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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 10:58 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 10:58 pm
The sun was setting and Vasilissa was resting under a tree, enjoying the view - the sky and the sight of Alexi training hard. His muscled rippled as he fought imaginary foes, focusing more on technique than gaining experience or strength - those he had more than enough of. He had returned from travels recently and he had learnt new techniques from a herd to the south. Now most of his time was spent practicing - not that she was complaining. Her time was not spent pining for his attention. They had few moments to themselves, it was true, but they both cherished them when they could. Such was life when you were trying to run a herd.
Alexi caught Vasilissa watching him from the corner of his eye and he paused, smiling. The light hit her in such a way that she was simply luminous. He had had enough practice today, he decided in that instant. He walked over to where she sat and joined her, careful not to lean on her while he still glistened with sweat. The temperature had dropped as winter began but his training left him hot even in the middle of it. His travels had seen a lapse in his training and he was paying for it now, almost after breath after half the usual workout he normally did.
"Peace and quiet to ourselves is a rarity these days," he mused.
"Indeed," she smiled and rested against him, paying no mind to his current state. She nuzzled him softly, breathing him in. Even after training he smelt divine - like the air in Spring. Crisp and fresh. "Did you train hard?" She asked, chuckling softly as he struggled to slow his breathing.
Alexi laughed and swatted her gently. "Leave me be. I'm not as young as I once was." He rested his head against hers and smiled. "How long will you be home for?" He had been travelling for three weks before his return but Vasilissa had been away for the month before that. She was often pulled away without warning to meet with another leader or to help with some issue in the lands she had claimed as her own. Sometimes they met up on these journeys if he felt she needed protection but such an occasion had not risen in some time. They communicated with the help of Rosa - Vasilissa's familiar and oldest companion but it was not the same as real time, face to face communication.
"We have not spoken in some time. Are you well?"
"As well as I can be. Rosa would not let me keep an ailment secret from you, so no need to worry. I just.. need a break, to be honest. I'd like nothing more than to run away and start our own life somewhere distant. But that is selfish of me, isn't it? There are those who rely on me - on us. I accepted that responsibility." She shook her head with a sigh. "I am sorry, I'm just tired. I was to leave tomorrow but the meeting has been postponed. I will not be away for another month or two at least. What of you?"
He did not interrupt here when she spoke nor did he reply. It was not something she wanted him to reply to no matter how much he wished she would follow her heart every once in a while. Her role as leader was hard on her, thrust into it very young without much teaching. She was doing her best but she had not had any time to grow on her own.
"I'll be home for the winter..." he paused and it dawned on him. "Let's go away, then. Just the two of us. We can go to the springs in the mountain. Just a week - it's cold enough there won't be any worries and everyone can take care of things while you're gone. It'll just be as if we went away on business."
He wasn't sure if she would be up for it but it was the perfect - and possibly only - time to do it. Winter was uneventful and for the first time in a long time they were both free for more than a few days. "We can leave in the morning."
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