Heirot

Telanis glanced down at the root and cleared it, but didn't anticipate there being another one right afterwards. With a yelp of surprise, he flew forward into Laya and sent them both tumbling to the ground, ultimately landing with him lying half on top of her. "Sorry," he mumbled, pushing himself up on his elbows to look down at her. "Are you alright?"

"Aww..." she groaned when Telanis practically tackled her to the ground. She laid there on the damp dirt, still clutching her wet clothes in her hands. After a moment of getting her barings she looked up at him with a gentle smile. "Yes, I'm fine..." Completely and utterly fine. Never better. A handsome man was pressed close to her, one that she loved. Where was the problem in that?

The problem? He wasn't a man, she reminded herself. He was a unicorn. A sacred creature. If it was love, one of the most self-less and purest of emotions, then it couldn't hurt. She placed a kiss on the tip of his nose and then one on his lips. Just a peck, nothing more.

"You can't hurt me Telanis, not even by tackling me onto a bed of jungle roots," she said with a laugh.

Telanis blinked in surprise at the quick kiss Laya gave him. He hadn't expected it, and without human hormones to guide him, he couldn't make much sense of it. But the playful, content expression on her face told him it was nothing to be concerned about. He looked into her eyes with a deep, thoughtful stare, like he was mesmerized by her.

"You can't hurt me, Telanis, even by tackling me onto a bed of jungle roots," she said with a laugh.

Telanis stiffened, realizing that was pretty much what he'd done. "Sorry, I got carried away," he murmured. Suddenly he was very conscious of his body over her, and it reminded him of what they'd done before, which brought back feelings of confusion and...he didn't know what else. In a swift movement, he shifted back to his knees to get off of her.

Laya pushed herself up and began to lightly nock the dirt off of her bare legs and the once nice clean white shirt that Telanis had let her borrow. “Its fine,” she said softly, eyeing him for a moment with a questioning stare. The way he moved, almost like he was afraid to be that close to her. She rubbed the back of her neck and then gave a quick smile. “Lets keep walking this way. Maybe we will get to town that has a boat...” They had no money. How would they afford the fair? Laya decided she would cross that bridge when they came to it.

Telanis rose back to his feet and followed her movement with his eyes. Another boat..he wasn't at all eager to go out to sea again, but it would be necessary. They fell into step along the tree-lined shore. The ocean sounded harmless and beautiful now that they were safely on land, soft waves riding up against the mossy rocks. The sky had even cleared to show a few patches of blue, though it was hard to make them out from under the tree cover.

"There's so much I still don't know about humans," Telanis finally said. It was clear from his expression that he was perplexed by it, like he'd thought he knew everything once and then realized he had to start from scratch. "My brother has tried to teach me, but I stopped accepting his lessons when he changed."

"Well," Laya said softly. "What do you want to know? I'm human... I probably answer any question you might have." She held her clothes out in front of her as she walked, wondering if she should change into them even though they were still wet. She really didn't want to be caught on the forest path wearing nothing but a shirt. It would be uncomfortable to wear the clothes without them being dry. "I assume I can answer any question. However, if it is about men... I don't entirely understand them."

"If that woman was so harsh to her men, why didn't they leave?" Telanis asked. "How could she have...enjoyed those things the way she did. How did she make me...?"

Laya looked at Telanis and then looked out at the ocean beyond the trees. "I don't know," Laya said softly. "Maybe they feared her?" She brushed the brown hair from her face. "She enjoyed it because that is what gave her pleasure." The young woman looked away again, feeling uncomfortable. "Some people take pleasure in hurting people that way. I guess she knows how to stimulate even a being such as yourself."

Was he regretting it? Was he asking how anyone could enjoy sex? Did he find it horrible?

Telanis's senses responded instantly to her apprehension. "I see. It is sad that she could not experience it the way we did," he said, a soft, real smile coming to his lips. He turned bright brown eyes toward her with that gentle confidence he did so well. "Everything happens for a reason. I would not have shared this new thing with you if not for her skewed tastes."

Laya looked back at him, stormy gray eyes staring intently. She relaxed in visible relief, leaning in closer to him and wrapping her arms around one of his. She rested her head on his shoulder, smiling softly. "We need to see if we can find Neko and Kratos," she said softly. "I don't have the slightest idea where they are. If only we could get lucky and just... practically trip over them."

Telanis nodded. He was worried for his brother and the others. He knew Adonis was still alive, but...he wouldn't have killed Neko and Kratos, would he? He swallowed a frown, knowing his brother was capable of it. "If we stay on this course, we may find a port," he said quietly. If there's a way to get back to the mainland, they will be heading toward it as well. Perhaps we would meet there."

"I promise to get you back to your forest, Telanis..." She was carrying her clothes in her arms, still wearing the shirt that he had given her. She glanced down and then back at him. "I guess I should get dressed before we get to town. Hmm... She stepped off the path and towards a thick group of brush. She pulled the shirt over her head, then quickly pulled the damp short skirt and white blouse on. Still she had no shoes.

Telanis stood patiently by the water while she changed, watching the tides wash up and down the sand.

Suddenly, a sense of urgent excitement jumped through his mind like electricity. It was so unexpected that at first he didn't recognize Adonis's thoughts colliding with his. "Brother?" he reached out, suddenly tense.

"Hold still," Adonis's breathless voice came through their strengthening link. "We aren't that fast."

"You're hurt," Telanis thought worriedly as he touched Adonis's pain through the link.

"Shut up already, I'll be there in a minute Adonis thought impatiently, slamming the link shut like a door.

Telanis blinked, breathing hard. Adonis had let him into his head. It had been years since that happened. He should have called for Laya, but his voice felt caught with emotion. "We", he'd said. Was he with the others? He watched the route they'd come by with longing eyes. "Laya!" he shouted for his companion's attention.

A minute later, Adonis appeared around the last bend, limping badly and using a long staff for support. Neko and Kratos appeared behind them. Telanis froze as he felt Kratos's pain in a harsh wave. Finally remembering himself, Telanis stretched one arm high over his head and waved at them, running forward to meet them.

"Do you want your shirt back?" she asked him, stepping out from behind the bushes. She held it out to him, wondering if he wanted to take it back or not. "It might come in handy when it gets dark. Keep the chill off."

She saw what Telanis was paying attention to. Were they this lucky? How could they have gotten so luck! Laya grinned at the sight of the traveling companions, though she didn't take off running.

Laya wasn't that way. She was slow to move over to them. She enjoyed their company, yes, but she found it hard to adjust to having companions. She could be herself around Telanis because... there was something different and he knew her past. He knew what she feared and what bothered her. She was afraid to let many people know what had happened to her. She was afraid to let people in.

Love, hope, relief... emotions swelled in Neko's heart as she saw them. She pressed forward, almost dragging her brother who seemed to be about to collapse again.

"We found them, brother! You can rest now." she told him gently, as she laid him down in Laya and Telanis' campsite. Kratos was grateful for the end to their hike. He was exhausted, in pain. Wounds began to bleed again from so much movement, despite Eosan's magic and Neko's best efforts. Kratos once again fell practically comatose, but he would live.

Despite the joy of finding them again, Neko worried over her brother. Their torture in that camp... Kratos had suffered the worst, even though Neko had been raped. Kratos still suffered the worst in her mind.