Demons and Angels (Lastinginthenight X Eldarwen)

Mizu couldn't help laughing as he watched Selene struggle to put the right words together. "I've never asked another dragon to duel, but I suppose I could if I wanted too, yes." He answered watching her put a hand on his tail. "Yes quite cool." He answered when he heard her mumbling under he breath. As she stepped away he dropped his tail letting it resume hanging behind him, where it belonged.

Kono smiled in return when Selene looked at him from in front of the sword dragon. He would never admit it of course, not out loud at least but, he ever so slightly felt like the jealous life mate seeing her by Mizu and wanting her to be near him instead. So Kono felt a slight twinge of satisfaction when she backed up towards him again. Though he realized after a few moments that based on their new connection that if he could hear her thought then she could probably feel his, and that made him ever so slightly embarrassed which was expressed by him pulling his tail closer to his body.

Akira, who was sitting in the field and had now been rejoined by Mizu raised an eyebrow as Selene asked her about their plans for the rest of the day. With a smile she decided to give the pair a hard time and with a shrug returned to pulling at the grass in front of her, "I don't know I'M not the one who suddenly decided to change the schedule now am I?" she questioned with a playfully accusing voice not looking up from the blades of grass in front of her.

Akira shrugged hiding a bit of an annoyed pout by ducking her heard to stare at the grass a bit mroe intensly, "Sounds extrememly boring but if thats what you want to do, fine." She answered. Having regained control over her face she streatched and stood. "Well We could hunt a bit, I don't have any food here." She responded.

Mizu made his way over to Akira and kneeled down by her his wings folded loosly against his back. He starts picking at the grass a bit too as they mumble amongst each other.

Kono uncurled his taili and rolled onto his belly. "I could do that, it would help me get rid of some excess energy." He stated looking to Selene to judge her reaction. He was kind of hoping she would come with him, but he knew she was tired from the workouts the previous day and this morning and probably wanted to rest as well.

(sorry it's kinda short. I'm out of practice XP)

Kono opened his mouth a bit in a smile, "Thank you, and I'll try not to get too rough." He chided back, ducking down a little farther so she could settle on his back. Once she was settled in he looked back and chuckled. She had already settled down quite comfortably. He spread his wings slowly letting the breeze play around them a bit. Once they were fully outstretched he lifted them up cupping as much air as he could in the membranes of his wings and leapt into the air pushing his wings down hard lifting himself into the air relatively smoothly, having gotten some practice and was starting to adjust to a take off with Selene on his back.

Once he had flown up to a comfortable level Kono leveled out and started scanning the forest below. He flapped his wings slowly coasting along his focus on the ground below them.

After a few minutes of that he spotted his goal. There were some wild boars snuffling below him. Normally he would have dropped out of the sky and charred them there, but he wasn't sure if Selene had strapped herself in on their assent so he hung n the air a bit longer, flapping to keep himself still in the air and craned his neck around to check his partner and make sure she would be alright if he went down and hunted.

Kono was quite happy with his catch, he had caught two decent sized hogs for himself and Selene and had let her take what she wanted before digging into the catch himself, since he knew she had a smaller stomach but hadn't quite learned how much she ate yet. He stopped cleaning off the last of the meat on the hogs bones when Selene asked the question curious to hear what Akira's answer would be.

Akira had sat back to lay in the grass sometime while the pair had been eating and she was playing with a blade of grass between her fingers. She stopped and briefly looked over at Selene when she asked the question, "Hmm. We'll Mizu and I have been together for about...three years, I think. Sooo I would think about six months?" I'm not quite sure i never really watched my own improvement. But I don't think it took all that long to get a good grip on moving around Mizu.....though I have a tendency to find trouble." She explained resuming fiddiling with the blade of grass she still had in her hand.

Mizu watched silently, leaned back his wings tucked against his back. He didn't feel the need to add his two sense into the conversation, Akira always did just fine talking, even if she did get a bit carried away sometimes. He still enjoyed her company and her presence in his mind. He rolled his eyes at her comment though, "Or making it." He added with a fond smile which earned him a playful glare from Akira.

Kono blew out a puff of air in a short chuckle. "I don't think any one is 'cut out' for adventure to begin with. I think it's an acquired skill." Kono responded placing his head on top of his talons one of the hog ribs between his teeth as he chewed on it lightly, playing with it between his teeth. The light Pressure of Selene's body against his own ribs was a sensation he found he actually enjoyed. It was light and constant, a friendly feeling that reminded him he was not alone, and had someone else to care for as well. He watched her through a half open lid for a few moments before shifting his gaze to Akira and Mizu as they tussled and talked.

Mizu pulled back a bit as Akira rolled over to hit him for his comment a smile on her face. She was so young and despite her trials so care free. Sure she had always wanted to prove herself to adults which was probably the source of her eccentric nature, but she was important to him none the less. "You'll learn I always have a point when it comes to this one." He grumbled grabbing her hand and stopping it from beating on him anymore.

"And one day you'll learn to keep your trap shut." She responded with a sassy playfulness in her voice as she relented and laid back down with a huff shutting her eyes, basking in the last of the light from the sun. "Six months can indeed seem like forever when your looking forward, but looking back it feels like it passes much too quickly." She stated remembering the time they had spent together learning all the things they had, and fighting with each other....a lot.

Over the next few weeks the irritated section of scales where his mark settled to a simple discoloration that was the same shape as Selene's. It was easily reachable from the saddle on his back and it tended to be where Selene's hand fell when she stroked him. A sensation that was odd the first few times but he had gotten used to and even started to rely on a bit. 

Kono huffed tilting his wings mid glide a slow casual flight pattern he favored as they circled the field below, "You're probably weren't alone...if that's any consolation." He responded flapping his wings once to keep his flight pattern steady. He felt her discomfort himself and had heard that terrifying shriek. It was something he was not looking forward too, and even though Selene had become more comfortable on his back and more skilled with a sword he still wasn't sure they were ready. If course not knowing the creature, they might never be ready, they would have to face it sooner or later. "I think it might be a good idea. It would probably be nice to move farther south as well, those snow clouds to the north seem to moving closer." He commented as they caught sight of the large grey clouds out in the distance. The first snow of winter was threatening now and the south would promise warmer weather, if only slightly. 

Their leisurely flight was interrupted by Mizu's sudden appearance heading towards them from underneath Akira astride his back a sword gripped in her hand and her posture tense though a smile was still on her face since the brawl was merely for training and not serious. Course the blade she was holding was wooden as well. 

Kono flicked his tail downwards shifting his center of balance and bringing his wings in close so he would drop from the sky, "Breaks over" he grunted as the forces around his body changed with his sudden change in direction.

Kono Settled down once Selene had gotten off his back, he had gotten used to keeping the saddle on for longer periods of time and it kept it from getting cold overnight. I don't think it mattered whether you were human or not, putting something cold on your body was extremely unpleasant. So he merely settle down tucking his talons under his body and stretching his wings to get any kinks out before settling his leading wing finger against the ground. It left a gap that Selene could use as a shelter once she was ready to settle in for the night. He pulled his wings in though against the cold wind the swept over them, at least until it had died down. Now was the time of year when he would start heading for caves. A place away from the wind and where the heat stayed around longer. Of course most of the ones he knew were up north in the mountains and those places were already covered in snow most likely. He watched Selene observing her small size. She was strong and durable for a human sure, but that wasn't all that durable especially by his standards, he wasn't sure she could handle a trip like that. No he would focus for now on heading South away from the cold. There were a few caves down that way. Making up his mind he swung his tail around himself careful to avoid the smaller beings moving about and put his head down on the ground, watching Selene as she got ready for the night, lighting the logs with a small flame.

They burst to life before settling down to a steady burn. The fire would produce light for quite a few hours but they would turn white a produce heat for much longer Keeping the whole group just that much warmer through the night. Akira and Mizu settled down rather quickly with very little talking though their was quite a bit of light punching coming from Akira whenever Mizu tried to suggest something so that she would stay warmer. From her bags she produced a blanket and grabbing a piece of chalk she transmuted a dip in the ground burning away the grass and exposing the dirt A good way to help contain more body heat in the cold since they were a smaller pair. 

Sleeping would be tough tonight, he could feel Selene's edginess through there connection. it was like a little alarm in his head that told him he was being watched. It was good and bad, it was really strange having basically another voice in his head, but he was getting used to it, on the other hand he could understand her better, sure he misunderstood her words occasionally, but he understood her emotions.

As everyone was falling asleep Kono was wide awake watching their surroundings, and looking out into the dark for anything that moved. He fought sleep for quite a while. It was late in the night and the fire was out before sleep finally overtook him and he fell into sleep.

The jolt of terror that had spread through Selene's mind had woken Kono back up with a start and his head shot up from it's position close to his wing where Selene had been asleep under. He looked around for the source of her terror until he felt a poking at the edge of his mind. With a snort he lifted his wing and brought his head under it cocking his head a bit curious of what she wanted. He growled making his body vibrate in an attempt to sooth her. 

He hadn't heard a scream, course he had also been sound asleep when she had jolted him awake. He blew out some heated air before lifting his head again and looking about at their surrounding her fear setting off his protective instincts and waking him up from his groggy state. 

(Mizu and akira still asleep.)

Kono lifted his wings and stood quickly in shock, It was dark, the moon had been covered by clouds and the snow was threatening close by now. In the dark she could easily disappear from his sights being so small. A wind kicked at his backside and he snorted trying to quickly gauge the wind and the dark. If he took to the air he could loose her even faster but he wasn't the fastest on the ground. He shifted back and forth on his talons her fear permeating through their link and confusing his judgment.

The scream awoke Mizu and Akira with a start. Akira was up in a second Mizu close behind trying to figure out what was going on. All they saw was Selene's backside and Kono hesitate pacing back and forth, once. Twice, he then turned to them "Help me keep her in sight." He growled then was gone opening his wings and taking to the air leaving them behind.

Akira gaped after him, "How the heck are we suppose to do that?!?" She shouted into the wind. With a grumble she looked at Mizu who shrugged his face serious. With a hurmph she relented and after cleaning the site where they had slept took off along the ground to relocate the panicked girl.