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Luthias might had dosed off once or twice, but he was still awake by morning.
He knew it was time for him to leave although he didnt want to. Reluctantly he pulled his wing away slowly. with his warm side exposed to the morning chill he shivered a little. He looked up at the bright morning sky, Rook left hours ago, he hated sunlight. Luthi felt he needed to head back to the cave as well. And it pained him that he could not continue to look over his new rare jewel.

The road was a part of who she was and he would not keep her from it. The only thing that held him to the area was his blasted hoard. If he could leave it he would, he might even travel with his new companion if she would have him. But it was not to be, he had a dark desire to guard and covet his gold that he could not shake. And that waning desire was calling him again.

Luthias smiled softly, then shied away. "You're welcome." his voice a bit hoarse and dry.
"I'm sorry, but I must leave you'r company. I have my domain to keep, and I'm sure you ache for the road." there was a twinge of regret in his rough voice, and he looked down at the ground where the a pearl had dropped.
"But if you ever come back in the area again, and need a wing to stay under... Just flash those pretty jewels of you'res, and I'll come."
He bowed his head and picked up the lost pearl, he rolled it on the roof of his mouth before saying. "But I think I'll keep this." Luthias backed up, and his eyes flashed upward before looking back at Ves'tacha. There was an opening above him, it looked small, but the branches were twigs and hardly an obstacle
.

"Thank you Ves'tacha, I hope to see you again soon." he said with sadness in his voice.
With a quick jump and a powerful downward sweep, Luthias broke through the treetops effortlessly. As he flew away, he sighed. He didn't want to go, but the anxiety of leaving his hoard was almost unbearable. He kept re-assuring himself that the caves were well hidden and difficult to get to. He knew if there was anything wrong that Rook would alarm him of any suspicions. He wished he could tell her, and wipe that sad look from her face, maybe she would be understanding. She would see and understand why he acted the way he did. But it was to soon to tell and Ves'tacha had been the most company he had had in a long while. Perhaps he could trust her with time, perhaps he could overcome his paranoia and relax, but it would take time.

Rook was waiting for him at the entrance of the main cave. Luthias landed on the ledge ungracefully. His face was long and grim. Rook looked at him with worried curiosity.
"Oh, Luthias what happened, did it go badly?"

"No, I just had the urge to return home, I couldn't help it.. I feel like an a**."

Rook patted Luthi's foot with his tiny thumb. "well I made you something while you were away."

Luthias with his head low turned to see what it was Rook was pulling out of a silver jewelry box. It was a string of beads, the pearls that Ves'tacha had dropped. Rook had collected them and tied them together. "I thought this might happen, so I made this for you, a token of you're new girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend.."

"But she could be" Rook said with a smirk. For a moment Luthias said nothing, when Rook started to tie the pearls around Luthias' leg. Luthias then replied, "Thank you Rook"

._. wow my grammar gets worse with my fever. just read my last post, sorry bout' that

Ves'tacha struggles against the wind, her hooves sinking into a trail mired in mud. The occasional crack of lightning starkly illuminating trees largely denuded of their autumn leaves by the storm as she plowed forward, head down. Rani hid deep in her mane, clinging to the sodden mass.

There were no wind funnels, but the weather had still ended up more dangerous than Ves'tacha had thought it would. She needed someplace to hold up for the storm. The torrent of water filled the trail she was walking and the low visibility virtually ensured she would hurt herself on something she couldn't see. And with the ice cold numbing her ankles, she might not know if she was terribly cut until she had lost too much blood to stand. That wasn't even mentioning the harsh wind, driving rain, or lightning strikes.

But she had left the copse of trees she knew and had spent the night in hours ago. If the sun had been visible through the storm, it likely would be just past its zenith. But Ves'tacha couldn't wait until nightfall to find cover. A flash of lightning illuminated a dark opening in the mountain just ahead of her. It was likely only a small crevasse, but maybe it would be deep enough to shelter her. She hoped it wasn't too deep, true caves often had inhabitants and she wasn't sure she was up to fleeing from a hungered mountain lion or bear in this weather.

With caution Ves'tacha approached the cave. In the rain she couldn't scent for predators or see into its depths to know if it was occupied. It looked deeper than her earlier thought, but she had little choice. The realization coming on the heels of a monstrous flash of light and roar of thunder. The storm was too near and she was too exposed. With a deep breath and a quick prayer, Ves'tacha stepped into the cave.

Ves'tacha stopped just inside the cave, far enough to be out of the rain but still close enough that the occasional raindrop splashed onto her hooves. And she shivered. The beads in her hair clinking together lightly, her mane dripping, Rani stayed where she was, warm against the mare's neck.

Waiting for her eyes to adjust to the even dimmer light of the cave, Ves'tacha pulled in upon herself, trying to conserve her warmth. She didn't hear any movement in the cave over the thunder or the splattering of rain and rushing of wind. It didn't comfort her, not until she knew she was alone in the cave. But until she could see, she wouldn't move further in, needing to be near the exit, near a ready escape, should a predator prove to be in the depths of the darkness around her.

She winced as lightning flashed, silhouetting her against the cave opening. If the cave was occupied, she was readily visible. But Ves'tacha wouldn't return to the storm unless she had no choice. So, for the moment, she shivered in the cave mouth, hoping to have found a refuge.

Ves'tacha startled, a small wordless exclamation pulled from her throat as a rock landed near her hooves. She jumped back, rump again in the rain as a hoof lost purchase and her rear legs slid out from under her.

It was a rather ignoble fall, her mane, wet and in her eyes, her legs splayed about her. She wanted to sigh, to close her eyes and just give up for a moment, to rest. But the rock had come from somewhere and she needed to be ready to flee.

Her hooves scrabbling Ves'tacha regained her feet as quickly as she was able. But as she did so, she realized a thrown rock came from a thinking mind. "Hello? Hello, I'm sorry. I . . . I just wanted to be in from the rain. I only wish to wait out the storm then I will be on my way."