...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood [Kuro_Bara x Ryees]

[Ryees]

Tereille had taken on a darkness.

Jaenelle's... outburst had shaken him to his core. He had descended, then, as far as he could. He had not been sure if he was running towards or away from her, only that he had to move, and keep moving, or be destroyed. Maybe being destroyed by Jaenelle would not be so bad. Who knew? Everything he had heard of her had just been conflict. The Sadist called her the most wonderful thing in the world and the scariest at the same time; if the Sadist thought her wonderful, she was almost certainly exceptional beyond reason. And if he thought her terrifying...

Daearmuid let that thought dissolve away into the Abyss before it manifested fully in his conscious mind. That was a dangerous line of thought, no doubt. Dangerous subjects and a dangerous situation. Even here in Tereille, where order and law had just been obliterated by that great storm, less danger lurked around the corner on average. Daear was able to lazily stroll down the streets here, serene and calm. He didn't have to worry about a crazed Warlord lurching out of the alley and trying to kill him. But that serenity was marred by a thick line of curiosity.

It was that scent, that same scent he had smelled on every Queen he had come across. It was unmistakable yet unknown, familiar yet foreign, all wrapped in a thick veil of confusion: Why did that psychic scent come so strongly here in Tereille? Karla's visions had been vague, but Tereille had been central in them. There was a Queen, another girl, a group of Blood, and then nothing. It had sputtered into nothingness without giving him any real direction, so he had found himself wandering Tereille somewhat aimlessly. Then that scent had caught him, and led him here. This was where Dorothea's hell hole was. And where...

His foot crunched the ground as frost formed around his boots. Dorothea had had operations here, certainly, but Daemon had not had to coax Jaenelle out of the Abyss because of Dorothea.

Greer.

Briarwood.

His wings flared abruptly, slamming air out of the way and launching him forward. It only took a few bursts of psychic energy to break the sound barrier, hurdling through the streets of Tereille like a missile. He used Craft to form a hard shield in front of him and plowed through the wall of one of the abandoned manors of Tereille.

Her body was still warm, her Sapphire Jewels broken and strewn about. The scents in the room led him nowhere, too bathed in fear and hatred and aggression to discern anything real. But this body was young. And she was a Queen. The snarl that escaped his lips could have cut glass. Craft summoned his spear, elegant crimson steel singing through a crescent arc edged in Ebon Gray energy. The walls were sliced through like tissue paper, and he pressed onward.

Three more scenes like the first. Three more pools of blood, shattered Jewels, and brokenness. His heart pounded in his ears as the blood raced around his head, the tempered Cold that Daemon had tried to instill in him replaced instead by the passionate heat of the Sadist's half-brother. Indeed, Lucivar and Daearmuid likely shared more in common with each other than Daear and Daemon, for their bloodlines carried much of the same passion and pride of the Eyrien histories.

He could follow these trails all over Tereille, but he knew, ultimately, where he would end up. He broke the sound barrier again, this time headed straight for the most evil place he would ever visit.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra blinked slowly, trying to focus on the room. It seemed to sit at a weird angle, the edges of her vision were blurry making it even more difficult to get her bearings. She desperately tried to recall where she was and how she got here. Her mother's voice wavered in the back of her mind. Her tone was warning...telling her not to leave the house...telling her it was dangerous... She always hated when her overprotective mother was right.

Very carefully she tried to push herself out but much to her horror realized she couldn't move her arms. Tilting her head to the side made a soft groan escape her lips and caused her vision to swim and darken alarmingly. When the throbbing ache her head cleared enough to see again, Thyra could see thick leather straps around her wrists. It finally sunk in that she was strapped to a bed. Fear caused a icy shiver up her spine and she bit her lip to reign in the mounting panic.

A door to her left creaked and she frantically tried to look around, causing another bout of throbbing pain. Whoever had kidnapped her had clearly used a drug that effected people like her. Her mother had explained that she was special, of a caste that barely existed in Tereille any more. Her mother said she was blessed to be alive but that she had to be protected. She had kept her jewels hidden and tried to suppress both her natural abilities and power as well as her instincts. It was part of why they lived so far away from most towns and villages. Somehow...someone had found her.

Thyra was particularly vunerable, she was on the cusp of 16 and just about to make her Offering to the Darkness. If she was broken now...Tereille would loose yet another potentially powerful Queen. Thyra wanted to help heal the realm but some hidden power seemed determined to prevent such a thing from happening.

A male face suddenly loomed over making her yelp slightly. He was haggard looking, stubble covering his face and his eyes sunken and tired. She immediately sensed that he was one of the shattered Blood. One of those that the Witchstorm had destroyed. He had been lucky enough to live through it...or unlucky enough depending on how one looked at it. Thyra had the immediate instinct to cower away from him, but swallowed the feeling and glared definitely up at him. She wouldn't be intimidated by him or anyone.

"You won't be so brave when we're through with you whore." He hissed, his breath stunk of alcohol.

The next sound she heard made her want to scream and she thrashed against the bed, panic finally winning out over any other emotion. The sound of a zipper, the rustle of clothing as another man pushed his trousers down. The man looming over her sneered. "First we'll break you...then we'll kill you...no one in Tereille will come to save you."

Tears welled up in Thyra's emerald eyes. 'NOOooooo' She didn't realize that she had sent the panicked cry out across the Red psychic threads. She sobbed with terror as she felt the bed sink as the unknown man knelt between her legs and harshly shoved them apart. 'Help me!' It was almost a scream. If there was anyone in the area Red or darker jewels her voice would most certainly reverberate through their mind, male or female.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Briarwood was a melancholy pit of twisting corridors, spiraling hallways, and grim-looking chambers. The place reeked of death even so long after Greer's influence had been silenced by Surreal so long ago. Daearmuid's skin prickled uncomfortably as the feel of the place washed over him. Bile welled up in his throat and he swallowed it back, grimacing at the burn but pleased for the fact that it was a sensation he could feel that was not instilled on him by this anguished asylum. His crimson spear glinted dully in the fading light; craft produced a dim light for him to see by, casting a soft red glow over the hall as he traversed it.

Finding her would be impossible. He could smell her, certainly, that telltale sweetness of a Queen that every male Blood was attracted to the moment his loins came to. If before he had licked his lips at the scent, now it caused him to choke back sobs. This place, this demonic house of hate, was no place for one such as her. She was better than Briarwood, but would die here. The tears leaking from his eyes turned to steam at the psychic heat emanating from his body. Finally he broke, choking a sob as his regret ran deep. He opened his mind to the Winds, intending to send a message back to Saetan.

Help me!

The stone around him buckled as a bubble of force screamed out of his body. Briarwood shook to its core. Daemon's training was entirely disregarded, now, and instead he turned to the advice he had claimed from Lucivar. The Red threads came easily to his Birthright and he called out in answer, "HOLD ON! I'm here, I'm here! I'll find you!" He grit his teeth together. His thoughts were private now.

I'll find you if I have to raze this entire building to the ground. He took off at a sprint down the hallway, his spear lashing out left, right, left, right, slicing doors in half and at the hinges. Rooms were flooded with energy as he probed each space while he ran past. Empty, empty, empty, empty, they were all empty, each and every one he passed. This wing was empty. His net cast farther. Wider. He strained his senses, desperately scouring every door and every chamber. East wing, central wing, basement... Nothing. West wing...

He bristled. A number of psychic signals. Male. Not Blood, but nor did they feel like Landen. They weren't half-bloods, either. That left one thing. If his blood hadn't been boiling already, it rose to a fever pitch now. The scum of the earth was not only in the presence of his Queen, but the reason for her distress? Somewhere in his mind it occurred to him that this was not his Queen, that he had no claim on her, but the rationality behind that was crushed underneath the weight of his fury. He had found her, that was all that mattered.

Daear's legs had never carried him faster, especially considering the Ebon energy that propelled him along. Doorways blurred by him as he tore through the hallways. He slammed into the wall as the hallway he was in ended, entirely forgetting to Craft himself a cushion to brace the impact. The damage to his body was irrelevant. It was just another setback that kept him from Her.

Halls, atriums, an office, and more hallways. He was close now. He could feel her. He could feel them. The blade of his lance sang out.

That rouge spear sliced through the hinges of the door and he ripped it off with his other hand. Two men. Two bodies to create.

He hefted his spear easily and Crafted a small disc of energy at its base. A bestial howl and a ferocious burst of Ebon energy launched that spear as by cannon. The spear plowed through the man above his Queen—She is not your Queen, Daear!—and the disc caught the flat of his back. His rib cage buckled, but held, and the disc dragged him off of her. It continued along its trajectory and embedded itself to half-haft into the wall, pinning him there like a macabre puppet. The other man in the room had barely a half second to being to turn towards the door before Daearmuid was on him. Mental energy crashed into the man's mind while Daearmuid's fists pounded his body. Mind and body snapped as one as a particularly harsh fist crushed his windpipe fractured his neck in one blow. The ex-Blood's head lolled awkwardly to the side, and his body soon followed.

Daearmuid stood in the center of the room, fists clenched and panting. A thin sheen of sweat covered his tanned Eyrien skin; his tall body clenched and unclenched as his body tried to decide what state it was in; his gold eyes were slowly shedding their haze of murderous rage; and his black hair was slowly settling back down where it had been blown up by the harsh energies surrounding his body. Somewhere in the blackness of his mind his body ached from the perhaps excessive amount of energy he had expended.

But he had made it. He had succeeded. She was safe, and that was all that mattered.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

When Thyra had cried out for help the last thing she expected was a response. The male voice that echoed through her mind had an immediate effect on her. She forced herself to take deep breaths and squeezed her eyes closed so she could no longer see the man that was leering at her. A shudder of revulsion ran through her as a calloused hand slid up her thigh. Help was coming, someone was coming to get her, she would stay calm.

The young queen couldn't help but jump in surprise as the door to the room practically blew off its hinges several moments later. In mere seconds an Eyrien stormed into the room and massacred the two men, standing among the carnage like an avenging angel. He stood there chest heaving, his eyes slightly unfocused as if he were searching for further targets to inflict violence upon.

Thyra instinctively recognized him as a Warlord Prince, and he was of a darker caste than herself. Her mother had known very little in the etiquette and social requirements for her daughters caste but had taught her enough to know that as a Queen it was her duty to bring this prince back from the killing edge. Princes relied on their Queens to keep them sane while Queens relied on them for protection and sometimes more.

Thyra fixed her emerald eyes on the Eyrien and took several more calming breaths before speaking. She made her tone soft, but firm and said only one thing. "Prince. Come back now."

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

It had been a dozen years or more since Daearmuid had sat along this delicate precipice. Of course he was familiar with the killing edge, but his temperament, caste, and darkness of Jewel usually kept him calm, undisturbed, or feared well enough to not force him to this place. He was not ringed, not a pleasure slave, and not anyone's servant save perhaps the SaDiablo's—in a certain light—but they treated him well and he was happy there. As such, he was not a regular resident of the edge, and so never had really found his own way to try and crawl back from it and had never had a Queen strong enough to do it herself. The few visits he had had to this place had resulted in a number of very displeased localities.

"Prince. Come back now."

Daear's body pulsed dangerously, a wave of Red-mixed-with-Ebon energy thrumming out of him in all directions. The bed jostled and scooted back against the wall, scraping against the floor, while the body on the floor jumped lifelessly aside. Before he understood what he was doing, he was moving, vaulting the foot board of the bed and landing on top of Thyra on one knee, the other braced against the corner made by the bed and the wall. One arm was planted just next to her head and the other was above him, grasped around the haft of the spear jutting out of the wall. He stared down at her, eyes clouded and far off, though no less sharp in their examination of her features. Golden eyes were hazed with a mixture of hate and pain, reflecting the emerald of Thyra's own from barely a foot away. The hot breath on her face now was a decided clip more pleasant than the alcohol-stained bile of the ex-Blood's, instead soft and pleasant and faintly reminiscent of mint and citrus. Somewhere in his mind, he recognized the beauty of this girl, her age not quite so belying the body of a woman blossoming underneath. But that part of his mind was lost to him now.

What are you doing? The thought came as a distant echo in a dark cave. This is the Queen you came her for...you just saved her and now this...you're an animal not a man...what would your betters say... The chain of commands that rustled through his mind gave him pause, the hand gripping the spear opening and closing as if its controller was undecided on whether or not to retrieve it. And indeed, Daear was. The war of his mind was visible on his face, all the pretense and serenity granted to him by his Court training long since lost over the edge. He knew he could not go there himself, that killing her would make him no better than those he had just erased, but his body and his mind were not one and the same.

It took a strong force of will for Thyra not to cry out when the Warlord landed on top of her. She was still pinned to the bed by the thick leather straps around her wrists. The additional weight of his body above her caused her to sink just enough for the straps to bite painfully into the flesh, leaving raw red marks. His face hovered just above hers, his breath was warm but oddly pleasant though the emotions in his eyes made it difficult to focus on anything pleasant at the moment. She winced at the pain in her wrists, but couldn't bring herself to speak for the fear lancing through her body.

Her whole body shivered with fear underneath him, she was certain he would kill her in an instant and her voice only seemed to push him deeper into the void. Instead she fixed her green on his golden ones and forced her shaken form to relax as much as possible—which proved extraordinarily difficult as her instinct of fight or flight did not have a middle ground of remaining calm, and she knew any fighting with her Craft would only be battered aside. So with her eyes on his she let go of all stoppers on her mind, opening herself to him entirely. He could feel what she felt, learn what she knew, probe her mind to her most precious memories, deepest desires, and mortal fears. Trust had been overruled by necessity, the closeness usually present to yield herself not established. Thyra did not know why, but she knew that this was her saving grace, her last attempt to calm the enraged Eyrien perched over her.

Daear found himself unable to breath. Active as his mind was, he felt that give in her mind immediately. He had already been probing everything around him with mental energy; it took him but a moment to accept her submission and dive within. But the moment he entered, he skidded to a mental halt. The fear and pain and desperation clinging to even this most outer reach of his mind stole away his breath, halting the motion of his lungs in his chest. He finally felt that murderous intent flee from his mind, grateful for the freedom restored to him. With that burning fury gone, though, he felt the toll of his actions on his body. And with his breath halted in his chest as it was, he felt weak.

He collapsed slowly, now mindful of the beautiful woman under him. Red energy easily and carefully sliced away the leather pinning her to the bed. The arm that had been above him lowered, while the one that had braced him up above her slowly slunk under her shoulders. The other slipped around her other side, and he hugged her, breath finally returning to him.

"I'm here... I found you..." The words came as a whisper, comforting and soothing and every other positive emotion he could make it. The same sentiment passed along his mind, still within the very surface of hers. He wanted to cling to that intimacy, feeling it as the reward for the desperation he had suffered through to find her, but knew that unjust. So he slowly and delicately retreated, leaving all but those surface emotions and memories untouched and unviolated.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra felt his mind surge into her own and held her breath. The action itself seemed to be enough to halt the flow of violence in the Eyrien. They both lay there for several long seconds staring at each other as the Prince regained control of his own mind. As he did his strength ebbed and he slowly sunk onto the bed with her. Craft sliced through the leather as if it were butter and she was able to stretch out the sore muscles. Before she could move he tenderly hugged her to his much larger form, cradling her body to his own as if she were the only thing keeping him afloat.

Finally she let her breath escape, as he gently retreated from her mind. He had left it wholly untouched for which she was eternally grateful. When he spoke his voice made her feel calm and safe. Safe...she had not felt truly safe for as long as she could remember. Her mother had been determined to shield her from harm and keep her safe until the right time came for her to be trained by the Queens who survived the Witchstorm in tact, even if it meant crossing realms to do so.

Thyra closed her eyes, letting his voice and psychic scent wash over her. A strange sense of possessiveness suddenly made her arms wrap around him, hugging him tightly in return, her fingers fisted in his clothing. She had never felt anything quite like the emotions pulsing through her right now, a sense of connection that she associated with ownership. She wanted him. It wasn't a sexual need, but it was an intimate one. Thyra needed this Warlord Prince and did not want to let go of him, her hold tighten again. "Thank you." She whispered in reply to his words. "You saved me..."

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

In all his years he had never felt such an accomplishment. As her arms wrapped around him and her fingers dug into his clothing, gratification washed over him like a tidal column. In the warmth of that affection, sins were absolved, errors rectified, mistakes corrected. Nothing could be wrong, here. Nothing, save the festering hell hole they shared their moment in. He slowly, begrudgingly pulled himself up from her, apology in his eyes for a moment as their embrace ended. "We can't stay here," he told her quietly. "This place is dark." The words were simple, but the weight behind them was untold. Perhaps this Queen was too young to know of the atrocities that had occurred here: Daearmuid was not. And he was not keen to have her spend any more time here.

Thought of the cool night air came back to him as he thought of outside, and his eyes strayed below her face. Slender body clad only in a decidedly non-functional nightgown, comfort would not come easily on their travels, even through the Winds. He unlaced his tunic at the neck and pulled it up over head in one motion, offering it to her. "The night is chill tonight," he explained, giving a nod to her tattered clothing. "The Winds will take us close to my keep, but not directly to it. Please." The words came out a bit more pleading than he had originally intended, but the message would hopefully be conveyed that much more clearly.

It was strange, to him, that this girl was having such an effect on him. He had been around Queens before, powerful ones at that, and though etiquette made him act accordingly, those actions were consciously decided upon. He had heard of Warlords attaching to Queens before, but mostly thought it was the fanciful tellings of a couple in love rather than the truthful reality of their meeting. But now as he handed his shirt off to her, he felt that warring conflict in his mind between the stubbornness that kept him free, and the want for the bonding only a Queen could offer. Now that he had regained his composure, the byplay was hidden underneath the outward concern he showed her. But the Ebon abyss of his mind was abuzz.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra watched quietly observed him as he rose off the bed, a mild sensation of disappointment welling up in her chest. His words rang true, now that she was in no immediate danger the evil of this place was abundantly apparent. While she did not know exactly what had happened here she knew it involved girls like herself and darkness knows how many others. She could feel the pain and anguish like a rotten scent all around her.

Suppressing a soft hiss of pain, she pushed herself into a sitting position and hung her legs off the side of the bed. The sudden rush of blood to her head made her dizzy and made her temples throb painfully. Thyra took a moment, taking several steadying breaths until the ache subsided. When she lifted her eyes she realized he was running his eyes over her.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks as his eyes took in her state of dress and she glanced away though she made no move to cover herself. She wasn't scared of him, it was more a sense of embarrassment that he had to see her this way. Her green eyes widened in surprise and unsure of how to react she accepted the shirt though she didn't immediately don it. "Your keep?" She murmured, her speaking voice had a musical lilt to it. "No...no I need to let my mother know I am safe." There was a sudden fierceness in those emerald eyes and stubborn set to her jaw, she was clearly determined to fight him if he didn't agree.

She held the tunic in her hands and stared up at him, as if saying she would put on the tunic when he agreed to go to her home first.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Concern started to manifest as she sat up, taking note of the way her body creaked and ached. He watched her body move, appreciating her figure but also doing the mental math on exactly how many muscles would be aching based on her wounds and movements. And for each one he would find someone to make payment, by whichever came to bear first of his hand or spear.

He retrieved that spear, as well, hefting the weapon with both arms to support the weight of the corpse on one end. He barely managed to make it clear of the bed before the offsetting weight dipped the head down and the body crashed to the ground. "Sorry," he offered immediately, looking her up and down to ensure that no harm or blood had tainted her. But she was fine, and she was speaking—he found himself transfixed by her words. Her mother Daear mused, nodding internally. Family. Of course.

She seemed adamant, as if he was going to tell her they had no time, that they must hurry for the danger they were in. That drew a smirking sort of smile for just the barest moment; anyone who stood before him and tried to harm her would regret the hour they were born. They would be safe. She would be safe. "Of course," he answered her without a second though. "Where is your home? We'll take the winds as close as we can and get you some of your things." A thought occurred to him, and he paused. It looked as if he was going to say something further, but he closed his mouth. He was unsure what to do about her mother. Living in a keep in Kaeleer would hardly do well for a landen, if so she was, but it would be difficult for Daear to take both women along with him.

To mask his stumble, he spoke once more, his deep baritone polite and proper as required, but underlit with a distinct thread of affection. "My name is Daearmuid Asalaya." He offered her a polite bow as well, all the form and function that a Court would have required of him. But he wanted to offer his name in a hug, to offer his protection with a smile, and... He pushed that thought out of his mind. She was free, and once they returned to the Court, Karla would find a place for her to live safely. He chastised himself for wanting Karla to fail, for wanting this girl to not find a home outside the keep, for wanting this Queen to stay around for him to fawn over. He felt guilty for it, but could not push it out of his mind, no matter how he tried.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra cast a sideways glance at the body as it fell to the floor, immediately disregarding it when he agreed to take her home. With a bright smile she rose to her feet and tugged his tunic obediently over her smaller frame. "I live outside a landen village near here." She explained, giving the best directions she could. It was difficult as the men had drugged her prior to taking her here so she wasn't exactly sure how far from home they were. She idly picked at the hem of the tunic which reached almost mid thigh on her. "I won't be able to stay will I." She asked, it was more of statement than a question and really did not require an answer.

This is what her mother had wanted. A chance for her to go somewhere to learn the skills she needed. She smiled as he bowed and introduced himself. She liked the sound of his voice and the way his name sounded. "Daearmuid." She said, liking even more the way his name felt on her tongue. "My name is Thyra." She did not have court training and had no idea if there was something she was supposed to do, so she simply gave him a genuine smile. "I'm so thankful you were in the area." She added, her smile turning just a touch shy.

Thyra cleared her throat delicately and changed the topic. "I...I've never traveled the winds before, my mother said it was too dangerous...but I really must get home as quickly as possible..."

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

His breath caught in his throat as she pulled his tunic over her head. The thoughts that flickered through his mind made him uncomfortable only for the fact that her body was so young, her spirit so untainted. For a moment he let himself indulge, but as soon as her head popped out of the neckline, innocence returned to his expression. And then her voice turned sad and all improper thoughts vanished. His answer was careful, turning his words delicately. "I think Tereille is a dangerous place for you in the coming months," he replied. "Your presence here will only attract further attention of these sort." He accented the sentence by jabbing the butt of his spear into the barrel of the corpse's chest.

She said his name, and he felt himself spinning. Never before had he heard his name spoken with such honeyed sweetness, such wonderful grace. And before he could recover, she offered her own: Thyra. The name rang through his ears from her musical voice, a melody in its own right for all the pleasantness of the sound. He felt himself trying to move, unconsciously drawn to her, but kept his feet still as best he could. Even so, the gravity of her personality attracting him greater than anything he had ever felt. He wondered idly if this was how Daemon had felt when he first laid eyes on Jaenelle; that thought scrubbed itself from his mind as quickly as he could. There is no such thing as instant attraction you sot!

The winds were only dangerous if one was totally untrained and unfamiliar with their psychic routes. He had traversed them from a very young age, trained by some of the best Crafters he had known as a child. "You are in good hands, Thyra," he crooned. When had his voice gotten so silky? It seemed thoughts of the Sadist had set to the forefront the training he had received from the Sadist; perhaps Lucivar was not the only one of those brothers he was fated to learn from. "Send me an image of your home, and I will take us there." He couldn't shake that crooning silken edge to his voice, no matter how he tried. No matter. He was beginning to enjoy it, anyway.

There was only one landen village in the nearby area that he knew of; that was where he would start. He found himself moving, instincts now guiding him more than thought. He came close to her, delicately placing one hand on her shoulder and pulling her close to him. The embrace started functional, holding her just close enough to keep her safe along the winds. But that lasted only a moment; his arms pulled her tight, her scent, feel, and energy too much for him to escape wanting. He waited for the image to come to him, then swept up the Ebon wind, clinging tightly, desperately, to Thyra.

And it seemed he was beginning to enjoy that, too.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

The initial sensation of being swept up by the winds was disorienting and made her mind reel, but that feeling was rapidly replaced by the feel of Daearmuid's arms around her. He was holding her so tightly it was almost painful but she didn't mind. In fact she rather liked it, deep down she felt truly safe in his embrace and didn't relish the thought of leaving it.

All too soon they dropped from the winds, his steady frame kept her from stumbling as they landed and after taking a moment to get her bearings she recognized the area. They were just outside the landen village where her mother lived. Their home was located just inside the forest edge not a mile from where they stood. Thyra looked around her brow furrowing slightly. It was night, the air was still and quiet but something seemed off. The village was eerily silent and the forest more so.

She hurried forward into the tree line, following barely discernible paths by memory. Dodging through the branches expertly, she picked up speed, barreling toward her small home. "Mother!" Her voice rang out loudly as she burst into the clearing around the cottage. Instinct kicked in at the last second and she skidded to a halt at the picket fence around the garden. The cottage was in ruins, the wood still smoldering from the fire that had destroyed. Wisps of smoke curled up into the cold air and the distinct smell of charred meat permeated the area.

Thyra choked on a sob and took another step forward, her hand reaching out weakly towards the house. "No...." It was clear her mother had not survived the encounter with the kidnappers. They would not have wanted any witnesses to survive to point the way back to them. The young queen sank to her knees and stared slightly unseeing at the destruction before her. Her emerald eyes were slightly unfocused, unshed tears glimmering in the faint light from moon and stars. The cool air was slowly beginning to turn frigid but she was not shivering. A fine sheen of ice was creeping across the grass from where she knelt and without realizing it she was beginning to descend to the depths of her power.

Rage and grief flickered across the void and the cold spread further out. The extreme and uncontrollable emotions were a bad combination in a young, untrained queen. She was about as likely to burn herself out as she was to destroy half the area if something wasn't done. 'They killed her!' She howled inside her mind, though outwardly she still appeared to be gazing, icily forward.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

The winds were quiet, but the forest was not. Daear followed Thyra through the bush as best he could, her small lithe frame far more suited to this sort of travel than his tall, muscular one. It was only moments before she was lost to his eyes. But that psychic scent, that sweet honeyed aroma, would be more than enough to trace her through these woods. Then like a wave of bile, emotions slammed into his mind. Coming from Thyra.

Trees split at the trunks as he carved himself a tunnel directly to her, summoning the short sword he kept on hand if he needed to fight in cramped conditions. But when he arrived at the clearing, that sword disappeared and his heart sank into his boots. He had never seen Thyra's home before, but it was obvious this was it. That this had been it. He found her already on her knees, tears forming in her eyes but appearing to freeze there alongside the icy spread coming out from her knees. Daearmuid's chest heaved a deep breath, knowing what he would have to do. Protocol said this was not his duty, that her Inner Circle would tend to her needs and she had to choose that circle for herself. But she had no Inner Circle. She was not Blood as he was Blood; she had grown up in secret, never able to learn her Craft, never taught the intricacies of protocol. He would have to suffice for now. If she hated him later, so be it—he would simply make sure she was alive to do so.

"Thyra." A silken croon. Hell's fire but he enjoyed the husky flavor his voice took on when she was involved. He moved around to her front, settling on his knees face to face with her. "Thyra, come back." A dark whisper, part of the night. Gentle probes reached out to her mind, begging for entrance. "Don't fall into that abyss," he pleaded with her. He put his forehead to hers while his mind tried to link with hers, as it had only minutes before. But this time he would not force himself to stop at the surface. This time, he would feel her, immerse her in himself and himself in her, and pull her back from that Abyss.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

She wanted to make them pay for what they did to her home, to her mother...and to her. Her hatred deepened a little more, up until now she had avoided thinking about what had almost happened to her. The thought of being broken by those disgusting men made her burn inside. She had never felt anger like this before, her mother's gentle disposition and teaching always kept her relatively placid. Seeing her home destroyed awoke something inside her that made her want to make those men suffer. Her thoughts faltered...those men were dead...

'Thyra...' She heard the soft, crooning voice.

They were dead because someone else had come to her aid. 'Thyra come back.' It was such an enticing voice, it made her ache inside, replacing the fiery anger with another kind of fire. As the anger seeped away she felt him there, probing at her mind like a lover's caress asking her to open up. She heard his voice calling her back from the tempting depths of abyss, when her eyes focused on his there was desire there and she leaned forward just slightly, her arms snaking around his neck and breath hot against his lips. "Daearmuid..." She murmured. That was the voice she heard, his voice, it brought forth a jumble of emotion she didn't quite understand but it kept the rage and the grief at bay.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

His world had been turned upside-down by this girl and her cries, her pleading, her honey-sweet voice and ivory skin, her emerald green eyes and her intoxicating scent. She had been taken from her home, kidnapped by the broken bodies of what used to be stains upon the Blood; her home had been destroyed, her family and possessions burned away; and her life had been taken from her piece by piece until she now had nothing left. Nothing but the clothes on her back, the air in her lungs... and him. The last piece of comfort she would have in this life was the comfort of his embrace, the warmth of his body against hers. And the last thing she had to hold on to was her Blood, but even the Jewels that fueled her Self now threatened to upend her and send her spiraling into the Abyss.

No. No. Not Thyra. Not his Thyra. That instinctive possessiveness, so strongly held in check before, now flooded through his body like wildfire as his name rolled off her lips. Those sounds had never in his life made him want, made him ache, so thoroughly, and he knew in this moment that nothing ever again would. Daearmuid felt the heat of her breath against his own lips, her face closer than he had been prepared for. He had never felt such a fire stir on his face, in his heart, or in his loins. That lattermost, he shoved down, knowing full well that some day, he would be with her on her Virgin Night, but that night would not be this one. But now, she needed comfort, and he needed to comfort her. Everything else in the world would solve itself, so long as the fire of her mind could be contained.

She was too close, too beautiful, and he was too stunned, too male; she was a Queen, and though her body was young her mind far shadowed it over. Now, he could not stop himself now had he wanted to. And he didn't want to.

Tender hands slunk around her tiny form, no longer giving her the embrace of a savior, but of a lover. One held her thin hips while the other snaked around to her opposite shoulder. His head came down just the barest inch, his lips hanging a hair's breadth from hers for the space of a heartbeat before sinking the final distance. The unrelenting inferno that swept over his body made him intake a deep breath, his chest swelling against her breasts and deepening his embrace. Civilizations rose and fell, stars sprang to life and died out, all in the span of that single, passionate, possessive kiss. His lips moved against hers with all the hunger of a wild predator, but all the delicacy of a first-time lover, her supple lips pink and plump under his own. The arm around her shoulder moved up to gently embrace the back of her head. He stroked her hair. He touched her neck. Anything to take in another sense of her, anything to bring her more into his mind. He could not escape the need that ignited his mind hotter than it had ever burned, not in anger nor passion.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra felt as though she were floating, her mind and body entirely seperate entities. She could feel Daear's arms around her, the heat from his body warming her cold body, his lips pressed against hers. She wanted more, she wanted everything he had to offer but some rational part of her mind had detached from the scene and was gently prodding her to be careful. To much heat and she was certain to get burned.

Her hands slid up his shoulders, her nails digging in slightly as her lips parted eagerly to accept him. The tender feel of his fingers sliding up her neck and tangling in her hair made her shiver and the tiniest of moans escape against his mouth. She sensed his mind open and rushed to fill her own with every part of him.'Thyra stop.' The voice caused her to falter and hesitate right at the edge of his essence. Though her body continued to press against his, her mind froze like a wild animal caught in the light. 'You mustn't do this.' It was her mother's voice. Calm and rational as always. 'You will break Thyra. You are not ready yet.'

With a gasp, as if icy water had been doused over her heated skin, she pushed away from Daearmuid. Chest heaving and hair tangled, she sat staring in shock at the Eyrien from about a foot away. Even now she had to fight back a desire to slink back into his arms. "Wh...what was that..." She panted, trying to make sense of everything that happened. "I...I have never felt like that before..." She muttered, the red in her cheeks darkening. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn the Warlord Prince had used craft to entice her out of the abyss but she DID know better and the experience had been something else entirely.

The few moments she had been connected with him had been enough to show he had been equally powerless and somewhere she sensed a vague...shadowy sense of guilt? The feeling put her on edge, making her feeling suddenly vulnerable and she wrapped her arms around herself. Why would he feel guilty...pushing the thought aside for now her gaze went back to her demolished home. Her rage was still there but it was under control for the time being. It gave her something to focus on, a purpose to drive her forward. Whoever had done this would pay for what they did, Thyra would make sure no one else would suffer because of them.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

His mind had driven him to the brink of insanity in the few moments their lips had been pressed together. His Thyra melted like ice in his arms, Daearmuid wholly thankful for the response. Fear budded in his chest as his mind dove farther and farther away from his body and pulled him deeper and deeper into her embrace—and then it stopped. Like a frightened animal, she slipped out of his arms and recoiled away, desire mixing with uncertainty and fear on her face as she regarded him. The near-sickening sweetness of her voice was now tinged with a thin rivulet of fear, fear waxed in awe and painted with the brilliant colors of desperation. His heart tried to shatter into a thousand pieces under that shocked stare, her sudden departure wrenching the organ out of his chest as she pulled out of his arms.

"That..." He gathered his voice, that unfamiliar sultry tone smoothing out into a mimcry of that lazy, courting voice he had heard from only one other male in his life. "That was what happens when a compatible Queen and a Warlord Prince meet for the first time." The hunger in his eyes simmered low, affection overtaking desire and turning those golden eyes into inviting yellow pools. "Neither of us have ever felt like that before," he corrected, those eyes glowing in the dimness of the clearing. "Most Blood males spend their entire life dreaming of feeling like that, dreaming but never feeling, hoping but never experiencing." Did she not understand? He had gotten the feeling from her that she had not spent much time in a Court, but he had accredited that to her age, her lack of experience falling to the wayside as her young form sent his mind sprawling in so many directions.

"I've been waiting a thousand years or better to feel it. I've waited for you my whole life. Yearned for you my whole life. I've simply never known it was you I was aching for." The psychic tendrils he had tried to feel her mind with retracted, and in fact, reversed. With a deep breath, steeling himself, he opened the first stage of his Self to her, his thoughts and memories rumbling like thunder within his mind. "Thyra." Silk. "Feel what I feel." Satin. "Feel what you made me feel." The sense of inexperience about her saw Daearmuid uncertain of how to explain to her what it was that had happened between them; most Queens knew, as all Blood knew, that the fire between a Queen and a Warlord Prince, especially a dark-Jeweled one, was often fierce enough to scorch nations to the dirt. But she did not. He could not draw on that knowledge, couldn't stimulate a sense she did not have. So instead, he would let her learn for herself.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Daear's voice was like velvet, sliding over her skin and sending shivers up Thyra's spine. The warning her mother had instilled in her, lurked at the edge of her mind balancing out the intense desire the Eyrien was bringing forward. She gazed into his mesmermizing yellow eyes as he explained...and invited her into his mind. Feeling slightly wary, she slowly allowed her own mind to mingle with his. All his emotions and memories flooded over her and she could see with astounding clarity what he had experienced.

The incredible connection, the desperation as she pulled away, the passion and desire. All of it were there in her mind. She blinked away a few tears when her heart felt what his heart felt. She had no words after gently withdrawing from his mind and self. Thyra sat there staring up at him, with a whole new understanding in her expression and a sincere apologetic look. She felt horrible for causing that moment of grief in him and wanted to ensure it never happened again...though somehow she knew it probably would. She sensed rather than knew that the nature of their relationship would prove to be trying over the next little while because of their immediate bond and the laws laid down by the blood.

Thyra gazed at him a moment longer before pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "What...what do I do now?" She asked softly, try as she might she couldn't completely keep the waver out of her voice. In a single day her entire world was turned upside down, she had lost the person most dear to her and found the person she needed most on the same day. She wanted to be brave, and confident like the queens her mother spoke about but right now she felt weary, drained of all the energy she had felt a few moments ago. Even the cold was beginning to seep into her body, causing her to shiver. "Where will I go?" She finally asked, raising her eyes back to his.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

The feel of her coming into his mind, his Self, was enough to draw a sharp gasp from the depth of his chest. Those moments were painfully short-lived as she withdrew barely a half minute later, retreating away from the outpouring of feelings he had revealed to her. His heart melted as the fear in her eyes turned to apology, melted away into nothing but need to hold her and comfort her and tell her that she was safe now. As her voice came again, that melted mixture ignited like kerosene to a torch, the vibrato of tears in her voice too much for him to bear.

He wanted to go to her, to wrap her in his embrace, but held his place for now, for he was not certain of his ability to keep himself in check if he came in contact with her. With the pieces of her life scattered all around her, Thyra's mind had become an unstable thing, and Daear was not entirely sure his touch was a remedy to that. Not yet, anyway. Not here, and not now. Not like this, and not without patching her holes and bandaging her scars. Not before he could show her exactly what it meant to be a Queen in the presence of a Warlord Prince who knew what he was about.

The dismay in her question was too much for him to bear, and he dropped his chin to his chest. "Where will you go?" he parroted back, glancing around the clearing to the destroyed house. The sight would have boiled his blood again if he wasn't fighting back tears, struggling to maintain his strength to carry her. But the answer came easily to him, and quickly. He steadied his breath then took her eyes again, resolution strong in those halcyon orbs. "You will go where you are loved," he answered simply, his voice stronger and calmer than he would have guess it would be. "You will go where you can be protected and cared for, sheltered, and fed, taught the Craft and the Court. If you would have us, my Queen, your Court awaits you."

The words had blundered out of his mouth before he could stop them, and now hung like a thick scent in the air. The offer of a Court was a serious one, and should she accept, Thyra would rightfully be the Queen of Daear's Court—which currently consisted of none but himself. He was employed by the SaDiablos and had frequent connection with the Dark Court, but never had been directly made part of it. A Master of the Guard and Steward would need to be selected, and though a few names came to mind, Daear could not speak for them.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra's eyes widened in awe at his statement. A court...a court had been her mothers dream. Her mother had told her she would not be safe until she had chosen her court, until she was fully in control of her power and trained in the ways of the Blood. Her heart thrummed in her chest and she felt a rush of excitement tingle along her limbs. "But...I have...no training...no area to call my own..." She paused and gazed at Daear, absorbing his entire statement. "You...you would be apart of my court?" She asked softly.

She had no idea of the etiquettes required of her to accept his offer. All she knew is that she wanted this more than anything and she did not want to do it without him. Licking her lips and feeling nervous she pushed herself to her feet and walked over to him. "Daearmuid, I...I accept you as one of my inner circle. I pledge to protect and shield you, with body, mind and soul." Thyra wasn't sure it sufficed but ultimately, her body, mind and soul were all she had left so it was the most serious pledge she could think of. The words were awkward, stammered and shy sounding but she finished with a steady curtsy and gently took his hand in hers adding in a soft kiss on the top his hand.

Afterwards she stood before him, fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. While she felt shy and more than a little awkward, she was confident that she was taking the right steps. This was the way to securing a future for herself and a way to help others like herself. A way to protect the untainted blood in Tereille from further harm. A smile broke out across her face as she looked up at him. Thyra could not express how happy she was to have him here now, to have him propose the offer that he had.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Daearmuid stared down at the diminutive figure before him, blood pounding in his ears and world spinning. Conflict warred in his mind like a battleground; one side stood ecstatic, words not suitable to describe the total elation that coursed through him. Thoughts of whether he would be Master of the Guard, Steward... no, he knew his role in her inner circle perhaps before even she herself did. The other side of the battle stood grim and destitute, starkly aware the responsibility he had just posed on two other Blood males yet to be determined. They were part of her court now, too, standing right alongside Daearmuid as the inner circle to a Queen who had not even made her Offering yet.

The words she spoke, so meek and shy, rang in his ears like the clanging bell of a monastery, crossing his eyes and dulling his hearing; the endearing way she fiddled with his fabric threatened to rend his heart from his chest, affection surging through him like the heat of a strong whiskey; and her smile, that honey-sweet smile, threatened to crush his mind with the immediate possessiveness that flooded through his being. Daear bent knee, taking in his strong hands her tiny ones, regarding her with brimming tears in his eyes. "My Queen," was all he managed to whisper before pulling her to him, wrapping her in his embrace and blacking out the world around them. The clearing, the ruined house, the grass below their feet, it all faded from view, leaving nothing but Daearmuid and Thyra in the deepening abyss.

He separated them just enough to press his forehead against hers, eyes closed but seeing her, feeling her, entranced by her. "This is how it will be, from now on," he whispered, the blackness around them now all-encompassing. "You and I, nothing between us, nothing to harm us, nothing to worry for." He pressed his lips to her forehead, then hugged her tight again, burying his face in the hollow of her neck. "Wherever you go, I will follow. Wherever you need me, I will be. But right now, we must not be here." He took a deep breath and stood, never letting go of the small Queen. He draped her arms around his neck and scooped her up under her legs; a field of Ebon energy bubbled up around them, and they were swept away on the Ebon Gray wind.

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thyra yelped as Daearmuid pulled her close but immediately relaxed and closed her eyes, taking in his physical scent and psychic one. His words wrapped around her like a warm and comforting blanket and she smiled contently. As the abyss swallowed them and Daearmuid lifted her into his arms she let out small laugh of delight, holding tightly to him. She was much more prepared for the travel this time as the Eyrien jumped into the winds. After a short time, the pair dropped off in a small stone courtyard in the mountains near where her home had been located. She had heard about eyries from people in the village but of course most of them were terrified of the Eryiens that resided here.

She slid out of his arms and cast a small glance his way as she wandered the edges of the courtyard. The view from up here was breathtaking, and Thyra found herself staring astounded out at the landscape with her arms wrapped around her. Finally she spoke, bringing up the few things that had been bouncing around her mind. "There are others like me out there. Other blood that are untainted...I want to find them so men like them don't hurt them like they hurt me." She had a surprisingly pensive look on her face, it was obviously something she was planning on taking quite seriously. She turned her emerald eyes on her Eyrien companion. "Will you help me?" Thyra asked, her tone quiet but serious.

Despite only knowing him for a short time, she doubted very much that he would say no but even if he did she was determined to carry out this plan. There was plenty of time for training but if there were ex blood out there hunting down girls that would be queens...it had to stop. Training or not she would find a way to stop them.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Home at last, though home had changed. The eyrie itself hadn't changed, though, nor had the mountains around it. The unrivaled view of the sky remained the same, the breezy winds that coasted lazily over the mountaintop as consistent as ever. Home itself had changed, the very concept of where home was, what home was. The eyrie was his residence, but home... Home was Thyra. He watched his Queen amble out over the flat top of the mountain and marvel at the same sky he had so many times before. The view was beautiful here, as it always was, but the evening sky setting over the mountains, drenched in auburn sunlight and dashed with indigo, was bland and uninteresting next to the mere silhouette of Thyra standing outlined against that sky. He was lost in thought when her words came.

She was right. It hadn't occurred to him that she might not be alone. Even though upon meeting her his world had narrowed to only encompass Thyra and the evens surrounding her, he had the sudden epiphany that the likelihood of Thyra being right was very high. "Aye, there are," he affirmed, sweeping up to stand behind her and rub her shoulders for warmth. He called a cloak as she continued, kneeling behind her and draping it over her shoulders before standing and letting his hands fall around her head, swaying gently against her, rocking a soft melody in rhythm with the symphonic winds. The thought of other ex Blood out there erased any hesitation he might have had and he chimed in with an adamant, "Yes, I will. And I know others who will, too."

He bent to kiss the top of her head, lingering for a moment and reveling in the scent of her, the feel of his lips against her hair, his hands against her shoulders. "Come to my eyrie, with me," he said, nodding his head towards the tall building. "We can rest, have a meal, bathe, and get a good night's sleep." He felt his ears begin to flush at the notion of bathing and sleeping with Thyra in the room; he would have been able to suppress it, had he not immediately realized that that would also mean Thyra would be bathing and sleeping in his home as well. He coughed, clearing away the thoughts as best he could—which was to say, not very.

In an attempt to cover up his blush, he flared his wings wide, offering her a hand and projecting an adventurous smile. "You've flown on the winds, but nothing feels the same as flying with wings."

 

[sorchasilver]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

Thrya felt another small weight lift off her slender shoulders. Daear would help her, and knew others who would. While it might be small battle it was still a war to her and having trustworthy people by her side meant more than she could articulate. She was lost in this thought when she felt his lips brush the top of her head causing a fine, pink blush to spread across her cheeks. Daear's offer of a hot meal and bath were very tempting, the ordeal of the last 24 hours were taking their toll on her. Until he mentioned it, she hadn't realized quite how exhausted or hungry she was.

She turned to look up at him, catching the barest hint of a blush before he spread his wings wide and offered her his hand. Despite the itching curiosity to know what thoughts caused a ferocious Eyrien to turn such a shade his invitation to fly forced all other thoughts from her mind. Thyra gazed up at him with child like excitement. "Truly?" She whispered, taking his hand. To soar over the mountains and see the world from a bird's eye view had her bouncing with glee.

 

[Ryees]

RE: ...And Blood Shall Hunt For Blood (Kuro_Bara x Ryees)

The Eyrien beamed at her excitability, the smile breaking her face enough to cure even the most egregious wound of the heart. He stood in awe of her wondrous beauty, such that he held her hand for a moment and simply stared, enthralled by her charm, by her grace. After a moment, he gently reeled her in by the hand, beginning to bend knee to let her up—but he paused on his way down, a playful smile flicking to his lips. With a predatory grace his face swooped in on hers, a gentle hand holding her cheek as he stole a moment's kiss. Before she could recover from the surprise, he had hoisted her up under her arms and easily slung her over his back. Her tiny form nestled comfortably between his wings as he held her arms tight around his neck. Flared wide, his fleshy wings stretched to their full length as he sprinted towards the edge of the cliff. With a wild holler, he leapt mightily over that edge in a rush of wind, curling his wings around them a gravity took hold.

Wrapped in their scaled cocoon and free falling, separated from the world, he loosened her arms from his neck and slung her about his front, holding her close to his chest and hugging her tight. "This will be the ride of your life," he promised, taking from her another short kiss. The field of energy he had expanded around himself was disturbed, and a timer started ticking in his head; he carefully slung her back over his shoulders, assuring that her arms were locked tightly around him. All at once, his wings flared again.

They whipped out of their free fall and Daear pulled up hard, skimming barely six feet above the canyon floor as they pulled out of their free fall. Speed boosted by the fall, the scenery soared past in a rushing blur of speed, drawing an adrenaline-filled whooping from Daearmuid as he leveled out along the canyon floor. Compared to the Blood Run, this little dive was a cakewalk, but the forces that exerted upon his body were enough to get his blood pumping, his mind racing. He hoped that Thyra was as much of an adrenaline junkie as he was, that she could feel the same rush he did in his heart as they nearly crashed through the laws of physics.

Their speedy path took them through the canyon around the sparse mountain forests, laughing happily as he wove easily and expertly through the trees, ever aware of Thyra's presence on his back but determined to give her the exhilaration he had promised. But as they broke through the trees on the other side, the Warlord Prince decided that his Queen had likely had enough, and was due for some pampering, some romance. He pulled up out of the wicked straightaway and let his momentum carry him up, up, and up, spiraling a lazy corkscrew into the sky. He put his own arms around hers as he pumped his wings to take them higher, higher than the canyon walls, higher than the clearing about the eyrie, and then another hundred feet above the eyrie itself. Like a lone eagle, he evened out his flight and spread his wings wide, gliding comfortably and easily along the crosswinds that blew over the mountaintop. The view from this high was awe-inspiring, the last sliver of sun casting innumerable colors over the clouds, some of which lay below their lofty residence.

"Truly," he finally answered her, smiling down over the grand expanse below them. He looked to the sunset, to the purples and reds and oranges in the clouds, but all he could see was emerald. The emerald of Thyra's eyes, reflecting back to him from everything in the world, her grace touching everything, tainting every sense he had and permeating throughout even his Self. "Truly," he murmured again, nearly a whisper, though this time it was to another question, an unasked question that perhaps never would be known. But whatever that question was, whatever ideas it drew upon, they were held dear and true in Daear's heart, and it had everything to do with those glistening emerald eyes.