Andais:
Her eyes opened at the first few rays of light that glittered from the waterfall. It reflected off the rocks, and she blinked a little. Amber orbs glittered as they took in the reflection, thinking it was actually rather pretty. She hadn't forgotten what had happened this time when she awoke. She sat up, rather slowly to make sure not to wake Azrael. She cast a glance to him, watching him sleep and she slowly moved from under his paw which was thrown over her shoulder.
When she stood, she walked to the dens exit, where the waterfall crashed down into the crystal lake where it opened into. She looked side to side, looking for a way out of this den. She had seen him come through another den entrance.
Azrael:
"The falls are far out enough that there's space to walk between the water and the rock shelf, sweetheart," came a sleepy, rumbling voice behind her. Try as she might, Az was a light sleeper, and as soon as she had moved he was awake. He hadn't moved, though, wondering what it was she was up to, what she would do now that she wasn't held captive by sleep and his paw. As soon as she moved away from him, his eyes slipped open ever so slightly, watching her with an extreme sense of satisfaction.
With the morning light filtering through the falls, the shafts of light and splashes of color it sent onto her fur from the light's contact with the water... It was a sight to drink in. While he still regretted having to use force to bring her home, he doubted he would ever regret it in the long run. She was beautiful and looked strong and healthy, even if she was a fair bit smaller than he, and he couldn't deny the spark of humor he got every time she glared at him.
It was much more acceptable then her crying.
"Did you sleep well, sweetheart?"
Andais:
She heard his voice, and almost jumped from her fur. She tried not to show it, but it was in vain as she did jump just slightly. She turned her head to look at him, and caught the sight of him lying in the bed of furs, looking over at her with interest. The way he looked at her unnerved her. It was like she was a dessert that he could just eat up.
"I didn't know you were awake." She said, looking back out towards the falls and feeling a bit of her heart sink. She had been hoping to escape..Though she wasn't sure if she would even have the courage. The jungle was something she didnt mess with, and she was almost positive as soon as she walked around the waterfall and saw the jungle...Every ounce of hope would sink from her body.
"Decent enough I guess." She countered, and sat down.
She really didn't care how he slept but to keep him from being angry, she asked anyway.
"You?"
Azrael:
Az let out a chuckle when she jumped. He didn't like scaring her, but some twisted part of his sense of humor was amused at making her jump. He almost felt like a cub again, walking up behind one of his playmates and yelled boo.
Standing, he stretched until something in his back popped pleasantly.
"Very well," he replied after walking to her. Leaning forward, he nuzzled the side of her face before she could pull away. "Much better than usual."
He wondered how she would take to that one, wanting to see the look on her face. He pulled back enough to see most of her face, his usual smirk on his features.
"Did you want to go outside? It wouldn't be good for you to stay in here all day." It was true, he didn't want her cooped up in the cave all day. She needed warmth and sunlight, which she could easily get on the banks of the lake. She could fish if she wanted, there were nothing dangerous, he made sure of that.
Andais:
She watched every step he took when came forward towards her. She gulped, though hid it rather well. When he nuzzled against her, she tensed but she didn't pull away. She had somehow been expecting that, though she hadnt realized it until he was about to do it.
"Oh? I couldn't have been that good of a bed partner." She said, looking at him surprised though she was confused as well. It wasn't like he had got any thing out of her.. The most he had had, had been the cuddling he had taken. Though she was fine with cuddling.. Out here alone she felt scared, and that calmed her a bit.
"I-I don't know." She responded, not wanting to see the jungle trees or the landscape. She needed tog et over it, but that was the advantage he had right now. Her utter fear of the jungle.
Azrael:
His ears flicked back and his expression soften a bit.
"Come on, sweetheart, I'll be with you," Az said, his tone low and encouraging. He wondered why he ever thought she would take comfort in his presence, but pushed it aside. He wanted her to come outside, to see what all of his home looked like. He didn't know why it seemed to matter so much, but it did. He had seen the fear in her eyes when he had first told her where they were, he wanted her to see it for herself and then decide if she should be as scared as she was. Yes she would be trapped, but he didn't think she would have as little "breathing room" as she thought.
He stepped away from her to the space between the falls and the wall.
One last look over his shoulder at her and he walked away, down the rocky steps behind the falls until he stepped out into the sun.
The rocks curled around the edge of the water, flat, level shelves. The pool didn't have any banks, only the rocks though there were shallow enough areas to fish in. The water left the pool in a thick, deep stream at the far edge, snaking off into the trees. There was plenty of cleared space straight ahead of him, running parallel to the cliffside , the grass thick and spotted with flowers. Ferns and other large-leafed ground plants edged the tree-line. Running through the trees was hazardous, so unless he was hunting he avoided it. The cleared space was enough to run until the sound of the falls grew low, where he could stretch his legs.
He remembered when he had first found this place. There had been a fire, most of the trees near the cliff had been destroyed. He had to clear out a number of dead or dying ones, but the space that had been left had been worth it in the end. The trees at the edge of his home were mostly young, distinct levels of height between them and those farther out. He liked the vision it created.
Now, if only his precious treasure would come out and see it.
Andais:
She was thankful for his understanding of her fear. He didn't poke fun at her, or yell at her. His face had even softened. She gulped, but when he walked away, she cast a glance around the den. She felt trapped in here, and honestly the idea of fresh air sounded more than just a little appealing. She was not far behind him, and she gingerly stepped over each rock as it led her down to the grassy lands. She had to admit it was beautiful.. But she also couldn't lose the idea of where she was. Mother had died in the jungle.. That had done something to Andais.
Her ebony paws touched the grasses, and she wiggled her toes. It was a good feeling to be back on the soft earth. The stone just was no comparison. She tried not to look up over the canopy of trees, as that was what scared her most. So long as this flatland was here, she was happy to stay put.
She watched his movements, noting how he took in his home. He apparently liked it here. She wasnt sure how he found the place, and honestly teh words got caught in her throat when she thought of asking.
Azrael:
Az glanced over his shoulder and the smirk returned when he found her behind him. She had a look of mixed fear and wonder, one that pleased him. She accepted at least part of it, and the jungle border was enough to keep her here when he had to leave to hunt. Fish were good as a snack, but he needed larger game. Now even more since he wasn't alone anymore.
He wasn't alone...
The last creature he had spent more than just an passing few moments with had been his cubhood "friend." He wanted to growl at the memory of the sadistic b*****d. The last time they had seen each other, Az had warned him; told him if he ever saw his face again, Crue's blood would stain his paws black.
But now he had Andais, even if she didn't want to be here. There'd be no letting her go. Any doubts he had of his conviction were gone now.
"There, now is it really that bad?" he asked her softly, though loud enough to be heard over the water.
Andais:
She looked at him when he spoke. Her eyes shielded, she kept her feelings masked. She didn't want him to know how being out here terrified her. Though she had a feeling she could get over it if she really had to. At least out in the open lands right here. But she was thirsty, and the thought of water made her mouth water. She stood from her sitting position in the grass and walked to the bank of the lake. She could tell if she fell she would fall in deep water. So she just made sure not to fall was all.
"No, I guess not." She said, lowering her muzzle to lap at the water before her. It was good, crisp, and she found herself drinking to her hearts content. Lifting her head, water beads dribbled off her chin, and she looked at Azrael.
"Why are you out here?" She asked. She didnt know anyone who would want to live in the jungle..Maybe he really didn't either.
Azrael:
He sat in the grass and watched as a flock of birds flew overhead.
"Crue wouldn't dare come near this jungle." It was an automatic response and his ears flicked back at the admission. It was the truth, though, at least in Az's mind. He'd been raised in the jungle, had grown up somewhere like this one. He didn't think Crue would be stupid enough to follow a crocodile into the water.
But then, Crue had a habit of doing stupid things for a lark.
"I know the jungle. Most of my life was spent in places like this," he quickly added, trying to direct the conversation away from his former friend before it even got started.
Andais:
She caught the name, and she jotted it down to memory. She cocked her head, listening and hoping he would elaborate but he changed the subject rather quickly. Or at least, his reasoning. With a small frown, she looked down at her reflection in the water. Her head was feeling better today, or she knew this by the lack of any pain at all. She hadnt even thought about it today. That was a good sign.
"Oh. My mother was killed in the jungle." She offered, hoping maybe a confession from her would bring a confession from him. Though she wasnt counting on it she figured she could try.
Azrael:
"As was mine," Az replied with a shrug, his tone questioning what that mattered. Just because he lost his mother in a certain setting didn't mean he needed to be afraid of it. What if she had died on the savanna? Should he have been terrified of open spaces?
No, but then maybe it was because Andais was female, and softer than he was.
"She was carrying me across a river, trees on both sides. She didn't see the crocodile until it was too late, but in the sudden attack she flung me into the air. I latched onto a tree branch and hung for my life as she was dragged under." He shrugged as if it meant nothing to him. Did it really? He had been young when it happened. He knew his mother had loved him, but what difference did that make? She was gone in a flash and he was on his own. He had learned signs of the huge reptiles since that day, taught himself how to find bird nests and catch lizards, mice, and little hares. He taught himself how to climb by watching leopards which led to pouncing on his prey from above. Fishing had been a skill for his adult life.
He shook the thoughts away, standing.
"Are you hungry?"
Andais:
She almost withdrew into herself when he spoke the way he did about his own mother. Something about the careless tone in which he shrugged off her fear made her heart pang. She gulped, but looked away from her reflection, unable to stare at it any longer.
She shook her head, not meeting his eyes when he asked if she was hungry. She didn't really know how she could eat with this twitching nervous pang in her stomach. She stood, to jump up on a rock, sitting on the shelf and overlooking the water. She just wanted to stare at the waterfall, and get lost in it.
"No thank you, " she responded, quietly though loud enough for him to hear.
Azrael:
Az frowned at her response. Well, maybe she just wasn't hungry right after she woke up in the morning. That was fine by him. But the tone of her voice made him think it had something to do with what he had said about his mother. Why should she care about how he had reacted? For that matter, why did it bother him that she did?
"I'll be back soon. You may not have an appetite, but I do," he finally said as he stood and headed towards the trees. He took his time, in case she changed her mind. It didn't matter either way, he'd be hunting for something big enough for the both of them anyway. When he got to the trees, he paused, debating with himself whether he wanted to turn back to her or not.
Andais:
She watched as he started to leave. She noted that he paused to look behind him to see if she would change her mind. But she didn't, in fact she wanted to curl into a ball. She felt alone now more than ever, now that she felt a bit saddened. She didn't say anything, but when he started walking off, her mind began rolling. She just had to get out of here..But how? She looked around her, and realized that unless she got over her fear, and fast, she wasnt going anywhere any time soon. When he was out of sight, she lept off the wrong in one bound and then let the grasses soften her blow.
Azrael:
Az walked into the trees when she didn't say anything, annoyed that she was being so stubborn. It wasn't like he was mistreating her, in fact he was doing everything everything in his power to make her more comfortable and even doing his best to make her happy. Maybe he would find her some nice flowers, she would like that, wouldn't she?
Hmm... Maybe he would find those first, and then breakfast.
Kijeshi:
"Well, that's the most I've heard the Huntsman say in one sitting. Usually when he has a girl around it's just... noises," a drawling, deeper voice than Az's spoke from inside the trees. Almost like a snake, a solid brown leopard with fire-colored eyes slid out of the shadows, having placed himself downwind from the entrance to Azrael's den. He'd heard some gossip birds talking about the Huntsman having brought a sleeping female home and taking her into his den. In all the many moons since he'd returned to the jungle and briefly met the antisocial lion, he'd never heard of Azrael taking anyone into his den, much less as far into the jungle as his personal area. Usually he met them near the borders and stayed there, just as Kije found his ladies wandering about and enjoyed their company for a time, wherever he happened to be.
He and the Huntsman had a general arrangement. Kije owned the nights and Azrael the days. As long as they didn't cross each others paths, no one got hurt. But his curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he'd found himself dozing on a branch, waiting for Azrael to wake up and perhaps show his female to all the prying eyes of the jungle.
Andais:
She had only just started thinking of a plan, when a voice came to her ear and she looked for the source with wide eyes. Someone else was there? This is why she hated the jungle. THIS. She would try to be brave, momma would want her to be.
Finally her eyes rested on the male leopard as he emerged from the shadows. She stepped backwards to keep a good distance between then.
"Stop. Who are you?" She commanded, her eyes narrowing. However it seemed he knew Azrael. Her curiosity was peaked and she wondered if she should just try to escape, or ask this guy some more questions.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself thinking of the old saying, Curiosity killed the cat.
"Do you know Azrael?" She asked, cocking her head.
Kijeshi:
"Kijeshi," he said with a dip of his head, settling down on the branch he lay on, moving to lie rather than stand or sit. He looked completely relaxed, no intent to move whatsoever. His long tail flicked from side to side as it hung off of the branch and his side was marred by a single, distinct trio of slashed scars, from a lion's heavy paw.
"I know him, of a sort. He was still growing his mane out when I settled on the other side of the forest. I wish the smug b*****d would tell me how he got rid of Iron Jaws, I'm sick of the crotchety reptile complaining about me playing in the trees." Kije was much more talkative and friendly than Az was, but that was really to be expected. He was a loner and a lady's man, but he had a chivalrous side to his nature... if you didn't count when he was stupid and hungry. And that had only been once...
"He must like you, I've never heard of him bringing someone here before."
Andais:
"Well I don't exactly like him." She said, with a glare in the direction that he had wandered off in. Then she turned her angry amber gaze to the leopard and frowned.
"His first impression kind of sucked."
She sounded bitter, but now that she had an audience she felt the need to get it out. She wasn't sure if this guy was a spy for the lion.. Keeping watch on her as he was out hunting.. Or if he was an ally. She didnt like not knowing.
"What is he to you?"
Kijeshi:
Kije laid his head on his paws and smiled charmingly at her. Oh, he liked this female, she had spunk. She'd certainly give Azrael a run for his treasures if they went toe-to-toe.
"He tends to do that. He tried to run me off the first time we met," he explained, then considered how best to answer her question.
"Hmmm... I suppose the best way to phrase our relationship is that we're neighbors who, at best, stay out of each other's ways," he finally decided on with a shrug. But he grinned down at her, chuckling as he went on. It really was rather amusing, putting to words how he and his younger "neighbor" got along.
"I don't bother him, he doesn't bother me, I hunt at night, hunts during the day. We have a mutual ambivalence towards one another as long as we don't cross paths. And when we do, he really doesn't seem to like me."
Andais:
"You arent missing much. Believe me." She responded. She looked up at him, watching his twitching tail in the tree. She wondered if he knew how to get out of the jungle safely. Would he escort her? She was afraid to ask, it made her heart thump wildly in her chest.
"So.. Say he had really hurt someone. And you knew. Would you help them?" She asked. Testing the waters to see where the questiong would lead. She could only hold her breath and hope.
Kijeshi:
Kije's chuckle became a full, brief laugh and he slowly shook his head, wiping at one eye with a paw.
"Ah, I'm sure I'm not, Miss. I'm sure I'm not," he agreed. He gave this a couple more days before Az was dragging her back out of the forest and dumping her. Hell, maybe a couple more hours. He'd never thought the lion would put up with such a creature.
His head tilted again as he considered what she asked. He thought about what he knew about the Huntsman and what he believed the male was like, despite being an a**. Then again, Kije himself had his a**-moments, more often than he'd care to admit.
"To be honest, probably not. If the Huntsman hurt someone, they probably deserved it."
Andais:
She glared at the leopard, and snorted as her tail lashed angrily back and forth. She didn't say anything at that, she just looked back down at the earth, clamping her mouth shut as she took deep breaths to calm herself down. She wasnt even sure she should bother asking for help from this male but she was going to.
"So if he knocked me out cold, taking me here so he could have me as his, would I have deserved it?" She asked.
Kijeshi:
Kije frowned at that. Azrael had kidnapped her? That didn't sound like the lion he... sort of knew. But then, both males had a darkness in their past. Kije had known it the first time he'd met the younger lion. The look in his eyes... Azrael had been ready to kill him.
"I... I'm not sure what to say to that. That doesn't really sound like the Huntsman..." What in the name of all the gods was he thinking? He didn't have to fight for females, neither of them did around here. What was going on here?
Andais:
She looked at him with an annoyed glare, but let out an exhasperated sigh. She wasnt sure just how well this male knew him then!
"Why do you call him that? Stop? Its pissing me off." She growled, looking back up at the male in annoyance. She really wasnt annoyed at the name, she was more annoyed that he kept using it without at least explaining what it meant!
Kijeshi:
The leopard's mouth opened to explain when someone else answered for him.
"It's because when I set to tracking something, I never give up, never stop, and I always catch what I'm hunting," came Azrael's growled voice from the ground below Kije's tree. Kije jumped up and looked down, seeing Azrael sitting at the base, glaring up at him. What surprised him more was the small pile of flowers at the lion's paws.
"Well, this seems my cue to exit this scene," he mumbled, ears set back.
Azrael:
"That would be wise, Tree Shadow," Az growled back, watching as the leopard turned tail and disappeared into the trees. When he was sure the leopard was gone, heading back to his own den or nest or whatever the hell the dumb leopard slept in, Az returned his attention to Andais. Oh, he was furious. Not at Andais, but at the foolish leopard. Nosey b*****d needed to mind his own business.
"He'd never help you leave, so stop thinking about it. He's a coward, he'd never try to cross me like that." Though he tried, he couldn't get the growl out of his voice. He snatched the flowers back into his jaws and dropped them near her as he passed her, heading towards the pool. It looked like he would have to fish for breakfast, he couldn't trust leaving her alone again. He'd been too distracted, Kijeshi would never have been able to get that close. He was furious at himself. What if it had been someone else? What if it had been someone who could have hurt her?
Andais:
She waited intently for the male to speak, even watched him open his mouth to talk to her. When he did however the voice that flowed from his maw wasn’t that of which she had grown used to. Instead it was a voice that made her stomach sink, and she gulped. She didn’t want to look down from the tree branches. She knew who it was, the growl only terrified her more. With a gulp, her amber orbs glanced slowly down the tree, until they rested on the teal ones of the lion. He was angry, and rightfully so. Though could he really blame her conversation with the other cat? She wasn’t here because she had chosen to be, and he had to know she wouldn’t just take it lightly.
She looked up as the leopard turned to leave, and when he was gone back into the shadows, she felt herself grow a bit angry at him. He left her here with Azrael all alone. Though she imagined he wouldn’t really want to come to blows with the bigger male.
“I-I wasn’t expecting you.” She said with a look to the side, so she didn’t have to see the accusing look she expected in his eyes.
When he walked past her, and gave her the warning to not ask him again, she watched as the flowers slowly drifted to her paws. She looked up quickly, having not expected such a gesture from a lion that had taken her against her will.
“Why did you bring me those?” She asked, looking down at them again, and then bringing her eyes back to his.
Azrael:
"I live here," Az said gruffly back, not even turning to look over his shoulder as he headed towards the stream instead of straight into the pool. It was easier for him to start there instead of diving straight in. He knew what she had meant was that she didn't expect him back so soon, but that wasn't what she had said. He had answered accordingly.
But the flower question... He ignored it. If he hadn't been so angry at his foolishness, he might have been smug, said something like how he had stumbled along the plants that would enhance her beauty even though they paled in comparison. Or how he had wanted to show her that the jungle held many beautiful, wondrous things, just like her. Or even sheer honesty, telling her it was to make up for whatever it was he had said to make her give him that look.
But no. Right now all he felt like doing was snapping at everything around him because he couldn't rightly snap at himself. Then he'd just look mad.
So he put his anger to good use, stalking slowly through water up to his chest. A moment, and then his head snapped into the water, coming up with a large, fat fish in his jaws. He would need several of those to be properly fed, so he clamped his jaw down until something cracked in the fish and it stopped moving before he tossed it onto the grass.
He repeated the process three more times until there were four in a little pile. Leaving the water, he shook the water from his fur and settled down next to the pile, grabbing a fish with one paw and began to eat it.
Andais:
She narrowed her eyes, and went to say a smart a** comment about how she already knew that.. But she refrained. She had just been caught trying to escape from him.. And he hadn’t hurt her. Yet. She didn’t want to bring on his wrath, not that she was sure she had. He said nothing about the flowers, merely continued about his business, and she found herself reaching down to place them neatly next to each other, and lifted the bouquet in her paw. She looked it over, and smiled. They really were pretty, and she had never been given flowers before. But her smile was wiped away when she watched him stalk to the stream and caught a fish. He made it look easy, and she knew how hard fishing could be.. Not that she was very good at it.
When he began eating, she felt her stomach rumble. She knew she was hungry, but she really didn’t want to rely on the male. She stalked to the streams edge, looking down at the water. She caught sight of a fish, and a grin spread across her features. Reaching to bat at it, she fell in.
Azrael:
Az had watched her look at the flowers, saw her brief smile and felt his ire fall a bit. It wouldn't have been worth it if something had happened to her while he was gone, but... Ifs never were him thing, he shouldn't have worry about what could have happened. If he had thought about what ifs, he would have dwelled too long on his mother's death, on his harsh cubhood, or on Uriah's death. The fact that it had just been Kije, that he hadn't tried to hurt her, that he had been smart enough to refuse taking her out of the jungle, that she hadn't been in any danger was enough to calm his nerves a bit.
He heard her stomach grumbled a bit and suppressed a smirk. He wouldn't offer her food again, but he did lightly nudge one of his fish away from the pile.
Whether she ignored it or just didn't see it, he wasn't sure, but she went to the water and looked in. He watched her bat at the water, curious to see how she would fair fishing-
He leapt up when she fell into the water, running to the edge. There was nothing in his water that could hurt her, he'd sent the old crocodile away with as strong a deal as he and Kijeshi had. None of the trio trusted each other, but they kept their words.
But despite that understanding, he wasn't sure if she could swim. The last thing he wanted was for his treasure to drown.
Andais:
She couldn’t help it. She panicked. She had been taught to swim before but she refrained from doing it for so long that she wasn’t sure if she remembered how. She thrashed around, using her paws to push herself up and to the surface of the water. She coughed and sputtered, and likely wouldn’t have taken so badly to it, had she not panicked. She did what instinct told her to do, and she paddled to earth where Azrael stood. She pushed herself out of the water, and lay on the earth for a moment without moving. She breathed heavily, her body adjusting to the s hock that she had just put herself through. Why the hell hadn’t she just asked for one of the fish? He wouldn’t have let her starve..Why did her pride have to get in the way of things?
Her eyes ticked upwards to the towering Azrael. She saw a bit of worry on his face, and she felt happy at that. She wasn’t sure why, because the last thing she wanted to do was care for him. But the fact that he had worried for her safety was rather pleasant. She didn’t know if he was a psychopath or a misunderstood male.
Her mane fluff hung over her eyes and she shook her body to release the water droplets. She was cold now, the humidity no longer doing its part to keep her warm. She did something she was almost positive she was incapable of doing..But when someone was desperate enough they did crazy things. She leaned into him, letting his body heat help warm her up as the evaporation took the droplets from her body.
Azrael:
He was just about to jump in after her when she broke the surface again and hauled herself out of the water. She was soaked and shivering and his heart was pounding, adrenaline causing a ringing in his ears. If she had tried to say anything, he wasn't sure he would have been able to hear it.
But then she leaned against him, soaking his fur, and Az could tell she needed it.
With a small sigh, he nudged her away for a moment, returning to the fish and bringing one back to her. He set it at her paws and pressed back against her side again, licking at her head.
"You know, sweetheart, if you had wanted a bath so badly, I could have done that for you," he purred, a perverted and teasing tone. His anger at himself had dissipated, all he wanted to do now was to comfort Andais, keep her warm, make her fell safe, protected. He wanted to see her smile, or even glare at him.
Andais:
She was ready to be angry when he moved to get the fish. She needed comfort w hile her heart pounded in her chest. It felt like it was about to explode and she almost couldn’t take it! But he moved back and pressed himself against her again and the anger wore off. She supposed for this moment, she could just accept the comfort he offered her. It was better than denying it and feeling lonely and scared. Right?
She knew he wasn’t angry anymore with his comment, and she went to laugh but stopped herself. If she laughed now, then he would think she agreed.. Which at this moment she wasn’t even sure she cared. That fall had shocked her enough to make her just want a warm companion to huddle into.
She looked down at the fish, and this time a smile did break out. Looking up to thank him, she licked his jawline. One short, quick lick that showed her appreciation. He hadn’t made her ask.. She was thankful for that. If she spoke, she knew her heart would really bust through her chest, and so she just spent a few moments taking a few deep breaths.
“Wasn’t exactly what I had planned.” She said, afterwards.
Azrael:
"Could have fooled me," he replied with his typical smirk. Az felt as if a tension had left his shoulders when she gave him a lick. Andais was all right, she hadn't been hurt in the fall and no one had hurt her while he was gone. He would have to show her places she could hide in his den, in case she needed to escaped from someone but couldn't risk running into the trees. It worried him that something like that might happen and yet... Who would he have to worry about? Kije wouldn't cross him, Iron Jaws wouldn't come back up to the pool, not after Az had threatened to throw poisonous plants into it if he stayed. Rogues shouldn't be a problem, not if he stayed as vigilant in keeping strangers off his land as he usually was. He was being irrational, but he'd never had anything as worthy of protecting as Andais.
He returned to slowly grooming the water from her head, taking his time. Would she remain sitting to eat or lie down like he had? He hoped the latter, it would be easier to warm her up that way, at least in his mind.
Andais:
She accepted the grooming, as she had accepted the other things he had been doing for the moment. She didn’t have the energy to fight, and truthfully she didn’t want to.. Not right now anyways. She snorted at his comment, but she looked at the fish and licked her lips. Her belly seemed to know the plan because it began growling again. Lowering herself to her belly, she positioned the fish between her paws, much like a dog with a bone. Tearing at the scales, she began eating, enjoying the feeling of something being in her stomach. It took away the knotted feeling she had had all morning.
The more time she spent with Az, the more he surprised her with his gentleness. She couldn’t get over the fact that a male that had had to beat her over the head to get her here… was so gentle when it came to everything else. She found herself wondering j ust how gentle he could be, before she cleared her throat and shook her head a bit to rid her mind of the idea.
Azrael:
Az settled down next to her, resting one paw between her shoulders as he continued to run his tongue over her fur. He smirked when her stomach rubbled again, knowing full well now that she hadn't wanted to take food from him, not that she wasn't hungry earlier. Or maybe it had been just a foolish assumption that she wasn't hungry and the time it took him to get back, she was.
"If I go hunt something larger would you be alright here? If anyone comes near here, sweetheart, don't trust them. The leopard is a nuisance, but he is the only creature who I know won't try to hurt you." Or take you away from me, he added to himself. The only other creatures he knew that lived here were some smaller lions, a lioness and some of her children. She had a mate and even more cubs when he was younger, but now most of them had gone. She was a busy-body healer who he was happier to just avoid. Another leopardess and her mate and cubs had also lived here once, but had left some time ago as well.
Anyone else that wandered through the forest was a rogue not to be trusted. Sure, some were without malicious intent, but he was ever cautious.
Now even more so.
Andais:
She thought about what he asked, and then nodded. She figured that he was right, and he had given her no reason not to trust him..Well not other than actually bringing her here anyway. She looked into his teal eyes, hoping to see some gleam of truth behind them. She wanted to trust him, since she was stuck with him. If she lived in constant fear, without him giving her another reason to, she would consider herself stupid.
“I wont trust anyone.” She responded, and then finished off the fish that she had been tearing into. Once it was gone, she found herself in thought. She found herself wondering about if he would try to have her again in his bed of furs. Her next thought, was whether she would even turn him down if he tried.
“And I wont go anywhere.” She finished.
Azrael:
That's my girl. Az was a bit startled by his first thought, but he wrote it off as the fact that she was his and he needed her to trust his word and no one else's in this place. Well... she could probably trust the leopard, but he wouldn't tell her that. He didn't need to give her an excuse to torment him by having the useless shadow around his home.
"Good," was all he said, though his tone held more of his pleasure and relief than he had intended. He gave her a few more licks before pulling back and looking at her, one eyebrow raised slightly.
"Still hungry?"
Andais:
She could promise she wouldn’t run. At least for the moment that was a promise she could keep. She couldn’t predict the future, nor could she see about how her mind would be working later on. But for now, she could look at him honestly and say that she had no intentions of wandering off. She wouldn’t be caught dead in the jungle alone, and from the sounds of it, she was in the company of the only creature she could trust in this jungle. She couldn’t help but laugh at that though.. It was all so strange.
“Kind of.” She responded, having finished the fish and was licking her paws in an attempt to clean them. Though the sun wouldn’t be up much longer, or she didn’t assume. She yawned and stretched out her body slowly. She hadn’t even been thinking of the show she was giving him, but she was giving him one nonetheless.
“D-don’t..be gone long.” She said reluctantly. “The last thing I want to do is be caught in the darkness by myself.” She said, looking up at him in desperation. She didn’t want him to laugh at her, even if she deserved it.
Azrael:
Oh, how he wanted to groan when she stretched. Just imagining her arched like that for a completely different reasoning, imagining the sound of her panting... He shook the thoughts away as his blood started to heat. Later. He would win her over in good time, then she would be his completely.
Az smiled at her as he stood, nodding his head but saying nothing. He walked over to the pile of flowers he had brought her, sifting through until he found the right one. It was a pair of long, dark orange Clivia flowers, their coloring reminding him of her. He picked them up, careful not to snap any bits off because he knew if swallowed they could make him ill. It wouldn't kill him, but he didn't need to be sick when he had Andais to protect.
He walked back over to her and slipped the flowers carefully behind her ear.
"How could I stay long away from you," he murmured in her ear before puling away to look at his handiwork. She was in a patch of sunlight, she would be warm without him there as long as she didn't get wet again.
"I'll be back soon, sweetheart. If you need me, just call, I won't be too far." And with that he turned and walked back to the trees again.
But this time he did look over his shoulder at her, giving her that cocky smirk again.
Andais:
She watched as he got up, and moved towards the pile of flowers that he had brought her earlier. She watched as he pulled the pretty orange flowers from the pile, and brought them over to her. He gingerly placed them behind her ear, and she found herself looking at them with a smile. The flowers were beautiful. She should have thanked him for them, but she supposed her actions were proof enough of her appreciation.
"Thank you." She whispered, as he turned to look at her and told her he would return. With a little smile once he left, she turned and looked at the reflection of herself in the water. The reflection, looked a whole lot different than it had a few minutes ago.. She was finally smiling.
