Welcome to Gaia! ::

The trembling in her stomach spread to her hands, her legs as she tried to remember how to breathe. Her equilibrium was completely upset by his very proximity. Add to that the soft demand and she felt as if she were suffering from a serious oxygen deficiency.

The seriousness in his expression, the lingering fear in his gaze tugged at her heart. Did he think that she didn’t want to kiss him? Could he believe that? Turning towards him just a little more, Erionda reached up, pushing the last of the dreadlocks over his shoulder. The longer she stared at him, willing him to see what she just couldn’t say. Leaning up, pressing her lips against his, she marveled at the soft sigh that escaped him as his arms moved tightly around her. Drawing her securely against his chest.

The softness of his lips against hers was completely at odds with the vibrant strength of his arms. Senses tumbled together with emotion into a rage of something she couldn’t define. A kiss meant to delineate her. A subtlety meant to show her that she belonged to him, the bases reaction of a primordial desire tinged with the cautious hold of iron control. She reveled in the tenderness wrapped in the secrets that were whispered from her body to his. from her mind to his, from her combined soul, to his hollowness.

She sighed as her hands fell to his shoulders, as she tightened her grasp on him, afraid to let go, afraid to lose the moment, afraid of her own staggering need. The force of her own desire frightened her. But he was Kilian, and in her heart she knew he would never hurt her. He would never let her go.

“I was afraid I had lost myself.” Erionda admitted fearfully. Her chilled wet body still pressed against him. Her head resting gingerly against his bare chest. Her breath washing over him in gentle waves. “I owe it to you Junjie, and Tilawen.” It was if senses found their way back to her. Flushing Rio moved to step back. To cover herself. She had only just now become aware of the thin fabric clinging against her form.

Taking a step back, the thin white cotton clinging to her revealed curves that were hard to ignore. Her breath caught in her throat, a soft gasp in the moonlight as she straightened up to stare at him. Her gaze locked with his. Did he just ask her? To remain? converging emotions warred within her. She wanted to run, to cover her vulnerability. But knew that doing so would likely cause him undeserved pain, if what his voice and words had conveyed. He cared for her? Her heart ached with the knowledge. She was a hybrid. A mixture of both the Dovaa and the Orderites. It wasn’t possible he could want such a pathetic mixture of blood such as herself. Her own parents had left her, the guardians assigned to her had left her. Was it only a matter of time before he did the same?

Folding her arms across her chest. Intent on building some wall Rio took another step back. Her heel slipping on the still wet surface of the rock she had previously been sitting on. Struggling to right herself. it was too late. The sound of water splashing gave way that Rio had fallen into the water. Tears sprang to her eyes. Both out of her hurt pride, and from her lack of understanding. She was a hybrid. A dirty half-breed! Turning her head to look away as she remained in the water Erionda opened her mouth to speak. “You don’t want a filthy half breed like me. I’ll only bring you trouble.”

Pushing herself to her feet Rio pulled herself out of the water and back onto the rock. Her eyes flicked towards the direction of home.

Her eyes widened as she turned back to look at him. Her heart felt like it was being gripped from all angles. Him, be the one to decide if she? Her heart clenched even tighter. It was as if some form of pain was bleeding through his features. It was impossible to ignore. It pained her greatly to see it, and knowing she had been the cause of it. Of more pain to him. That’s all she ever gave him. Pain and sadness. Was that all she was good for? He deserved so much better than her. “You’re a full blooded Oblivionite. That stands for so much in this world. I’m no better than that thing that shoved me into a cage. I’m a mash of things. I can’t hide or blend in. I’m hunted at every turn for what I am. And these...” Erionda turned her back to Kilian bowing her head so her hair would divide and fall over her shoulders. A pair of slender leather wings released. Ripping at the fabric on her back. Purple scaled the parts that covered bones. While a light magenta colored the membranes. She gave them one pulse as if testing to make sure they were visible in the moonlight. Droplets of water trickled off. “Aren’t even like other half breeds like me.” Erionda found herself crumpling to her knees. Her shoulders shuddering with each sob she resisted to vocalize. How could she have hurt him. Her arms pressed around her in an attempt to comfort herself.

Tears streamed down her face. How could he put up with her, with this miserable state she was in? With her horrible mixed blood! She had never shown her wings to anyone. They were her most vulnerable feature. She had barely registered Kilian presence before he was in front of her. His fingers light, warm against her skin. Her multi colored eyes followed him as he fell to the ground. Widening as his hands moved to grip her and pull her forward. She found herself surrendering to him. Her arms wrapped around his middle as she buried her head in his chest.

She was afraid, that fear raked her very soul. Her every fibre. His arms around her felt like a warm pulse. As if he were the shell that kept her soul together. The sobs she had been holding back flooded out her cries echoing into the faint morning air. Here he was again, the very strength she needed when her own failed. Afraid of herself, afraid of Magesc, afraid of Alpha returning. Afraid. She wanted to flee. To build of a wall of ice, to live on Aisko where it was nearly impossible for others to survive.

Her sobs eventually slowed, her body relaxing against his. It was a wonder what he had taken to put up with her. By now she would have been able to shove everyone away. Create that barrier that kept them at a reasonable distance. She felt weakened in the morning air. A signal of the painfully hot day that lay ahead of her. She was still trying to recover from the injuries and depletion of her magic she had sustained fighting Alpha. But did they really mean more than Kilians wounds? Her fingers traced along the scar on his back. Guilt flooded her heart. It was a physical reminder of their first dragon fight.

“Thank you Kilian.” Erionda muttered after finally gaining control of her emotions. She hadn’t moved away from him. Unsure of how much longer he could withstand her contact. “I won’t leave you.”

She let his arms remain around her for a time before she nodded her agreement. “I’m sorry, for always putting you through this.” Rio hated herself for all of it. For the pain she had caused him over and over again. Her wings sagged before she folded them up against her back. Allowing them to fade out of existence. Stepping out of his arms after a few moments Erionda looked skyward. How long had she been out. Sleepless from her nightmares, and fears. Would she be able to sleep now that Kilian was there? It wasn’t like he had been around the days following the attacks. Nor had he been there the days after either. She wondered if he had returned to Soudul for something. Perhaps he had returned to check on his cousin? The corners of Rio’s lips twitched. For someone who claimed to have no soul. He sure had heart.

Her feet were sluggish as they moved towards the house. Would she be able to ask him to stay today? Perhaps with him there, sleep would be easier for her. Would he even stay if she asked him. The door to her house opened soundlessly. The female Hybrid stepped into the chilled home. Turning to look at Kilian before glancing away with a blush. “Y-you can stay here today. Or tonight.” She offered as she once had done before.

Erionda’s breath hitched in her throat as Kilian pushed away from the wall and moved closer to her. What was he doing? Her eyes searched his face, moving towards his hands. A faint blush dusted her cheeks. Was that? Had he...? She almost brought a hand up to her mouth to stop the gasp of air as she caught sight of the blue crystal. It was almost a stunning match to her earings. Her hands rose to press against the bare skin of his chest. She couldn’t help but inhale his scent. The musky smell of wood and earth. Mixed with the dry smell of the hot sand. It was nearly intoxicating.

As he pulled her close, Rio gave a small squeak of surprise. Her eyes searching his hollow ones. It was so hard to tell what he was thinking. What he was feeling. There were no pupils to give away the raw emotions. To let her know what to expect. Curious as he leaned back to glance at her chest. Blushing she wanted to hide behind her hands. The cotton of her clothing were still damp. She could feel her body heat with his perusal. Broken from her thoughts as he spoke. Lifting a hand Erionda took hold of one of Kilians dreads. “I do.” She replied with a soft smile. Her fear rushing away from her with the knowledge that he would stay as she slept. Maybe this time, this time she could get the right amount of sleep. Her body could regenerate, and she wouldn’t be so crazy.