[<]I Need To See You Again. . . [Brushfire]

[Akante]

Ridge said:

It had been a normal day for Ridge so far. He had trained for a few hours in the morning doing various exercises. He had run his daily four mile distance run through the trees, across the root and rock infested ground. He had also done his mediation for the day to make himself more calm and more linked to the world around him. He had also looked over the borders due to the fact that they were open right now but they were to go nowhere but the clearing that Trent had called them too. There had been no incident to his regret, as he was rather bored but part of him liked the relative quiet of this day. Now he was hoping to go relax for a couple hours by his den, or in the clearing deep in the woods that he had found a long time ago.

Wind roared through the trees, drowning out any other noises that might have made its presence known in his hearing. The wind rushed about his ears, a whistling noise being generated with covered any other sound even his breathing. Branches moved threatening in the canopy, as if a monster had swept a hand through it to hear the noise of rustling leaves. Clouds had gathered in the sky, dark grey and tall they were, which heralded with trumpets the soon arrival of rain. It was not raining just yet however, but the humidity was going to make Ridge's fur stand on end if it continued for much longer. It was really hot down on the forest floor and Ridge was boiling in his fur. His headband was helping to keep his limp hair out of his eyes though which helped a little bit with his sight in this ghastly weather.

The vegetation swayed as the wind continued to blow in strong gusts near the forest floor, cooling down the temperature that currently was set down there. Ridge welcomed the breezes as his fur whipped in the air when the wind glided over him. Ridge was moving through the forest at a steady pace toward his den, that place hadn't changed in all the time he had been here and if anyone needed him they would know where he was. He had just reached his den when lightning streaked through the darkened sky, bringing the trees and other objects in the woods into sharp relief. Shadows fell in profusion amoung the ancient trees and light was diminished when the lightning passed. Though thunder sounded in the heavens just a few seconds after the lightning had flashed, the loud noise was especially loud in the silence.

Ridge just made it into the hollow in the ground under his tree as the rain started to fall down to the ground. There he would be stuck for a couple hours until the rain passed but at least the humidity would be gone and a fresh new scent left in its place. Animals rushed about like crazy in front of his den as the rain continued to pour down through the leaves. Finally the din stopped and Ridge was left with just the pitter-pattering of the rain on the trees. After a while more the rain finally stopped and Ridge could venture out once again. The ground was muddy from the rain and everything was covered in water and with the sunlight shining down, Alteron looked for once not like a hell on earth.

When the clouds passed over the sun again, Alteron plunged once again into darkness and the dark appearance of the place was restored. Ridge walked over to a large boulder and sat down upon the top of it and looked out over the landscape. He couldn't see much but from here he would see any who were approaching his den, friend or foe, lower or higher. He prayed, even though he believed in no god, that he might see Brushfire this day. She had not been around in a long time but then again he had been gone for a extraordinary amount of time. They needed to see each other again or rather Ridge needed to see Brushfire again before he went insane. He had not been graced with her presence in a few months and he hoped she remembered him. Though their love was too strong to evaporate, maybe it had been diminished in their time apart.

[Akante]

Brushfire said:

Where? Just where was she? Her sanity, it was barely gripped by her confused mind. Strained and pushed to the end, the female had nearly lost all control of who she was and what she had become. Glittering eyes that once shone in confidence and beauty now shuddered in fear and manic relapse. Consistantly they closed, opened, closed, and opened again, only to find herself in the same land she had been on for the last three years. Would this hell never end? When will she finally be welcomed by the underworld's smoldering fires? When? She couldn't wait any longer. . .

Just some months ago, about five or so, this she-wolf was in a far better place. She was still in Alteron, but then she had confidence and control over herself. She had lost all of that now. At a time, she would be able to be as crude and snappy as any other Alteronian, even if it was just a cover. But now. . .now she feared that even years away from this prison would do no good. She couldn't think, she couldn't comprehend anything that was going on anymore. Confusion and the inability to lay things out straight was the key to her downfall. A Sentry, a proud one beyond belief with undying loyalty. Now she couldn't even decide what to do when the rains began to pour.
"Where? OH! Ju-Just where do I go? What must I do? Uhh--Um-- AHHHH!!"

Burying her face into the ground, her maw and face became covered in a thick layer of mud. Her voiced cried deeply and passionately into the marshy soil, yet the thick volume hushed it. Her eyes squinted shut, wanting to close herself off from the world. She didn't want to be here anymore, she didn't want to exist. No one loved her, no one cared for her. It was almost as if she had no purpose in life. Brushfire, as this was the disoriented timber's name, had even forgotten to tend to her duties at the borders. Now that they were open, there was sure to be plenty of wolves gathering for acceptance. Being the 'chief' of the sentries, it was her rightful duty to be there, but she wasn't. And why wasn't she? She was stuck in this chaos. . . Perhaps she would never recover. Maybe she would die like this, should the power of fate have mercy on her.

Stressed and overwhelmed beyond belief, the female didn't bother to sort out where to go now. Instead, she let her body collapse where it was, soaking in the heavy rain as it came. Her tail embedded itself into the muck, her face still stuffed into the ground. But she pulled it out, slowly and without motivation. What was the point? She was still going to be miserable, so why waste the energy? She sighed, stifling her sobs until she couldn't any longer. Her eyes watered, warming themselves up uncomfortably as the salty water drops trickled down her muck-covered face. Soon streaks of fur were visible, and the beautiful orange within was visible. But the mournful cries and disheartened faith of Brushfire only insulted the beauty she beared.

Who was she anymore? She didn't know, and perhaps she never would. She wasn't even aware of where she was. . . unaware that she was merely yards from her lover.

[Akante]

Ridge said:

Ridge did not hear Brushfire when the rains had started, nor did he know of her fall in the mud though he would soon. He was not aware of those circumstances and events as he sat upon his rock. He was watching from his perch, he had yet to see his mate and that deeply troubled him at the moment. Maybe she had cracked and gone mad and no longer remembered him. Maybe she no longer was alive, maybe she had tried to escape and had been killed. The latter was unlikely as he would have known such an occurrence by now. His dark brown, nearly black eyes, swept across the forest once again, still nothing presented itself to his sight. Alteron was practically dead it seemed, no one creature moved in its depths, neither prey nor wolf.

He caught a glimpse of someone or something from the corner of his eye as he scanned the landscape again. He jumped down from the rock, landing in the mud that coated the ground now. The mud splashed on him covering the bottom half of all his legs and some of his underbelly. He paid no head to it however, as he moved into the undergrowth. He did not know what had caught his gaze and he would do well to be careful until he knew what had done so. Alteron was filled with many monsters, some without names and some with names but only a few that were not dangerous to wolves. Others such as a monsterbird could kill wolves with their giant beaks and bears to were dangerous enemies to have. He did not want to die in this jungle and as such he was always cautious.

Soon the culprit was unveiled in all their muddy glory upon the ground. It was Brushfire, his mate! What had reduced her to this state of disarray? This surely was not only the work on herself, it had to have been from some other source. Part of it he knew was probably to blame upon him for being gone so long and with no word. Hopefully she had some friends still or had all of them gone and died as well? She was collapsed in the mud, her tail caught in the filth and her face caught in the sucking brown mess. She pulled her head out slowly, seemingly without energy or life. Her eyes were a dead brown now, tears clouded their depths and they cleaned a patch down each cheek. Orange, grey and brown were revealed in that stream and the dullness of her coat shocked Ridge. She had always been so shining and enduring in this hell but now...... What had happened to her?

Ridge stepped forward before hesitating, and then continued on to her side. Tears still ran in rivers down her cheeks and cries of pain came from her jaws. He slowly tapped her on the shoulder with his paw and whispered in her ear, "Brushfire, love, what happened to you?? I am still here and it is good to see you again, but you are not the same as you used to be....." There his voice trailed off for a few moments before he continued, "What caused this to happen? Rapier taunt you again or......" His voice trailed off again and in his eyes he showed what he could not express, a deep concern mixed with love. This was not the Brushfire he remembered and he couldn't help her unless she told him what had happened to her.

[Akante]

Brushfire said:

The rain continued to pelt down mercilessly. The clouds shed no light on the territory below, and fierce winds blew savagely. This was Alteron, what else could be expected? This was the land of death, where horror was waiting around the corner for those who did not expect. Where everyone was a peasent in the eyes of another, and unless one was of the Council or higher, ranks meant nothing. One could fight and kill another with no remorse. There was no such thing as justice in this corrupt monarchy. Even the King seemed to hold less power than the Queen, even though to two should be of equal rank. Even ones born of royalty were ranked no higher than peasants, such as Claymore. Here, once could be driven to such a state of insanity that there may not even be a hope of returning. . .

And that was the condition of poor Brushfire. She lay there, a complete mess as she let the mud coat her beautiful fur. But she didn't feel pretty at all. In her mind, she was as orginized and gorgeous as a tumbleweed. Her mind was gone, she couldn't think nor make logical desicions. She had been torn down by the merciless and the crude of the pack. She had few friends, most of which had either died or abandoned her. Oh. . . Ephidel. The thought of him brought tears and remorse to the Sentry.
"Ohhhh! My Ephidel. . . my Ridge. . ." , she cried, her voice cracking.
She hadn't meant to say Ridge, but his name seemed to roll out. When Ridge had left her the time before last, Ru had managed to find someone else who loved her jsut as much, and she loved him. But she felt too shy to tell him of her feelings, worried that he might not feel the same and leave her. But even when she had drawn up to courage to announce her affection towards him, he had been forced off into battle and died. She moaned again, her tears streaming from her irritated eyes. She wanted to have nothing to do with this world anymore. She just wanted to disappear, to leave and save herself. But she knew that she was beyond saving, that she could not leave Alteron. She owed it to the prince to stay. Even in her unstable mind, she knew that she owed her loyalty to Blade, and in other words, Alteron.

But just as the female thought that she was gone for good, that she would simply lay here and somehow dissintegrate, a warm and familiar breath rolled down her back. Small and delicate footsteps seemed to trail from behind her, but she hadn't the energy nor will to turn around and see who it was. Instead, she sniffled, trying to pull herself together, and opened her eyes to stare ahead of her. Whoever was there, she couldn't show how broken down she was. Should they have mercy on her, they would take advantage of her state and either kill or simply attack her then and there. But, in the worst case scenario, they would report it to Queen Rapier herself, who would take pleasure in Ru's sufferings. Probably then she would be demoted to peasant, or even slave, where anyone in the pack had the authority to torture her. . . Oh, please let them have mercy and kill her.

A whisker tickled up against the timber's aud, making it twitch before she heard the words of someone she couldn't believe,
"Brushfire, love, what happened to you?? I am still here and it is good to see you again, but you are not the same as you used to be..... What caused this to happen? Rapier taunt you again or......"

Brushfire lost her breath, her eyes closed as she prayed that this was real, and not her mind's desperate attempt to satisfy her hunger for him. She forcefully turned her body, the mud sucking against her fur as she rotated. She ended up nose to nose with the Margrave, her love, Ridge. She didn't smile, nor show any sign of affection. She simply stared, curious and disbelieving for a good three minutes or so. How could she take it in that after all this time, all these months, that Ridge would suddenly come back when she needed him? How could that simply happen? It was too good to be true to her, it was more than a coincidence. It wasn't true. This all had to be the work of her mind, losing its grip on the distinciton between reality and what she wanted to be real. And so, "knowing" that the apparation in front of her wasn't Ridge at all, she continued to stare for another minute before rolling back to her position again, sniffling as yet another tear trickled down her cheek.

"Oh Ridge, if only you could be here. . ."

She strained her muscles, ignoring the cold winds that broke through and went under her fur as she stood up. Her tail had no means to lift itself, and so it lay sopped to the ground, the muck refusing to let go of it. Ru's paws began to sink back in the mud as she stood still, letting her weight distribute unevenly from one side to the next, from the front to the back. She stood there, breaking into stifled sobs that she tried so hard to keep back. She wanted to disappear now more than ever, as she took on the possibility that her mind was playing games with her, taunting her. She knew that she wouldn't last long, not here, not in Alteron. She would be picked off by the first packmate who caught sight of her, or even an intruder who saw the opportunity. Biting her lower gum, she sniffled, her auds flattening themselves both in grief and as they tried to keep out the rainwater. Her brown eyes squinted, not sure whether to close and imagine herself elsewhere, or to keep aware of her surroundings.

But, in all of this confusion, she collapsed, again. She couldn't take on the world anymore, she wasn't strong enough.

[Akante]

Ridge said:

Ridge heard Brushfire start to lose her breath, saw her eyes close. She turned to look at him, the mud making sucking noises as she pulled part of her body free from the muck. Ridge's status had elevated in the time it had been since they had met, from Knight of the Dawn to Margrave, but he hoped it wouldn't have any effect on their relationship. He wouldn't be leaving so often so it would be a better arrangement all around for the two of them. Maybe Ridge could help Brushfire build herself up again, and become the wolf she was before this breakdown. Her nose touched his when she had turned fully around. To Ridge's disappointment, no smile came to her maw, no sign of the love they had shared. Maybe their relationship was truly doomed and fate and chosen to take it away from them. In Ridge's mind however a voice whispered, "It isn't over. You can still salvage it and make it more then it was before." Those words gave Ridge the courage to stay, rather then leave Brushfire to extract herself from this mess.

She lay there staring at him with this disbelieving expression on her pretty face for a good few minutes and then turned back around. She sniffled as a tear rolled down her cheek and hung from her face fur until it dropped into the mud below. It finally dawned on him then, she didn't believe that he was real. He had been gone too long and she had been too broken to actually think that now he was back. Rapier would have lorded the fact that he was dead over her though, wouldn't she? Maybe Brushfire had forgotten that fact, or maybe she had just been broken, plain and simple. He almost didn't believe what he had just learned, but in thinking about it it really did make sense. He had been gone so long after all, it was easy to be heartbroken or to think he was dead and become heartbroken over that.

What really killed him inside came next. A few words and the actions of Brushfire, tore his heart apart. The words that were spoken was this, "Oh Ridge, if only you could be here. . ." Those words tore his heart in two and he nearly fell to the ground in shock when her heard them. He managed to catch himself before he actually fell to the ground, but they still shocked him. How could she ever think that, let alone voice it? He had just gone over this in his head a few minutes ago, but it still surprised him. Ridge spoke to her, "I am here, where else would I be? I've come home." Ridge then watched as Brushfire strained to rise from the muck, when she succeeded in getting out he was glad, but her tail would not come of the the mud and was stuck. Brushfire's paws began to sink into the mud as she stood stone still, she tried to even out her weight but was unable to and thus sank deeper into the clutches of the mud.

Brushfire started to sob, stifled though they were he could still hear them and it broke his heart again to her them. Her ears flipped back as she continued to sob and the rain continued to pour. With no warning she collapsed again into the mud and Ridge took it upon himself that he had to drag her out. Before he did so however he walked in front of her, where she could see him and spoke again close to her ears. "I am going to get you out of this muck and find you a safe place to recover while I figure out how to get this mud off of you. Once you have rested we will talk some more okay?" With those words he proceeded to pick Brushfire up by the scruff of her neck and pulled her out of the sucking mud. Once she was on firm ground, Ridge tried to encourage her to get her to stand up and to walk with him to his den. The Queen didn't meet with him there so it wasn't a risk to take her back there at the moment. "Come on, Ru, let's get you to my den that way we can get you cleaned up." Ridge said, he was trying so hard, but he wasn't tall enough to pick her up like she would have liked too, so this would have to do.

[Akante]

Brushfire said:

[[Sorry for the wait. This might be bad. . . I'm trying to recover from a concussion. ]]

The rains continued mercilessly, seeping through her thick fur and clinging to her skin. With the winds running savagely throught the jungles, Brushfire felt so cold. Her body shivered and her teeth chattered. Instinctively, she curled up, trying to contain the warmth that her body gave out. She wanted to stay curled up, to keep to herself so that everything could pass on by around her. But she knew that whoever would pass her wouldn't leave her alone. She was in the wrong territory if that was what she was expecting. Here, they would simply attack on sight of a weakling, or if it was Rapier, torture until death. When would the queen realize that Brushfire was loyal to her, and that she would do anything for her? If only she would accept her. . .

Sniffling, the timber whimpered under her breath, trying her best to keep quiet. She didn't want to attract anyone to her, now that she had nailed down the possibilities of what might happen to her if she was found. Her tail curled around her legs that kept close to her body. Her legs shook, no matter how hard she tried to keep herself still. She whimperd again, this time she didn't bother hiding the volume of her grief. She wept for herself, what she had become, and most importantly, for what she feared she might never be able to return to.

The words that her illusions had sparked up didn't cease, and this only made her cringe. She curled up tighter, trying to get a grip on her sanity. She didn't want to suffer, so why was her mind taunting her so? Why couldn't it stop?
"I am here, where else would I be? I've come home."

No, no. He couldn't be there. How could it? Gone for so long, and then conveniantly showing up when she was breaking down? The odds were heavily against her, and she fell into submission towards it. "N-no. You were gone, I couldn't find you. . ." Her words were barely audible through the winds and rains, and especially through her curled up position. Ther tail muffled the sounds coming from her mouth, and she didn't bother trying to repeat it. It was only her mind speaking to her, so wouldn't she already know what her response was? There was no need to repeat it, that would be foolish.

"I am going to get you out of this muck and find you a safe place to recover while I figure out how to get this mud off of you. Once you have rested we will talk some more okay?"

Firm jaws clenched on her scruff, and she yelped in fear. This was it. They were going to kill her. Alteron couldn't have any weaknesses, and so they would dispose of her. She was getting what she wanted, what she desired. What she craved. She wanted to die, to be away from this hell of a prison. She wanted to join Ephidel, and Ridge if he had passed away. That could be the only reason for his absence. He wouldn't purposely leave her, would he? Too panicked to think about Ridge anymore, and also escaping her passionate craving for him, she let her body hang limp. She felt herself heaved up, her legs instinctively straightening themselves when she felt the ground beneath her paws. Her tail still drooped to the ground as she stood, her legs a bit shaky. As the teeth that were on her neck let go, she leaned against the warm body beside her. The fur; it was so familiar and reassuring. She nuzzled her maw into it, taking in the scent of him. Of Ridge.

Her eyes shot open, brown and twinkling with recognition. She wasn't stable, not nearly, but her mind was clearer than before. She stood still, pulling her maw from the fur she had burrowed it in. Gazing carefully, expecting disappointment, she saw the brown eyes of the one she loved. But, as before, she questioned her sanity. But, unlike before, she didn't make any final desicions. She simply stared, entranced, and followed him as he led her towards his den across the small clearing. Her paws dragged themselves, her eyes still hypnotized on those of her mate's. He murmured something, but she didn't hear him, she couldn't hear anything anymore. It was like someone had shut off her hearing. But she stammered, trying to manage the right thing to say, even though it was so simple,

R-Ridge. . . ?"

[Akante]

Ridge said:

Ridge heard faint words come from Brushfire, they were barely there through the noise from the wind and the rain and also because of her tail curled up around her mouth. She had said, "N-no. You were gone, I couldn't find you. . ."

[/color] He spoke after that and then moved to grab her scruff. He caught it in his jaws, and heard Brushfire yelp in fear. He wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't do so unless he could do so without being sucked down into the mud. She need to get warm and dry, and not languish out here in the mud and the cold. It was not good for one's health to do so and she would eventually die, if he didn't heal this brokenness in her mind. She was broken and he knew that, and he also knew he had to fix it. So Ridge vowed in his mind to fix her and make her stronger and better then before. This would not happen again, he swore upon his own life.

When she was finally still from trying to get away from him, she just hung limp as she dragged her out of the muck. Her legs straightened once they were on drier ground, but they still did not hold up her weight well. Her tail still hung lifelessly upon the ground and her legs shook. He left go of her scruff and watched for for a second. She looked like she might be able to stand on her own, but she only looked like that for a few seconds before leaning against him. Her closeness made him think thoughts he should not have, so he brushed those away and just focused on her touch, her scent. Even through the rain he could smell it, the rain was making them new again, changing what they had into something new and beautiful, something they could not escape from.

Ridge watched as the realization that he was real came over her and her eyes twinkled with the recognition. Brushfire pulled her muzzle away from his side and looked at him deeply. She met his chocolate eyes with her own more rust brown eyes and he smiled with his eyes and his mouth. He couldn't stop looking at her for a long while, before moving off in the direction of his den his eyes still locked with hers. When the reached his den area he stopped and just looked at her, and said something that passed from his mouth and into no ones hearing. He didn't even really catch what he said even though his mind had formulated it. She struggled to say something, her mouth opening and closing in short sudden moves. Finally she stammered out his name, "R-Ridge. . . ?" He heard that and relished her sweet voice saying his name, like he hadn't heard in so long.

He walked back a pace or two until he stood right in front of her and with a reverent voice said, "Brushfire, my love." That was all he could bring himself to say and he hoped that it had said everything he felt. He then licked her nose in a form of a kiss and then nuzzled her neck with his head. He believed in showing love through actions not words. He loved her so dearly and he would have to help her through this trauma she had gone through. Ridge's love for Brushfire ran deep and true and he was not going to give that up in even death. He could never bring himself to leave her, nor could he ever just die without her at his side. He was going to live a long full life and they were going to live that life together, no matter how secret it had to be.[/center]
[/quote]

[Akante]

Brushfire said:

[[Yay for teh uber cuteness! ^^]]

Brushfire stood there, drenched to her skin with the cold rainwater. But she paid it no mind. In a way, it was extremely symbolic. Here, in probably her darkest hour, she sank in mud. And as her mate came, she rose up, standing as the rain pelted down, cleansing her. She breathed heavily, seeming to hold her breath each time she exhaled. Perhaps she was afraid that if she took another breath, she would wake up from this. Like a dream. No, please don't let it be a dream! She wouldn't be able to handle it, not at all. She continued to stare, her eyes sparkling with the beauty that she was known for. She was claiming back her old self. Her auds remained absolutely still, which was odd considering that instinctively she should be reacting to the water droplets falling down on her. But she didn't. She could care less. She wanted to savor this, in case the worst were to happen. She was used to that, expecting the worst, that is.

Ridge gazed back at her, acknowledging the words she had spoken. His eyes shimmered, just like she knew them to do. She got lost in the seas of his irises, entranced as she gazed deep into his soul. Into the one she could call hers. Ridge.
"Brushfire, my love."
Ru's spine tingled at the sound of his voice combining with her name. It was the first time, that she recognized it to be real, in months that she had heard him call to her. Moments passed, and she seemed dumbfounded. She didn't know how to react now. She just wanted to savor this, to freeze time so that the warmth and assurance of this moment would stay forever. She didn't want to cast her line of sight away from him, for fear that when she looked back, he would be gone. She wouldn't take that risk, not anymore, not ever again! She had lost him before, and she would do well to never let it happen!

Her lips stammered for a good moment or two, trying to decipher what it was she was trying to say. Just what was it? 'Where have you been?' 'Why were you gone so long?' 'Did you ever think of how this could affect me?' She cleared her mind of those, not willing to have the chance that she might blurt one of them out. She exhaled sharply, just noticing that she had been holding her breath. Shifting her paws, the small timber took a few steps forwards. They were clumsy movements, as she still hadn't recovered from her shock. Plus, she was also concentrating on how to react. Her tail slowly rose up from the ground, the mud sliding down and slowly plopping onto the ground beneath her. The rain continued to pour, but for some reason, it seemed to have lightened up. Brushfire wasn't sure if it was the current situation that caused it to seem like that, or if it was actually happening. WAIT! One thing at a time here. She wouldn't want another breakdown. . . 'No. . . never.' she thought to herself, blinking overdramatically.

Sniffling, she entered the entrance, and only the far entrance, of Ridge's den. She sat down slowly, but as her body hovered less than an inch above the ground, it let loose and plopped heavily. Her tail slimed around to her forepaws. Miraculously, the rain had seemed to do her some good. It seemed that only her paws and underbelly were covered with muck; the water had cleansed most of it away. She stared at her chest - orange with disgusting brown splatters. Disgusting. She snorted at herself, looking up and into Ridge's perfect eyes. . .

She sighed, closing her eyes as she spoke very quietly. She had chosen these specific words, and yet her tone was low in fear of still screwing them up.
"R-Ridge. . ." She struggled to speak his name without shedding another tear, "Why did you leave me? Why were you gone so long?" She looked up, her eyes sparkling as new tears prepared themselves to cascade down her cheeks. But she held them, awaiting his excuse.

[Akante]

Ridge said:

Ridge watched as Brushfire seemed to change before his eyes into the wolf she had once been. She seemed to grow in stature and her eyes seemed to shine brighter as they met his own. She seemed to be regaining what she had once had in her heart and mind. She blew out her breath as she had been holding it and then moving around a bit, but still in the same spot. Brushfire then took a few steps forwards, shakily but not like before. Ridge watched as she came towards him, her tail seemed to regain some strength and she raised it off of the ground, the mud sliding off as the rain hit it. The rain had lightened up some, he too wondered if it was his imagination or if it was real. None of this seemed real, it seemed too good to be true, all of it down to the last rain drop.

Ridge let her go first into the den, luckily she had remembered the far, guarded entrance, as he had not. He waited while she got herself situatated before continuing in after her. She was just laying down, when her legs gave out and she landed audiably on the rock and ground floor. The rain had cleaned her up some, showing the original colors of her pelt, rather then the mud tinted ones he had seen earlier. It was so much prettier now, shinier and all around just looked healthier, like she had been taking care of herself in his absence instead of the disrepair he had found her in earlier that hour. They had only been together again for maybe an hour or two at the most between everything that had happened. It had felt like forever though and he was somewhat shocked when he saw the sun and it hadn't really changed position since the last time he had seen it.

Ridge looked down at her just as she was looking up and he caught her eyes with his own. She then sighed and closed her eyes like she was tired and wished to sleep, but she had begun to speak instead. She said, "R-Ridge. . . Why did you leave me? Why were you gone so long?" Brushfire then looked up into his eyes again as if she was trying to find the answer in their chocolate depths. He saw the tears in her eyes and said as gently as his deep voice would allow, "I was gone on business, the minute I would get back Rapier would have another job for me to go do and at sometimes I was being watched for awhile so it made trying to see you dangerous, we would have both been killed if it had been found out, our relationship. I just didn't want to endanger you, it would have killed me inside if you had been punished or killed for my stupidity. I hope you will forgive me for not seeing you for so long." Ridge then lifted a paw and gently tried to wipe away the tears that were collecting in his mate's eyes.

(Short.... sorry! I can't think of anything else for them to do, if you have any ideas just put them in your rp post.)

[Akante]

Brushfire said:

[[Sorry, I was low on muse. But now Im BEAMING with it. =3]]

"I was gone on business, the minute I would get back Rapier would have another job for me to go do and at sometimes I was being watched for awhile so it made trying to see you dangerous, we would have both been killed if it had been found out, our relationship. I just didn't want to endanger you, it would have killed me inside if you had been punished or killed for my stupidity. I hope you will forgive me for not seeing you for so long."

Brushfire merely stared into his deep eyes, not even flinching as his paw wiped away at her tears. Her smile was slow, but it stretched from one side to the other of her maw. Her eyes twinkled, and her breathing calmed. To hear his voice, so gentle and low, it made her feel more complete. She sighed, taking a step forwards to lean herself into his wet chest. She rubbed the side of her face against his fur, digging in until she was past the coarse, wet fur and into the warm fluffy section. She exhaled with a warm content sound, her eyes blinking slowly to capture this moment. She felt so full now, and she couldn't feel the pressure of her weight that was focused on her forepaws as she leaned. She inhaled, taking in her mate's sweet scent. She held her breath, savoring it, and then exhaled quietly.

Taking a step back, she gazed into his deep brown eyes again, looking for his love for her. But it wasn't too hard to find, since it was spilling out of his irises. This was what she needed; someone who actually cared for her. Aside from Dagger and. . . well that was pretty much it, but no one else really gave a damn about the sentry. Perhaps Blade, but she was never sure if it was because of her personality, or if it was sympathy or something else. Sympathy would be a reason to laugh at, it was most likely because he liked her looks. That wouldn't be a shocker. She chuckled lightly, holding her gaze on Ridge, on her Margrave. Her love. She parted her maw, letting her soft voice flow,

"You express too much concern for me. Even if Rapier did something to me, besides the fact that it wouldn't be unusual, would she even bother telling you?" She paused, her smile disappearing as her thoughts reclaimed the more crude memories, "The queen hates me, and there's nothing I, or anyone, can do about it. She wouldn't bother announcing my death, the death of a flea, to anyone. . ."

She almost couldn't say those words, but they were true. But Ru was worried about how Ridge would react, since he meant more to her than anyone could imagine. She didn't want to hurt him, to make him feel like such a thing could happen without him knowing about it. But she sighed, smiling again as she took a step forwards. She nuzzled his neck, trying to comfort him away from any depressing thoughts. It felt right, to have him close to her. To feel his fur, his body, and to smell his presence. It made her feel like she was floating, high above the canopies, where even Rapier couldn't reach her. The thought made her smile even wider, and fangs beginning to show from her glee.

[[Agh, short. Perhaps we should wrap this up or something? >_>]]