Welcome to Gaia! ::

Blaze swayed unsteadily as he braced against her lunge in the crumbling, unstable bottom. That most of her momentum was expended on the water was the only thing that saved him. The current wasn't that strong, but it was still noticable, enough to make him loose his footing if he wasn't carefull. The deep water to his back, and a wolfrider that he knew wouldn't be beaten easily between him and the dry land, he realized how diffcult a situation he had put himself in. **Yes, I do. But you wanted a swim anyways, didn't you?** He galnced quickly over his shoulder, clearly fearfull. **Just please don't push me under.**

As soon as Joy sumberged, Blaze made a sudden break for the safety of a hold on the rock ledge, lurching clumsily in the deep water as his feet struggled for purchase on the bottom as it slid like loose sand out into the deep pool. When she came back up he had hardly made it halfway, and he turned, an uneasy grin on his face. He knew she wouldn't so easily let him get away with pulling her in, and he was truly terrified of tangling with her here, with his greatest fear on her side. **No. Just too much drown in.** Floundering slowly, he inched closer to his goal, hoping she wouldn't notice his movement before he could get a good handhold.

He almost jumped at the first part of her send, and probably would have if it hadn't been for the weight of the water. But as the rest carried through he realized the opportunity and waded carefully over to her, making shure to get between her and the bank. **Yes. Of course.** He sat back on a narrow underwater ledge and looked at her for a moment before asking rather stupidly; **What...what should I do?**

Tugging as carefully as he could, he began to pull the knots out of the red hair, and brush out the stray leaf and twig, humming quietly. It was a pleasant moment, but he still didn't trust her to not be planning some sort of trick. After a while of silence, he pulled the last of the major tangles out and flicked at the tip of her ear gently. **Do you want me to braid it and put flowers in it now?** The tone was teasing, even if he might be tempted to do it anyways. But even as he teased, something was eating at the inside of his stomach, a starved feeling, a dead memory of a similar moment. He ignored it, of course, but it still hung there, like a stain.

The firestarter rested his chin on her shoulder, staring pensively at the far shore. He squeezed momentarily after she'd put his hands around her, and he sighed, his frame relaxing as the air flowed out of it. He kept a tight hold on her hands, and the bodily contact would probably have made Llune faint on the spot, but he kept his mind shielded and aloof from hers. A subtle choke ran through his body, as if swallowing something dry or having trouble saying something, and he squirmed uncomfortably. **I ought to go see if I can help Star.** The send was a poor excuse to get away, and even as he said it the idea rang hollow, but the alternative, to stay, was unbearable. The feel, the smell, the state of mind, all were so heavily bound to his past that they couldn't help but tear at his heartstrings. If it went on for much longer, he'd most likely cry or something weak of the sort. And there wasn't any way he'd show weakness, especially not to Joy.

Pulling himself quickly out of the water, Blaze turned for a moment and sent, apologetic. **It was nice howling with you.** He then hurriedly pulled on his pants without even bothering to shake them out, and set off on a quick trot for the cave. Even as he ran, his mind worked furiously to blank itsself, and before he reached the cave he was only thinking about what might be ailing Starsong.

Dew had wondered around for a while, mad the the sun was rising and she was exploring and not getting ready for sleep. She came to the conclusion that she would just have to live in the day like everyone else, a rather annoying thought to the young cub. At first, she had wondered into the forest, but she had yet to find Morningstar. She had howled again, but his howl told her he would return soon, but not now. She figured he had caught the scent of a ravvit or he may have crossed a river now too high and swift to cross back over for now. Either way, she had sent him the okay and returned back to find something else to do.

She wondered near the river, just in time to see Blaze run off and leave Autumn behind. She titled her head to the side and blinked, wondering what hse had just missed. They had seemed fine at the beach. And she hadn't been paying attnetion to any sends going around, so she wasn't sure if Blaze got called by someone or if another "real" fight had happened. Before she could think further, Autumn was leaving the river.

*What'd I miss?* she sent innocently, partially from naivity.

*Okay* Dew shrugged and walked to Autumns side, ever the cheerful cub. Dew walked walked calmly, although she really wanted to run and jump and climb. But she contented herself to walking along with Autumn, after all, she was still supposed to be mad about being awake during the day and sleeping at night. As they walked, Dew kept glancing at Autumn. Suddenly the sent, still in the innocent, naive tone, *You made him nervous didnt you? Thats why he ran off?*