Could this be love?
Andariel leaned down to lap up the cool water until she had her fill of it. Turning her gaze up to the sky she found the day had just passed her by and would soon be settling into night. She had rather enjoyed sleeping on the beach the night before, the waves soothing to a tired sitara. Unfolding her wings she jumped up into the air and pumped her wings to carry her higher to miss the trees. She flew overhead, casting a long shadow on the ground. The purple sitara flew towards the sea and glided down to the soft sands below when she reached the beach. Tucking in her wings against her back she looked for a good spot to use for the night, somewhere away from any later nighters taking a dip and being noisey.
On her walk she noticed a bright light ahead that moved. Funny she didn't think the sun moved in that fashion. Curious she decided to follow it, the closer she got the more she could make out that it was another sitara and his tail was aflame. Picking up her pace she trotted over to him and kept a distance incase he wasn't the friendly sort. "Greetings. I hope I am not bothering you. Your tail is quite the eye catcher."
Red XIII was tired of hearing this his whole life, he stopped walking and turned around. "That it is girly." He stood facing her now. She was pretty enough but something in her eye caught him off guard. "But you are too." Her emerald eyes where very dazzling. His tail moved from side to side, licks flames danced in the on coming nights air.
Andariel could hear in his tone he wasn't amused one bit. She didn't turn away when he faced her and she laughed it off not sure what else to do. "I thought it was the sun for a.." her voice trailed off, unsure she heard him right. Was he complimenting her? She gave a small smile being sure to say something "Thank you." Her eyes gave that happy twinkle in the dying light. Thankful for someone else to talk too. "Do you mind the company?"
Red XIII saw the twinkle in her emeralds with his one eye and smirked. He turned around to walk again down the beach. His mane like mohawk moved in the nights breeze. "No not if you don't mind walking." He said.
Andariel started walking again, keeping pace with him. "Not at all." As they walked she glanced briefly to the marks on his fur and the scar over his eye wondering about them. She hadn't met any sitara with scars. Not wanting to outright ask him she mulled in her thoughts for something to say. Her dark purple fur would seem to darken further as the painted sky drifted further inland and night set in. "Where are my manners? I'm Andariel." she said as her tail swayed in the air casting shadows in the glow of his flames on the sand.
"And I am Red XIII." He said with a jurk of his head towards his leg markings. "So I'll never forget." He laughed. "I'm pleased to meet you Andariel." He looked her over in the last dieing light the world had to offer. Her fur was well kept and she seem to be nice, but he could tell she wanted to ask him something. I bet it was about his markings, it was always about the markings. "I can tell you about the scar but not the markings on my legs if you wish it."
Andariel's eyes downcast to the marking on his shoulder and gave a nod. It seemed like a good answer though she couldn't figure out why he would forget in the first place. "I am pleased to meet you as well. Would you mind if I called you Red?" she asked before moving around behind him to come up along his other side, not uncomfortable seeing the scar and marks she just liked seeing his open eye. "I would like to hear whatever you wish to tell. I won't push." She looked him in the eye, only glancing away to make sure she didn't trip over a rock or random object until her eyes adjusted.
Red XIII raised an eye brow. "No go right on ahead." He held his tail up higher to light the way better. "I will tell in time my story but that is if you stick around that long." He looked to the darkness before them that seemed to sallow up everything. "I was young and there was a battle." He began.
Andariel smiled as he lit the way with his tail. "Ooh you won't get rid of me now." she laughed. "Then you will have to tell me." It was her way of lightening the mood before he would start his story. She calmed down to let him talk, listening to his words and keeping quiet unless she had a question.
Red XIII just shook his head and looked away form the stars. Now he looked at the purple sitara out of the corner of his working eye. "I was in a battle long befor you where born. My tribe...my family was in a fight...a war more like it. They are all gone now, I'm all that remanes." He hoped he hadn't said to much.
Andariel looked away from him to the path they walked so he didn't feel pressured to tell her more then he felt he should. She was happy he wanted to share what he did but frowned at the sad story. "I'm sorry for your loss of family. I know that doesn't help... I thank you for sharing with me." she spoke in a soft tone, looking into his working eye once more. He had made her all the more curious about him but she kept those in mind for another time when he trusted her more.
"Don't be. I happend long ago." Red XII looked forward to the waiting darkness, his ears twitched to the sounds of the sea. "Where is your family?" He asked with out even looking at her.
Andariel looked uneasily at the sea and the waves rising over the beach. "I.. don't know. I never knew them." She didn't know if she would even like them if they met now. "I believe I have faired well without them." she commented after a few moments of silence, shifting her wings over her back. She wasn't about to let it bother her now and definately not infront of him.
"I see. You are like many here then." He turned his head back up to the stars. "To have known them and lost them or to always wonder. Which is more..." He stopped not liking the path he was going down. "The stars have seen many things. They tell us stories and show us things. Do you know of any?"
Andariel knew where he was going before he changed the subject. Being one without she couldn't answer which would be worse to bare. When he mentioned the stars she immediately looked up as well. Some where already brighter then others this early in the night. "I never knew that. Do they tell any type of story?" she was quite intrigued by the stars now to really answer his question. Having looked up plenty of times she hadn't gotten much but twinkling and maybe one shooting star since she was born.
Red XIII chuckled a deep chuckle. "Yes I do. Here you see that one super bright one to the left of the half moon?" He stopped walking and sat down where he was. He wrapped his tail around him self but on the side Andariel wasn't on.
Andariel took a few steps before noticing he stopped and blushed. Turning she walked back to him and sat down in the sand a comfortable distance from him and looked for the star he pointed out. "Yes I see it, near that faint one." she replied, staring at the star.
"Yep. To it's left is another star. See it? It looks alittle blue and flickers a lot. Thats Naka's star. She was strong, brave, cuning." He grinned. "My grandmother."
Andariel turned her gaze to the blueish star and gave a nod of her head to confirm she saw it. "Naka's star." she repeated the name to memorize it. She lowered her head and looked at him in surprise. "Your grandmother?!" Her head turned upward again to look at the star some more. "I bet alot of your family was strong and brave." she commented, swishing her tail over the sand, sweeping a small mound in its wake.
"Yes you see we will some time grant great sitara a place in the stars. This is how we remember the great ones. The lost ones. We won't ever forget them this way." He looked back down to the sand before him, his eye harden. "Not all of them. No." He growled low in his thoat.
Andariel stared up at the sky, her gaze lingering away from his grandmother's star to some of the others. She wondered if any of her family were up there, even if she didn't know them. Before she could say anything she heard his last words and the different tone in his voice. "But you are." she replied, complimenting him and trying to keep the mood calm. A small smile spread across her muzzle.
Red shook his head. "I am not. I have done nothing that proves I'm brave or cunning....I'm just the last in a long line of greats." He stared into his tail flame now. Gitting lost in it's dance.
Andariel looked directly at him, stating in a firm but friendly tone, "Then do something. Has it occurred to you that maybe someone else might think you are brave?" By the goddess she hardly knew the handsome sitara beside her and yet she wanted to n** at him for starting to be negative when things were going moderately well. "A friend maybe." She thought he surely had a friend that thought so. "If not now then some day."
Red XIII broke his gaze. "What are you talking about Andariel? Have you seen me do anything brave? I've know you what, one sunset?" He layed down and put his head on him paws. "Friends are hard to keep when you never stop moving. Or live longer then them." He closed his one eye in thought.
Andariel's head shook and she said nothing. It seemed she couldn't put him in a better mood so she left him to his moping. Getting up she walked a few paces then laid down to give him space. "They are still your friends regardless of where you go.." she muttered and let her head rest on her front paws, staring out at the water. It was quiet for the exception of the ocean and bugs making their noises. She laid there for some time, drifting between sleep and wakefulness. It had been a long lonely day and she was tired from her wandering but she didn't want to sleep just yet. Her tail flicked up off the sand every now and then as a way to help keep herself awake.
Red XIII Had fallen asleep to the sound of the sea. Andariel's words played over in his mind and he had a weird dream because of them. When he awoke the next day, the deep orange male was on his back paws in the air. His firely tail away from him. He looked around to see if the purple female was still around him in the new days light.
Andariel eventually lost her battle to stay awake and nodded off. Her sleep was peaceful despite the odd turn of conversation with the orange male. Fire seemed to be a theme in her dream. She woke up when the first rays of sunlight streamed across the beach, the cool breeze ruffling her fur in an unpleasant direction. Glancing over she noticed Red hadn't wandered off after all. Shifting she curled up into a ball watching the waves until he awoke. The sun was still making it's slow climb into the sky behind her when she gave a small smile to him. "Good morning."
"Good morning indeed." He rolled over onto his underbelly and looked the the sun in the sky then to the purple female again. "Have you been watching me in my sleep." He narrowed his eyes and smirked.
Andariel couldn't help but smirk as well, "I may have glanced your way once or twice. You are, after all, in my vision." she motioned her head in his direction where behind him lay some rocks and the waves crashing over. Colorful dots were seen far off in the distance past the rocks. She couldn't tell if they were sitara or not from here. "Did I wake you with my staring?" she mused, a playful twinkle in her eyes.
Red only chuckled, his tail of flames flickled and twitched beside him now. "I felt emeralds burning into me so I woke up. Thats a yes in other words." He shook out his head and mane. "Well I'm just glad I had an angel watching over me for one night." Red's voice had the sence of play about it. His one green eye watched the rolling waves.
Andariel nodded, glad he played along. "I see no holes so I guess I didn't stare too hard." She stretched her front paws out infront of her, raking the sand beneath her claws. With his comment she stared at the sand between her paws, thankful the dark color of her fur hid the blush creeping over her cheeks. "Maybe the angel will watch over you another night if you wish."
"If I don't scare away the angel with my flare then I would like that." He flashed a smile, only half of his face was showing to her. Red stood up then and turned to her. "What doth the angel wish to do today."
Andariel got up after him and shook off some of the sand that still clung to her fur. "You would have to do something terrible to scare an angel away" she smiled while stretching out her back legs. She felt as if she had been laying on them far too long. "I've never been asked before," she spoke in a soft tone. "Does my companion have any suggestions?"
"I could think of something if you'd like." He said with a devilish look in his eye after the first thing she said. "Oh why not? One as beautiful as you should do as you wish all the time and others should go alone with it. But if it is up it me I say we go eat."
Andariel gave him a funny look having mixed feelings about his remark. "I don't know about that. But the mention of food is appealing." Just to make it's own remark her stomach growled. She blushed, turning her face away from him. "It has been about a day now" she mentioned randomly. "Shall we head somewhere then?"
Red XIII chuckled, it made her all the more cute to see her turn away from him in embarriment when her tummy growled. "So lovie lady what do you wish to eat?"
Andariel thought on his question. If she chose fish, which she didn't really feel like eating this time, they could just stay where they were. "I would like berries" she replied looking back to him with a smile. "If the angel's guardian doesn't mind," she stepped over to him, brushing against his side playfully.
Red XIII raised an eye brow, they where really going far with this angel talk. He started to wonder just how far he could take it. Red waited untill Andariel was past him, her fur against his sent a shiver down his spine. "Oh where his is?" He spun around in a circle. "I'll get him." He joked.
Andariel liked the playful side she caught him in and didn't mind being called an angel. Turning her head she watched him spin around like he was actually looking for someone else. She giggled and placed a white dipped paw on his nose, "Here he is, don't let him get away" her tone musical with her laughter.
Red XIII would have gone crossed eye'd when Andariel stopped him with a paw on his nose, that is if his right eye wasn't scarred shut. "Oh I won't dear angel." He stood on his back legs and hugged his chest with the front ones. This made him topple over, he started to roll around on the ground. He grunted and made sounds like ouf and ack. He rolled closer to Andariel and close till he could take out her legs, so she could topple over on top of him.
Andariel pulled her paw away at the same time her wings unfolded at the mention again of being an angel. Her head tilted to one side as she watched his antics, catching on she cheered him on "Get him." She laughed and then gave an sharp "oof" when he bowled her over off her feet and ended up sprawled ontop of him. "Looks like I got him as well"
Red XIII smirked deviously and chuckled. "Well pin him and keep him there so he can't run away."
Andariel grinned and made herself comfy, resting between his legs with her weight mostly on his stomach. "Eventually the hunger will get the best of me. I will keep him in his place until then" she leaned her head down and brought her nose inches from his and stared into his green eye.
Red XIII front paws held her just under her wing. "But what will happend if the guardian doesn't wish to let go og one so beautiful?" His voice playful but his eye was searching her dazzling emerald's for something.
Andariel was speechless. She had thought it was all in play and she laughed it off nervously, "I don't know why he would." Squirming she slipped off of him, adjusting her wings against her back. The vain gene didn't seem to pass on to her. "Now about those berries.." she flicked her tail and looked towards the end of the beach where the forest began.
Red XIII closed his eye and chuckled, his paws still in the air. "Who'd ever want to let go a fallin star if one was so lucky as to catch it?" Rolling onto his front so he could get up onto his paws he yawned. "What type do you want to get?" He shook out his whole body, his tail flicked about sending licks of flames into the air.
Andariel shook her head, "One would let go if the star was burnt out and not so lovely." She walked over the sand, sinking lightly with each step. "I personally like strawberries" she admitted to him with a quick glance over her shoulder. "I know I've seen a field of them further inland.." She lowered her head while she walked and stared at the sand.
"Better to burn out then fade away." Red was saying that more to him self. He looked sea one last time. "One that shines so brightky could be nothing but lovely." He turned around and walked back to Andariel side, he couched down so he could look into her face. "Strawberries it is. Lead the way fair lady."
Andariel shifted her gaze to him but said nothing. She hoped she didn't get them lost, being on foot was different from being in the air. "Have you met the other sitara here?" she asked to change the subject. Once they were off the beach she lightly kicked off any clinging sand particles on her paws though they still felt sticky. "You hadn't really mentioned friends before"
Red XIII too shook what was left of the sand off his paws. "I met a cutie by the name of Dory, very hyper." He watched her face to see how she would react to this news. "I also met an odd bloak that walked around on his back legs talkin about rum and the sea. I never did get a name out of him. Those are just sitara I've met as of late."
Andariel made a noise similiar to hmmph when he mentioned cutie when speaking of this Dory sitara. Her face scrunched briefly then let it slide, ears twitching to news of one walking on his hind legs. "You've met some interesting characters then" she spoke simply trying not to let his comment earlier bother her but it was. "Why are you not with this Dory now?"
Red XIII paddled along side Andariel smirking from her reaction. "But none as-" He was cut off by her. She wasn't done speaking it would seem. Red was pretty much grinning from ear to ear. "She boths you this much?" He fought the urge to chuckle. "She was as I've said. Hyper. That and she kind'a ran off on me. Glad she did too. I wouldn't be in the presents of an angel now if she hadn't."
Andariel hadn't meant to cut him off but it bugged her that he would throw her compliments then say someone else was cute. "I don't even know her. And from the sounds of it, I am thankful." She took in a deep breath to relax herself and push the feelings aside then lifted her head to look about. From their position on the beach she knew if they kept heading the current direction they wouldn't find it. Picking up her pace she walked ahead of him and started walking south through the trees, passing up other berry bushes scattered around.
Red XIII stared at the female's white legs as they walked on seeing how she was now infront of him. "You shouldn't be like that." He said. "So cold to someone you don't even know." He wasn't being mean, he was just talking.
Andariel slowed down greatly, looking at him a bit stunned "I am not cold. Is it wrong to not want to meet a hyper sitara? I don't doubt she was nice." Slowly she sat down curling her tail around her paws feeling bad after what he said though she tried to explain. "I didn't think it was that terrible a response when you mention she's cute before anything else."
Red XIII kept with her pase and stopped when she did but didn't sit down. After hearing her words he slowly shook his head and chuckled. "Is this jealousy I hear?" He move closer to her and sat down just in front of her. "She was still a kit on the inside, I have no intrest in her."
Andariel stared at him, watching his movement until he stopped before her. "I'm not jealous.." she started to protest only to find she couldn't think of a word to call the feeling. "And if I was? You are my only real friend and I like you" she blurted out.
Red XIII couldn't help but smile. "Does it look like I'm going any where? You are the only one I haven't walked away from." He said this because if he didn't like someone he'd leave them after a day or two to be on his own again. " You are my friend too Andariel, I like you being around. I like being around you."
Andariel shrugged her shoulders to his first question. She would have understood if he did leave, feeling she wasn't good enough for him. Picking herself up she stepped over to him and nuzzled his cheek. "I like keeping you company for as long as you want to put up with me." She smiled lightly, her heart beating a little faster after hearing he liked her enough to not walk away.
Red XIII sighed. "I wouldn't call it 'putting up with you'." He nuzzled her neck. "It's more than that my angel."
Andariel smiled more, giving a lick to his ear "Dare you say?"
The lick tickled his ear and his flickled it. Red XIII pulled away and looked into her dazzling emeralds. "Come again?"
Andariel clearified her question, moving to his side and brushing her tail along his back "Dare you say, how much more then that it is?"
A shiver ran down Red's spine, following her tail. "Why must the angel know?" He was smirking.
Andariel smirked, turning her head to look over her shoulder at him "The angel is rather curious."
Red XIII stood up and moved to her side. "Curiosity killed the sitara." He quoted an old saying softly into her ear.
Andariel laughed softly, atleast she tried. "I will get it out of you sooner or later." She playfully nipped at his side and started walking again.
"You can try Andariel, you can try." Red XIII chuckled and hopped out of her range of nipping. He walked along again sniffing the air for the sent of berries. "Do you know where we are going?"
Andariel kept playing with him, using her tail as the means, trailing over his frame in different spots. She acted innocent that she wasn't aware of her tail at all. "Well it is easier to see from above. I can take a look around, that should help get us there."
Her tail started to make him all ticklish though he'd never show it. Red just twitched every now and then when she went over sir tin spots. "So I'll get to see my angel in action?" He let the 'my' part slip out with out knowing it.
Andariel nodded and unfolded her wings letting them spread out to their full length. "Unless you want to get lost" she replied noting his little slip. The words would stick in her mind. Moving a few steps away from him she jumped up into the air and began to beat her wings against the air taking her up high into the sky. Above the trees she only flapped her wings every now and then, hovering in place to look around. She could see everything from her position, the sitara looking quite small below but she could see the field of strawberries. "Turn southeast, it's just a little further inland" she called down to him.
Red XIII waved his tail around as a sign to say ok, know she'd be able to see it better then a nod of the head. He trotted northeast just as she has said. He would glance up at her every now and then. It was a bit hard to spot her at times seeing hoe her wings, legs, ears, and tail tip where all white like the clouds. Good thing her gorgeous body was a deep purple.
Andariel followed above him, unable to stop herself from purring happily. She was happiest flying as any angelic is but he also put her in this good mood. Folding her wings back she speared through a low cloud and dove down towards the island. The breeze blew against her body and her wings spread out to catch it, gracefully gliding to the ground. Looking back she was several feet ahead of him. The smell of strawberries filled her nose as she waited for him, the field just behind her.
Red XIII picked up the pase when he saw Andariel glide back to earth. His hair with she blue balls in it, that hung down past his face. Hit into his cheek and neck as he ran. His flame seemed to be burning brighter. He ran towards the smell of strawberries but he ran for Andariel not wanting to keep her waiting. He slide to a stop just in front of her face. "So wait are you waiting for?" He ran past her then to get a big ripe berry.
Andariel stepped to the side incase he couldn't stop in time. "You slow poke" she laughed and padded over to the field behind him. Her stomach protested the long wait and she eagerly plucked a ripe looking berry and bit into it. The first one always seemed tart, her face expressing it. She swallowed the rest and grabbed another, "These are really good"
"I wouldn't know." Red said as he dug around in the strawberry patch looking for something.
Andariel ate a few before looking over to him, tilting her head "Are you looking for one in particular?" She was curious what he was up too, walking over closer to him
“Mmm hm." Red XIII hummed. His tail wagged around in the air to ward her off.
Andariel looked at him quizically then walked away to snag some more berries. She savored each she bit into, careful not to swallow leaves
Red XIII yelled. "AH HA!" He jumped up with a large shiny red, ripe strawberry dangling from his mouth. He leaped over to the white and purple female and put it down by her paws. "Ta da!"
Andariel jumped a few inches off the ground with his sudden yell, spinning around in a circle she found him on the other side of her where he had been. She looked down at the big berry he found, "Wow that's a big one, you should eat it silly" with a paw she gently rolls it over to him
Red XIII shook his head slowly, which made his side burns with the blue balls tied into them sway. "No it for you. So go on and eat it because I didn't go thought all that work for nothing." With his nose he nugded it back to her.
Andariel smiled, sitting down and curling her tail around her paws "Thank you, that's sweet of you. Are you.. going to watch me eat it?" she half teased, bending she nudged it upright and took a bite out of it. The rush of flavor filled both her mouth and nose, her eyes closing as she ate the piece. "Wow this one is better then the others." Picking it up by the stem she padded over to him, holding it before his nose to entice him. "Try it please"
Red XIII shook his head again. "No I picked it for you and only you." Red smiled and went to find so ripe ones of his own.
Andariel sighed and set the strawberry down, plucking the stem off the berry before eating the rest of it in two bites. She followed after him purposefully though playfully bumping into him as she passed "Excuse me" and scrounged for more delicious berries like the one he had found. He was stubborn but she could be too. Gently she pawed through a patch, pushing aside bruised or insect nibbled strawberries
Red XIII eyed her when she bumped into him. Red had a feeling that it was on purpose but he alouded it, maybe even injoyed it. He hit her back with his tail, minding the flame, before she was out of his reach. He was lucky enough to find him self a few uneaten ripe berries.
Andariel moved slowly, getting picky on which she picked up for him. After several minutes she giggled to herself and picked up a nice juicey one that was slightly smaller then the one he had found her. She pranced over to him and presented him the berry like before "Now you can't refuse"
Red XIII turned around when her heard Andariel come up behind him. "What did you do to it?" He asked, sniffing it abit. It did smell good.
Andariel inched her face closer "Nothing." She honestly didn't know why he would think she would do something to it. If he didn't take it she would try to pop it into his mouth anyways for being a pain
Red XIII rolled his eyes. "Ok I'll take you word for it." He leaned into her, bowing his head to get to the red berry that hung from her wonderful mouth. He lightly bumped his nose into her's on purpose but acted like his aim was just off. "Sorry." He smirked and took the berry.
Andariel felt a little relief he wasn't going to insist on this one that she keep it. "Good" she replied, tilting her face up a bit. With a blush she released the stem of the strawberry, her cheeks feeling real warm "It's alright.." a shy smile formed before turning her head to look elsewhere.
Red XIII thought she was acting cute. He just quietly to eat the tasty treat with a smile. "It was really good Andariel. Thanks." He walked up behind her.
Andariel lowered her head and pawed at the strawberries there around her paws. "Your welcome. I'm glad you liked it." She was aware of his movement but her gaze stayed on the berries until the heat of her cheeks went away.
Red XIII brushed up against her wing on her left side. "I loved it." He sat down beside her and bent down to eat a berry by his paws.
Andariel's wing twitched to the ruffling he caused, resettling it over the right against her back. "Good" she found a ripe berry and ate it. Her tail swayed over to her left side and fell over the base of his, laying atop it for a moment before she pulled it back.
Red XIII was in the middle of eating another strawberry when he felt her tail on his. He sallowed and said "Careful you don't want to get burn now." He's voice was playful. He watched her in the reflection of his arm bands.
Andariel slowly looked over to him with a nod though his firey tail wasn't the type of burn she was concerned about. "I'm careful" she murmered laying her tail between them. Quietly she ate a few more berries then checked on the sun overhead. It had gotten much later then she thought. "Red, do you have a home anywhere?" she asked randomly.
Red XIII nodded. "I did once but that was long ago. Now I just roam around."
Andariel frowned, "Must have been nice while you had it." leaning over to him she nuzzled his cheek quickly, "Seeing as how the night will be comming upon us soon enough, I thought of going back to the beach later. I don't have a home so I tend to head there." Her shoulders shrugged as she thought about it. "I guess it's silly to want one."
"It was nice..." Red XIII looked at Andariel after her little nuzzle, with a grin on his face. "Has that much time really passed us by?" He looked up to the sky after her talk of time. He then looked into the forest that started to go darker. "I don't think so. But just remember home is where the heart is." Red nuzzled her cheek now as he got up and started to head back. "We should go now...and maybe bring along some berries for a snack."
Andariel smiled, beginning to purr from his nuzzle. "Then my home moves" she smirked and got up as well. Stepping carefully through the patches she found a spot that had gone bad from the warmth of day or any other probable cause and tosses the berries aside. She tested the vines before pulling them off the base plants and started to weave them together to form a little pocket. It was loose and could only carry up to 10 berries if they were light in weight. "You should pick them, you do find the best"
Red XIII eyes her wondering what she ment but the first remark. He walked back to her side. "The angel has given me a task! I will not fail her." He smirked and set about his task. In no time be found eleven strawberries. "Here this one is for you now." He said with one last big ripe berry hanging from the stem in his mouth.
Andariel laughed softly and waited patiently for him. Her eyes stayed on his moving figure as he picked the berries then came back. She tucked them away into the makeshift basket, picking it up after two berries to test it. As the last berries were put in she could feel the vines straining to hold in place. She looked up to see the berry he teasingly held as she had done. "Thank you" leaning in to take it, she brushed nose and lips against his.
Red XIII ears twitched as did his tail. He felt heat rush to his cheeks. For a bref second he held the look of surprise which quickly turned into joy. On impulse he gave her nose a soft quick lick with the tip of his tongue. The berry steam still in the side of his mouth, he backed away. He was reading her face to see if he had gone to far.
Andariel's face held surprise as well first for her bold move then his own. She beamed at him and forgot about the berry, closing the gap between them and nuzzling into his neck affectionately.
Red XIII dropped the berry in shock, as his mouth parted. He was sure she would yell at him and scoffle off and leave him alone. But here she was, returning his affection. After a second or two he started to growl happily, he would have purred but it wasn't his thing. His tail swayed behind him and he started to nuzzle her neck back.
Andariel perked her ears to the non-agressive growl and at first she thought she did something wrong. Before she would step back however he was nuzzling her as she had hoped. Lifting her face from his neck she licked his cheek with a warm smile. "You are full of surprises"
Red XII opened his eye and wore a smirk on his lips after he felt the lick. "I could say the same about you." He bent down and picked up the berry carrier. "Shall we?" He said through closed teeth.
Andariel shrugged "I would say I am more.. confusing perhaps." She picked up the berry he dropped, taking it too. Walking beside him she stayed close and silent thinking about what happened just then between them. She couldn't help the way she felt about him and she hoped it wouldn't scare him off when he came to his senses.
In the still quiet of the forest form the on coming night Red XIII wondered if his boldness would scare Andariel off. But if it would have scared her away she would have ran by now. What does this mean? This was he's patter of thought he done again and again. He was staring at his paws as they walked in thought. He bumped into the purple female because he wasn't paying attection. "Oh sorry." He said through closed teeth again.
Andariel glanced over to him on occassion wondering what he was thinking. Why would he like me anyway? I'm nothing special. Yet the way he called me his angel.. and the way he.. her thoughts were cut off when he bumped into her, sending her tripping sideways. She caught her footing and smiled at him, "It's ok." It was quiet again walking under the forest trees. He must be thinking of a way to get rid of me
Red XIII smelted the up coming beach before he saw it. "It won't be long now." He told her just incase she didn't already know. He needed to think of something to do. Some way to show her that he was starting to care for her. He never believed in 'love at first site' or love at all really but here was a drop dead gorguse sitara beside him who was nice to him right away. Stayed with him all night after he was moody and stayed with him after his bold move on her....Ugh why did I kiss her. She's come to her sences soon as it sets in and think I'm a perv. Ugh Stupid Nanaki Stupid! Red glanced to his side to look at her
Andariel hardly paid attention to the things around them let alone that they were comming closer to the beach. She focused on the path ahead of them seeing the glimmer off the sand in the distance. Making a noise of acknowledgement before she zoned out again. I am just being a selfish little kitten thinking he should like me. I'm reading him wrong, I must me. He's just trying to be nice so I won't start crying. Her eyes narrowed with her face turning to anguish as she privately scolded herself. The expression softened as her paws sunk into the sand of the beach, finally looking over to him. "Thank you.. for going with me Red."
Red XIII turned to her and smiled as his train of thought was broken. "Any time." My angel. He said the last part in his head not wanting to scare her off any more then he might had. Red walked down the beach towards the rising tide. Half there he layed down on the warm sand. "Andariel?"
Andariel slowed her pace watching him walk past and further onto the beach. She tried to sneak off. Go now before he realizes the mistake and crushes your.. Ears perked and she turned her gaze to his backside stopping in mid stride. Swallowing she tried to control her tone "Yes?" There went her chance to leave before hearing what she dreaded he would say. She walked over to him in a snail's pace hoping if it took her long enough she might not be hurt as badly. She wouldn't see his face and she would be able to leave him to himself faster.
Red XIII stared out to sea not wanted to see the look on her face. A face that would read, 'leave me alone.' or something along those lines. He started to talk only once she reached his side. "Why you stay with me again tonight?" He asked.
Andariel stared at the back of his head, unsure if he was just messing with her. Her chest pained her, knoting as he made her thoughts twist against her more. "Are.. you sure?" She settled down near him, thankful for the ground beneath her more sturdy against shaky limbs. She didn't dare lay down now "I've already bothered you enough today.."
Red's ears twitched as his head turn to the side to look at her now."Bothered!?" He didn't see the look of contemn in her emeralds like he thought he would. This gave him hope and he smiled. "Dear angel...it is I that have wronged you." He stopped not knowing how to go on about this.
Andariel lowered her head, ears folding back. Here it comes she thought to herself. What he said next both confused and surprised her. She could see he was looking at her from the corner of her eye but she didn't want to look into that face, not yet "You don't need to be nice about it.. Being alone would be better off for you.."
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