conquer the mountain any time, it will not uproot any time soon."
Xochicoatl nods, unable to contain her joy. "Right... right, yes. Over the meadow. Mountain later." She still struggles to maintain her altitude, but she's definitely overcome the first hurdle of actually gaining air. She takes a moment to figure out the angle of her wings to move herself forward, dropping down a moment once more before she manages to move. She's flapping a bit too much, not completely used to the air and how best to use it to her advantage.
Louma hums, remaining alongside Xochicoatl as she starts moving on her own. She considers trying to convey advice on flight, realizing that most of what she knows is instinct, and even looking toward her own wings she's not quite sure how to describe what she's doing. "You'll find the rhythm that works best over time, which is why starting small is best."
Xochicoatl nods, making a steady but sloppy flight forward, and in part, some of it is instinct that she's just fighting, thinking she needs to overdo everything to make it work. "You make it seem so effortless... but this- it feels amazing."
Louma laughs quietly. "It is, once you're used to it and more familiar with the winds themselves. If you feel a little brave, make your way toward the edge near the waterfall. There is a good updraft there that can give you a few seconds of reprieve."
Xochicoatl wobbles a bit in air, her fighting against the air currents tiring her out faster than any normal flight should, but without much hesitation, she manages to turn towards the waterfall and descend a bit, flapping her wings to keep herself up over the water, she feels the lift as she crosses over the edge. The updraft hits, and at first she panics, wings flailing a bit as she's not entirely sure what to do. She rises up above, then starts to rapidly descend over the edge of the waterfall.
Louma follows along, noticing her starting to flail. She darts forward as Xochicoatl starts to lose too much height, positioning herself above and behind the coatl as her tail wraps under the royal's arm, supporting some of her weight. "Spread your wings and try to cup the rising air."
Xochicoatl breathes heavily at the near loss of control, flapping her wings a few more time before she regains some control of herself. She nods at Louma, then holds her wings extended out, letting the updraft push her upward, finally stopping herself from struggling to be in constant control. "...Like this?"
Louma nods, giving an encouraging smile, though she's also glad to have most of Xochicoatl's weight off her tail. "Just like that, yes!" She slowly releases her highness, drifting back toward the meadow with her eyes locked on Xochicoatl.
Xochicoatl steadies herself as Louma releases her, letting herself stay in the updraft a moment longer before flapping her wings to move forward, pushing herself around in a circle to catch the updraft again in a slightly more controlled fashion and letting it help her clear the waterfall and back out over the meadow. She comes down, half-flapping and half-gliding back towards the ground of the meadow and making a most ungraceful landing, clearly exhausted. Still, she's laughing, clearly pleased with herself.
Louma follows suit, landing in a decent coil on the soft grass. She shakes her wings out and nods for Xochicoatl to do the same. "If you simply fold them back after every flight, i guarantee you will feel stiff after an hour. Your muscles and feathers need a bit of encouragement to return to a relaxed state."
Xochicoatl nods, stretching her wings out and shaking them. "Ahhhahaha, that was so wonderful, Louma! And... tiring! I must imagine it is not always so?"
Louma shakes her head. "Not always. I think your wings still have room to grow, and as you settle into a better technique you will conserve more energy."
Xochicoatl glances at her wings, still stretching them out. "Ahh. This makes sense." She looks up, into the sky, smiling. "Still... it is wonderful. I felt so... free. Truly free. Even beyond what I'd felt in coming here."
Louma looks to the sky as well, smiling warmly. "Yes, it is a great feeling. It feels like there is nowhere that you can not go. Living in Respite, there are not as many who share the gift of flight. Not as many as I would like, anyhow. Still, that also means places like this are secret for now."
Xochicoatl pulls her hands close to her chest, "I shall hold it close, then. I wish to see as much as I can. To see it all. I feel... very lucky, right now."
Louma nods, settling on to her coil. "You very well may be. Finding Respite out of all places, remote enough to be safe from Orelan interest, but still familiar enough to find friends among the people. We were both lucky in that regard."
Xochicoatl 's face shifts slightly into confusion, "I... yes... I was... lucky to be sent here? I don't..." She shakes her head, "Very lucky, then, yes. I hope... I hope to make more friends, though I know my position makes that difficult."
Louma hums, giving her a concerned look. "You don't recall the journey... I suppose it will come back to you in time. I would hope, anyhow."
Xochicoatl shakes her head, "No, I do... I... I was in Orela, at the manor, and the window..." She stops again, clenching her hands. "Then... then... here. And I met Vix, and she led me to your home. I should remember this, yes? I remembered you... didn't I?"
Louma looks to the ground, shaking her head. "I... Don't know what to tell you. All I know I can do is help you as much as I can now. Perhaps... More will come up that I can elaborate on soon, but until the ancients give me the appropriate signs..." She's not sure what would happen if she started telling Xochicoatl about Xochi yet...
Xochicoatl sighs, lowering her head. "They have been silent since I arrived. I shall trust you, Louma. I have little choice, otherwise, but I would trust you regardless, I think."
Louma sighs as well. "We did not know eachother on Orela, but that will not stop me from helping you here. From protecting you. Not because of obligation, but because you're a friend."
Xochicoatl lifts her head, reaching over to place a hand on Louma's shoulder, "You are. A friend, yes. That is something I never expected to find here. Thank you."
Louma pats Xochicoatl's hand, smiling. "Thank you, as well. Do you wish to stay and practice more, or shall we head back for dinner?"
Xochicoatl flaps her wings once, glancing around the meadow. "...one more time? I want to do it once more, and then... yes, dinner."
Louma smiles, nodding. "One more, then. Out, tilt, push off and down."
Xochicoatl repeats the order to herself, slightly less nervous but no less excited to take another flight, finally seeing all her excercises and freedom paying off as Louma guides her.