|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:57 pm
Eventually her mind offered up some memories of the two of them together, almost as if to distract her from the fact that he was currently missing. A soft smile graced her features as various memories played.
Her small form trembled with fear as she crouched low to the ground and tried to make herself invisible. She had wandered too far from Vana's side, again, and now she was lost and it was getting dark, and to top it off she could hear the hyena's in the distance. After her first run in with the creatures, right after she had first met Vana, she had been careful to avoid them at all costs but unfortunately for her she didn't have that option right now because she had no idea where she was or which way would take her to her guardian. As the cackling got louder Ariia began to cry out, like she would have done for her mother, only this time she was calling for Vana and hoping, praying, that he could hear her and would reach her in time. The first canine form appeared through the grass and Ariia puffed up and hissed, trying to make herself look dangerous and deter the creature from making her into a snack. As more hyenas closed in she closed her eyes and tucked her head down just hoping that it wouldn't hurt much when they devoured her. Just as she thought she was about to be eaten she felt something grip her neck and then the sensation of floating through air, daring to crack open one little eye she looked around and saw the hyenas were far below her. A deep inhale proved that it was Vana who had saved her once again and she sighed with relief.
Coming out of her memory Ariia's smile widened as she remembered just how many times Vana had saved her while she was growing up. Whether it was from hyenas, lions, other cheetahs, or that one encounter with the herd of elephants, at this memory she chuckled a bit as she remembered the look that had been on Vana's face as he scolded her for her carelessness.
Indeed Vana had been there for her when no one else could or would be, at the beginning she had thought of him as a big brother, then later on it was as a best friend, but now, as she sat here on a boulder waiting anxiously for his return, she wasn't sure exactly what to call the sensation she felt, her affinity for him had evolved into something more complex but she wasn't sure what to do with the new urges and feelings she had. She also wasn't sure if she should mention them to Vana, she had a feeling that he might be disappointed in her or wish her to go on her own way if he knew what she felt for him now. Sighing and shaking her head Ariia lay down, crossed her front paws and rested her head on them while she waited for her friend to return.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:52 pm
 Arching his back, Vana scanned the horizon before him as he sat on his perch... ar rather low rock that had been jutting out of the relatively flat plains. His mind had just come out of its wanderings when he realized the hour had gotten late. Casting a quick glance around him he noticed he wasn't around Ariia and his heart skipped a beat. "Calm down Vana... you told her you went to fly ahead to see if there were any dangers..." he said to himself quietly, but in all reality it wasn't dangers he was looking for. He had been looking for a reason as to why he was still with the white cheetah.
When Ariia first came into his care, Vana had been skeptical. He had no clue how to raise a cub... especially a girl cub. Of course he had run into some complications with her growing up. When she was a teenager was the most awkward. She was growing up from the scared little cub he had found, into a rather attractive adult. He had to deny his feelings for her, she was his ward afterall.
Sighing heavily Vana let his head fall, shaking it slightly. He didn't know what to call his feelings. He had figured he was just being protective. Which was true when she was a child, maybe less so as a teenager, but now.... now he was almost jealous. He would catch himself wondering what she would do if she decided she wanted to leave. Who was he to stop her? She was old enough to go on her own. Thus his mental turmoil had gotten the best of him and he flew ahead. Pulling himself up he shook out his body and stretched his wings giving htem a couple beats before he propelled himself into the sky. He hadn't roamed to far ahead, and Ariia convientenly stuck out like a sore thumb in the darkness. Touching the ground a short distance away he paused and took a deep breath, clearing his mind. He was her protector... that was it. He would let go, at least in theory, if she chose to leave... but could he really?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:46 pm
Ariia lifted her head when she heard the rustling of wings and in the light that was left from the sun as it descended in the sky she made out Vana's form touching down on the ground a few feet ahead of her. A huge grin crossed her face and she rose to her paws before rushing to his side. "Vana! You're back!" her voice expressed relief and pure joy at his return.
She head butted his shoulder in an affectionate greeting before going rigid and stepping back unsure of what his reaction would be, she hadn't greeted him like that before, she'd only observed others doing it and those had been mated couples. "S...Sorry..." she stammered out an apology and then fell silent her tail twitched nervously behind her as she waited for him to speak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:57 pm
Vana smiled as she came rushing up. There was never a dull moment with Ariia, she always kept him on his toes. "Yes, yes I'm back... I didn't mean to take so long..." he said just before she greeted him. After she had he was thankful for his dark coat because a blush flushed his cheeks. He cleared his throat and smiled. "Easy there muscles, you might knock me over next time." He covered smoothly.
"There isn't much ahead of us, nothing to really worry about. I feel the weather changing and I think perhaps we might want to make for the trees. Tomorrow is going to be awefully dreadful on the desert." He said with a sigh. He hadn't told Ariia, but he was rather uncomfortable in closed spaces, but he didn't like the idea of being dehydrated in the desert.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:34 am
Ariia was relieved when he didn't chastise her for her overly friendly greeting and she giggled as his comment. "As if I could knock you over... you'd just fly up into the air to save yourself."
Listening to his report Ariia nodded, she had felt the change too and she agreed with his assessment. His sigh alerted her that something was up but she didn't want to bother him about what it was and so she ignored it. "Well... lead the way then, I'm sick of laying around."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:22 pm
Vana smiled and shook his head. "I dunno... with a hit like that, if you caught me off gaurd I might just fall over and take you with me." The idea that painted in his mind made him grin but he erased the smile as quickly as it came... he shouldn't be saying, or even thinking such things... like being in love with Ariia...
Clearing his throat he nodded his head in the direct of the forest. Thankfully it wasn't too far away.
--Fast forwarding the short journey xD --
As the came to the edge of the rather gloomy looking trees, Vana cast a longing glance at the open skies of the desert. "Well... it will be for the best..." He muttered as he stole a glance at Ariia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:33 pm
Vana's words caused a blush to come over her cheeks and Ariia sped up to walk just ahead of his so he wouldn't be able to see it. How embarrassing would that be? Enough to die from, she was sure of it. As they reached the trees she had managed to get her blush under control and she turned to look at him.
Noticing the longing look in his eyes as he stared back towards the desert she figured he must not care for crowded spaces because it prevented him from flying, which was a perfectly good explanation as far as she was concerned. She didn't like seeing that look on his face though and so she attempted to distract him.
"Hey Vana... guess what I heard about while you were gone today."
She waited for him to make a guess... or four... before she finally decided to just tell him.
"Well... there were some other cheetahs passing by and they were talking rather loudly, so I couldn't help but overhear..." she began, trying to make it seem as though she hadn't had a choice but to eavesdrop, even though she had actually stalked the couple for awhile to gather the full gist of the conversation. "There is a witch... who grants wishes... well... mostly one sort of wish but... um... I would like to go see if it's true or not."
The last bit came out in a rush as she tried to distract him from the "one sort of wish" comment, she prayed he wouldn't ask, what would she tell him? "Oh Vana... I love you so much... lets have babies!" yeah... real smooth... not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:39 pm
As Ariia sped up, Vana smiled. She had definitely grown up to be a beautiful young lady. His thoughts had trailed off as he stared at her lithe body in front of him, but when they finally ducked into the cover of the trees Vana's thoughts were focused on how dark and closed this place was.
He had to ask her to repeat her statement at first before he took a couple guesses, ranging anything from, "an elephant fart" to "a goose who lays golden eggs". He smiled as she laughed at his suggestions but when she said what she had heard he paused for a moment, frowning slightly. "A witch huh?" He said sarcastically. "I supposed we could distract ourselves for a day or so... It would keep mind mind off.... other things." He said. Not only to keep his mind off the enclosed area, but also off her...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:44 pm
Ariia smiled and sighed with relief when he didn't ask her for any more details. That was something she loved about Vana, always up for anything, at least as long as it was her suggesting it. She had him wrapped around her paw, or, so she thought, too bad she couldn't use it to her advantage to make him return her feelings.
"So... we are going then? They didn't really say where to look, they just mentioned that the witch lives in a dark place when it visits the Pride Lands. I guess this is probably a good place to start, it is pretty dark here most of the time." she tried to force her mind off of her other thoughts about Vana and onto the adventure that was at hand... too bad thinking about the adventure only made her think about Vana... and just how much she would love to see little mini Vana's running around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:51 pm
Nodding his head to have her walk beside him, he smiled, "Sure, why not.... I just have to get something off my chest..." He paused for a dramatic effect, or so he claimed because he didn't really know how to come out and say it, "I'm afraid of the dark, at least, in tight spaces." He said with a sheepish grin, tucking his wings in closer to him.
Nudging her with his shoulder he smirked, "Perhaps you can protect me for once." He teased as he looked out ahead of them. Trees. Trees. And more trees.... sighing and shaking his head he looked out the corner of his eye at Ariia.
After walking for a while he paused for a moment, "You know... Ariia... you don't have to stick around me anymore... if you don't want to I mean..." He said, stuttering a little, trying to find the words he wanted to say, "I mean... I just... I don't want you to think you have to stay with me... err... uhh.." He sighed and shook his head, pushing himself forward. Well that hadn't gone as well as he had hoped....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:26 am
Of all the things that Ariia would expect Vana to say, being afraid of the dark was definitely not one of them and she had to make a very conscious effort to refrain from laughing. As it was she looked away so he couldn't see the amused glimmer in her eyes. When she felt she had herself under control she nodded then smiled at him "So there is something you fear! That's good to know, I was starting to think you were a ghost or an alien or something. I suppose I can protect you... if I have too."
They walked in silence for awhile and then Vana stopped so she stopped as well and turned to face him, just as she was about to ask what was wrong he began speaking. The more he spoke the worse she felt... what he trying to imply that he didn't want her around anymore? Maybe he just wanted her to think it was her decision so that she wouldn't get hurt by him pushing her out of his life. "Vana... what... what are you saying? If I didn't want to be with you I wouldn't be... do you... are you trying to tell me... that you want me to leave?" tears were welling up in her eyes and she turned around so he wouldn't see them, her ears pressed down on her head and she could feel herself shaking, it was only a matter of time before she either took off running or collapsed on the ground in a heap. He doesn't want me anymore. just kept repeating in her head and it was making her feel physically ill to know that she'd been strung along as she had.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:40 am
Vana's eyes grew wide at her reaction and he immediately moved beside her and draped a wing over her, pulling her close, like he used to when she was a child. "Ariia! That's not what I meant at all!" He nuzzled her head trying o calm her, knowing that it had calmed her in the past. He sighed and let his head fall.
He was just about to open his mouth to say something when his body grew tense causing his wing to draw her nearer. "Something is here... and it does't seem very nice..." He said softly, but his voice no longer held the softness and sentiment it had just a few moments ago. "Ariia don't you dare move." He said casting her a look that showed he wasn't joking.
Carefully drawing his wing off her, he took a step forward only to jump back with the hair on the back of his neck bristled. The mage popped out before them, a smirk playing on his face. As he stood before them, his gaze only briefly looking at Vana before it lingered on Ariia. He spoke then of a potion that would help them have offspring, but they would have to give up something just as important if they wanted it.
Vana gaped at the mage, then looked at Ariia a blush warming his cheeks and creeping down his neck. "A-Ariia... What I was trying to say is that I don't want you to leave.... ever. B-But... t-this is your choice." He said, his he nodding in the direction of the mage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:46 am
Ariia was unsure of how to react to his gesture, in the past it had calmed her but at the moment she wasn't sure she wanted to be calmed. He didn't get a chance to explain before the mage appeared out of the trees.
Her eyes widened as she listened to his claims of a potion that would allow them to have cubs and she blushed. She couldn't help it, here was the mage offering her what she had dreamed of for months, if not longer, but it also was occurring right after Vana had all but told her he didn't want her around anymore. Or, that's what she had heard anyway.
When Vana spoke it sent her reeling, what was he saying? She was trying to wrap her head around his words but it was foggy and she was unsure that she was hearing him correctly. "Vana... it sounded like... you just told me... you wanted me to stay with you... to... be your mate?" she looked at him with a the question burning in her eyes and hope shimmering alongside it, could this really be happening?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:53 am
Vana cleared his throat and shifted nervously. "Erm... well... yeah..." He said as he briefly met Ariia's eyes before he looked back to the mage. He had really wanted to get this out -before- they had run into him. Of course he knew what had been in the trees, he had heard everything and everyone talking about it. From lions to cheetahs from bird and mice... he had hoped Ariia had heard about him too. He had wanted it to be her idea to come into the trees but he had brougth them there with a valid excuse, but he wasn't going to push this on her. If she wanted to stay with him now, now was the chance. He had only wished they could have figured this out on their own without the power of this magical being.
"It's your choice if you want the potion or not, Ariia..." He said softly, now watching her intently, his heart in his eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 12:27 pm
Ariia was a bit embarrassed now that his feelings were out in the open. Had she really been so blind as to not notice that he was attracted to her? Obviously she had, so much for the female intuition. After a few moments of staring into his eyes she smiled and crossed the short distance to him headbutting him affectionately, ever mindful of her horns. "Vana Huine, I would be honored to be your mate, and even more honored to birth your cubs."
Turning back to face the mage she wracked her brain for anything that she could offer him in return for the potion but she wasn't coming up with anything. What did she possess that a being like him could possibly want? What would he deem worthy of his potion? She looked to Vana and sighed "I... can't think of anything to offer him." her tone was laced with sadness and disappointment as she felt her dreams being ripped away from her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
