Woodlands Ho!

[DivenWest]

"It was nothing," he said. He took her hand and held her gently. The thunder crashed outside and the wind made an unnatural howl on the entrance to the den. "But that will be annoying."
He held his hand up and a thin glimmer of white light shot down the hallway. The noise from outside stoped. "Thats better," he said, gently nuzzling her again.

[Rotzi]

She snuggled closely, growing sleepy once more. "I'm glad you silenced it." She opened her eyes, allowing them to rest on the fire. "It's beginning to frighten me a bit."

Kiara curled up, using Diven's chest as her pillow.

[DivenWest]

He gave her a gentle hug and led her to the sleeping room. He laid down with her and pulled her close to him.

"Do you remember, after we first met, when I told you that I was attracted to you and I thought it may have been because you were the first person that wasn't affraid of me? Ya know what? I don't think that anymore. I think... I think..." he swallowed, "I think I am in love with you."

He didn't think that she would react badly, since he had hinted at as much after they bathed, but he still waited nerviously for her responce.

[Rotzi]

Kiara gulped. While she could sense that he did have feelings of that sort, she didn't think they were that deep. Then again, there was no use hiding that she was falling for him. Who couldn't, when someone was as kind as he was to her.

The girl didn't trust her voice. Instead she help him to her, and gave him a gentle kiss.

[DivenWest]

Diven closed his eyes, returning the kiss just as gently. He gently stroked the back of her head, feeling at a loss of what to do now. It was not the reply he had expected, it was much, much better.

[Rotzi]

A small smile graced her face as she snuggled closer to Diven. She felt as if she had done the right thing. After a moment she scritched him affectionately.

"We're getting up early, right?" Kiara asked with a sleepy smile. "We're gonna need our rest for the journey." She nuzzled him lightly before closing her eyes.

"G'night, Diven-kun. Sleep well, and sweet dreams..." the lynx murmured as she drifted into the realm of dreams and nightmares. "Love you..."

[DivenWest]

Diven thought that silence was the best answer for that. He held her close to him, untill he joined her in sleep. His dreams were free from the dark figures, for the first time in longer than he cared to remember.

[Rotzi]

Morning came and Kiara was up at the crack of dawn. Well, it was dawn, but one couldn't tell with as much as it was raining. It could be heard through whatever Diven had put up, but it was still quiet. Therefore it must be bad out.

Is this a bad omen? she thought as she moved away from Diven. She felt a pair of paws tighten as she did move.

"Hmm?" She looked down at the fox and giggled to herself. Diven was always holding her. She was used to this reaction whenever she would wake before him.

Kiara moved his paws and slipped away. Quietly she went to the fireplace. By now her clothing was dry, so she changed from his robe to her outfit. She had altered one of Diven's shirts so that it fit her more comfortably. Her pants, on the other paw, had survived rather well.

Once dressed the lynx began her morning ritual of stretching and exercising. While she couldn't warm up with her sword as she usually did, she still practiced all the movements. However, as was usual with her that early in the morning, Kiara miscalculated and tripped over the floor, landing with much more noise than one thought possible.

[DivenWest]

Diven awoke, his arms clutching cold air. He stood and walked out to the main room, seeing Kiara on the floor.

"With the agillity of a cat and a body to match, you still fall flat on your face." He chuckled and helped her up.

"Still at it huh?" he asked, listening to the rain. "That is not natural, and I dont think it is wise to travel in it. Come back to sleep untill it passes," he said, gently tugging at her arm.

[Rotzi]

Kiara sighed. "Yea, I guess you're right..." She looked out, sighing to herself. "We'll probably end up leaving tomorrow sometime, ne? At least if it keeps up like this."

She followed him back into the sleeping room and laid down. However sleep didn't come immediately. Instead she was staring at the glowing mold that ended just inside the door, with the occassional glances at Diven.

[DivenWest]

"Something bothering you?" he asked her. He held her gently, softly stroking her hair. "You can talk to me about anything ya know." He smiled and gave her a gentle squease.

[Rotzi]

Kiara shivered when he touched her. While she was expecting it, the touch still tingled. "I... I'm not sure," she confessed. She turned toward Diven, snuggling a bit.

"I..." She looked up at him, her eyes twinkling in the dim light.

[DivenWest]

He looked back, a loving smile on his face. "Is there something wrong kitten?" he asked.

[Rotzi]

Kiara moved closer to the fox, wrapping both arms around him. "I.. dunno." She nestled her head on his chest. "I just need more sleep..." She closed her eyes and was out just like that.

[DivenWest]

Diven held her, something was wrong, it was either this storm, or something she didn't want to tell him. Either way, he intended to be there for her. He nuzzled her gently and fell back into a calm sleep.