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Archive 5 / stealing-songs
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Artorian BOT 04-Dec-21 11:10 PM
After over a week in the woods and on the road Artorian wanted nothing but a warm spot to have a strong drink. After opening the door to the tavern he started to rethink that. The tavern had a pleasant smell of cooking food but it was overshadowed by the smell of sweat from men who had spent the day working. He knew of course he didn't smell like honey and summer peaches but it was easier to ignore that when you had open air and the smell of dirt and wood instead of walls and a roof. He pushed the scent of the place to the back of his mind to focus on the things he could enjoy instead. The fire spread a comforting warm glow across the room so he wasn't left seeing by moonlight, the noises of people laughing and talking was comforting compared to being alone and food was just a few steps and coppers away instead of hours of hunting. At the thought of food his stomach growled at him and so did the familiar on his shoulder. Ember, his familiar in the shape of a red fox with white feather wings rested against his fur collar and stared down at him. "Don't worry, we will eat soon."He told her in a soft deep voice full of warmth as he scratched under her chin with a finger. He made his way to the innkeep and got some food for himself and his bond before looking around the interior of the room. As usual the tavern was fuller closer to the fire and the same type of people were scattered through out. In the corner an edgy character in all black stood against the wall with their hood down, a large man with rippling muscles challenged everyone they could to arm wrestling matches and makes of sorts would sit at tables with their books. Of course the regular folk would be there as well but these were just staples he had seen in every inn he had ever entered. He himself didn't stand out much in the tavern.
23:11
He wall tall, around six feet, but not too tall as to draw attention. Muscular from years of swordplay and spending time in the woods but nothing like the large man arm wrestling. He was a fairly attractive man with sharp Grey eyes and a strong jawline but he knew no bards would sing of his appearance. Embers tail swooshed back and forth getting caught in his warm black hair that reached just below his neck but he was used to it by this point. When the innkeep got his attention and handed him the food and drink he looked for a place to sit. His armor was a dark tanned leather the color of oak with iron plates between the layers of leather so while not as cumbersome as a full metal set he still had to be careful to not hit any other people as he made his way to the only seat he could find. He sat down and adjusted his green cloak and looked at the two figures across from him. "Mind if we sit here? He asked in a pleasant but clearly tired voice.
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 01:40 AM
The tavern was almost packed to the gills with patrons left and right, the room alive with life. Two women were in the thick of it all currently having an argument with each other. Upon closer inspection it was two women with identical faces, one with long coiling copper locks and the other with a short and simple cut as if she were a man. Their eyes were the color of liquid gold, both filled to the brim with emotion. Their attire was something of a different matter, one was like the personification of a foggy night decked from head to tail in grays and blacks. The fairer of the two was just that, as bright as a ray of sunshine on one's face. Her clothes the color of rich creams and golds that matched her eyes; little bells tied throughout her curls that jingled with each move she made. How could one being be the opposite of it’s copy was beyond that of which most who knew them could comprehend. As much as one would expect them to draw in attention, none of that could be seen in the crowded tavern. Instead, it was as if a cloak of a shadow had been lain across them. The discussion they were having was just for the two to hear.
01:40
“Please Anih, just one more time...we can use what you bring in and I collect to get us out of this hellhole.” She bobbed sister pleaded, her bronzed hand reaching out and clasping the other’s. “Didn’t you say you wanted a better life than this? Singing in a tavern for mere coppers instead of in an opera house?” Gem knew she was playing dirty by saying these things, but she felt she had no other choice. If they weren’t careful, they’d be out on the street yet again, and it was all Gem’s fault. She swallowed the ball of guilt she was feeling. “I promise, just this last time and then I won’t do it again.” She squeezed her twin’s hand, “I swear it.” Her liquid gold eyes swirled with the flickering of a candles flame. She knew there was nothing else she could say, so this had to work or they were screwed. A sigh left Anih as she looked at her darling sister, the shadow to her star. She shook her head at hearing her sister’s plea. “You said that last time, and the time before that Gem!” Anih glared at her twin and tried to pull her hand away but stopped. Gem was being very persistent this time which meant one of two things for Anih. One, her sister lost their savings or two, she started trouble again. She sighed again already feeling herself cave. If Gem actually meant it this time, and they did get to go Anih couldn’t deny it was tempting. “Fine... but we leave after the second song...” She patted Gem’s hand just as a man sat down. She offered him a sweet smile and shook her head. Her curls revealing two pointy ears bedazzled in gold piercings. “You go right ahead, don’t mind us.” She really meant it, the irony. She shot another glare at her twin beside the man. (edited)
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 02:01 AM
Charismatic, mesmerizing, beguiling, none of these words would be used by most folk to describe Atorian. Perceptive though, now that's a word that would describe him well. He couldn't help but be a bit distracted by the gold piercings in the ears but they didn't hide the points of those same ears. He almost reflexively reached towards the side of his head where hidden under the long dark lock were one of the few things his elven mother had left him. Those same ears though made it hard to tune out some sounds though and he couldn't help but hearths last few words said before he sat down. Between the end of the conversation and the glare he seen from one of the figures he could tell he had interrupted something. "My thanks." He told the friendlier of the two with a soft smile before looking down at his food. Since the majority of his time was spent in the woods or on the road with no companions but Ember the expression always felt somewhat forced. It wasnt that he wasn't happy but smiling and talking don't come up as often when the only one with you can feel you're motions and feelings through the bond better than anything a movement of the mouth or a sound could convey. Looking down at his plate he saw his familiar already looking and sniffing at the stew in front of him. He gave her back a quick pet watching the silky smooth fiery coat flow through his fingertips. She was his only constant companion and he loved her more than anyone.
02:03
In the few seconds he was distracted he saw that she had already grabbed the largest piece of meat from his place before she darted off between the two woman opposite him. "Little shit" He said to himself but he couldn't help but smile a bit. He ate his food quickly not realizing just how hungry he had been and the bread, oh the bread. In reality it wasn't fresh but it was hot with butter and one of the things besides mead he always missed when he disappeared on a job. Speaking of which if he didn't find anything local that night he would have to give the job board a look.
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 02:06 AM
Gem was ecstatic that her sister caved into her ask, with just a small fight. When the man sat down she eyed him wearily. He shouldn't have sat down. Not that it really mattered, the bloke didn't look like he had much in the way of money so he was relatively safe. She let out a sigh when Anih shot daggers at her with her eyes. She held up to hands in defeat and moved slightly to give the guy a little more room. Gem gave him another look over before shrugging and looking back at her twin. Anih smoothed over her features before standing. "Now, if you'll excuse me." Once up from the table whatever spell had been spoken was now broken. Anih's body was slender with just a bit of extra curve on her hips. She picked up a violin and bow that had been leaning against her chair. When she was upright she offered a wink to the newcomer. She stomped her foot down once, her bells jingling as she did. Violin gracefully swung under her cheek, bow to string and she slid the bow down abruptly. The noise alerted most of the patrons and eyes shot to the golden girl. Men quieted down as the bow created another note. ~ "There once was a man who went out in search or war…" (edited)
02:06
A voice so sweet one would think they were tasting honey, that was what most would have described Anih's voice. Something you would be blessed to experience at least once in your lifetime. They'd also tell you that the copy was nothing worth noting. ~ "And got what he wanted and much more" When Anih left put the first note from her vocal cords Gem grinned. The show was about to start which meant she needed to get to work. Gem glanced around at all the men, and women in the room as Anih began twirling and singing up and down between different people and tables. Feeling that all the attention would be locked on to her sister she got up from the table and moved off into the darkest part of the room. From there as her sister's song was sang she would pickpocket and steal from those she had marked earlier. A thrilled smirk on her face as she moved from place to place around the room, opposite of where her sister was at all times. This lot really was easy pickings. ~ "This is the tale of such woe…" (edited)
02:07
Anih kept her eyes on the crowd, trying her best not to focus on her sister who was currently robbing them blind. And it was her fault, her spellsong, as if she were a siren luring men in to drown. Guilt tugged on her heart but the love for her sister was strong and it would always win out in the end. She finished the first song, her bow masterfully switching from one song to the next. The second piece she play was a happier piece about lovers. As she sang it she would touch a man here, there. Just on an arm or shoulder, once in a while, a cheek. They all ate it up and of Anih was honest with herself she loved the hungered look they'd have, a hunger for wanting her. Nothing ever became of it, it was just the thrill of the song and it was always over in a flash. By the time Anih was bringing the second song to an end her sister had their bags and was waiting by the back door by the cooks. She spun and let herself jingle one last time and ended up right beside the man who she'd spoken to before. Anih almost tripped over another man's foot but used her hand to catch herself and she bumped into him, her golden eyes landing on him as did her hand on his shoulder. She finished singing her last note, her heart hammering in her chest all the while. The crowd around them erupted with cheer and thunderous clapping. Anih slipped her hand off of the man's shoulder. She slipped a thin veil over her face and the spellsong's strength began to wear off. "Sorry…" She directed at the poor man who had the misfortune of entering the tavern before their plan began. Gem waited until Anih was at the door with her, she opened the door and let her sister slip out before backing on herself. Nothing seemed amiss so she was confident they wouldn't be followed. All the patrons were none the wiser. Gem smirked just as she shut the door. She whispered loudly, "Let's go!" She grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her in direction of the port.
02:07
Anih pulled the bells out of her hair one by one as they ran, she knew the noise wouldn't help them. She threw the handful down an alleyway they passed. They were going to make it, actually make it! Anih's heart hammered in her chest as the port and the boat they planned to aboard came into view. So close…
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 02:25 AM
Atorian watched the performance glad to have a bit of a show. Sometimes all the noise game him anxiety but it was also the noise of civilization and where there was civilization there was bound to be less monsters. He drank his second mead as he watched, the honey in the cup matching the honey in the singers voice. The mood of the tavern was hard to not get swept in to, like a riptide current of joy and warmth but something felt strange about it to him. As Ember came back to him jumping on to the table from where the other elf woman had been sitting he realized why it felt that way. The woman he assumed was her sister or potentially even her mother with the way elves age had left her seat and he didn't see or hear her joining in with the performance. Without making it obvious that he was searching for her he started looking around until he spotted her. The tavern was crowded so there wasn't a good reason to be moving around so much in his mind and his suspicion grew. "Keep an eye on the dark clothes girl, follow her if she leaves." He told Ember in a hushed tone before turning his attention back to the brighter of the two women. When the performance was over he nonchalantly walked toward the bar as if to get another drink but from the corner of his eye he watched the two women again. Normally someone who gave a performance at a tavern, especially a crowded one, would wait around for patrons to offer them drinks or maybe even trinkets. The fact they were so quick to leave confirmed his suspicion in his mind. As they slipped out a copper and white steak followed and Artorian gave them a few seconds before he would join the hunt.
02:27
A moment later he stepped outside and cast a pass without trace spell on himself to make his already stealthful approach even harder to detect. He followed at a quick pace not being able to quite see them but knowing his familiar was with them that they wouldn't get far. He saw a going of gold from the corner of his eyes and saw the bells that had just a moment ago been intertwined with the singers hair. He took a quick detour to scoop the bells up before running after his prey once again. When the women got close to the boat ahead of them the winged fox started to loudly chirp at them. The sound was a chimera sound somewhere between a clicking and a high pitched laugh. Foxes were already quick creatures but the wings sprouting from it's shoulders let it run faster and make larger and safer leaps. Physically it wouldn't be able to do anything but she wanted to just distract for a moment until her bond could arrive. A moment later from the same alley she had came through her partner arrived. In a voice like warm hot chocolate he told them "You dropped these" as he held out some shiny bells in his large hands
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 02:44 AM
Anih heard the smooth voice and turned in the direction of the sound, just moments before she had been startled by the chirping sound. She had halted in her steps when she heard his statement. Her breathing was ragged she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Anih looked from Gem to the man and his companion. Gem turned, swiftly handing her sister the bag of loot she had collected and let her daggers slide down from her sleeves into her hands. She quickly moved in front of her twin and looked for the origin of the voice, her eyes landing on the man that had sat next to her in the tavern. She positioned herself in a defensive stance. “What do you want?” Her eyes wearily moved from the fox to the man before them. They had been so close, the ship about thirty feet away. If it came down to it, Gem would let her sister escape and she would stay and keep him preoccupied. Anih didn’t like where her sister’s train of thought was heading, she took a step forward. “No, Gem, put the daggers away...” She tried to grab her sister’s arm but Gem took a step forward toward the man. “We are getting on that ship. I will not let anything prevent that from happening. So again, I ask...” She pointed a dagger at him. “What do you want?” Anih worriedly looked from the back of her twin’s head to the man.
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 10:06 AM
"Is this how you treat everyone who returns dropped goods to ya?" He asked nodding his head in the direction of the blades. "There really isn't any need for those anyway. If I was wanting to hurt you I would have done it before you saw me. This how is meant for animals and beast but it would work just as well on elves. So can you put the daggers down lass?" At his pleasant tone Ember danced back over towards her master jumping clear from the ground to his shoulder in one elegant spring "Now if you're going to get on that ship feel free I won't stop you. I will point out however that you just robbed a tavern near the docks and if you don't think that will be the first place they look you're in for a surprise." He looked around the dock then and the boats available. He wouldn't consider himself a man of the sea, he preferred the smell of wood and soil to fish and salt but he didn't mind it. "As for what I want, it's money. Not yours and if those people werent smart enough to guard their coin that's on them but I want real coin. The money around here isn't great, coppers, some silvers and the occasional gold if you're lucky but I want more and I can't do that on my own. You asked what I wanted and that's it, some coin and you're clearly talented enough to help me get it."
10:06
He walked closer now still without any weapons in his hands, and his familiar resting at ease on his shoulder. "So if you're willing I can lead you a town over and we can look for honest jobs, honest jobs that actually pay." Raising his hand he gestured to the boat behind them. Honestly if you preferred I would ride the ship with you and start that way as well, I like the woods around here but I'm not attached like a babu and his mum. " He turned his attention to the brighter of the two. "You didn't seem as willing to do your last scheme, is this what you want? To run from place to place for pocket change?" He lowered his hand to his side. "I suppose I don't so much want anything from you as much as to offer you something . It's your decision to make though." He told them before spinning on his heels with a swoosh of his green cloak to walk away.
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 10:16 AM
Gem lowered her daggers but didn't outright put them away. She eyed him suspiciously as he spoke, when he mentioned the obvious she mentally smacked herself. All that planning and she overlooked the obvious, it was a rookie mistake and she should have realized that herself. Gem turned her head slightly and looked at her sister. Anih was the more level headed one so she'd see what her twin thought before doing anything stupid. Anih looked at all the coin and trinkets that her sister had stolen and then at the man before them and frowned. He was right, they were always on the run, left and right doing things just to make ends meet, to get a simple meal in their stomachs. She watched as he turned to walk away and she hurriedly moved forward only to be stopped a few feet from him by Gem grabbing her arm. "Don't go!" She tugged on her arm to set it free and forced the bag of loot back at Gem, making her take it and put up her weapons. She turned back to the man and moved closer. "We're interested." She heard Gem trying to speak but she shot her a glare. "We are; but the thing is, we've been to every town in these parts and the ship was really our way of getting a fresh start. And you're right... I don't want to live this life, and Gem doesn't either. But it's all we've known all our life. We've only ever had each other." A dark expression crossed Gem's face before it changed to one of sadness, as if the words Anih had spoken had stirred something bad. But in a blink her face was blank, emotionless. Gem refused to look weak, especially in front of a stranger. She threw the bag over her shoulder and it made a loud thunk as it hit her back. "Look here fella, just because we agree doesn't mean-" She was jabbed in the side by Anih, silencing her instantly.
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 10:23 AM
Artorian turned back hearing the commotion behind him. He knew what that was like. His father had died when he was a child and his mum had gotten sick when he was still in his early teens. She had to return to her own people for help and treatment but the elves didn't want some halfbreed living with them. From that point on it had been only him and Ember against the world trying to survive together. They hunted and scavenged for what they could and when he was older he started taking small quest for money for what he couldn't find, make, or trade for beforehand. He wouldn't consider himself a lonely person but he did understand what they meant and felt. He reached up and made sure his ears were still covered preceding to keep his elven heritage hidden and looked at them again. When the woman who he had heard name was Gem finished speaking he looked a bit shocked. "Fella?" He asked pointing at himself. "Just how old do you think I am?" He asked before returning his gaze to the boat. "If that the case we have a boat to catch. Unless you really want to get treking across the forest." He turned to the brighter of the two woman who's name he hadn't caught yet. 'Any chance you can do magic?" He remembered the way he felt during her performance but he didn't know if that was subtle magic or just the magic of music itself. "In particular the spell that cleans and removes smells? I didn't get the chance to bathe before running after you." He said in a teasing tone. He didn't smell horrible, his elven blood limiting his natural stink like that of a human but he didn't want to be stuck on a boat for who knows how long without a way to freshen up. "The names Artorian Cutter, and this is Ember."
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 10:26 AM
Gem mumbled under her breath, "Who cares how old you are..." and held her sister's hand, avoiding looking at him as he messed with his head. There was something about the guy she just didn't feel right with and it made her suspicious. She chewed on the inside of her lip as he asked his sister about her magic; a glare still clearly on her face. Anih offered him a charming smile "I'm Anih, and this is Gem, no last name." She nodded her head. and looked from his face to the fox on his shoulder. "Well isn't she lovely, it's a pleasure to meet you two. She put her violin to her chin and began to play the strings in just the right way. "That I can, and that I do." Her eyes closed momentarily as she began to play a few short strings of notes. A gust of air swirled around her caused her hair to move wildly in the wind. When she opened her eyes the air would transfer from her to him and then disperse when the music stopped. She slid the violin from her chin and turned on her heels. "I suppose we should, then." She began to run at a slow pace until her sister caught up to her. "Well Atorian, let's see if you can keep up, eh?" Gem darted after her sister with the back still over her shoulder, except during her sister's spell she had tied it so as her hands would be free. When Gem and Anih were neck and neck they quickened their speed after hearing the final call for boarding. Anih was full of laughter as their feet hit the ramp. When they were on board Anih slumped over trying to catch her breath, her curls even more wild than they had been before. Gem bent over and patted her twin on the shoulder. Her own breathing was quite ragged but she tried to play it off as if she wasn't even phased.
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 10:28 AM
After the gust of wind blew over him and dissapated he immediately felt better. All of his magic was nature based which suited him and was useful in his line of work but sometimes he was jealous of those that could use theirs for more practical reasons. He had adventures with someone for a single short escort who could make a magical doorway appear that lead to a cozy cottage, fireplace and all. That was much more impressive than making some roots sprout from the ground to hold someone. He was lost in the thought about magic when he saw they were running. He darted off after the sisters, the fox on his shoulder waking at the sudden movement. Thinking it was some sort of game the creature jumped down and sprinted ahead like a copper blur until it was right behind the two of them. Although he himself was a fast runner he left distance between them to not wear himself out and to be able to keep an eye on the two of them. After the two of them boarded Ember jumped up, her white wings spread, and glided into the side of the ship and turned back to look at him. When he was within distance of the ship he cast a jump spell on himself and jumped the dock to the side of the ship. He grabbed a hold of the side and agily pulled himself up and over. Ember yippee at the girls playfully before running along the edge of the ship and jumping back to his shoulder where she nestled into the white fur. His heart raced and his chest rose and fell quickly but it was a nice run and he had to admit it made him feel better. "Well that was fun huh?"
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 10:33 AM
Anih laughed looking from the fox to Atorian from where she was currently sitting on her knees. "Ye-yes! It truly was" She offered him a playful grin before looking up at her twin with merriment in her eyes. It had been awhile since she had felt such simple joy and Anih knew that it was more than likely the same for her twin. While they didn't tell each other everything, they were together most of the time. Some time after the boat pulled away from the port Gem had slipped off to investigate. She always liked to be aware of the happenings around them, to scout for dangers or treasures. Not that she would rob anyone onboard, for she had promised her sister. And if Gem was honest, she never really found pleasure in stealing from the innocent. Currently, Gem was coming back from the shadows of below deck after she had checked out the crew below deck. No one spotted her as she made her way, a shadow here, there. Stealth was her game and she knew how to go unnoticed. Anih was leaning over the edge, her head resting on her hands as she watched the waves crash against the side of the boat. The salty breeze felt cool and refreshing against her skin as she inhaled a deep breath. "So, how'd you meet your little buddy there?" She turned slightly to look at Atorian and Ember briefly. "That is, if you don't mind me asking? She's a very stunning fox." Her eyes went back to the white caps in the sea as she waited in the silence for him to answer.
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 10:35 AM
Artorian watched as the twin with short hair, Gem if he remembered correctly disappeared below deck. Seeing as he was going to have to get used to the company of the two, if not learn to enjoy their company since they were going to work together he walked to the side of the boat where...Anih was leaning over. He leaned over as well watching the waves crash against the side and wondered if there was anything in particular she was looking at. Everytime a high wave crashed against the wood near him his nose felt like it was getting assaulted by salt. It wasn't unpleasant and he thought he would get used to it and the constant rocking seeing as it wasn't his first time at sea but waiting for that point was never fun. Noticing her turn and speak he realized he was just standing there silently. His eyes moved to his familiar and he picked up the winged fox and sat her carefully on the side. Ember yawned before waking up, ruffling her feathers after the cold water splashed them. "Ember is my family, I won't pretend to know much about it but after you build a certain connection with nature you start to be able to tap into it's power. After spending a majority of my childhood in the forest and building this connection my soul sort of. " His hands started rolling over each other as he tried to think of the words to describe it." Joined with a nature spirit. It's more complicated then that but someone more experienced than me would have to tell you." He gave the lupine a small stroke along the ridge of her back. "If you're gentle she won't bite you for petting her." He told her with a soft smile. Remembering the bells he had held out earlier he reached back into his pocket and presented them to her. "How do your powers work exactly? I've known plenty of folk who play instruments but can't do magic through them." He asked curiously wondering if that might be too personal for her
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 11:06 AM
Gold eyes stared at him intently, a look of curiosity crossing her face as he presented her with the bells. She took them into her hand gingerly, twirling them and making them jingle. "My powers?" She looked at the violin in her other hand, her one treasure in the world other than her sister. A soft smile spread on her face and she shrugged. "As with your response to my question, my response will be sort of the same." She put the bells into her dress pocket before plucking on the strings. "I don't quite know how my powers work, but I could tell you of the time we discovered I could do such things, if you're interested?" She put the violin and bow back on the sling on her back before leaning back on the side of the boat. The wind whistling and rustling between them. The creaks of the boat even sounded like music to her hears and Anih sighed, everything held a little magic and music. Anih looked at Ember and held out her hand, hoping that the animal would allow her to stroke her soft fur after smelling her.
11:07
Watching it intently she began, "Gem an I, we've always been just us. Abandoned on the street during a time of chaos... Our early memories are both fragmented so we can't tell you much of our origins... But my first real memory was the first time Gem had gotten me a gift, besides the food she would steal for us to survive. We were young, and unaware of how the world worked and the first big city we had come across I had discovered music." Her eyes lit up and the gold hue seemed to swirl with emotion. "There was a singer in the streets, peddling his skills for mere coppers. But he was so full of life...of purpose and it sparked something in me... We would visit every day, just for me to hear his songs. To watch, learn" Anih looked over at Atorian. "Gem challenged the man to a game of cards, his violin the prize, and ours if we had lost was the few coins we had collected to buy our next meal." She sighed, "Somehow, Gem one. And in that moment we felt lucky... but in truth; thinking back now...The man probably let her win." She shook her head and tucked some of her curls behind her ear. "I didn't discover the magic behind the music until years later. And even now I can't explain it well... But, I just feel it, in the air, in the ground beneath our feet. Everything has magic in it, and music and it's all...beautiful." Anih looked back out at the ocean and bit her lip. "Though I suppose I didn't answer your question at all...did I? I apologize."
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 11:45 AM
Artorian listened closely to her as she spoke, his eyes going from hers to the ocean and back again. All of his time alone had made him less familiar with social cues and how to just act around other people. He did speak and interact with people just not in the way most had not having family or friends, even neighbors, to talk with. He did enjoy hearing her story though, he could feel the excitement and emotion coming from her as she spoke. He wouldnt say it was an aura or even anything physical but he could absolutely feel it and in a way it made him feel the same although in a smaller amount, just a whisper of what he thought she must feel. He thought Ember could feel it to since the fox preened her wings and walked over to Anih and nustled against her.
11:45
"Either she likes you or she wants to play with your bells." He laughed softly, a deep but soft sound like thunder rolling in the distance or a the purr of a large cat. "I think you may have answered it even if it isnt exactly clear to you or me. Magic is strange and hard to describe but sometimes I feel like just thinking about you feel is the best way to describe it." he closed his mouth about to continue speaking before looking abck at the waves again. "Apologies, I was starting to ramble. I dont get to speak to others very often and it can be hard to realize when I'm speaking too much." he thought back to a moment ago when he was trying to explain how he and Ember came together and how difficult it was and how he felt when he first started tapping into his own magic. "I think you did a good job of answering though, especially when you didnt need to." He told her softer this time.
11:45
Taking a moment to collect his thoughts he closed his eyes and just took in the feeling of the cool water and wind against his face. When he closed his eyes it was easier to tune out the people and society around him and feel the nature instead. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again and looked back at his new companion. "So your sister, is she always so" He paused for a moment trying to think of the right word that wouldnt come off as offensive. "Prickly?" he asked hoping he chose the right word. "I'm not saying I mind it, actually I understand it well. I just have a hard time seeing you as sisters with how different you come across." He explained quickly as if trying to justify what he said before the anger was coming his way. "I don't have siblings so maybe I just don't understand siblings the way I thought but I always thought they were supposed to be more alike."
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 04:00 PM
Anih let out a soft chuckle at being nuzzled by the fox. She was glad that the creature didn't find anything wrong with her. Anih had always loved animals but never could have had one due to their situation. She looked from Ember to Atorian when he began to ramble and she offered a sweet smile. "You are completely fine, I too was like that once. My confidence only rose once I began putting myself in situations where I was forced to converse. After all, it is my trade." She stroked Ember's head before returning her attention to Atorian, she didn't want to pester the fox too much. After his question about her sister she sighed and shook her head lightly. "Being the older twin, she seems to think I am a baby and must be protected. Or that I am to be put on this pedestal and she, not worthy must stay in the shadows." She tucked her hair out of her face as the wind picked up again, it was hard keeping it out of her face in such turbulent air. "I hope, that in the future once we get to this new land... and with the help of you." Gold eyes pleaded with him. "That she will become less...prickly; was it?" She looked back out at the ocean. "My sister means well, she just doesn't know how to enjoy the little things. Everything to her has always been a job." Gem was satisfied that there were no dangers aboard the boat, minus a sketchy looking fella in black, but he didn't seem to pay her any mind even though he was of the same trade as her. So she left him be as well and headed back to her sister and Atorian. Hopefully the dude hadn't done or said anything unnecessary to her twin. When she was back above deck she had heard the ending of her sister's statement. "Well of course everything is a job. How else are we to survive?" She raised a copper eyebrow. From beneath her cloak she pulled out three bottles of ale and offered one to each of them. "All's clear for now."
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 05:13 PM
Artorian was about to say something when he heard the voice of Gem and saw the bottles in her hand. He thought about declining it for a moment, not necessarily because of her but not liking to take things from strangers. Besides that he wasn't nearly a surefooted on the constantly shifting the deck the way he was on dry land. He took the bottle anyway and gave her a thankful nod. Drink was drink after all. Taking a drink about what she said he couldn't help but agree. "I would like to disagree with you on that but I really can't. The world isn't sunshine and rainbows and at the end of the day you have to do something to put food" he paused for the moment and lifted the bottle a little. "or drink on the table. Speaking of which is anyone hungry?" He asked pulling out a small sack from behind his back. He opened it and pulled out a few rations of dried meat. Embers head instantly rose before she jumped towards him and snagged a strip before booting off. "I can always make food with magic if we need it. I won't lie it has no flavor and is kinda spongy but it will keep you full for hours if nothing is available. Might be useful since I don't know how long we will be out. I probably should have found out where we were going before I jumped aboard." He realized he was talking a lot again and clammed up taking a sip from the ale to hide his face a bit in embarrassment
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 06:09 PM
Gem watched as the fox ran off and gratefully accepted the meat. She was no fool, she would never turn down something to fill her belly when she didn't know when the next meal would be, or come from for that matter. Hearing his words made her shoot her an eyebrow up in askance. "That's a neat trick, how'd you pick that up?" She took a couple long drinks from her bottle before taking a bite of the dried meat. Her stomach rumbled as she chewed and she coughed trying to cover it up. "So did I miss anything?" She let her golden eyes move from Atorian to her sister. Anih shook her head and smiled, "Nope, just us swapping questions." She stared at the meat she had also accepted as her sister took a bite. She wasn't hungry at the moment so she tucked it away in the small pouch tied to her belt. "Oh yes, we probably should have." She looked around worried, what if they had gotten aboard a boat heading for the deadlands. She shivered and took a step closer to Gem. Gem finished her meat and drink, tossing the bottle in a barrel nearby. "It'll be fine, from what I heard from around. The place we are headed is one of the silk ports, so it's one of those fancy places." Gem didn't know how to read so she pulled out the map she had nabbed from one of the captain of the boats crew. "This is the route they're taking, and the stops they'll make." She handed it to Atorian, he probably knew how to read. She shrugged and leaned over the edge of the boat, looking down to see if she could spot anything in the water. It was too dark and she sighed, her head shaking before righting herself and sitting down on the floor between her sister and Atorian, her back against the side of the boat.
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 06:45 PM
Artorian gave the last piece of meat to Anih and then cupped his hands together as if he had just caught a butterfly but didn't want to crush it. A soft green glow began to spread from within his clenched fingers. Slowly he lifted the top hand and revealed a green orb the size of a small orange with a pearlescent sheen. "Most people who use nature magic can do this, I've seen plenty of clerics who can do it to. Unfortunately the ones who could always used it for themselves and never anyone who actually needed it." He told them, a little bitterly at the end. Most nights after he was left alone he could find a meal in the woods but there were many a night he couldn't sleep due to the ache in his stomach, but the clergy always turned him away. He took a bite out of it feeling something was there but the taste was more as if he could taste it on the wind and not as if he was eating it He looked at the map and followed her fingers as he traced but he didn't recognize anything other than where they left from and the towns that neighbored it. "I did learn to read and write common and I can do enough elvish to get by but I don't recognize the names of these places." He point at one that they would be passing sooner than the others. "This says it's called Playcenae Meserhard. I've never been there or even heard of it though. " He told them pulling his hand away and shrugging his shoulders.
18:45
He finished off the last of his food if it could be called that, nourishment would be more accurate, and drank the last of the ale before throwing the bottle overboard." I think I'm going to go find Ember and then a place to sleep. If you need me I shouldn't be hard to find or if you whistle in a sharp tone and I'll wake up quick." He told them. "Goodnight lasses" he said before pausing. " Or ladies? Gem and Ahni? Ahni and Gem?" He shrugged once more. "Whichever you prefer." Then he walked to a corner of the boat and sat down leaning against some barrels. He threw his hood over his head and pulled his bow and a Warhammer that had been hidden under it to the side. Ember quickly found him and made a nest in his lap to sleep
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Gem & Anih BOT 05-Dec-21 07:33 PM
Gem took the last piece offered to her and eyed Atorian, a blush crept across her nose and cheeks before she quickly looked away and ate the offering more slowly than the first. He wasn't such a bad guy, she guessed he could stick around for awhile. When he explained he could read it just doubled down on the fact that they really did need him. Anih was teaching herself to read, but not nearly as quickly as would be beneficial for them. "Well, it's as good a place as any…" She took the map back and continued examining it, even after he said goodnight. Anih nodded "Gem and Anih will do, it's the order of our age. Sleep well, Atorian." She watched him leave then turned to her sister. "I like him, he's nice. And...comfortable to be around. Unlike the last person we helped." She looked at the map with her sister as Gem spoke. "We don't mention that son of a dung beetle…" She grumbled something else, with even worse colorful words but Anih chose to ignore it. "Yes yes, broken hearts and stones cold." Anih thumped on her chest twice to tease Gem.
19:33
Gem rolled up the map and darted a nasty look at her twin. "Enough!" Gem stormed off in the direction Atorian had gone and disappeared into the shadows. She really hated when Anih tried to find out what happened between her and the ranger who's name shan't be repeated. Gem snagged someone's unattended ale and went off to sulk for the rest of the evening. Come mid-morning Anih hadn't found her sister and she was beginning to worry. But the worry was soon dispersed as they pulled into the pier. Gem was all of a sudden next to Atorian,  looking rather hungover and irritable. Anih felt bad, but knew it would make it worse to bring it up again so instead she plastered on a smile and walked up to them. "Are we ready to depart for, what I have once heard is called, greener pastures?"
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Artorian BOT 05-Dec-21 09:07 PM
When Anih arrived over to where himself and Gem had been he was explaining that it wasn't actually stealing if they had left it laying around. "I promise the best cure for a hangover is just to have a drink in the morning." He pulled two bottles from under his cloak before seeing Anih approaching and pulling out a third bottle for her. "And after you finish that off chew on a mint leaf. I don't know if the mint leaf actually helps but it does make your breath smell nicer and feel fresher if nothing else." With his free hand he reached down to a small pouch on his hip and pulled out a few leaves. "Would you like some Anih? You look a bit fresher than the two of us but I always have plenty." He offered. Popping a leaf in his mouth he looked around the port town. He could see trees in the distance and it already made him feel better. It may not be a forest he knew, but forest he knew. He would be able to find his way through it just like any before it and his feet wouldn't be lurching underneath him. "I absolutely would Anih, green sounds nice after all this blue." Playcenae Meserhard, he saw the town on the map but it didn't look like anything extraordinary to him. It might be a bit bigger than some of the towns he had been but it didn't stand out much. He took a drink from his ale and went to hop off the boat onto the dock, Ember following closely behind him, letting her wings carry her on the sea breeze . "So do we want to go straight to a job board or would you like to walk around and explore awhile? Keep in mind there is no wrong answer." He realized he was being chatty again this morning and internally berated himself. He had actually slept pretty well and was feeling good this morning but there wasn't any reason to be excited the way he was. Reaching to his hip he double checked the pouch where he always kept a few copper he gave it a jingle to insure himself it was still there.
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 05:44 AM
Gem gladly accepted the bottle and took a drink, but when he recommended the mint leaf, she eyed it skeptically. “Are you trying to start a fi-” She took it as she spotted Anih coming up to them. She glared and chewed the leaf, okay maybe Atorian did have a point. She crossed her arms and looked away, watching the others aboard the ship start getting off. Anih shook her head, kindly refusing his offer. “No thanks, I’m not much of a drinker any way and I freshened up when the sun rose.” At least Atorian was talking to her, but it kind of stung that her sister was ignoring her. “Mmm, I think exploring would be a good start. To get a feel of the area.” She talked as they walked, trying her best to avoid bumping into the other passengers that were departing. Anih glanced over at her sister who was walking on the other side of Atorian. “What do you think, Gem?” Gem held up her hands and shrugged, still chewing on the mint. Okay, so maybe her harsh reaction was a bit overboard. She sighed, “I think the job board makes the most sense. The best jobs get taken quickly, no matter where you are. So, looks like you’ll need to be the tie-breaker, mint man.” Was she supposed to chew and then swallow, or spit the leaf out when done? Gem mentally shrugged and just swallowed it, no use wasting it. “Explore, or work?” She raised a copper eyebrow directed at Atorian.
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Artorian BOT 06-Dec-21 10:24 AM
Artorian wasn't sure what was going on between the two but it felt weird being in the middle of it both physically in the metaphysical sense. He didn't know if something had happened between the two the night before or if this was how they acted when they weren't just caught trying to steal from an inn full of strangers. "I'm a little hurt you didn't at least think to give Ember a choice in the matter." He told Gem as Ember gave a s small yip at his feet at the mention of her name. "And Mint man can not be a name that sticks. Although I do prefer that to "Guy who looks like he may be a bum but could be an adventurer" if I had to choose." "Well if I'm the deciding factor I think we should take a look at the job board and then head out. We don't need to take any jobs but if we know what's going on we might find something that comes up while we're wandering." He mentioned before looking around the area. He knew most squares in the town would have boards up and he had never been to an inn or tavern that hadn't had a board of some size.
10:24
The further from the docks that they went the more people were walking the streets. As the density of people grew so did his discomfort. He lowered his arm a bit and Ember jumped to his shoulder and rubbed her head against his cheek. It was comforting and made him feel a fraction better. When they finally made it to a square he was able to spot a board that had enough space around it to go and read. HHe leaned towards Anih and in a soft whisper spoke to her. "You should probably check to make sure your coin is still where it should be." He told her before doing the same to Gem. He reached down and touched his own small coin purse reassured when he felt it was still there. He began to look over the board seeing a lot of what he had expected to see. Posters from people with missing loved ones, a few people looking for parts from specific beast that could be found in the area, people needing an escort while they go through the woods or to a new town, stuff he had seen plenty of time before. There were a few standout ones though, someone was looking for a large amount of axebeak feathers and another said something about hunting a giant frog. He ignored those however and grabbed some simple ones he thought they could accomplish easily and help build up the way they work together. There was one he grabbed specifically for Anih though thinking she would like it later. He told them about the different jobs that were posted and started walking to the far gate so they could get started
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 02:07 PM
Gem shrugged and looked at the fox then Atorian, "I meant no offense." She was happy that he had made the decision to check the board though, it meant his thinking was sort of in tune with hers, at least in the aspect of taking things more seriously than just trying to turn everything into a 'enjoy the little things' moments. It wasn't that she thought her twins way of thinking was bad, it was more about how Anih had been shielded from some of the darker sides of their existence than she had. When he whispered about the coin pouch she rolled her eyes, did the dude think she was a newbie? Didn't he realize she was a thief most of her life? Didn't he catch her stealing from people? She shrugged mentally and patted her decoy pouch and smiled at him with a nod. Anih felt for her pouch, it was essentially empty, the only thing really worth anything on her person was her earrings. When Atorian walked off to the side she followed suit, her sister a step ahead of her. She wasn't sure how much she would be capable to help in the tasks ahead, but she would pull her own weight. Gem didn't always have to baby her like she was a fragile thing.
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Artorian BOT 06-Dec-21 02:54 PM
He was silent as he walked for a while. He didn't really have anything to say and he also wanted to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. As they got closer to the center of the city though it kept getting louder and louder to almost an uncomfortable degree. The sounds of music and cheering and the roar of many people trying to talk in a small area, he covered his ears a bit until they adjusted and briefly wondered how the sisters managed. Then the smells hit him. If there was one thing that Artorian liked about civilization it was the food. He could cook game and meat as well as any person with his amount of experience but the spices and seasons they had access to here was beyond him and then there were the bakeries. His stomach growled at him and he looked at the two women with him. "It wouldn't hurt to get some real food first though right?" He asked making up his own mind regardless. Within a minute or two they had passed multiple shops selling goods and foods of all sort and the street opened up into a large plaza. A large fountain was in the center and it was surrounded by smaller kiosks with even more food and goods. In each corner someone wearing bright motley clothes stood on a crate playing an instrument or singing while a similarly dressed person danced, juggled, or performed in other ways. The atmosphere was alive and vibrant with a different energy then the rest of the city had been. "Maybe we could stop for just a moment and relax?" He asked the two of them with a bit of a genuine smile beginning to form.
14:54
IR:He was enjoying the music and performances but he was a simple man and there was one thing that he saw that interested him more than the others. A man in a shop had a chunk of meat the size of his torso roasting on a vertical spit slowly. He could see the spices rubbed into the flesh and the smell was making it hard to concentrate on anything else. He quickly paid the woman at the front before the man took a large knife and cut off a significant portion, depositing it on a flattened bread of sorts for him. He saw other people roll the bread and eat them together and he mimicked them before trying to find his companions, Ember nibbling at the top of the meal.
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 03:50 PM
Anih came alive once they were in the plaza and she couldn't help but bouncing on the heels of her feet as she spun and looked around. The people, the things, but most of all the music. Oh the music made her soul thrum. She clapped her hands together in excitement at Atorian's suggestion, "Oh please Gem!, I'll do your wash for a week!" She spun to look at her twin, her eyes alive with joy. Gem laughed as she shook her head, like she could have told her sister no. This was the happiest she had been in ages, and even if she was upset with Anih she wouldn't deny her this. "Well, I guess you can take a break. I've got stuff to go pawn anyways so..." She glanced from Atorian to her sister and back again. "Just, be careful yeah? I'll be back in a bit." She rummaged under her cloak and pulled out some coin before handing it to her sister. "Grab me some food in a bit, yeah?" She squeezed her sister's hand as she transferred her the coin and then headed off down an alleyway. Gem may not know this town but she did know the workings of big cities like these. And where there was big cities there was a black market. It didn't take her long to find what she was looking for, a small symbol in the shape of three pointed star carved into the walls brick, in a very discreet corner. She ducked under the cloth doorway to make them some more funds. Anih turned to Atorian, "I guess it's just the two of us..." She looked at the coins inside her hand. "And she gave me enough for you too!" She beamed him a smile as radiant as the sun as she showed him. "Where should we go?"
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Artorian BOT 06-Dec-21 05:29 PM
Artorian was only half focusing on what Anih was saying from how distracted he was at the moment. Ember kept trying to pull the large chunk of meat from his meal and although he let her get away with a lot this wasn't one of them. He knew that almost no one else would understand how hard it was to pull food away from a fox when it's head was already buried in it and it was perched on your shoulder but it was about like having to haul a large fish caught in your net but doing it backwards. He finally managed to pull it away and take a large bite for himself. It melted in his mouth and he couldn't help but smile. Tears started forming in his eyes as it's magic went through him, there was just so much beauty in the world.
17:30
"You know just because I look like a bum doesn't mean I don't have money. It's just hard to not look like this when you spend most of the time alone in the woods." He teased her not being able to help but return her smile as infectious as it was. "I have food, if there is anywhere you want to go I will follow after for I am as content as possible." He told her happily before taking another bite. He wasn't sure where Gem had gone but he wished she would have stayed with them. The energetic and positive energy of the place he thought would be good for her, give her a chance to pen up more. It wasn't that he didn't like her but he could tell she didn't fully trust him and having fun together might help with that. The festivities continued, music surrounding them and new people joining adding their own sound to the mix. People using magic created illusions that sprayed upwards in bright colors before raining back down as bright colored paper only to disappear before hitting the ground. He wasn't sure if they had happened to arrive on the day of a special occasion or if this was just how this plaza always was. Ember danced around energetically on him, hopping from shoulder to shoulder and sometime gliding over to the top of stalls or the fountain, she especially loved the colorful illusion. "This is amazing " he said in pure delight not being able to recall a moment like this beforehand. It almost made him suspicious that someone was using enchantment magic on him but he couldn't find the time to worry about it.
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VampirateShip 06-Dec-21 05:31 PM
IR:He made sure to throw coppers around where he could, having more money than he actually needed and having always been willing to help support those with talents he did not possess. The crowd in the place was cramped but he knew if he managed to get separated from Ahni he could find her rather easily. He stood taller than most of the crowd, being able to see the top of heads rather easily and the brightness of her hair would make her easily stand out if needed to find her. After his food was gone he washed his hands clean in the fountain and noticed the area had cleared a bit near him and people were starting to dance. "May I?" He asked holding his elbow out to the young sun elf before a popping noise went over the plaza and the music stopped. The musicians all had confused expressions on their face, as if unsure what was happening. They stared at their instruments and some even tried to play only to stop a moment later when they couldn't find a coherent tune. A few people started yelling asking for the musicians to continue but most remained silent or mumbled amongst themselves in confusion. Sensing something was wrong Artorian began to look around the plaza trying to find anything out of place. (edited)
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Artorian BOT 06-Dec-21 05:32 PM
He moved closer to Anih and blindly fumbled trying to find her hand. His hands were callous from years of work and being outdoors but still had a softness about them although his grip may have been firmer then he meant at the moment and Ember quickly arrived back on his shoulder growling, her face looking at the top of the fountain, but she was shaking obviously terrified. His own eyes trailed the path of his familiars until he saw what had her scared. A figure stood on the top of the fountain, tall and slim standing statuesque as if it was meant to be there the whole time. It wore a formal suit, full of as much color as you could imagine swirling in an ever changing pattern except for a few accents of a white and black checkered pattern. Over its face was a porcelain mask, only broken with a painting of a large smile and two small slits for the eyes, a single note printed on the forehead. Long flowing hair with the appearance of streaming molten silver flowed from behind it falling to the square of it's back. The outfit it wore was form fitting but the figure was androgenous in nature with no good tells to their sex.
17:32
Artorian wasn't sure why the figure discomforted him so much but the hair on his neck stood straight and chills like lightning ran continuously up and down his spine. His breathing slowed but even as it did so his heart began to race as if to compensate. After what felt like minutes but couldn't have been more then a short moment a voice rang in his head. "You do not need to fear for your lives. They are nothing to me, but the songs." A sound like the figure was in deep sexual pleasure followed before it spoke again. "The songs belong to me. For too long mortals have tapped into the weave, pulling from it like parasites. No longer though." It said before stopping. The voice like the figure itself was unreadable, sometimes it came of as deep and silky and others an ephimenate high tone like a song bird. "The music that you shared today has been returned to whence it came but I will be back for the rest " it warned. A moment later the silence that had befallen the crowd was replaced by an orchestra of angry and confused voices and shouting. Magic shot from amongst the crowd towards the figure like a celebratory display in its own right. The figure moaned loudly once again before an orb of color like water color become real surround it and shrunk until nothing was around. Artorian stood there panting, sweat now covering him and his body shaking. He had come face to face with bears and other monstrosities and nothing scared him like this. Realizing how tight his grip was he released it. "I'm....sorry" he told her as he continued to shake
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 06:58 PM
Anih was confused when Atorian had grabbed her hand, but what made her heartbeat quicken was the moment when he was squeezing it for dear life. When he began to look over the fountain her eyes followed their path to land on the strangest thing she had seen in her entire life. Her mouth made an oval shape of shock, and somewhat horror. Instinctively she moved closer to Atorian as the thing began to speak. Whatever this thing was sent shivers down her spine. It's voice was one thing but the words the thing spoke sent Anih's hair on end. She felt her heart began to sink and break as the thing convulsed in the air above them.  It was hard to look away from it, but Anih's eyes tore from it and focused on the music. Oh how she saw the music, it swirl and dance and she could feel it was there and celebratory and then in an instant the void. It felt like her heart was suffocating. As soon as the thing disappeared things started happening again but Anih was gasping for air desperately. She was panicking and didn't hear Atorian apologize.
18:59
All the while Gem was currently haggling with a large burly man that was thrice her size and looking meaner than an owlbear after it's prey. Most would assume a female would use their wiles to haggle with prices, but not Gem. Gem did what Gem did best, and that was something that was a sight for any who saw. "Look, Draygon  I'm just saying if you don't want to pay this price then I'll just go take this to your lovely wife back home and see what she has to say." Gold eyes narrowed as if daring the man to do it, her whole body moving even further over the counter as she held up a small rolled up scroll of some sort.  The man held his end, growling as he moved in even closer than Gem had originally. "Ya wouldn't even know where to find me wife." His one good eye giving her back the same glare with fire.  Gem pulled back abruptly and put her hands behind her head, the scroll wiggling in the air behind her head. "Of course not, how could I a newcomer know that your wife is currently down at the plaza with your two lovely children. It would be impossible to know that she is taller than you and meaner to boot." She spun on her heels with her bag of loot and the scroll. She made it about half way before he caved. "Fine! You win! Double the asking price! And I'll throw these in for free!" He held up three necklaces that had small enchantments on them. Gem broke out in a devilish grin before putting on a serious face. She took what was offered then turned around and tilted the scroll over a burning candle. It caught instantly and turned to ash.  She left the small shop happy and humming a tune.
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 07:07 PM
Now, it was time to find her sister and Artorian, her stomach was grumbling ready for a good meal. Maybe she would splurge today and get them a room at the nicer tavern in town. A good bed does wonders for people. She swung her arms and scrunched her face, so a bath wouldn't hurt either. Artorian had been right, Anih was the fresher of them all.
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Artorian BOT 06-Dec-21 07:34 PM
Artorian fell back and sat on the edge of the fountain. He felt like an iron weight had been pushed onto his chest leaving him with just enough room to take shallow breaths and it was finally off. His body still barely responded taking time to adjust to breathing normally again. It wasn't until a moment later when his breathing had returned to normal that he noticed everything had been silent. Sounds came back to him quickly and was almost overwhelming in its own right. A lot of people had fled the plaza but the ones that remained were anywhere from completely silent to loud segueing and muttering amongst their groups. It took him a moment to notice Ember had crawled into his lap and he had been obsessively petting her for who knew how long. Remembering Ember was there he also remembered his new companions or at least the ones that was there. "Are you okay Anih?" He asked his voice more haggerd now that he finally spoke again. His throat that felt like there had been something lodged in it before it had suddenly cleared . He looked at her immediately knowing she was feeling a lot of the same. Part of him wanted to reach for her hand, both to assure her and himself that they were alright. His hand twitched for a moment like it was going to but it stopped and returned to petting Ember. He couldn't find the energy to say anything to her though
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Gem & Anih BOT 06-Dec-21 08:04 PM
Gem walked into the plaza and spotted the two, they were still a little bit aways but Gem laid one eye on her sister and immediately she was running past people to get to her. Her backpack she had dropped to the ground right next to Atorian. Her hands went to her sister's face and she stoked Anih's cheeks gently. "Shhhh. Remember. One two, play the flute." She paused and looked into her sister's eyes. "Three four, play an encore." Gem covered her sister's eyes. Anih's breathing was still irregular. So Gem put her forehead against her sister's. "Five six, play the sticks." She was quiet for a few more moments before softly speaking again. "Seven eight, time to lustrate." The air around them began to feel soothing to the touch, like a crisp morning mist in midwinter. "Nine ten, you've reached the end." When Gem removed her hand from her twins face Anih had calmed down.  If Atorian was paying attention he would see that most of those within a few feet radius from Anih were also calmed and somewhat back to their normal selves. As for Gem she was acting as if what had just happened was normal. Which for her, it was. Gem bent over and dug around her backpack until she found a deerskin full of water. She handed it to Anih who took it and drank about half it's contents. The first words out if Anih's mouth mimicked those of Atorian earlier when he had squeezed her hand. "Sorry…" Her voice would lack it's usual light and without her cadence. She would repeat this word in a whisper a few times over.
20:04
Gem sat next to Atorian and put her arms on her knees before turning her head to glance at him. Her face held a grim expression. "What happened while I was away?" There were only a few instances where Anih had freaked out as bad as she just had and none of them were pretty. From them being abandoned, to almost being kidnapped and separated, and when she witnessed her first real death. Her eyes went back to her sister, she would be in this trance like state for a few more moments after the small charm spell she had cast would wear off.
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Artorian BOT 07-Dec-21 01:31 AM
Artorian had been lost in own mind not even noticing the strange ritual Gem was performing with Anih. His breathing had returned to normal but his mind was still yet to settle. He had a small ringing in the back of his head reminding him of what it was like to take a blow to the head. Nothing seemed to fit right into place like only having one piece of a jigsaw puzzle left but no hole to put it in. He stopped stroking ember and took a deep breath when Gem sat down next to him, her question, or demand he couldn't tell exactly, focusing him a bit. He checked to make sure his ear were still covered, realizing he hadn't checked in the confusion He looked back Anih before turning to look at Gem. "That is the question isn't it?" he reached into a compartment hidden in his chest armor and pull out a steel flask. He took a long drink and then several more before wiping his mouth. He always kept a flask with something strong on him for emergencies and he thought this qualified. The strong brandy made its way down his throat burning and reminding him that he was still alive. He offered the flask to her even though there was only a mouthful or two left. "Brace yourself for this one lass." He told her taking one more big breath to prepare himself.
01:31
"I'm not sure exactly when you left but I know you were here long enough to see the party that was going on here, I actually assumed that might be the reason you left." He shrugged his shoulders a bit before continuing. "I guess that doesn't really matter though does it. Well we walked around and enjoyed it for a while, the music was hypnotizing and we, or I guess I should only speak for myself, was getting swept away by the music and shows. Then it just stopped all of a sudden with a loud clap." He brought his hands together hard to make a point the clap making himself jump a bit. The musicians stopped playing and a figure stood on top of the fountain." He lifted his hand and pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "There was something strange about the figure, it was almost unhuman or maybe it was?" he put his hand against his head and massaged between his brows with his thumb and forefinger."Sorry its all a bit confusing. Anyway the figure began to speak but in our minds and it was constantly changing and you couldn't get a lockdown on it." He paused for a moment and looked at Ember while collecting himself and his thoughts. "I dont remember all of what it said. Something about the weave and taking back music. Then it actually took the music, like the songs that been performed were just gone. Like I know they existed and I have a faint memory of them but it's unclear like when you wake up and try to recall what you were dreaming about. The music is just gone. People started slinging spells and it just disappeared and it was like a veil had been lifted." He looked back at the normally brighter of the sisters and then back to Gem. "I don't really know what else to say?" he admitted
01:32
He looked around the plaza that had significantly emptied. A couple of the musicians had just up and left but a few remaining ones still held their instruments and tried to play. The songs came out and although he could hear the notes they didn't fit together just the whisper of a song, hollow. "Take a look around you and just watch them for a moment, and listen. I know you will be able to notice it too." The musicians faces where ashen, drained of any color they had remaining. Most just packed up theirinstruments and left but he saw a couple just abandoned the tools of their trades, not seeing a reason to hold onto them. It honestly broke his heart a bit to see. If he suddenly was no longer able to use a bow or relearn how to do it he would just get rid of it too. "I think we should get a room and take her to it. I can go get everyone food while you sit with her, I know she would rather have you there and she probably needs you right now." He told her before standing up and looking around once again. He went to the abandoned instruments and grabbed them deciding if they didn't want them any more he was happy to take them.
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Gem & Anih BOT 07-Dec-21 10:28 AM
Gem nodded in agreement. It wouldn't hurt for her sister to rest after what she just went through. "Alright. I'll get us rooms at the inn back down that way" She pointed to her left before standing. Her backpack slung over one shoulder as she grabbed her sisters hand gently. Gem watched as Artorian headed off to do his own thing. She wondered if he knew how to play instruments or if he just planned to sell then. Either way it was none of her business, Anih however was. The inn had been pretty full and by a bit of luck they were able to snag the last room available. Apparently the whole town was rather full with adventurers looking for work. Gem thought there must be some big reward for the whole town to be full. Thankfully the room had two beds, Gem threw her stuff on the bed near the window and away from the door. She gingerly got her sister out of her shoes and under the covers with no protest. Gem sat in the chair in the corner of the room as Anih drifted off to sleep. The sound of the chair hitting the creaky floor boards filling the solemn space.
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Artorian BOT 07-Dec-21 11:54 AM
Artorian made his way around town until he found a pawn shop. He sold off the abandoned instruments and he wasn't the only one selling them today. He collected his money and just started strolling down the cobbled paths. The town had completely changed from earlier in the day, the loud cramped streets now abandoned and silent with just his boots hitting the stone letting him know he wasn't deaf. His mood was sour now, a mix of melancholy and frustration. He walked into the nearest pub and grabbed a bottle of something dark to match his mood. Leaving the pub he tipped the bottle back drinking deeply, the rum carving a hot path to his stomach. He turned down an alleyway wanting to just be out of sight and away from everything for a moment. He tipped the bottle again before feeling something against his back."Just saw you get some good coin, you got a nice bottle there so how about keeping that but giving me the rest?" Artorian raised his free hand and held a finger in the air indicating he needed a moment. He drank deeply from the bottle as if it was water until it was empty.
11:54
Lowering the bottle he took a deep audible breath before speaking. "You know today hasn't been great but I appreciate you doing what you can to make it a bit better. " He said in a flat tone before quickly turning around and planting his fist firmly in the center of the man's nose. A glowing sigil appeared on the man as Artorian grabbed the wrist of the hand that held the dagger. "Apparently I'm not allowed to have a day to enjoy myself." He said in frustration before slamming them against the wall. "I start to enjoy myself a little bit and then he'll breaks loose and music disappears." He swung at him again feeling the man's breath leave as his fist collided with his stomach. "I get some companions and get a chance to bond and maybe help start a friendship and that's not allowed either." He growled before shoving them against the wall again. "And now I can't even enjoy a bottle and a walk without some little shit " a blow to his face. "Deciding my coin should go" another one followed it. "To their pockets instead." He said before punching him a last time. He stepped a way from the barely conscious mess of a person. He grabbed the nearly empty bottle and finished it off before throwing the bottle at him. The glowing sigil disappeared and so did Artorian.
11:54
He made is way drunkenly around for anywhere he could find food for the three of them. Most of the places he had seen earlier in the day had closed down, most of the shops in general did after the incident. He managed to find a place selling small cooked hens and fresh bread. He bought enough for them and a few bottles of Mead and drunkenly stumbled his way to the inn he was told they would be staying. It took a while for the innkeep to let him to the room but eventually he made it inside. He looked around the room and saw both of them were asleep. He sat the food on the table and looked at Gem for a moment. He wondered if she fully understood what they had witnessed. "Foods on the table if you want any."
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Gem & Anih BOT 07-Dec-21 02:54 PM
Gem glanced over at Atorian as he placed the food on the table, the man was clearly drunk, but it was none of her business. He had kept his word and had gotten food. She removed her foot from the edge of the bedframe causing her chair to fall back down on all fours. Gem stood and stretched, her shoulders and neck making a sick popping sound as she did so. She made her way over to the table and grabbed a small portion of the food before walking back to her chair. Her eyes resting on her sister as she ate. Anih whimpered in her sleep and Gem moved her chair closer, the proximity seeming to be enough to soothe her twin. She watched her sister’s even breathing pattern and chewed thoughtfully. “You had said the thing stole the music from the plaza.” It wasn’t a question; it was more Gem stating a fact to get the man’s attention. She swallowed the last bite of roasted chicken before turning her gaze to Atorian. “I may not know what you saw, but I do understand the gravity of the situation. Anih...” Gem wiped her hands on her pants to remove them of grease. “She is connected to magic differently than others.” Gem shook her head and sighed. “I can’t explain it like she could, but she can see the weave of magic. As if it were a sheet of music.” She stood up and walked over to the window. “If that thing did as you had said, I believe Anih did more than just felt it like the rest of you.” Gem would stay in the window for a long while, looking at a shadowed figure across the way, a frown pursing her lips. Gem was sure of it now; they were being followed and she wasn’t sure if it was because of them or if it was because of their new companion. For now, she would keep this information to herself, they had other things to worry about and the man or woman hadn’t done anything but follow them so far. “Artorian, can you be trusted?”
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Artorian BOT 07-Dec-21 04:58 PM
Artorian watched her carefully, the darker sister being the one he understood the least. He didn't necessarily think she would try to harm or kill him but the day had been strange and he didn't know if she would blame him for her sisters state. He walked to the windows and opened it feeling trapped and claustrophobic already. He listened carefully and looked down at the blood painting his busted knuckles. "I told you everything I remember or at least what I can comprehend. I'll admit I wasn't looking at Anih to see how she was reacting during the moment though. A small basket of soil for planting hung, latched to the window. He moved his hand over the soil, a soft green glow spreading from his hands to the soil before several bright and colorful flowers sprang from the soil. He pulled them out delicately and made his way to her bedside butting them in a vase on the table next to her. Touching the vase it began to slowly fill with water before he heard her last question.
16:58
Artorian paused a moment before sitting down on the other bed and looking at her. His left hand began to glow green and he held it over the right until the torn flesh of his knuckles and finger knit itself back together. "You know that is a loaded question. I can tell you that I don't plan to cause you or your sister any harm but I,m not sure if that's what you mean." He paused for a.moment looking into her copper eyes with his own steel grey ones. "I don't know if YOU can trust me, I don't feel like you can trust anyone but yourself and your sister. Keep in mind I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I only explicitly trust myself and Ember. I trust others to do what best suits them and that's about it." He rose back to his feet and slowly walked towards Anih to not make Gem nervous. He placed his callous hand on her forehead before it started to glow green once again. He couldn't work miracles just heal some wounds or cure a few illnesses, less than a druid or cleric could do, he didn't even know if it would help.
16:58
He walked across the room uncomfortably where a large bowl had been set aside. He filled it with water the same way he had the vase and a moment later steam began to rise. "I hope bare chest don't make you uncomfortable." He told her only sounding slightly drunk at the moment. He remembered what they were talking about and continued as he took off first his cloak and then his armor leaving only a black tunic underneath to cover his chest. " I have secrets like any other person, things that I don't feel like sharing but that don't really affect you or anyone else." He began as soon his shirt was gone as well. He grabbed a rag and stared wiping himself, the dirt and sweat from the last day coming off with each touch. "I know you have your own secrets, and I don't need you to share, I trust you that much at least." He had a slim body but muscular, like one would see on a runner or swimmer. Only being half wood elf he didn't have the totally devoid of body hair that most wood elves had but there was still not much, a trailer leading down from his belly button and a little on his chest, it was much less noticable than the scars. His torso and arms were covered in a patchwork of different cuts and patches discolored from his tan skin. "You can asked me about any of these and I won't mind sharing. I just have something's that are personal to me. When his body was washed he put his hands in the water and scooped up a handful before running it throw his long ebony hair. If she was looking closely she may have seen the point to his ears. "We have the night together why not spending it getting to know each other?" He asked before sitting down in the chair next to the table where he stood. A moment later an uncomfortable expression crossed his face and his hands rose and waved awkwardly. "I meant that in a purely innocent way, not intimate I promise." He explained awkwardly and still a bit drunken
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Gem & Anih BOT 07-Dec-21 05:50 PM
Gem watched as he used his magic, her eyes following him around the room as he moved to her sister. His words, he had a point and she liked that he was upfront and honest about his way of thinking. She supposed he was trying to heal her, but it wouldn’t do much good. His type of healing magic probably didn’t work on one’s soul. Gem knew it was the thought that counted, and it meant a lot to her that he tried. But what she needed was rest, to mend her soul while in the trance. Gem watched as he removed his shirt, his comment making her shake her head. “I’m not some delicate maiden, I’ve seen a lot more than a bare chest in my life.” She sat on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes. Her footwraps were old and had holes so a few of her toes stuck out. She pulled them off and stuck them inside her boots. She moved up closer to her sister’s head before leaning against the wall. Gem began stroking her sister’s hair, more to comfort herself than for Anih. Her other hand she would tuck behind her head and stare at a random speck on the ceiling. When Atorian started to clean himself though Gem couldn’t help but look. It was in her blood to be observant, so she of course noticed his ears, but if the man didn’t want them to know his secret was his still. The scars though, Gem had them on her flesh too, in fact she was self-conscious about them and had the tendency to bathe when no one else was around, not even Anih had seen the extent of her body’s marred appearance. Right when he was about to sit Gem stared back to the speck she had observed earlier. “I don’t see the harm in swapping stories.”
17:50
Gem sat up and reached into the bag at the end of the bed. “Speaking of.” She grabbed one of the amulets she had scored earlier in the day and tossed it to Artorian. “That’s yours, it’s a communication runestone. I have two more that relate to it. In case we need them in the future.” She was already sporting hers around her neck, but she had added a ring of black and gold metal intertwining to form a knot in the middle, an oval yellowed stone sitting on top. “And before you ask, I didn’t steal ‘em.” She gave him a wicked smirk and sighed. “I caught a black-market merchant getting a little too cozy with some woman in a back alley behind his shop...” She paused and shook her head. “Anyone observant could put two and two together. The bloke had a ring, and the very naked woman didn’t.” She chuckled. “With some of my...skills, I found out a little more information and haggled with em for a better price on my loot. The stones pendants are a thank you for not telling his wife.” She glanced at Atorian. “Man wasn’t very bright. But his idiocy is our victory.” Gem wouldn’t have notice she had said our instead of her own. Clearly, she was warming up to the idea of them being companions. She sighed, “Though I suppose you were wanting to know something else?” She raised a copper eyebrow in askance.
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Artorian BOT 07-Dec-21 06:46 PM
Artorian deftly caught the amulet and held it out Infront of him. He stared at it as she told her story and he got it less suspicious about it. There was still a small seed of doubt however, it was a nice trinket and he didn't think he did anything to warrant it. He took a deep breath and put it around his neck and did the clamp letting it fall and rest against his bare chest. He smirked a little at her story and he felt that she seemed to let her walls down a bit as she retold it although that could have been his own imagination. " You know you have a nice laugh, I hadn't heard it before but it was pleasant." He mentioned casually as he removed his own boots. He couldn't help but notice that she had said our and it made him feel like maybe she was warming up after all. He thought about her question for a moment. He honestly didn't have anything specific he was wanting to know from her, it was more of just wanting a little more openness. "You know I do have a question but it's a bit blunt. I don't think you'll actually answer and that's alright to." He told her trying to put off asking for a moment longer. Ember who had been sleeping quietly on his cloak yawned and sleepily made her way to the bed curling up next to Anih. "Why did it feel like you had an extra stick up the ass about me? I know you said you're not trusting and I was a stranger but it seemed there was something specifically about me you didn't like. I thought maybe it's because I look a bit like a bum or you don't like men who spend all day in the woods." He rambled a bit as he thought back to the early moments of them meeting, his drunken tongue going more than it would have if he was sober. "I really should have worded that with a bit more flowery expressions but I'm not known for my tact and I thought you would appreciate the directness of it." He admitted reasoning it as much to himself as her
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Gem & Anih BOT 07-Dec-21 07:17 PM
Gem bit her tongue when he brought up how she had treated him, and he wasn't wrong. She glanced at her sister briefly as she started to speak. "Well... that's because I did. And no, it was not because you look rough." She got up from the bed, feeling the need to pace to keep her head clear. "That last bit you said is probably the most true. But not for what you're thinking. If you're thinking anything at all." Her feet barely made a sound as she walked back and forth the width of the room. "A few years back Anih and I met someone. Let's call him...fungus." It was the first word that popped in her head as she thought about him and she frowned, it was a good description of the donkey's tail end of a man. "He was a ranger who needed a rogue and a healer, and what would you know? Hello, rogue" She waved to Artorian for emphasis before continuing to pace. "I should perhaps mention that Anih can heal with her magic..." Gem ran a hand through her hair. "We signed on for the job, granted we hadn't done many but we'd done enough to get the gist of things." She stopped pacing and looked at Artorian  "Everything was fine for a while, completing small jobs here and there. Collecting the coin and then moving on to the next job…" She started to pace again. "Things happened that I'd rather not discuss between fungus and I. And then we took a job, the expected payout was meant to be huge. Enough to sit on and be comfortable for a while without having to work." She walked to the window and stared out into the night. "He betrayed us. He left us stranded and stabbed me in the back." She leaned over the windowsill and took a deep breath. Her body shuddered at the memory.
19:18
"After we managed to get out of the mine he had left us in, Anih…" Gem rubbed her left shoulder blade as if it ached. "I owe her my life. And only repay my sister that debt if it's the last thing I do." She turned back around, the moonlight fermented off the copper waves giving Gem a silver shine. Her eyes were mixed with a flame-like intensity.
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Artorian BOT 07-Dec-21 08:50 PM
He listened intently, remaining silent asnshe told him about his past. She was opening up and he thought it seemed like a dam had burst and it was getting easier for her. He still didn't want to interrupt however, feeling like when he would approach a skiddish animal, that if she realized what was going on she would run off. He couldn't help but chuckle for a moment at her chosen name but he quickly silenced himself again. He was reading between the lines and assumed they had been lovers of some sort of another although he wouldn't pester her about it, it was his business regardless. He could understand having trauma from a past relationship of any sort and even more so for how their betrayal had come around. When she turned around in the window with the moonlight reflecting off of her he stared for a moment. He hadn't thought about either of the sisters in a romantic way but he knew in a matter of fact, more abstract way that they were attractive but he always thought moreso about Anih just because of the way she closed like a small sun. Now though he could see Gem had a beauty of her own, a softer more mysterious beauty but it was comparable to her sisters. Without really thinking about it he reached down and touched a scar on his stomach just a couple inches left of his belly button where a dagger had been put all the way through him when he walked into a trap.
20:50
Artorian nodded when she was done but waited to make sure she was done. "Thank you for sharing. I've never really put much stock in the way most people treat me or what they say but I needed to know if I was imagining it or it would never have left like an itch you can't quite reach." He remained silent for a moment before deciding he should open up to. "I think after opening up to me like that I owe you something as well. If you have anything you've been curious about or just want to know I'll tell you." He told her flatly in a serious tone so she knew he wasn't messing with her. "Within reason anyway." He added after a moment not wanting to find himself having to talk about something he had absolutely no interest in divulging.
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Gem & Anih BOT 08-Dec-21 09:26 AM
Gem thought for awhile on what she wanted to ask. She thought about the scars he had and about his ears. She opened her mouth to ask about why he felt the need to cover them but she quickly shut it. Instead she went the safer route. While she had told him about a touchy subject she didn't want to upset him. She supposed the scars were safer as he had said something about them earlier. "I suppose you could tell me about some of those scars. Any would do. I'm not one to pry into people's personal lives." She walked over to the table where the bowl and the rag had been. "You mind doing what you did before? I should clean up a bit too, especially before laying down for the night." She would wait for him, and if he obliged she would strip off her cloak, throwing it on the chair near the bed. Next she'd remove the beige tunic and throw it with the cloak. Underneath was a cloth she had used to bind her chest to make herself appear smaller than she actually was. She didn't didn't act shy in the least as she began wiping herself down, starting at her face l, then neck and arms. There was a large raised scar that was sort of shaped like a star on her left shoulder. When she felt she had cleaned herself sufficiently she sat down in the chair across from Artorian.
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Artorian BOT 08-Dec-21 11:08 AM
Artorian nodded and grabbed the bowl from the table taking it to the window. He checked to make sure there was no one underneath before he dumped the water out. Turning back he saw that her torso was bare as well except for the bindings around her breast. He was surprised to see the scars and he thought about what that must do to her mind. She didn't seem like the type of woman to get hung up on her appearance but scars like that could make you feel like people only saw them instead of the person beneath and making you feel less attractive or at least they did for himself. He filled the bowl with water and heated it like he had done for himself earlier and sat it Infront of her. "You see I do have some use. I make a great bath fetcher." He told her with a wet smile before sitting down.
11:09
when he was sat again he took one last look at the star shaped scar before looking away. Although she had asked for any privacy he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "How about I give you a two for one?" He asked as his hand moved and traced some of the pale scars covering his torso. "Technically more than two." His hands glided softly touching about a dozen scars of varying shapes and sizes and ending on one that looked like a bite mark on his left shoulder. "These here were all from a half-orc woman named Marceline. She was a head taller than me and had about twice the muscle, she was a beautiful work of art with perfect olive skin and these cute little tusks." He caught himself starting to ramble and stopped. "I don't think you want to hear much about my previous....partners but she had a thing where while being intimate she liked to draw blood. It was always worth it with her but I think it's a funny story to tell. She would always laugh and talk about it with anyone who would listen so I don't think she would dislike me talking about it now. I apologize if that was too much information." He told her the soft smile that had been on his face as he remembered Marceline fading to a more solumn expression as he remembered how she looked when she had been killed.
11:09
"So how about an actual battle scar?" He asked his voice getting a bit cheerier once again. He moved to where his back was facing her,there were less scars there then on his front but it was by no means a blank canvas. "I can't reach them to show you but if you look where the five lines run diagonally down my back, that was from an owl bear. I wasn't sure if I would make it out of that one. They are terrifying monstrosities and I happened to stumble upon her when she was with her cubs." He explained before turning back to her. He really didn't mind talking about his scars, he enjoyed it actually and he felt closer now. "If you want I can leave the room a for a while so you can wash your sister. I don't know if she needs it or if you would want to but the offer is on the table. Just knock on the door when you're done. I'm not going to be sleeping tonight so I can keep watch, you should get some sleep though." His voice was soft with a caring tone sort of like a father talking to their child. If she wanted to wash her sister he would leave and if she didn't he would sit in that chair until the morning came
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Gem & Anih BOT 08-Dec-21 02:19 PM
Gem leaned back in the chair, her hands going to the back of her head to prop it on and she listened to his story. She could tell that Artorian had more than just the physical scarring from the half-orc he spoke of. When Artorian moved on to the real battle scars Gem would look at him and shake her head. “Scary things, owl bears. Never fought one myself.” She shook her head trying to imagine it, “You have my respect...” Him offering to leave so that she could wipe down her sister and keeping watch was a nice offer, and she did take him up on the offer. When the door to the room shut, she would carefully sit her sister up in her lap as she undid her dress shirt. She carefully wiped away the sweat and what little grime there might be and laid her back down, tossing the rag into the bowl on the table. Gem knocked on the door twice before climbing into bed with Anih. The bed wasn’t that big but she made do, there were many a time in their life where the sleeping conditions were scarce so she was use to situations as these. She knew Artorian had said he wasn’t going to sleep, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have the bed to sit on, it was a much softer place to be than the hard wooden chairs provided in the room. By the time he would come into the room her eyes would have been closed, her breathing level as if she were asleep.
14:19
Come morning time when the sun had just started to peek over the horizon Anih had woken feeling like she had been hit square in the chest by a rhinoceros. She was careful not to wake Gem as she slipped out of the bed. Her sister must have removed her hair tie sometime while she had been asleep. Because of this her hair was a wild mane of copper curls that coiled down well past the middle of her back. Anih stood at the window looking out, the sound of song birds waking up offering her a slight comfort after the events she had witnessed before. Anih shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as she recalled the monstrous thing that had stolen music. To think a being or thing like that existed... Anih rubbed her arms as if she was cold. She stood in the window, forgetful that Artorian was their companion so was likely to be around. She started to sing a soft lonely tune.
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Artorian BOT 08-Dec-21 03:19 PM
At some point in the night Ember had left the nest she made in Anihs hair and came to sit with her bonded one and he was currently sitting there with her when he saw Anih stir. He watched her for a.moment not knowing if speaking would frighten her. Quietly he got out of the bed and walked towards the window where she stood. He moved in beside her and in the same fashion as the night before made some colorful flowers sprout form the hanging garden. "I'm glad to see you're up." He told her in a soft comforting voice as his hands grasped at his pockets. After a moment he pulled a pipe and tampweed from his pocket and lit it using a rune on the base of the pipe. "I hope you don't mind, this is sort of a morning ritual for me, it helps me connect with the natural world." He told her before taking a large pull and holding it for a moment before exhaling it out the window. He knew a lot of people didn't care for the use of tapweed but it was part of his life. He took another draw on the pipe before realizing he was still standing there in only his pants. She hadn't seen all of his scars the night before and he didn't know if they would scare or worry her. "That's a beautiful song" he told her as he went to his clothes to grab his tunic. He probably looked like a fool trying to pull on the shirt without sitting his pipe down but he didn't care. A moment later he walked back to the window and after drawing he offered it to her Incase she wanted to join him
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Gem & Anih BOT 08-Dec-21 05:04 PM
Anih ended the song on a soft note when Artorian came to stand behind her. Her face flushed, as she looked from the sunrise to Artorian. He was shirtless and it took her by surprise, but she didn't mind. It wasn't like she hadn't seen a man's bare chest before. It saddened her to see that many scars, but she supposed that was normal for the body of an adventurer. She refocused her attention on the sun on the horizon as he went to put a shirt on. "I don't mind, each of us has a routine and who am I to break it?" There was a breeze that came in through the window causing Anih's hair to sway in the wind. Because if this she removed a piece of string from her wrist and proceeded to put her hair into a ponytail. It kept most of it out of her face, save for the bangs that rested perfectly to shape her face around her eyes. When he complimented her song she smiled sadly. "Thank you, sometimes the only way for me to process how I feel is to sing it." Anih bent down to smell the flowers that he had made grow. They were lovely, and gave her heart a little more comfort. "That is an amazing talent to have..." She reached out and softly touched the delicate petals.
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Artorian BOT 08-Dec-21 06:04 PM
Artorian watched her a moment longer while finishing the tampweed he had in his pipe. "You're sister fed you some last night but I still imagine you must be starving, why don't we go get something to eat?" His own stomach was churning at this point, partially from hunger and partially from all the alcohol he had drank the night before. "I can leave Ember here so I can have an eye open until your sister wakes up. She won't be able to fight anyone off but she can scream loud enough to wake your sister five times over. " At this point he also remembered the amulets Gem had gotten for them last night. " And we could also communicate with her when she does wake up." Regardless of if she was going to come along he was ready to get out of the room and get some fresh air from more than a small square in the wall. He pulled on the rest of his clothes and his armor before fastening his cloak and finding something on the inside pocket. He reached inside and pulled out the fliers from the day before. He looked at them until he found the one he was looking for, the one he grabbed for Anih. He wasn't sure if it would be useful anymore but he still thought she might want to see it so he handed it over.
18:04
The flier from the city's opera house giving the date and time for the gold pin performances. The flier didn't have many details about what it symbolized just that you could perform and be judge for a chance to receive one. It did mention only those with a gold pin could play at the opera house and that it cost four silver to watch in the normal seats, a gold for the upper seats, ten gold for a private showing room on the top floor and a silver to try out. The scheduled date would be for sundown that night but he didn't know if she would be interested in performing or attending after everything that had happened the night before. "What do you think?" He asked after giving her a moment to look over it
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Gem & Anih BOT 08-Dec-21 06:41 PM
Anih glanced at the flyer he handed her. Her face scrunched and slowly tried to read the few words she could make out, which were not that many. "Oh..." Embarrassed she handed him back the flyer. "I...can't really read." Her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. " I've been trying to teach myself but...when you know nothing how are you supposed to learn it?" She headed for the door, but not before stopping next to her sister for a brief moment, her hand squeezing Gem's before they left. "Could you tell me what it says?" She tucked her hands behind her back and held her hands together as they walked. She hoped he wouldn't think any less of her for not being educated in such a thing.
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Artorian BOT 08-Dec-21 07:07 PM
Artorian took the flier back and looked back at her with a confused expression on his face. "I wouldn't even begin to know how to learn to read and write without someone teaching me. Is amazing that you even tried to learn on your own." He told her in honest amazement. "My father always told me that reading and math were two things I had to learn. He said even if I wanted to stay in the forest my whole life I needed to know how to read a contract and make sure I got paid fully. I think he was right but I would never look down on someone who wasn't able to."
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Artorian BOT 08-Dec-21 07:26 PM
"The flier is from the city opera house. Apparently at sundown tonight they have a tryout for their golden pins. It doesn't go into a lot of details on them but from what I gather it's a status symbol and required to perform at the opera house on most nights." He rolled the flier back up and put it with the others before looking down at her warily. "I wasn't sure if you would want to go after what happened yesterday but I found the flier at the job board. If you wanted to go I know your sister and I would watch your performance or we could all watch together. I was planning on paying for all of us." He explained before looking down at his feet when they exited the inn.
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Gem & Anih BOT 08-Dec-21 07:39 PM
Anih would look at him, her eyes forming large circular disks. "O-opera house?!" To think she could go and have a chance to sing at a place like that... She shook her head in disbelief. It had always been a dream of hers to be sure, but it was too soon and she wasn't nearly as talented enough. "Oh no, I couldn't-" She squeezed her hands together and bit her tongue, preventing herself from continuing her train of thought. "We couldn't ask you to do something so expensive." As they walked the shops were beginning to open and the smell of fresh baked bread permeated the air. Her stomach rumbled quietly and she followed the scent of sweet bread. Anih wondered if the baker would have any bread filled with fruit and cream. It was always a favorite of hers and she was eager, her mouth already watering at the thought.
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VampirateShip 09-Dec-21 12:14 AM
"Well we could still go and watch, it's not that expensive if we sit in the cheaper two areas and I have the money. It might surprise you but if you're constantly working and only spend money on booze you can hold onto some coin." But then he shrugged his shoulders and kept pace. "We don't have to go if you don't want to though. I just thought you would enjoy it and it would help us all become a bit closer." He missed but didn't speak anymore about it. At near the exact moment as her he had also smelled the bread and his stomach rumbled in a duet with hers. "We're going to a bakery, I'm not going to take no for an answer." He told her with just the slightest laugh. "There are only a few things I miss when I'm out in the woods, alcohol, baths, and bread. I can bring the alcohol with me and bathe in rivers but bread is another story. I don't even care what kind." He laughed some more hoping his good mood might spread to her own. "So this might seem random but what does your sister enjoy to eat? She always feels hard to put a finger on. If I was to place a bet she either doesn't really care for sweet bread or she loves it but tries to deny it and convince everyone she doesn't like it. Is either of those on the money?" He asked hoping he was correct.
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 06:52 AM
"Well, after the events of yesterday...some good music would help. Thank you for the offer." Anih laughed hearing his demand. "Already headed for the bakery my friend; it's the only place I want to go." She offered a smile, to think he enjoyed bread as much as she did was neat. When he asked about Gem she broke out into a grin. "You're on the nose, she swears she hates it but I know for a fact that she likes sweet bread just as much, if not more than I do." She shook her head as they reached the bakery and she opened the door stepping through. There was a bit of a line already so they would have to wait a few minutes. "Gem... likes to keep her distance. She was hurt before, please don't blame her if she seems a bit rough at times."
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 07:22 AM
Artorian smirked to himself when she said he had hit the mark. "We were actually talking about that last night. While you were...asleep we stayed up and talked and opened up a bit. I think it was good for us." he told her forgetting she didn't know anything about last night. "I don't have anything against your sister, after she stops glaring at you she's not unpleasant to be around and it's nice watching how much she cares for you. I can tell that no matter how tough she is there's still a soft side to her." As the line moved forward and they were almost to the front he got a devilish grin and looked at her trying to not start laughing in the middle of the bakery. "And I think we grab all the sweet cakes in the world to let her know that we know."
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 07:38 AM
When they made their way up to the front Artorian just started pointed at random things behind the man at the counter and waited for her to choose as well. "Were going to be too bloated to go to the opera after this, I hope you realize that." he told her letting out a deep but brief laugh before turning back to the baker. "Also I need a lot of butter and honey, that amount there simply won't do." Eventually the man got them both fully loaded up and Artorian took a gold from a small compartment in his vambrace. It was a lot of money to spend on some baked goos but he was in a good mood and didn't care."So why don't we go see how many sweet rolls we have to throw at your sister before she wakes up?" he asked in a tone that amde it hard to tell if he was joking or serious. Leaving the bakery he had to avoid running into anyone as he made his way through, his arms full of the bag of bread. The inn wasn;t that far from the bakery though so he knew he wouldn't have any problems and if he did he might have to break some bones. "So thats a yes on the opera house then?" he asked wanting to make sure he had it right."I don't know if its actually opera music or simply different musical performances in the opera house but I'm sure it will be a good time. I think your sister and I are going to stand out a bit however. Im sure they get a number of adventurers in but I look like a bum and she looks like a dagger made manifest." he told her before laughing again the stress of the day before melting off of him
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 08:45 AM
Anih had picked as many fruit filled sweetbreads that she could comfortably accept from someone, and a few savory ones that her and her sister didn't get to eat very often. Content with her selection she watched as Artorian told the man he needed more honey and butter. She grinned thinking about his suggestion on teasing her sister, she liked the idea very much. Anih wasn't sure it would be a good idea to throw things at Gem, as she would more than likely retaliate, even if in jest. And if Anih knew one thing about her sister, it was that she liked to get even. She followed Artorian as they left the shop, they had gotten so much a few of the people that were behind them could be heard voicing displeasure about the number of sweetbreads left. She shook her head, it really was a first come first served type of situation so she didn't feel guilty in the least. Hearing him ask about the opera house she nodded. "I would love to go still, yes. And I like all music, not just that of an opera singer." She looked at his clothes and thought about his statement, he had a point. "If you can convince my sister to wear a dress I will grant you a wish." She laughed in jest. When they made it back to their room Gem was still asleep and was currently stretched out in a comical fashion. She was on her back, her head dangling off the bed. She had one foot up on the headboard near the wall and the other hanging off the bed the same as her head. Her hand currently rested on exposed stomach. Gem was softly snoring and Anih couldn't hold in her laughter, she moved out of the way so that Artorian could see.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 09:08 AM
"I feel like it would just be easier for me to wear the dress and her wear some formal men's clothes" he agreed as they went. He wondered why she stopped when she entered until she moved so he could see. He bit his lip so that he wouldn't laugh before going to the bedside table and sitting down the bag. Ember ran towards him excitedly and jumped up on the table waiting patiently. Artorian handed her a small sourdough roll with what was supposed to be venison inside. Ember greedily snatched it and ran to the window where she jumped up and began working on devouring it. Looking through the bag he found some of the sweeter rolls and held them with his arm back ready to start throwing them. He knew there was a chance he would end up getting stabbed over this but he had had worse for dumber reason. When it seemed like Anih was ready for it to begin he threw the first roll at her exposed stomach. He hadn't thrown it hard but the honey on the roll made it hit with a sticky wet thud and he waited for the fallout to begin. "Take care of Ember if something happens to me." he told Anih in an overly dramatic tone as if he was the lead in a traveling minstrel.
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 10:49 AM
Anih hadn't realized he had been serious and before she could say or do anything he let the sticky bun fly. Her eyes went wide in astonishment and horror and everything seemed to be in slow motion until the bun hit her twins stomach with a loud splat. She looked from the bun to Artorian. "I will, it was nice knowing you..." Gem had heard the door, heard them talking but it was the sound and feel of something landing on her stomach that did it. One eye opened then the other, her hand moved up slightly and landed on the bun. Gem sat up, bun in hand and looked around the room. She spotted Anih first, let her eyes continue on and she spotted the little fox, but it was when her eyes landed on Artorian that the gates of hell had opened. He had the buns in his hand, the guilty party. Gem locked onto her target and flung the bun directly at his forhead. And like a wild cat she pounced toward her prey. "You're going to regret that!"
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 11:07 AM
Artorians eyes went wider as he looked from one sister to the other feeling betrayed. "You said it would be funny!" he screamed at Anih not in anger but in panic. "Nope, nope, nope" he yelled as he ran torwards the window after the bun smacked him. Jokes would be the thing that killed him. It wasn't going to be an owl bear or an infatuation with a heavyweight half-orc with a blood fetish, but a joke that was going to be the cause of his demise. He tried to climb out he window and escape but Ember stood there blocking his way out. That betrayal hurt the most of all. Not having anyway out he panicked and turned looking at the angry sun elf almost seeing flames in her golden eyes. Time seemed to slow for him as he tried to find anyway out of the scenario he had put himself into. He thought about yelling out how he didn't want to die a virgin as a distraction or as a potential path to mercy but he knew that wouldn't work since he had mentioned
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the half-orc lover the night before. In the end he just accepted his fate as she landed on him and drove him to the ground pinning him. After he landed though a familiar sensation flooded over him, a feeling of deja vu when an olive skinned woman would want him and didn't want to wait. His member started filling with blood as he watched up in horror. The betrayal of Ember was heartbreaking but his own body betraying him was the only betrayal that could be worse. Eventually his member swelled and struggle against his trousers and pressing into her
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 12:07 PM
It was almost comical, the look of horror on his face as she lunged at him. In truth she wasn't angry in the least, but neither he nor her sister needed to know. Instead she found joy in her moment of tomfoolery. When Gem landed on him and pinn4r him to the floor she used one arm to pick up the sticky bun that had rolled on the floor . A devilish grin on her face she eyed him. "Is this how we treat companions?" She raised an eyebrow and looked from the bun to Artorian. "You must be hungry, yeah? Well let this companion hel-" She felt something start to poke her back side and Gem's eyes went wide, her sentence now forgotten she stares down at him. Her breathing hitched ever so slightly. She just stayed there, bun in hand dumbfounded at the situation she herself had gotten herself in to. The question was, to get up or be more devilish. She was tempted to do the latter but thought better of it after the conversation they had shared the night before. Gem cleared her throat and tossed the bun out the window. She proceeded to get up, but not without moving against him just enough for him to feel her backside, though she did it more for herself than for torture purposes. It had been a long time since she had felt a man in that sort of way and it was rather pleasant. Anih watched in shock not sure if she should help him before his sister wounded him or stay out if it to protect herself. But she felt relief when she saw that Gem had gotten up,the grinding she had done was subtle enough that the innocent Anih had no clue what had happened.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 12:22 PM
Artorian stared up at her with wide eyes. Yes the situation was erotic but now was not the time for his body to be acting like that but he couldn't help but her keep him pinned. He looked briefly to the bun and then back to her thinking that if the only bad thing to happen was him eating a bun off the floor he would consider himself lucky. He could see the moment when his erection had grown enough to come in contact with her through the cloth and her realization of what it was. His eyes couldn't get any wider but he watched hers assuming this was going to get weird no matter the outcome. When she didn't move his already hammering heart accelerated until he thought it was going to crash through his chest and his breathing was caught and heavy. She was close enough he could smell her, well her and the honey that covered part of her stomach. When she finally tossed the bun from the window he thought that it was going to be awkward but that she wouldn't hurt him. When she lingered and for a moment before rubbing against him he couldn't stop the soft moan, the slightest of purrs from his chest where only the two of them would be able to hear.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 12:36 PM
It had been longer than he wanted to admit since he had been with a woman, as it turned out there weren't two many women that he was attracted to but also found him attractive out in the middle of the woods. He hadn't had a good release in weeks if not months at this point. The same grind that had brought him pleasure was causing him pain as his hair on his neck began to stand. He wasn't sure what was going through her mind now or really what was going through his own. He hadn't thought of either of them in a sexual manner before but now she had been pressed upon by his manhood and whether she enjoyed it or not he wasn't sure where it would leave the two of them. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if they would have went at it like animals on the floor but Anih was right there and he couldn't see a way for that not to be weird. Now he realized any sort of relationship romantic or just sexual in nature could have lasting affects on them as a group and he didn't know if it could hold.
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He recollected his thoughts a brief moment later and sat up. He sat in a way to where his still throbbing member wouldn't be seen by atleast Anih if not the both of them. "So anyway hey we brought you food." he said with an obviously uncomfortable smile and hitch in his voice as he motioned towards the bag. "We need to eat and maybe rather quickly. At sundown tonight theres a show of sorts that myself and Anih would like to go to." he told her as he pulled out the flier and held it out for her. He had learned earlier in the day that Anih couldn't read but at this point he didn't know the elder sister couldn't as well. He stood up trying to nonchalantly as possible hide his unwanted intruder. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pipe trying to make it look like it had came from where his member was pressed against him and that it had been the pipe which she had felt all along. Besides although he usually only smoked upon waking he would smoke when he needed a distraction from strong feelings of anxiety and this was certainly one of those. He packed the pip with tampweed and waddled a bit strangely to the window before lighting it. "Also your sister wants you to wear a pretty dress."
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 03:22 PM
Gem eyed the pipe and her eyebrow hitched, if he thought she would believe that the wood she felt was the pipe, he obviously didn't know how her well. That could change though, she didn't mind the idea of it slightly. She shook the thought away and nodded. "Food does sound good, let me just clean up this sticky mess you made." She snickered as she grabbed a cloth and wiped at the honey. "Unless you feel obligated?" Gem knew she should stop teasing him as he waddled to the window but something about his behavior entertained her. Anih shook her head, amazed that her sister was being so level headed for once, normally she wasn't so. Her eyes shot up as he mentioned the opera and then the dress, was he trying to irritate her more. When she had made that deal in jest she hadn't actually thought he would mention it. "He's joking! Of course, but um... it wouldn't hurt...to get cleaned up a bit so you don't stick out..." She went over to her sister and grabbed a bun filled with cheese and strawberries. Anih took a few bites and sat at the table. "We still have some coin, so shopping for clothes shouldn't be too..." Gem eyed her sister, her arms crossing as she continued. "Hard..." Anih swallowed the bite that felt like it had gotten stuck. Gem finished wiping off the honey and threw the cloth down, she glared at her sister, all the merriment from earlier dissipating. "I lost my apatite. I have some errands to run, you guys enjoy breakfast." She grabbed her shirt and slid it on, her cloak she threw over her shoulder before she went past Artorian and gave Ember a pat on the head before she jumped out the window. She looked up at the window after she had landed perfectly on her feet. She stared at Artorian for a moment before moving underneath the window and disappearing.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 03:34 PM
Artorian did his best to avoid eye contact with her. His little lighthearted joke had only managed to drive a wedge in-between them Of course it didn't help that His body had decided that alone wasn't going to be bad enough and decided to give into its bestial urges. He continued to smoke as a knot began to form in his stomach. "Just like always I fuck it up again." he muttered to himself in a tone so low he knew they wouldn't be able to pick it up either. He sighed and watched outside for a while until she was out of view. Part of him thought it might just be best for him to slip away now but he didn't know how he would explain it to Anih. After a moment had passed and his member had deflated he turned to look at Anih. "Sorry I messed that up, I didn't realize you were joking earlier. It's a shame she ran off though, I thought we might all go shopping later, if nothing else your sister needs some new footwraps or socks." he mentioned as he remembered the state of them when he seen them the night before. Since thee wasn't anything to do about it he grabbed some food and ate although the flavor wasn't thee, just a hollow flavorless meal like he could have made himself with magic. "If you'd like the two, I'm sorry three of us could still go. You're dressed better than me or Gem but why not atleast go and look right?"
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 04:50 PM
Anih stood there dumbfounded. What had she said that had made her sister react that way? She didn't understand and set the sweet roll down. When he asked her if she wanted to go and still check it out she nodded. Even if her sister was upset, Anih knew that she would show up eventually, and this was an opportunity she did not want to miss. "We can still go shopping, I wouldn't mind helping you find something that looks nice." She offered a hesitant smile, clearly still upset about what happened with her sister. "I bet there's a handsome guy underneath all that woodsiness…" She looked over at Ember, "Wouldn't you agree?" Anih picked at the remnants of the roll and would clean herself up making sure her fingers were no longer sticky. "So shopping?" Gem had been aimlessly wandering around the town looking for nothing in particular. She'd stop every once in awhile to look at something in a shop window, or stop to see kids playing some ball game in the streets. Her mood was all over the place and hard to pinpoint, her mind felt like a dark storm rolling in over the horizon. She had left her rucksack back at the inn and sort of regretted it. She didn't like being unprepared in an unknown place and she only had a handful of smoke screens, her two daggers on her thighs and her lucky one inside her right boot. And for some reason Gem couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed.
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She would turn down random streets, her mind focusing on spotting what she should be seeing. Gem was normally good at spotting the things that shouldn't and right now whoever, or whatever it was had a higher level cloaking spell than the one she could generate herself. Her gut was telling her to get the hell out of there. Gem took another turn, and then another. By this point she was so lost she didn't know the way back to the inn. Not that it would matter much longer because the last turn she took was one that led her to a dead end. She needed to find a way out, but as she spun around she bumped into a very broad and very masculine chest covered in all black. "Well shit." And just like the shirt, everything around her went dark as she lost consciousness.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 05:15 PM
He waited patiently for her to finish her roll and clean up, occasionally looking out the window to see if Gem had wandered back this way. "I'm not going to disagree with that, although I didn't realize it took such a deep look to find him underneath though. I do however wonder where I'll put the clothes after tonight." he pointed out however. He gave his rough face a quick run down with his hand as he looked his belongings. "I suppose I will find somewhere to put it, we should get going. It might take all day to get through all this...woodsiness." he said quoting her with a confused expression on his face as he tried to figure out if that was a real word or not. He held out his arm and Ember jumped on to his shoulder, taking her normal place. "Take me for a walk?" he asked her as he held his elbow out for her to latch on to. Momentarily he remembered that he had done that exact thing right before the incident at the fountain. They walked together through the streets checking out almost any boutique or clothing store they passed as long as they didn't immediately look more expensive then what he was willing to pay. After a few hours he had managed to walk away with a new full set of clothes that would be considered formal if not particularly fancy. He put on a decent mask, a confident and happy bravado but he still felt terrible about what had happened. However Artorian didn't see any reason to bring down his companion so he gave the best performance that he could. When it started getting closer to sundown he walked back to the inn so that he could change before they left.
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The clothes were more fanciful and complicated than he prefured but they weren't too far out of his comfort zone. His pants were a more stiff and supposedly better looking material of a warm black and a buttoned vest of identical look on his chest. A white stiffed collared shirt went under the vest and down to his cuffs giving him an admittedly dapper appearance without looking like he had a stick shoved up his ass. He had given his hair a thourough washing before drying it with magic and putting it up in a loose back bun that still covered the points of his ears. ALthough he still wouldn't make the most attractive date he didn't think he would get any strange looks at the opera house. "Are you ready to go?" he Anih when he was fully ready
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 06:06 PM
Anih had taken his arm and led the way, her mind only briefly panicking. She had enjoyed looking around at things and helping Artorian fund something that would compliment him. It was a fun outing, save for the fact her sister wasn't here as well. While  Artorian had cleaned himself and changed her sister was all she could think about.  The door to the room had opened, and Artorian had stepped out; she thought he cleaned up nicely. She offered him a warm smile. "Very nice. And yes, I suppose so…" Anih had done her hair in two braids across the top of her head to form a natural crown, the flowers that Artorian had grown before and put in a face now decorated her hair as well as the bells he had returned to her. She had worn a different shawl over her exposed shoulders. Instead of the cream and gold it was gold with accents of red, swirls that formed natural looking music notes.  The walk to the opera house was pleasant, the weather agreeable as the two conversed about little things. There was quite a crowd as they arrived and Anih felt the thrum of excitement. She was practically bouncing in place as they slowly made their way to their seats. The whole opera house was gorgeous and Anih imagined herself singing in a place like this, her eyes sparkling and radiant as she excitedly pointed things out to Artorian. If the building had gotten her excited the performances themselves did even more so. Anih seemed to come alive as she watched one after the other, and with each song and dance she was a Rollercoaster of emotions as if she could feel the ones from the lyrics. A few people found it more entertaining to watch the pretty elf than that of the show but Anih didn't seem to notice she drew attention, or perhaps she didn't care.
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Gem & Anih BOT 09-Dec-21 06:24 PM
Gem would come awake randomly every now and then, her mind in a groggy haze. Each time she would try and make herself aware enough to reach out to Artorian through the amulet, and each time she would be unsuccessful. She couldn't make sense of where she was, but knew that they were moving. The sound of wheels and horse hooves were the only sounds she heard. She was beginning to grow frustrated, feeling weak due to whatever drug the assailant had used to fog her mind. She didn't know how much time had passed, could have been hours or days. By the sixth time she came to she bit down hard on her tongue, blood began to pool in her mouth but she swallowed it and focused on the pain. Her head was still bagged, her hands and bound. Gem moved her tongue around to make the pain more intense and she sucked in a breath of air trying to prevent herself from making a sound.  Finally, her mind broke through the hair and she moved her body around, scrunched her upper body closer to her hands while she lay in a fetal position. Her finger barely was able to grab the stone but she was able to grasp it when the wagon went over a bump in the road. Gem whooped excitedly in her head, thanking the gods that be. She wasn't sure how much time she had before her captors stopped again so she closed her eyes and focused as hard as she could. Artorian.
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Artorian BOT 09-Dec-21 06:56 PM
Throughout the performances in the opera house Artorian had a dark cloud over his joy and entertainment. He was having a good time enjoying the music but even more so how Anih was enjoying herself. Every so often though he would reach down to the amulet he wore under his shirt. He never got a response out of it and he wasn't sure if she was just still angry with him or if she was in trouble. Not knowing was worse than actual lack of being able to reach her, he doubted she was actually in danger since she could take care of herself but if she was angry he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Besides that he managed to put it to the back of his mind enough to still have a good time. As they finally left the opera house Artorians nerves had really gotten the better of him. It was growing harder and harder to not show his worry to Anih. He knew the opera house was something that the younger sister was interested in and had obviously enjoyed. "Thank you for escorting me to the show tonight." He told her as they walked out into the night. "I think I made every man at the show jealous tonight. It's not everyday someone gets to take a stunning woman to the opera. So thank you." He told her with a bright and honest smile. He still didn't have any sort of romantic feelings towards the woman but it was true that going out for a night with a beautiful woman who's company you enjoyed was about as good as you could get. He thought he might be able to get a kiss with the way they were caught up in the night but he knew it wouldn't go any further than that. He was okay with that though, even if the incident earlier hadn't happen.
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It was only a moment later that he heard his name coming from the amulet. The amulets she had gotten were meant for communicating but he didn't think she would message him if it wasn't important. Gem had known that they would be out at the opera and didn't think he would interrupt them if it wasn't something important. He stopped and laid his left hand over Anihs to let her know something was going on. With his right he reached for the amulet and held the stone focusing on it. [ Ican hear you Gem] he focused into it hoping it would work for her as well
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 08:39 AM
Gem began to feel herself losing consciousness again and tried her best to refocus when she had heard Artorian’s voice come through. Relief flooded her as she gripped the stone even harder. Kidnapped...on move...unsure of location. It was about all she managed to convey before she was yanked to an upright position and her hood was removed. She shut her eyes tight at the forced exposure to the sudden sunlight. Gem made herself open her eyes to get a look at the perpetrator, she needed something more to be able to tell Artorian. “That was a dumb choice.” Gem assumed the man was talking about the blood running down the side of her mouth but wondered why he would care. The voice had been stern, but there was a softness to it that confused Gem. She looked up, the man before her had skin the same shade as she and Anih, hair was a few shades darker but with the pointed ears it was enough for Gem to realize the man was also a sun elf. She glared at him as he began to lead her out of the wagon, she tried to resist any she could but the grip on her arm was too strong. Once out of the wagon she saw men around a fire eating or sleeping which means they must have stopped for a break. Depending on how long they had been traveling and with her finally being able to contact Artorian she had hoped they would somehow be able to catch up, or maybe she could somehow leave a clue for them.
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Gem was sat on a tree stump near one of the fires, he handed her a bowl of broth and grunted. “Eat. Can’t have you getting sick or worse.” The man in black sat down, his back against a tree, his eyes were dark as he stared at her. “Though I suppose you biting your tongue like that may hinder you eating, try anyways, or the boss’ll be mad.” He went to paying attention to his sword as he pulled out a cloth and began cleaning it. The hilt of the sword, Gem noticed has a knotting pattern on, you didn’t see things like that often but something about it seemed familiar to her. She eyed it for a minute trying to think but couldn’t think of anything, this was going to bug her. She looked down at the soup, it had chunks of what looked like fowl and a few clumps of potato. Gem shook her head, not going to risk it. “It isn’t poisoned, please eat.” Gem looked at the other elf, “Could you at least unbind my hands?” The man shook his head and looked at the bowl. “No need, soup’s easy enough to drink. Once you’re done, I’ll have Fern-” He indicated to a petite woman who currently was feeding the horses. “- to take you to do your business.” Gem looked from the woman to the man again, Fine. She began to drink the soup. And later she would use that opportunity to contact Artorian and leave a sign for them. Luckily she still had her twin’s hair tie around her wrist. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. She would just have to find someplace that they might be able to find it.
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 10:39 AM
Artorian felt a chill go up his spine and looked over at Anih. "We need to get back to the inn immediately. He looked at his familiar and mentally told her to go find a trail for Gem while he goes to get ready. If she had been kidnapped he needed more than just the knife he had hidden on him. His bow and hammer both sat back at the inn as well as his armor. He preferred to hunt beast or monsters but if there some people not only willing to but able to kidnap Gem he would be willing to crush a few skulls. "So I don't know how to tell you this so I'm going to be blunt. Someone kidnapped your sister and she doesn't know who, why, or where she's being taken." Unlike the soft green that normally covered his hands when he did magic a pearlescent white glow started to form instead. He placed it on her shoulder in a reassuring grip. "Now we are going back to the tavern so I can get my gear while Ember starts the hunt. You can stay there if you will feel safer but regardless I'm going to chase them down and get he back and break anything that gets in the way." The magic would at that point start to flow through her with an empowering energy that felt like drinking ice cold water from a spring. "Swift foot." He told her before he started running towards the inn having to make his around people as ran faster than he could ever manage on his own.
10:39
While he was at the tavern changing and preparing for the hunt Ember began her own. She climbed her way to the top of one of the buildings around her and held her nose to the sky searching for the right scent. She could clearly clock the smells of delicious food nearby and she made a note of them for later but she had a job to do. Normally she enjoyed tracking trails and thought of it as a game but she knew her father was serious and needed her. She could find the less sweet smelling of the two they had been with but there were multiple trails to follow. After a moment she thought she found the right trail and started following. She glided from rooftop to rooftop her wings flapping for a small burst when she needed it to clear a gap. It wasn't long before she found the spot where she thought the incident had happened. There was an acrid stench mixed in with the other scents that reminded her of a strong chemical or a gross magic. Although she was much better at following scents her daddy could follow trails more complicated. She relaxed and sent images of her visions to Artorian while she prepared to wait.
10:39
Artorian had changed his clothes back to his regular attire shoving the other in the small pack he carried under his cloak. He checked to make sure his armor was in place and secure as well as his weapons. After a moment of thought he thought to put the bag of bread in his pack as well. He didn't know how long it would take to find Gem but they might need rations and he wanted to save his magic for other uses. When he was ready he recast the spell and jumped out the window. He looked through his familiars eyes and focused on her location, the bond giving him an idea to her presence. He sprinted her way people occasionally having to move out of his way before yelling at him but he couldn't care less. When he arrived to where his familiar had found the start of the trail he began searching as his familiar landed at his feet. He couldn't see any signs of a struggle but he trusted his familiar and he needed her to atleast lead him from the city. Ember started to lead him and before long they had passed through the gates. When they made it outside Artorian changed, although nothing physical happened there was just a difference in his demeanor and the way he held himself. He knealt on the ground looking at the now physical trails leading out. His grey eyes were now focused and sharper with an almost feral glint to them. Reaching back he undid the backknot his hair had been tied into before. He let it fall loose not bothering to cover his ears and dull another sense. Ember climbed onto his shoulder after he found the trail and crouched not relaxed as usual. He placed his right hand into an imprint in the dirt and a green light filled his vision highlighting it and the matching trails leading away. He had an almost lupine appearance as he started following at a brisk pace but not too quick as to leave the trail. [I'll be there soon.] He told her as he grabbed the amulet and kept running.
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 12:29 PM
Anih’s face with ashen hearing her sister had been kidnapped, something Anih had thought would never happen, had happened after she had stormed off. Guilt ate at Anih as they ran back to the inn. Artorian was so focused that he hadn’t realized that she had followed him as they ran. She couldn’t blame him, even though they were new to being companions he still seemed to care about her sister and that made Anih happy. She wasn’t sure she would be of much help, but there was no way she was going to stay behind and sit on her hands. Anih was shocked when she had seen Artorian’s pointed ears, the shock made her pause as he continued to run. She quickly recovered and yelled after him. “W-Wait for me!” Her shawl flew from her shoulders as she tried to keep up. It lightly fluttering in the wind as it was left behind in the chaos. -------
12:29
“Don’t try anything, and get on with your business.” Fern was short and blunt as she undid Gem’s bindings on her hands so that she could use the bathroom. “You won’t get far.” She crossed her arms and turned, to slightly give Gem privacy, but not enough that she couldn’t see if Gem tried to run. Gem rubbed at her wrists, the blood now flowing freely caused her hands to itch. She pulled down her pants and began to release her fluids, as she did, she spotted a little nook at the base of the tree, probably some animal’s burrow. A small smirk played on her lips as she undid the hair tie from her wrist, slipping it silently in the thing, the gold string just barely visible enough. She grabbed hold of the necklace pendant. Left a Anih’s string in a burrow for you, hope it helps...I’ve got nothing else. She stood and pulled up her pants and retied the sting. Gem walked back to Fern who nodded. “Good, you’re not dumb.” She rebound Gem’s hands and led her back to where the men had just finished loading everything else up in the cart. “Time to move out. We need to get to the portal master before daybreak tomorrow.” The man in black announced before putting Anih back in the wagon, although this time he kept the bag off her head.
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 12:44 PM
As Artorian ran he started to worry about if they could catch up before anything went wrong. The marks of a carriage and horses let him know if they needed to the captor could keep going through the night easier than if they were on foot. On top of that he had someone with him who wasn't used to what he was doing. He was glad that Anih had decided to come with him but he knew it made them slower and he wasn't sure how she would react. As is at the moment he know he had to seem strange to her but he was in his element, if they caught up that would be a different story. He understood why Gem saw her as an innocent lamb and although he didn't quite see her like that himself he didn't know how she would react to seeing him fight and kill. She might not be a lamb but he was certainly a predator. When he got another message from Gem he paused for a moment. "What does your string look like?" He asked her wanting to know what he was looking for exactly. When he got the information he started again on the trail not wanting to stop for a break yet. "let me know if you need to stop or if the magic starts to wear off. I know it helps but it only last so long." He told her without turning back not wanting to take his eyes from the track. He wasn't especially close to agem but they were a team and he didn't want to lose her
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 02:20 PM
Anih raised an eyebrow at his question but quickly realized he was communication with her sister through the pendant. “I-It’s a thin gold ribbon. The same color as my eyes.” She nodded when he told her to let him know when she needed a break. She was already noticing she was growing tired, but she knew that if they stopped now that it would not help them in the long run to catch up with her sister and her captors. When they started running again, she was a bit behind him, but she tried her hardest not to drag them down any slower. ------
14:20
Gem stared out the small cloth flap, she was becoming more disheartened as they traveled. She hated that she was in need of being rescued, she was not so weak and the fact that she had ignored the fact that they were being followed was an idiotic mistake. She should have taken things more seriously and brought it to Artorian and her sister’s attention and then maybe this would not have happened. She twisted her hands around to try and get the binds off only for Fern to kick her knee with her boot. “Stop, we aren’t going to harm you. Just be a good girl and sit there obediently.” Gold eyes stared down Fern’s green ones. “If that was the case, you wouldn’t have kidnapped me.” Gem turned away from Fern to face the back of the carriage. Gem touched the pendant and focused as Fern droned on behind her. “Yeah well, it’s quicker than trying to convince you to come with us. Boss said you’re hard to keep pinned down for long, saw an opportunity and took it. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, you’ll be fine.” Gem doubted Fern’s words, who just kidnapped people for good reasons. She had hoped the conversation had been conveyed, but she wasn’t quite sure if the pendant’s spell was that intricate. By the time they made it to wherever they were stopping for the night the moon was well up into the sky.
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 03:21 PM
After running a while longer Artorian thought it was better to stop for a bit. Even without sleeping the night before he could have kept running but he didn't think his companion could. He had noticed the slower pace and as much as he wanted to pace he knew continuing would only slow them down more in the long run. He stopped just off the road where he found a spot that looked like it had been used as a camp recently. Looking closer he saw that it was actually where the prey he chased had stopped giving him even more of a reason to call it there for now. Ember and him started looking around the small area for where she mentioned she had hidden the string. It took a while but after finding a spot that smelled like piss he found the string she left for them to find. He gave it a look over before slipping it into his pocket. :when he was done with that he made his way back to Anih. He hoped she didn't feel ignored since he hadn't hardly spoken the last few hours but it took a lot of track while also running. When he got back to her he looked down at her feet. "Sorry if this is awk ward but let me see your feet for a moment. " He told her for a moment before kneeling down and touching them. He used a bit of quick healing magic to help her feet which he imagined had to be barking at her by this point. "I found the string so I know we're going to the right direction and gaining on them. We need to rest for a moment but not too long or we will lose that lead. Don't worry about that for now though and just rest. We can go when you've recovered enough." He told her in a soft tone trying to relax her as well as himself.
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 04:39 PM
Anih was really thankful for the break, her feet were so sore and she was pretty sure that some skin had been so irritated it had broken. When he asked to look at her feet she obliged, and when the healing energy started to work it's magic she groaned in relief. "Thank you... I'll be fine after some water and a few breaths of air. I may not be as agile and my stamina isn't the greatest...but if we are catching up I don't want to slow us down..." She wiped at her brow and sat for a moment, thinking about her sister and a conversation they had had before about her abilities. "I- I think I might be able to help us..." She swallowed the nervous pit in her throat and took a deep breath. She had never tried actually making up her own spell before, but at a time like this she wanted to be more helpful than be a hinderance. "C-can I see the string?" She held out her hand and when he would hand it to her she would close her eyes and concentrate. Anih listened to the wind, the birds and the trees. She listened to the stream that was not too far. She didn't pull out her violin, instead she pulled a couple of the bells from her hair and began to shake them to make a rhythm that accompanied the sounds around them. ~"Oh sun in the skies, will you please open my eyes Help me find my way to my kin, and tell me where she has been. Will you show us the way, for she has gone too astray..." Anih held her breath as she waited, one eye peeked open. There was a whoosh of air that swirled around them and a ray of light shone on the string. Her eyes went wide as a thin line swirled from the ribbon and began to go in the direction of the road. She swallowed and looked at Artorian. "I- I think that's the way we should go."
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 05:08 PM
Artorian watched as she sang and messed around with the string. He was skeptical as the string started to move not sure if it was the wind or actually magic at work especially since she hadn't ever used her own spells before. "No offense lass but I want to check before we follow a string with a new spell being worked." He told her in a way that was soft but skeptical. He had been tracking in the woods for years and used his own magic to help with that, tracking was one of his specialties and he had more faith in his time having been spent doing it. He began looking around the area with Embers help. He found the most recent trail from Gem and saw it was indeed the same direction the string was floating towards. "Well I guess I'm obsolete." He told her before letting out an almost defeated chuckle. "Just let me know when you're ready to go." He added as he leaned towards a tree to wait.
17:08
When she said she was ready to continue he started back to following her at a faster pace then they ended with. He wasn't sure if they were close but he didn't want the gap to widen on them either. It took quite a bit of running before the trail was fresh and it took even less time until he saw the fires of a camp. He ran a bit closer but slowed down and moved to the treeline. He stopped when he was close enough to inspect the camp without being seen. "I'm positive this is where she's at so we need to be as quiet as possible." He told her turning to her and dropping his tone. He looked her over and looked at the bright colors of her garb. "You need to be back into the foliage more I'll do what I can to keep you hidden but you're not exactly subtle." He touched her bare arm and cast a spell that cause a slight shimmer around her and then himself. He didn't like using this much magic today but it would be for nothing if they were spotted. "Wait here a moment." He told her in a hushed tone before creeping closer to the camp. If he could find her he might be able to grab her and sneak out without being caught. He wasn't fond of his chances otherwise
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 06:15 PM
Gem was currently by the fire closest to the wagon, the man all in black to her left, Fern to her right. Her hands were still bound as the man and his crew conversed and ate. She was given a lump of bread to eat instead of a bowl like the meal before but she wasn't eating it. She hadn't heard anything from Artorian since she reached out last and it was beginning to worry her. Though this lot of elves seemed to think that no one would be coming for her, or at least that was what Gem had expected. They were really keeping a close eye on her though, which frustrated her to no end. The man in black knew her tricks and she suspected that he had been following her for awhile. She narrowed her eyes at the bread and threw it on the ground. "Oh come now, like we would poison the bread lass. You need to eat." The man in black shook his head as he bent to pick it up. He blew off the dirt and put it back in her lap. Fern made a scoffing sound before finishing her own meal. "Solan, I don't understand why you're treating her so nice." Green eyes looked Gem up and down and Fern shook her head. "Not like she's much to look at anyways." Fern tossed the bone she had been eating off of in the fire. The man, now known as Solan snapped his finger. "Fern, watch your mouth before you regret it." The warning was deadly and Fern shut her mouth quicker than a mouse caught in a trap. Fern crossed her arms and stormed off. "Whatever, I'll go patrol the grounds." Gem watched as she stormed off, she might not know these people but words still hurt and the insult that she had just gotten had stung. "Pay the girl no mind, I know for a fact that you're more than you look." Solan said as he took another bite of meat. That was apparently the end of the conversation, but Gem had wondered what he meant and wished he would have elaborated.
18:19
------- Anih nodded at Artorian's words, he was right, she really did stick out like a sore thumb, the golds on her outfit would catch in the light and expose them to the captors. Not wanting to hinder any plan that Artorian might have she quickly but quietly moved further back to hide in the greens. She chewed on her bottom lip and held her breath as he went off. In the corner of her eye she saw someone walking around the camp and tried to get Artorian's attention as the person was behind him and not in front. It was of no use, if she spoke she would give herself away, she stayed as still as possible, hating that she couldn't use her spells in a time like this. She was really useless, Gem wouldn't have been. She would have already knocked the person out or something more. Anih dug her nails into her leg as the person, who was apparently a woman had walked by and thankfully had not noticed her.
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 06:46 PM
Artorian watched as they ate trying to assess the situation in the camp. The woman didn't bother him much, not that he didn't think that she could put up a fight but just compared to the larger man. That man was definitely larger than him and although he had killed larger creatures a man was another thing entirely. Animal instincts could be sharp and they had intelligence in their own way but humans could plan and strategize in a way the beast and monstrosities of the woods couldn't. There was also the other three around that didn't seem like as much of a threat but he couldn't assume that in this situation. He hadn't seen the woman walking away and behind him but his magic and the natural camouflage of his armor would keep him hidden from anyone who didn't know where to look. It didn't really matter because Ember was taking her spot she normally did in situations like this where she could observe his flank. He waited patiently for the woman to get far enough from the camp. He grabbed his bow but decided against it. He would have to get a shot through her eye to not give her time to scream and alert anyone and he didn't want to put trust in his ability to do so. He wasn't sure if taking her out would even be the right call to make. Removing her would remove a piece from the enemies board but if they noticed her absence before he could free Gem they might flee or put up their guard making it even more complicated.
18:46
After a moment of thought he decided he had to do something. He didn't think they would kill her outright, if they kidnapped her they needed her for something. Slowly he pulled the war hammer from his back, 25lbs of steel that could break a skull as well as a strong carapace. Moving slowly through the brush, his magic hiding the noise of the approach, he brought the hammer back and swung. The blunt end of the instrument hit with a splattering noise as the insides of her skull became the outsides. Grey matter and blood coated the flat side of the weapon as he caught her body to lower it to the ground to reduce the noise. A moment later he wiped the weapon clean on some shrubbery and put it away drawing his bow. With a mental command he told Ember to creep to the other side of the camp and wait for his signal, after he made a scene she was to go and help remove the bindings on Gems wrist. He crept back to within 10 yards of the treeline and waited for Ember. When Ember was where she needed to be Artorian nocked an arrow and lifted the bow. He pulled the heavy string back until it scratch his beard on his jawline. A moment later he fired putting an arrow through one of the men's throats before Ember ran to Gem.
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Gem & Anih BOT 10-Dec-21 07:38 PM
Anih watched as the events unfolded, her eyes going wide in shock and horror as Artorian's weapon smashed into the woman's skull. See bits of it fly through the air made Anih sick to her stomach and she dry heaved, averting her eyes to anywhere else. She understood things needed to be done to rescue Gem but that didn't mean she was okay with seeing gorey things like that. She shut her eyes and focused on just the sounds of events, if she was needed she would hear them. ----- Gem saw the arrow fly through the air and land into the background guy's throat. It was almost comical as the dude was still sitting up right, mid bite until he wasn't. The remaining two men got up and withdrew their swords, running toward where the arrow had come. Solar grabbed Gem's arm as she tried to bolt and boomed. "One of you idiots look for the other! She's got to be here!"
19:39
The more burley of the two slashed his weapon toward Artorian. It wasn't magical by any means, but it was still a well made blade. The taller and lanky fellow went in another direction, haphazardly swinging the blunt end of his ax around in the bush. He wasn't too far from Anih, just a few feet and he would find her. Solan saw the creature coming at Gem and he said something foul under his breath. His long arm yanked at Gem's and right as Ember would have reached her she would be met by the force of a falcon swooping in from a nearby tree. The falcon screeched and lifted Ember higher in the air, it's talons digging into the small foxes body. Gem cried out as she saw Ember being taken, and jerked her head toward Artorian yelling, "Artorian!" Gem tried to yank free but Solan's strength was too strong. She threw a kick at him and landed a blow but the man kept going as if it unphased him. Just how strong was this man? Gem never felt so helpless in her life.
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Artorian BOT 10-Dec-21 09:42 PM
Artorian watched the arrow go through the man's throat before the others came after him. This wasn't his ideal situation but it was still better than all three of them coming for him. He took a step back to give himself some space as the sword started swing into at him. He avoided the first couple sloppy swings before using his bow to disarm the man sending the blade a few feet away. It was clear these two weren't very well trained but that didn't mean that they couldn't kill him or Anih. Knowing that Anih was in danger with the other man going towards her he slammed his palm into the earth. The green light of his magic moved through it and a mass of thorny vines quickly sprouted and made their way up the unarmed man's legs until he was entangled at the hips. He wasn't sure how long it would take for him to get out but he hoped it was enough. If nothing else they might be able to get answers from him. With that man taken care of fore the moment Artorian charged the wildly swinging one and tackled him to the ground. They rolled a few times but the larger man managed to get on top of him and pinned him to the ground. Artorian growled at the man and lifted his head violently and bit into the man's throat. He bit hard out of desperation and pulled back taking what he could out with him. Blood gushed into his mouth and he spat it out as more began to spray into his face. The man let him go to grab his own neck and Artorian threw him to the side. He spat everything that was in his mouth out as he rolled onto his feet.
21:42
Ember had almost made it to Gem when she felt something hit her side hard and carry her into the air. She wasn't sure what was happening at the moment as she squirmed and clawed and bit wherever she could. There were feathers of multiple colors falling everywhere but she was finally able to get out of its grasp. She dive for the trees diving in between the branches and stood there head down growling. If this thing wanted to fight it would have to come down where her mobility gave her the advantage. Artorian stood there eyes fierce with the lower part of his beard and face coated with fresh blood. He bared his teeth as he walked to the clearing and stared at the man who had caused all the trouble. His bow was still lost somewhere in the woods from the brawl but he pulled his hammer from his back. His chest and shoulders heaved as he breathed and glared at the man with a predatory glance. "I don't know who the fuck you are " he said in a slow deep tone almost a growl. "And I don't care who you are" he gripped the hammer tighter in his hand as the left one started to glow green. "But she isnt going with you ogre."
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Gem & Anih BOT 11-Dec-21 06:09 AM
The hawk would notice his prey had dropped and would fly back around and swoop down, diving for the fox, it's loud screech echoing through the air as it came in to grab Ember again.  Gem watched in fascination as Artorian fought the men, even more so when he ripped the one man's throat with his teeth. When he called the man named Solan an ogre she laughed aloud even if the situation wasn't appropriate at all. Solan glared at the young man who stood before him and scoffed.. "Do you really think you can take me, boy?" He removed one of his hands from Gem and unscathed his own sword. This one glowing faintly gold. "I'm taking this mirrored gem and you're not going to stop me. But give it your best." He pushed Gem to the side and held up a hand. "Glacio." There was a gray light that pulsed from Solan's palm and shot at Gem's feet. She tried to move but her feet seemed to be stuck because of Solan's spell. Satisfied Solan turned, sword raised. "Come then, boy."
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Artorian BOT 11-Dec-21 11:31 AM
Ember dodged and weaved through the branches as she waited for the opportunity to strike. She didn't like this bird , she disliked it, she hated it, but she would get her chance eventually. When she had a moment to get at him she would enjoy the taste of it's meat between her teeth. Until then she just had to move until it was backed into a corner or stuck. Patience. Artorian honestly thought the answer was no to the man's question. He had been up for two days and almost two nights with no sleep, he had been running for hours and had already had to fight three, make that two and half people. His hammer was heavy in his hands and he wasn't sure what he could accomplish. If there was a way to get both of the girls to safety he knew he could escape through the forest and meet back up with them eventually but he wasn't sure how he could get to that point. He spat a mouth full of spit and more blood on the ground and looked back at the man and then Gem. He didn't like seeing her helpless like this, she wasn't some maiden in distress that always needed rescued and he certainly wasn't the princely hero type who would come to save the day even if it cost him his life's that wasn't who he was.
11:32
"No, I don't." Artorian said in an exasperated tone when the man pointed his sword at him. "But fuck it!" He yelled as he threw the hammer at the man. He was hoping that the shift in tone might throw the man off but he doubted what seemed like an experienced fighter would be thrown off for long. "Hail of thorns." Artorian said as the glowing hand flashed and a hailstorm of glowing green shards rained down on the man from a few feet away and kicked up a dirt cloud. He didn't have many spells so he was going to have to make it count. He ran at the man and veered using another spell to recall his hammer when he thought it should have hit or been deflected. As it returned to his hand he grabbed Gem to pull her towards the side and get her away. He just needed them to get to the horses and he could bide his time. Patience
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Gem & Anih BOT 11-Dec-21 02:24 PM
The falcon dove back in, it had tracked its prey to a tree and it was going in for the next attack. It spun as it dove, picking up momentum. The falcon was doing its best to keep the fox pest from ruining his master’s plans. If it wasn’t able to kill it, at least it was keeping the thing busy. Gem watched in astonishment as Artorian went at Solan full force. It was impressive, but Solan didn’t seem to even flinch attack after attack. His sword deflecting the blows from the falling thorns with inhuman speed. She tried again to get herself free but the spell was one she had never seen before. Shaking her head, she looked around and spotted Anih. “Anih! I need your help! Please stop hiding!” She took a deep breath. “You can do it! Just don’t look at the bodies!” Anih heard Gem and swallowed, her sister needed her and she took a deep breath and ran past the man tangled in vines, past the man who looked like he had been mauled by a wild animal. By the time she got in close enough range she saw Artorian pulling on Gem. She swiftly grabbed her violin and played a violent chord. The sound slashed away from her and aimed at Solan, he dodged the attack and narrowed his eyes. “You think this, can hurt me?” He let out a loud laugh and threw his sword towards Artorian’s shoulder. He himself lunged and ran at Anih with frightening speed.
14:24
The man’s hand glowed gold as he pulled his hand to his lip and whistled. Another falcon, but this one pitch black came swooping in to attack Artorian. Solan’s goal here was to at least get one twin, if he got the weaker one then Gem would follow and that was all he needed. His large hand grabbed the girl and he used his other hand to pull out a small stone that he threw on the ground not far from where he was. A bright black and gold light swirled violently as it opened a hole in the air. The man turned and smirked at the other twin and the elf boy. “See you later, mirror gem.” He laughed as he shoved Anih through the portal before going through it himself.
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Artorian BOT 11-Dec-21 04:30 PM
Ember waited as she continued to dodge and avoid. She darted under branches and wove around trees until she found her moment. After she had gotten the falcon into a narrow area Ember leaped at it's back and pinned it to the ground. Her claws raked at it's back and her teeth clamped around its neck as she shook her head back and forth. When she was satisfied she went to the edge of the trees and looked at her bond and saw the other hawk. Artorian tried to free Gem but found himself unable. He had to quickly move away from her to avoid the attacks from the large man. When the sword flew his way he tried to avoid it but he was still of balance from trying to move Gem. The sword sliced into his shoulder leaving a large gash through the top and taking a chunk of hair with it. He didn't feel the cut his adrenaline and battle instinct taking over but he could feel it slowing him down. When he heard the man address Anih his heart dropped. He knew Anih should have stayed back and he didn't know if he could keep both back. Artorian ran back at the man when a black shape fell upon him. The surprise attack caught him off balance and he felt the ground as the portal opened up. He tried to get up but his injured shoulder collapsed under him. He reached to his side and pulled out his dagger. He tossed it at the man's head and when he turned to taunt him the dagger passed through his eye slicing through it deeply.
16:30
When they passed through and disappeared he leid there sprawled out on the ground staring at where they had just been. He had done what he was trying but it didn't matter, he was now in almost the same predicament but even worse. His hands grasped at the dirt as they bunched into fist. He punched the ground repeatedly feeling his knuckles start to crack under the strain. Eventually he made his way to his knees and just yelled into the sky. In an instant he stopped and the pained looked in his eyes shifted back into their sharp gaze. He stood and walked back to the woods and started searching for his bow until he found it and slipped it back over his shoulder. Something inside him had snapped at this point and he made his way to where the one man left laid still bound in vines and roots. His walk was strange from the exhaustion and injuries and resembled a crazed shamble as much as the walk of a man. His lower face and chest were still coated in now drying blood as he looked at the man and a small teeth baring smile began to form, his teeth still red from the blood that had sprayed them. A cackle came from his lips as he stared the man down. "You poor son of a bitch." He said while still cackling before kicking the man in the side and releasing the vines
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Gem & Anih BOT 11-Dec-21 05:48 PM
Gem watched in horror as her sister was taken through the portal. With all her might she managed to break out of the spell, she was pretty sure her ankle was now dislocated, or worse but that wasn't what was important. As she ran toward the black and gold swirls she noticed the black falcon. Gem spotted a dagger on one of the corpses and picked it up. She threw it and managed to clip the falcons wing and instead of making it through the portal as well it landed with a loud thump on the ground. Gem ran, it felt like she was running forever as she tried to get to the portal only to be met by empty air. She cried out her sister's name in anguish and fell to her knees. She sat there shaking her head with eyes full of tears. She had failed her sister, failed and caused all of this. Rage spread across her face as as heard Artorian land a blow on the man that had been left behind. Gem walked ovdr to where they were and she bent down and punched the guy. She was stupid for not telling them. She punched him again, his head rolling from side to side as blood began to pour from his broke lip. She was stupid for getting mad over a damn dress. She punched him a third and final time. And she was stupid for losing her sister. The man's eyes rolled into the back of the head and he groaned in pain. Gem threw his upper body back on the ground and pulled the dagger out of the falcon she had hit. Eyes still full of rage she aimed the dagger at the man's throat.
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Artorian BOT 11-Dec-21 06:14 PM
Artorian stood there and watched Gem start beating on the man. He was coming down from his rage but he still wanted to watch the man suffer. His inability to do enough just cost him and he had plenty of anger left inside him. His breath was heavy and he closed his eyes for a moment trying to sort himself and calm. When he didn't hear the sound of a fist colliding with a face he opened his eyes to see she had pulled a dagger. Seeing her about to stab the man through his throat he ran towards the pair. No matter how angry he was he knew they needed him alive if they were going to get any information on where Anih was. Moving forward he knew he couldn't grab the dagger so he braced himself for the pain and felt it enter his forearm piercing through it. He groaned as he covered the mans body. "Fuck that hurt!" He yelled as he grabbed the man by the shirt. He pulled the man up and moved to stand between him and Gem. "You realize if we kill him we won't have any chance of finding your sister right?" He asked in a berating way. He was a mess standing there but the dagger in his arm really helped him wake up and realize everything going on. "So if you want to find her you need to settle down a bit." After he was done yelling at Gem he looked back at the man. "As for you, you need to keep in mind that I ripped your partners throat out with my teeth and I'm the more pleasant of the two of us right now. So you really should think about it you want to be honest with your answers." He dragged the man back to the clearing and tossed him on the ground. He sat down next to the man and had to look himself over. He only had enough magic to heal a single wound and he had to choose between his shoulder and arm. He thought the arm was going to be worse in the long run so he quickly gave it a boost to the healing.
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Gem & Anih BOT 11-Dec-21 06:42 PM
Gem crossed her arms after the dagger went into Artorian's arm. "I wasn't going to kill him...yet." She practically snarled. When he took the guy further away and sat down Gem swore under her breath. She started looting the three dead bodies to see what she could find on them. There were a few weapons, coin, and Fern had had some papers on her person but Gem couldn't read, so she'd show them to Artorian later. Still not cooled off enough to be around the guy Gem took the weapons she had found and went in search of something to kill that they could eat. She likely wouldn't find much more than a rabbit or two, but it gave her some time to cool off while she searched. She managed to nab one hare in the leg with a dagger and she picked it up, hopefully it'd be enough for the three. And if not, Gem was sure they would find decent loot in the wagon. Sighing and cooled enough she headed back to where Artorian was.
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Artorian BOT 11-Dec-21 07:00 PM
Artorian sat there for a while longer as he rested and recovered. He started searching for binds like they used on gem to bind her. When he found some he went back to the man, bound him and threw him inside. When he thought that the man was secure he went back into the woods and grabbed his pack. He still had all the bread from earlier that day and he was hungry and figured Gem was starving at this point too. The most important thing he found in the wagon was a barrel of water however. He found a bucket and filled it with the water before stepping back to the front. He pulled off his armor that now needed repairs and his ruined shirt. Looking at his reflection in the bucket he could see how much of a mess he was. He hadn't slept since the boat ride and he was covered in blood and dirt. He scooped handfuls of the water onto his face and worked to get himself as clean as possible before dumping the bucket over the top of his head and letting it run. His shoulders throbbed under the feeling of the water. When Gem got back he was going to need to ask her to help him clean and stitch his shoulder since he couldn't reach it.
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Gem & Anih BOT 11-Dec-21 07:13 PM
Gem threw down the hare near the front wagon wheel, and added the weapons into a nearby pile. "Artorian..." She walked around the side of the wagon and spotted him near the barrel. "I found these...uh papers." She cleared her throat, she looked at his shoulder and then his forearm, feeling guilty that she had been the cause of this too. She mentally shook herself and then sat the papers down nearby so they couldn't get wet. "Those...look like they hurt." It was an obvious statement and probably one she could have not made but sometimes Gem just didn't think straight. Gem opened her mouth to say something else but closed it and decided she'd already done enough damage. Guilt pulled at her and she looked toward where the portal had been. Her sister was out there, alone with someone who probably meant her harm. They needed to find her, but first they needed to tend to wounds and rest. She was worried about Artorian, "Feel free to return the favor." She directed his attention to his forearm. "I owe you for being stupid and you having to stop me like that."
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Artorian BOT 11-Dec-21 07:31 PM
Artorian jumped a bit at the sound of the hare hitting the ground. He wasnt normally easy to sneak up on but the lack of sleep and exhaustion were catching up with him. At the mention of his wounds he just started to shrug out of habit before wincing at the pain. "What's a couple more scars?" He asked looking at the wounds. The one on his arm was slowly healing thanks to the magic but his shoulder would take a while. "Besides if I ever find someone attracted to scars they're going to have a heart attack " he said with a small chuckle trying to lighten the mood a bit. "I wouldn't ever try to repay the favor in such a way, I just did what was needed. If you want to make it up to me I could use some help cleaning and stitching it. I can't exactly reach it from here." His left handed patted the pouch at his side where he kept herbs and a few small things. "There's some herbs for cleaning as well as thread and needle in there. Have you ever stitched a wound before?" He asked suddenly realizing not everyone might have had to learn how to do so. "In the meantime I need a smoke." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pipe and tampweed. He packed it the best he could manage with his injuries and lit it with the runes. Taking a deep pull he let it sit there a moment before exhaling away from her. He offered the pipe to her a moment later not sure if it was her style. He didn't notice Ember come back and grab the hare before hopping in the back of the wagon
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 01:44 AM
Gem gave a quick nod. "I've done it once or twice, though my hands aren't as skilled as a seamstress, but it'll get the job done." She took the offered pipe and took along drag, holding in the smoke until she felt her lungs my burst. She finally exhaled the smoke, eye eyes shut tight for the moment. Gem nodded her thanks before returning him the pipe. She would motion for him to sit on one of the makeshift seats out if a log before rinsing her hands with water as best she could manage. She fanned her hands to help dry them some as Artorian moved. She'd take the needle and thread and herbs from him. "This is going to hurt..." She held her his shoulder as if to keep him steady while she pierced his skin and pulled the thread through. She repeated the steps until the wound was tight. "It'll make a handsome scar...that's for sure." She tied off the thread with a knot and patted his shoulder. "I brought some meat. In case there wasn't much to find in the wagon..." She looked to where she had dropped it. "Well...I had..." She laughed and rubbed the back of her head. "Maybe it got up and walked off, undead rabbit. What a scarry thought." She shook her head and sat down on the downed log. She was quiet now, as she stared at the dying fire before them. The sound of the trees and win the only sound. It would be a few minutes before she broke that silence. "... I know we are newly companioned...but thanks you." She began to rub at her neck with her right hand as if to ease the tension. "I know things ended rather shitty and now we have to go and rescue my sister... but know that I'll make it worth your while.... one way or the other I'll recompense you for helping me..."
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 02:31 AM
Artorian sat there silently as she stitched up just continuing to smoke his pipe. The habit itself was calming for him and the way it dulled his senses and altered his mind helped as well. Every time the needle pierced his skin or was pulled taut it sent another jolt of pain through him but he didn't let it show and just remained quiet. At her mention of the rabbit and the undead state he closed his eyes and focused on Ember. He could feel that she was in physical pain from her wounds but also emotional pain since she had grown to like Anih as well as feeling her partners pain. "Ember stole your hare, it's really not good to leave meat unattended around her." He said in the cheeriest tone he could muster but he knew it sounded hollow. When she started to thank him his heart sunk even lower. He hadn't accomplished anything. Sure you could look at it as he reached Gem but it felt more like he had just traded one sister for another. His throat burned a bit and he had to take a sharp breath. At her comment about paying him back he started to feel embarrassed. " You really don't need to pay me back, were companions you know." He told her in a warm tone that did manage to convey his sincerity. "I don't know if you would do the same for me, and that's fine, but I take that term seriously." Her last line was the part that made him sweat a bit but he wasn't sure if he should bring it up. It had sounded like she was propositioning him for a lay as payment but he wasn't sure if that was what she had meant or if the fact he hadn't been with a woman for so long was making him imagine things. If that is what she meant he would have to decline, if she wanted to naturally he would reconsider but he didn't like the thought of her doing it as payment against her will. He wasn't going to ask for clarification but it did bring up something for him.
02:31
Artorian got up and walked back to the wagon and opened the canvas getting ready to hop in the back for some rest. "Ember can keep watch for us if you want to get some sleep. I haven't slept since we were on the ship so I need to shut my eyes for a bit regardless." He paused for a moment wanting to put off what he knew he needed to say. He ran his hands back through his hair not bothering to hide his ears since she had scene much worse of him earlier. "I brought the bread from earlier so if you're hungry it's in a bag inside of my sack with my new clothes." He took another breath before continuing." And speaking of bread I need to apologize for this morning. I thought tossing the bread at you would be funny and I didn't stop to consider how it would make you feel so I apologize." He told her trying to give her a soft apologetic smile but it just came out looking awkward. "Also I apologize about getting aroused while you pinned me to the ground." He said very quickly before darting inside while Ember dashed out the front with half a hare just as quick. His cheeks burned as he rummaged through the wagon bed. He cleared himself a large spot to lay and put his cloak down, putting a reasonably comfortable sack down for a pillow. The fur from the shoulders and hood of the cloak on the bag made a decent enough pillow but he just laid there unable to sleep. If there weren't any interuotions he would fall asleep within the hour but not for a while.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 06:22 AM
Gem listened to him apologize and she shook her head, the guy clearly was being sincere and she sighed. “Loo, that was then and this is now...” She was going to say more but he had run off after mentioning his erection from the morning. She half had the urge to go after him and tell him it didn’t offend her at all, if anything she had viewed it as a compliment. She stared at where he had disappeared into the wagon for a while before busying herself. Gem didn’t want to sleep, didn’t think she could with this night being the first one in a very long time that the girls had been separated. Instead, Gem busied herself with cleaning up around the camp. She had dragged the dead bodies further away from where the camp was, her thought being if some predator had smelled the meat that it was best to not be where Artorian was sleeping.
06:22
Gem put out the fire before she looted through a crate, which apparently must have once been Fern’s because it was full of female clothes. They were a little small, but Gem figured they were better than nothing and the green was a nice color. She eyed the pants and realized they wouldn’t do at all so she continued looking until she found some men's trousers that would fit. She took her spoils and went to the small pond that she had found while she had hunted the hare. The moon was high in the sky providing her with enough light to illuminate her surroundings. Gem stripped down and tossed her old clothes off near a boulder before putting a toe in the water. It was cool, but not too much and she smiled in relief before completely getting into the water.
06:23
Gem swam for a bit before spotting some soapweed, a plant that was actually really useful. Just as the name stated, it could be used to clean things and actually had a very decent smell. After scrubbing all of her important bits with the plant’s pulp Gem floated quietly on the surface of the water, her eyes on the sky but her mind on her missing sister.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 06:46 AM
Artorian laid back in the wagon with his mouth wide open as he slept. He wasn't much of a snorer but still looked ridiculous. He was simultaneously in a deep sleep from all the running and fighting with no sleep he had been doing but also a light sleep from the stabbing pains of,well, being stabbed. His visions swam with flashbacks to his failures of the day and always came back to the moment where the large man had turned back with Anih just Infront of the portal. Maybe if he had slept before and used less magic so he could have used more in the fight he would have been able to leave with both of them. At the moment though he just felt like higher beings held his strings and didn't see want him to be able to. He snored louder. Ember laid on the top of the wagon finishing her hare before looking around and not seeing Gem. She wasn't sure if when she was put on watch if that meant she needed to watch both of them or just papa. She was fairly sure her partner would be safe with the horses so she decided to go look for the other elf. She could faintly sense the scent in the wind but the blood and gore from the day had left an iron heavy blanket over the area. With soft but sure feet she padded through the trees until she came across the pond and the elve within it. She stared down at the woman in the pond and thought about how strange humans were. She had taken off her garbs and just swam there. She wasn't sure how her master felt about this one but he wasn't sure how her master could be attracted to anyone with so little fur. It didn't make since to her mind, after all she herself had such a beautiful cost that covered her whole body. With a strong leap Ember jumped from the branch and spread her wings very slowly gliding down while circling the woman.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 07:49 AM
Gem saw the shadow fly over and she stood in the water, it dripping down her bronze skin. The cool air causing her nipples to come erect. She shivered and dipped below the water to keep her body from the chill early morning air. “Well hello Ember.” Gem looked up at the gliding fox. “I suppose this is you telling me it’s time to return to camp?” She waded in the water closer to a large bolder that protruded from the water. She thought the fox might land on it, and if she did Gem would lean her head on her arm after resting it on the rock. “Did you enjoy that hare? I hope so...I’ve really screwed things up, girl.” She sighed and let her lower body float; her buttocks being exposed to the moon’s light. There was a decent sized bite mark just below her right buttock that looked like it had been a gnarly wound once upon a time. Gold eyes looked at the little fox. “Sorry for wounding Artorian... I’m sorry for a lot of things but there’s nothing I can do now, is there?” She pushed off from the rock and started to float on her back again. “I don’t know why I’m talking to you, it’s not like you can reply...can you understand?” She shrugged in the water. "You should go back to Artorian. I’m fine, and will return soon.”
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 08:00 AM
Ember watched her move towards the boulder and thought that would be a fine spot to land for the time being. Gem kept speaking to her and she could understand the general tone of the speech and feelings behind it if not the words themselves. She tilted her head at Gem and looked back in the direction she came from before looking at her again. When she started to float away Gem watched her for a moment before jumping off the rock. She floated through the air and landed softly on the woman's chest as she floated. This one didn't have the same sweet scent about her but Ember decided she was nice enough in her own way. She spread her wings and gave them a shake dispelling some of the water droplets that had gathered there. She gave a short yip and stared down at the woman, her amber eyes meeting gold.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 08:10 AM
Gem was surprised that the small fox had landed on her, and if she wasn't a very good swimmer she may have sunk at the extra weight, but as it stook she just bounced a little in the water. "Well, I take that as I am forgiven, at least I hope so." She floated for a bit longer before directing them back to where her clothes were. Gem helped Ember off of her before standing and getting out. The water droplets that left from her body hit the ground making a soft drip. She thought about using her old clothes to dry off with but decided that defeated the whole purpose of getting clean. Instead she just shook off what water she could before slipping into the shirt and pants she had found. She hated not being able to bind her chest, her breasts were a decent size and when they were unbound she felt like they just got in her way. Gem decided once back at camp she would see if she could find some cloth that would work. She did however, decide to burn her old clothes. Now being truly clean she realized how pungent they had actually been. She watched as she threw them on the flame, the crackling embers floating up into the sky at the disruption. Gem sat down on the log and helped herself to some of the food that Artorian had mentioned previously. Gem looked down at the shirt she had on, it was indeed tight, she could see the peaks of her breasts through the tight thin material. She thought it was a good thing Artorian was asleep. She would need to remedy the situation before he woke.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 08:27 AM
Artorian had managed to sleep while she was gone but the nightmares had his sleeping form on edge and he was woken when she had started to burn her old clothes. For a while he just laid there silently staring at the canvas top of the wagon before his stomach had started growling at him. The last solid meal he had was before the incident at the fountain had occurred. After a moment of realizing he wasn't going to get any sleep without something in his stomach he pulled his boots back on and left the wagon leaving his cloak and makeshift pillow behind. When he stepped out of the wagon Artorian was momentarily confused by the sight of the burning clothes and the woman who sat in front of them. She looked different for some reason and it took him a moment to gather that she had found some other clothes to wear. He moved to the bag of food and was glad he had the foresight to bring it along with him. Pulling a piece of bread from the bag he moved to sit opposite of her around the fire and then thought better of it. Instead he sat down right next to her, not close enough for them to be touching but close enough that he hoped she would allow. He wasn't sure if she was still upset with him but he thought if she didn't ask him to move she was slowly forgiving him. He looked at the fire for a while in silence before turning to look up at her. He couldn't help but notice the way the material of her shirt did little to cover her chest but he quickly looked away before it would start to get at him. "I know today has been rough and I know you're upset with me but I do hope we can move past this. I don't like pussyfooting around waiting for you to finally go off on me. If you need to yell can you do it now or tell me how we fix this so we can try to move on?" He asked in a very soft pleasant tone that still carried the sound of his vulnerability through it but held a true sincerity.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 08:49 AM
Gem stared, silently chewing as Artorian made his appearance. "Thought you were going to sleep all night...you sounded like you needed it." She watched him move from across the fire to right beside her. She didn't mind him sitting closer, in fact she preferred it that way. Hearing him talking about the previous morning she shook her head. It took her a minute to finish chewing before she opened her mouth to talk. Her golf eyes danced in the firelight as she stared at his face. "I stabbed your arm, as far as I am aware a sticky bun and an erection are nothing compared to that." Her eyes moved to the wound on his forearm. She finished her roll and licked her fingers, her index finger was more sticky than the rest so she sucked on it, a sigh of content leaving her. "My reaction this morning was extreme, and I realize now it was stupid. All of this..." She motioned to everything around them. "Is my fault. I saw the man, Solan. Knew he had been following us but like a rookie I figured it was fine because he hadn't made a move in days..." She shook her head, her short hair was slightly curled from being damp and a few water droplets flew from their ends as she did. "I should have said something, did something." She looked at Artorian again, a look of guilt in her eyes. "You have nothing to apologize for."
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 09:25 AM
Artorian looked down at his arm after mentioned it. It was already healing well thanks to his magic and after he got some more rest he would deal with it more and his shoulder as well. "Honestly I'm not worried about the arm, I'm not going to pretend that it didn't hurt like a bitch but I'm no stranger to pain. Honestly I would take it in the other arm too over the cold shoulder. I'm a little bit less familiar with how to handle that. " When she started licking and sucking off her fingers he had to look away again. He wasn't sure if he was doing this on purpose or just actually unaware to what she was doing. When she was done he turned his attention back to her and met her gaze. As she mentioned the fact they had been followed for days he wanted to beat himself up. It's true it was a very different game in the city compared to a forest but it was still sloppy on his part. When she was done he shook his head at her. "I wish you would have said something but if you trusted your instincts and they told you not to worry then you did what you should have. If we had known about it things might have been better but if you get to where you can't trust your instincts that will only hurt you in the long run. Besides I'm supposed to be an expert tracker and Hunter and I didn't even notice the man." Gently he reached for her hand and took it in his own. He gave it a soft reassuring squeeze. "We will find a way to get your sister back, have patience. I'm not going anywhere." He let go of her hand and stood up finishing the rest of his bread. When his mouth was empty he gave her another smile but this one was a little more playful now that he was in a better mood and they cleared the air. "By the way there's extra fabric in the wagon if you need something to bind yourself." He teased her as he motioned his head at her chest before going back inside to rest.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 10:22 AM
Artorian taking her hand and squeezing it did something weird to her insides. She wasn't quite sure exactly what emotions passed through her at the physical contact but it wasn't unpleasant. She looked at the fire as he tried his best to cheer her up. She solemnly nodded her head, his words were kind and helped some, but she would still beat herself up for a while yet. Gem's face flushed when he mentioned her top. Yes, she would definitely need to fix them. She watched as he got up and went back into the wagon. Gem would wait a few minutes and watched the fire, it was warm and she was reluctant to go and see about the fabric with him in there. When she heard him starting to snore she got up and figured it would be relatively safe. She went beneath the flaps and glanced at Artorian. She quietly rummaged through and found something that would make do. It was an off green fabric that was soft against the skin and Gem was actually kind of excited to use it. She'd never had something this nice before. She took another glance at Artorian's corner before she would slip the shirt over her head, turning her back toward him just in case. She inhaled, and holding her breath she began to wrap the fabric as tight as she could deal.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 10:46 AM
Artorian had been in a half sleep again when he heard Gem enter. He didn't say anything and continued to doze assuming she was going to make herself comfortable and get some rest herself. As she rummaged around he was only woekn more until it was suddenly silent. Opening his eyes he saw her facing away from him. It was dark inside the wagon but he could make out the curves of her back in the small amount of moonlight that slipped through. He was mesmerized for a moment at the way her bronze skin was reflecting the silver of the light. His eyes traced the lines and saw the soft scars that were scattered over it. For a moment he was overwhelmed with lust and felt himself grow with arousal but he was able to push it down, the feeling of lust atleast. His breath was heavy but he managed to take a moment and relaxed. "You know if you're that worried about me seeing what you're hiding you could have just asked me to close my eyes." He told her as he sat up and closed his eyes. He didn't feel right spying on her without her knowledge and he hated himself for his momentary weakness. He adjusted himself to try and make himself a little less noticeable.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 10:57 AM
Gem was still in the process of binding herself when she heard him speak. "Well, I could have also stepped out if I didn't want the risk of you seeing." She spoke with a calm voice, though in truth her heart was pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure if it was all the adrenaline from the day causing a chemical imbalance in her judgement or if it was the fact that she hadn't been intimate with anyone in a long time but the thought of him staring, even if for a moment made her want to push things even further. She turned partially and was only mid way done with the bindings, the fabric stopping midway on her areola. Gem raised an eyebrow at seeing him sitting up, his eyes closed. She had to give it to him, he was a decent guy. Gem continued wrapping herself before tying the fabric in a knot and tucking it in the back. "All safe. You won't be scarred by my form, sorry I woke you. I figured I should at least get a few hours in while I could." She came over and tossed an animal fur that she had found down next to Artorian in the only spot left to lay. "If you don't mind that is...I bathed, so I don't smell." She sat down and looked away, not wanting him to see her face. With her back to him she laid down using her arm as a pillow.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 11:12 AM
Artorians stomach lurched more at her first words. When she was suddenly laying next to him the feeling only grew and his breath grew slow and heavy. "If I had known that I wouldn't have stopped looking. I'm more concerned about you thinking I could be scarred by your form, there's a lot of things that form could do but that's not one of them. " He snorted a bit at her comment about bathing and not smelling. He wasnt sure if she was genuinely concerned about that or if she had actually made a solid joke. He saw the way she used her arm as a pillow and he scooted away from her a bit. "You can share my pillow with me if you like. It's not the most comfortable but it's better than using your arm." He paused for a moment as he rolled over so his back was facing her. "You don't have to be scared to be close, I won't bite unless you ask." He joked a little bit glad to not be facing her so she couldn't see how nervous the situation was making him. He wasn't normally this awkward but something about her left him off of his rhythm
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 11:45 AM
Gem listened and blushed a light shade of red hearing his words. She knew what he meant and it stirred something in her. She lay on her arm for a few minutes but rolled over after hearing him move over and offer to share his pillow. She wouldn't turn down more comfort, but being this close she could feel the heat from him. Hearing his jest about biting she couldn't help but tease. "And what if I did...ask I mean?" She was still facing his back and she stared at the back of his head. "Would you oblige my request?" She knew she should roll over, to go to sleep but something about the whole situation made her want to poke the beast, so to speak. While she waited his reply she moved around a bit to get more comfortable, he had been right about the pillow. Normally she wasn't one who needed many comforts but she was particularly uncomfortable at this moment. Mayhap she should go back outside and sleep on the ground outside. At least then it would be cool instead of the heat that she was currently feeling, though it was her own fault at this point that she was hot and bothered.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 11:57 AM
Artorian wasn't expecting a response at least not one like she offered. His heart started racing faster than it already had but he waited patiently as he tried to process the situation, his eyes wide and searching the area in front of him. He felt her roll over towards him and adjust and in a way that steeled his nerves more. He had fought all sorts of beast and monstrosities in the woods but this sun elf who was only slightly more than half his weight now had him nervous. He clenched his fist and a took a silent but heavy breath before rolling over to look at her. "If you asked me to bite you?" He asked rhetorically as much as actually asking her. He looked back at her golden eyes in the moonlight and it made it easier to speak. "I would ask you where." He told her lifting his hand and placing his rough hand gently on her bare side. If this wasn't going to happen she would remove his hand and he would pretend like nothing happened but neither himself or the member straining against his pants wanted that to be the case. He just stared at her not willing to break eye contact until he got an answer one way or another.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 12:17 PM
When Artorian rolled over Gem's eyes went wide in surprise, the fact that he actually was going along with it intrigued her. She knew he was nervous, could tell just by the way his body was previously postured. She decided if he was going to go along with it then she would push it as far as she possibly could. His hand on her side sent little shocks up to her head and to the tips of her toes, she moved slightly closer and exposed her neck for him. "Go on then, go for the kill." Her heart was hammering inside her chest as the tension between them felt thick in the air and her was an ache growing inside her with each tick of her heart beating. The gold in her eyes seemed to come alive with a fire as she stared at Artorian with her neck exposed. One of her hands reaching out to touch the sensitive curve of her neck. "That is, if you think you can."
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 12:29 PM
Artorian felt a shiver jolt through his spine but all of the nervousness was gone. By the time she had started to speak again he was already moving forwards her neck. He was gentle with her starting with a soft kiss on her neck, just a feather light touch to test the water. The skin of her neck was salty and sweet against his lips and it made him feel lightheaded. Slowly his lips brushed upwards against the soft skin of her neck, his breathing hot and heavy against it always followed by a short kiss. His hand underneath him moved to cup her chin ever so softly and guide it to give him more access. When his trail of kisses reached her ear he paused breathing against it for a moment before just softly nibbling the lobe only to release it a second later. Her natural pleasant scent filled his lungs as he breathed before starting the trek downwards again, a little firmer with his kisses now. It felt like an eternity had passed for him from the anticipation but also no time had passed for him by the time he made it down to where her neck and shoulder met. Delicately he pressed his lips firmer against her before with the lightest touch biting her, slowly putting more pressure on it but not enough to draw any blood. His hand on her side tightened slowly as it enjoyed the curve it was grasping. Jolts of lightning courses through his body as he pulled his mouth away to look at her once again.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 12:57 PM
Gem felt like she was going to go mad with how gentle he was being, no one in her life had been that gentle with their touches and it was almost excruciating how it was worse than if he had been rough. She let his hand guide her chin, exposing more of her neck as he did. With each touch of his lips she craved more than just the feather light kisses. The nibbling of her earlobe had her reeling until he went back down to where she had indicated for him to bite. A moan escaped her lips as he bit down, it was the most feminine sound she had made in his presence before. Gem moved her hand to Artorian's hair and pulled lightly before pushing him further against the skin of her neck. The pressure from his bite causing heat to shoot through her to her abdomen. Gem used one of her legs to wrap around Artorian's wait and pulled him closer, her hips grinding against him as she did so. Another moan escaped her as she felt his manhood pressing against her, clearly he was enjoying this as she was.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 01:21 PM
The sounds of her moans and how soft and delicate it was made him shiver as he bit down on her neck once again. The hand tightening in his hair and the legs pulling him closer excited him but let him knew he had been mistaken about something. Gem wasn't wanting to have sex with him, she wanted to fuck with him and he was happy to oblige. Rougher now he bit his way up her neck and took her earlobe into his mouth no longer being gentle with it. The hand that had been clasped on her side moved to her back and started messing with the chest binding. He was annoyed for a second at how tight she had tied it but it was free a second later and he unraveled it in a frenzy. He wasn't sure if kissing was on or off the table but he moved to look her in the eye for a moment and doing it anyway. A soft kiss at first that turned harder before he bit into her bottom lip in excitement.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 01:48 PM
When he started to be more rough Gem felt herself opening up more, this was something she was used to. She had never been cherished before, treated like a fragile thing and as far as she was concerned. Afterall, she didn't know anything different. When he unbound her chest she took a deep breath, thankful for it. Her nipples, the color of chestnuts were taut with her excitement. When he looked at her, her heated gaze searched his face. Artorian went in for the kiss and Gem accepted it with fervor, returning what he gave. Him biting her bottom lip caused her to release a light growl and she rolled them over, her hips straddling him. She gyrated her hips, letting his thick bulge feel the heat her womanhood radiated. She took his hand in hers and placed it on her breast.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 02:12 PM
Artorian wasn't sure that she would accept the kiss but when she did and she returned it with as much passion hot and cold flashed through him in waves as his head spun. Then he was actually spinning until he was underneath her. He had no problem with this having experience with women who liked to take charge and enjoying it himself. When she grabbed his hand and moved his hand to her chest he had to take a moment to look at and appreciate her chest. The binding she had always used to tightly bind her breast made them look much smaller than they actually were and they were beautiful. He wanted to worship them but he settled for toying with them, his hand massaging the mass in his hand and toying with the taut nipple. It still wasn't enough though, a moment later his head rose to take care of the other. He sucked it lightly for a second before lightly biting it and rolling it with his teeth and tongue. The gyrating on hips was hard to ignore but he didn't want to go to quickly when he was enjoying himself.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 02:46 PM
Artorian claiming one of her nipples in his mouth, the heat and wetness of his mouth caused another moan to escape from her parted lips. She felt herself grow more wet with each rotation of her hips and him teasing her with his mouth made her need grow even higher. Gem grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked just hard enough to pull his head back. She claimed his mouth with heated passion, her tongue coaxing his into a dance. When she broke the kiss she held his head back even further and licked his bottom lip and made a trail down to his neck. Just like he had done to her she bit down, hard enough to feel the sting but soft enough that it didn't break the skin. She suck the bite mark, her hips still teasing him over and over until she felt that it wasn't enough. Gem released his hair and stool, with a swift tug on a string her pants fell to the ground and she stepped out of them, exposing him to all of her. Just like the hair on her head, the hair down below was a coppery red patch of curls. She stood there over him, her eyes exploring his before she threw a leg over his shoulder and pulled him closer. "Still willing to bite where I say?" A perfectly trim eyebrow rose with her question, her golden eyes alight with mischief.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 03:20 PM
He danced with her enjoying the feeling of their tongues working together but was thankful when she broke free so he could breathe for a moment. When she started kissing her way down his neck a sound somewhere between a growl and a purr escaped from his throat. He could get lost in the moment and then it was over. He froze for a moment until he saw what was happening and a wolfish grin spread across his face as he looked at the beautiful copper curls. "I didn't think you were going to give me a chance to but I'm going to warn you now. I'm not stopping until you physically pull me away or pass out." The words rolled out of him in a deep baratone. Reaching forward he took a second to stroke the beautiful hair before moving in for the kill. He wrapped his arms around her bare thighs in a tight grip so she wouldn't squirm too much for him to do what he wanted at the best of his ability. Slowly he ran his tongue along her slit until he reached her clit, pausing for a moment there just to savor the taste. The sweet musky flavor of her soaking sex was like a strong drug or alcohol and he had to savor it for a moment letting out a satisfied hum against her clit in a appreciation. He took his tongue away from her clit to take one of her lucious lips in his mouth sucking it in a bit rough but not enough to hurt. She had a magnificent sex and if she let him he would be there until the sun came up. He wasn't just doing this for himself though so be moved back to her clit encircling it with his tongue and occasionally sucking it into his mouth for some extra suction humming the whole time.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 04:39 PM
Gem dug her nails into his hair and clung for dear life as he was sampling her womanhood. The more skill he showed the more she felt that she wouldn't mind if he devoured her. At some point during his attentions she felt the need to lean on something and haphazardly managed to prop herself against a barrel that was inside the wagon. Her head tilted back, and she spread her legs wider so he would have better access. With each flick of his tongue the half-elf was proving that he knew what he was doing and Gem cried out as she felt the tension inside her building ever higher. "A-Artorian!" Gem shook her head, "S- Ah, I'm going to-" She grabbed his shoulders and let her nails dig into his flesh, her orgasm finally reaching it's peak as white stars exploded behind her closed eyelids. Gem curled her toes as it hit her and cried out, her warm cream spilling out from her.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 04:52 PM
Artorian lost himself in his work not being able to help but smile at being able to do what he loved and feeling her squirm and enjoy it. The claws in his hair and later shoulders spurred him on even more until he felt her start to give and shake against his mouth. His face was soaked but he licked up as much of her juices as possible trying to savor it not knowing if he would ever get another chance after tonight. Even as she called he didn't stop. He had warned her and he had meant it. But now that she wasn't squirming as much he loosened his grin to grab a handful of her ass. Although he hadnt seen it yet he could tell from the feeling that it was fantastic. He laughed lightly into her muff not being able to help it from her reaction and did have to take a moment to breathe.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 05:20 PM
Gem growled when he grabbed her ass and she pulled her leg from over his shoulder and placed her foot on his chest. With momentum she shoved him backward, once he fell onto his back she would move to start removing his pants. It wouldn't take long for her to completely remove his trousers. She would look at him with a wild look in her eyes. She hungrily looked at his cock, seeing it stand, begging for attention. She sat on his chest before getting on her hands and knees. She grabbed his girthy manhood and flicked her tongue on the tip to taste him. She groaned and took all of the tip in her mouth sucking it before taking in even more. Gem let her right hand find his balls and began to gently roll them around in her hand. Her ass was in his face and if her mouth wasn't full of cock she would have smirked as she began to move her hips as if to tease him. Gem took all of him in her mouth and moaned, the tip of him touching the back of her throat.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 05:30 PM
Artorian was surprised he was suddenly on his back either ass in his face. He only had a moment to enjoy the view when he felt her hand and then her mouth around his cock. His head lulled back for a moment as he was hit with a wave of pleasure. As she made her way down his shaft he couldn't help but just lay there for a moment paralyzed with pleasure. He was eventually able to raise his head enough to get at her as well. He spread her beautiful ass and stared at her for a moment before burying his tongue into her ass. He wasn't sure if she had ever had her ass eaten before since it wasn't common but if she hadn't he would be glad to be the first. His tongue dart around the rim of the puckered hole. The flavor wasn't as good for him as her sex but he didn't mind it and he just wanted to giver her as much pleasure as he could especially with what she was doing for him. He had had women down there before but it was usually reluctant but not ever this eager. His body spasmed a bit as he flet the pleasure travel throughout him. Soon he could feel the familiar pressure in his balls and the spasms of his cock and knew he was about to cum. He pulled his head back and relaxed trying to warn her. "It's coming." He managed to warn her as his eyes closed and he was swept up in the storm of pleasure.
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 05:46 PM
Him rimming her assholencaused her whole body to spasm and she moaned, sending vibrations down to the base of his cock. If he thought that warning her would make her stop, he had another thing coming. Instead she continued to Bob her head up and down, milking his cook for all that she could, swallowing his load as if she was thirsty and he was the last drop to drink. Her hand stilled on his balls as she felt the last bit of his cum pump from them. Gem freed his cock from her mouth and swung herself back around and laid next to him. She licked her lips and offered him a quick wink and a smirk before falling back onto the pillow. Her breathing irregular from what she had just done. All her muscles were sore but in the best way and she soon found her eyes growing heavy. She thought she should say something, anything but words just seemed to fade from her mind. Instead she reached over and gently patted his cheek before sleep finally claimed it's victim.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 06:07 PM
Artorian felt like part of his soul had just escaped from him down her throat. He laid there on his back panting and when she turned around he expected she was about to mount him and he was ready to go. When she instead smirked at him and laid down he was a bit confused. He didn't expect them to be done so quickly with so much left undone although he couldn't complain. He had had a fantastic time and this definitely ranked high in his sexual encounters even if he had never actually penetrated her. He talked himself into relaxing thinking maybe she was saving that for later and was able to put his mind and body at ease a bit. Taking a deep breath and rolling over he put an arm over her. He wasn't sure if the gesture would be consider too personal or intimate but if she didnt like it he assumed she would let him know later. After the load that had been building for months it's long awaited release left him even more tired then he had been before. His body was sore and covered in the best type of scratches and marks and he couldn't help but smile. Sleeping alone was the norm for him but he had to admit it was nicer with another person pressed against you. He pressed his bare chest against her back and gave Ember a final notice to watch the captive while they slept. He fell asleep like that and better than he had for a very long time
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 06:22 PM
Gem woke with a start hours later after their encounter. She momentarily started to freak out when she felt a hand around her. The firm feeling of a chest against her back had her heart pounding a mile a minute. That was, until she remembered what had transpired just hours earlier and blood rushed to her cheeks. She was used to quick rough tumbles beneath the sheets. Used to the disappearance of a one night lover come morning. But the fact that Artorian had spooned her throughout the night was a new experience for her. It wasn't that Gem disliked it, but it was more of thebidea that Artorian actually saw her as a person and not an object. The idea freaked her out and had her heart racing with as much anxiety as she'd had when her sister was taken. Carefully she removed his hand and slipped out from beneath his arm. She went to grab her chest binding but decided against it after one look at Artorian's sleeping face. The memory of his hot mouth against her plump breast caught her off guard and she left the wagon. She looted through another trunk that must ha belonged to Solan because she found a large black tunic and Gem settled on wearing that instead of the tight fitting one she had worn the night before. At least this way her chest would relatively be hidden but not bound. Again gem's mind flashed images of the night before and she shook them off. To distract herself Gem went in search of game, not particularly wanting to eat anything sweet. She was unsure of when Artorian would wake and she thought it best to cool her flames before facing him in the daylight.
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 06:52 PM
Artorian had slept for a while after she had left him but it wasn't long before he stirred. He stretched and looked around wondering why he was completely naked before he recalled the night before. Noticing she was gone stung for a moment but he shrugged it off. They weren't a couple or honestly even lovers. They were two people who had shared a hot and exciting night together releasing pent up tension and stress needing a release. That's how he assumed she had seen it anyway and he supposed if he thought about it he probably did as well. A moment later he got out of the makeshift bed and got out of the cart. Grabbing a rag he walked to the water barrel and scooped a bucketful out before heating it. He gave himself a good cleaning remembering how he had gotten so messy in the first place and smiling a bit, he could still taste her on hip lips. He wiped his face clean a moment later and went to grab his bag and the clothes he bought for the music show. He didn't like how formal they were but his other clothes were ruined and the others were the wrong size or not any better. He slipped them on and waited there looking like he was about to go to a fancy show and not whatever the hell they were actually going to do that day
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Gem & Anih BOT 12-Dec-21 07:09 PM
Gem came back within half an hour with a couple of eggs she had spotted in a tree nearby. She hadn't had the luck she'd had the day before, but eggs were just as good. When she came back to the camp and saw Artorian in his get up she almost burst out laughing. Here they were in the middle of the woods and he looked like he was about to go to a ball. She bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from laughing and made her way over. As she sat the eggs down carefully she spoke, "Good morning princess, you sleep well?" She snickered as she restarted the fire and sat a pot on the pole above it. Green did and got just enough water to cover the eggs as the cooked and set everything inside the pot. "If you wait a bit breakfast will be cooked and ready to eat." She put the lid on the pot and sat on the downed log before looking at Artorian. "Has our hostage woken yet? We need to figure out a game plan today..."
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Artorian BOT 12-Dec-21 07:33 PM
Artorian stiffened a little bit as she enter expecting some sort of awkward tension from her but when it didn't come he relaxed. Her comment about his clothes made him roll his eyes but he was glad to see she was in a good mood. Fearing that things might be a bit weird it was a relief for to seem as if she was in a good mood, maybe better then any other time he had seen her. "Well I was hoping if I looked good enough a wandering noblewoman would see me and pick me up. Let me go with her back to her manse as a concubine and maybe even let me take my poor childhood friend with me for a company." Of course he said this all in a posh overly dramatic tone ending with a hairflip. Breakfast sounded like a great idea to him, the bread was getting stale and he needed something more filling after the night before, and the night before that. Artorian walked back to the back of the wagon and lookinside at the man who was still bound and gagged. He realized at that moment had been there the entire time they were going at it yesterday and laughed to himself. Grabbing the man's arms he tugged him out of the wagon and dragged him along the dirt close to the fire where he stared at them with panic in his eyes
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Gem & Anih BOT 13-Dec-21 10:24 AM
Gem laughed at his jest and just shook her head. She watched as Artorian pulled the man from the wagon, the look on the man's face was almost comical and she couldn’t help by chortle when she realized the man had been there the whole night for the show they had put on. She turned her attention back to the pot and carefully lifted the lid to check if the water was boiling nicely. Next, she turned, her eyes focusing on the man. “After last night’s entertainment I hope you will be very open with us.” She crossed her legs and leaned forward. “You see, I am in a very good mood this morning...” She glanced over at Artorian for a brief moment. “Now, I would suggest you not ruin that mood by being dishonest or withholding any information when answering the questions we may have.” Gem stood abruptly and came to at the guy, in a swift movement that would have been hard to notice, the man had a dagger at his throat, her eyes deadly serious. “Because if I find your answers dissatisfactory, I promise I will cut your throat and bathe in your blood.” Gem realized that she probably sounded crazy, but she honestly didn’t care; her sister’s life was on the line and she would do what needed to be done, and maybe a little more to help deal with her frustrations. Remembering the papers, she had found on Fern’s corpse she pulled them out and handed them to Artorian. Maybe they would be of help before questioning the man. Just as quickly as the dagger appeared it was gone, slipped back inside her boot. She stood and went to the pot. Carefully she used a piece of cloth to take the pot from the fire. “Eggs should be done, let’s eat. I can’t think straight on an empty stomach.”
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Artorian BOT 13-Dec-21 12:53 PM
Artorian watched the woman going about her work intensely before she talked to the man. He couldn't help but smirk a bit at the mention of her mood and the look she gave him. At this point most of his worries about the night before gone, there wasnt going to be some awkwwrd tension and no pretending it didn't exist. With this weight lifted he relaxed more and continued to watch. His hand twitched for a moment off reflex to stop her from kill the man when she sprung at him but he stopped himself. She knew not to kill him and was in much better control of herself then the day before. When she handed him the notes he took them and sat next to the fire. Looking over them he could tell for sure this wasn't some rookie group that they were dealing with. The large man leading them had obviously been a professional but Artorian still didn't know much about him. The fan fought like some sort of mercenary veteran but he couldn't be sure. All he knew for sure was the man was scary with a blade and he was going to have to work to be ready for him him he ended up having to fight him again. Eating his food while reading wasn't the easiest thing to do while sitting on a log but he was doing his best. Although there was quite a bit there there wasn't much to actually explain why they were after Gem or Anih but he did find something useful. There was a payment marked for a teleportation specialist in a town or city called Haven. If he remembered correctly the road they were on led that way. The paper mentioning the man had a detailed description of him as well as some blackmail material for if he tried to back out of his deal. After they were done questioning the prisoner he would bring it up to Gem.
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Gem & Anih BOT 13-Dec-21 08:16 PM
Gem took the eggs from the pot carefully and blew on them, when they were cool enough she would peel the shells off and offer a couple to Artorian. They were about half the size of her palm and she wasn't sure what kind of bird they were from but she didn't really think it mattered. They were cooked and were edible. She popped one into her mouth and chewed, they were cooked just long enough and Gem was actually surprised at how savory the egg was naturally. By the third one her appetite was pretty much taken care of and she sighed, stretching her legs out from under her on the log and letting the sun hit her face. She waited a few minutes like that, just soaking up the sun's rays and taking deep breaths of air. Feeling like she had control of her emotions and ready to get the interrogations over with she stood up abruptly and stretched her arms above her head. Gem made her way over over the guy and sat next to him. "So. I hope you've used this time appropriately and are ready to answer some things." She slung her arm over the guys shoulder and he flinched. She assumed he was thinking she was going to hit or strangle him. Gem shrugged and shook her head as she removed the guys gag. She leaned in closer. "Rememeber the promises 5hat we made, okay?" She offered him am edged smile as she took her dagger and began flipping it in the air, a little close to the man. "I- I don't know an-" Gem let the dagger swirl in the air and accidently let it fall, it landed with a thunk in the dirt just between the man's legs. "Oops. I'm sorry, what was that?" Gem pulled the dagger out of the ground and slowly pointed it at the man's junk. "I swear I heard you saying something useful." She narrowed her eyes and the poor dude looked like he was going to pass himself. "All....all I know is we were paid to kidnapp you. Not the pretty one. Said something about a bounty on your head some powerfully rich elf wanted ye."
20:16
Gem leaned back, her gold eyes on her dagger. Gem was really listening. There were a few things that got to her in life, and people comparing her against Anih was at the top of the list. Was she not pretty? She was identical to her sister in most ways. Was it the scars? The way she carried herself? A dark look crossed her face and she swiped the dagger at the man, drawing blood just beneath his eye. "Anything else? I'm sure you wlarent withholding, right? Because that old be very foolish." She retracted the dagger and licked the drop of blood of the tip of it. "So think really hard. Did you hear Solan ever say anything more specific? A name? A place?"
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Artorian BOT 13-Dec-21 09:57 PM
Artorian watched closely as Gem got up to interrogate the man. He didn't know if this would be her first time but he had a feeling it was the kind of thing she would have a knack for. He didn't plan on intervening unless he had a question she hadn't thought of or if she seemed like she would go to far. During her performance with the dagger and her general vibe right now he couldn't help but feeling a bit aroused but he had to push that back. They were doing something much more important right now and sex was the last thing he should be thinking of. At the man's comment of the pretty one he scooped up a rock the size of a robins egg and threw it at the man's head. "Make a comment like that again and I'm taking off your testes." He warned in a low growl before backing off again. He wasn't sure if the man was stupid or trying to file her up but he wasn't going to sit back during that. Gem and Anih might have been twins but they were two separate people and shouldn't be compared that way. Besides he didn't think that was true. It was true that they did look different just due to their styles and the way they held themselves but they were both beautiful. Once again he was getting off topic though and needed to focus on what was at hand.
21:57
Not getting any more information yet Artorian started to get annoyed. "Hold on I got an idea for you. " He told her as he placed his hand on the earth and made a plant grow. It was something he had only seen a time or two and was rare but he thought would be appreciated here. A small plant began to sprout baring small red fruit in a cone shape. He plucked one of the fruits and walked over to the two of them. "This little fruit is called a pepper. It doesn't look like much but it secretes a juice to deter predators. It's burns horribly on contact like swallowing fire but I have a better idea for it. If the man decides he doesn't have more information we could make him eat it or." He paused for a moment to hold it up to the man's face. "He did get to watch our show last night so maybe he should get some of his own." He turned to look back at Gem. "How hard do you think it would be to get this up his pisser?"
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Gem & Anih BOT 13-Dec-21 10:15 PM
Gem raised an eyebrow when Artorian had thrown the rock, him pelting the guy with it was a small satisfaction but it got even better when he grew the pepper and threatened the man with it. "Why just his cock?" She turned to look at Artorian a smirk on her face. "I heard that an anus has a lot of nerve endings... bet it'd burn something fierce." She looked back at the man and leaned in. "So..a name? Place? You're running out of time because I'm running out of patience..." She held the dagger at the man's throat. "Maybe your eyes could use some of that peppers juice too." She narrowed her eyes. "I don't quite like the idea you've seen me naked." The man gulped and shook his head. "I- I didn't see anything I s swear!" The man had soiled himself at some point and Gem found pleasure in knowing he had. "A-Aelius. That's the name! S-solan mentioned him to Fern! And I o-overheard him saying he was some sort of k-king." Gem pressed the dagger in the man's neck. "Anything else?" The guy nodded. "I-if I tell you can you let me go?" Gem looked over at Artorian with an eyebrow raised. "Are we making deals now? I thought the situation was pretty clear right?" She pushed the dagger in and the tip slid in. Not enough to kill the man but enough to hurt and bleed. "The i-isle of Stygian! T-That's it that's all I know! I swear it!"
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Artorian BOT 13-Dec-21 10:44 PM
Artorian winced a little at her mention of shoving it up his ass and looking at the man in pity. When the man started spilling his guts like a gutted pig he started making mental notes of what the man said. He had seen some of the names he had mentioned in the papers but hadn't had any context for. When the man had clearly said all he knew Artorian grabbed his pare knife and started cutting the binds on his hands. "Well now that he's talked I think we should let him go. His friends are all dead, he doesn't have a way to get to a city other than walking and he will have to walk with his pants full of shit." Artorian told her in an almost pleasant tone." When he was done with the hand bindings he cut the bindings of his feet and helped him up. "Now get running." Artorian barked at him before the man started to run. The man was a slow runner and gave Artorian plenty of time to go to the wagon and grab his bow and quiver. Pulling out a single arrow he nocked it, when the man was about sixty meters away Artorian released the string. The arrow left the bow with a thwack before sailing up and coming back down in the back of the mans neck. "Did he really think we would just let him go after all this?" he asked Gem with a confused expression on his face.
22:44
Putting his bow back in the wagon Artorian pulled the papers back out. "So after going through the papers and with what the man had told us I think I have enough of an idea to go through and form a plan." he told Gem as he started gathering the supplies up so they could get going. "That ogre, Solan, was hired by the king" he paused for a moment straining to pick up the large barrel of water and put it in the back. "Aelius, assuming that's not an alias. from there they were teleported in from Stygian to come and capture your sister." He still didn't know what they wanted with her but that wasn't important at the moment. "Either Solan or another one of these goons had been following us, or at the least you for a few days or so." he stopped for a moment to think about his words and make sure they were lined up. "Well we know what happened after that. These papers show that they have someone in Haven to teleport them back to Stygian, where in Stygian I don't know though. We have a description of the man, a Julius Auster, as well as some blackmail material if he doesn't comply." When he was done speaking he had everything they needed loaded and ready to go. "So now we just need to get there and worry about the rest as it comes."
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 01:14 PM
Gem watched as the dude ran, if Artorian hadn't sent the arrow flying into his neck she would have gone after the man himself. Satisfied as she saw his body land with a thud she turned to Artorian. "Dude was dumber than a sack of rocks..." She shrugged and went about helping load up the wagon. "At least we have an easier means of travel now, eh?" She sent him a smile and before she could think better of it she added. "Plus we sort of already christened it last night didn't we?" She tossed some of the loot she had took from the corpses into the back without missing a beat. She didn't turn to see if Artorian had any reaction, instead she went up to get familiar with the horses. If they were going to be traveling this way it made sense. Gem held out a hand to the horse letting it get a sniff, she was really glad she had bathed the night previous. She wasn't sure how sensitive a horses nose was but she figured it was better to smell nice than like the back end of an alley. When the horse seemed okay with her presence she began to pet it's nose. She thought about Artorian's plans and finally spoke again. "So who is driving?"
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 02:25 PM
Atorian froze at her mention of christening it for just a moment before snorting briefly. He was pretty sure you normally christened something by breaking a bottle of expensive alcohol on it but that was a waste of good alcohol and their way was more fun. Checking to make sure Ember was aboard he sat in the front and looked over at her. "I might be good with animals but I really don't have any experience with wagons. So if you do have any experience you should probably start and I'll just watch and learn." He offered his head tilting back to see Ember laying on the top of the canvas looking down at him. He felt more confident now that they had a plan to follow and he wasn't going to have to run everywhere they went and they had some supplies as well which was always a boon. "my shoulder is good enough to use my bow now. " He knew she would have already figured that out after the display a moment earlier but he felt it was worth noting. "So I figured after we get some miles behind us I would stop and hunt for rations. All the wildlife would have been scared off but after a few miles it should be fine. Although they had plenty of water their only food consisted of almost stale bread and that wouldn't do
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 02:36 PM
Gem raised an eyebrow but bit her tongue as she hopped up onto the wagon. Conveniently for them, she did know how to drive a wagon and she didn't mind it. "Actually I do, and I can." She sat down and got comfortable, she spread her legs a bit before patting her leg. "Come, I'll teach you." She winked at him and kept a straight face before she let out a laugh. She also checked to make sure Ember was secure before she clicked her tongue and flicked the reins to get the horses moving. Gem would be quiet on the ride, her eyes surveying their surroundings every once in awhile. She would follow the route that Artorian would tell her and when they finally got to a decent distance to stop Gem pulled the wagon over away from the road. She was hungry, her butt and back ached from sitting stiff for so long. She was thankful for the reprieve and hopped up off the wagon to stretch. Her arms going up over her head before she bent over and touched her toes, a groan escaping her as she did so. She would repeat it a few times before getting a drink of water. "Alright Artorian, go hunt and feed me before I get hangry."
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 03:47 PM
Artorian sat there as they rode enjoying the silence and watching her drive so he could do it later although it seemed rather simple. Although the seat was uncomfortable he had to admit the atmosphere wasn't. Although it's true it was still as silent as before it now felt like a comfortable silenced compared to the heavy tension filled one before it. Although he wasn't sure if that was due to their activities the night before or because he had been willing to go through so much difficulty and risk his life to get her back. Maybe it didn't have to do anything with either but regardless he couldn't help but be happy with the change between them. When they finally stopped to stretch and rest he couldn't help but admire her as she did so. He had seen just how toned and beautiful she was the night before and the stretching just brought back those images to his mind. At her comment about needing fed before getting hangry he couldn't help but let out an amused huff and open his mouth. "I'm surprised you have any room after everything you ate last night." He said in a quiet tone but loud enough he knew she would be able to hear him. He didn't give her a chance to reply before grabbing his bow and jogging towards the woods leaving Ember behind. {I'm going to leave Ember here with you. I'll check up on you every once in a while with the necklace and have her let me see you occasionally to make sure everything is good.} He sent her through the amulet around their neck. At this point he realized he had never mentioned his ability to do so to them and all the moments he was gone for that he could have seen if he wanted to. {Don't worry I never spied on you or your sister } he added feeling awkward about it.
15:47
He had only been gone for a short while when he found something worth taking down. He had found the tracks of what appeared to be three boar that were rather fresh. He stalked them for a while before he found them. Mentally he thanked them for their sacrifice before drawing his bow and an arrow. A moment later the arrow pierced through its side behind it's ribs skewering a lung and it's heart. It dropped quickly and the other two quickly ran off. He left the arrow in as he checked to make sure it was dead before picking it up and slinging it over his shoulders. The Trek back to the camp took a bit longer due to the over 200lbs beast on his shoulders but before long he had returned. He had only been gone for an hour but he hoped her hanger wasn't too bad. "Don't ever say I can't bring home the bacon." He chimed as he stood there Infront of her still carrying the heavy load
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 04:15 PM
Gem narrowed her eyes as he walked off. Hearing that he could check and see her was an interesting tidbit of information. If he had actually spied on them, Gem probably would have punched him hard or worse. But she believed him when he said that he hadn't. Her eyes turned to Ember. "So you're like a little spy, huh?" She grabbed the bag with all the weapons and placed it nearby to check later. She needed to replace some of her missing daggers, but first she needed to take care of the horses. She took a bucket and filled it with water from he barrel and brought it to them, giving each one a chance to drink. When they seemed to be satisfied she moved back to the back and sat in the shade of the wagon. She rifled through the back and found a couple of decent daggers she liked and placed them in the appropriate places. She also took some type of whip that looked like it would be fun to use. The rest were swords and axes and those were not her cup of tea so she placed them back in the sack. They could sell them later for cash if needed. She sighed and closed her eyes, the sound of the breeze lulling her partially asleep. She heard Artorian's foot falls first before he spoke. She opened one eye and glanced where his voice had come from, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Oh? Well color me impressed Artorian." She stretched and stood up walking around him and the boar. "Since you hunted I'll cut, clean and cook. Unless you want the honors?" She patted the boar and was excited. If there was one thing she loved more than sweet rolls it was pig meat. "Maybe take a rest like I did. You'll take over the next leg of the journey."
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 04:56 PM
He could see the excitement in her eyes as she patted the boar and he felt much the same. He would have been happy with anything he came back with but a boar was one of his favourite catches. He knealt down and slowly slid the kill from his back. Pulling the arrow out he examined it before tossing it to the side knowing it wouldn't work for another shot. "Sorry but I need to be the one to do it. The creature gave it's life for our sustenance and I need to honor that by doing the bloody work myself." He told her solumely before pulling out one of the knives he claimed the night before to replace his own. "Besides no offense but I don't like the idea of butchering it with a kinife from your boot and the holey wraps within it." He teased before setting to work. "If you could start a fire that would be great though." He set work on the animal making sure to get everything he could out of it. There were a few organs he threw out that weren't a good idea for people to eat and he left meat on some of the bones for Ember but he wasted almost nothing. If there was one thing he knew it was his way around an animal. Going back to the wagon he gave Ember a bone and grabbed some of the spare cloth from the back. He would set to drying it later but for now he would just wrap it to take care of later. With that done he held up some of the cuts of meat that would cook the fastest. "I hope you like pork belly." He told her as he set to cooking it in the skillet with some butter he had with the bread. His mouth was already watering as he smelled the fat cooking down.
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 05:12 PM
Gem didn't understand it all the way but she left it to Artorian to cut up the meat. She was just excited to be able to eat it. "Yeah well, I also have one in my breasts if it makes you feel any better... suppose I should get new feet wraps." She shrugged and got to work on starting the fire. It didn't take her long to set it and before long she just sat back and watched as he finished the job. When he started cooking her mouth was practically salivating from the smell. To distract herself she glanced at his backside while he continued cooking. She couldn't help herself but to mess with him. "Should I get you a pink frilly apron? Start calling you dear?" She got up and walked over, her eyes moving from his body to that of the meat he was cooking. "Oh, maybe piglet would be a better fit." There was a sparkle in her eye as she joked with him. "Or are those a bore?" She sat on the opposite side of the fire and sat on a stone that looked like a perfect seat. She snickered at her on jest and began to whittling away at a stick with one of her daggers. She wasnt sure if she could make anything with it, but it was something to do to pass the time. (edited)
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 05:47 PM
Artorian rolled his eyes at her comment about the apron. "I'll make you a deal with the apron. If you make me one yourself the next time I cook I'll do it in the apron." He said with a small smirk to himself. "Only the apron. And you can call me anything while I do so." Her puns made him cringe a bit but he just focused on the cooking food. When it was nearly done he went to his bag and grabbed out the remaining bread. He cut it up into chunks and threw them into the pan letting them brown and soak up the fat and butter. He knew it still had a few minutes so he walked over to the horses. He whistled at Gem to get her attention before he focused on a spell he didn't get to use often. His throat glowed a vibrant green and he gently touched the sides of the horses heads. After a moment he turned to look at her and patted the head of the chestnut colored one closest to them. "This one said his name is Eladrin, master of light and shadow, manipulator of magical delights, devourer of chaos, champion of the great halls of Terra'ska, the elves know him as Fi'ang Yalok and the dwarves as Zoenen Hoogstsndjes and from the north as Gaismūnen Meistar." When he was done he patted the white one next to him. "This is Snickers." When he was done introducing them he conjured them food like he had shown before and let them eat before returning to their own dinner. "Dinner is done." He said as he pulled the pan from the fire sitting it down on a mostly flat rock nearby.
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 06:01 PM
At his offer to wear nothing but the apron Gem decided right then and there that she would accept the challenge. The man might not know it, but when Gem set her mind to something she could get it done, unless it was singing she was terrible at that. "You're on, Artorian. Just wait..." Gem watched whatever magic he was doing with the horses, she was curious and when he spoke she couldn't help but to literally snicker and the horses names. "I'll just call that one doodle." She shook her head, it was a lot to remember and the names snicker and doodle went together nicely. After he fed them and cam back deeming that the meal was done she smacked her lips. "Good, I'm starving." Gem was rather unladylike as she ate her meal, the butter and meat practically melted in her mouth and if it hadn't been full she probably would have laid a kiss on Artorian out if pure thanks. She hadn't bad anything this decent in a long while. She eyed him as she finished eating, linking her fingers to make sure not a speck of it was left. "I'll marry you." She said it with such a serious look and tone that for a minute even Gem herself believed it. But just as quickly as it was said, it was gone and she stood and sauntered off to the woods. "Be back, gotta take a piss."
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 06:41 PM
Artorian smirked at her comment but kept it to himself. He meant what he said and if she did manage to make him an apron he would gladly strip and cook in it. He imagined it would be uncomfortable with all the heat to his front and his bare ass out in the cold breeze but he would take it. He sat there quietly watching her enjoy his food. It was true that she ate in a very unladylike manner but that didn't bother him. If anything watching how hungrily she ate her food was taken as a compliment and for some reason aroused him. The food was just as delicious as always although he wished he had gotten some spices from the city while they were there. He had finished his food and just laying back relaxing when he heard her comment about marrying him. It was so convincing that he honestly almost believed her and he had to stop from choking a bit at the surprise of it. There were plenty of impressions he got from Gem but her marrying someone and settling down had never been one of them, much less with him. A moment later he was snapped out of that train of thought by her comment about pissing. When she was gone for a moment and he assumed she had started letting loose her water he touched the amulet on his neck. {I don't even need Ember to soy on you, I can hear you from here.} He teased before getting to his feet.
18:41
He began cleaning up after the cooking noticing there was nothing left and although not surprised also a bit sad because he could have kept eating for hours. He quickly cleaned the pan with some water from the bucket before loading it up and putting it in the back of the wagon. Ember laid there on her back, large rotund belly facing the stomach. The pure feeling of satisfaction and happiness coming from her could be felt even without using their bond. He reached down and gave her a quick scratch on her stomach before going to the barrel where he had stored the meat. He paused for a moment to breathe to cast his spell but when he was done he knew that meat would stay fresh until he could smoke it when they stopped for camp for the night. When he was done he moved back to the front and sat down readying the horses so they could take off. "Just waiting on you." He yelled into the woods where she had walked off
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 07:10 PM
Gem went about her business and nearly fell over hearing him through the pendant. When she was done she cleaned herself the best she could and fixed her pants. She made her way back to the wagon and used a bit of water to clean her hands. "I'll have you know the pendants are for emergencies. And you're right. You don't need Ember." It was all she said before climbing into the back of the wagon. "Let's go, I'll be back here for awhile." She rifled through the things they had been gifted by Solan and his crew and found enough fabric of mismatched types to make some semblance of an apron, or at least she had hoped. She had sewn wounds before and Gem figured it couldn't be that different. Every so often while they were on the road and they'd hit a bump Gem would either prick her finger or miss a stitch. She ahd to admit the green and brown fabrics were much more suited for Artorain over the pink but she still thought the thing was an ugly mess. She kicked the wall of the wagon. "Be more gentle driving or I'll ride you rough like that until your ass hurts!" She grunted and waited until the road got less bumpy and continued working on the apron.
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 07:30 PM
Artorian just focus on letting the horses take them along the road. Although he pretended to drive the carriage it turned out just be easier to speak with the animals and let them do it themselves. Horses were smarter than most people thought and having told them he would give them carrots if they did a good job couldn't have hurt either. With the cover drawn where they couldn't see each other he wasn't sure what she was doing back there but at the same time it meant she couldn't see him leaning back with his feet kicked up. He was tempted to look through Ember to see what was happening but decided against it. At her comment about riding him he just smiled a wolfish grin. "Do you promise?" He asked loud enough for her to hear. He wasn't sure if she realized how little of a threat that was but it only worked for his favor. Leaning towards Eladrin and Snickers he recast the speak with animals spells and told them to make it a bit rougher if they wouldn't mind. Before breaking the spell and rumbling a warm laughter from his chest.
19:30
Artorian couldn't remember the last time he felt this good or had so much fun. There was a bit of a dark cloud hanging over him knowing that Anih was out there probably scared and alone waiting for them. Whenever he had time he was going to sneak into the woods and start training to be able to take care of that cyclops. His gifts had always came naturally to him and he hadn't ever trained but he was sure if he put in the work he would find himself able. Not being able to do anything against that giant of a man had sounded his pride more than his body although he wouldn't tell anyone about that. It was just one more thing to push down and not tell anyone about.
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 07:44 PM
Gem shook her head hearing his question but answered anyways. "I say what I mean, Artorian." It was quiet for awhile and she could have sworn the ride had gotten more turbulent. Because of that she decided it best to put making the apron on hold. Hiding it somewhere he couldn't see she moved up to where the flap was and yanked it open. When she saw him just propped up she narrowed her eyes and smacked his arm. "Really? You're not even driving! No wonder I kept stabbing myself!" She growled but there was no heat in it as she moved up to the front. They were on the road for a few more hours yet.
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 08:28 PM
Artorian grabbed his arm and put an over exaggerated expression of pain on his face. "Well I have two responses to that. The first is why would I drive when they are clearly able to do it themselves after some explanation and motivation?" He motioned at them before continuing. "Secondly what the hell were you doing back there to stab yourself?" He asked confused not sure what the hell could have been going on. He moved over giving her room to sit but not enough to where she could sit away from him. Eventually Ember half walked, half rolled out from the back and nestled into his lap. He was glad she was satisfied and happy and he couldn't help but smile down at his familiar. Ember had done a good job keeping watch last night and she would probably do so again tonight so she needed all the sleep she could get. With a very gentle touch he slowly pet her back while they rode. After the sun had went down he kept an eye out for a decent place to set up camp. Eventually he found a rocky overhang with enough space for a wagon and a smaller campsite and thought it would be perfect. The woods were still thick around the cliff so he knew they would have plenty of wood and protection from the elements if it decided to rain. He pulled the carriage to the side under the cliffs and let them free before growing them each a couple of carrots and neck brushes. "Your humble home for the night milady." He said with a bow and holding his hand out for her to use to climb down. If he was dressed like a chauffer he might as well act the part
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Gem & Anih BOT 14-Dec-21 11:03 PM
By the time Artorian had found a decent place for them to rest Gem had been ready for it. Her whole body stiff from sitting, her backside particularly sore the most. When he offered his hand and acted like a chauffer she snorted but took his hand nevertheless. Hopping down from the wagon she stood beside him and when she removed her hand from his she couldn't help but tease. "Does this mean I get bedside service?" A perfectly copper toned eyebrow rose and she nudged him with her shoulders "I might leave a rave review if it does." She chuckled and went to pat the horses in thanks before moving away from the wagon to stretch. If there was one thing about Gem it was that she was physically fit, and always felt the need to keep her body primed and ready in case of anything. As she stretched bones could be heard popping, she felt her muscles pull as she coaxed them from their rigid position. She bent over and touched her toesworked her way up to reach for the heavens and then worked on stretching her leg muscles. She groaned when her knee popped something loud. She shook her head, "I know horses and wagons are a convince but why does it have to hurt for long periods?" She grumbled and finished stretching before starting to set up a fire. "You have to cook this time too? Or is it acceptable acceptable me to take this shift?"
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Artorian BOT 14-Dec-21 11:18 PM
With a small chuckle he moved away to look around. "I suppose that depends on what you mean by bedside service? I think I can manage to bring you food and keep the bed warm if that's what you're after." As she started to stretch he just stared and gave a little whistle of appreciation. {Gods have mercy on me} he thought to himself before realizing he was holding the amulet. He looked down for a moment realizing his mistake. {Ignore that, that was a private thought} he added before making his way to the back of the wagon to avoid eye contact. He grabbed the barrel where he had stored the meat and lifted it onto his shoulder with a groan. He carried it to near the center of the clearing and sat it down with another groan. "I suppose not but I'm not really going to be cooking it so much. I plan on leaving out some of the organs and a couple bigger cuts to cook tonight but the rest will just be smoked over night." Reaching and placing a hand on the ground he sent a small green surge through it before the earth around his palm moved and shaped itself into a hole about three feet deep. Walking around the edge of the clearing he found enough small pieces of fire wood to fill the bottom before going and collecting bark from the nearby trees. He shaved off enough from each of the trees but not enough to cause permanent damage to them. Laying those down on top of the branch he started a fire in the pit. "I'm sorry this part is so tedious I just want to make sure were good on rations for a while." Reaching down once more he made some roots grow from the edge of the hole to make a grid pattern above the fire before putting the meat on there. When he was done he covered the barrel all but a small section so he could feed it more kindling and wood as the night went on. "Now that that's done we can let it sit and just check it every couple hours to keep the fire going. If you want to make me dinner now I wont stop you." he told her before wiping the sweat from his brow
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 03:07 AM
Gem raised an eyebrow qt hearing his thought but kept it to herself. The pendant was really a nifty thing to have gotten. She just wish her sister had gotten hers before she was taken. She sighed and watched as Artorian went about making the smoke pit, her interest peaked when he used his powers to do so. "You do you, I'm just sitting here entertained a bit." She sat on a soft patch of grass that was actually quite squishy and sighed content, it was a nice change for her ass instead of the hard seat of the wagon. When he gave her the a okay to cook she grabbed a pot and set it over the fire. An idea hit her and she turned to Artorian. "Like growing that pepper. Can you grow potatoes? And maybe some garlic?" She'd wait for him to answer before deciding if she would make a stew or not. If he could that was great, if not she would settle on just frying the meat.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 11:50 AM
The question about potatoes and garlic let him know what she wanted but he was going to have to take a moment to know if he could. Using magic to grow specific plants that bore food always took more energy then just using his magic to make food outright, his energy and the nature's working together to produce it. He looked closed his eyes and looked inward just trying to get a sense on if he had enough in stock. "I can do a little but not much, I won't have much magic left for the day." He told her a moment later. Moving away from the fire he knealt once more and focused before a potato plant and and some garlic bulbs bloomed. He set to work pulling them from the earth and brought them to her breathing a bit heavily. "Three potatoes and two cloves of garlic." He told her weakly as he handed them over. "Now if you'll excuse me I'll need to go sit down for a moment." And with that he wandered off and sat down on a section of grass he thought looked particularly soft. He laid there for a while just watching her as she worked enjoying the homelike feeling of the day. Being out and about was how he enjoyed his time and although he wasn't actively going through a forest or other wilderness now the road wasn't so bad. Having a companion to keep company with made it even easier for him and he enjoyed the back and forth nature they had developed over the day. Despite what they would have to do for now he was happy and content
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 12:16 PM
Gem watched as he did his stuff, when he brought them over and was winded she felt a pang of guilt that she had made him exert that much energy just for their meal. She took the items and pat him on the shoulder before he went to lay down. "It'll be worth it, and if it isn't I'll owe you something in return." She really meant things she said, and once the offer was out there it was solid. Gem used a rock to smash the bulbs of garlic, the smell hitting her nose and she grinned. She threw them in the pot with a smidge of butter they had left and the smell was fantastic. She used the wooden spoon to move them around before adding the chunks of meat. As they browned Gem cut the potatoes into smaller, edible chunks. She then would wait until the meat was just right to add the water and the potatoes. After the lid was on the pot she made her way over to where Artorian was laying. "Stew will be done in a bit..." She looked down at him, she wasn't sure if he was asleep or not but she talked anyway. "Know of any games we could play, to pass the time? I'd rather do something than just lay about and become stagnant..." She leaned over him, his eyes were closed and he looked rather content, peaceful even. She supposed he was really worn out and she should probably leave him alone. But one thing about Gem was she didn't know when to leave well enough alone.
12:16
Curiosity got the better of her and she touched one of his ears as he lay there, lightly stroking it before touching the point of the ear. She wondered why he wanted to cover them, her and her sister never saw the want or need. She knew that some people had problems with elves, but that was just like any other race out there. Gem leaned in closer to observe his face, he cleaned up pretty nicely and she had to admit even if the clothing themselves were ridiculous the colors suited him well. She was mere inches from his face at this point and she had the urge to poke him. Quietly Gem reached up and stuck a finger up his nose. "Thought I saw a spider, sorry."
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 12:32 PM
Artorian just relaxed there while she went about her business letting his mind just calm and relax. He heard her approaching but didn't think much of it until she started messing with his ears. They twitched a little as she touched the points and he was getting a bit confused by what she was doing but he still just let it go curious as to where she was going with this. Her touching his ears did stir up some old memories but he knew she wasn't aware of why he had them covered most of the time. He thought back to his mother and started to bring that negativity back into his mind. Before that dark cloud could fully cover him though it was swept away by the intrusion of a foreign finger in his nose. Slowly he moved his hand up and grabbed hers softly but just firm enough to start pulling it out. He opened his eyes and looked at her hand and her face that was just a few inches from his own. He considered kissing her for a moment but stopped. "That better not be for the stew." He said looking down at her fingertip while still holding her hand. "Also those ear tips are an ereogenous zone so be careful touching them unless you plan on helping with what comes."
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 12:56 PM
Gem chortled at his words "What, how else would we get the salt?" She shook her head but when he didn't release her hand she raised an eyebrow. The proximity between them making her recall the night before. They hadn't gone very far the night before due to her exhaustion but now... "You do realize that I have pointy ears too, right?" She leaned in then, their lips practically touching, her voice husky as she spoke. "And who's to say that I wouldn't?" She stayed that way for a few heartbeats before pulling her arm free and hopping up off the ground. "Suppose I should check the stew." While she walked she may have moved her hips a little more erotically than she normally would, which was a lot. She was frustrated in more ways than one and this back and forth game they had going was helping her be distracted, even if just slightly. She lifted the lid off the stew and stirred, the steam and smell penetrating her nose and she jumped in excitement. Gem liked having a companion, it meant better food and better food led to better moods and overall moral. She turned to look over at Artorian. "It'll be done here in about twenty-ish minutes or so...So" She put the lid back on and plopped back down beside him. "Know of any games?"
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 01:15 PM
Artorian did his best to keep a straight face as she spoke. Of course he noticed her ears, she was very clearly and elf while he was more ambiguous or at least when his ears were covered. He knew it wasn't something for her to be able to understand. It's true that racism could be found amongst all the races but because of his lineage he had to deal with racism against elves as well as the elves and they're hating of him for being mixed. When she left he watched the sway of her hips and found himself relaxing again. When she came back and asked him about games he looked at the ground trying to recall anything. The thing about being alone most of your life was you didn't really have experience doing things with others. He had played cards and dice with people in taverns before but he didn't have any on him and he hadn't found any on the cart so it wouldn't do them any good regardless. After a moment he shook his head. "Sorry but all the ones I know we're for training Ember. I don't hang around people remember?" He asked before laughing softly. He laid back further putting his hands under his head as a makeshift pillow. "I'm open to suggestions though."
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 01:32 PM
Gem listened and frowned, "Well yeah, suppose I did remember." She shrugged and thought for a moment. "While I am curious about those training games for Ember..." She glanced at where she had last seen the fox then back to Artorian. "We could totally make a dart board out here or targets. See who's better, your bow or my daggers." Gem hoped he liked the idea, she liked a good competition. "And if you need a reason, we could say winner gets a wish granted?" She wasn't even sure what she would ask for but Gem was sure she could think of something." At some point Gem had pulled out a dagger as she was talking and had begun to flip it up in the air and catch it. Throwing it up, catching it by the tip or handle, over and over as she waited for him to make up his mind whether it was of interest to him. "Unless you're scared you lose..." She teased.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 01:50 PM
Artorian looked at her wondering if this was something she actually wanted to do. He had a feeling she was an overly competitive person but he decided what the hell. "Well I'm not going to use my bow, I wouldn't want to risk breaking any arrows and I don't think that a fair competition." He told her before pulling his own dagger out. He doubted that he would be as good as she was but he could throw a dagger well enough to atleast give her a competition. At her mention of a wish his mind started racing. He wasn't sure what he would wish for but just having that on the table would be fun. He chuckled a bit to himself. "If I win I'm going to wish for you to give Ember her bath." Although his mind had immediately jumped the sexual route he couldn't resist the thought of her trying to bathe Ember. He had more scratches and bite marks from her bath time then he did after going through brambles. "And to be clear she absolutely hates baths, she will fight you every step of the way especially when you get to her tail." He started cackling a bit enough for tears to run from his eyes. He wiped them away with a finger and looked at her. "Are you sure you want to risk it?" A slight hiss could be heard from the wagon followed by some angry growls, where clearly Ember had heard the word bath
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 02:04 PM
Gem thought about it and shook her head, "That's playing dirty...but alright." She turned her head as she heard Ember hiss and she laughed. "Definitely dirty, but fine. You win I'll wash Ember if you somehow win." She leaned closer to him and smirked, her eyes hooded with desire, "If I win you have to bathe me. Gem got up and went over to a crop of trees. Instead of carving into the tree and wounding it she picked up some larger dead branches scattered around on the ground. She would carve circles into about five of them and set them up against the wall face on the other side. "Alright, let's do this pretty boy." She looked him from head to toe referencing his outfit. Gem would eye the targets before speaking. "Best two of three , all five targets closer to the bullseye wins." She readied five of her daggers that she pulled from various places on her body, and possibly to Artorian's surprise she would actually pull one out of her breasts, he may even wonder how or where she stored it there but that was for him to figure out later because right now Gem licked her lips with excitement and got in position to throw the first one. "Watch this." She stared at him the whole time and hit just a half millimeter from the bullseye. She'd smirk at him before sticking out her tongue. "You scared?"
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 02:18 PM
Taken back by the pretty boy comment he rolled his eyes before hopping to his feet. "So basically if I lose I still win?" He ask looking around at where she had the targets set up. He only had the one dagger on him so he knew he was going to have to reuse his own. He had heard her mention her boob knife earlier in the day but he he wasn't believing her until it actually appeared. "How do you not cut your tits off?" He asked confused before watching her amazing throw. With a sigh he got up and looked at her throw. It was a good throw and he didn't know if he could match it. Tossing his dagger in the air a few times to warm up he tossed it from over his shoulder watching it spin. When the dagger struck the wood he went to check it out seeing it was definitely not as close as hers. "You can double-check if you want but yours was definitely closer." He told her before pulling the blade out so he could go back to where they started
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 02:46 PM
Gem looked at him and his throw, she snorted and shook her head when he said she could double check. This was going to be a piece of cake. This time she closed her eyes instead of looking at the target. She centered herself and listened to the wind for a second before letting her dagger fly. When she heard the thunk she opened her eyes only to look at Artorian, eyebrow raised with the same smirk as before. "Bullseyes, huh?" She would wait until he checked and jump at her success. She knew it was more unfair, her being skilled in daggers and he who probably only used one out of necessity. She was enjoying this too much, but the idea of his hands on her again, if even briefly, excited her. She moved to the next and threw it. This time throwing it backwards. This one was about an inch from the target and Gem tried to blame it on the sudden burst of wind. She repeated the same thing at target four as she had the previous and this time made it. She beamed him a grin. "Might want to pray to lady luck Artorian. She laughed and held her sides before wiping at tears in the corner of her eyes.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 03:40 PM
Artorian took everything in stride knowing even if he lost he would be the winner. Besides although he would consider himself fine at throwing daggers it wasn't his forte and she was clearly amazing at it. Watching her show off honestly just made him enjoy it more since was clearly having fun and this side of her was very pleasant to see. His remaining throws until the last one were fine, he even beat her on the one she blamed on wind even though he didn't feel it. "Who needs prayer?" He asked her as he stood up for the final one. He held his breath for a moment and turned giving her a wink before looking at the target again. He didn't have much magic left after everything he had done today but he thought he had recovered for one more spell. Just like with his fight against Solan his hand glowed green and it spread to the dagger. As the dagger hit slight off of bulls eye a barrage of green thorns shot from behind it and impaled themselves into the wood until it looked like a pincushion. With that done he sat back down next to where she stood. "You win regardless but I might as well have made the end one to count." He told her as he laughed softly to himself
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 04:02 PM
Gem scoffed at the last target as he blew it to shreds with a fine. "That is so cheating. She placed her hands on her hips and stared down at him. "I suppose I do win." She rolled her eyes and went to check on the food. She stabbed a potato with an unused dagger and was satisfied with how it split easily. "Alright, time to eat." Gem grabbed three bowls she had pulled out earlier, she filled two practically full and the third halfway, she didn't think Ember would be able to eat a full bowl. She handed one off to Artorian before asking. "Where should I put hers? Beside you? Off where she can eat it herself?" She'd wait for the response and do whichever would be preferred before sitting down herself near the fire. Gem thought it smelled good and she smiled as she took a big spoon full and chomped down on it, only to cough and quickly swallow the contents in her mouth hurriedly. Apparently she hadn't done such a great job and it did not taste that pleasant. Gem scrunched her face and frowned at the bowl. She had seen Anih cook it so many times she thought it would have been easy. Gem sighed and continued to eat the very burnt tasting stew upset that she failed. She waited for the quip that was sure to come from Artorian and she had no clue what to even say. She always wanted to try and beat everyone as if mundane tasks were a game. And the food they had eaten earlier that Artorian had made was so good. She stabbed a took a bite angrily from her spoon. She would need to practice, she would make a good meal as tasty, if not tastier than Artorian's pork belly.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 05:09 PM
Artorian rose slowly to his feet feeling more tired from the spell then he had realized but food would help him recover just fine. Artorian was about to say something about Embers food when he saw her dash like a bat out of hell towards the food. Ember swarmed Gems feet moving inbetween her legs deftly eager for food. Ember followed her all the way to where she sat before curling up next to her with her bowl. Greedily Ember stook her head in and took a bite before pulling her back out. She looked down at the bowl more hesitantly this time and then a moment later her head was buried in it eating once again. Artorian himself however took his bowl and sat on her side but with enough space between them to where it wouldn't be uncomfortable. He stabbed at a potato and ate it happily. It wasn't the best meal he had eaten by any means but it was good, and food he didn't have to cook at that. So he ate it hungrily not letting any expressions come from his face. He finished his bowl in silence before getting up and making himself another bowl. When that one was done he sat the bowl next to him and looked up at her. "Thank you for the meal." He told her pleasantly with the hint of a smile.
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 05:18 PM
Gem didn't know what to think about Ember's reaction and it made her heart do a little flop and Gem wondered if her heart was going to stop. She paused and put her hand on her chest to make sure it was fine. Shrugging when nothing else happened she continued to eat her food. When Artorian had eaten it all it made Gem feel a little better about the food in general, though she knew it wasn't that great. She finished hers a bit slower and when she did she ploppednbackwards falling off the rock she had sat on. The sift grass beneath her softening the landing. She laid there staring at the might sky wondering how her sister was doing at this moment. If her sister was in true danger Gem felt like she'd know it in her soul. So far she had a feeling her sister was okay, maybe scared and lonely but not in danger or anything in the like. Gem sighed and threw her arms out as she lay there, her feet still on each side of Ember. "I'm done. I'll just sleep here..." She closed her eyes and groaned. "You used all you magic today didn't you?" She would ask with her eyes still shut, her chest rising and falling slowly.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 05:28 PM
Artorian watched her fell and had to cover his mouth to keep from completely gaffawing at her antics. He choked for a moment after before managing to pull himself together. When his face was no longer red he stood and grabbed the bowls and taking them to a spot out of the way. He feels a bucket with water from the barrel and used the bit of magic he recovered from eating and started cleaning the bowls. When he was done he grabbed the pan and cleaned it as well just scraping the mostly charred remains since he didn't think anyone would eat them anyway. He was about to comment that she had been silent for a moment when she spoke. He looked at his hands for a moment before walking over and laying beside her in the grass. "I've definitely stretched it today. I'll probably have some by the end of the night but for the moment I'm on fumes. Using magic for me uses my own energy, it combines with the natural magic of the world for what I do but it still takes its toll. Just like everything else though sleep and food will recover it like my natural stamina." He rolled his head over and looked at her for a moment. "Why do you ask?"
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 05:35 PM
Gem shrugged and turned her head to face him. "Just curious. Anih use to get tired the more she used her magic..." She had told Gem once is was hard tapping into the weave of life to bend its magic, or as best she could describe it to her sister. Gem didn't really understand any of it, she only jad her spells that cam natural to her, shadows were everywhere. And as for silence she just got really good at being forgotten she would really call call magic or a talent. She rolled over and propped her head on her hand. Her gold eyes searching his face for something not even she was quite sure of. "What's it like? Using magic like that?"
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 05:57 PM
Artorian thought about her question for a moment. "I don't know if I can describe it someone who hasn't felt it, it's just a very surreal feeling. You know that smell when it's just rained or about to? It's kind of like that same feeling but you can feel it instead." He pulled out his pipe and packed it before lighting it. He took a strong hit and held it here as he looked up at the rock ceiling. He expelled it a moment later feeling even more relaxed than a moment earlier. "It gives you this slight high but not in a way that dulls your senses it actually makes everything become more real, everything is just there and present." He realized he was rambling without actually being able to give a solid answer. "Sorry that's the best I can explain it."
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 06:12 PM
Gem shook her head and shrugged. He tried his best to explain it, and while she did know that feeling of when it was about to rain she was sure the actual thing was more refreshing than just feeling the rain coming on the air. She watched him inhale the smoke and hold it, her eyebrow rising. "Thanks for trying to explain anyway..." She rolled back onto her back and stared up, her hands going to rest on her stomach as she held them together there. She layed there quietly for awhile as he spoke before sitting up. "I'm going to go prep the wagon. As much as I said I'd sleep out here there's probably going to be a chill and I like being warm..." She glanced at him for a moment before standing and headed to the wagon. "Wait a few before you come in, unless you're sleeping out here." She looked at the fire briefly, the distant flames making her golden eyes reflect and dance with it. She didn't say anything else and turned hopping up and going under the wagons flap. Once inside she slipped out of her foot wraps and looked at them. Next time they were in town somewhere perhaps she would get some. She tossed them into into corner and then the same with her pants. Still in her shirt that without being tucked in her pants stopped mid thigh she made a bed the best she could with what was around. The animal fur being on top for warmth and comfort. Gem laid down and tucked her head under her arm, her back toward the opening of the wagon. She didn't know if he would try anything tonight, but she knew if he did she'd have a hard time denying it. Being in such a close proximity and knowing what had happened the night before. She bit her thumb and stared at a nail on the wagon wall. He probably wouldn't so she didn't get her hopes up, instead she closed her eyes and started to count baby wyverns in her head.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 07:03 PM
Artorian laid there a while longer looking at the ceiling above him. He didn't know why she wanted him to wait before coming inside, he imagined she wanted to just change and didn't want for him to see this time. The lights from the fire made the nooks and crannies cast dancing shadows and he tried to see what the shapes created. He didn't think most people would enjoy it but he found fun in it and that's what mattered. When his pipe was empty he rolled up and put the pipe back away. Rising to his feet he started gathering more wood and bark to take care of the smoking food. Ten minutes later he was done and the big was good for another couple hours. With that taken care of he decided to make use of the alone time. He stripped down to nothing making sure the wagon his him from anyone who might be traveling down the road. He grabbed some of his little remaining soapweed and went to the bucket. Heating it and adding the soapweed he cleaned himself up before pulling his undertrousers back on. He left the rest by the wheel of the wagon and looked in. The only thing he could see was the makeshift bed and her back facing him. "Is this all for you or did you leave me room?" He asked trying to get a feel for the situation
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 07:11 PM
Gem snorted and waved her hand to indicate he could enter. There was a thin sheet at her feet but she didn't want it on, feeling it was already warm enough inside the wagon. "Of course it's not all for me, I left room for Ember..." Gem snickered and rolled over to face Artorian. It was darker in the wagon, the flames from the fire outside barely providing light. But Gem was used to being in the dark, her eyes could see better then most and sometimes she wondered if she could see as well as a cat could at night. She raised an eyebrow at Artorian, "Did you clean up?" She could smell the soapweed, it was faint but the smell was there. "Expecting some hot date tonight?" Gem propped herself up on her elbow causing her shirt to hitch slightly higher up on her leg to reveal the edges of her wolf bite.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 07:47 PM
Artorian rolled his eyes at the comment about Ember before she asked about the bathing. "Well I was planning on sleeping outside and didn't want to stink too much for Ember to cuddle up with me." He told her before sliding in next to her. "Can I sleep here? I bathed so I don't stink." He told her recalling the night before and her words. When the furs were lifted he saw the scar on her thigh and he couldn't resist reaching over and touching it. Scars fascinated him. And he was sure he could guess what it was from. His fingers gently grazed over it and he lifted the furs to look at it more. He didn't know if this was too intimate for her but he couldn't help himself. He strokes her thigh softly as he studied it, his breathing hardened and his hair stood on end as he did so. "Are you alright?" He asked her looking at it before looking back to meet her eyes. He didn't want her to feel like he was pitying her but he had to ask after seeing it. "Was it a wolf? Warg?" His hand didn't move from her thigh as he spoke to her
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 09:16 PM
Generally a scar as bad as the one on Gem's leg should lack about half as much sensation, but during the moment when Artorian's had traced the edges of the bote she felt her breathing hitch. Her whole body was still yet it wasn't all at the same time. Small goosebumps formed and she briefly shut her eyes as he continued. Gem was biting her lip when he asked her about it. "Mm, I'm..fine. Just a wolf who was very upset about Anih and I trying to find shelter in her den." Her voice came out a little shaky and she cleared her throat. Gold eyes stared at Artorian's hand, wanting it to travel up even further. His hand felt hot on her skin and she wasn't sure if it was just in her head. She swallowed and spoke again, this time her voice more even. "Learned a lesson then, alway knock to see if someone's home." A chuckle would escape Gem at her joke.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 09:32 PM
Artorian listened to her talk about what had happened to her. If he was in her place he couldn't be upset with the wood but he imagined it had to come sort of trauma. He snorted a bit from her almost a joke but stopped. He looked at her reaction to touching her scar and moved his hand away. It seemed like he was making her uncomfortable while touching it and he could understand if the memory gave her flashbacks. He let the furs fall and he laid back looking at her. In some ways the day had been long since their coupling the night before but it also felt like it was just moments ago. He wondered if she could feel the heaviness in the air that he felt or if she could hear the way his heart was pounding against it's fleshy cage. Rolling over and facing her to try to hide his growing erection he placed his hand on her leg once again. She had been flirtatious all day and had a good sense of humor about everything but he didn't know how much was real and how much was a facade to cover her feelings about her sister being taken. "Are you sure you're okay with sharing the bed with me?" He asked looking at her in the dim light
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 09:45 PM
Gem was bummer when he removed his hand, it was the opposite affect of what she had wanted. She almost reached out and grabbed it when the furs fell back down. When he rolled over and asked her the question she raised an eyebrow. The air thick and heavy with the building tension that it almost felt hard to breathe. Instead of answering him with words Gem went in for the kill and leaned in, her lips meeting his with pressure. Her hand went to the back of his neck, she tried to tilt his head to gain better access at the weird angle they were in on their sides and pulled away not loving after she had begun the kiss. Her breathing slightly uneven she shook her head "I don't know...maybe I'm not sure..." She paused for a moment before leaning in just enough to whisper in his ear, her breath blowing on his skin as she spoke. "Not sure if we will be sleeping that is." Gem nipped at his ear playfully before putting some distance between them and laying herself on her back, her eyes shutting as if she was going to sleep. "Of course, if you're tired or not interested I understand." Her hands were beneath her head and she sighed. Gem wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but she hoped he wouldn't be discouraged by her messing with him like this. She found it fun and she thought he seemed to do a great job at giving just as good as he took from her.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 10:11 PM
Artorian got his answer well enough when she leaned in and kissed him firmly. Well at this point he knew she was fine with kissing him outside the throws of passion, the thought sending even more shivers down his spine. Her comment about not being sure left him confused for a moment until she leaned into his ear. Her hot breath sending lightning through his body making his cock twitch against it's cloth prison. Her words and bite on his ear made him physically shiver before she was suddenly away from him. He stared at her a dumb depression on his face for a moment. This little tease was going to drive him insane. Quickly he rolled over on top of her and looked down at her. Reaching up with one hand and holding himself up with the other he grabbed her wrist and pinned them to the bottom of the wagon. Slowly he began to rub his stiff member against her bare flesh before lowering his head and roughly biting her neck. A small trickle of blood came from her neck as he barely broke the skin. He continued to grind against her wishing he had taken his shorts off before climbing in with her but it was too late now
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 10:22 PM
Gen opened her eyes when he climbed on top of her, her breathing stopping momentarily as he rubbed his length against her. She mentally and verbally groaned. Her own hip wanting to grind against him as well.. This side of Artorian thrilled Gem, made her grow even more wet between her thighs as he pinned her hands and bit her. She rolled her eyes to the back of her head the stinging pain of pleasure sending jolts of heat to her groin. Breathing ragged she spoke, "Oh? That all you got? That will barely even leave a mark." Her chest felt constricted even though she had decided to not bind her chest today. Her nipples were hard and felt extra sensitive against the fabric of her shirt. Gem squirmed beneath him and licked her lips. All of a sudden she was thirsty, and it wasn't for a cup of water.
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Artorian BOT 15-Dec-21 11:23 PM
Her remark only made a wolfish grin spread across his face. He tightened his grip that locked her hands in place and held himself up with it while the other moved to pull his trousers down. When his cock sprung free he grabbed it and ran it along her clit letting it massage it while to took in the feeling of her wetness. "you're going to regret that." He growled into her ear slowly before biting down on her shoulder. He more then broke the skin a little this time as a few small trickles of blood now ran free. Still holding his member he continued to tease her that way a moment longer before lining it up. The night before the only contact they had were with their mouths but not tonight. He needed to feel her insides and he knew she needed to feel him as well. Which made it all the more delicious when he slid in the tip holding it there for a moment, making sure to adjust encase she tried to thrust up into him, and pulled it out a moment later to rub against her some more. Roughly he kissed his way up her neck making sure to leave marks she would have to see the night before and remember. Once again he slipped the head of it inside her before pulling it out once again. He repeated this a few more times before raising his head to lok at her. He thought about just rolling off of her now but he knew he couldn't handle that so he instead lowered himself to her neck making sure that she was pinned tight beneath him. "If you want it I need to hear you beg."
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Gem & Anih BOT 15-Dec-21 11:37 PM
Gem swallowed hard, the look on his face sending shiver up her spine as he warned her. The warning on heated her more and she tried to squirm but stopped instantly when she felt the tip of his cock against her skin. She had goosebumps all up and down her arms and legs, the hair on her neck stood rigid. She loudling moaned as he let his teeth leave their mark and she could feel the blood running down her skin. That would definitely leave mark and it made her toes curl as she tried to move her hips beneath her. He was toying with her, giving her just a small taste of what was to come and it was going to drive her wild. Gem whimpered beneath him. He wasn't letting her take all of him in and her insides were aching at this point with such a need. She couldn't remember the last time such a thing happened, feeling this vulnerable underneath a man. Hearing his words she groaned. He wasn't a man, he was a beast and she had opened pandora's box and there was no going back. Gem panted, her mouth slightly open. Gold eyes looked up at him with need and she whimpered again but not before she tried to wiggle her hips. It didn't work, he had her pinned and ifnshe wanted his cock she was going to actually have to do what he said. Gem licked her lips, "P-please Artorian." A bead of sweat dripped down from her face, slowly making its way down her neck. "I want you to fuck me." She shook her head, her lose waves moving side to side as she did. "I need your cock in me!" (edited)
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 01:10 AM
Artorian looked into her eyes still smirking while she begged. Every one from her sent a new chill through him, his cock throbbing against her slit. When she was done begging he leaned down and kissed her shoving his tongue between her lips and wrapping it around hers. He only let himself kiss her for a short moment before he broke it off and looked at her again. Leaning down to her ear once more he nibbled the point delicately for a brief second before speaking. "Good girl, now don't forget it." He whispered in a low tone, a beastial growl from his throat to her ear. Slowly in as much torture as he could give her he lowered it back to her dripping opening. Once again the tip slid in but this time he wouldn't let it out right away. Slowly he pushed it inside of her, her tight walls slowly stretching to allow his girth inside her until he felt her pressing against his head. He growled again out of pleasure while he slid in, his grip tightening more against her wrist. Her sex was incredibly warm and tight around his manhood but wet enough for him to slide it without difficulty. This might have been the best sex he had ever stuck his cock in but he wouldn't tell her that, atleast not for the moment. He held himself there for a moment just enjoying the feeling as her body learned to accept him. He couldn't hold that for long however though. Slowly he slid himself out except for his head before gradually putting it back in to their limits. This isn't the rough fuck she wanted yet but she would get it after he could get it without tearing her open. Like a runner hitting his stride he worked his way up going faster and faster inside her until he was eventually hitting her inside hard and rough. She wanted it rough and he would oblige
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Gem & Anih BOT 16-Dec-21 09:24 AM
Gem bit her lip, hard hearing the authoritative tone to Artorian's voice. She liked the back and forth they had during the day, with neither of them I'm the position of power but being here beneath him now Gem found herself wanting him to take that tone more. Her walls would tighten around his cock as he slowly entered. It was the sweetest torture she had ever experienced. He was big compared to what she'd had before and it took some time for her body to get used to his girth. When he was inside her completely her muscles were trembling, she wanted to move her hips, to feel his length slide in and out of her but he just stayed there unmoving and she groaned. To be so full and not have him thrusting made Gem frustrated. Her body was slick with sweat now as he slowly pulled himself out, her lips quivering as he stopped, his tip still parting her vulva until he began to move again. At this point she didn't care if he hurt her, it would be pain but there would be unsermountable pleasure. Gem opened her mouth, she was hot and panting and her voice was low and sultry as she spoke. "More... ah!" He began to pick up the pace and Gem relished in it. Her nails digging into his hands as he held her in place. Her supple breasts began to bounce with the movement of his thrusts and when the speed was enough to cause a slick smacking sound Gem would lift and wrap her legs around his hips. The new position allowing him to go even deeper. "Oh fuck Artorian. Harder!"
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 12:01 PM
Artorian continued ramming into her feeling himself continuously hit her cervix. It was hurting a bit but he didn't care as his mind was swallowed in the pleasure that was her sex. When she wrapped his legs around him he released her hands so he could himself up with both arms and get a better rhythm with his thrust. Having the extra stability he lowered his face and kissed her. His breath was heavy and ragged so he had to constantly move his lips away from hers to breathe but he relished those moments where they were together. Like a storm growing on the horizon he had been feeling his orgasm building inside him. He wasn't sure how he had lasted so long inside her with the way her her body gripped his member. His balls tightened and he felt his semen start to rush out so quickly thrust into her as deep as he could manage. His hean went blank and his vision whited out as his member spasmed and shook as string after string of his cum filled her. His wolfish grin was replaced by a satisfied smile as he rolled off of her and panted for breath. His cock still stood straight up at the canvas top, throbbing with his heartbeat. He turned to look at her and after catching his breath he spoke. "I thought you were supposed to ride me until my ass was sore?" He asked before letting out the faintest of laughs
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Gem & Anih BOT 16-Dec-21 02:51 PM
Gem was thrilled when he removed his hold on her arms and she immediately gripped his shoulders, her hips moving in tandem with his. Her nails digging into his skin as she felt the pressure inside her building until she couldn't think. Artorian's size was the perfect length and girth to push the limits of her insides and she was relishing every time he rammed into her walls. She moaned loudly and leaned up, her teeth biting just between his neck and shoulder. Gem bit down hard as her orgasm hit, she could feel his cum pumping into her and running down the inside of her thighs. She held her bite until she felt the tremors from her orgasm subside. When he rolled off of her and reminded her about what she had said she snorted. "We can *definitely do that next time. She closed her eyes and just laid there, her legs spread as she let the air cool her body as she tried to catch her breath. She bit her lip in thought before turning to Artorian, she wanted to say something, felt she should but when Gem opened her mouth she came up empty. Her mind was too zen, she was unsure. Instead she moved closer to Artorian and gently kissed his lips, taking his bottom lip into her mouth and suckling it before letting go and laying back down. She rolled over to face the wall and yawned. "Good night..." Her heart was hammering wildy in her chest and she was trying very hard to play it cool.
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 03:50 PM
Quietly he watched her just taking in the sight of her beauty and the way he bit her lip that was so seductive he almost wanted to go for another round. He could tell that she was thinking about something but he wouldn't know where to begin to guess what it was about. When she opened her mouth and closed it again he assumed she had some witty remark or quip to make but decided against it. When she gently kissed him though he didn't care what she was about to say, he just focused on enjoying the soft intimacy of the moment after the feverish dance they had just done. Then she was gone, rolling over and faced away from his with a simple goodnight. He looked at the back of her head and shoulders for just a moment. He closed his eyes and reflected before reaching and laying his hand where he had bit her and drew blood. His hand glowed an even softer green than usual, flickering slightly as the green light moved over the wound. It would heal but maybe leave the faintest of scars, scars that only himself and her would probably ever be able to see. That was everything he had though, there would be absolutely nothing until he got some rest. He moved closer to her wrapping his arm around her and pulling her tight. With the soft intimacy of the kiss he no longer thought she would mind him doing so. He decided he would lay like that for an hour or so until he needed to go check on the rations but until then he would be comfortable there with her while she tried to rest
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Gem & Anih BOT 16-Dec-21 04:37 PM
It was strange, having Artorian lay flush against her back. The sensation was very comforting to Gem but at the same time it brought up memories of her past and she tried to push the thoughts away. Unlike the night before before was having a hard time falling asleep even after the activities that had just happened previously. She sighed and rolled over, her eyes shut as she nestled into Artorian's neck, it helped that he was taller than her a few inches that she was able to get the desired spot. She took a deep breath a moment and was quiet. A yawn finally breaking the silence after a few moments. Before she drifted off she mumbled loud enough for him to hear. "You're right...you don't stink." Seconds later Gem was snoring softly. While asleep she would dream of Anih. Her beautiful and elegant twin locked in a small room that looked to only contain the bare minimum. The stone floors were damp and damaged, the bed looking like it was practically falling apart. Gem tried to call out to her sister but no sound left her lips. She tried to grab her sister's hand only for it to slide right through. Frustrated Gem tried yelling, screaming at the top of her lungs only to have her sister continue to look lost and lonely. A soft cry leaving her as she physically tried to reach out and grab her twins hand like she used to do so many nights ago when they were but small children. Anih was sitting staring out the small sliver of a window, staring out at the moon. And while Gem couldn't hear her sister, she knew that Anih was singing. And just like a flash of lightening she was back inside the wagon, asleep without a dream.
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 05:37 PM
Artorian laid there just holding her until she turned over and buried herself into him. He wasnt expecting that but he had to admit she looked cute and it was comfortable with her choosing to be that close to him. He wasn't sure what was going to happen when they got where they were going, in general or between the two of them. They were going to get Anih back one way or another but he had no idea how that would change things between them. He hoped the return of her sister wouldn't make her move back into the shadows like she had been before. All he could do was wait and find out though. He was lost in thought when she started tossing slightly in her sleep. While it wasn't a violent thrashing he knew there was something going on in her mind and he assumed it had to be about her sister. Gently he strokes her hair with the arm under her as the other one rubbed her bare back. He just did that for a while hoping it helped. When she stopped thrashing he kissed the top of her head and slowly pulled himself away from her. Carefully he crept from the wagon and went about taking care of the fire and made sure the smoking was okay. The meat only needed a few more hours with one more restock in-between.he told Ember to wake him in a couple hours before giving her another ham bone and a loving pet. With that done he crept back to bed and wrapped himself around her again glad to see she was still still.
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Gem & Anih BOT 16-Dec-21 07:06 PM
Gem woke before Artorian in the morning, and unlike last time instead of outright getting up and out of the wagon she laid there staring at him. She wasn't sure what her dream was about or if it had actually happened at all but she wanted to discuss it with Artorian later. For now though, Gem was content watching his nostrils flare as he slept, his chest rising and falling. At one point she had almost fell back asleep until she realized they didn't have all the time in the world. Gem lifter her finger and just barely touched Artorian's cheek. She would keep her fingers just barely out of reach as she tried to wake him up in this way. Surely he could feel it on the peach fuzz on his skin. She smirked and went closer to his nose getting ready to strike while he was still vulnerable.
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 07:42 PM
Artorian had finished smoking the rations over the night and even somehow managed to get them out away without waking Gem. As it turned out smoking food overnight was a lot easier when you weren't trying to get somewhere quickly. He didn't sleep much overall just due to needing to get up frequently but he would relax throughout the day and be fine. His stamina had recovered and at some point in the day he would go train with Ember but for now he needed to sleep. Artorian was fast asleep when he felt something brushing gently against his face. He assumed it was an insect, something he had dealt with plenty in the past. Hell one time he woke up with a rabbit sniffing at him but he realized a moment later it was his companion. He pretended to be asleep a bit longer expecting her to randomly shove a finger up his nose again. It gave him an idea this time and slowly he manuevered his hand around and poked her ass through her pants where he thought her asshole would be
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Gem & Anih BOT 16-Dec-21 08:02 PM
This would in fact have been a solid strategy, Artorian would successfully find the hole and plop it in here. In turn Gem jumped startled by the sudden foreign object inside her anus. She tried to swivel her head to see what it had been, though if she had thought logically for a minute she would have realized it was in fact Artorian's finger. Instead as she whipped her head around she hit Artorian's chin, causing her to then roll over on top of him in a panic, making his finger slip out as she did so. Now on top of Artorian she spotted his finger and her eyes narrowed. "You asshole. Is that payback for your nose yesterday?" Gem was straddling his cheat at this point looking down at him, her copper waves framed wildly around her face as she leaned in closer and pointed a finger at him. "I'll get you back. I swear it." She narrowed her eyes looking very serious. "I'll do it when you least expect it. Just you wait." She stood up, her legs still on each side of him as she put her hands on her hips. "Your turn to make breakfast. I want to go walking a bit." Before he almost scared the literal shit out of her, Gem had things to think about and before they hit the road. She needed time to process her dream.
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Artorian BOT 16-Dec-21 09:22 PM
Artorian could only laugh at the ensuing chaos after his finger slipped into her asshole. He wasn't expecting her to still be bottomless at this point but he had to admit that it only made the situation better. As she rolled on top of him his laughing only got louder and her straddling his chest didn't stop that from happening. Her naked sex and thighs against her chest didn't help with his morning would but he still had to chuckle. "Promise?" He asked after she was done threatening him. The finger in his nose was definitely a factor in his choice to do so but he might have done it anyways because of the way she was hovering over him. When she left he got up and rolled over trying to find where he had put his clothes. He rummaged about for a while before finding them. He looked them over for a moment and sighed. It was fine to have them for a night out but he didn't like wearing them day in and day out like this. honestly the pants didn't even bother him but the rest of the outfit was too much for him. He decided to just leave the shirt and armor off for now since he doubted he would need it and just slipped his pants and boots on.
21:23
He left the wagon and looked around. He found Ember laying on the back of Eladrin, master of light and shadow, manipulator of magical delights, devourer of chaos, champion of the great halls of Terra'ska, known to the elves as Fi'ang Yalok and the dwarves as Zoenen Hoogstsndjes and the north as Gaismūnen Meistar sleeping peacefully while the horse grazed. He had already turned all the meat they had into smoked rations but he didn't want to leave the cart unattended to get something fresh. The next time they were in a city he wanted to stock up on things to make better meals. He sighed a bit and went to grab some of the smoked meat to throw on the fire to heat. It wasn't a particularly fancy breakfast but smoked pork loin was still meat and with that delicious and filling. While waiting for the meat to heat up he went to the wagon and grabbed a small book he kept hidden in his armor. He pulled it free and went to sit by the fire. It had been a while since he had looked through it but if he was going to help Gem rescue her sister he needed to better himself. The pointed tips of his ears were the thing that came to his mind when thinking about his mother but there was one other thing she had left him, that book. She had been what seemed to him like a powerful druid and although his access to that magic was a lot more limited compared to hers there was still stuff he could learn from her grimoire. He skipped past her entries about herbs and magical plants to look through the descriptions of her magic.
21:24
Using their connection Artorian summoned Ember to him. She yawned at his feet before standing up. He felt bad for waking her up after how good of a job she had been doing for thim but he needed her. She stretched her paws out straight in front of her and arched her back down in a large stretched as Artorian did stretches of his own. When he was done he looked down at Ember and closed his eyes for a moment. He reflected on his mother's written words and the feelings she described and did his best to connect the same way. A breeze picked up and swirled around him as he touched Embers back and then nothing happened. He growled a bit in frustration before taking a deep breath. Reaching for his pipe he sat down with his legs crossed and sparked it up. The habit had been something he developed a long time ago, it wasn't strange for people to smoke the way he did but he always got a little something more from it. The inhaling of the smoke from the plant gave him a sense of oneness with the world around him, if he closed his eyes regardless of where he was he could feel like he was in the forest away from it all. He exaled and opened his eyes looking around him. He could see the green energy of the world passing through the plant life around him and on the wind. He sat the pipe down where he wouldn't forget it and stood up again looking at Ember. Anyone looking at him would see his normally steel grey eyes glowing a vibrant green. They moved away from the fire and he knelt down to touch Ember again. He drawed a deep breath and watched as the life energy gathered into his hand and traveled through Ember as her whole body began to glow.
21:24
Artorian watched as the small body of his winged fox began to grow. He had to stand up to keep his hand on her until she stood near the same height asf the horses. Large antlers like an elk had sprung from her skull making an almost eoodlike crown upon her head. She opened her mouth as her teeth elongated and looking down her claws had done the same. She still held her majestic lupine appearance but some canine aspects had taken over to give her a more threatening look. Embers turned her head so she could stare into his eyes with her own amber ones.they were deep pools of honey that showed her intelligence but now held the gaze of a predator. She sat down on her haunches and spread her wings taking up most of the available space under the cliffside. She flapped her wings and strong gust of wind blown out around her, the horses starting to stir noticing her presence. Snickers moved behind Eladrin who stood there with a prideful expression showing he wasn't bothered. Artorian could only stand there and look at her in all of her beauty. He felt drained, so much of his magic going into the spell but he barely noticed due to the awe of the moment. He reached over to her and stroked her neck feeling the same silky fur he had felt for years. He couldn't help the tears that came to his eyes but he didn't bother wiping them away. He lowered his forehead to hers and just laid it there. He could feel her satisfaction and confidence through their link. She felt like she was the queen and he wouldn't disagree with her. He lifted his head once again and just smiled. He didn't know when Gem would be back but he couldn't wait for her to see.
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 08:58 AM
Gem had gotten up and slipped into her trousers in record time, she had turned and looked at Artorian as she hopped out of the wagon. She wanted to tell him about last night and the dream but she knew that she needed to figure out exactly what it was. Had it been a dream? It had felt so real as if she were there, and while she couldn’t touch anything she could smell the damp and dirty air, smell her sister’s natural perfume of sunflowers and she couldn’t shake the feeling like there was more to it. Gem headed back towards the road, the crunch of gravel beneath her boots was a pleasant sound to accompany her. While she walked, she spotted a few hare grazing on some lemongrass and she walked over as quiet as she could. Her footfalls no longer making the crunch on the gravel. If she could have seen herself from another’s perspective, she would have discovered that it was in fact, not only her footfalls that had fallen silent. Everything in a five-foot radius had gone silent. Gem crouched down, now so close to the hares that she could have reached out and touched one if she had wanted. She rested her head on her knees and watched them for a while. The way they interacted as a group; one had hopped over curious at what the foreign intruder was. It sniffed at Gem before they all hopped off into the underbrush nearby. And just like that sound returned to everything around her and she sighed. Well, Gem figured if the rabbits were not going to eat more of the lemon grass, she would pick some to take back to show Artorian. She knew it was edible but was unsure of what all they could do with it, and she figured with him being ‘one with nature’ as he was that he might be aware of its uses. Having a decent loot, she stuffed the grass into her hip pouch before continuing on her walk. Gem was unsure of how much time had passed as she walked. Clouds had started to form in the sky and some of them were dark in color meaning a storm was brewing.
08:59
Gem stood there, eyes to the sky as she recalled the events of the night before. She remembered the darkness, the shadows as if they had been a corridor for her to pass through as she had fallen asleep the night previous. Gem ran a hand through her hair causing it to frizz a bit with the building humidity in the air. “Anih...” Gem closed her eyes and thought of her sister, how she had looked, the room and how it felt. One of the dark clouds in the sky covered the sun, blocking its rays and causing a darkness to pass by and within a few heartbeats Gem felt herself traveling through the shadows. Again, Gem found herself staring at her sister yet this time she was asleep in the bed that could use a renovation. Her hair was a mess and she had been crying, the tears dried on her cheeks. Gem tried to touch her sister but her hand went through as if she was made of air. Frustrated she growled and shook herself, she tried a few more times and was unsuccessful. A minute passed and she was back on the road, the sun shining down on her as if taunting her. Gem kicked a rock and it bounced on the dirt road before going into some tall grass. Having at least discovered something she turned on her heels and headed back to find Artorian just as a boom of thunder could be heard.
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 12:30 PM
Artorian heard the rumble of thunder through the skies and sighed. Under the cliff overhang he didn't have a clear view of the sky and he had been so involved in practicing the spell with Ember he didn't look out and see it getting more grey. He wanted to see if Ember could support him in flight but he didnt want to risk that if there was even the possibility of lightning. "We will have to try another day girl." He said gently patting the side of her face. Ember had a slightly dejected expression on her face and he knew she wanted to show off. He pet her a little more before releasing the hold on the magic as Ember started to return to her normal size. When he released the magic he could feel some of his energy returning. It wasn't as if he had recovered all of it but he felt enough to get him through the day if he didn't do anything big. Stepping out past the wagon he looked around and saw the storm coming in and knew they had a bit of time but they weren't going anywhere today. They could ride comfortably in the covered wagon but the chances of it getting stuck or the horses getting injured would only slow them down more than waiting. Reaching for the amulet he touched it to send a message to Gem. {Are you going to be back before the storm hits?} He asked her not particularly worried but still wanting to make sure she was alright. She had left quickly after they woke and he knew part of that was his little game but still. {Also breakfast is done and if you're not back soon Ember is going to eat your share.} He added knowing the way she was motivated by food.
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 01:36 PM
Gem smirked, she was in fact going to back it back before the storm would it. She was actually already back, but couldn't be seen by being hidden by the wagon. She touched the pendant and watched him from where she stood. [I don't think so...] When he threatened with Ember eating her food she picked up a small pebble near her foot and chucked it at Artorian's head. It wasn't with enough force to hurt but he would definitely feel it. [You let her eat my food and I'll make you eat dirt, Artorian.] She crouched down and moved to another location, she was hidden in the shadows and she had another pebble in her hand. She tossed it with the same strength as before but instead of his head she named for his ass since she was directly behind him now. She was finding this rather fun, she wondered if she could hit him three times in a row. [You still owe me that bath, pretty boy] She readied the third pebble and let it fly, this time slightly to the left of Artorian than directly behind him.
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 02:04 PM
Artorian was distracted by her comment about not beating the storm. He knew she would be safe but none wanted to get cold and wet and he definitely didn't want her to get sick. He was still feeling concerned when he felt something hit his head. He turned to look to see if someone was there or if she was messing with him but didn't see anything. He told Ember to start looking when he felt something hit his ass. At this point he was sure Gem was here getting revenge for his prank earlier. When he heard her message he knew his suspicion was correct. Ember spotted her a moment later and he watched through her eyes as she threw the third rock. Artorian swung and grabbed it from the air. "Bath time!" He yelled at her before raising his other hand. Using the same spell he used to fill containers with water he caused a couple buckets full of water fall from the sky onto her
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 03:19 PM
Gem laughed as he spotted her, her eyes twinkling with mischief. It wasn't until he yelled bath time that the mischief was replaced with shock and even though she tried to run there was no time to escape the oncoming water. She was thoroughly soaked from head to toe. She was laughing harder now as she clutched her sides. She took a minute to catch her breath before she bolted in his direction. Her plan was to pounce on him like days before, if she succeeded she was going to rub her wet self all over him and make him regret his decision. If she didn't Gem would chase him until she did. She knew they needed to eat, but right now she was having way too much fun to think about sustenance.
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 03:40 PM
Artorian almost had to curl over from laughter watching her face as the water splashed over her. A deep guffaw coming from his chest and mouth as he watched her start to do the same. He needed a good laugh and the expenadture of magic to use that spell from a distance and without a container was very much worth it. He continued to laugh until he noticed her eyes and posture change. His laugh calmed now and he quickly sprung back around the wagon until he was on the other side where the wagon blocked them from the view of anyone who might be on the road. He waited for her then knowing what she might have in mind and readying himself. When she chased him down and leaped on him he grabbed her and braced their fall to where they would land on the soft grass and neither of them get hurt.
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 04:33 PM
Gem fell with him and while he did soften the blow, as did the grass Gem still hadn't been expecting it and she lost her breath for a moment. "You!" She looked down at him and for some reason a lump formed in her throat as she stared into his eyes. There was a silence for few minutes as if are was in some sort of trance, that was until she broke it by looking away. Her hands were still planted on his chest to brace herself. It took a moment for it to register that he was bare chested. Her hand moving across his pectoral muscles. She blushed ever so slightly before trying to get up. "We should...probably eat." She risked a glance at him with a very serious look on her face. "Before Ember eats it all..."
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 04:44 PM
Artorian tried not to laugh as she landed on top of him and was confused when she froze. As she stared into his eyes he stared back getting lost in the ripples of the golden pools that were her eyes. A man could fall in love with those eyes he thought for a moment before pushing the thought away. What they had was nice and would already be complicated enough when they got her sister back. He still laid there silently wondering why she was suddenly acting shy and then he saw the blush spread on her cheeks. As she tried to get up he wrapped his arms around her tighter to get her to stay a moment longer before leaning up and giving her a quick soft kiss. A moment later he rose from the grass holding her in his arms before letting her down to the ground. "Yeah you're probably right. It's a shame you didn't get to see me in my apron." He teased her not having any idea about the one she was trying to make for him. "I'm going to make a great husband some day." He teased her for a moment remembering her marriage comment after the meal he made the day before. He walked away from her then grabbing them a few wooden plates and grabbing them each a share and a smaller one for Ember
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 05:10 PM
The kiss had been unexpected and she probably should have saw it coming. Though it was nothing like the kisses from the night before it was still pleasant. Him lifting her up had her momentarily freaking out which was very unlike Gem in most circumstances. The man had a way to frazzle her brain and she was starting to realize that . Gem had opened her mouth to ask if he had found the apron only to shut it again at his husband comment. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah, well that's if Ember let's you." Gem accepted her plate from Artorian before taking her plate to the wagon just as the rain started to lightly sprinkle. When she sat down and situated herself to eat she remembered the lemongrass from earlier. She grabbed a decent bite before setting her plate down momentarily and pulling out the grass to show Artorian. "Know what this is good for?"
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 05:53 PM
Artorian laughed at her comment on Ember. She wasn't exactly wrong and now that Ember could have the muscle to back it up it rang even more true. When Gem pulled out what looked like a few weeds and asked him about it he had to take a moment. He leaned into her and sniffed them like an animal picking up on the slight lemon essence they gave off. "Yeah lemon grass, I can work with that. I could grow some tea leaves later and blend them together for a couple cups." He suggested before going back to his meal. He ate in silence for a while watching Ember eat and then looking up at the grey sky and the rain that had started to fall. If it was just the two of them nowhere to go he would love the chance to just stay here out of the rain cozied up together but at the moment it was just a delay. It didn't just keep him from catching up to Anih but he also wanted to test out Embers capabilities. Flight wasn't something he ever thought he would experience but he thought it might just be possible now and he longer to feel it.
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Gem & Anih BOT 17-Dec-21 08:17 PM
Gem raised an eyebrow. "Tea would be good." She finished her breakfast in record time and would offer to clean the plates. The rain had picked up now and the droplets were pelting the wagons cover making a loud rhythmic thumping sound. Gem laid down on the floor of the wagon and stared at the roof, her foot tapping along with the thumps. After awhile she spoke, her eyes still staring off. "So, last night I had a dream. Well... I don't think it was a dream after what I had just experienced on my walk." She turned to look at him. "Not that I fully understand it but, I saw Anih." A look of sadness crossed her face as she rolled onto her side. "She's fine, sad but they're feeding her and she isn't locked in a jailcell or anything." She chewed on her thumb nail as she thought. She shook her head, "I somehow... went through the shadows?" She posed it as a question because she wasn't exactly sure how to explain what she had done. "Or maybe I just went nuts after last night." She chuckled and rolled back onto her back. "Yeah, could be that."
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Artorian BOT 17-Dec-21 09:39 PM
Artorian finished his meal and helped her clean up before putting some tea on for the two of them. When he was done he joined her in the wagon. He found an extra bolt of cloth laying around and used it to dry himself. He was to the point where he was about ready to pull out some thread and needle to make his own shirt. He didn't know how well he would do but at this point it was better than the monkey suit he had grown to hate the last several day. "I have tea going, might help with the chill the rain brought in." He told her before seeing the forlorn expression on her face. His expression grew more serious and he guessed she was about to bring up something she didn't want to talk about, he guessed either her sister or something about the two of them. He moved to lay next to her staring up at the canvas ceiling with her, his arm just barely touching hers, he hoped the bit of contact would be comforting for her. When she started speaking he listened giving her his full attention. he wondered what she meant by her walk but he would wait until she was done to speak. When she rolled he stayed where he was listening. He chuckled a bit at her joke before reaching for her hand and gripping it in his, firmly but still soft as to not hurt her hand. He didn't mean it as a romantic gesture just one to show his support.
21:39
He laid there quietly for a moment thinking about what she had said. "You know I don't think it was a dream and as much as I would like to believe that the sex was good enough to drive you nuts I doubt that too " he stopped for a moment before turning his head to look at her, his eyes tracing the shape of her face into his mind. "I know you said before you don't have magic but I don't think that's true. For one you were magical the last two nights." He told her softly with just a hint of a laugh afterwards. He hoped a joke would help to lighten her mood. "Besides the fact that all elves have atleast some magic to them I can't help but feel you have something too even if you or I don't know what it is. I've heard these tales of monks to the south east that train in shadows all their lives and can even manipulate them or travel through them like you were talking about. I'm not saying you're doing the same thing but maybe something similar." He paused for a moment for her to speak of she wanted to. "But what do I know I'm basically a guy with a really green thumb."
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 06:59 AM
Gem squeezed his hand back in return and continued holding it while he spoke. She chuckled at his remark and shook her head. She supposed he had a point about elves, and she had never really put much thought into it, she hadn't been as lucky as Anih in finding someone to help her learn. She wondered about the monks, wondering if indeed her thing was the same or perhaps different. She shrugged the thought off to the back of her mind and sighed. Now that it was out in the air she felt some relief, and just having Artorian this close was a comfort. "And a guy with a really great tongue." She poked him in the side with her elbow and laughed. Gem sat up and popped her neck to relieve some of the stress she had been holding in. She turned to face Artorian. "So, about that tea? Is there any sugar? Or honey? I don't particularly like bitter things." He had been right earlier, there was certainly a chill in the air and Gem grabbed one of the animal furs to wrap around her shoulders. "You know, I'm still wet from that stunt you pulled earlier." She sighed, she didn't really have anything else to change into at the moment.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 07:18 AM
Artorian laughed along with her and he wasn't going to deny the tongue comment, he knew where his skill lay. He thought about her question about the tea. Sugar was too complicated and the magical toll for it would be too much and he didn't know if he would be able to just stumble upon honey by happenstance. "I have a small amount of honeycomb in my herb pouch for it's medicinal properties but you could put it in your tea to help sweeten it. The lemongrass should do most of the work though. I may have enough magic left to grow some strawberries too but that would be pushing it, sugary things take more to grow." He stopped when he noticed he was rambling again, a habit he had been developing around the two of them. At her comment about being wet he snorted a bit trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry I didn't know that sort of thing aroused you? Oh you meant the water not the finger." He added pretending to have misunderstood her but wanting to remind her of the other shenanigan he had gotten into that morning with her. "Why don't you just strip out of those and I'll hang them by the fire? Honestly I need to do my pants too. I know wet like this they make my ass look great and don't hurt the bulge but it's a bit uncomfortable. He started stripping off his trousers and undergarments before waiting for hers. He didn't feel awkward being nude around her after their activities the last couple nights but he realized this was the first time she would have been able to see him in the full light of the day
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 07:45 AM
Gem stood snorted at his comments. "Is it always going to be a one up with you?" She raised an eyebrow, it wasn't like she minded it, in fact it was quite the opposite. She liked the back and forth both of them did and it made her happy that she had found someone with a similar sort of humor. She began to strip when he had and made note to stare at him. She wolf whistled and threw her clothes his way. "It's the least you could do since they're wet because of you in the first place." Gem would wait for him to turn and leave and she took an appreciative glance at him. Another wolf whistle as she laid back down, "Hate to see you go, but love to watch you leave." She chuckled at her own statement, she had heard men say it before and always thought it quite plain but if it fit...then well, might as well say it. While he went to hang the clothes Gem found where she had hid the apron and began to work on it some more. She knew that Artorian would be back, but she was almost finished and figured it wouldn't hurt if he saw it. She planned to make him keep that promise of wearing it, and what a better opportunity than when they were already nude. Didn't matter if he was going to cook or not. She did the last couple of stitches with the fabric she had use for frills as Artorian would return. He would find her with a smirk on her face and her hands behind her back.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 07:55 AM
Artorian strolled away with the armful of wet clothes giving his his hips an exaggerated back and forth when she wolf whistled at him. He set up a makeshift drying stand near the fire and carefully put their clothes over it. He thought about tossing her holy footwraps into the fire but he didn't want the smell to carry in the smoke, no one deserved that. He decided to do a bit of stretching while he was out there in just an amulet and thought it was sort of funny she was missing the show. He left a moment later to relieve himself and came back to the fire. The tea looked liked it was as good as it was going to get so he set about pouring them both a cup. It would need to cool before drinking but the hot liquid would help stave off the cold of their nude wetness. Walking back to the wagon with the tea he stopped and looked at her awkwardly standing with something behind her back. He ignored her for a moment knowing she wanted his attention as he rummaged through his stuff for his herb pouch. He pulled out one of the pieces of honeycomb and dropped it into her cup before looking at her. He just stared at her without saying anything waiting on her but not wanting to address it
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 08:40 AM
Gem bounced on the balls of her feet as he seemingly ignored her to focus on the tea. She was thankful he was nice enough to share the honeycomb, and would make sure to thank him after. Clearing her throat she gave him a smug smile and made her way until they were close enough for what she had planned. She cleared her throat very dramatically before she spoke. "It had been said. And so it shall be." Gem took the apron out from behind her back and slipped it over his neck, the varying shade of green fabrics falling to rest on him. Gem took a few steps back to admire her work and snorted. It was a very juvenile made apron but it got the point across. "Oh wait!" She grabbed one of the wooden cooking utensils. "Can't forget your tool, now can we?" She grinned at him before sitting down on the makeshift bed they hadn't put up in the morning. "A deals a deal, right?"
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 11:18 AM
Artorian was still holding the cups of tea when she approached. He assumed she might be just grabbing the tea or giving him a kiss but he also never knew what to expect from her. When the apron went around his neck he just stared down at it for a moment a bit dumbfounded, this was about the last thing he expected. "If you wanted me to cover up you could have just asked.?" He told her looking at the green apron around him. He took a sip of his tea before looking back at her. "You know with the wooden utensil it really feels like you just want me to bend you over my knee and give you a spanking?" He reached out and handed her her own tea taking a moment to look her up and down. If he had a free hand he probably would have. "I'm pretty sure I said I would cook in the apron thoug. Its been maybe twenty minutes since we ate are you already hungry again?"
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 11:35 AM
Gem snickered. "No need to cover up, at least it won't cover your backside." She gave him a wink and accepted the tea that he offered her. She looked at the wooden spoon in her hand and contemplated his words. She sniffed the tea first before she took a decent sip. Her mind wandering back to images of him smacking her ass and she almost choked before she swallowed the tea. [I'm hungry alright, but not for food.] Gem hadn't realized she had been touching the amulet and promptly looked down and shook her head. Well, she might as well commit now. "I'm hungry alright, but not for food." She would ignore the fact that he would have heard it the first time, maybe she was lucky and her finger hadn't already touched the amulet when she had thought it. She took another drink of tea before downing the whole thing and then eating the honeycomb that was in the cup. A happy look on her face she set the cup on top of one of the barrels in the wagon. "So, when do you think this rain will let up? Roads might end up being a mess by the time we get back on them..." She laid down on makeshift bed, a sigh escaping her lips.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 12:04 PM
Artorian snorted into his tea at her mental message but was able to keep it down. "I thought you said these were for emergencies only? Are you saying you need it that bad?" He teased watching her swallow her tea all in one go. He tilted the cup back to do the same although he hadn't used any of his honeycomb in his. He stood up fully barely having the room to do so and gave a small dancers twirl for her. The apron swung around coming up in a twirl as his member did the same. He sat back down a moment later on the makeshift bedding. "It's not coming as hard as I thought so hopefully before the nights over. The real question is how long until it dries enough for the roads to be travel ready." He looked out the back of the wagon at the gentle rain, feeling the cold breeze against his mostly bare skin and shivering a bit. "So was the apron your way of proposing?" He asked in a deadpan tone, his face completely serious
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 02:32 PM
Gem laughed at his antics and wiped the tears in the corner of her eye. "Maybe I do..." She nodded at his reply. "That is true, hopefully luck will be our lady and we will be on our way sooner rather than later..." She stretched as she laid there and made an almost mewling sound. Hearing the word proposing Gem shot up from laying down, eyes wide for a brief moment. "I-" She looked from his face to the back of the wagon. She watched the rain drops blow in the breeze for a few moments before a lightbulb lit behind her eyes. She smirked, one copper eyebrow raised as she leaned in, their arms touching. "What if I am Artorian? What if that's me," She got so close their faces were practically touching. "asking you to be my wife?" Gem nudged him with her body before moving away and laughing. She clutched her sides so tight and shut her eyes, a tear made it's way down her cheek. "Oh man." She wiped at her eyes and then sighed, Laying there she listened to the sound of the winds picking up, the soft whistles a pleasant sound against the wagons cover. "Mmm" Gem shook her head, "That's a good one..." She was laughing but in reality Gem had seriously thought about it for half a second. What it would be like to have their back and forth banter for the rest of her life. Then a second later logic hit her like a mace in a china shop, they'd only known each other for a few days there was no way.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 02:46 PM
Artorian had to hold back his smile watching her go into panic mode. It was cute when she got flustered by things when they got too real and caught her off guard. At her comment about him being her wife he just shrugged. "That's fine but me titles are titles." When she started laughing he turned to hide his own smile from her. "You'll have to ask Ember for permission though, she likes you but I don't know if she likes you enough for that." When she was done laughing his serious facade dropped and his face did become more serious and pensive. "Can you do me a favor though?" He asked softly gazing into her eyes. "When we rescue your sister, assuming I make it out, can you not retreat back into your shell?" He thought about the way she always seemed to shrink back when it wasn't the two of them and he didn't want her hiding her fun playful personality full of snark. "I lo...like this side of you a lot more and I don't want to lose you. " He told honestly opening his heart. He had almost said loved but he wasn't truly in love with her, maybe in time but not now and he didn't want her getting the wrong idea.
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 03:10 PM
"Yeah, well I bet if I gave her a deal offering hare sacrifices that she may answer yes. Then what are you going to do?" She snickered, she wasn't quite sure but she had a feeling she could truly befriend the snooty little fox. Gem smiled a soft smile but quickly covered it up. Her throat and heart tightened at the true serious tone as Artorian asked her to stay opened. She looked away briefly, missing the slip up of Artorian's words. Gem thought about a lot in the following moments after, she knew what he meant but Gem found it hard to stay out of the shadows when her sisters light shined so bright. She rolled over, her back facing him now she spoke. "No promises." It was barely above a whisper as she spoke. She grabbed another fur and threw it on top of her. "Man...sure is cold now, huh?" Her mind drifting to darker memories of loved ones past. She subconsciously rubbed the pendants stone, [Don't think about Jonik, he isn't like that...] She cleared her throat as her body shivered a bit. "Only gonna get colder as the sun sets..."
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 03:39 PM
As soon as he had said it he knew he had said the wrong thing. When she turned away from him it only confirmed it for him. His throat sank into his chest as he stared at her back before she spoke. The tone was hollow to his ears and then he heard the message in his mind and knew he wasn't supposed to hear it. He didn't even hear her final words as he was lost in thought about his own feelings and what she had sent him. He wasn't sure if he should climb in underneath and hold her and give her reassurance or leave her alone to think. Instead he just awkwardly stood there for a moment in his homemade apron for a moment. His throat still continued to Bob and he could sense Ember getting worried about him through their link. "Let me know if you need anything." He eventually said in a soft tone although it came out pained and hoarse. He walked out in just the apron and sat by the fire staring into it as his mind continued to race and his his throat kept sinking with his heart. {I'm not him} he eventually sent her while he stared at the small blaze.
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 04:38 PM
Gem waited for Artorian to climb under, hoping for the comfort of the extra warmth. Though she supposed she was deep into her feelings that she was probably cold emotionally and not really outwardly. Gem closed her eyes and waited, only to hear him give departing words. She opened them briefly watching him depart the wagon. Gen stared long after he was left and hearing his thought enter her mind she sucked in a breath. She shook her head, she really needed to be more careful with the pendant. The soft pitter patter of the rain lulled Gem into falling asleep. She had curled up into a ball and the last thought on her mind was how sad Artorian had sounded. She didn't get to visit Anih again, which she would find disappointing when she woke. Instead she dreamt of the time she and Anih had camped in the cave, The sun had began to set on a cold winters night, the moon hidden behind dark clouds as a storm brewed off in the horizon. Anih had fallen previously as they had climbed up the steep mountain. They were newly minted adventurers on the first mission to collect and deliver a large package of animal furs to a village. Originally she though it would have been an easy one, but they had lost their map some ways back and Gem could only guess from her memories on how to get there. Anih had been so apologetic about dropping it into the river. Gem assured her everything was going to be fine, but even gem was unsure if that was actually true. Luck had been on their side as they had stumbled upon a cave that looked promising. They had entered unaware of the wolves that had resided deeper within. A brand new mother with young to protect. The images flashed to the wolf attacking. Gem trying to protect Anih as she ran. The guilt on Anih's face as she wrapped and treated the wounds. The pain of the wound on her leg began to ache as she dreamed.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 05:01 PM
Hours had passed without him hearing from her and he was torn between going and checking on her and giving her her space. He decided after a while that he would make them dinner so he needed to get rations from the wagon. He wasn't going to the wagon to check on her, of course not, he just needed the rations. As he entered he saw the way she twisted and turned slightly not knowing what she was dreaming about but seeing that she was uncomfortable. His heart aches for her and he couldn't help but kneeling down and kissing her forehead. With that done he grabbed the rations and left the wagon. He put the rations in a large pot letting them cook low while he decided to forage. He had Ember stand gaurd as he looked around harvesting mushrooms, wild vegetables and herbs he could use for flavor. If anyone stumbled upon him he knew they would think he was nuts, a man wandering around collecting food in only an apron but he didn't care. Eventually he made his way back and threw it all in the pot letting it cook in the pork fat. The rain had stopped before the food was ready and he wished it had done it before nightfall but there was nothing to do about it. He stirred the pot a few more times before scooping them both out a large bowlful. Walking back to the wagon he stopped and placed the food nearby still unsure if he should wake her. He made up his mind and gave her a gentle shake. "The food is done, sorry you didn't get to watch me cook it."
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 05:38 PM
Gem groaned in her sleep and rolled onto her back, Artorian jostled her awake but she didn't want to open them. However when he mentioned food and him cooking it she opened her eyes half way and stared at him. "But did you wear the apron?" She offered a sleepy smile before she yawned. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes. Her leg was still aching so she absentmindedly rubbed it. "So, what's for dinner, future wife?" She stretched and held out her hands for the food. There were few things that motivated Gem, one was money because you couldn't live without. The other being food because sustenance was key to a long life. Third... She glanced at Artorian but quickly looked at the food. She'd blow on it a bit in case it was too hot. "How long was I out for?"
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 05:49 PM
He rolled his eyes at her joke but took it as a good sign. "Yep I wore only the apron the whole time, not even my boots. Hell I even took a nice hike in it while foraging for stuff to add."He handed her the still dreaming bowl and a spoon before sitting next to her. "It's nothing fancy, just pork hind with some mushrooms and veggies I found around. I did get lucky and find some wild herbs too, but it's just all that in melted pork fat. " He sat there a moment letting her take the first bite knowing she would hungrily start scoffing it down. "I don't know how long it was exactly but it was long enough for the rain to stop and for me to find poisonous mushrooms." He told her with a straight face after she had started eating. A moment later he took his own first bite and gave her a wink. "I'm only kidding of course. The only thing dangerous about the food is that it might make you cum." He teased as he started slowly eating his own. He was growing a bit tired of the boat meat, not because he didn't enjoy it, it was some of his favorite he just wanted something different. The other things he was able to find really helped differentiate the food from what they had been eating however and made it much easier to enjoy. "Also I guess since I cooked in the apron my end of the contract is complete." He told her before undoing it and taking it off. He sat it gently aside so he could find it and wear it for her later when she was up to enjoy it
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 06:06 PM
If Artorian thought his comment about the poisonous mushrooms was going to make her stop eating then he was absolutely wrong. She kept shoveling spoon after spoon of food, like a never ending train. She did however stop long enough to make a comeback. "It's okay, if I die here and now then I'll haunt you for all eternity." She lifted a foot and wiggled her toes as she chewed another bite of boar. "Just imagine, my foot wraps for all eternity." She grinned showing all teeth then promptly went back to enjoying her meal. "In your dreams pretty boy." She said as she finished the last bite inside her bowl. She hit her chest with her fist and let out a decent burp that lasted longer than one would imagine. She nodded her head as if she had accomplished some great feat. "Nice." She took the bowl to go and clean it, seeing as she finished way before Artorian was done with half his bowl. "So since I slept half the day away I'll take watch and Ember and you can get some quality time. I'm sure if I start taking more of your time then she might hate me... And I wouldn't like that." She stretched and took one of the animal furs. "I assume our clothes are dry so I plan on getting dressed before I start." Gem looked over at him before hopping out of the wagon. "Thanks for dinner by the way, next time it's my turn."
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 06:14 PM
Artorian watched in fascination as she ate, it was like watching a dangerous animal doing tricks in a traveling show. Her comment about being haunted by him wasn't so bad and he was about to say so until she mentioned her footwraps. He stopped eating for a moment at that point until his appetite returned. He watched her leave enjoying the view thinking it was a shame she was going to put clothes back on. Her comment about Ember gave him an idea though. He quickly finished the rest of his food and followed after her. He grabbed his own clothes from the drying rack and pulled them on beside her before going and fetching Ember. He walked with her to the opposite side of the wagon and knealt down by her again. He had grasped the feeling of the magic that morning and that made it easier to find it again. He grabbed hold of it and let it flow through him as conduit into his familiar who once against started to grow. When she was once again at her horselike size he mounted her, finding a soft spot on her back gripping her sides below her wings with his knees. His fist clenched around the soft thick fur of her neck as she walked around the wagon to where Gem would be waiting
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 06:44 PM
Gem had gone and poked the fire to keep it lit and was just putting up what was left of dinner. The wooden spoon was currently in her mouth as she licked off the access leftovers. She had just turned around to go about checking on the horses when Artorian came around the wagon on the back of Ember. She dropped the spoon on the ground and her jaw went slack as she stared. "What in the blazes?!" She rushed over to get a closer look, but not too close. Ember and her might get along all right but they weren't that close and she was now very large instead of tiny. "Ember?!" Gem eyed the horns on the fox now the size of a horse and walked around appreciating the change. "Oh wow... Ember you are magnificent!" There was excitement in Gem's voice, but also a tinge of jealousy hit her at the same time. He had claimed to be only a man with a green thumb, but now Gem wondered if there wasn't more to Artorian than met the eye. "How did you?" She looked from Ember's antlers to Artorian as she came back around.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 06:59 PM
Artorian held back a laugh watching her lick the spoon, feeling a bit of jealousy for the spoon as well before she finally noticed him. He couldn't stop from laughing at the face she made however which made it difficult to stay on her. He could see the excitement in the way she hurried and her expression and he couldn't blame her. Ember was a magnificent creature before but now she was breathtaking, a real beauty to behold. "It is Ember, just a bit bigger." He told her while smiling. As Gem eyed her over Ember lifted her chin upwards and looked down upon her. She had always been a queen but now no one could deny it. She turned her head slightly letting the woman behold her crown of antlers before she spread her wings, a wingspan of 18 feet from tip to tip. Her tail swooshed back and forth slowly enjoying the wonderful gaze she deserved. "Just a little trick we were practicing this morning." She heard from her partner on her back. She always travelled on his shoulder, escorted like a princess but now she could hold him up as well like true partners.
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 07:15 PM
Gem's eyes went wide at her new wingspan. She could tell Ember was enjoying showing off and she chuckled. "Yes yes, my queen." Gem bowed in an exaggerated manor to Ember before looking at Artorian. "Have you tried to fly her yet?" Gem knew this meant he was taking this rescue mission seriously and in turn she needed to prepare too. She was just unsure of how her new ability would be of any help to them and it frustrated her. She didn't like being outdone, even if she was happy for Artorian. She viewed it as him winning a competition and her receiving a consolation prize. That was it, she would start trying to expand on her abilities, she had to.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 07:30 PM
Artorian stayed there just watching Ember show off. He was happy that she enjoyed it, her own joy flowing to him. He watched the mock bow and Ember raising her upper lip to show off her large fangs. He knew Ember wouldn't actually do anything though so he wasn't worried. "No we were going to earlier but that was when the storm started not an ideal time. We will probably try in the morning though." He told her before climbing off of her back awkwardly. It would take some practice to figure out the best way to do all of this. "But the real prize is you." He told Gem before lightly patting her cheek. He thought that might be a step too far but he couldn't help but be snarky at the moment. He walked over to Ember once again and gave her some scratches behind the ear as she hummed out a deep satisfied song.
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 08:08 PM
Gem laughed at Ember showing her fangs. Of course, the hair on the back of her jlneck had risen, but that never stopped Gem from having a laugh. "Truly Ember, you are the prettiest fox I ever did see." She offered her a genuine smile. She opened her mouth to come up with some sort of witty comeback but couldn't think of anything of note. Sighing she turned on her heels and stalked off to the horses. "Go get some sleep or something. Maybe give Ember a bath" She said the lady word with emphasis knowing he was petting her. She knew it was a risk to say but Gem didn't care at the moment. She wanted to make sure they had plenty of water and she needed more time to think of how to improve herself.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 08:32 PM
Artorian looked around at the bath comment. "Do I still owe you a bath or did the one I gave you earlier count?" He asked in retort thinking of doing it again but changing his mind since she had just put her dry clothes on. "I think you're the only one who's getting rode tonight Ember." He told her giving her another pat but making sure he was loud enough for her to pick up on. A moment later he pulled away from Ember and cut off the magic flow letting Ember revert to her normal form. He hopped into the back of the wagon and took off his boots before crawling under the furs. Meanwhile Ember walked over to Gem and wrapped herself around her calves for a moment before joining her master. Closing his eyes he could smell Gems hair. He took a deep breath feeling a bit strange for doing so but the smell comforted him. Between the magic use of the day and the full stomach it wasn't long before he was asleep really not wanting to wake up with a finger in his knows or other orifices
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 09:05 PM
Gem gave the horses more water and scoffed at Artorian's comment. An image of herself riding him did pop into her head and she had to push it away quickly. She eyed Snickers and the other horse one more time before going to sit next to the fire. Shadows played against the wagons as she sat there with her mind miles away. She had managed to travel through the shadows, or whatever it was before when the sun had been blocked. Gem wondered if a shadow was needed to use her new found ability. She first tried it right by the fire, a sweat drop working her brow as she tried but nothing happened. She stood then moving further away next to the back of the wagon. Gem held her hand out into the shadows and focused. Her eyes shut and she focused on the sounds of the wood splitting as it burned. In a blink she was back into the shadow like hallway. This time Gem didn't head for her sister, instead she thought of the man who had taken her. The man she and Artorian wanted to hurt, to kill. The more Gem focused on Solan the more narrow the shadowed hall got until there was nothing but a door. Hesitantly Gem tried to touch it, and to her surprise when she did she was able to open it. Gold eyes wide she walked through only to be transported into a room that looked like a library or a very large office. Solan was standing next to a man near a fireplace. Their backs were to her as she quietly approached, their voices growing louder as she did. "The girl still won't eat." Solan's face was grim as the other man spoke. He had a patch over his eye and she coudn't help feel smug about it. True it had been Artorian who had thrown the blade, but he was her companion and it was just as much a win for her.
21:05
"Aelius, brother. She is eating enough to be sustained. Don't fret. The mirrored shadow one will come, I know it." Gem's eyes went wide at learning Solan was related to the man after her. She moved to the other side of Solan so she could get a look at the man's face. As she did Gem would stop dead in her tracks. Eyes like her own stared through her, a familiar jawline was currently being rubbed. Something nagged at the corner of Gem's mind but she couldn't figure out what before the man spoke. "Oh she definitely will. I have faith she's on her way right now..." It was in that moment that Gem realized that it he hadn't been looking through her but at her. Heartbeat thudding violently in her chest she backed up toward the door she had come through. The whole while Aelius stared at her from the spot he had remained. "I have a feeling we will be seeing that gem very soon..." a maniacal laughter left the dark auburn haired man and itbsent a shiver down Gem's mind as she forced herself back to the camp site. "Oh fuck... I think I'm going to be sick." She bent over and hurled right next to where she had been standing, all the contents of dinner had now vacated her.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 09:21 PM
Artorian snorted softly in the furs as Embers tail twitched just at his nose. He was also having a strange dream like hers earlier but he doubted it was anything magical and was instead just his subconscious messing with his dreams. His mind swam with images of Gem, memories of the last few days but they were always just sort of there in the background. In the foreground of his mind was a bright light like a sun that made it harder and harder to see Gem behind it. He knew what it was supposed to mean. It was his fears of Gem retreating when her sister was around manifesting in his head. He liked Anih too, he would absolutely go through this to save her but he didn't want to lose his Gem... he meant Gem when they did. He awoke then sweating partially from the heat of the fur and partially from the dreams. He looked down to see that he was fully erect once again and hoped she would be joining him soon. He just rolled over facing the back of the wagon and closed his eyes falling asleep once again while waiting for her
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Gem & Anih BOT 18-Dec-21 09:31 PM
Gem washed her mouth out, the queasy feeling finally subsided not too long after and admfter making sure everything was fine she decided to go lay down. She was emotionally drained and had no idea how to process the information she had just learned. One fitting was for certain, whether the man was her father or not she would rescue her sister. And whatever he had planned for her, she knew it was bad. She had felt such a strange feeling of revolt, of wrongness when she had been seen by him. Like he would taint the very air she breathed with darkness. Was he the reason she had her ability? What of her mother? Why would a father want to kidnap his own daughter he clearly didn't want in the past? Climbing back into the wagon she stripped her clothes and climbed under the furs. Shebwas careful not to disturb Ember as she wrapped her arm around Artorian and put her face against his back. She was slightly shaking but hoped he would think it was from being cold instead of what it truly was, fear. Gem enabled deeply, enjoying Artorian's natural musk and finding comfort from the warmth of his body. She placed a kiss lightly on his back before licking along his spine near his neck. Gem knew he was asleep, but she was acting on pure instincts at this point. If he woke up, great if not she would lay there like that, cuddling him until the sun rose.
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Artorian BOT 18-Dec-21 09:58 PM
Artorian laid there having nodded off already when he suddenly felt something along his neck and back. He stirred slightly suddenly noticing the arms around him. He shifted a little to lay on his back and look at her. "I was wondering if you would come and join me sometime tonight?" He asked before sliding his arm under her and pulling her into his chest. He hadn't noticed her shaking until that point. The rain had brought the cold with it and he was more than happy to help her stay warm. He had no idea of the real reason why she was shaking. He kissed the top of her head for a moment, his arm running along the curves of her naked form. With his free hand he moved and cupped her chin lifting it so he could kiss her. He had just woken up and was still barely awake and just wanted to take it slow for now. If she decided she wanted something rough like the night before he would manage and happily but he needed to wake up. Truth be told he would be happy if they just laid there like that for the night. It was comfortable just holding her like that but he was aware how she felt about this sort of intimacy
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 03:26 AM
A blush crept across Gem's face as he rolled over and pulled her into an embrace. She buried her face into hisnchest briefly before he pulled her chin so he could kiss her. The hand on her side caused tiny goosebumps to form from his light caresses. Gem closed her eyes and relished the kiss. It was nothing like they had done before, it was soft and warm instead of the intense need from their previous ones. Gem wrapped her hand around Artorian's side, her hand on his back stroking lightly. Gem found she didn't mind this sort of intimacy with Artorian. In fact the slow burn was refreshing and did just a good as any to help keep her distracted. Her breathing was a little heavy when the kiss broke, but nothing too irratic. She planted a soft kiss on his lips a moment later, her teeth lightly tugging on his bottom lip before she retreated back into his chest. Her eyes closing and a sigh escaping her lips. "I'm here... just took a minute." She smiled against his bare chest and chuckled. "Mayhap I got lost in the way..." It was a jest, but there was some truth in it, though she would wait until the day had fully started to share that news with Artorian. For now, she would just relish in the warm comfort he was providing her and possibly sleep, if her mind allowed her the rest.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 12:12 PM
Artorian laid there just happy for a while enjoying the comfort. She didn't feel like she was trying to push him into more fucking for the night and he knew if that's what she wanted she would be working for it. It was one of the things that he liked and admired about her, when she saw something she wanted, she took it. He opened his eyes again wanting to be able to see the shine of her copper hair, reaching to hit he caressed it feeling the soft red hair curl around his fingers, like soft tendrils grabbing at his fingers. A moment later he moved his hand to her thigh feeling his way along the toned muscle and the soft skin that covered it. He grabbed it and held it firmly as he shifted to where he was just slightly on top of her. His lips started trailing down her earline to her mouth. His tongue slid into her mouth trying to find hers as his breath started to get heavier. "Are you okay with this?" He asked her not wanting to push things if she didn't want it
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 12:36 PM
Gem liked the way his hands felt in her hair, the slightly ticklish feeling was a new thing for her and she made a soft sound sort of like a purr of a cat. She could stay like this for days if there wasn't the urgent business of rescuing her sister. As the thought passed her she sucked in a breath, the fears from earlier started to rise. However, when Artorian's hand went to her thigh her mind went blank, her body tensing in anticipation as he rolled on top of her. His tongue wouldn't have much trouble finding hers as she eagerly met his. When he broke the kiss her breathing was just as heavy and her eyes now hooded beneath her lashes. "Why wouldn't I be?" She searched his face then, looking for something that she couldn't quite name. Her hand tracing his jawline until she reached his lips. Her thumb gently ran across the bottom one before she leaned up to give him a soft but passionate kiss.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 12:50 PM
He greedily kissed her back feeling her soft lips blend with his and their tongues dancing to a song only they could hear. His head spun as it grew harder to breathe and his mind became consumed by the kiss. A cold breeze blew from the tentacle of the wagon while the furs kept everything under them hot creating an atmosphere which seemed to him like the breeding environment for passion. His hand moved to cup her breast molding the soft flesh underneath like a gentle potter while he felt her nipple taut against his palm. Faintly his lips moved away from hers pulling against her bottom lip briefly before he kissed her chin. His lips made their way along the curve of her jawline to her ear where he bit ever so tenderly, his breath hot against her neck. There was only so much time to explore her body with his lips but he knew if she would let him he would spend the night running them along every inch and curve as he tried to learn her
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 01:11 PM
She was enjoying the taste and feel of their tongues wrestling for control, she wasn't sure where he ended and she began but it didn't matter. What mattered was the passion and attention he was giving her and she yearned for more of his touch, his taste. He was kneading her breast and she arched her back letting her body firmly press against his palms. He broke the kiss and began to trace her chin, her ear and neck and she wanted him to. She wanted the memory of these moments engrained in her soul, the way his facial hair was rough against her skin only to be soothed by the softness of his lips. The bite on her ear made her cry out quietly, her own teeth biting on her bottom lip. Her hands went into his hair, holding him there as if he was her lifeline. She shut her eyes and lifted her hips so her body would rub against his. It wasn't hard or rough but just enough pressure for him to feel her, feel the wetness between her legs. To show him that she wanted him, that she wanted this moment more than she had wanted any of the others. She was soaking as she pulled on his hair, her nails running through it before going down his neck and to his shoulders.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 01:37 PM
Artorian breathed heavily against the skin of her neck, her hands locked in his hair holding him there, not that he would rather be anywhere else. He kept kissing the area around her neck and ear while the hand on her breast moved away. He had felt her warm wetness against him knowing she needed him and he needed her as well. Tracing a line from her breast down her stomach he stopped when he felt the soft mound of pubic hair. Oh how he loved the feeling of the soft curly hairs on his finger, the color of them sitting in his mind like that of a warm fire, but that was only a stop. His fingers continued their way down until he felt the heat and slickness of her sex. His fingers found her bud and began softly working the flesh around always moving and always changing their pattern. He didn't stay long however as his finger found it's way inside of her. The flesh within was soft and slick against his skin and oh so warm. It parted for his fingers as ever so slowly it worked it's way in to help make room for him when they were ready. His cock throbbed against her leg waiting for it's time, and he knew it would have it but she needed to be ready
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 04:38 PM
Gem felt herself breathing hitch when his hand made their way between her legs. She moved her legs slightly further apart in anticipation. His fingers weren't what she craved but she knew that it would come in the end. She pulled his hair as his finger slid in and shut her eyes tight. Her hips instinctually moving against his hand as he began to stroke her. A moan left her lips, her back arching into him. Gem pulled him back up to her face so that she could slip her tongue between his lips to taste him. She kissed him like she was a slow consuming fire, as if she'd swallow him whole as her excitement grew. She was presently surprised that the level of intimacy they were displaying was more erotic and a turn on to her. Her walls twitch, clenching around his finger as he moved it. She moaned against his mouth and pushed her heels into the animal furs. Gem dug her nails into his shoulders. "Artorian...please." What was it that she was actually asking for? She nipped at his jaw, her teeth lightly grazing him. "
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 05:04 PM
Artorian felt almost like he was in a dream, he had been sleeping moments ago and he wondered now if he had ever actually awoken. His senses were heightened and every touch and breath felt like more than it should have. When she tried to bring his lips back to hers he did t fight it gladly meeting hers with his own. Her lips were sweet in a strange natural way and it was a small detail to notice with everything else happening but it couldn't help but stand out to him. When he heard her say his name he knew himself it was time. His finger had made her ready for him to slip into her without much discomfort and he could feel that she was craving it. He manuevered himself to where his head rested against her wet entrance, he could feel the heat against him and he couldn't wait any longer. Slowly he slid in a slight moan escaping his lips as he did so. Yesterday they had went at like animals, feral, each of them hungering for each other in a wild manner. Today though it reminded him of a controlled burning, a fire raging but kept in control where it needed to be. As he bottomed out inside her he felt her walls tight and slick around him and he moaned into her lips, a deep havey breath. Slowly he pulled out of her and entered her again trying to feel her around him in a way he could never forget. The rest of the world vanished around him and it was just the two of him in his mind. He wasn't sure how long he had been at it when he felt himself start to quiver. He pulled his mouth away and looked into her eyes as he felt himself empty into her with one more sturdy push
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 06:20 PM
He was being firm yet gentle and she was here for it. She thrust her hips to meet his wish the same strength. Her own mind focusing to memorize just how perfectly he fit inside her. Her walls spammed around his cock as she tightened her muscles as she tried to milk his manhood. She continued holding on and thrusting, her whole body surrounded and engulfed by all of his senses. His smell, his taste, his touch. She moaned his name again, louder this time as she let one of her hands travel between them to find her sweet spot. Her index and thumb fingers rubbing and flicking her clit she felt herself growing into her orgasm. Instead of shutting her eyes as she always did she would stare up at him, her golden eyes revealing the explosion as she climaxed. Gold hued irises twirled with a fire in the darkness.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 06:59 PM
Artorians mind went blank as waves of pleasure crashed through him like the waters of a coast during a storm. Flashes of white went through his mind and his eyes leaving only deep circlets of gold in his vision. His whole body shook and spasmed as he rode it out his whole body tense, his muscles tight like a spring. He could feel the sweat coating their bodies and soaking his hair but he couldn't bother to feel self-conscious about it. He reached up and ran his hand through his hair before leaning down and giving her a last kiss before pulling himself up and out of her. He rolled off of her and stared at the ceiling for a moment. His vision was still spinning a bit from the power of his orgasm and he had to blink a few times before it stopped. His breath came and went in large gasps as he tried to recover, a deep smile spread across his face. His heart fluttered partially from the activity they had just shared but also just from the intimacy they shared. Caught up in the moment he couldn't help the words that came from his mouth. "Fuck I love you." He said before realizing what had slipped out. The dam had burst and the floodgates we're open. He didn't know how she would take that. The word love shouldn't be thrown around so carelessly and it had slipped without him thinking of that. He tried to relax hoping she wouldn't have heard him as she came down from her own climax
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 08:01 PM
Gem found her second release just shortly after his cock began to spasm inside her, his girth causing her walls to tremble from the vast pressure from his seed spilling into her. The hot pulsing strings of his seed filling her as she clung to him with her one arm in his hair. Her womanly nectar came then, dropping around his cock and spilling out of her and down to the furs beneath them. When Artorian had rolled off she took a deep breath trying to regain the oxygen she had expelled during the love-making... sex. Gem's ryes went wide a moment at her train of thought. Was there a difference? Gem thought back to the previous nights and had to agree with herself. This was definitely differed, more intimate than those other... And then Artorian spoke, his words penetrating her brain and echoing over and over until it was the only thing she heard inside her head. She looked over at him and tried to play it off. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest now, and Gem may have momentarily forgot to breathe so when she spoke it didn't come off as nonchalant as she wanted it to have, "What was that?" Hopefully he believed her act and he would not know she had actually heard it.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 08:20 PM
He had almost recovered his breath when she looked over at him. "I said fuck that was good." He told her before sitting up. He ran his hands through his hair for a moment as he looked down at her. "I think we need to give these furs a good cleaning." He told her looking down at the mess he made in her and the cocktail of bodily fluids that spread out from under them. They had really made a mess and he didn't want the only way they had to stay warm and comfortable starting to smell like a brothel.
20:25
In reality Artorian was just trying to distract himself from his slip up. He wasn't sure if his lie was convincing or not but maybe she hadn't heard him the first time. He got up at that point and pulled on his pants and boots.he ripped the furs off of her in a hurry and rushed out the wagon before she could stop him. He went to the fire and threw a bucket of water over it before brushing it out with the horses brush. He apologized to the horses in his mind before putting them over the drying rack and the barely going fire. He stoked the flames and added more wood before sitting next to it. He buried his face in his hands trying to cover up the red that creeped over it out of embarrassment
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 08:38 PM
Gem sat there and watched him bolt out like a fire had been lit under his ass. And if she wasn't half as panicked as she was, she would have realized it was really adorable. Actually, she did find it adorable she couldn't help herself as a smile spread across her face. She put her hand over her heart where the pendant still lay, her finger rubbing the cool stone. She couldn't help herself but to say, [Hate to see you go, but love to watch you leave...] Gem was curious about what must be going through his mind right about now. She wanted to go to him, to say something but that was just a wall she wasn't mentally prepared to handle yet. The mental, and emotional scars she had on her heart still hurt just as much as the wolf bite on her leg, which for some reason was still throbbed from her dream earlier. She rubbed her thigh and bit her lip as her mind went to thoughts about Artioran. She hadn't realized she wasnusing it but her shadow magic activated and she was beside Artorian in a flash, even though she was still sitting inside the wagon. This was a very strange experience for Gem. Being in the same place twice, one physically and one spiritually.
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 08:51 PM
Artorian sat like that for a while feeling embarrassed about that he had said. The sex they had right before that was amazing, beautiful. Then he had to slip up and say something stupid. St this point after what had just happened he had to admit he had some feelings for her but it wasn't love, love took time. He had a spark there, feelings absolutely, but it wasn't there. He had that feeling before and he lost it. Who knew where this would blossom and grow into but regardless it wasn't where he would say he loved her. A moment later he got back up and walked away from the fire. He kicked the dirt and just held his hands to his hips for a moment to take a deep breath. "I didn't mean to say that, I'm so stupid." He muttered to himself before grabbing his bow and quiver. The woods would make him feel better, it always did. If he was going to be out there he might as well hunt. He didn't bother grabbing his cloak or armor or even a shirt before leaving
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 09:09 PM
Gem felt relief flood her at hearing him mutter that he hadn't meant them. It gave her that little bit of control back over her already turbulent emotions. She watched as he sauntered off with his bow and quiver. She sighed as he left and once he was put of site the curiosity got the better of her. Instead of going right back to her body Gem decided to go look at heself. It was strange as she went inside the wagon. Clearly here she was standing and there she was sitting. Walking over to stare at herself she sat down in front of her body. Her eyes were open and reactive. Gem leaned forward and studied her face. It was the clearest image of herself that she had ever seen and it strangely took her breath from her. She was just as beautiful as Anih but had a sharpness to her. There slight scar beneath her right eye and the light dusting of freckles. Her eyes were like reactive gold and Gem was amazed. She reached her hand out, wondering if she'd be able to touch her own body. She moved her hand and touched her thigh where the wolf's scar was. Gem freaked out,, jumping backwards and falling and bumping her head. Quickly she was jolted back but not before noticing her body had mimicked her. Now back to normal, if this was normal. Gem shook herself and laid next to Ember. Whatever had just happened was weird, she wouldnneed to figure some things out later. And she still needed to discuss with artorian about Solan and her father. She shivered again but laid down. He had taken the furs but there was still something to lay on. "Share some warmth?" Gem directed at Ember before rolling onto her side to face the fox. "Your partner sure is something, Ember...I'll tell you that in confidence okay? Girl's secret." (edited)
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Artorian BOT 19-Dec-21 09:21 PM
In the woods Artorian was able to lose himself and not think about what had happened back in the wagon. His eyes narrowed as he walked through the forest looking for tracks or game trails. He had been out earlier when foraging but hadn't paid attention to game since they had more boar then they could eat in a week but now he needed to taste something else. He kept going closing his eyes and trying to hear something in the trees or on the wind. He made out something but he wasn't sure what. It was clearly the rustling of feathers but that's all he could make out for the moment. He continued walking, now over a mile from where they had been camped. He had made out the sound of moving water and approached knowing it would be a good spot for game and if nothing else he could use a wash. He knealt in the water after seeing nothing and scooped handfuls over himself feeling the crisp water clean him. A moment later he was struck from behind and landed face forward into the narrow stream. He could feel raking wounds across his shoulders. He quickly turned to look at his attacker splashing water all around him.
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Gem & Anih BOT 19-Dec-21 09:59 PM
Gem rubbed the back of her head, feeling rather confused. Ember seemed to be sleeping so she left the poor girl alone. Instead she talked to her sister, as if Anih were here herself. She talked about her new ability aloud, trying to figure out what Aelius wanted with her, why her father seemed to be an evil creep and about the events that just unfolded. As she talked to herself Gem had the feeling that she and Ember were not alone. But she didn't sense anything outside the wagon. She shivered Nad closed her eyes. Maybe sleep wasnt a terrible idea, she was rather tired after using her shadow magic or ability. She wasn't quite sure what to call it.
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 02:16 AM
Artorian looked up from the water to see some sort of strange creature staring at him. He didn't know if it was unique to this land or just something he never seen or heard of but it gave him the creeps. It had an almost humanoid shape but it's feet ended in three clawed toes spread like a reptiles and in place of arms it had two long feathered wings the color of charcoal. Everything else was an ugly fleshy tan skin that looked like leather that had been pulled taut over a skeletal frame too large for the material. It's head had a sickly yellow eyes on either side and one large maw similar to a leech or lamprey with rows of small sharp teeth disappearing as far down it's throat as he could see. As he looked in the maw he could see the walls of it's throat and mouth ungulating in a sick dance that made him want to vomit. Taking another step forward it bent towards him and let out a sharp cry that sounded like an eagle but with a wobbliness to the sound. Rolling back he looked for his bow only to see that it was currently behind the creature where he couldn't get to it. He reached behind him for his hammer realizing he had left it back with his armor and most of his tools with the wagon. "Shit shit." He spat as she stood up and pulled the dagger from his side. He flipped it back and forth in his hands waiting for it to move. "Come on you ugly son of a bitch I haven't got all day!" He growled at it before it kept into the air and dived for him.
02:16
Artorian rolled out of the way hitting his shoulders on the rocks of the river but avoiding the swooping attack. Reaching out he grabbed hold of one of the creatures gross legs as he started slowly to be lifted into the air. He had said earlier that day he wanted to fly but he meant with Ember not like this. Now that he was closer to the creature he could see it was around nine feet tall but it couldn't support both of their weights very well. He stabbed upwards at the creatures closest wing slashing at it. Feathers flew away from the injured wing and they started slowly careening towards the ground.
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 02:46 AM
Gem was completely oblivious to what Artorian was currently experiencing. Instead she had fallen asleep, though not so much that she wouldn't wake up if needed. Hee small snores the only sound in the wagon. She had a strange dream about Artorian in a bath full of chocolate, lathinging himself with it and fruit as if he was a dessert, then the dream changed to that of a wolf chasing her inside a dark forest full of dead trees. She was barefoot and naked, afraid. Her whole body trembled with exhaustion as she tried desperately to get away. It's slick black fur have black tendrils of smoke coming from its body. Right as the wolf was about to grab her she woke and jolted upright, her body covered in a thin layer of sweat. She rubbed her chest where her heart wast, trying to calm down. Gem didn't see Artorian anywhere and wondered where he might have been. Getting up she slipped back into her clothes. She turned to look at the little ball of fur. "You awake? Know where Artorian is?" She didn't know why, but Gem had a really bad gut feeling.
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 02:18 PM
Artorian watched the ground as it grew ever closer. He began climbing up from it's leg grabbing onto bony flesh trying to make sure he wouldn't be the first to hit the ground. Before they did however the creature managed to swoop back up slightly beforehand and they crashed into the ground at an angle. Artorian rolled off of the creature and across the ground hard, a pain in his shoulder told him his left arm might be dislocated. His magic wasn't empty now after sleeping but he didn't have a lot left in him. Placing his good hand on the ground he cast a spell, thorny tendrils springing from the earth and binding the creature to it. Throwing the knife at it he cast his blast spell letting the blade and dozens of green thorns puncture it and fill the air with dust. When it stopped moving he approached. He bent down to the ugly creature and pulled his knife from it. Carefully he begand to slice at it's neck until he could pull it's head free to take back and show Gem. Carrying it back to the stream he sat it down while he washed up and examined himself. He had three long deep slashes across his side and stomach he hadn't noticed because of the adrenaline and a slough of small scrapes and cuts. He washed himself clean again before grabbing his bow and the arrows that had been knocked loose before returning to camp drained. It took him over half an hour before he stumbled back into the camp, Ember lifting her head and dashing out of the wagon to get to him.
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 03:08 PM
Gem saw Ember bolt out of the wagon and she was only a millisecond behind. She followed the little fox and then her eyes landed on Artorian and Gem quickened her pace. She slid on the ground next to him and went under his arm to provide extra support. "What happened?" She looked him over noticing the wounds over his body. Whatever it was it had done a number on him. Gem helped Artorian to where the fire was and sat him down on one of the rocks. She ran and got some cloth and a water bucket to clean his wounds. "These are going to need more than just a simple stitch..." Gold eyes looked at him in worry and guilt hit her in waves as she dipped the worn rag in the water and wrung the access water out, she found herself wishing she had the forethought to have water heated. "Do you have anything to disinfect you wounds in your bag?" She dabbed the wound, getting some of the dirt out of the edges of it. If she hadn't had just went out of the wagon after him earlier none of this probably would have happened.
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 04:03 PM
Artorian saw his familiar and his companion rushing out from the wagon. He could see the worry on her face and it wasn't necessarily uncalled for but maybe a bit too much. He didn't really need the help but he wouldn't say no to it either. When she helped him to the rock he threw the severed head on the ground near the fire. He hadn't had a chance to speak yet but he understood she was worried. "It's not so bad." He finally managed. "I got attacked by this thing while out in the woods when it snuck up on me, I think had been following me for a while waiting for a chance to catch me by surprise. I'm out of magic right now or I would heal most of it." His hand reached for his herb pouch but it was a stretch as it was on the side he couldn't move. He opened it finding the last bit of honeycomb. "Just squeeze out the honey and spread it over the wound. It will sting for a moment but it will take care of the infection. The rest I just need time with, with some rest I'll be able to take care of the nasty parts. Any chance you know how to relocate a shoulder though?" He asked knowing how hard it would be to do so on his own.
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 05:35 PM
Gem scrunched her face but did as he instructed with the honey. The sticky liquid was on her fingers and she knelt down to apply it to his gashes. She tried to be gentle with it, but Gem wasn't necessarily then gentlest person. She looked up at him when she was done applying it. "About that shoulder... I've only ever done it once. So if you want to risk it and put your faith in me then I'll try not to screw it up too bad." She glanced at Ember then back to Artorian. "You gotta tell her not to hurt me if I screw up..." Her face dead serious. While the fox in her current size might not be able to do too much damage she could still do something, plus Gem didn't really want the fox to dislike her.
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 05:43 PM
Artorian winced a bit as she applied the honey to the wound.fuck I'm stupid he thought to himself after a moment. He pulled out his pipe and awkwardly packed it. The pipe was slightly wet but the herbs were fine and he was glad he invested in a good pipe. The runes on the base that lit it made sure even if it was a bit damp it would light and work just fine. He took a big hit his lungs straining as his chest stretched the wounds on his side. When the herbs took affect and started to dull the pain he was immediately feeling better. The pain was still there but it was more easily tolerable now. He bit down on the pipe end as he listened to her, noticing the hesitance in her voice. He lifted his head to look at her careful not to blow smoke her way. "Ember understands, you need to give her more credit. Foxes are intelligent on their own but she also an elemental spirit as well as part of my soul." He told her around the pipe in his mouth as his free hand stroked the fox. "If you think you can manage it go ahead. If you're not certain or it freaks you out too much I can do it myself with a tree. It will hurt like a bitch either way but it would be easier if you can do it. I'll leave it up to you." He told her with a soft tone having faith in her but knowing how uncomfortable something like this could make someone.
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 07:13 PM
Gem leaned stood then and shrugged. "It's not that I don't think she's intelligent...just, you know don't wanna overstep and whatnot." She rinsed her hands off in the water to remove any remaining honey from her fingers then nodded. "Alright. I suppose if we're doing this, it's now." Gem took a deep breath to steady herself. She decided talking was the best choice to not freak out. "So, a couple things happened here, earlier. With me." She worked on realigning his arm. "And well, turns out Aelius js my father, and the ogre?" She pushed hard to pop his shoulder back in place. "Solan is my uncle. Small world, huh?" She stepped back and sat next to him. "How's that? Better?"
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 08:35 PM
Artorian continued smoking his pipe while she cleaned up. He wasn't looking forward to having his shoulder put back in place regardless of the way it happened and the higher he was for it the better. He listened carefully to her words ignoring the feeling of her hands and what they were about to do. "What?!" He yelled in a mix of surprise and pain as his shoulder was suddenly back in place. His eyes began to water from the pain and he had to wipe it away with his arms to keep from crying. The rest of the words registered in his head but he felt like it took a bit to get through between his current high and the barrier of pain on his mind. "Fuck." He said with a deep breath as he continued to feel the pain but also the new information about why her sister was taken. "I don't think that coincidence. I don't know what it means but I don't see it being happenstance. " He lifted his arm and began rolling it around feeling the grinding of the bones together as they finished clicking in place. "How are you feeling about all of this?" He asked concerned for how she was holding up. Learning about her father and uncle kidnapping her and then her sister couldn't be easy to learn and deal with.
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 08:44 PM
Gem shrugged her shoulders, and looked away and focused on something far away. "Honestly? I don't know. But Artorian..." She shivered in her place. "He saw me. Solan couldn't, Anih didn't..." She sucked in a breath before mumbling to add. "You didn't..." She ran a hand through her hair. "He looked right at me... and whatever it is he wants from me isn't good." She picked up a small rock and chucked it, watching it bounce across the ground. She turned to face him, her mind wondering if she should mention what had happened before he had left but decided to hold out. She wasn't even sure what had happened. "Also, I had a scary ass dream with a wolf following me. The beast was twice as big as a normal one." She shivered. "I swear it had horns. But I woke up before it got me..." She shrugged. "That was probably just a dream, anyway but it shook me up pretty bad. And when I woke up, you walked into camp moments later." She absentmindedly rubbed her thigh where the wolf bite was located.
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 08:54 PM
Artorian turned and looked into the fire. The shifting lights, shadows, and color helped him focus and think about what she was saying. He was about to ask what she meant by him not seeing her but dropped it since he didn't see it actually being important. If she had spied on him it wasn't a big deal, she had seen every inch of him anyways and he could always do the same with Ember. He wasn't sure what he would do in her situation but it didn't do much to consider it. At the mention of her next dream he looked at her with a silly grin. "Oooh, maybe you're going to get some horned shadow wolf as a soul one." He teased her before laughing. She may have started to show some magic of her own but that wouldn't happen. His eyes moved to the way she messaged her thigh and he could see it was bothering her. He stood up and moved over to her twirling his arm a bit to make sure it was good before leaning over and scooping her up. "Come on princess let's get that taken care of." He told her as he carried her into the wagon, grabbing the furs along the way. He sat her down gently on the furs and looked her leg over. It didn't look out of the ordinary to him other than the scar. With a firm hand he began to massage at the muscle, working the flesh around in a way to try and help with the pain and loosen any knots. He couldn't find any knots himself but regardless the massage should help. He would never consider himself an expert at this sort of thing but being alone in the woods meant if you had a problem with your muscle you had to learn to take care of it herself. Once again though he was amazed by the soft skin that covered the firm muscle, her legs were truly beautiful
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Gem & Anih BOT 20-Dec-21 09:29 PM
Gem's eyes went wide when he picked her up. A soft yelp escaping her as he carried her. "I'm not that injured-" She tried to protest but in all honesty she was enjoying it, even if her leg did hurt. "You're more wounded than I am Artorian!" Sitting there on the furs she watched as he attentively began to message her thigh. The pain was still there but the more he kneaded her muscle the more the pain was replaced by something else. She leaned back, practically falling onto the furs and sighed. "You're really good with your hands, you know that?" She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of how firm his hands were . "Well, it's not the only skilled thing you have." She chuckled. "First night, learned that real quick."
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Artorian BOT 20-Dec-21 09:38 PM
Artorian just smirked as he continued massaging her leg. "I'm aware but just lay back and enjoy it. You're insatiable you know that?" He asked with a soft warm laugh, it's not like he minded. He continued on her leg a while longer before he moved down her leg. He couldn't do any more for her thigh but since she was enjoying it he would continue. Slowly he made his way down her leg but stopped at her feet not wanting near them unless they were just washed. Eventually he moved and started on the other side as well. When he had finished massaging both legs he laid back beside her and wrapped his arm around her. He pulled the other furs up to cover them as he got comfortable. He gave her one last look so she would be the last thing he seen before closing his eyes and leaned forward placing a small kiss on her forehead before her lips. "See you in the morning." He told her with a yawn before falling asleep
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 05:16 AM
"That may be true, but I was just stating a fact, I'm not currently propositioning you." She just laid there, her body moving slightly as he rubbed, soft moans leaving her as he moved down and to the other leg. "You are injured you know, I have a heart." She snorted at her own remark and sighed. Gem yawned, having her legs worked up made her body more relaxed and her eyes began to grow heavy. She stared at him, his arm around her and thought that she could get used to this, used to Artorian being by her side every night and morning. "Mm, I'll be here." Gem didn't dream of anything the rest of the night, which to her was a relief. When she woke up Artorian was still sleeping, which she didn't blame him he has fought off a creature last night and depleted his magic. Gem had an idea forming in her mind and she quietly lifted the furs. She didn't need to slip out from Artorian's arm as sometime during the night he had moved it to above his head. Golden eyes stared at him as she slipped beneath them and moved herself between his splayed out legs. She took his cock in her hand and began to lightly massage them, working them and his flaccid shaft. She worked them gently until he started to pitch a tent underneath the furs. When his cock was hard and ready she help him at his base before tracing the tip of him with her tongue. She made circles around the tip several times before tracing the length of him. It was warm underneath the furs, and was only getting hotter as her breathing became quick as her own excitement grew. When she reached his balls she took them into her mouth and suckled them, popping one in her mouth and undulating her tongue to massage it. She freed it, only to give the same attention to the other one.
05:16
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05:16
By now, she was sure Artorian was awake, and if he hadn't been yet he was about to be. Eagerly she let free his ball sack and repositioned herself so that she could take his tip inside her warm wet mouth. A soft moan escaping her at the taste of him. She sucked lightly at first, slowly taking more of him inside her mouth until she took as much as she could. She gagged momentarily but recovered and Gem began to bob her head, slowly. She let one of her hands take his balls into her hand and massage them with a slightly harder pressure than her mouth had had. Her other hand wrapped around his cock and began to pump in tandem with her head, his large rigid cock felt amazing as it penetrated her throat. His head ramming into her uvula. Faster and faster, she would suck him until she let his cock pop out of her mouth. Her hand still worked the length of him, a tight grip around his shaft as she tried to milk him. She licked him from tip to base again and playfully bit at his thigh before licking her way back up again. Gem took him back into his mouth fast, going down on him quicker and harder. A moan escaped her throat only to massage his throbbing cock. When she would feel his body tensing, she would throw the furs off of them stare up at him while she would accept all of his semen. The thick salty cum spewing into her mouth as she tried to swallow it all. Some came out on the sides of her mouth and she slightly laughed as his cock was still inside. She released him then, sitting up on her knees and used a finger to get the excess bits of cum from the sides of her mouth. She licked it off her fingers then, offering a sultry smirk to him. “Good morning.”
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 12:07 PM
Artorian was in a deep sleep,dreamless, but relaxing and restful. He stirred a little his subconscious aware of Gem moving away from him. He could feel something slowly edging at the corner of his mind and started to wake up. His eyes fluttered slowly before seeing the blanket of furs rising and falling around his lower half."Fuck." He said quietly under his breath as he suddenly felt the pleasure coming from his member and testes. He closed his eyes again and just relaxed letting the pleasure go through him in waves as soft moaned escaped his lips. He hadn't ever woken up with a woman's mouth around his dick before but now he never wanted to wake up any other way. Every small touch of her tongue and convulsion of her throat sent another wave of pleasure through him until he couldn't take it anymore. Then the furs were off and he looked down to her golden eyes staring at him. Her eyes pushed him over the edge and he struggled not to close them from the weight of the orgasm. It was hard not to thrust his hips upward into her throat as he felt his cock throb with each string of cum that she greedily took. He couldn't think anymore, there was nothing except for the pleasure he just had in his mind and his heavy breathing. "Marry me, legitimately marry me." He told her through rough breaths. If nothing else this alone was enough for him to want to have her until one of them passed.
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 12:29 PM
Gem laughed, wholeheartedly laughed, her soul feeling lighter after hearing his words. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and shook her head. "You don't mean that Art, you really don't." She patted his leg before she got up off her knees. "I'll go cook breakfast, I'd say use this time to clean up, but I think I took care of that for you." There was a twinkle in her eyes and a skip to her step as she left the wagon. As she passed Ember she gave her a little scritch on the top of her head. All she knew they had was boar, and she didn't particularly want to eat that even though she never turned down food. The trees that they had used earlier for their game had a couple of birds nests and she was able to loot a few, a mother tried to fight her to defend and as much as she hated to do it she took her dagger and threw it, hitting the bird in the head with the pointy end of her dagger. She remembered what Artorian had said about the boar when he had killed it so she had thanked the bird before she hopped down and went to the fire. It didn't take her long to defeather the bird and cut off the bits she didn't want to use. She threw the bird and eggs into a pot of water to boil. It was a simple meal with no flavor, but at least it was a change of pace. She sat by the fire and began to clean the dagger as she waited for it to cook.
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 12:58 PM
Artorian laid there for a moment still coming down from his climax before getting up. His body was sore and aches after his encounter the day before but the feeling reminded him that he was alive. Reaching to the side where he had been clawed he used some magic to heal himself and as the wounds started to close into small cuts instead of deep gashes he already felt better. He got dressed then and left the wagon, Ember following happily at his feet. He reached out to his familiar and once again used his magic to shape her. When she was large once again he climbed onto her back before and they started running. The road was still wet and had some places with pockets of water from the rain but it was well enough for them to be able to travel. They had ran almost two miles in no time when they saw a large wagon up ahead. He approached and stopped seeing some people taking a break. He talked to them for a moment before finding out they were merchants traveling with goods to the city he had left with Anih. He pulled some coins from his armor and bought a few things before leaving. This time not needing to check the road he decided to finally try flying. Ember took a running start before taking a large leap into the air waiting until she was at her peak to spread her wings. They slowly moved forward in a glide before Ember beat her wings and they took to the sky. It was colder up there and the wind was more intense but the feeling was amazing. There was a sense of freedom up in the sky looking down on everyone else and he couldn't help but smile and laugh. When he saw their wagon Ember dove, Artorians hair flying behind him and a pit forming into his stomach at the drop. Ember pulled up at an angle and took a few running steps before stopping. Hopping from her back Artorian looked at Gem with a large grin on his face. "Best day ever."
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 01:40 PM
Gem looked up from her daggers as she heard wings flapping and when she saw Artorian flying on Ember's back she sucked in a breath. The man looked like he was having the time of his life and the pure joy on his face made him look extremely handsome. When they landed Gem put her daggers away and checked the food. Hearing his words she turned and glanced at him. "Yeah?" She cleared her throat and sat the lid down bt the fire. "You made it back in time to eat, it's bird and pre-bird." She grabbed the plates and utensils and divided it up among the three. She took the parts of the bird she hadn't cooked, minus the feathers and looked at Artorian. "Not sure if she'd eat the head and neck of the bird, or it's feet, but they are there if she wants them to go with the meal..." She handed his plate to him and offered Ember's hers on the ground before sitting back down to eat herself. It was okay, just extremely bland, it'd do; at least she didn't burn this. "How do the roads look? Think you might have an estimate on when we can get back on them?"
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 02:42 PM
Artorian sat the goods he purchased in the wagon and came over to her and the food. He gave her a quick kiss still tasting a slight hint of himself on her lips before he pulled away. At the mention of the non edibles Artorian scooped them up and tossed them at Ember watching her head snap forward like a striking snake to swallow them in one bite. "I think she will eat them fine." He told her before taking his own plate. It was actually sort of morbid eating both the bird and it's babies but he brushed that aside glad to be eating anything other than boar. When he was done eating he sat his plate down to wash later before going back to his new goods. He pulled out some new clothes for her that he thought would fit much better and including multiple pairs of socks and footwraps. "These are for you." He told her as he sat them down on a nearby rock. He went back to the wagon and pulled on a simple forest green tunic over his head glad to have something that didn't make him feel like a clown. "And for me " he told her walking back out. "And we can go whenever ready.,"
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 04:39 PM
Gem looked down at the clothes and then back at Artorian. The shirt looked like it would cover her breasts perfectly, and the color was a green dark enough it could possibly blend in with the shadows. She also noticed the footwraps and narrowed her eyes. "Oh come on, they aren't that bad..." She looked down at her feet. "Okay...maybe they are." She snorted and took off the shirt she had been wearing, tossing it nearby to pack up. She slipped the green shirt over her head and sighed. She liked the way it clung to her curves just right without being too revealing. She took off her old foot wraps and wiggled her toes. "You know..." She tossed those into the fire and watched the smoke begin to rise. "Never mind...and that was probably a terrible idea." Her face went ashen briefly as the smell wafted toward them. She covered her nose until the fire got rid of the smell. After quickly rewrapping her feet with the brand new foot wraps she sighed content. Nothing beat a new pair of footwraps. They were clean, warm and comfortable. She hopped up from the stone and turned to Artorian. "Alright, let me put this out then we can go." She went and grabbed a bucket of water and splashed it on the small flame, gray smoke rising as the embers died out. She put the pot back into the wagon and stretched. "I guess I'll drive since you did last."
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 05:51 PM
Artorian was hitching the horses to the wagon when he caught a whiff of what must have been death itself. He looked over and saw that I was just Gems old footwraps burning and he was glad to never have to see or smell them again although the horses seemed to be on edge from the smell as well. He looked Gem over thinking she looked good in the new garbs and was glad to know he had gotten them in an appropriate size. With everything back in the wagon he went over to Ember and mounted her again. "Feel free to drive I'm going to go scout for a bit." He told her before taking off. He would indeed scout but honestly he just wanted another feeling of freedom and fun that flying had brought him. Ember ran forward and sprung into the air like before as he looked down at her feeling only slightly bad for her stuck on the wagon.
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 06:17 PM
Gem watched them take off and sighed, that just left her and the horses. As she sat on the bench she leaned back. "Look, I know that was bad, and I offended you. But I promise it won't happen again. I promise to make sure to have clean footwraps for the rest of our time together..." She patted the horses both on their rump before clicking her tongue to get them going. With Artorian and Ember off flying around Gem really started to feel the loss of her sister. The ache in her heart felt twice as hard. She tried not to glance at the empty spot next to her but it was hard. Gem sighed as they went along the road, the only sounds being that of the horses hooves and the occasional animals in the crops of trees they would pass. After awhile Gem felt like things were too quiet and started to get an extremely weird vibe. She thought about pulling the horses over but they were ignoring her directions. "Look, this is wrong. Just move over, I want to check it out..." When they began to speed up as if running from something Gem swore under her breath. She turned to see what had spooked the horses only to see spiders as big as a bear coming from the forest to their left. "Okay...maybe not pull over. Come on, go!" She hit the reins and sat forward. Gem did not like spiders, she really didn't like them, and if they could avoid fighting them then she thought that would be great.
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 06:39 PM
Artorian had closed his eyes for a while, no intention of sleeping just wanting to feel the wind blow through him. It was cold and refreshing but when he opened his eyes he saw something was wrong. The wagon they had been with for days was going faster than it should normally, a pace that would ware the horses out shortly. It wasn't until he looked through the treeline he saw the problem. Artorian hadn't liked spiders, not of the giant variety anyway for years. He used to not be bothered by them until an incident he had. The scar where he had been stabbed through burned at the memory, a memory of the dark elf woman who had seduced him only to put a dagger made from a spider fang through his core. He shuddered and Ember turned and dove towards them. Pulling out his bow he shot at them while they moved most being harmed but still going but a couple going down. {This would have been a good time for you to use the amulet} he chided her before Ember landed on one and shoved it into the dirt, her teeth ravaging at the legs while her claws raked at their thorax. He slung his bow back over his shoulder and grabbed the hammer instead. There were some pest that needed to be squashed.
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 07:37 PM
Gem grinned at Artorian's chiding, [Yea well I thought you were scouting....you didn't see those?!] She pulled on the reins again. This time to steer the horses away from a large fallen tree limb in the middle of the road. She barely had the wagon around the limb when more spiders came from the other side of the tree. "Oh fucking hell, are you kidding me?!" Gem pulled out her dagger and left from the bench to in front of the horses, slicing at the hairy eight legged creatures from hell. "Stay the hell away from Snickers and Doodle!" Her dagger cranked against the largest spiders maw, Gem screamed and she swiped with the left one, it met hairy flesh and she'd liked it's left off causing it to monetarily bump into the two beside it before recovering as best it could. "*You ugly bastard you're not eating the horses!" She swiped at one of the smaller ones before the other small one jumped at her. A high pitched womanly squeeze would leave her body and one could almost see her soul leave her body as she scrambled backwards. "Oh no no no no!" Gem swatted it off of her upper torso and kicked at the thing. "I'm not food for you either! Only one thing around here I'd like to eat me out." She swung her dagger in a downward motion squishing the thing dead and center in its eye. "And it's not you!" (edited)
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 07:56 PM
Artorian swerved through the sea of legs as if they were small trees in a forest, small hairy ugly trees that he absolutely didn't want to touch. Whenever he found an opportunity to swing his hammer he took it crunching carapace inwards everytime.as dangerous as it was it was fun and exciting and all he could see was the amount of gold to be made. Giant spider ven I'm paid a pretty penny and the fangs almost as much. "It's too bad you burnt your footwraps, we could have used them as a weapon!" He yelled for her to hear and not being able to help but laugh. Ember danced with the spiders never staying in range long enough for them to get her before dancing away. When she had an opportunity she would dart in and tear at a limb the way a pack of wolves did a large elk. Artorian continued his dance for a while longer feeling some tiredness creep into him. He had had a good rest the night before but he still had been in a tough fight yesterday and had been injured. He backed his way out of the tangle of legs and fangs and looked at the dozens of eyes that watched him. He told Ember to go help Gem having seen the way the creatures made her uncomfortable. He had used a good amount of his magic today but the spell he used on Ember was getting easier and took less every time. He reached down and cast his magic through the earth watching tendril of thorny vines come up through the middle of the area. It would hurt some of them but more importantly it would slow them down as they tried to get free. He began whistling as he dove back in bringing his hammer down on heads that's struggled to move away. He was starting to have a good time
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 08:58 PM
Gem groaned at Artorian's remark. "They were not that bad!" She jumped and landed on the other small spider smooshing its brains in. She spun and dove away from the largest ones legs when it tried to attack out in anger. "Do you hear this guy?" She managed to swipe and cut off another leg. "Give this guy" She pointed at Artorian for the spider. "The blow job of his life, and he's insulting my footwraps!" She tried to avoid the spider as it dove for her. She didn't make it in time and the thing clamped down on her shoulder. She cried out when the spider started to pump its poison inside her. Gem grabbed the spiders fangs and yanked on them hard to remove them. Blood splurged from the gauged out bite marks. She stabbed the thing four or five times in the eye angrily before it fell to the ground, twitching in its last throws of death. Gem turned to go aid Artorian when things started to look really fuzzy and wobbly. *Oh no... not good." She tried her best to steel herself as she reached the end of the wagon. She managed to fumble and trip over something and land on the back of a medium sized spider. "Shit." She lashed put with her remaining dagger, stabbing its behind until it peirced all the way through.
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 09:45 PM
Artorian finished off the rest of the spiders he had entangled before hearing her. She was right about the blowjob part for sure and he supposed she was right about him insulting her footwraps, although they had deserved it, the nasty vile things. When he was done he turned to see if she was doing good on the other side only to see her laying on top of a spider. "Shit!" He yelled before running over to her and smashing the last spider before putting the hammer away to help her. He looked at the wound in her shoulder. "Seriously I just bought you this shirt? Couldn't make it a day huh?" He asked as he reached down and grabbed the shirt before ripping it to expose the wound better. He looked at it for a moment before running to the wagon. Inside the wagon he rummaged through his pack and found a vial with a canvas covering, a cork hanging from the end by a string.he ran out to one of the spiders and put the top of it's fang through the canvas as it's poison started flowing into the vial. When it was full he pulled off the canvas and stuck the cork in to close it. His eyes briefly glowed a bright green before fading. The poison in the vial took on the bright glowing color from then and he shook it vigorously until it was ready. Running quickly back to her he crouched down and removed the cork before dumping it on the wound. The glowing green liquid quickly soaked into the wound before the gross muddy pigment of the venom was pressed out of her nullifying it.
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Gem & Anih BOT 21-Dec-21 10:11 PM
"Like I wanted it to happen! I liked that shirt." She shook her head and winced after realizing that was a terrible idea. Gem put both hands on her head to keep the world from spinning. The throbbed pain in her shoulders felt like it was trying to devour her blood cells inside her brain. When Artorian rushed to her with some contain her pushed at him. "No no, I don't want any." She didn't do a very good job and before she realized it he had poured the contents onto the wound. Gem hissed as she felt the potion begin to work. When the wound stopped going she tried get up off the spider carcass before falling onto Artorian. She squinted her eyes at him and grabbed him by the neck, pulling him in for a kiss. Now that the deadly part of the spider bite was taken care of Gem was feeling rather well. She forcefully kissed him, her tongue pushing against his lips until she was granted access to his mouth. God, how good he tasted. She moaned into him, her hand finding the string to his trousers. She pulls it to them them to fall and before Artorian could possibly react Gem was stripping herself. "God, it's hot..." She dug slid out of hee pants and groaned. The feeling felt two times more than the normal amount of stimulation. She put her ass on Artorian's wait and bent over. Revealing her intimates, clearly the psychedelicpart of the venom had already taken affect. "Artorian." She pulled on her inner muscles forcing her womanhood to clench. "This needs a potion too, but there's only one cure." She let her hands move across her butt cheeks vefore she slapped her own ass.
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Artorian BOT 21-Dec-21 10:38 PM
Artorian was glad he got to her in time although he could tell that she was still having some of the side effects of the poison. She would be fine with similar effects to if she drank too much or ate some of the fun mushrooms he had cultivated a time or ten. She caught him off guard when she suddenly fell and he caught her only to have her suddenly mashing her face against his. He parted his lips letting her tongue slide in although he was still confused as to what was happening. Then he suddenly felt a tug at his waist and his pants were down his cock hanging there for the world to see. He looked down at himself and started to pull his pants back up when he saw she was suddenly naked pressing her ass against his crotch. His cock twitches knowing that it was excited even if his brain hadn't caught up yet. He watches her slap her ass and clench her pussy as his manhood rose to meet her. She clearly wasn't in a right state of mine at the moment and he knew he shouldn't take advantage of that but damn she looked good bent over like that. A moment later he moved over to her pressing her against the wagon and grabbed her hips. He reached down and felt that she was already hot, wet, and ready to go. He slapped her ass hard watching it shake and wanting to leave a reminder for her there of who's ass it was before sliding inside her. Pressed up against the wagon with her bent over gave him a perfect angle to feel her and if she was upset about it later it would be later hims problem
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 12:19 AM
Gem felt the length of uim growing as she teased him and she softly chuckled, giving her hips a little shake to let him feel her wetness, her eagerness for his cock. She felt the hand on her ass and sucked in a breath of air just as he smacked her derriere she. A moan coming from her like a wild animal in heat as he slipped inside her. Her hips moved instinuctually as he began to move inside. Gen clung to the wagon and tightened her inner muscles, letting her body squeeze her walls around his dick as he fucked her. The rhythm of their hips had her clinging to the wagons wall for support. "Oh fuck, Artorian..." She moaned, "you feel feel so good...right there." Gem let a hand moved from the wagon to her clit. She took her bean between her finger and thumb, giving it a small squeeze before she started making small circular motions against it. "*Fuck...me...ah!" She felt herself spasm around his cock and she moaned he truly did have the best she ever had
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 12:35 AM
she was like a wild animal while he fucked her but he loved every moment of it. He gripped her hips tightly as he rammed into her not caring if it hurt either of them since he knew it would bring more pleasure then pain. The amount of sex they had been having over the last few days was.more than he was used to but it was always fresh and exciting and he knew he would never tire with it. Her body fit perfectly with his and even these wild moments shown that. He had only been going at it for a few minutes before he felt himself starting to cum. The way they were going at it didn't leave time for some slow build up. His thrusting grew even more rapid and he felt her spasming around him which was too much too handle. He came and he came hard feeling his cum shoot inside her before starting to drip out. This orgasm was different then the one this morning or the night before but no less powerful. It was less like waves crashing and more like a flock of birds in his mind suddenly taking flight.
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 12:48 AM
Gem felt an urgency rising up inside her as he rammed repeatedly. The smacking of their bodies together , the squelched of his cock going in and out ofnher tight sex was driving her even more mad. No longer could she say anything coherent, instead only soft moans and cries of pleasure left her lips. Her head hitting the wagon every other thrust of his hips. She could feel when he was about to let his load, the urgency in which he pounded into her flesh continued to rise until she herself was met with a climax that she should hope to remember after the spider bites effects wore off. Each stand of his semen filling her up until there was no more space so it began pouring out from around him. She moaned, her legs wanted to give out but with her propping herself and him holding her hips she was somehow able to stay up right. Gem stayed bent over as she felt her body spasm in waves.
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 01:12 AM
Artorian took a few deep breaths as he looked Gem over. He could see her legs wobbling but managing to keep her up and he couldn't help but smirk at the effect he had on her. He moved away and pulled his trousers back up before swooping up his lover into his arms. "You really are insatiable." He told her before carrying her into the wagon. "Now sleep a bit while I get some work done. If you don't, no dick for a week." He teased not thinking he could actually hold off that long but he hoped the threat was enough to get her to keep calm for a while. When he was done he went to work filling vials and defanging the spider corpses. He had cleared most of the corpses out of the road when the wagon he visited before came back around. Artorian talked with them for a while, selling half of their smoked boar rations and purchasing some more clothes for himself and Gem. She had managed to destroy her one shirt in an hour but luckily there was more. Some of the men and stronger women helped him clear the rest of the spiders from the road before they went seperated ways. He wrapped the extra fangs in cloth before placing them in a barrel in the back and put all the vials safely away as well. They would need to make a stop at a monster hunting store and maybe an alchemy lab to unload the goods but he knew they had a good score on their hands. He would check the job boards there too to see if there was a bounty for spiders as well. Might as well bleed them dry of everything they could.
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 01:50 AM
Gem didn't protest when he picked her upland placed her in the wagon. After all that fighting and then the wild romp they just had she didn't have the will to move. She closed her eyelids briefly and nodded her ascent to doing as he asked. "I'll be...good... for now." She smirked at him before dosing her eyes and humming. She would fall asleep shortly after they went on their way. The wagon ride was smoothe and there was only an occasional slight bump. She was dreaming again, well not dreaming, traveling the shadow realm? She wasn't sure what to call it but it was what was happening. Except this time, she hadn't focused on anyone. Confused She looked around. Black and blue shadows darted all around her. Every step she took seemed to lead to nowhere. Frustrated she called out, "Hello?" Her voice echoed into the nothingness. That was until she turned around and there stood that wolf from her dream. It was huge, being only a few feel away, the thing stood at her shoulder level. It stared at her with one quite eye, it looked like smoke was seeping out if it. The other eye was shut as he; how did she know it was a male? She looked confused a moment and scratched at her head. The wolf was a lot calmer than she had remember and she got the feeling she was safer now than she had ever been.
01:50
Awkwardly Gem shuffled from foot to foot. "Ah...nice...doggie?" She held up a hand as the beast took a couple steps towards her. (I am not s dog, do not dare to compare me to a mongrel.) Gem's eyes went wide. She had head the thing in her head and she jumped backwards. "Whoa. Wha-" Gem shook her head, clearly she was going nuts. (No, this is real. I have been following you for years in the shadows. Watching, waiting until you were ready.) He was only and arms length from her now. (Accept me and shall heed you call. Deny me and I will devour you.) For emphasis the wolf opened his mouth demonstrations he could fit her head pretty nicely in there. She felt like he was putting on a show, but for who, Gem was unsure. When the wolf shut his mouth he lowered his had for her. Somehow she knew to reach out and grab his scruff with one hand. As she did she felt a thrusting from her hand all the way through the rest of her body. Her soul felt like it had become more. She took a deep breath feeling like she had drank the world's strongest alcohol. *(Remember. When you need...until our bond is strong enough I will be inside of you...just call my name.) Gem looked at the wolf confused. "Then what is it, wolf?" He had opened his mouth and smile at her, what would resemble a smile as besInit could on a wolf. The was a woosh and at the blink of an eye. she was back into the wagon, her body drenched in sweat.
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 02:20 AM
Artorian of course was completely unaware of this happening feet behind him. He lifted his feet up and leaned back trusting the horses to do the work while he pulled out his mother's book to read. He still had a lot to learn and even if he couldn't ever do everything she could he wanted to improve, which was a new feeling for him. He was naturally talented and never worked for anything since he always just wanted enough to get by. Now he had a clear goal and a clear notice that he wasn't to a level to take on Solin on his own. Time passed rather quickly for him over the next couple hours as he read through the grimoire. There were a lot of spells that were just stronger versions of spells he already used that he imagined he could do with a little work and draining his magic. There were other things that looked interesting that he knew were too advanced for him but he was really interested in. Who wouldn't want to be able to teleport through threes or turn into wind just to slice up some enemies before returning to normal. Those were a long time ahead though and he would prefer if there was never a reason for him to actually need them. Eventually it was getting dark though and they would need to set up camp for the night. If he was right on where he thought they were on the map then they should make it by midday tomorrow.
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 01:00 PM
Gem wiped at her body with whatever cloth she could find to remove the sweat. She remembered what happened before she had fallen asleep and she groaned internally. Never mind talking to Artorian about what she had experienced just before she woke up. How was she supposed to play it cool after essentially throwing herself on him. She buried her head in her hands and sighed giving herself a bit before slipping back into the shirt that didn't quite fit right. Gem gave herself a little before climbing through the flap in the front to sit next to Artorian. She didn't say anything as she sat, "So, find a decent camp for the night? Preferably somewhere I can bathe would be nice. Any decent body of water would do." She stretched, her arms going above her head as her shoulder and neck were popped. "Also, thanks...for back there. I uh..." She cleared her throat. "I mean, spider venom, what's a girl to do?"
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 01:14 PM
Artorian wasn't surprised when she finally made her way up beside him, he had heard her awake in the back and figured she would find her way up. He hadn't found anywhere that looked like it was a good spot to camp for the night much less with water. The map he had didn't show any clear bodies of water either but they would make do. "I could always give you another bath." He offered remembering her face as the water came down on her. At her last comment however he got a bit confused. "I'm confused, are you thanking me for stirring your guts after you were hallucinating on spider venom? If so Im even lost because I feel like I was taking advantage of you. God's know I couldn't help myself watching you bend over and spread yourself like that though." He whistles appreciatively a bit as he felt his loins stir again. "Down boy." He said under his breath. He was going to be drained dry if he didn't get this thing under control
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 01:31 PM
"Oh god..." Gem shook her head and groaned. "You dump water on my like that...see if you live another day! And you still owe me an actual bath. Remember? I won." Hearing his remark about the heated sex she buried her face in her hands. "No, I was refurring...to the making so I didn't die, Artorian!" She ran a hand through her copper curls and looked at him. "I'm not...some dog in heat or something!" She got up and went back into the back of the wagon. "Just find somewhere acceptable. I won't die from not getting clean for a couple days. My new footwraps may suffer though..." She cackled and sat down. She was quiet for awhile, her mind going back to the experience with the shadowed wolf. She still had no idea what his name was and wondered if he had intentionally not told her. Was it a trick? And what had the thing meant when he said he would be inside. She glanced at her scar from the wolf bite on her thigh, for once it didn't have any pain and she wondered if he had somehow been involved with the pain. "Hey Artorian..." She peeked out the flap, her head resting on her arms as she looked at Artorian. "Can you tell me how you and Ember got together? Or like...how that came to be?" Maybe if he told her his story then maybe it would help her understand what the hell was going on with the wolf.
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 02:23 PM
Artorian sat there quietly after she left still not understanding what was going on. Of course he would save her, even without his personal feelings she was his companion and it was in his ability to do so. Of course he hadn't seen her as some dog in heat though, he just knew how hard hallucinations could be on someone's ability to make decisions. He sighed and just agreed to try to find water so her new door wraps wouldn't end up like the last. When she responded later asking about Ember he was momentarily taken back. It was a strange thing to randomly ask about and he thought he had explained it before although that could have been Anih. "Ember and I have a bond that's a bit different than a familiar. A familiar is a soul enslaved by the person but Ember is part of me. Whenever my ability to sense and use nature magic became strong enough a part of my would bonded with that magic from the earth and formed a nature spirit that's also an extension of me. I know it's a bit complicated and it's not the same for all bonded creatures but that's how it is for the two of us.
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 02:49 PM
Gem listened intently and sighed. Neither of the things he said sounded like what she had gone through. Though she supposed different elements might vary the process. She definitely didn't feel like she enslaved anything, if anything the wolf imposed himself on her with a threat. "Hmm...interesting. Does she talk to you? Like...can you hear her in your head?" She scratched her chin before getting up and moving back beside Artorian. There was about two hand lengths between them as she sat back on the bench.
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 03:00 PM
When Gem moved closer to him Artorian moved his hand to her thigh, it wasn't a sexual motion just him wanting to have physical contact with her, it comforted him. "N-no not exactly." He said stumbling over the words at first as his mind tried to describe the situation in a way she could understand. "We can communicate with feelings but it's like she shares a mind with me. She can know exactly what I'm thinking if I let her and her the same for me. I don't physically hear her speak though " he tried to explain but it being a surreal feeling he wasn't quite sure how to explain
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Gem & Anih BOT 22-Dec-21 03:12 PM
"Hmm. Weird." She mumbled and shrugged her shoulders. Oh well, nothing for her to worry about right now. Not like she'd see the thing again. "So, how about a game when we find a place to camp?" She leaned into Artorian, his hand not being enough physical contact. Gem was always used to having Anih close at hand and Gem may not have realized it but she subconsciously felt the loss of her sister. "I want something fresh to eat. Maybe we see who can get the tastiest game?" The idea of different foods made Gem's mouth water. "Winner picks the prize."
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Artorian BOT 22-Dec-21 03:35 PM
Artorian looked her over for a moment trying to tell if she was serious. "This isn't throwing daggers, are you sure about that? I've lived in the woods my entire life having to hunt for food and you want to see who can get the best game?" He paused for a moment. "Alright sounds good to me. Seal it with a kiss." He told her before quickly leaning in and kissing her before she could react to seal the deal. He looked her over seeing the overly large shirt she was once again wearing and remembered she wasn't up when he got replacements. "By the way there's two more shirts in there for you. I ran across the merchants as we crossed paths while you were out. Try to make these last longer than an hour though." He told her as he caught the hint of light up ahead. As he looked closer he could see it was light reflecting off of some body of water in the distance. He moved the horses to go closer seeing that it was a small cliff with a fresh spring coming from it. "Well this is better than I hoped for." He told he told her as the horses slowly made their way over and positioned the wagon to block the view from the road. Hopping down he used magic to make a wall of hedges grow around that to let them have even more privacy.
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