To Find My Heart

[sera]

(( Started a long time ago, this is actually a sort of intermediate to where the pair currently stands. . . lol ))

Xöliten /S'real/ slips quietly into the Orchard, darting swiftly into a grove of trees and keeping her wings folded tightly to her body. Coppery eyes scan the clearing she just left and she curls her long, sinewy tail around a leg nervously. Other than that she remains perfectly still.

Her waiting seems to gain fruit as a grey figure appears, skulking low to the ground, a rare feat with his leggy body. His ears are almost flattened against his skull, and his wings are held almost flush against his sides. His scarred hide speaks volumes about him, but who can say if any of that is correct. He cranes his neck oddly, jerking his head far to the left and inspecting the area, before turning it back to its normal position.

[sera]

S'real's breath catches lightly in her throat and she flicks her ears back. She wasn't entirely certain why he was still following her and it made her rather nervous. Though. . . she was also rather flattered. When that emotion flit through her, the Naa swiftly staved it off.

The grey Naa turned to look towards where she was hiding and, flattened his ears further. She knew he was there. Shame flooded from him, so strong, the Faerie Chaos mix could pick it up from her hiding spot in the grove.

[sera]

True blue tufts flicked backwards as the feelings washed over her and guilt added it's own jabbing presence to her current mental condition. S'real gave a small sigh, a small release that didn't quite compare to the softest of breezes. Nonetheless, it was enough for her stalker, and the grey Naa whirled, fangs bared and wings flared.

The Faerie Chaos stepped out from her hiding place and, at the sight of the mare, all aggression drained from the stallion. His head and ears drooped as he tucked his tail. Red eyes dropped to the ground and he refused to meet her gaze.

Hello, Bishen, she said softly, her own ears back uncertainly. He didn't respond to her overture.

[sera]

S'real flicked her tail uncomfortably, the swirled appendage brushing against her hind legs then convulsively wrapping around one leg. She fluttered her faerie wings, their light breeze flowing lightly over the Vampire Naa.

Red eyes closed with the gentle touch and he barely relaxed, letting his ears and wings loosen lightly. He still said nothing, however, simply enjoying the feel.

S'real tilted her ears towards the grey Naa curiously. How could she have such a profound affect on other being, especially one like Bishen? She came slightly closer to the other, head dropped to try to inspect his face. Though he outwardly seemed unaware of her, she could almost feel his increased wariness, his ears flattening again. S'real's white ear flicked backwards, though the true blue tufts remained focused towards the Vampire.

Bishen, she tried again, waiting silently for a response. She got none.

Bishen Layleyly.

Finally, his deep mindvoice rumbled in her head, Yes, S'real? Hesitation still marked his words, however, and he refused to look at her.

His voice always surprised her, and the mix found herself oddly speechless for a moment. She mentally shook her head, watching as his tension increased at her pause. She quickly asked, Why are you here?

[sera]

The Vampire seemed unwilling to respond, still avoiding her gaze.

Not looking at me won't make me go away, the mare abruptly pointed out. Bishen started, as though that was exactly what he had been thinking. Though he wouldn't admit it aloud to her, his mind had wandered somewhere entirely different, something along the lines of how she looked and how it made him feel.

S'real gave a frustrated sigh, If you're not even going to talk to me, you should just go away!

The grey Naa jumped at that as well, anxiety washing over him and he sent a swift, fearful glance to the other. S'real lashed her tail, not bothering to hide her frustration at all.

Her obvious willingness to follow through with the threat broke something within him and he looked away again, admitting quietly, I'm. . . worried about your safety.

If it hadn't been impossible for Naa to lie, S'real would have thought this was nothing more than a coverup for being a stalker. However, since the only possibility was to leave out information, not change it to be untrue, the thought didn't occur to her. Why? she asked flatly. I've been taking care of myself for years. I don't need protection.

Bishen radiated discomfort at her bluntness. Something was going on and it made the Chaos Faerie Naa worried. Wot is it, Bishen? she asked, putting behind it her currenlty limited empathy gift, encouraging him to be free with her, the tone rather commanding and imperious.

The Vampire shuffled uneasily, again not meeting her gaze. Another wave of her empathy, however, tore the words unwillingly from his mind, You. . . are changed.

Changed? she echoed, the overtones beginning to frighten her.

Ta'velern, he admitted softly, the word little more than a whispered caress in her mind.

Ta'velern. The word was a frightening prospect to a Naavainemar. The deep meanings of the layered word were sometimes difficult to even follow, convulted and obscure. However, it always held to a change in who or what one was, a deep change that could not be reversed. Without realizing it, S'real flared her draconic wings, as though to defend against some unseen enemy, backing up a step.