Of Sand and Stone

The green pale wash of the waters edge counted the day as it always did upon the tides of Everwatch. A city, standing alone in the wastes of the Algalon desert, deep within the heart of the continent. The Dead Ocean spanned the horizon and further some said to the edge of the world itself, but such talk was foolish superstition. Gaia, was a large world, and few had seen all it's splendor, or danger. Her bosom was as great and vast that a man could not journey all her contours in ten life times. Despite this knowledge, some, have. In these lands of the heart, upon the largest continent and most dynamic begins the tale of the beginning, and the end. Deep within the breast of the world lay this desert, it's sands ever bleaching the bones of the foolish and the hearty alike. Men and women weathered by the tendrils of fate reside in everwatch. The tanned flesh of man charred by the sun dominant though some of the fair folk still walk amidst. Elf, dwarf, and other creatures rarely venture to the desolace of the Everwatch, a place said only foolishly enough to be attended, built and maintained by the arrogance of man.

Despite this, and all the other matters that surround the world and it's hardships, Everwatch thrives, with waterways and ingenious irrigation of in city farming. Some say it the work of magic and alchemy others, men of science, ingenious purifying methods. Regardless the events of the inner chambers they are few and far between heard from the people. The people live in fear now, a growing power dark and sinister warps the minds of family and friends, brother turns against brother in the north and for the strange to become surreal, it's reach is un-kown. Even here in the long isolated city of Everwatch, precautions are taken. Knights of the Sun, sew justice amidst the streets, and root out the heart of corruption and injustice where ever it may choose to hide, even within it's own ranks. At least, that is the intention, for like any light, bright as it may be, the deeper the shadows that bind it.

Even within it's own ranks there is talk of men going mad and killing one another, though only rumor, as nothing is proven. Some in the underground stalk the night claiming they had once been one of the members only to be put through strange purifying rituals that would have men burned alive for something so small as an impure thought. Nothing is ever brought to daylight however.

It is here, within the deepening desert of the Algalon, that the ocean's bring new fair this day.

Al'shaazim, sat upon his perch. The usual, a daring adventure across a rickety pier that would bring him and his reed basket laced with the long fishing pole to the edge of the waters on the far and most calm side of the harbor, while patrol and barter ships sailed effortlessly into the natural bay that had the crescent walled city so well off. His line already cast and thick gray beard shining in the sun. Leather like tan skin reflected skin, lining a sinuous muscle and bone beneath, reed sandals wound and rewound, knotted and broken cling to skeletal old feet. His graying eye's still keen and sharp as a hawk. Though not a hair stood upon his head, the riddles of youth still had him strong enough to lift his catch.

Spying out into the murky green waters of the Dead, for short, an odd sight comes to the old man. His eye's narrowing to take in a gleam that signals intelligence. With a breath and gasp of shock, Al'shaazim, lept from the docks.

The waters, despite being this far south, were still a bitter cold under the mid morning sun, unheated by the blazing orb in the sky to their full heat yet. With great strokes of his arms, a life around the water had brought a rigid speed to the old man. His presence swiftly brought to the body that floundered.

Minutes passed and dragged to the rocky shoreline of the pier and forgotten by the naval authorities, Al'shaazim heaved the body from the waters. He was astonished he had not realized it sooner. A man, a young man at that. His legs clad in fur boots and a strange hide that formed not much more than a loin cloth. Thick rigid muscles covered him, and despite the water shining in droplets across his form, not a hint of wounds. Al'shaazim inspected closer looking to the youth for more answers, fair skin peering back, painted with deep blue strange interlocking spirals and wreaths. Knot like lines tying together across his forearms and neck. He had heard of these men, northerners. They were like the others that came so long ago, that helped make Everwatch what it was, but not like this man. He was the same yet different, certainly bigger, and broad. His old eye's took to his hair, a thick raven black, braided on the side with blue and red beads holding the three braided locks each assorted differently. Thick hair, matted with the waters of the Dead.

Scratching his old beard he gently placed ear to the breast of the barbarian, ah, that's what they had been called by the other pale skinned ones. A heart strong and steady still beat, breath shallow and drawn however, he would need a day to recover. Patting the mans chest, he rose and headed home to fetch his sons and blankets for their newest guest, the fish from yestereve would have to do them for now.

Anja stood patiently next to a stall, leaning against a hard, plaster wall her eyes watching the crowd with a bit of an uncanny intensity. She was in the heart of the magnificent city of Everwatch. She truly marveled at the construction of such a city and how well if flourished in a desert waste land. Ever since she had come to this city she had felt the ache of thirst upon her constantly, but she loved the heat, it made her feel sleepy most of the time though.

Anja was about to move from her spot and move to another within the market when she spotted what she had been waiting for. A plump gentleman waddled through the throngs of people in fairly simple clothing, but the weight of his pockets told another story. She suppressed a grin as she pushed off the wall and headed towards her mark. She followed behind him for a few paces before pushing forward to get past him.

Anja got up besides him, a faceless body at this point, then she acted as if she was pushed into him, pressing against his body and slipping a hand where it shouldn't. The man cried out in alarm and she looked up at him with a fearful expression on her face.

"I-I'm so sorry sir."

She stuttered out, her large, onyx eyes watering slightly making them glisten and her flowing black hair looked a bit messed up by the sudden jostle. Her plump, pink lips pouted, her black cat ears twitched and the man seemed to lose himself in her exotic face.

"It's....fine."

He said, entranced for a moment, giving her a chance to dash. She grinned, said a quick thanks then dashed in the opposite direction, her pockets much fatter then they had been a moment before. She was almost out of ear shot when she heard the man cry out in panic, realizing his money purse had been swiped. Adrenaline kicked in as she turned back around, ready to run as fast as her swift feet would carry her, but she was met with a hard wall of flesh. She blinked and looked up into the face of a member of the Knights of the Sun. Her face fell and the shouts of the man grew closer.

"Her! She stole my money! SEIZE HER!"

The guard looked down at her then reached to grab her. She squeaked, but she was quick on her feet. She ducked under his hands then darted sideways. The man shouted again, but her ears were pounding. She started to race through the crowd, the knight surely in hot pursuit. She made a beeline for the docks since they usually had good places to hide.

Anja, breath coming in quick bursts and heart pounding, made it to the docks, two knights having joined the first, and she was only seconds ahead. She ran to the beginning of the pier, but instead of running all the way down and becoming trapped she jumped down on the side and grabbed the beam that was underneath before she hit the ground. Her nails dug into the wood and she swung her feet up to have extra support. Her pursuers were close behind, but had lost sight of her. They split up and she waited with bated breath until she was sure they were gone.

Anja took a deep breath and let herself drop down to the shore. Her tail curled around her leg as she stood still and then she grinned and started to laugh. She reached into her pocket and looked into the money purse. She was greeted with gold coins and her grin widened. Perfect. She pocketed it again set forward, determined to blend back in with the crowd. That's when she saw him. The northerner.

She blinked at the man who was laying on the shore, seemingly dead. She walked forward, a bit tentatively. He was hardly wearing anything except for a loincloth and some boots, but the rest of him, well the rest of him was better off not clothed. He was very pale, not what she was used to in this area, and he had swirling tattoos on his forearms and neck. She got right up next to him and wondered if he was alive. Anja brought her foot forward and nudged him with it. When he didn't stir she knelt down and shook him again. She took a deep breath then pressed her head against his chest. She could hear the familiar thumping of a heart.

Anja looked at the mysterious man's face and wondered why he had washed up onto the shore. She stared at him intently, taking his various features. She wondered, for a moment, if she should just save herself the trouble and walk off, but she couldn't leave a man to his death. She shook him again and said in her soft voice.

"Hello? Wake up."

If he didn't wake up soon then she'd have to find away to carry him. Maybe she could "borrow" someone's stead or something. She was really hoping it wouldn't come to that though.

Al'shaazim had been so caught up in the commotion in the markets he had almost forgotten his charge. Having held fast to his own honor and the thought of the youth laying beneath the docks he had managed some supplies though nothing extravagant. A thick hide draped over a shoulder his boney frame swallowed by it, and some more or less comfortable tanned wears in order to dress the poor fellow. Cursing another man's clumsiness for mules Al'shaazim slowly made his way back, basket in hand, and intact despite the thunderous herd of Knights that loped past with tremendous fury present upon their faces.

Another day in the life of a simple man. Each step brought him closer, with the slow swift sweeping of his sandals. The view that opened before the old man however, was not the one he had left. A woman, though attractive was leaning over the young man, she shook him gently and her voice carried upon the sea breeze like that of a sirens call. It brought a smile to the old man's face, naive.

Before her, the scene laid out was much as he had left it. Laying still, remained the young man, his chest, fore arms and biceps littered in these markings now, they spread, slowly, regaining color after being so doused in water. The slime the ocean always left upon the skin had dried to a filmy feeling, like that of dust shaken loose. His muscles rigid and still strong twitched within his unconcious sleep. Only the fluttering of eyes beneath closed lids showed messages of life. His features, straight cut and predatory showed the look of a man, not a boy. Stubble held barely to the jawline, only hinting at his youth. A nose, widened at the bridge had been broken but clearly healed well as it did not distort the rugged attractiveness of the man. Like the wolf of the wilds, or perhaps that of the desert fox, his brow showed intelligence rather than the sloped knuckle dragging large foreheads of some knights. Wherever this man heralded from, it was sure a place of great conflict. Scars danced across his flesh, glittering with their sinews under the sunlight.

Al'shazzim stepped lively along the rock wall of the pier looking down to the eared woman. His accent was thick, yet he spoke common well enough to get the ladies attention if she had not heard his comings already.

" Quite a haul, if'n you asks me lil' sis. " spoke the near toothless old man, his voice rugged and rough, whistling certain vowels.

It didn't appear that the man was going to wake anytime soon. She poked his face in annoyance, but went onto admire his sculpted body. He looked like he was older then her, but not by much. He was scarred and she chanced letting her fingers dance over a few of them, tracing their outlines.

She stood up, rolling her loose, white sleeves up, getting ready to drag the man as best she could to the nearest horse or donkey. Her billowing shirt and ebony hair blew with a salty breeze and she flicked her hair out of her face. She was about to bend over and grab the man underneath the shoulders when an old voice sounded from behind her.

Anja's reflexes wanted her to spin around and fight, but she controlled herself. Unlike her world she didn't have to constantly fight for survival and she didn't think they let old men join the Knights of the Sun. So, slowly and stiffly, she turned around, her eyes guarded and hard.

"I think I'll be fine. I've carried fatter carcasses then his."

There was truth within her words, but that had been a different matter entirely. She had hunted and killed large animals, but she usually chopped them into pieces after skinning them. Of course she didn't expect the old man to know that. She didn't know why he even cared though.

With a face that seemed to bend with each year of his life the toothless smile came, and was kind warm. Like that of the oceans breeze on a sweltering hot day the old man, chuckled and looked to her, slinking down the stone work to walk beside her. Steadily he set down his pelts and leathers, the basket and something else. Looking to her his face was still wrinkled with that tender smile.

" Well'n lass, at least help me dress'm afore you go trying to sell'm or the like. Hrm? "

With that smile he leaned down and squatted before the barbarian. Taking the time to lift him with surprising strength, the old man was very well in shape from the years of activity and it showed with the rigid ripeness of his aged but strong arms. Wrapping the shawl about the man, it had been a fur cloak at one time but looked more a poncho on the fallen form of the north man. Al'shaazim looked to the young girl once more and offered the basket.

"North men bring trouble lil' one. Best you take this and----. "

Before he could finish there was a groan behind him, deep and almost inhuman. Leaning up from the sands, eyes still closed, black matted hair fell about the face of the north man. His form hunching forward, as an exhale immediately followed the groan. The words that followed none present could understand, gutral and deep, almost barking like some feral dog. Despite this, the old man had caught a word he had not heard in a long time, and with it's breath on the wind of the ocean, he had stepped back.

Odin.

Looking to the small woman he simply offered a nervous smile and took to his heels. Scrambling to crawl up the rock face of the high pier. He skipped faster to get away from the sleeping giant as if he had suddenly sprouted a tail and wings. Blinking a few times, another unnerving trait was brought forth. His eye's, they were the color of blood, humans had many colored eyes, radiant blues and greens, deep browns and yellows, but this, this was the color of pure gore, crimson sheared flesh placed upon the iris of a man who stood no doubt like a mountain. Not another sound came, a hand raised to the side of his head, and silence fell, blocking the glaring sun.

Anja nodded to the man as he walked over and started to dress the man. She hadn't planned on selling him, but now that she thought about it that wasn't a bad idea. The old man was saying that the people from the north were trouble and reached out a basket to her. She didn't know what he was going to tell her because he was cut off by the groans from the man. They were odd groans, but she figured it was because he was foreign.

The man sat up on his hands and then leaned forward. He spoke some words she didn't understand at all, but it seemed to cause the old man to act oddly. She found his voice to be extremely attractive, something stirred within her, but that was ignored when the old man smiled nervously at her then ran. She blinked and watched him leave, wondering what in the world had possessed him. She shrugged though and looked back at the formerly unconscious man.

"Hello."

She said as she knelt down next to him. She blinked as she looked at his eyes. They were blood red, not "like" blood red, but actually the color of blood. She tilted her head and said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"You have red eyes."

She wondered if he understood her, but it wasn't really that important. She was just stating a fact and if he said no, then she would know him for a liar. She was, like her feline counterparts, curious. This man was completely foreign and new to her and she wanted to find out more about him until she got bored.

His eye's shifted to her, though beneath the crook of his hand, shielding those eyes from the sun. His gaze was stern and hard to discifer, crossed between confusion and awareness. Not stirring just yet from his position he nodded to her statement. Taking the time to close them once more, rolling his head about his shoulders, he felt the muscles pull and tighten, some loosening off. With a sigh of almost delight he thumped his chest and rolled to one knee, unsteadily at that. Though he had been physically uninjured the time in the water perhaps took his legs for the moment. Not to be outdone however, he pulled his other leg forward and began to stand, grumbling something in that strange gutral language again.

Feeling the cloak wrapped loosely about his shoulders, he paid little mind to it, and assumed it was from the woman, she was that, a woman. Her feline features catching him a bit off guard, yet unwavering. Licking his own canines, they seemed a bit longer than that of normal folk, giving him a bit more of a feral look, ruggedly gracious in his hair too, it seemed that despite having thick hair on his head, there was little else, covered in the swamp like mass of delightful chaos.

His voice rolled off his tongue like silken chocolate dark and deep, poured into a cup of overflowing animal passion. Deep as the oceans were vast and powerful as a storm it was still so smooth.

" Wulf... " as he tapped his chest. " Where I? " he questioned the woman. Now rising to his full height and near colliding with the pier on his way up, he still had enough sense to crane his neck and step out from beneath.

Anja watched him with intent. He seemed to understand what she was saying, but whether he could speak it was a different matter entirely. She watched him as he loosened his stiff muscles and then thumped his chest, a gesture she couldn't begin to comprehend. He moved to stand and she took a step back. She didn't know whether he was dangerous or not so she was determined to stay on guard. He was very nice to watch move though.

Anja's ears twitched slightly as his tongue flicked over his canine teeth. She was used to seeing others with longer then average teeth, but this move caused that stirring sensation again. He was very animalistic and her own animal side seemed to respond on a base level to that. He was still a mess though.

What really threw her for a loop though was his voice when he spoke her language. She took in a sharp breath, her onyx eyes looking to stare at the huge man. His name was apparently Wulf. How fitting, she thought. She gave his entire body a once over before answering him.

"Hi Wulf. I'm Anja and you're in Everwatch, the magnificent desert city."

She wasn't quiet sure what to do with him now, but keeping him out in the open didn't seem like the best idea. She sighed and decided to take him home with her. She walked in front of him, pointedly looking up into his crimson eyes.

"Okay Wulf, we need to get you cleaned up. Follow me."

She made a motion for him to follow her and she started off towards her humble abode by the sea. She climbed up the rock wall and stopped at the top, turning to watch his own ascent. That's when a hand reached out and grabbed her by the hair. She cried out in surprise and moved to turn and look at her attacker.

"There you are you little whore! How dare you steal from me!"

Anja cursed her luck as she reached up to claw at the man's hands. From her position she was at a disadvantage though and he reached an arm around her throat choking her. She kicked and clawed at him.

"Let me go you disgusting man."

She hissed out. He pulled his hand from her hair and started to grope around her body, starting with her fairly unmodest breasts.

"Not until I find that gold. I'll have to do a thorough search too. And when I'm done with you I'll make sure to sell you to some slaver. An exotic slut like you will fetch a hefty price."

She opened her mouth then bit down hard on his arm. He cried out in pain and shoved her down to the ground. She lay there as he pulled a foot back and kicked her. She curled up in a ball, trying to keep him from hitting any important spots.

Lumbering forward to follow her was the easiest thing he had done all waking seconds of this day. Though in truth, he had not fully grasped what she had intended, nor where they were to head. His head spun uneasily, and with the notion of nausea washing over him with intense resolve it seemed he was to take knee once more. Wulf fought for that moment, with himself to remain standing, still, the shrill sound of something brought him from his stupor. Sweet deliverance and beauty swelled to open air as the ape fondled the creature into which he had awoken.

She had said Everwatch, that much he understood, less than importantly at the time, he knew causing a scene here would mean far worse for him than that of the little thief. Never the less, a woman, was not to be touched like this ape fondled her. Wulf, the name of his fore fathers, and the tribe in which a lust ever hungers like the beasts of the north, the wolves of the Luna, Fenrir himself. A low gutral noise eminated from the barbarian even over the kicking and scuffling of the pair, the great beast, had been taunted from sleep.

Wulf's blood boiled with rage, a heat eminating from him with thick putrid power. It choked the very air around the sea, strangling it of it's refreshing coolness. Before there was a chance of reprieve to draw back that second thrusting leg, Wulf was up the salt stone wall and upon the ape. His form nothing more than a descending shadow with a wicked look upon his face. Each thunderous hand drew back like a smiths hammer and collided with the merchants soft flesh. Throttling the man, Wulf was relentless screaming more words, or perhas he was hissing them, that no man could understand this far south.

Wulf threw punch after punch, even as the man clawed and flailed back, glancing blows off Wulf's face and chest, nothing phased nor sated the barbarian. Unleashed fury hailed a barrage of deadly blows upon the gruesome gore that remained. Wet meat packing sounds of flesh on flesh explode beneath titan like hits. Carnage and blood, strength and prowess as he slugged the creature that had been a man to within an inch if not closer, of his worthless life.

Wulfs shoulders did not heave with exhaustion, only the glistening heat of rage, that showed his muscles flawlessly work together to make a machine of war. He was a physically imposing creature before but now was nothing more than a resting weapon. Looking over his shoulder to the woman he heaved the fat merchant to his feet and cast him aside, as if he were a rag doll. It wasn't pure strength of muscle, it was a will an imposing dominance about him that strangled the air.

" Hurt? ... " questioned Wulf, his eye's concerned, looking her over, perhaps a bit too longedly.

Anja had never seen such a sight as Wulf. The disgusting man she assumed was dead and Wulf stood unscathed and powerful over him. He had an inner rage, one she hadn't witnessed before. She was glad she had been on his side in this fight and would dread ever crossing that line. She looked up at him, stunned, a bit scared, and a bit something else. She had no idea how he had preformed such a feat with his condition, but she didn't question it at the moment.

She came back to Earth as the merchant was tossed aside. She shook her head at his question and rose a bit shakily. She steadied herself through will and took a deep breath. If he wasn't dead then she would be in a lot of trouble, but if he was then they needed to get as far away as possible, something she thought was of the utmost importance at that time. She walked over to Wulf and grabbed his arm, pulling him forward.

"Come on, hurry."

She said a bit urgently. She was light, agile and could maneuver easily, but she doubted he could. She led him through back allies, pausing when a person would get to close. She didn't want them to see the blood on his hands. She stopped when they got fairly far away and looked up at him. She wasn't sure how much he understood and she looked up at him intensely.

"Thank you."

She said finally. She figured she should keep her speech short. They were alone in a little alley in the slummier part of town. Her big, onyx eyes looked up into his red eyes as she tried to convey her thanks. She was a lot smaller then he was, but it only made him that much more attractive to her. She felt that stirring again as she looked up into his wild face. She felt she should turn away, but she seemed unable to move.

Their travels were swift, but dedicated to step where she had stepped. Twice the behemoth of a man near tumbled into a passing stall or cart. Twice more he had nearly taken too many steps and collided with a rather fragile looking door or window. Being strung along like some child's toy at his size was beyond hilarity but for the situation. Wulf himself, however, did not know their situation, his own thoughts traced along the rumors of his people, thinking back to when Gar, his uncle had mentioned that weak men in the south could not solve their issues with fists but rather had others fight with words for them. Wulf was unamused by the prospect yet refused to think he did anything wrong by defending the woman. She was after all a woman, and an attractive one at that. Her curves seemed to run for miles and made the seemingly attractive ones of his own tribe, barrels of lard in comparison.

Shaking his head he leaned down looking her over, he had understood the words, as they slowed to a halt, then more over the other words that came from her he had only known once before, but it was a gruesome memory at that. Nod sternly and rising once more to his full height, he stood steady, like a mountain, unshakeable and impossible to scale with just eyes alone. This resolve eminating from his spirit, you could feel it off of the barbarian. His crimson eye's scanned their surroundings not having time to truly remember the way to this place.

Unsure of what to say he seemed a bit out of place, but kept his stoic silence. Looking only to her once more and nodding. The world around them seemed to change, as no whistles were blown, no screams or shouts hounded them. Wulf was an imposing figure standing alone, but something about him made his presence feel rooted to the very earth. His scent especially, an earthen richness soaked in the bowels of the ocean only long enough to hide the robust aroma of the northern lands. Like that of the rare pine scent, a sharp richness of fresh cut wood and work, and of earth rich with life. Wulf was a conundrum, at least would be to most, his eyes holding a secret within them. Whatever the case may be, Wulf himself knew he must leave this place and cross the great dry lands. Such a place as the Everwatch was a place for the weak to hide, for those unable, or unwilling to face the winds of the north and defend their lands, they would let nature fight their battle for them, and they would soon come to realize that not even she could stop what was coming.

Anja drew in a deep breath as she realized she was staring at him overly long. A slight blush spread across her sun-kissed cheeks. He didn't respond to her words either and she turned from him, her hand reaching out and grabbing his again. They still had a ways to get to her small hut.

She started forward at a slower pace this time since they were in a place where people hardly noticed that the sky was blue. They passed by sleeping beggars, community water holes and stray animals. Everything was covered in a layer of dust and grime, unlike the market and richer parts of town.

Anja had come to Everwatch chasing dreams and tales of wealth, but she had found out her dreams had no meaning, and unless she married some rich pervert she wasn't getting anything substantial. Which is how she ended up in the slums living with a bunch of people she didn't really care for.

Anja stopped outside of a small adobe made out of sand and plaster. There were makeshift wooden doors and wooden shutters. She sighed, wishing she could take him some where nicer, but she resigned to the fact that he had to get cleaned up. She pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of one of her roommates topless, fanning herself. She was a regular human, nothing extraordinary about her, but she had fairly large breasts.

Her roommate looked up at Anja, then to Wulf. She grinned a bit devilishly and waved her over. Anja rolled her eyes and stepped in, still holding his hand.

"So little miss holy, have you finally decided to join the dark side? Selling that money maker of yours."

Anja gave her a disgusted look.

"No, Lisa, I have not. I'm just going to get him cleaned up."

Lisa laughed and shook her head.

"Whatever, just remember the rules."

Anja rolled her eyes then led him to a back room. She closed the makeshift door and turned to him.

"Okay, we need to get you cleaned up. I'm just glad she didn't notice the blood."

She sighed, wondering what she would do. All he had on was a poncho thing. Her tail curled around her leg again as she looked at him thoughtfully. She couldn't help but admiring his body again, he was very attractive and the scars she could see intrigued her. She wanted to ask where he got them, but he couldn't speak her language. She remembered then that he must be tired. She led him over to her cot and pointed to it.

"Are you tired? Sleep?"

She said looking up at him. If he slept then she could go get water from the tap and heat it up for him so he can wash himself comfortably. Then again he might sleep long so she could use it before it got cold, which sounded nice, but she'd tend to his needs first. He did save her.

Crimson eyes had scanned over the woman. Nothing truly outstanding, aside from her lack there of a top. Even with such flesh exposed, Wulf either didn't care or even show an effect of the woman's wilds. His form slid past, almost lumbering, but carefully after Anja. The room however was small, and entirely different than anything he had ever been used to, a man of the wilds, of wide open spaces and engulfing landscapes. Here it was little more than a hut, if even barely that. Wulf's size had been imposing, but not to the extent that he would openly stand out amidst massing crowds of people. His physique however did draw questions, and he had many of his own seeing the way that Anja had eyed him a few times now.

Wulf's form turned and removed the poncho from his shoulders. Peeling away the leathery coverings revealed something different than expected. His back, was littered with the scars of lashings, streaming from shoulder to shoulder and down to his hips. They looked as brutal now in sealed flesh as silvered skin shimmered a moment with the heat of the mid day. Wulf then used this poncho at his hands, to thumb off the blood from his hands, scrubbing roughly, even going so far as to grind raw about his wrists. His hair and face matted with the mess as well.

Her words touched his ears again, Anja had the sweetest voice he had ever heard, even better than that of the morning song birds in the northern lands. A smile touched the corner of his lips, but he hid that well. Looking to her with a raised brow he shook his head to her question. After taking such a water logged rest he was tired of needing rest. Feeling that his body needed the attentions of work, he simply finished cleaning his hands off and looked about the small room. Cognitive thoughts were beginning to return and to that effect much of the vocabulary he had forgotten about this strange and rather boring language.

People who spoke common, lacked the emotion and joy their tongue would bring, then again with the speaking of the Norse, actions always accompanied the stories, and ale. Wulf was reminded here, within this small abode of what he had lost on the sea. IT made little sense to him, but he had drifted on those waves too far for it to be natural chance. Odin's hand was guiding him, he could feel it. In the north lands, the end of a trip was marked with a party, ale, and wenches to be passed around like candy.

Akward thoughts brought even more akward functions of those thoughts. Thinking clearly apparently had aroused other portions of his body, though natural, Wulf was completely unaware of the customs of the people within the south. His loin cloth hid well this feature, as did his facial expression, though truthfully, the light flush of his cheeks could perhaps hint otherwise.

Pointing to his face and the blood that spattered his cheeks and hair, neck and chest, he rubbed his hands together and made mock of placing a cloth about his face. His voice was more a query this time as if to check his words correct.

" Cloth?, wash? "

Anja watched as he started to strip off his clothes. She was once again amazed at his physique. Truly he was a man, not like the boys who inhabited this weak city. It reminded her of the rippling muscles of her kind back where she was from. Memories flashed through her mind and she banished them, though her attention was taken by his back.

She moved closer to him and lightly touched the scars on his back with her once delicate fingers, curious as to how such a man could receive such marks. She almost didn't notice him scrubbing his hands raw. He was a mess and smelled of the ocean. She went to stand back in front of him, almost missing a blush lightly spread across his cheeks.

Wulf gestured to his face and then made movements that indicated he wanted to be made clean. He even spoke in that intense voice of his that made her spine tingle. She nodded and held up one finger.

"One minute, I'll get you something."

With that she dashed out of the room, giving him a better look at her plump features. She grabbed a rag they usually used to wash clothes with then she ran out the back door and made her way to the neighborhood watering spout. A few women were there washing clothes and they looked up at her.

"Hey Anja, Nali told us you got a customer."

The girls laughed, most of them in the profession as well. Anja grimaced at them, but chose to ignore their comments. She wet the cloth under the cold water then turned to leave.

"Treat him nice Anja, don't need him getting rabies."

Their cackling laughter followed her back to the hut, but she didn't care. They were human and humans were self conscious as she had found very quickly. They responded to flattery well, but rose up in defense when something they deemed as dangerous to their status showed up.

Anja entered back into the hut and back to her room closing the door swiftly. She then held the cloth up to him. She wished she had a bath he could us, but all they had was a bucket. In hind sight she figured she should have grabbed that too. She sat on the straw mattress that made up her bed and looked up at him. He looked so much bigger in her room in then he had outside.

The rag was well used, but soft, and still with much life left in it. Unlike that of some materials the rich used this was made to last. A finger and thumb ran across the stitching of the linen in itself, four frayed threads to the finger. A smile touched his features, it was from the north, no doubt imported on a larger heartier bundle and somehow part of that. Even here, so far from home, there was a touch of the cold north. At least, to him it felt like home. Looking to the young woman he had smiled again, revealing hard white teeth and those canines. Some had said the men of the north were beasts, nothing more than animals grown intelligent, for lack of a better term for dressing themselves and not taking to marking things. However another theory was that they are the remnants of those that came from the earth and wished not to become feeble and weak by disbelieving in her power. The theories were beyond numerous and everyone had one or another

Wulf tendering slid the cloth across his face, using the top ridging to scrub and carefully worked down the cloth. He recognized the scent within the building a house of ill repute, or at least something to that effect. The young woman at his side seemed too sweet and far too nimble and head strong for such actions. Wulf paid it little mind as the scent of many men, and women, but the ever constants were stronger. He thought on this for perhaps a few more moments and simply banished it from his thoughts. Looking then to Anja, he carefully folded the cloth in half and used the clean side to wipe beneath her chin, it was a simple action, but even with hands as tough as iron and with the feel of leather, he was gentle. The cloth slipped under her chin and about her neck, almost effortlessly, but direct, and firm. Wulf, was cleaning off the smudgings of a man, he disliked the smell of.

" Thank you... " he said, his voice was low, pleasing to the ear. There was a moment however where he himself had thought he had shaken the door behind himself with his speech.

The accent he had spoken with previously, was fading and fast. It seemed his cognitive skills were taking over. Looking to Anja now, he couldn't help it, his people, his tribe, all had the same eyes. Growing up with the sight of crimson was no special feet but she had deep eyes, of a color he couldn't begin to describe with all the flowers he knew of home. Staring now, he paid no mind to it and lost himself to her feline gaze.

Anja watched him from her place on her cot, fascinated with him. Anja was a woman from the East, an exotic jungle, completely different then the desert she now lived in. Trees and animals and water were abundant. She wasn't sure why, but this man made her feel homesick. He was away from his home just as she was, but that was where their similarities ended. She knew nothing of this man, whether he had a family, what his past was, whether he had a woman waiting along the shoreline for him in a distant land. These thoughts illicited a sigh from her lips.

Then she felt a cold, dampness light upon her chin. She looked up, her onyx eyes sparkling in surprise. He moved the cloth along her neck and chin, where the man who had attacked her had touched. She looked from his face back to his hands then back to his eyes. He filled her senses further when he spoke. Another shiver ran up her spine and she hoped he didn't notice it.

Anja managed to give him a slight nod as she stared into his crimson eyes. They reminded her of the color of the sun right before it fully sets behind the earth, the flash of blood that smeared the horizon. He stared back into her eyes. Usually her kind had shockingly yellow eyes, but she was not a usual feline. The few she had seen of her kind had looked on at her with disdain, but these thoughts were pushed away as she moved a bit closer to him, her hand moving to his again.

Like dark mirrors of purest stone her eyes reflected his own image, a darkening shadow smeared across her vision. Unlike the invalids of the world around them, he did not shy from her touch. Their hands met, and gently he let her lead, perhaps he had insulted her. The worry was never shown across his features. Her eye's were the rapture in which he felt the cool winds of the north once more, the voice of the mountain howling down upon him. Like the first season of falling snow he could remember, she stirred his heart.

Thunderously hammering against his chest, his heart raged it's appreciation for a woman with such curves and features. His soul however wandered those eye's, as if all the stars in the heavens could be swallowed by them. Wulf leaned closer his form taking to a knee before her, unconciously wavering before her as if she had cast a spell upon him. Or perhaps it was a more basic attraction, something that lay dormant within his soul, seeping from his heart into the open air. Even here, lost amidst the sands of the south in a small room with this beautiful creature, he felt at ease.

Unfortunatly for Wulf, his base instincts also brought with them needs. Leaning forward, he was nearly upon her now, not aggressively imposing simply meshing. He could smell her scent, like that of the wilds, strong and dangerous, thick with life. His own body heat radiating between them now as he moved forward, slowing just enough to tease her. He was not hunting prey, nor stalking his mark, this was something different, it was smooth, real, and definately something he had never felt before. A feeling of adrenaline, controlled, like never before, his eye's never leaving her own, his body begging to lunge forward. Wulf, stops himself, his lips quivering, parted and dry, though the sea had long since slain his desire to drink for the day.

Anja felt heat encompass her body as Wulf moved closer to her, something in his eyes betraying his emotions. She watched, mesmerized with his intense stare. He got down on a knee and moved closer to her, causing her heart to hammer in anticipation mixed with want.

He was so powerful and she could see it with his every move. He could simply push her down and overpower her, but he seemed to have an inner control, something that most in the desert did not. Passionate in their ways they could not still their bodies, but Wulf seemed controlled, but filled with a foreign intensity she had never beheld before.

As he drew closer, her eyes darkened to fathomless depths. He was so very close to her she could feel his heat. She suddenly felt cold and wondered if his body was as warm and inviting as it looked. She reached a tentative hand out and placed it upon his strong shoulder. Her touch was light as she moved her fingers over his hard flesh. She moved her body a breath away from his, her heart thumping harder. She swore he would be able to hear it.

His lips looked dry, but this didn't deter her. She licked her soft lips as hers parted. She moved her lips a breath from his and she took a shaking breath, taking in his salty, musky scents. Her lips brushed against his, almost like a feather landing upon the ground. It was a taste and an invitation. She was almost pressed into him and the anticipation was eating away at her.

She had started a wild fire within his heart. Her lips connecting with his own, sending a blazing inferno to his senses. Her touch danced a thunder storm upon his flesh, striking with lightning as her soft flesh felt as snows first kiss to greet spring. Wulf pushes forward, their lips meeting now, fully tasting the flesh that was so succulent. Wulf let his form lurch forward, slowly. Shoulders, wrought with power and muscle fully trembled beneath her touch, a queen of the moment. His own hands now sliding to her hips, lacing her sides with the tips of his fingers, barely feeling her warmth. Control was hard enough to keep with such an invitation, but the lingering feelings remained and Wulf approach cautiously.

His eye's had slid closed at her touch to his lips. A torrent of colors and passions were at war in the darkness of his waking moments. Anja had brought a strange array of color through senses he had not even been sure he had. Her scent was intoxicating, her lead of him, a march that any man would follow blindly. Was he in control, or was she, it mattered not to the barbarian, all that mattered was those eyes. Even with his own closed, he could see their reflective depths swallowing him. Wulf pressed harder forward, his form slowly inching closer.

Like that of a serpent his flesh met her own, or at least their bodies connected with almost tentative fear. His toned stomach pressing to her own, as he held that kiss. Hands no longer worried, slid about her waist, finding the small of her back and ample spot to rest, and pull the beauty against himself. The feeling was pleasurable, and terrifying like sinking in quicksand and enjoying every moment of it. He couldn't bare to let her go, but feared hold of her. Treading unfamiliar waters now Wulf caught himself thinking with more basic solutions, she was hauntingly beautiful and in ways he had never felt, he knew this. Wulf swallowed hard and pressed the beauty upon himself, holding her just far enough to let her explore with more than just her hands.

Anja felt things stirring inside of her she had never felt before, at least not on this level. It was more basic, primal, yet it was sensual and slow. Every nerve on her body was on end and she felt what control she had at the beginning was fading when their lips met again in a more passionate kiss.

She reveled in his taste and touch, her lips parted as she pushed back against him. His touch was warm and strong and she wanted his hands all over her. She wanted his hands to move from her back, to move all around and let her entire body melt within him.

She allowed him to press her body into his, what skin was exposed seemed to burn with his heat and she practically mewled in response. She ran her hands down his chest, her fingers tracing hot trails against his flesh as she pressed herself more fully to his body, her contours shaping to his.

She could feel herself burning from the intensity he brought with him and his foreign, wild tastes only heightened this. She wanted to taste very inch of his body, but restrained herself to his glorious lips. She could easily lose herself in his body and she would be all to happy to. She could feel every inch of her body responding to him, wanting him. Her control slipped away with each ragged breath.

The world spun like no other, his head, righted still felt wavering in the fires of her touch. She set an inferno in his heart, with a thunderous chorus to chase away doubt. His heart, pounded in his ears, and to her ever so sensual touch she teased his every sense. Letting her explore was one thing, but demanding that she took what she willed was another. Wulf leaned back, pulling himself away from her most tender lips and heated form. His shoulders rolling to the straws of the mattress. Holding fast to her, he pulled her along for the ride, leaving her atop himself now. Unlike the feeling before, he had placed her against an inescapable embrace, but now, she was free to explore as she willed.

A game, for some, and a gentle one at that, he may have been a barbarian but she was still a woman in every aspect, and should be treated as the mother's will. To a culture like the one he had come from much thought had been given to the tenderness of a woman's touch, their ability to steel even the most terrified child. Wulf respected women, he respected Anja, as she had not broke down into tears when the fat slob had grabbed her, she had fought back, regardless her crimes or innocence. Wulf respected this above all else and in strange ways he felt assured that he could offer her something. Wulf slid his great rough hands tenderly up her back, drawing his tough digits down in a light clawing like nature. With a tender kiss he trailed her cheek now, slithering his lips along her neck and collar.

Anja reveled in his body, his very touch. She felt her mind slipping into a haze, one she welcomed. She wanted to stop thinking, to simply enjoy, but her thoughts were pulled back as he moved away. It formed into one silent "NO," but soon she was moving with him, laying atop him as he positioned herself upon the straw cot. She sat up a bit on him, her eyes roving his face and neck and torso as she looked down on him. Her hair fell in tendrils, a few strands brushing against his hard frame.

He was giving her room to explore his body, allowing her to lead their dance. Anja couldn't imagine anything better, her entire body and heart knew what she wanted. This experience was a new one for her. In her world you had to fight, claw and bite to get dominance. It wasn't sensual or loving, it was simply an act of breeding in her land. Usually to roll over and allow someone to take control was a sign of weakness, but she didn't think that applied to Wulf.

His nails raked down her back and she arched into it, her chest pushing forward onto his. She let out an "ah" of pleasure slip out. She twisted her neck to give him more access. Then she pushed up on his chest, looking down at him again. She could feel his warmth beneath her, undeniable in this position. She could only imagine what it would be like to peel away his loincloth, to see him fully. She purred with anticipation as her fingertips skated down his chest. She then lifted the flowing shirt she had on over her head, revealing part of herself to him.

She allowed him a few moments to gaze upon her body before leaning back down, pressing breasts against him and bringing her lips into another passionate kiss. She ran a hand down his chest towards his hips and back up again. She wanted to rip what little clothes he had on off and take him, but she controlled herself. She wanted to enjoy these feelings, theses sensations. He seemed a man who would disappear with the wind and she thought she would have to enjoy his presence while the wind was stilled.

Her touch was magic, sending shivers of pleasure through his very core. Her fingers, begging his lusts to the surface where they remained halted by the cool tempest of her kiss. Like the breath of winter she hushed the life within him, but she so begged for it all the same. He was ready, beyond that even, for her and she alone. Wulf's hot and steeled pride, waiting in patient anticipation just below that simple cloth about his waist, pressing hard against her, letting her feel the beat of the beast waiting below her. It was hard enough to control himself with such a beautiful, yet he was managing somehow to hold onto the very winds of lust.

Leaning into her kiss, his hands gripped firmly at her rump, kneading almost before trailing up her sides, along the soft under flesh of her breasts. His rough fingers eliciting strange feelings of almost ghost like care along her tender flesh. Moaning in a dull lustful tone, Wulf lulled into her kiss again and again. One hand bravely ventured forward, sliding along and between the pair, slithering down her taut and powerful abs, lower and lower. Seeking to tease the woman into more pleasurable moans, of gentle sylabels that whispered to his lusts. A finger slid between her legs, caressing with gentle care and sexual lust. A free hand slid through her hair, gently ruffling the fine feeling mass of Anja's beautious locks.

Pulling back lightly, he broke their kiss once more, and his lips ventured along her jaw, teasing. Nipping now, he stole her lower lip for a taste, then to her neck, a combination of desire and heated lusts. Nips and kisses brought him lower and lower, trailing the soft flesh of her ample breasts, where he teased at her exposed senses, and plied an unmodest nip at her nipples, each having his lips trail to the other, and back.

Anja burned, she burned for Wulf and she only wanted that burning sensation to increase. He was giving her that and more. She gasped as he pressed himself against her, marveling in the heat and arousal it caused her. She fought back her instincts, fought back the desire to rip it off and toss it to the ground. She wasn't sure why, but she felt in control and wanted to remain that way.

His hands moved from her firm butt up and her body shivered as the feelings washed over her. It was like her whole body was responding to him. Just his touch was bringing her closer to the end. His hands ghosted over her breasts and she wanted him to play with them, tease her. He didn't disappoint. A soft, lust-filled moan escaped her as he gently caressed her.

When his lips moved from hers she almost protested, but was silenced when they moved along her body to her ample breasts. Soft moans and gasps escaped her as he worked his magic. She arched her back and let out a louder moan as she felt his teeth graze her sensitive nipples. Her breathing came in shorter intervals. After letting him play with them for a few more minutes, she pulled back, her face flushed with want and her eyes as dark as the night. She managed to place her feet on either side of him and stood, gazing down at him.

Anja looked down to his hardened member which was covered in a thin cloth. She took in a shaking breath then bent down and started to slowly, sinuously, undo the ties. She tossed the cloth away and drew in a sharp breath as she looked down at his large member. She had been with a man before, but they weren't as large or as impressive as his. She swallowed as she looked at it.

Anja reached a hand down a bit tentatively. She let a finger slide down the underside before bringing it back up and swirling it around the tip. She rarely had the opportunity to explore a man's body like this. She wanted, wanted so bad she ached, but she was also curious, curious as to what would make her wild man twist and moan in pleasure.

Her very touch edged him forward. The thick, hard shaft throbbing in her hands, ready, waiting. Wulf hadn't moved, but he emitted a low moaning growl, something animal, something enduring. He wished to pounce her, to have her moan in exstacy just as much as she wished upon him, but he was patient. His cock, glistening with needful attention now, pulsed with it. A steady eye watching her amidst inhales of pleasure, and some of tormented joy. Hands massaging at her thighs, letting her lead as she wished, desiring as she must. His own eye's half lidded with a haze of passion and pleasure.

Wulf leaned forward, his form brought to her body once more as he trailed a few more passionate kisses about her lower breasts, soft and sensual, even curling to go as far as her abs. Hands then relaxed, massaging her hips with a steady rocking motion of a slow and sensual pace. His moans came again as a hefty dallop of slick readiness escaped. He was only a man after all, and despite his best efforts to remain controlled before this beauty, his body simply did not wish to agree.