Skedaddle

[Emora Deen]

Laya stood from the table and walked with Telanis through the crowd and up the steps. When they reached the door Laya paused before opening it.

The room was warm from the lantern light, but still not as warm as the lively common area downstairs. She had expected to find Adonis on the bed, instead she spotted him on the floor. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, as she tossed words and thoughts around before deciding it might be best if she kept her mouth shut. She noted he was sleeping on her second cloak, which didn't bother her because she wouldn't be using it.

She dug through her bag for her long sleeve nightgown. Laya looked at Telanis. "I'm going to get a bath," she told him, looking at the dry blood still left on parts of her arms and on the dress she wore.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Okay," Telanis said, watching her as she disappeared into the bathroom. He started removing his human clothes and looked at them uncertainly for a moment before firmly setting them back on top of his bag.

He pulled on a pair of soft cotton pants and turned his attention to Adonis. "What did you say to her?"

The unicorn didn't open his eyes. "What makes you think I said something?"

"You two were getting along fine when we got off the boat. I left you two together for ten minutes and she's suddenly hurting inside. Open your eyes, Adonis!" he asked firmly.

Adonis complied and cast Telanis a cold gaze. "I told her to go away and relieve me of her stench."

Telanis took a deep breath. "Why would you say that? How could you do that to her?"

Adonis wasn't about to say he'd wanted her to leave him for safety. He pressed his eyes shut and ignored his brother's question.

Telanis bristled at his careless attitude. "It's no wonder the wolves didn't recognize you," he said angrily.

Adonis didn't answer. He just lay as if he was asleep until Telanis swallowed his anger and got in bed.

[Emora Deen]

Laya pumped the small tub full of hot water. The bathroom wasn't that big, but it was large enough for a counter and all the other contents of a bathroom. When the tub was full she bathed, but took her time and relaxed. She let her mind wonder and think, until she knew that thinking only did terrible things for her.

She dried and dressed in the long gown, tying the draw-string at the top until it was tight enough not to slip easily off her shoulders. She brushed out her brown hair with her fingers, looking at the reflection in the half-fogged mirror.

Laya pulled open the door to the bathroom, and crept across the bedroom to the empty side of the bed that Telanis occupied. She blew out the candle as she drew back the covers and slipped in between the cold sheets, knowing they'd be warm eventually.

Laya scooted across the bed until she was close to Telanis.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis was still awake when Laya got into bed and rolled over in order to put his arm around her. He was having a lot of trouble sleeping after getting angry at his brother, but having her there helped him remember why he was mad in the first place.

Adonis lay awake far longer, wondering what he should do when dawn came.

[Emora Deen]

Laya snuggled into him, feeling comfortable against the warmth of his body and his arms around her. She tilted her face into his neck and kissed him there. It dawned on her then how much she wanted to be alone with him. Her gray eyes could see him only slightly with the moonlight coming in through the window. His hair stuck out the brightest as the light reflected off it. She reached out and touched his face, sitting up slightly to look at him. She didn’t think that Adonis could see from where he lay on the bed, and frankly she didn’t think it could hurt his opinion of her anymore than what it was. She leaned down and kissed him softly, the sweetest man, or beast she’d ever met in her life.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis's spirits lifted as she kissed him. It was such a strange thing, but when she did it with him, it felt amazing, like it was for them alone. He returned her kiss slowly, his lips to hers, until he felt like he would melt into it.

[Emora Deen]

Laya felt herself being pulled into a state of being that she wanted to fall into. She slipped her arms around his neck, shifting her body to lie flat against him. She kissed him until rationality took over and she remembered that they were not alone in the room. She froze mid-kiss and drew away slowly, resting her head just under his chin. She bit her bottom lip and tried to cool her thoughts.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis noticed the slight withdrawal on her end of things and followed suit, sensing it was best to let the human guide him on the rules of this very human behavior. As brief as the moment was, he now no longer longed for the scent of the soil outside. He was content here with her. He let himself relax and fell asleep with Laya.

Adonis hadn't slept the night before on the ship, and he couldn't keep up his anxiety for a second night, simply due to pure exhaustion. Once his mind let his body sleep, he slept like the dead, dreamless and still, even when the sun began rising the next morning.

[Emora Deen]

Laya slept well, as she always did when sleeping next to Telanis. It was like he had some power over her dreams, to keep away the bad ones that use to haunt her even after Kron was gone.

When she woke it was a little after dawn and the sun was shinning in through the window, but the room was cold. She opened one eye and peered around the room, but had no intention of moving if she didn't have too. She'd wait a little while longer uintil it either warmed up, or someone forced her to leave the warmth of the covers and dress.

Loud voices came from the hall, yelling. She raised up, holding the covers around her and she looked at the door, trying to listen and see what the fuss was about.

She heard something about Arken and Hepian being attacked. It had been so long since they were here, she wasn't quite sure what had happened in their absense. She hoped, however, that the situation wasn't as bad as it had been on Ongoreth.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis woke and took in the scents of the human building. He was roused more by Laya’s movement than the noise outside, but now that he was aware of it, he stretched and sat up next to her. “This place is busy in the morning,” he observed curiously. “Or is something wrong? What are they talking about?”

Adonis went on sleeping like the dead.

[Emora Deen]

Laya's eyes rested on Telanis. She pulled the covers up closer to her because the air outside them was colder than the temperature under the covers. "I don't think anything is wrong. I think they are complaining loudly about something..." Laya told him, her gray eyes look him over. "Nothing to worry about, I don't think." She smiled at him softly, admiring how handsome he was after just waking. She remembered the kiss from that night and quickly set her mind to think of other things... At least she tried. But, he was so cute, so kind.

Didn't she deserve to be happy, wasn't it alright for her to be with him? He thought she was fine, he didn't see any darkness in her. It was alright.

Laya leaned over Telanis's lap and peered down at Adonis on the floor. She drummed her fingers as the gears turned in her head. She reached down and grabbed his hand and held it tightly. Then, quietly, she slipped from the warmth of the sheets and tugged on his hand for him to follow her towards the bathroom.

It felt strange to just kiss him with his brother, and a brother that had a distaste for her at that, lying right beside them.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis looked at her curiously. He slowly followed the gentle pull on his hand and climbed out of bed after her. Adonis didn't stir as he was led into the bathroom with her. Telanis's gaze floated from her to the large bathtub. "Are we conspiring?" he asked, ever curious about human behavior.

[Emora Deen]

Laya closed the door behind them and leaned against it. "Conspiring?" she asked him. Yes, she supposed it was conspiring.

She contemplated her options. "I just want to be alone with you," she told him softly, glancing down to the floor.

She concentrated on making herself feel more confident, more comfortable. Laya stepped forward, looking down at his feet. Finally, when she felt she'd gathered the courage she looked up at his face. Her finger tips brushed back his hair. Laya leaned up and kissed him deeply, the way she had wanted to kiss him last night.

A little voice in the back of her head, silent in the corner, was telling her she was being decietful to Adonis. A stronger voice was telling her it didn't matter. He didn't trust her anyway.

[Soran Nightblade]

His mouth opened for hers as smoothly and instinctively as his body curved forward against her. Instincts that started out as hers quickly became part of the hazy overlap of her senses on his. His heart beat faster as he raised a hand to her cheek and ran it back through her hair, drawing her lips tighter to his in the same movement. She affected him so easily and so wonderfully. An idea started in his head, and he wondered if it was his or hers. His free hand stretched out and turned on the water. "Do you want to bathe with me?" he asked. The intimacy of it appealed to him. He thought it was also possible the warmth of the tub would help them relax the intense emotions running through them and think more clearly.

[Emora Deen]

Laya flushed, glancing to the hot running water. "If you would like me too," she told him, nodding as she said the words. She bit her bottom lip, thinking over the consequences of these actions... At least she started thinking and immediatly stopped herself.

As the water ran Laya took hold of her gown at the waist, and started to gather the fabric slowly, drawing it up her legs until she had a handful of cotton. She pulled the gown over her head, her brown hair hanging on bare shoulders. She hugged the fabric to her, glancing up at Telanis with a smile.