Rhyn watched carefully as the situation escalated. The dragoness that rose up in front of her made her eyes narrow as she stepped slightly to the side. It was ridiculous now. Observation made her pause though. The likelihood of another dragon shifter was very small. Soneya's reaction was well played. Even as it struck home, Rhyn decided it was time to stop this farce.
Her rough voice was quiet, but clear. "You think yourself a better mate because of your magic? You are a fool, to think you can fool two shifters into believing this to be your true form." She moved even closer to Kaevad, her pale eyes keeping the other dragon in her sight. "Were Soneya not here, he would still not have been available to you. He is mine, and was mine first. An arm slung over his neck behind his head, and her teeth gleamed in the possessive snarl that she showed. "You pick upon Soneya merely because she is the easy target. Fool! Do you believe yourself better than I as well?" She rubbed against Kaevad's scales in what would seem like a very affectionate gesture, a smile turning the corners of her mouth up.
"Soneya has done nothing to you, nor has she taken an available magic mate off of the market you believe to be out there. He was mine and will remain such. So stop stalking after him like a bitch in heat!" The last words came out as a snarl, her tail hooking over his neck possessively, but her hands coming out, part of her ready to fight the other woman into submission.
"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya's words hit the girl like a slap to the face, and she recoiled. That was when Rhyn stepped up, surprising Kaevad into returning the affectionate gestures. Her golden eyes looked between the 3 before her illusion spell dissipated with a pop and the human girl slumped forward, sobbing once more. Kaevad didn't approve of her methods, or of her choice... but... gently disentangling himself from Rhyn he moved forward to crouch in front of the woman, tilting her tear-stained chin up to meet cold eyes.
"You are better than this." Her eyes widened. "You are not so weak so as to go to petty lengths to simply gain a mate, you know better. Stop this pretense, go home, and live your life. You have all the time in the world, child, and soon you will forget all about me. I wish you happiness and the intelligence to realize how stupid you've been." He stood, ignoring her shocked look. He moved back to his 'mates', hooking his arms around them possessively. He looked back.
"You will find someone better than me, lass, you wait and see." He smiled and moved the two along back to the cave, just wanting to curl up and sleep damnit.
"You are better than this." Her eyes widened. "You are not so weak so as to go to petty lengths to simply gain a mate, you know better. Stop this pretense, go home, and live your life. You have all the time in the world, child, and soon you will forget all about me. I wish you happiness and the intelligence to realize how stupid you've been." He stood, ignoring her shocked look. He moved back to his 'mates', hooking his arms around them possessively. He looked back.
"You will find someone better than me, lass, you wait and see." He smiled and moved the two along back to the cave, just wanting to curl up and sleep damnit.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
An illusion? It had been an illusion?! For some reason this set Soneya terribly on edge and if she had been any stronger or had Rhyn’s claws even for just a moment, she would most definitely have used them on the girl. It was one thing to play the tough person when one was anything but that, but treachery was something Soneya abhorred. Her body was almost vibrating with her anger and her headache exploded in her skull, but she remained where she was, unmoving.
She watched Kaevad move to the girl and though she almost spoke up in contempt, she reined the impulse in. After all, the dragon shifter was only showing the girl what Soneya had basically just told her. Fragility didn’t equal weakness and that was something the girl had to learn.
Swallowing down her anger at the way the girl had tried to trick her, Soneya moved to stand next to Kaevad and in turn put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Love will find you when you least expect it. And you will be a good mate to him, whoever he will turn out to be.”
When Kaevad moved away, she instantly followed and in return, slung her arm around him as well. She needed the physical contact now, to make sure that he really was there, that they both were really there, as she could feel Rhyn’s fur brushing against her skin. Plus, a world of relief was washing over Soneya because it had all gone well, despite her overly foolish way of dealing with the situation. Stepping up to face a mage.. she had to be insane!
She watched Kaevad move to the girl and though she almost spoke up in contempt, she reined the impulse in. After all, the dragon shifter was only showing the girl what Soneya had basically just told her. Fragility didn’t equal weakness and that was something the girl had to learn.
Swallowing down her anger at the way the girl had tried to trick her, Soneya moved to stand next to Kaevad and in turn put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Love will find you when you least expect it. And you will be a good mate to him, whoever he will turn out to be.”
When Kaevad moved away, she instantly followed and in return, slung her arm around him as well. She needed the physical contact now, to make sure that he really was there, that they both were really there, as she could feel Rhyn’s fur brushing against her skin. Plus, a world of relief was washing over Soneya because it had all gone well, despite her overly foolish way of dealing with the situation. Stepping up to face a mage.. she had to be insane!
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn's tail lashed for half of the walk back to the cave. She slowly calmed herself, the only signs of her agitation her tail, and once she managed to finally stop that, it curled around Soneya comfortingly. She debated speaking, lecturing them all for being fools, but decided against it. Silence was her way.
Part of her analyzed the situation. Soneya had stood up to a magic user, unknowing of what that magic user was able to do. Courage was there. Stupidity, but also courage. She padded silently, thinking. In her own feelings there had been a bit of anger truly, when she had claimed Kaevad as her own mate. Could it be? No. Silly cat. She sighed, tired. All this village nonsense was just that. Nonsense.
Part of her analyzed the situation. Soneya had stood up to a magic user, unknowing of what that magic user was able to do. Courage was there. Stupidity, but also courage. She padded silently, thinking. In her own feelings there had been a bit of anger truly, when she had claimed Kaevad as her own mate. Could it be? No. Silly cat. She sighed, tired. All this village nonsense was just that. Nonsense.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Ahhh... his women... one shaky with relief, one slowly calming down. He supported one, let the other be as distant as she needed to be. As for himself? He was a patient quiet, calm and sleepy. They finally made it to the cave and he managed to free himself of them to curl up with an exhausted groan, his posture similar to a cats. He did, however, leave room on his side if someone wanted to join him, his wing draped lightly almost in a subconscious invitation.
He wouldn't sleep, he knew, likely just doze... still. It would be nice to have some peace and quiet.
He wouldn't sleep, he knew, likely just doze... still. It would be nice to have some peace and quiet.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
In all honesty however, the thing Soneya was most relieved about was that neither Rhyn nor Kaevad seemed inclined on lecturing her. She knew it had been stupid and she would definitely think twice about doing it again, but if she was going to play with the magic-users, she needed to be able to face up to them as well, and couldn’t keep letting someone else rescue her at all times. Plus, if they were going to have to keep up the pretence of being in a three-way then it wouldn’t do well for word to spread that she was a very weak leak. She already was the weakest anyway, but she didn’t want to get them all into trouble for being too easy to get to. The awful thought of turning out to be bait to someone wanting to catch themselves a snowleopard or a dragon invaded her mind but she quickly shook it off.
At first, Soneya didn’t quite want to let go when they reached the cave but there was no use in trying to cling to someone she knew wasn’t going to go anywhere. Instead, she picked up a fur and wrapped herself in it, knowing that cold shivers would come sooner or later, especially because the headache was only slowly dying down. She would pay for the agitation in her own way. With the fur securely in place, she took up Kaevad’s offer and slipped underneath his wing, much like they had spent their very first night in the storm. Warm and completely sheltered from harm.
Morning came all too soon and Soneya really wasn’t ready to get up, at all. Contrary to what she had hoped, her headache hadn’t gone away, but instead increased quite a bit and she heard everything through a fog which was dulling down the noises but at the same time increased every sound to an almost unbearable volume. Grunting and refusing to open her eyes to see what was going on around her, Soneya shrunk further into the fur and hoped it would all just go away.
At first, Soneya didn’t quite want to let go when they reached the cave but there was no use in trying to cling to someone she knew wasn’t going to go anywhere. Instead, she picked up a fur and wrapped herself in it, knowing that cold shivers would come sooner or later, especially because the headache was only slowly dying down. She would pay for the agitation in her own way. With the fur securely in place, she took up Kaevad’s offer and slipped underneath his wing, much like they had spent their very first night in the storm. Warm and completely sheltered from harm.
Morning came all too soon and Soneya really wasn’t ready to get up, at all. Contrary to what she had hoped, her headache hadn’t gone away, but instead increased quite a bit and she heard everything through a fog which was dulling down the noises but at the same time increased every sound to an almost unbearable volume. Grunting and refusing to open her eyes to see what was going on around her, Soneya shrunk further into the fur and hoped it would all just go away.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
When they reached the cave, Rhyn seemed more distant that she was before. Her fur had settled, though it was ruffled from her run, dirt scattered through her belly fur and on her tail once again, leaf debris catching on her guard hairs. She sighed, letting Soneya curl up under Kaevad's wing, and finding herself curled up, fully feline, a short distance from them, pale eyes looking out into the night. The tip of her tail twitched for a while, and she found it difficult to keep her eyes open and on watch. Eventually she let herself slip away into sleep.
When morning came, it was bright out, the sun peeking through cloud cover and creating patterns through the forested area they were in. Tired and still slightly frustrated from the night before, Rhyn moved, roughly five feet, to plop herself down in a patch of sunlight, her silence one of slight grouchiness. She kept her gaze away from the other two, now feeling awkward for having acted as she had last night, so openly displaying affection, and even more, publicly declaring a claim that she didn't actually have.
This farce was ridiculous.
After a short while, she rose, shaking her fur out as she moved to coax the fire into a short life and heat some of the meat they had still, from the deer days before.
When morning came, it was bright out, the sun peeking through cloud cover and creating patterns through the forested area they were in. Tired and still slightly frustrated from the night before, Rhyn moved, roughly five feet, to plop herself down in a patch of sunlight, her silence one of slight grouchiness. She kept her gaze away from the other two, now feeling awkward for having acted as she had last night, so openly displaying affection, and even more, publicly declaring a claim that she didn't actually have.
This farce was ridiculous.
After a short while, she rose, shaking her fur out as she moved to coax the fire into a short life and heat some of the meat they had still, from the deer days before.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Both women slept, much to his relief. It gave him time to think. Eyes closed, his body relaxed, he allowed his mind to wander. In so few days, not even a blink of an eye for him, his small group had grown close. Rhyn had stretched beyond her limits, and Soneya had grown as a result. The Soneya he remembered from their meeting... she wouldn't have stood her ground against a full-grown dragon, illusion or not. She'd been petrified of her two friends after the first 3 seconds after all... granted Kaevad's rough demeanor hadn't helped either...
Then there was Rhyn... so openly against foolishness, and yet she had publicly declared him her mate - that was an act of foolishness. He took the effort to crack an eye open to peer at her, peaceful in sleep, yet a frown marring her face. She was obviously upset about the whole thing... women and their emotions... Kaevad closed his eyes and attempted to understand for a moment, only to find he couldn't. Neither of these women were even close to his mates, merely good friends... certainly they held places dear to him in his heart, and certainly he'd come to care for them deeply within an short period of time (exceptionally so for him) but still...
Still... he wondered about them. Soneya was still growing, still learning. Rhyn was naive but stubborn... Kaevad huffed a short breath. Children, in the end. The feeling of his years settled in his bones, and it was then he realized he couldn't remember how long it had been since he had lain in the sun... shit. When they had traveled he'd warmed in the sun as they went, so it hadn't been an issue... but now... now he needed to just bathe in the sun, he could feel it. Soneya moved closer to him in her sleep, a small pained sigh a sign of discomfort for something. His tail moved in to tuck her closer to him as he continued to contemplate.
He wasn't searching for a mate by any means, certainly, as he knew he'd outlive them by many, many lifetimes. Changers, to him, the time they spent would be like a heartbeat compared to how they'd see it... and humans... humans emotions, thoughts and everything... they changed within a moment. A single event... it could change their entire perspective of life. He'd done the same of course, he was only human in the end. Still... it would do no harm to bring them to the other place... perhaps allow them to forge their own paths should they choose... or perhaps kill 2 birds with one stone and simply get these mad villagers off his tail.
Dawn broke and sunlight drifted in. Thankful he had not slumped into a corner, Kaevad sighed and basked in the rays, the powerful energy warming his bones and sinew. He watched Rhyn get up and move even as Soneya moaned and sank closer into him, causing him to watch her, concerned. The cat, it seemed, was more intent on what he assumed was her version of sulking, or he'd hidden Soneya just that well. He shifted carefully, freeing a hand that found its way to her head. Not hot by any means... it drifted to the nape of her neck where he tested the muscles. Smiling in grim realization, Kaevad began to work at the tense muscles, pausing only to roll onto his side so Soneya could use his arm as a pillow to prop her head up. He noted Rhyn's fur as well.
"Once I help Soneya with this headpain... would you like me to groom you again, Rhyn?" Kaevad rumbled softly. It was best to put the past behind them, and not dwell on the stupider issues of it. Doing so could leave one in pain for decades.... he would know.
Then there was Rhyn... so openly against foolishness, and yet she had publicly declared him her mate - that was an act of foolishness. He took the effort to crack an eye open to peer at her, peaceful in sleep, yet a frown marring her face. She was obviously upset about the whole thing... women and their emotions... Kaevad closed his eyes and attempted to understand for a moment, only to find he couldn't. Neither of these women were even close to his mates, merely good friends... certainly they held places dear to him in his heart, and certainly he'd come to care for them deeply within an short period of time (exceptionally so for him) but still...
Still... he wondered about them. Soneya was still growing, still learning. Rhyn was naive but stubborn... Kaevad huffed a short breath. Children, in the end. The feeling of his years settled in his bones, and it was then he realized he couldn't remember how long it had been since he had lain in the sun... shit. When they had traveled he'd warmed in the sun as they went, so it hadn't been an issue... but now... now he needed to just bathe in the sun, he could feel it. Soneya moved closer to him in her sleep, a small pained sigh a sign of discomfort for something. His tail moved in to tuck her closer to him as he continued to contemplate.
He wasn't searching for a mate by any means, certainly, as he knew he'd outlive them by many, many lifetimes. Changers, to him, the time they spent would be like a heartbeat compared to how they'd see it... and humans... humans emotions, thoughts and everything... they changed within a moment. A single event... it could change their entire perspective of life. He'd done the same of course, he was only human in the end. Still... it would do no harm to bring them to the other place... perhaps allow them to forge their own paths should they choose... or perhaps kill 2 birds with one stone and simply get these mad villagers off his tail.
Dawn broke and sunlight drifted in. Thankful he had not slumped into a corner, Kaevad sighed and basked in the rays, the powerful energy warming his bones and sinew. He watched Rhyn get up and move even as Soneya moaned and sank closer into him, causing him to watch her, concerned. The cat, it seemed, was more intent on what he assumed was her version of sulking, or he'd hidden Soneya just that well. He shifted carefully, freeing a hand that found its way to her head. Not hot by any means... it drifted to the nape of her neck where he tested the muscles. Smiling in grim realization, Kaevad began to work at the tense muscles, pausing only to roll onto his side so Soneya could use his arm as a pillow to prop her head up. He noted Rhyn's fur as well.
"Once I help Soneya with this headpain... would you like me to groom you again, Rhyn?" Kaevad rumbled softly. It was best to put the past behind them, and not dwell on the stupider issues of it. Doing so could leave one in pain for decades.... he would know.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya groaned as Kaevad began to work on her neck muscles. A part of her wanted to flinch away, merely because of the fairly intimate touch. Apart from doctors, nobody had gotten near that part of her body in ages. Her head was off limits almost, only rarely did she accept it to be touched. Most people wouldn’t think of touching it anyway, maybe only to briefly brush a hand over her hair, which, if it was really quick, she could manage to live with.
Involuntarily, a groan escaped her though when Kaevad hit an especially tense muscle and she almost jumped up from the sensation, only to slump back down into absolute submission when he continued to massage her. It felt incredibly good, even though it was a little painful as well. The headache was still throbbing harshly but it seemed willing enough to let her at least get through the day.
At the mention of grooming, Soneya lifted her head and looked at Rhyn. She hadn’t even realised that the snowleopard might need some outside help with the grooming of her fur. Of course, now that she was looking more closely, she noticed that there were quite a few leaves, twigs and so forth stuck in her fur but she had figured it would be like with a cat, she’d wash and scratch it out. “I didn’t realise, sorry, we could have done that upon our return last night.” She was sorry for having so completely neglected Rhyn’s needs while only caring about her own that she felt the urge to make up for it, somehow. But she didn’t want to push it either, didn’t want it to appear as though she wanted to be involved in everything going on.
Involuntarily, a groan escaped her though when Kaevad hit an especially tense muscle and she almost jumped up from the sensation, only to slump back down into absolute submission when he continued to massage her. It felt incredibly good, even though it was a little painful as well. The headache was still throbbing harshly but it seemed willing enough to let her at least get through the day.
At the mention of grooming, Soneya lifted her head and looked at Rhyn. She hadn’t even realised that the snowleopard might need some outside help with the grooming of her fur. Of course, now that she was looking more closely, she noticed that there were quite a few leaves, twigs and so forth stuck in her fur but she had figured it would be like with a cat, she’d wash and scratch it out. “I didn’t realise, sorry, we could have done that upon our return last night.” She was sorry for having so completely neglected Rhyn’s needs while only caring about her own that she felt the urge to make up for it, somehow. But she didn’t want to push it either, didn’t want it to appear as though she wanted to be involved in everything going on.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Waiting for "breakfast" to heat, her ears perked up and swiveled as she noted Kaevad's movement and Soneya's groan. She scanned the forest, indeed somewhat sulking, but really trying to find just exactly where her boundaries were now. She was never one to act without thinking, as she had last night. She had never touched people more than briefly without being forced, and to have claimed such as she had the night before...
She frowned, reminded of how she had only ever had prolonged contact with Bradly. Her eyes darkened slightly at the memory. Kaevad's voice came to her once more though, as she pulled the ribs away from the heat. "Is fine." She reassured Soneya, though her voice was distant. "I can manage." But part of her longed for the contact.
She frowned, reminded of how she had only ever had prolonged contact with Bradly. Her eyes darkened slightly at the memory. Kaevad's voice came to her once more though, as she pulled the ribs away from the heat. "Is fine." She reassured Soneya, though her voice was distant. "I can manage." But part of her longed for the contact.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Kaevad's eyes narrowed slightly, eyeing the cat women before returning his attention to the knots in Soneya's neck. One there... gone... and another- Changers... frowning he shifted her to lay on her stomache as he knelt beside her, practiced hands now working her shoulders. "I can only guess the level of pain you're in...." Kaevad murmured to Soneya before looking up at Rhyn, eyes apologetic. "I will get you groomed lass, I promise. Soneya seems to have knots in her muscles - painful, cause migraines... I'm trying to get the most of them out..." He kneaded her flesh, smirking darkly as another particularly nasty knot released.
"I don't doubt that didn't feel nice... I'm sorry... but the headache should be fading." How he knew, was only from experience. Aileen had the same issues on occasion, but he wouldn't admit that.
"I don't doubt that didn't feel nice... I'm sorry... but the headache should be fading." How he knew, was only from experience. Aileen had the same issues on occasion, but he wouldn't admit that.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Yelping in pain, Soneya held still though, feeling the instant relief when yet another knot was untangled in her huge mess of tense muscles. That was worth the pain. When Kaevad was done kneading her every muscle and bone in the upper part of her body Soneya remained where she was, flopped on her stomach and just sighing into the fur. She wanted to get up to hug Rhyn, just because she felt as though the snowleopard could use it but she wasn’t quite able yet to pick herself up off the floor. The after effects of the massage were still lingering, and Soneya felt as though she may not be completely in control over her senses at that moment in time.
“You go groom Rhyn,” she told Kaevad, barely managing to lift a hand to pat him in the closest spot available to her, no matter which body part it was. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just lay here in my delirium for a bit longer and contemplate the wonders of feeling all funny.” Even to her own ears, it sounded like utter nonsense, but the girl didn’t care. Her headache was starting to dissipate and her neck and shoulders were tingling all over from where Kaevad had released the knots. It was practically all her mind could focus on at that moment.
“You go groom Rhyn,” she told Kaevad, barely managing to lift a hand to pat him in the closest spot available to her, no matter which body part it was. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just lay here in my delirium for a bit longer and contemplate the wonders of feeling all funny.” Even to her own ears, it sounded like utter nonsense, but the girl didn’t care. Her headache was starting to dissipate and her neck and shoulders were tingling all over from where Kaevad had released the knots. It was practically all her mind could focus on at that moment.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn began munching on the ribs, picking meat from the bone delicately with her claws. She tilted her head slightly, eyeing her companions warily as Soneya yelped and then spoke, but it was seemingly gibberish. Whatever. The snow leopard sighed darkly, having picked up the command to Kaevad to groom her. She wasn't sure she wanted the man to, now. Last night, it had been a way to relax, but now she wasn't sure just how close she was okay with him being. Give me the clean, cold high reaches over any of these lowlands.
She licked a trail of juice that ran down her forearm, the taste mixing with dirt and random flavors of the woods. It gave it a woodsy sort of taste. Better would be good, clean snow. She stretched slightly and sighed up at the sun.
She licked a trail of juice that ran down her forearm, the taste mixing with dirt and random flavors of the woods. It gave it a woodsy sort of taste. Better would be good, clean snow. She stretched slightly and sighed up at the sun.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Her pat landed on his thigh, much to his entertainment, but moved to do as he was bid. He dug around the packs till he found her brush before padding silently to her. He knelt, pet her once or twice, before brushing lightly at first, a soothing.motion, before he got.to work, singing on the tongues of old. It was a tale of two star struck lovers besitted with each other and for their female.friend. Their issue had been though, how to hide such taboo?
He gently untangled twigs and unmatted fur with his claws, his tail bracing his weight so he could crouch comfortably. His women cared for him, he'd care for his women.
Rhyns coat silvery white once more, Kaevad massaged her shoulders a moment, which had meant to be a signal.to say he was done until her noticed HER tense and knotted muscles. "You to? What were you two doing while I was away." his tone was teasing as he got to work on Rhyn.
He gently untangled twigs and unmatted fur with his claws, his tail bracing his weight so he could crouch comfortably. His women cared for him, he'd care for his women.
Rhyns coat silvery white once more, Kaevad massaged her shoulders a moment, which had meant to be a signal.to say he was done until her noticed HER tense and knotted muscles. "You to? What were you two doing while I was away." his tone was teasing as he got to work on Rhyn.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
"Apparently we have been living in a massage-free world, full of tense muscles and knots everywhere," Soneya mumbled but finally resolved to getting up from her utterly comfortable position. Her headache had dulled down to a barely noticeable throb, thus not far different from any other day. This she could handle without a problem, she was used to it anyhow.
Moving over to where Kaevad was working on Rhyn's muscles, she planted herself on the floor next to them, gently reaching out to touch Rhyn's freshly polished fur. "It really is a very beautiful coat," she mused as she buried her fingers into it once again. She didn't understand what exactly it was about the snowleopard that made her feel so immensely calm but it was a wonderful feeling. She'd had this thought more than once but still couldn't wrap her head around it. Not that it mattered though, she'd simply accept it for what it was without an explanation.
Breakfast wasn't really on her mind however, and her stomach clearly told her that if she even contemplated eating, then it would make her pay for it, thus she simply contented herself with drinking a bit of water.
Leaving Kaevad and Rhyn to their own devices, she got up and went to the entrance of the cave, breathing in the fresh air with her eyes closed and a happy expression on her face. If only she could feel like this more often. So peaceful, so calm, so completely secure. Alas, she knew that it wouldn't last. One way or another this bubble of happiness would burst sooner or later.
Moving over to where Kaevad was working on Rhyn's muscles, she planted herself on the floor next to them, gently reaching out to touch Rhyn's freshly polished fur. "It really is a very beautiful coat," she mused as she buried her fingers into it once again. She didn't understand what exactly it was about the snowleopard that made her feel so immensely calm but it was a wonderful feeling. She'd had this thought more than once but still couldn't wrap her head around it. Not that it mattered though, she'd simply accept it for what it was without an explanation.
Breakfast wasn't really on her mind however, and her stomach clearly told her that if she even contemplated eating, then it would make her pay for it, thus she simply contented herself with drinking a bit of water.
Leaving Kaevad and Rhyn to their own devices, she got up and went to the entrance of the cave, breathing in the fresh air with her eyes closed and a happy expression on her face. If only she could feel like this more often. So peaceful, so calm, so completely secure. Alas, she knew that it wouldn't last. One way or another this bubble of happiness would burst sooner or later.