With that topic of conversation exhausted Ely was not sure what to say beyond agreement. She searched frantically for something else to talk about, when the very thing she was bracing her feet on caught her attention.
A tiny owl in one of the lower branches fluttered his wings.
"Look, Kiga."
Ely motioned toward the bird.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Ely, once upon a time, had not been that familiar with birds. Oh, she loved to chase them as a child. It was one of those things that she never really grew out of. Though, she knew that catching them would not grant her the ability to fly. Still, the glory of their flight was thrilling to her.
Then, she had run into Kiga. Birds and their legends had become something of a hobby afterwards, not to mention, a way to keep his memory alive.
"Hihaska."
Ely smiled at Kiga and turned her eyes back to the owl.
"Hihaska was one of the first birds given life by Mother Earth and Farther Sky. It was a long process you know, creating all the creatures in the world. It took an extremely long time. And one by one all the animals slipped into sleep except for Hihaska and Joran the cougar. It is why they can see in the dark; the cat and the owl. A gift from the Creators because they had remained awake and protected them until everything was done."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga was listening with utter interest, really he was.... but he was still quite distracted with just watching her as she spoke. She was incredible to him and could hold his interest for hours, if only staring at someone for hours wasn't creepy. But she told her story and it did bring up. Something he wasn't quite sure on how to address it.
"Yeah. You know.... if you ever need protection Ely, you can let me know; right?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely took her eyes off the owl; no, Hihaska to look at Kiga.
"Why would I need protection?"
Ely bit her lip. Her teeth sunk into the skin inside her mouth and chewed at it. Kiga was offering to protect her? Her heartbeat had just developed a wildly erratic thud in her chest and throat. Ely was not a girl searching for big, strong men to protect her. She could take care of herself. But, the idea of Kiga keeping her safe...
Well, it spun a dozen mental images of her wrapped up in his arms. Those images did not stop at just her brain, either. They went through all the nerve centers in her body.
Ely could not breathe.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga rolled over and onto his front then, propping himself up on his elbows and looking at her as she lay beside him, just touching sides now. He didn't see so nervous right now and stared her straight in the eyes as he spoke.
"You don't. But in case you ever think you need to leave again. Or someone is making you. You let me know. Please?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely's ears flicked back and forth wildly. Say something. Say anything. Breathe. Don't just stare at him you idiot! The thoughts beat each other to death in Ely's brain.
"O...okay."
Oh. Excellent. Air. Ely took the breath and told her erratic heartbeat to behave. Not that the useless thing was paying her any attention whatsoever. Her ears had come to a halt. Maybe things were back to normal. She tried more words.
"You don't have to protect me."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga looked a bit the fool then, he knew she was capable of looking after herself. It was odd though. He wasn't paid to protect her, it wasn't his job....
"Ely?"
He was thinking now, trying to sort through words.
"I... know you don't need me to protect you. I just... well I don't want anything to happen to you. And I don't want you to leave again. Not so suddenly. Not without talking to me."
Now he felt like a real ass.
"Ok?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely swallowed. She huddled into her arms wrapping them about either shoulders. The length of her body was no longer relaxed. Her tail was flipping back and forth.
"I... I did not want to leave without saying anything."
And even though she already apologized earlier in the evening she did so again.
"I'm sorry."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga was worried now, he didn't want to see her upset. That wasn't his intention at all and hurriedly, he tried to make amends. He scuffled closer, a pleading look on his face.
"No... I didn't mean... look.... just....."
It was hopeless when words failed him. She made him a mess but damn it, he had to communicate what he wanted to say. He just couldn't... clear his head around her.
So, instead; he slipped an arm around her and laid his head upon her shoulder, close to her face and whispered. It was hard to comfort someone when they were lying down and you aren't sure it's the right thing to do.
"I am sorry. Sorry I wasn't there. I missed you. Please... let's just... well, make up for the time."
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
For Ely things just went from bad to worse. She did not intend on making him feel guilty or apologize. Kiga had done nothing wrong. She was going to say something about it, too. But, his arms were around her and his head was pressed to her shoulder. Words did not seem all that important at this point.
And she tried to take comfort in those things. She honestly did. But her body was paying no attention to the comfort of Kiga's arms. Instead it was making her want to roll over, run her fingers across his face, or any number of other things.
A soft sound did slip from her mouth, too; a very faint purr.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga stopped for a moment, his heart suddenly beat at break neck pace and sent a chill up, down his spine and throughout his whole body.... and then melted away with a smile. Oh, how he missed that perfect sound.
No, very suddenly; this awkward situation had turned into the most wonderful night in a long time. Even here, laying on a cold floor, under a tree with the resident owl looking rather.... stern, he was so happy.
He cuddled more intently then, his fingers stroking what he always considered to be the most incredible hair he had ever laid eyes upon.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Those thoughts that had caused Ely such consternation earlier came to an agreement. The tighter Kiga's arms held her the better she liked it. Her eyes slipped closed. The purr gained an octave, as well; with the stroke of her hair. She paid no more attention to the owl, the tree, or anything else but Kiga.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga only laid there. He wasn't thinking about this moment, he was simply in it and quite happy to have Ely back in his life. She planned on staying in Wistvale and so did he and well, that made the future shine quite bright.
It might have occurred to him that laying on the stone floor and holding her was odd. But be damned if he was about to ruin it by saying anything. Maybe he would buy her a couch. Later.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
The day had lasted longer than usual. Beyond the tedious task of sorting books, the extended evening, the encounter with Kiga, not to mention Dom, at the Hot Springs, Ely was exhausted.
She fell asleep in Kiga's arms. Occasionally her tail would curl up, swish, or her spine would bend as she searched for a more comfortable spot, but she did not wake. Kiga was back, and all the restless tossing that usually accompanied her thoughts before going to bed this past year or so, well, they no longer bothered her.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”