Dance in Fire [TakodaVega x TaemaNai]

[TakodaVega]

A large shadow loomed over the valley, golden eyes watched as the sun lost slowly lost it's battle with the long extinct volcano that had become her home. Her legs dangled over the edge of the cliff, her cloven hooves tucked so they touched the rock. The warmth of the summer would be gone soon, but that didn't mean that the feeling of the warm stone didn't feel good to her. Her ombre fur almost made her blend into the cliff side if it hadn't been for the fact she sported the spiraling alicorn that sparkled in the dying light of the sun and the glass beads that cast ruby lights to the wall behind her.

Asabikeshiinh was an odd creature, more prey than predator though despite this her own natural defenses did little to actually drive off anyone that threatened her - that was what her mate was for. She knew that Asil would have preferred that her demure and gentle nature at least had some bite to it but that was not her way. In fact, Asa was more prone to run from conflict than to face it head long. She curled her tail over the edge so that she could feel the light breeze through the silken strands that resided at the base of her tail as though she was lost in her own thoughts. Resting at the base of her chest resided the dreamcatcher that had been lovingly and painstakingly taken apart and reassembled with ornaments that only Ke'akamai could give her.

She flexed her wings slightly, wings that were certainly more for decoration rather than actual flight as they stretched and she settled her gaze away from the shadow below to more towards the twilight to watch as the stars came out. She had always been fascinated by the little balls of light that hung far above them. She knew that sometimes her mate would point out to a various cluster call it a constellation according to his own Tribe and how they traveled across the oceans. Thinking about him she took in a breath, she missed him in a way - Asil had taken him to some errand that didn't require her services but it had been the longest the two had been apart since they had met. It made her heart ache, before she closed her eyes head still tilted up towards the sky. Perhaps tonight would be different, she could hope couldn't she?

[TaemaNai]

The spray caught Ke'akamai full in the face though it did nothing to slow him. His skiff crested every roll of the deep blue with a bounce as its master leaned to catch the wind. Sails billowed ahead and wings unfurled though the fisher's leathery span would likely give nothing more to his speed. A man could dream. He dreamt of his long awaited return day and night. A personal goal soon to become a personal torture. Now as the stars began to shimmer into the sky with mother fire's setting he caught sight of an edge to the horizon, the smallest of changes yet one that gladdened him.

Land.

Wings burned brighter as the sun sank lower. Behind his racing skiff trailed firefly sparks of golden and orange making the lone sailor out to be a distant comet bobbing across the waves. Wings beat down against the spray to throw up greater swirls of lights as the embers fanned to either side. The nearer to land he drew the darker the night became, and all the brighter he shone. A lone star streaking like an arrow through the black beneath a sky filling with its own twinkling lights.

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[TakodaVega]

Asabikeshiinh opened her eyes after she took in he deep breath to look out towards the sea. The wide horizon of ocean that encompassed the island had been mostly quiet since her mate had left with Tsu and most of the others in tow. She could handle herself but to bring her warriors with her spelled trouble that had left her feeling uneasy that day. She had prepared their things, and made sure that her Mistress was properly on display with the best ruby claws the eyes could behold.

She always strived for Asil to look her best. She would be a failure of a handmaiden had it been otherwise. Yet it was the parting kiss from her mate, the opposite yet same of her own kind that had dragged her back to the rift between memories. He would never break a promise to her, he couldn't she suspected on some level. Though the Avundi female could not feel the cold as most could there was an obvious lack of heat when she went to her bed that night, and had been every night since. She turned her gaze from the stars to the twilight crested ocean below. She saw an occasional spark across the ocean something she assumed were the shooting stars across the night sky. "Please, come home to me," her voice was soft, almost sad.

She pulled herself up from the cliff's edge, dusting the dirt and dust from the stones away from her rear. Something about the ocean caught her eye. In the distance she could see the peel of lightning across the sky. Her ears tilted back, she knew her mate was an accomplished sailor but there was no telling where he was when he was this far away from her. she knew he was still alive, that she was keenly aware of but without the ability to fly she was at a disadvantage. Though her mistress had allowed her to create the weaved sigils to travel to different places across the island there was little need to travel at the moment. Asil had made sure she would be well taken care of while she would be gone, but there was an odd tone to her voice and that had made her fret about her even more. It was as if the drake was planning not to come back.

[TaemaNai]

The skiff bounced off the top of each swell now, slowing briefly. Ke'akamai tugged one of his ropes to angle the sail as cool air rushed past him into the gathering storm at his back. Once he'd sailed far from home on a boat never intended for the deep water and found such a storm. He'd meant to find an end back then and in a way he had. His old life vanished with Asil's collar and Asabikeshiinh's kindness. Once the storms had dragged him back to the night he drowned, now this one sped him home, his true home. He couldn't howl but Ke'akamai could whoop out a long call that sang across the waves. As his skiff angled into the wind he gathered speed and curved his way, skipping wave to wave, towards the island ahead and home.

His blaze of light trailed long behind the sailor now, curling to either side as he flapped his leathery wings for a few anxious beats. The feline knew every trick there was to his boat yet nothing would make it arrive any faster. The surf curled up beneath his hull before much longer and the sailor leaned back against the stern with one hand to the rigging. The craft proved light enough to tilt up by himself just before it came down, skidding across sandy wash and up onto the beach. Aka hit the ground running, snatching up another rope in passing to haul his craft safely beyond high tide's reach. His wings blazed bright like a forge as they beat against the oncoming stormwinds, pulling at the air to help him drag the skiff all the faster.

The wind whipped against the rigging before Aka finished securing his craft. He should have walked straight to his mistress then, or walked really. Instead he crouched before making a reckless leap into the night air. Wings beat back against the winds until he could catch the draft. His body angled to let it carry him up as his whole body ignited with firefly embers that danced on the tips of his fur and trailed behind him like stardust. The display of lights wove back and forth briefly like a kite cut loose before swooping down on the island.

Ke'akamai's arms stretched out ahead of him as he landed at speed, feet running to keep pace with his momentum. He stooped down to sweep Asabikeshiinh in his arms, paws kicking up dust beneath him as he tried to balance, stop, and kiss her all at once without dropping the poor woman. His wings spread wide to shift with his balance until they came to a rest, then slowly curled in around the two like a darkened leather cape. Inside his body's heat danced along his chest and little flames tickled Asa's form in turn. Lips parted to wrap around hers as weeks of separation, distance, and longing came crashing in like a wave across the shores. Aka might have forgotten to breath, or let her stand on her own feet, for just a moment before a deep thrumming growl rumbled up in his chest. The sailor's version of a purr could be felt just touching him.

There was nothing better than coming home.

[TakodaVega]

If Father Sky had heard her cries, it was Mother Flame that answered them as she caught the sight out of the corner of her eye as she had been debating to going back to her lonely bed only to be swept up by familiar arms that she had half-thought she would never be embraced by again. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders out of instinct, for there was no fire that burned than that between them as pearly tears fell down her cheeks. Familiar heat surrounded her, a heady flame that danced along her fur in a way no true flame could.

It danced in a way that was an extension of Aka, she was certain of it as she surrendered into his kiss, thankful at the moment he was holding her as she wasn't sure that her hooves keep could keep their footing. Her tail snaked to seek his own as those leathery wings descended to shield her from the world. The only person in the world who could steal her breath with a single kiss was back home in her arms again. It may have minutes, it could have been hours but eventually the burning ache of her lungs forced her to break the kiss if only to nuzzle under his chin. Her soft breath panted along his chest as those honey hues gazed up into those chocolate ones.

"Akamai," she finally managed out. Her heart was singing with joy as she slid her long clawed fingers through his hair, mindful not to break the braid but rather to push the wisps away from his face. Her wings had been fluttering lightly against his own wings though they could hardly do anything to him. Though to be fair the large feline could do far damage than she could. There had been some nights she had thought she had dreamed of laying against him with the salt air looming around them. She hadn't realized she had been crying.Tears of joy to be sure, though an Avundi's tears were meant to heal, and Asabikeshiinh was not one who cried easily. "My Ke'akamai, you have come home to me," she moved one of her hands to stroke along his cheek in a gentle stroke through that russet fur.

"How I have missed you, my flame," she dusted soft kisses along his muzzle as she buried her frame into his heat, the salty air still clung to him much like the forge had once had, even still Asa could never get tired of the smell of her mate, let alone that powerful pull of fire that seemed to resonate to her very being. It didn't matter the lifetimes she would always come back to his heat until the fire died. Heaven's help her the day that happened. She hoped it never did - though her long lashed eyes watched him as she half expected him to put her down, eventually she would have to touch the ground though that seldom seemed to happen. He had taken her flying before after all.

[TaemaNai]

The air around them whipped up into a frenzy even after she broke their kiss. Salt from his fur and her tears ignited in streaks of violet & scarlet that whipped into the cyclone around them. His arms tightened to press her into his chest as if anyone might take her from his arms. The ground blackened into a tidy circle at their feet.

His wings snapped open casting aside the fire in a burst of firework light. Though he stopped burning the air around them still wavered. His hug relaxed though he neglected to set her down again. His voice rumbled with a soft growl and the faint scent of cloves, a habit he'd picked up in parts unknown. "Asabikeshiinh."

The smile he showed flashed nearly as brightly as he had. His tail lashed behind him as he started to walk forward again. Wings folded neatly against his back like a leathery cape. Something other than his eyes must have guided him since he refused to look away from her. Nothing quite felt as good as coming home.

"What have I missed, besides you?"

[TaemaNai]

He breathed in the scents of their home while it passed around them. Asil's scent faded some leaving a sense of disappointment beneath the excitement of Asabikeshiinh in his arms. A new scent mixed with it as well, something predatory that made his tail lash and his wings flex. A new face in the house although Asa assured him all were friendly here. The old instincts never really faded. The urge to protect his wife, to drive out threats, never really left him. Other urges vied for attention.

The embers in the fireplace received a log lobbed inexpertly by his curling tail. Flames not only sprang up around it but rolled into a blossom of orange with a rush of air. They hardly needed the heat. The two of them would make any room a furnace if they wished. The fires served to cast flickering shadows across the room mingled with warm orange light. "I don't know Tsu, but it might have been nice to see Mistress. Tell her things went well."

Another kiss followed, one that took its time and savored a chance to be with his mate. Aka pressed his body against hers as he moved to press Asabikeshiinh into the bed below. Hands moved across the curves of her body to lay her out gently. Wings flared for balance as he joined her, planting one hand on the bed beside her head to hold his weight up. The other hand moved to brush back the strands of hair from her face. Fangs nipped at her lower lip giving her a gentle tug in parting. "Such a shame we're left all alone. Might be days before we find ourselves back at work once more."

The storm outside broke with a clap of thunder that shook the rock around them. Wind raged against the mountainside as the heavens opened up to pour down an ocean of rain. Inside the two of them were well removed from the storm, though it could be heard. Once upon a time the sound of thunder and lightning filled Ke'akamai with dread. Now he hardly batted an ear. His body lowered down to brush itself along Asa's as fingers traced down the side of her neck, feeling his way along her collar bone.

Lips parted again as he took another kiss, thrumming with a hungry growl against her mouth. His fingers prickled the tips of feline claws against her side as he combed through her short pelt.

[TakodaVega]

She hoped it would soothe her mate that most recent smell was female in nature. Another male might spark a possessive jealousy that if he was going to make sure she wasn't going anywhere without him now he certainly wasn't going to be going anywhere without him in the near future. As it was Asa had taken to preferring to serve female patrons when she did leave the isle as they did not expect things from her that were best reserved for the fiery feline. Otherwise she was fairly certain he would not be able to keep his training in line.

Though there was that one incident with Miss Victoria, but that had...backfired in the poor kitsune's mind. Though that had been in the beginning when the two had been still testing the waters, no waters wasn't the right term. They were children of fire, with Asabikeshiinh a daughter of Mother Flame and Father Sky and he seemed to harness both with a flick of his tail and a raise of those powerful wings. She still remembered the day he took her flying. She always wondered if he thought her wings were odd for their looks but held none of the strength.

Still she gave her mate a smile, "Apparently she serve Miss Asil before our arrival, and tends to be loner. I have not seen Miss in a long time though I have kept our home in good order for her return," she had seemed tired when she had left. Though she had promised Asa that she would be well taken care of. She had simply something to do involving the hound that lingered in the depths of the cavern and Tsu. She could only imagine what that might be. Still she had left a little after he had gone on his quest of sorts leaving her alone to try and figure out how she felt. It had been a very long time since she had been truly alone.

Last time she had remembered that feeling was long before a collar had been wrapped around her neck back in those days before...well. That had been some time ago now, it felt like. "I am sure Miss Asil will return soon!" She added much more cheery sounding though her voice melted away when he kissed her again. He had this habit of stealing her breath with the fire he liked to burn between them. Her wings fluttered slightly almost surprised that they touched the fur and and fabrics that lined their bed, more fur than fabric though, as though the fabrics had simply provided a base for the mountain of furs. Around their bed had been little baubles and feathers, things Asa must have collected or added to her trove where high above them there was a rather large dream catcher.

It was a project she had been working on, the base had been fitted and some of the cords had been woven but anyone could tell there was much work that still needed to be done. Threads that needed weaving, beads and stones to be added for protection and a way for the dreams to enter and leave as they pleased. Yet her attention was drawn to the living dream that touched her curves in that sweet caress that made her shiver. She had missed this, and she had missed him most of all, it was only after he had broken the kiss with that tug on her lower lip that she remembered to breath again. With him above her, she reached up to gently stroke along his face, a face she could never forget even if she had wanted to. She had to laugh though at his comment, "Do you plan on keeping me detained?"

She mused, though her ears perked at the sound of thunder. She knew how much hearing the thunder and lightning had terrified him at times. She thought it might have something to do with him being a sailor. Though there was no lost irony that their mistress used lightning at times to keep the people away from the island. She hoped that it had helped soothe him of his fear, though she had the sense that her presence helped more than anything else. Asa knew him, though her own gift was to provide a sense of calm to those around her should she need to. It was something that was distinctly her own and flowed between that link that joined them at the soul. It was an old ritual but it held even now.

Her own thoughts were distracted by the feel of him atop of her, her long tail curling about to stroke along his side even as her hands went to his shoulders. Shivers ran along her pelt at his touch, her heart skipping a beat as it lowered to her collarbone only for her to have another kiss. If this had been a dream she didn't want it to end, she never got enough of her mates kisses as that growl sent a small shiver down her back. Hunger for each other never quite dimmed, and having gone for so long brought back the memories of the first time he kissed her like this.

How on earth had she managed to live without him so long?