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RP 4: The lights will catch your dreams, realeasing only nightmares.

Kearn/Ianthe
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The eerie peace of the lower temple was broken as Kearn ran through it's hallways, hooves and claws clicking and clanking against stone as he rushed upwards. His tail twitched back and forth happily, his legs shaking with excitement. It was finally done! His masterpiece! It was wonderful... Frightening! And now was finally the time that he could show it off to the one female that made it all worth it. She'd love it. She'd be in awe and dote on how wonderful and creative he is.. Surely. Who wouldn’t?

Outside, away from the dark and stone of the catacombs below the temple, Ianthe was situated in her usually spot at the top of the stairs at the edge of the oasis where grass and rock met sand. To the west, stretched across the bumpy horizon of sand dunes, the sun stretched and shot out its dying rays. The sky above was already starting to twinkle with early stars and the very few clouds floating by were bleeding red and pink

The female let herself fall lazily onto her side, forelegs stretched out to the side. With ebon eyes, she watched the failing light, hair falling over her face and an ear twitching half-heartedly. Peace…so peaceful.

The excited male came bounding out of the temple and onto the stairs, sniffing and glancing around quickly, his ears perked for any sign of her. Aha! There she was, just over on the other side of the stairwell... He smirked then moved to walk over to her, but paused to look at his warped reflection on the polished marble wall. He licked his paw and smoothed it over his muzzle and head, making the fur sleek and flat. He grinned widely, and then headed over to her again. "Good evening.."

The maluess lifted her head a bit and looked over her shoulder, but she remained in her lounging position. Seeing who it was, she rose a brow beneath her golden hair and flicked her yellow and blush hued tail.

“Kearrn…” she replied in a rather calm purr. Black eyes looked over his dark form, a small, unseen shiver running up her spine. It was, however, cut short when she folded her wings close to her back.

“Something…wrrong?” she asked. He wasn’t even that close and she could see him shivering with some sort of…well, something.

"No no no.... Nothing at all.." His smirk merely widened as her trotted closer until he was rather close to her, head tilted to look down upon her, paws caressing stone, tail twitching. "Though I'm simply delighted to know that you're worried about me.. Ianthe.."

Heart sped up a few paces due to the distance now between them, but like the shiver, Ianthe didn’t let it be known to anyone but herself. Putting on her usual attitude, she rolled her eyes and let her head fall back down. She mumbled something, but the words were just mush to another’s ears.

"Mmm... You're looking ravishing, as always. The sunset makes you look simply... Stunning." He lowered his muzzle, his voice getting softer as it got closer to her ear. Why was he feeling so... bold? Perhaps it was the adrenaline he felt coursing through him. He knew his god was pleased with him by finishing the shrine.. He had even scared one or two people already. Even if the satisfaction was only temporary, it elevated his soul to a wonderful place, where he could do no wrong. Before the tip of his muzzle could touch her, her jerked back and stepped backwards, lowering his chest to the ground, hind legs strait in an amusing pose that most people only saw pups do, tail wagging. He grinned again. "But we can't waste time, it's finished!"

His breath and words still lingered in her ear even after he moved back. Ianthe dared not to move for a few seconds, even after the proclamation of Kearn’s shrine being complete. What he had just done was something that normally would’ve caused the female’s blood to boil, but this time it only made her heart flutter. What was this blasted feeling?!

Ianthe still didn’t move; didn't give any hint of even hearing what the other had just said.

A bit of disappointment fluttered across him. She hadn't even looked at all interested! Slowly his front legs coiled back up strait, looming over her again. He blinked slowly, almost looking mad for a few moments, then huffed impatiently. He moved closer again and tilted his head at her, ears flattening along his broad neck. "What? Are you ignoring me completely now? How mature.."

The female startled this time, a rare action for her body to complete. Lifting her head, she quirked a brow and narrowed her eyes and barked, “I’m coming. Lorrd, you’rre impatient.” She rolled onto her stomach and then lifted her body onto her feet, all before giving a good shake to rid her fur of sand and dirt.

“Well,” she started, looking at him, “lead the way, Mrr. Navigatorr who is so rrude.”

His eagerness quickly returned as she stood, tail wagging again and he chuckled. “Well then hurry up, babe." As he walked past her he smirked, letting the fur on his side brush against her's. And then he was off, trotting back to the entrance of the catacombs, then disappearing in it's depths without warning.

Ianthe froze for a second while he brushed against her and then bristled. She only began to move again when his form was swallowed by the shadows of the temple entrance.

Catching up was not a problem; she caught sight of him just as he rounded the first corner in the catacombs. “This betterr be good, Kearrn. You made me move beforre the sun was completely gone…” she stated bitterly as she followed close behind him.

He slowed down a tad, weaving around the isles of the maze. When she started up her conversation he paused and glanced over her, grinning. "Sorry.. But I think you'll like it.. And if you don't, we can run back up and watch the rest of the sun set together or something." He turned his head back in front of him, white eyes glowing in the darkness, almost like headlights, aluminatind the smokey markings on his torso, seeming like a ghost floating beside her. A happy ghost. Like Casper, but crazier.

She gave side-glance at him as he spoke… but the glance then turned to an all out, complete, side-stare. Ianthe hadn’t noticed the way his body seemed to melt away in the shadows, leaving only the ivory markings to float around. It was quite eerie, but evoked no fear, and only interest and that cursed flutter feeling that made her insides feel like they were going to fall out her mouth.

On silent paws, with hooves giving light clips, she continued to follow, she stare…candidly, of course.

The staring went unnoticed to him, only concerned with his precious work of art, and showing it off. After a few more minutes they arrived, pausing a few feet from the door. He turned to her with a grin. "Ready?" From the entry way in front of him came a soft eerie green glow, along with flickering shadows, as if there were things inside there.. things alive and moving.

Charcoal eyes broke from Kearn’s body and attached themselves to the room with the flicking green glow. After only a few seconds, she flared her nostrils and merely stated, “commence yourr magic, maestrro.”

He grinned, hooves clicking against the stone as he trotted in place for a moment, then on he went through the doorway, pausing just inside for her to come in.. So he could see her expression. He wanted to see if she was pleased after all... The doorway was lined with bleach cleaned skulls and bones, creating a marvelous gateway. The walls of the room were draped with the skins of victims; some pieces were obviously peeled from the heads of poor malu's, double holes morbidly staring at the two where their eyes would have been. At the far end of the room was an altar built up out of bones and stone, on the wall above it was a painting, the paint crudely made with glowing moss, so that it glowed eerily with that green florescent ness. In the center of the art was a crescent moon, with what looked like skeletons dancing around it, bowing to it. It looked like some cave man painting. Interesting in a way, but primitive

From the cracks in the ceiling hung various bones that had been tied together to create random limbs, or perhaps a skull tied to a set of ribs.. They dangled and swayed to the rhythm of some unheard music. Each piñata like corpse which held a skull had a crescent moon painted on it's forehead with the same glowing paint. But the most interesting thing in the room- and the thing that had obviously taken most time, were the dozens of dream catchers that hung along with the bodies. The frames were made from small, thin bones, the thread that weaved around them made from hide and hair. Teeth were used as beads, and each had a bit of moss as well, making it seem that they really did hold the nightmares of the victims that happened to stray inside.. And on the altar, propped against the wall under the painting sat a much large one that seemed to emit it's own light. It was like the others.. But... Darker. The hanging decorations draped sick, long shadows over the floor... Like demons themselves.
Ianthe entered the room next to Kearn, but was gone from his side a second later. Carrying herself on light steps, she moved slowly, gingerly, along the nearest wall. Head moved up and down slowly as eyes flicked to each artifact. She studied the pelts, their eye sockets as dark as her own actual eyes; she studied the bleached bones and skulls, noting the crescent moons on their temples. From wall to wall she moved, her lithe body and folded wings being danced upon by the glowing emerald light.

When she came to the altar, she paused, and tilted back her head. A light snort was given to the shrine itself, for no matter how stunning the room looked, she would never let a flicker of “like” for Kearn’s God enter her body. But, aside from that, she silently grabbed hold of everything she saw and marveled at it.

On and on she went, never really casting a glance back at Kearn, and never looking up or to the center of the room until she was finished with the walls… and well, by the time she got there, it had already been many minutes.

Standing in the middle of the room, eyes reflecting the bouncing lights, Ianthe really looked up at the ceiling for the first time, and the hanging things she saw really did catch her breath. No, it wasn’t the hanging bones and body parts, but the dream catchers. They caught and roped her attention like a child when they first saw the vast outdoors after being in a den for so long.

Blinking, nostrils flared and ears perked forward as much as possible. Tail was raised and wings were erect as the female tilted her head. Her black lanterns were fixed on one catcher in particular, and out of a sudden impulse just to get closer (the larger dream catcher hadn’t caught her interest), the femme pushed the front half of her body off the ground and she stood their, balanced on her hind hooves, for a few seconds. Neck was stretched, and head was craned, as nostrils flared and sniffed. The item was just so…well, it was something, and that something fascinated the maluess so that even when she lowered herself, she continued to look up at it, almost unblinkingly.

He watched her silently, barely able to contain the excitement as she gazed around at the shrine.. He could tell she liked it, if even a little... His head tilted a bit as she stood to observe the small 'nightmare catcher', watching her for several moments before walking over to her, eyes flowing over her body slowly then up to the particular item. Had this one caught her fear? His white eyes drifted back to her, one ear tilted to the side as he awaited an audible response. "You like it?

The female spared him a flick of an ear and a quick glance before looking back up at the nightmare catcher. “Yes…” she replied, but her voice was hushed. She didn’t know why it was so, but she felt that she had to just talk quietly in here for a bit.

He smiled, not a grin or a smirk, but a happy smile. His voice hushed to match her's, and he moved a bit closer to her. "I can get that one, if you want.. You can keep it."

Ianthe looked at him suddenly. Her ears flicked back just slightly, and her eyes widened just so. “I couldn’t do that,” she said, her voice dry, but still containing that underlying purr. It wasn’t like she didn’t want the thing, because she really did, and it wasn’t because it was apart of a shrine to a God she hated, that had nothing to do with it, but the reason she replied the way she did was because well…it was his. Even though he was giving it to her, it didn’t feel right; she had never been able to really take or accept something that once belonged to someone else when it was offered to her. Stealing was totally different…

His smile drooped a bit, ears wilting. "Why not?" His expression suddenly turned sour, almost annoyed. "Oh, I get it. It's cause it was originally made for my God..? It's tainted to you.. Not good enough... Right?" His reasoning made perfect sense to him, he couldnt imagine it being anything else.. His eyes narrowed a bit as he awaited some form of explanation.

Ears flattened, and eyes narrowed, at him for at least the second time that day, but this time she didn’t bark or snap. She didn’t even raise her voice. No. Ianthe was in a…very calm being at the moment, and they were sometimes hard to come out of.. Believe it or not.

“That’s not it at all, Kearrn. If that was the rreason I wouldn’t have said I liked it.”

He hadn’t thought of that. He winced a bit and his posture slumped, legs bending slightly. "Then why wont you take it? I'd like for you to have it."

“Because you’rre offerring it to me…” she said, her features softening.

White orbs slid diagonal as he tilted his head at her, looking confused. "That doesn’t make any sense..."

“Does anything ever do? I can’t take things that arre offerred to me; when someone gives me a choice to rreject it or not.” She tilted her own head, hair falling partially over her face.

"...If... it would make you feel better... You could snatch it yourself while I turn away. I promise to pretend that I don’t know you took it."

Ianthe chuckled and purred, “perhaps I will one day, when you’rre rreally not expecting it.”

"Or perhaps I'll just sneak it into your shrine and hide it, so that you'll keep it without even realizing.." He grinned a bit, his previous mood slowly returning.

She laughed again, eyes becoming half-lidded. “Now therre’s an idea,” she replied, her usual self coming back slowly.

He smiled lopsidedly at her for a moment, and then glanced around slowly. "So... all and all... Does it meet your expectations?"

Ianthe gave another look around the room, her eyes quickly glancing here and there, and then up and down. “I believe it does… Betterr than I thought it would be. I wonderr how you got it all done without me hearing, or seeing, most of it.”

He blinked at her oddly. "Not hearing or seeing?"

“Both.”
"Oh..." He shrugged a bit. "Guess I was just sneaky." He smirked widely, chest broadening as he puffed it out. "Just a couple long sleepless nights... Worth it though.." His eyes fell half lidded and he smiled at her. "When are you going to show me YOUR shrine now..? I think you owe it to me.."

An exhaled snort escaped her as she lifted her brows. “My shrrine? My shrrine is nothing but a whole in a wall; it’s nothing comparred to yourrs. This one puts it to shame, actually.”

He actually looked completely thrown back... For one, she had actually said his shrine was visually better than hers! And second.. well, he was surprised that she wouldn’t surround herself with greatness, things beautiful enough to match her. He couldn’t see her worshiping and living in something plain.. "I.. suppose there is more to you that I don't know. And here I thought I had finally figured you out." He snickered and watched her, slowly inching closer. "I'd still like to see it.."

She only smirked, and then shook her head. “You’ve just gotten to the firrst layerr with me…besides, if you saw it now it’d only be a black rroom with brroken glass.”

He leaned close to her, that vicious grin curling along his muzzle. "You're the only decoration I need, babe. You'd make it stunning. And what do ya know! I could look at your pretty reflection in all that glass."

Ears flicked back, but then forward as her heart sped up again. She let her smirk continue to play on her muzzle, the corners of her mouth slightly curling almost like his. “Such compliments,” she said, “too bad yourr prresence would darrken my home even more than it alrready is.” She was joking, of course, but he was still getting nowhere.

"I'm sure we could brighten up the place together.." His smirk widened, and the equivalent of a malu eyebrow wiggled a bit. It seemed jokingly... But he was actually sort of serious. Another soft chuckle. "Well either way... Thank you for coming."

“Always implying something, you.” She shook her head lightly. She knew what he meant…but…did she really? Not dwelling on the thought much longer, Ianthe nodded and focused on his last words. “Thank you forr showing me. One day you’ll see wherre I live…if you can find it.”
"Hmm...I'll consider it an honor then, when the time comes.. To see where the angel sleeps." He paused for a moment, the skin on his nose wrinkling a bit. "Heh, never mind... You're not an angel. Wrong word."

This made Ianthe cackle, a cheshire grin curling over her muzzle afterwards. “No, I’m not, but I will give you a hint to my whereabouts: to the south of wherre I am at my time.”

He just blinked, looking quite confused. "Unn... Alright..." His ears twitched back and forth as he pondered the riddle.

Again, she chuckled. “Yourr confusion is unnecessarry; it’s quite easy to figurre out if you think about it…but it’ll still be harrd to find. Anways,” she said, and looked to the doorway, “I must be taking my leave. Good luck, Kearrn. I trrust you’ll be interrupting my sunsets soon…”

With that she began to move towards the decorated doorway. As she moved past him, she lightly dragged a wing tip along his side as she chuckled lightly to herself.

The light touch of her soft skin against his sent a shudder down his spine, making his eyes flutter closed for a moment, day dreaming. "Mmm... Sooner than you think, doll..." His shining white eyes opened again and he watched her leave, noting every movement of her body, grinning widely. "Goodnight... And Sweet dreams."

She heard his farewell from around the corner, and before she got too far away, she replied back with a, “I’m surre they’ll be my last ones.” Her voice was sent echoing off the stone, and then all was quite on her end.

RP 6: I'll tell you about myself after I push you off your rock....Just kidding; I won't tell you anything.

Kearn/Ianthe
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It had been several days since that night, the one where Kearn and her had shared a moment on the steps, and it had been several days since she had seen the dark malu. She’d sneak by his green glowing shrine, but whenever she did he wouldn’t be there; she’d stalk the forests at moonlight, but wouldn’t find a trace of him; she’d sit patiently on her steps at sunset, and yet again, wouldn’t meet him. Ianthe, though a little reluctant to admit it, missed him. She missed his snappish and childish ways, his flirty comments and other annoying habits. That ingrate…

Kearn was currently in his shrine, where Ianthe could easily find him. Yes, he'd been gone for a few days.. But the fruit of his labor was right in front of him. Well, above him anyway. He had already hung a few new Nightmare catchers, each growing brightly... It seemed their brightness was part of something else too.. Not just the glowing moss... And they seemed... heavier.. The larger catcher on the altar seemed brighter as well, his God's influence swelling with appreciation. He'd spent several nights roaming the land, lurking and waiting in darkness to scare innocent Malu and trap their fears in his nets of teeth and fur.

As night fell over the oasis, and the cool desert winds began to move across the empty land, Ianthe rose from her spot and moved back into the temple. Her head was hung a little, blonde hair falling even more so over one side of her face. She’d take the long way back to her quarters, paying a quick look-see at a certain someone’s on the way.

On steps as silent as the grave, the female wound lithe body about the underground catacombs; over the route she had already memorized some time ago. Bringing her dark eyes from the floor, she glanced a head of her and saw the green glow, dancing upon the wall opposite of its doorway, ahead of her. She quickened her pace, but only slightly, still wanting to keep quiet and appear to be…well, not so happy.

Pausing, she carefully poked her head around the corner of the doorway. Eyes widened for a second when she saw that black lump inside. Her organs twirled, yet sizzled at the same time. He had been gone for days and now he’s just sitting in there! Ianthe fumed and fought with herself outside the shrine; should she just go, or should she march on in and raise hell?

Last one to hang... He grinned to himself happily, legs shaking with that anxious happiness that he always got when pleasing his god, blood pumping quickly. His teeth clenched around the string of the catcher, hoping onto a tall stone that he had usually tucked into a corner, which was now pulled out into the center of the room. He balanced on his hind legs reaching.. until finally he was able to loop one end of the string onto a pointed rock of the ceiling

The female couldn’t pass up the chance she now had practically held out before her.

Moving once more on silent steps, she slinked into the room, her eyes held on Kearn’s form. Foot by foot she moved stealthily, snickering inwardly at the thought of what she was about to….silence silence…action. When she was next to the rock she gave a little jump and moved her body sideways, her plan aiming to knock herself into the male’s back legs and cause him to topple over.

And of course, off he went. It was almost animated in away, for a split second he just wobbled for a moment, front paws flailing in the air until he fell against the merciless stone with a loud yelp! For a moment he laid there.. Crumpled and dizzy, trying to figure out what the hell had happened. Then slowly his vision blurred.. And he saw the silluette of the female against the glowing moss... Then her form became clearer and he recognized her. He almost smiled at the sight of her, and then realized it must have been her that pushed him over. His lip curved downward and he shakily pushed himself up, wincing. "What... what the hell was that for!?"

Ianthe just shot an icy glare at him, not even giving a word filled answer to his question.

He glared back for a moment, his pain fueling his anger. "What the hell, Ianthe?? What kind of a hello is that??"

“HA. What kind of hello was yours?! You’ve been gone forr days without any worrd, and then I find out you’rre herre playing “decorration” while I was up therre waiting forr you!” Her accent, which was already heavy to begin with, only grew heavier as she hissed and retorted.

His anger was pushed aside as quickly as it came. His eyes widened and he blinked slowly, then that goofy grin crossed over him- like the one he had given her the other night when they had fallen asleep together. "You... missed me...?"

Ianthe closed her mouth and rolled her dark eyes upwards as she sat down. A single “hmph” was given as ears pinned themselves back against her head. She didn’t say anything else. She didn’t want to admit anything clearly.

He smiled widely and trotted over to her, looking absolutely giddy. He nuzzled the side of his muzzle against her's, then down her neck tenderly. "I'm sorry doll. I was planning on coming to see you after I got done."

“Says you, that,” she said back, her voice quieter, but still harsh. However, her actions proved to be the opposite of her tone of voice as she pressed the end of her muzzle into the fur of his neck.

"I'm sorry.." His voice lowered to match her's, and he honestly seemed a bit guilty. His fur continued to caress her's. "I didn’t think you would miss me.. Well, not enough to be upset... My god called me, I had to go."

“Tell someone when you go next time, orr you’ll get something worrse than falling off a rock.” A small chuckle escaped her after she spoke, and her muzzle retreated from his fur. Dark eyes looked at him from their corners, head cocking slightly into his. What now?

"Yea yea... I will.." He grinned and nodded, tail flicking back and forth. He cocked his head down at her, looking into her eyes. "Has the sun set yet?"

“It has. You’rre too that.” She replied, a small sympathetic smile on her muzzle as she looked up at him.

He actually looked a bit disappointed, ears drooping a bit. "Oh. Sorry.. I guess it took me longer than I thought..." His grin returned, confidence pouring back into him. "Tomorrow night, I'll be there and waiting." His nose brushed against hers then swept to the side to lick her cheek teasingly.

She smiled and moved her cheek away after the lick, but only before she half butted her head into his upper chest. When there she nuzzled her forehead into his fur for a second and then returned the lick on his cheek.

He smirked when she licked him, though admittedly his knees shook for a moment... "So..." His voice almost dripped with pure ego. "I'm guessin’ ya like me a lot, considerin’ ya missed me so much... Hmm..?"

She scoffed and snorted, pulling her head away from him while wearing a false “you’re joking, right?” smirk. “Who says I rreally like you?” joking…joking…

His ears dropped a bit, eyes widening in a mock hurt expression. "What..? So, it was all a LIE?" He turned away, choking back a sob. "I'm sooo hurt..."

Ianthe went all mock serious, like a lawyer or something. “Yes, I’m afrraid it was all a lie.” She got to her feet and circled halfway around him until she was in front of his “sobbing” form.

“I just like to see everryone crry,” she said, though more in a hiss that matched her grinning smirk. She brought her face close to his for a few seconds, but then moved off, her tail flicking over his face as she went past.

His nose wiggled a bit as her tail flicked under it. Of course he knew she was joking… Kind of. She wouldn’t have worried if she didn’t care, right? With a wide, powerful smirk he pounced. Yes, pounced, tackling her carefully to the floor and pinning her there, grinning down at her viciously. "You're a damn liar, Ianthe... I know you like me.." He bent down close to her face, almost whispering the conceited words. "Admit it.."

Internally, Ianthe was shocked when she was tackled and pinned; she hadn’t been expecting that. But never fear, she didn’t show the surprised to him.

Letting a smirk curl across her maw, she only narrowed her eyes. “A lady neverr lies, nor does she tell the trruth beforre the otherr has as well.” She spoke her contradicting words in a whispery hiss, each R causing her to purr and trill low from her throat.

He smiled down at her, still leaned close to her, still pinning her down with his front paws. "Ah, how clever... Does that mean you'll tell me the truth if I do..?" He licked her cheek again, chuckling softly.

“Perrhaps…”

"I suppose I have no choice then.." He smiled. "Alright, Ianthe... I like you. A lot."

“Just like? Or love?”

He visibly tensed and blinked down at her, eyes flickering away for a moment. "Uuh.. well... I.. uh.. I don’t really... know you that well... yet..."

While other females might’ve become angered by this reply, Ianthe only chuckled and nodded. “The feeling is mutual then, I think.” She had similar feelings towards him as well; she really liked him, and missed him when he was away, but love? She wasn’t sure if it was really there yet. Like he said about her, she also knew nothing of him.

He relaxed and smiled, turning back to her, and nuzzled his nose against her neck. "Good... I do want to know more about you though. I've never met a female as interesting as you."

“Nor I to you,” she replied before moving her head just so and licking the bridge of his muzzle. As she did so though, she moved one forepaw up on her chest and quickly, forcefully, smashed it against one of his forelegs that was holding her down. With a quick roll the other way, she was back of her feet with a little shake and a tail flit.

“Howeverr, therre is too much forr you to know about me and too little time at the moment. Find me tomorrow like you said you would and then we may talk… rrememberr though, I’ll lie until you tell me the trruth.” And with that, a smirk playing on her features, she bounded out of the shrine and into the shadows of the catacombs.

He arched an eyebrow and watched, after standing strait himself.. He smirked, and nodded. "Fine fine.... Goodnight Doll."

RP 8: I'll float through th lily pads.

Kearn/Ianthe
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Pale canary paws stepped gingerly through the dead vegetation that littered the floor of the still fairly bare forest of the oasis. It was later afternoon, and the warming rays of sun lay broken across dark tree trunks and gray rocks. A few early pale petals of random blossoms fluttered around here and there, a few landing on the indigo female, which were quickly flicked off. Ianthe didn’t even know why the heck she was outside during this time; malu were still romping all giddily not that far away, their annoying little kids screaming as water splashed on them or something.

It was the new flowers. Yes, that was it. It were those little flitty, delicate, flowers that were budding on some of the trees around her, releasing their intoxicating aroma, that pulled her from her dark little home below ground. <******** little flowers…

And by some coincidence, Kearn was wandering the forests as well.. And why? Why, to steal such flowers for a certain purple malu. He was so close to completely winning her over.. Just a couple more nights, some more romance.. Maybe these flowers would be all that was needed. Well.. Ok, that wasn’t the only reason he was out and about. He was also out to work... Right now he was crouched in some bushes, watching the screaming pups that she heard not too far away. After pondering just how to do it.. He slipped silently from the trees into the water, out of the distracted pup’ 's sight, then slowly swam down to them, taking a breath then dippign under the water to wait a moment... Then the attack! He grabbed one of their paws and tugged, hard, sending them sinking into the water, flailing. His friend blinked, then screamed and such.. Kearn let go, then bit at the other one, pulling him under for a few moments. They both surfaced, panicked and screaming like most little pups when they think some thing scary is around. Needing air, Kearn swam back from them a couple of feet, slowly surfacing, only his eyes and top of his nose showing over the water's surface. His eyes reflected the light beaming off the rippling water, it being juuust dark enough to hide his black form in the shadows.. The kids were scared now, and he slowly snuck up, making a sick growl, which turned into a gurgle under the water, his eyes shining brightly. Like some horror movie, the kids turned slowly, wide-eyed, then screamed when they saw two glowing eyes staring at them from the shadows. Within moments they were out of the water and running for dear life, and Kearn was laughing his head off. So great... Now.. To find some water lilies...

It was the screaming that alerted the female from her slightly dazed wanderings. Perking her ears, a brow risen in curiosity, she turned her head in the direction the commotion was coming from…aaannd it was then she heard a very familiar maniacal laughter. Kearn… Exhaling deeply, she rolled her eyes and trotted off swiftly in the idiot’s direction.

She spotted him not long after, and her movements were paused. Standing next to a crooked tree, old moss fluttering stiffly from its boughs, she became curious once more. What one earth was that doof doing now?

…It was then an idea came to her, and that familiar Cheshire grin curled over her muzzle.

Going into a crouch, she stayed towards the shadows. Steps were silent as the grave as she ebbed closer, that wicked grin still on her muzzle. Closer. Closer. When Ianthe was several feet from the edge closest to the male, she broke into a speedy sprint and with a “KIYAAAAAHH!” she sprung into the air, body aimed for the ebon malu’s form.

Kearn was laying on his back, floating through the stream lazily, still chuckling and grinning from his last victory... Until BAM! There was suddenly a lump of purple fur flying at him. He only had an instant to blink in bewilderment until it landed on his stomach, sending him tumbling into the water helplessly. He surfaced, coughing and trying to regain his senses and balance. "What tha!?"

Ianthe surfaced seconds later and gave a cheeky grin, hair plastered to one side of her head as water dripped off her nose, ears, and exposed fur.

His head bobbed over the water, his shiny eyes narrowing to slits. Though he grinned a bit when he realized it was her.. "Why you lil... Think you're clever, eh...?"

She chuckled, eyes half-lidding themselves and she responded. “I am, that.”

"Bah... You're also in serious trouble!" He smirked in lounged, well, as much as you can lounge in water, splashing on top of her and sending her under as well.

A gasp of breath was caught before Ianthe felt water close over her head. She didn’t panic, though, which is what most of malu probably would’ve done. Instead, she merely lowered herself deeper into the water and then popped back up on the surface a little while later, with cheeks puffed slightly as they contained water.

He smirked and waited for her to pop back up, then giving her a big splash in the face. "Ha!"

Already sodden face was quickly turned to the side, and when the splashed water was gone, she released her own attack and let out a fountain of water, which she had had in her cheeks. …And then she decided to add a hefty splash afterwards. “HA right back at you.”

"Gah!" He growled as water dripped from his muzzle, eyes still narrowed. Again he pounced, but only sending her under for a moment, his front paws wrapped around her middle, teeth nibbling at her ear. He laughed as they rolled around in the shallow water, like pups.. Such fun.

Acting like a fool was a reserved thing that Ianthe seldom did, but today, well, it was okay to let out her younger actions.

Bounding back onto her feet, she splashed more water at him before giving a half-hearted shake of her head. Water droplets flew in every direction, and in the end left her now curling hair in some crazy 80’s fashion.

“Loserr,” she muttered, smirking, and then flicked a pebble at the male.

"Bah..." He chuckled and brushed the pebble off of him, rolling onto his back again to float on the water's surface, grinning at her. "You started it..."

Ianthe rolled her eyes and stepped out of the water and onto the slightly grassy bank. Shaking the rest of the water from her body, and of course making it so that most of it flew on him, she lowered herself to the terra. Sniffling, and then flicking an ear, she looked at the floating being.

“What werre you doing in herre anyways?” she asked.

"Scaring people... Did you see? Eh, I'm sure you at least heard.. Screamed like little babies... Well, they were babies. But still..." He flicked his ears, making the water around his head splash and ripple. "Well, and I was out to find you some more flowers.."

“Ohh, I definitely hearrd, that.” She looked out across the other side of the river for a second or two. Annoying little kids, served them right…

Twitching an ear, she caught his next words and tilted her head at him. “And wherre arre my flowerrs, then?” She asked, but not in a demanding tone, for there was a chuckle in her accented voice.

He paused, glancing away as he cleared his throat. "Well.. I hadn’t picked them yet.. Ya know. Hadn’t expected to see you so soon.. and I wanted to find perfect ones." He grinned at her sheepishly.

She gave a cheeky little chuckle, tilting her head side to side ever-so-slightly as she did so. At the end, she sounded a “hmph” and then asked with a purr, “what sorrt of flowerrs werre you looking forr?”

"Well.. I hadnt figured that out either yet.. Was kinda lookin around... Maybe some wild roses.. Lilies..." He peered at her curiously. Honestly, he had no idea what kind of flowers she liked. But those were some of the usual ones that females tended to enjoy..

“Rroses arre nice, and so arre lilies…My favorrite flowerr is called a rred grrace peony, but it’s the thought that that counts, I think.” She smirked as she crossed her front paws, head still tilted as she watched him.

He made a mental note to try to find some of those flowers.. Though he had no earthly idea what they looked like. He continued to float, kicking his legs slowly so that he moved around in circles in front of her. "Well, either way I'll be sure to find you nice ones.. Only the best for you." He grinned at her again.

A smirk crossed her muzzle. “Flatterry only gets you so farr, Kearrn.”

"Oh...? Then what do I have to do to get further..?" He smirked wider.

She only shrugged. Like she was going to answer that. HA.

"Hmm..." He rolled over, rewetting his front, then swam over to the bank, crawling up in front of her. "Perhaps actions will get me further?" He chuckled and licked her cheek softly.

A spark ran up her spine, but she outwardly gave no sign of it. Raising a brow, she looked at him from the corners of her eyes as he licked her, but even after that, she didn’t say anything.

He leaned back and arched a brow. "Nothin, eh?" He huffed slightly and crawled further up the bank, close enough to nuzzle into her neck, his dripping fur rubbing against hers, warming it.

Still nothing but a small chuckle. Yeah…she was definitely one to play the game of “hard to get.”

Another huff, and he moved even closer, turning to lean his side against her's and nipping behind her ear slowly.

This time Ianthe acted. She nuzzled the top and side of her muzzle into his soaking fur. Ears lowered a little as she purred lightly, comfort flooding her body for the time being.

A wicked, wide grin spread over him as she returned the affection, shifting closer and continuing to nuzzle back against her, licking the side of her muzzle tenderly. A more deep, masculine purr flowed from his chest as he shared in her comfort. He loved this...

Smushing her muzzle and face back against his neck, she smirked and murmured, “see, I’m not that hard to please,” in a soft, but sly, little whisper.

He chuckled softly low in his throat, eyelids falling to thin content slits. He nuzzled back against her, his muzzle lifting to pull her against him, her head nestled under his into the silky, short fur of his chest. "I'll remember that then... I like pleasing you."

“I’ll make surre you do,” she replied as she let herself be moved. Resettling against his chest, she wasn’t sure of what else to do…but it wasn’t like it mattered. She was totally content for the time being.
He grinned widely, nuzzling against her slowly, his tongue flickering out occasionally to lick behind her ear slowly, temptingly. Then his front teeth nipped gently down her neck, a contentedly slow sigh escaping him. "Mmmm... Mine.." He mumbled under his breath, more to himself than to her. It sure was good to have a good woman.

A dry chuckle escaped her maw as she caught his comment in her ear. “And what’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, a laugh playing in her voice as she continued to lean into him.

For a moment he blinked. Had he said that out loud? Whoops. Well at least she didn’t seem angry by it, so... might as well go with it. He grinned widely, leaning back to look down at her. "You're mine, of course."

Ianthe canted her head to get a look at him before replying, “ahh,” she began, raising a brow before going on, “I see… Well, then that means that you arre mine, then.” A purr dabbled in her throat as she spoke in her husky accented voice.

He chuckled in reply, his eyes widening slightly to stare into her's. "Yea... I suppose I do. But you dont mind, do you?"

“If I did, then I wouldn’t have just claimed you as mine, no?” She mused, looking at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Good. Because I quite enjoy owning you." He smirked and pressed his nose against her's playfully. "Do I... get to claim you... completely?" He wiggled his eyebrows, smirking. It almost seemed he was joking… and depending on her reaction, he would claim that he was.

Her smirk curled as she continued to look at him in the same lazy stare. “Maaaybe,” she stated, a playful note hanging on the “e.”

"Maybe?" Oh, he was serious now. He nibbled at her ear slowly. "Just maybe? I refuse to settle for anything lower than a probably."

She flicked said ear out of his reach before tilting her head, the same smirk playing across her face from a few seconds ago. “How about…a double ‘maybe’?” She questioned.

"Hmm.. Still not good enough, I'm afraid.." He smirked in reply, anticipation getting ahead of him. Would she??

“Still not good enough, no? What about a ’90 perrcent maybe’?”

“"Would the other 10 percent be a definite yes?"”

“Maybe.” She smirked widely, totally teasing him before finally saying, “yes.”
"Hmm... Then... I suppose I could accept that. How much longer do I have to wait for you to make that 90% maybe a yes?"

Dark eyes flicked upward as if she were in thought, adding an “hmmmm” to only emphasize it. She waited, letting him just hang there, for a good seven minutes of “hmmmm-ing”…., “hmmmmmmmmmm…”

His grin faltered as he tried to wait for her to answer, his tail twitching nerviously, and by the time five minutes had passed he was frowning and groaning lowly in his throat. "Well...??"

“Okay, my mind is made up.”

"...And..?" He frowned, his front paws squirming and clawing at the ground under him.

Oh how she loved to see him squirm. “I’ve reached a one-hundrred perrcent….”

He groaned again, looking her over carefully. "And??"

“Yes. One-hundrred percent ‘yes’.”

He blinked at her for a moment, then his confident sly grin returned slowly, flashing a bit of starch white teeth protruding out of black gums. "Ah. I knew it of course..." Sure, he hadn't been desperate or squirming, willing to beg for her.. nope, not at all. "Well babe, I'm ready and willing whenever you're ready." He nipped at her ear affectionately and trailed his nose over the fur of her neck. He seemed quite ready right now.. but, it was up to her in the end.

Such a liar.

Ianthe arched her neck as it was lightly ruffled before flicking an ear and resting back against him. “Soon, soon. Just…not this very second,” she said in a lazy, but content, tone.

He was silent for a moment, almost annoyed. Then nodded, nuzzling back against her. "Alright... I suppose I'll have to keep you cozy till you decide when then." He smiled softly and licked her cheek.

“You betterr,” she muttered, purring. Ears lowered against her head in a content fashion as she crossed her front paws and lightly swished her small tail. Yes…this was perfect.

RP 10: Let the color smear the walls.

Ianthe/Kearn
---------------

Kearn was currently tiptoeing closer to the temple, long grass brushing against his sides as he slipped through it gracefully. From his mouth dangled a small bouquet of almost black red flowers, stems held carefully between teeth to keep them from tearing. After searching for days since she had told him her favorite, he had finally found a batch. And what great timing!! After last night.. A shiver went down his spine and he grinned goofily. Such a wonderful night... He crept closer to the temple, glancing at the horizon.. which was a darkening purple as the sun started to set.

Against the side of the temple near the large steps, where the remaining hot sand met old stone, and where only a few tall grasses dared to grow, the indigo, and currently semi-glinting, female rested on her side in a light doze. An ear would twitch now and then to swat at a fly or some piece of earth, but other than that there was no movement save for the expanding and deflating of her ribcage with each breath… though no doubt, the female was still very aware of what was happening around her. She could feel the ebbing cold of the desert start to trickle up her back legs where the shadow had already reached them, and she could feel the heat in the sand slowing ebbing away. Every so often she’d open an eye, look over her shoulder, and glance at a large gash/crack along the stonewall just behind her, though she never showed any more interest in it than that.

For now though, Ianthe continued to sleep fairly peacefully as giddy little thoughts ran a muck in her head.

Kearn continued his journey towards the temple, his prized flowers held tight in his mouth. He sped up as he got closer, not wanting to miss the coming sunset, but when he was within sight of it he slowed down, trying to surprise his new lover. Sneaky sneaky, he edged around the corner, his nose peeking around the edge to see if she was in her usual spot.. When seeing her he grinned, his tail wagging happily. Right where he wanted her..

Ianthe shifted in her sand, but other than that she appeared to still be asleep.

He slipped around the corner, low to the sand, paws barely making any noise as they treaded the terrain. He placed the flowers beside her carefully, then blinked down at her. Ah... she always looked so beautiful in the sunlight. He smirked, some memories tugging at his brain, but he pushed them away for more romantic notions. He plopped down beside her and licked her ear.

And immediately she batted him in the chest with a forepaw, a single black eye slitting open to give a mischievous glint. “You need to worrk on your sneakings, I think. I smelled you a mile away.” She commented, a smirk curling on her maw as she looked up at him from the sand. She had yet to notice the flowers, their fragrance eliminated by natural means.

He chuckled and leaned back as she batted at him. "Pfft... Could you really smell me?" He huffed and licked at her ear again. "Having a good nap?" He glanced up at the horizon as he settled against her. Juuust in time.
“Of courrse I koodt,” she replied silkily before moving herself up and into a regular laying position. It was then that her paw brushed against the smooth petals and she noticed the flowers for the first time. They held her gaze, one of slight confusion mixed with an almost dreamy look of past memories, and the coming of the sunset’s final time was momentarily pushed from her brain.

“Kearrn?” she questioned, indicating to the flowers with a tilted head.

He grinned wider, tail wagging for a moment. "Like them? Took me forever to find the damn things..."

She brightened and nosed the silky petals, ears perking atop her head as she did so. They were so nice, and still fresh! It was hard to keep them from wilting quickly, but the goof someone managed to do it.

“They’rre perrfect, Kearrn ,” she said and touched her nose to his.

He smiled happily and pressed his nose back to her's, then nuzzled his muzzle into her neck. "I'm glad you like them... Sure was damn hard, so ya better." He chuckled.

She leaned back and chuckled lightly, but cut herself short as she caught sight of the already halfway finished sunset.

With a fluid motion, Ianthe was on her feet and cuffing the dark male lightly on the side of the head with a forepaw. She gave a flick of her tail. “Therre’s a beterr way to see a sunset,” she said, the underlying purrs in her voice a little heavier.

She turned to move away along the wall, but quickly turned and took up her flowers in her mouth before returning back to where she was headed off to. Another flick of her tail told him to follow.

He blinked, an eyebrow arching a bit. "Oh..? A better way?" He scampered after her quickly, anxious to see where he was being led too.

She led him to the large gash in the temple’s high wall, its surface still orange from the sun’s rays.

Stopping, she set down the flowers and spoke in an almost serious tone. “Move rright wherre I do, otherrwise…well, it won’t be fun.” she gave a serious look before switching back to her normal expression and picking up the flowers again. With a swish of her tail, she proceeded into the gash in the wall with careful steps.

The passage way was very narrow, allowing one to only go in and out in single file, and almost immediately curved downwards. The walls, roof, and ceiling of the circular space were of dirt, and almost all too soon the reason behind Ianthe’s hinted warnings were known.
Jagged, and smooth, scraps, and shards of various sizes of mirror and colored glass protruded dangerously and halfhazardly from the walls and ceiling, threatening to scratch and slice those who weren’t careful. Despite the dangers though, each piece of glass seemed to glow as trickles of light beamed in through the entrance touched their surfaces, creating what looked like strings of multi-colored light from one piece of glass to the other.

Ahead Ianthe moved and curved her body around large protrusions without a second thought, though she stopped occasionally to glance back and see how Kearn was managing through the maze of deadly shards.

The male followed obediently, looking around curiously as he was led into the gash. When seeing the shards of glass he arched an eyebrow, blinking at them cautiously before sighing and following her. He did his best to follow her every move, but he was bigger than her... So occasionally a piece of glass would scratch against his sides or paws, but not anything too badly, most not even bleeding. It was just enough to make him grumble and curse occasionally... But the beauty and curiosity of it all was enough to make him gladly continue to follow.

Returning back to her previous activity, Ianthe continued to walk down the littered tunnel, but only for a couple more minutes before the once narrow space opened up and led into what looked like a deserted room. What was once dirt and glass turned into gray slate stone and running splotches and dapples of color. The light that had run down the tunnel now spread out against the walls, printing their colors on walls and ceiling. The whole affect looked like someone was throwing bright watercolors onto the stone; the colors would show, and then stay for a good several minutes before fading away instead of immediately disappearing.

Moving to the side, the female made way for her companion and set the flowers near some sort of nesty-looking bed near off to one side of the entrance. “Betterr than outside?” she asked, canting her head slightly to the side.

He nodded slightly, thankful that he was able to move around and not get a leg chopped off. He sat and licked at a couple of the more deep cuts, then looked up and around at the surroundings, amazed at how all those damn pieces of glass could do this. He nodded after a moment, slowly looking over to her. "Yes... It's magnificent, really."

“Sorrry,” she said in a quite voice, as if talking to herself. She was next to him now, a nose poking one of the slightly deep little gashes, which had found its way onto him earlier, before licking at it and glancing at him.

"It's alright.." He smiled lightly and turned to nuzzle her, licking a bit of blood off her nose that had dripped there. "It's worth it, anyway..." He glanced around at the colors for a few moments, then turned back to her, watching how they reflected off of her eyes, making them seem almost.. pearlesant. (sp?) "Beautiful.."

She blinked and wiggled her nose for a second. The colors seemed to reflect off of his a bit better than hers…

“You rreally think so?” she asked, though not in that overly surprised girly manner, but more of a “psh, really?” way.


"Yes, I do think so." He grinned and stepped closer to brush his larger body against her's. "Though..." He smirked, sitting down. "I do prefer my shrine."

Ianthe outwardly snorted, and smirked, a single brow arching high. “Yeah yeah, you and yourr shrine,” she went on, adding a, “men,” under her breath before bumping him.

He swayed a bit from the bump, and grinned a bit wider, but otherwise was uneffected. "Women..." He leaned a bit closer and licked her ear teasingly. "But where would women be without men..?"

She flicked said ear on his nose.

“A helluva lot betterr place then we arre now, I think,” she retorted, giving a light chuckle.

"Pfft.." He chuckled. "You'd be long gone, babe. No pups without the man's lovins..."

“HA!” She barked. “And where would you be if us women werren’t herre to have those pups? Sorrry, but I could neverr see you voluntarrily going thrrough that experrience.”

His muzzle wrinkled at the thought. "Bah... Pups... Oooh no. Not planning on that for.. Well.. Ever. I like having you all to myself... No little... vermin to take our attention away from each other.." He wiggled an eyebrow at her teasingly.

She laughed at this. “At least we’rre on the same page. I don’t think I could handle those little snot beings.”

He let out a small sigh of relief. Good... She wasn’t going to be fussing at him to impregnate her... Good.. good... He could have her allllll to himself, which made him very happy. His grin spread ear to ear as he nuzzled against her. "That's good to hear. Not that I really thought of you as the motherly type.."

She returned the nuzzle, a content smirk sitting on her face. “Good, because I don’t plan on everr wanting to be that type forr a good long time.” Her words were definitely true. She never knew how her mother did it….and frankly didn’t care. No way did Ianthe want to be one of those mothers she saw so often around the oasis, laughing as their bratty kids screamed and acted like morons when they were supposed to just be quite and out of her way. Stupid little buggers.

He nodded a bit and settled against her, laying down on the cool stone and watching the changing colors over head. "I dont even really remember my mom, and my dad sure was... well... I dunno. He was an ok dad, but I guess he was just a bit... out of it. I dont think i COULD be a dad."

She settled next to him before nodding her head to his words. “I rremeberr mine. They werre…them. They’rre prrobably considerred to be verry differrent comparred to the parrents arround herre, but back home they were fairly norrmal, and they werre mine…So I guess they werre good…hm.” She shrugged, but then turned back to him after looking at the colored walls.

“And I don’t think I could be a mother.”

He grinned lightly and licked her neck. "I can only imagine your parents... They must have been amazingly strong to produce someone as wonderful as you."

“You flatterr me,” she replied with a sarcastic, humorous scoff.

Maneuvering her head, she nipped at one of his ears before bumping the side of her head against his neck. “They were, though…they had to be to rrun that pack.”

"Was your whole pack so... stubborn?" He grinned. Must have been marvelous.. Especially if all of them were as attractive as her.

This made her toss her head back for a second in laughter. “They werre! Everryone always bickerred…snapped…but forr the most parrt, things went okay, I think.”

He smirked. "Well, one of you us enough for me.. Dunno what I'd do with a whole pack of you." He nuzzled into her again, grinning widely.

A quick lick to the top of his head was managed before she responded with a chuckle, “you’d go crazy.”

"Indeed... I'm glad I never get to meet the in-laws.."

“Heh. Yes.”

"You probably wouldn’t get along with mine either though..."

“And what makes you say that?” She asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Well.. for one, from what I remember, my mother was alright. Might like her. Very sweet though. My dad... Heh, I dunno. He was just... crazy."
She chuckled. "I think my Da would've gotten along well with yourrs...he was...odd sometimes too."

"Well... at least it would have been interesting, I suppose..."

"Oooohh it would be, that."

"But.. then I wouldn’t really be able to be alone with you..." He grinned. "And I like being alone with you.. very, very much."

A rare, soft smile crossed her indigo muzzle for a few seconds.

“That’s good,” she tucked her head under his chin, “ because I like being alone with you too.”

He smirked, letting her nuzzle into his neck and chest. "That's good then.. We're going to be spending alooot of time together alone... So I hope you're prepared for it." He purred into her ear softly, loving the feeling of warmth she gave him.

“Oh I am,” she cooed, and then began purring herself. The current moment in time was perfect. Ianthe felt so at ease, so safe….she’d hadn’t felt anything like it in many moons.

He smiled and sighed softly, getting comfortable against her... He couldnt remember being so happy. It was nice, oddly.. not to be alone. "Thank you.. for showing me this place."

She gave a funny little chuckle while she nuzzled a bit further into him, letting her eyes close lightly. “You’re welcome.”