Welcome to Gaia! ::

Still letting her head rest against his, Elle's smile faded. "Many things will change before we rest again, but this will not. I will always be here."

Her hands slid slowly from his shoulders, passing his wings, and looping about his stomach. Tugging him back more comfortably, waves splashing at the small of her back, Elle let her voice reach him quietly.

"I do love you, Lonan, and I have no intentions of letting you face this alone." Perhaps she could not carry the burden with him, but she would do all she could.

The warmth between them was building, driving back even the chill of the waves. Nudging forward until her nose brushed the side of his neck, Elle exhaled gently...leaning forward to place a small kiss on that spot.

Elle wasn't rough, she knew he would still be aching...but the ruddy seafoam had faded, swept out to sea. "I will build us a fire, up by the rocks...unless you'd like to leave the beach. My room isn't far."

She made no effort to move, not yet. Despite the cold surf, having Lonan against her was more than enough to take her mind off it. Another ghost of a kiss, closer to his jaw...and Elle's lips curved into another warm smile.

If this was a bad day, she could hold no fear for the future.

Nodding in silent understanding, Elle shifted slowly...drawing Lonan more comfortably into her arms. Turned a bit to accomodate his wing, she settled more to the side...finally able to see his face.

Thin trails of blood still remained, cut through by his own tears. Drawing her ocean wet thumb across his cheek, Elle washed his face...smoothing the hair that had fallen across his forehead back as well. Leaning forward, allowing him to relax without lifting his head, Elle's lips finally found his.

She needed nothing. It was not a hungry kiss, but it carried deep intimacy. Eyes closed, she listened to what Lonan heard...the swell and rush of the waves, the shifting tones of rock and wind. Letting her forehead rest against his, Elle broke the kiss with a smile.

"Sorry...is the last thing you should be. If I ever need an apology, Lonan, I will ask for one." Her fingers drifted across his skin, memorizing the thin lines of silver scars. Slowly, Elle realized the tide was pulling back to sea...leaving them settled in the wet sand. Opening her eyes as she glanced up, toward the heavy moon, Elle let go of the last of her worry. Soon, he would be feeling better, warming beside the flames. Until then, she was content to rest and hold him quietly close.

Watching the steady reflection in his eyes, forgetting as she often did that he saw little more than darkness, Elle's smile dimpled.

"Since I don't ever see myself asking, I suppose it's all settled then!" Slipping one hand along his back blindly, Elle paused to rub knotted muscles with surprisingly strong fingers.

It was comfortable here, with him under the stars...but she worried still for his wounds. How could they close as swiftly as they'd opened? Letting her other hand settle over his heart, Elle watched his face relax.

"Lonan, this isn't a natural burden. Why..is it yours?" She didn't wish to push in his business, but surely, there was an answer...

At the warmth of fresh blood, Elle let his muscles relax on their own...saddened that she'd pained him. She'd had more faith in the unnatural order of the magicks than she should have. The wounds were not an illusion...they surely stung in the cleansing saltwater.

Instead, she let her hand drift over his chakra points...starting with the crown of his head before dropping to warm his heart. "It sounds...like something close to empathy. Unwilling, damaging." She spoke mostly to herself, turning the idea over in her mind.

She was able to connect far more clearly with Lonan than many others. Perhaps he was latent, sensitive but...blind to the ties?

"When you are feeling better, tomorrow or the next, perhaps...can we look closer? There must be a way to stop it from building, to release the pain slowly..."

She did not wish to change him, only to make his burden more bearable.

"Soon. Rest." She didn't say much...it was time for him to sleep, and words would only pull him back. As the moon drifted higher, Elle's touch slowed...his energy seemed calm once again.

After twenty minutes or so, Elle reached back...unfastening the laces of her dress and drawing it gracefully over her head. Balling it up, she made a smooth switch from lap to pillow...and rose wearing little more than a vial on a necklace.

He would wake, no doubt, but the cloth was warm and smelled of her. Of course, she was assuming that was a scent he cared for...she only knew how partial she was to his. Turning to stroll closer to the waters edge, arms raised as she braided her hair blindly, Elle shivered as the waves pushed against her legs.

The sea was cold, but she'd warm as she moved. Diving into the next wave, disappearing beneath the moon bright water, Elle made her way out into the living ocean.

When she emerged again, the vial was full...several long strands of fine fat kelp settled over one arm. Stroking towards the shore, finally wading back onto the cool sand, Elle slicked the water from her body as she walked.

Her eyes didn't leave Lonan as she made her way up the shore...smiling at how warm the shelter of his wings must be. Leaving the seaweed over the railing of the gazebo to dry, Elle set to work making a fire. She'd wake him after, but for now, she dearly needed to get warm.

A few minutes later, a small blaze was crackling about twenty feet from the shelter. Perched at the circle of rocks that contained it, Elle finally rose to stroll back across the sand. It would grow as she added to it, but she'd been away long enough.

Kneeling beside Lonan, quiet and still, Elle watched him rest with a smile. She wouldn't wake him...it was enough to see him at peace.