|
|
|
|
A faceted emerald-green eye cracked open with the coming of the dawn, a lazy lift of a crimson eyelid that bespoke of Agaru's contentment. She sighed, releasing a smoke-ring from her nostrils as she regarded the scaly black tail her head was resting on. It was a bittersweet moment really, the dragon had been enjoying the time with her mate, but her Skinwalker had to return to the jungle today. An'Thaya had a rather hectic life, which meant very little time in which Agaru could come out to play. It made these moments with Callan that much more precious ... but still.
Rumbling a sound that came out between a low growl and a thundering purr, Callan stretched, and brought his head up, then slid it along Agaru's lovely body. His snout came to rest near hers, he could feel her breath on his face, and one wing unfurled, then pulled the Crimson close, almost hiding her from view.
"Daylight already, darme' vran?" Eyelids flickered open and blue eyes rolled to the side as the sun began to creep over the mountain and cover their ledge in golden light. "You're beautiful, did you know that?"
Indeed, time was precious to them, and while An'Thaya was equally stunning, Callan knew in his heart he'd never love an elf again. Agaru had a noose thrown rather tightly around his neck. But there was more to it than that, and Callan had been waffling about. "Agaru? Remember when you asked me if there could be love among those of the Blood?" Callan nudged her gently and gathered his courage. What were the elven words? Aminmeara, ahem...Oh forget elven, he wasn't an elf, he was a dragon.
"Dostei i'man, Red..."
Agaru fairly quivered when the Black ran his head across her body and leaned into him when his wing enfolded her. The Crimson was a vicious and blood thirsty beast, but with Callan ... she was something quite different. He had tamed a part of her that Agaru hadn't even been aware she had ... her heart.
Rumbling gently when he nudged her she turned a faceted eye to gaze at him, the iris expanding in surprise at his last words. The dragon's tongue flickered out, snaking around her mates muzzle in an affectionate lick. Eyes that were usually fierce and cold turned soft, and she nuzzled at him. I love you too. Well there is was, out in the open. If Agaru had been able to blush, she certainly would have been.
Callan hadn't expected that answer, he'd actually been waiting for Agaru to fall of the ledge laughing. But she hadn't...a satisfied rumble shook Callan's body as her tongue trailed across his snout. "I'm glad to hear that, surprised, but delighted." Callan's own tongue flicked along the edges of her massive jaws, tickling and tasting. Blue eyes drifted shut, his wing pulling her closer. "I am fortunate to have found a mate such as you...Thank you..."
I'm not sure that it is you who are the fortunate one, Agaru responded. The Crimson closed her eyes, simply enjoying the close proximity of her mate for the time being. The first of the suns warmed their scales as it slowly made its ascent into the sky, like a bright herald for its twin. It was quite some time before she felt like moving, and then it was only hunger that drove her. Feel like catching some breakfast before we have to go?
Reluctantly, Callan withdrew his wing, "Aye, breakfast, then you have to give An'Thaya her time. Your elf has company coming today, does she not? It was time for them to leave, but breakfast came first. and Callan yawned and forced his bulk to rise, but not before stealing one more lingering dragon kiss.
"I suspect a there would be a herd of those moose-like creatures you have here near the lake this early...After you my lovely..." Callan swept a wing out over the ledge as though it were an arm and bowed, waiting for her to take the first leap into the air.
Flashing a draggie grin at Callan, the Crimson butted her head against his playfully, then bunched her muscles, crouching down before she leapt up into the air. Red wings caught the air currents and bore her swiftly up into the air. Angling the tip of one down she banked sharply, heading towards the lake. As expected, several of the beasts in question were having a bit of a morning drink.
"Ah, a fat buck there...that one..." Callan dove, silent death on black wings, and grappled with the huge animal, then snapped its neck with his jaws and was winging up, "That doe looked nice, or maybe the other buck, of course, I could give you mine?"
Agaru cast a withering look at the Black, she was quite capable of catching her own breakfast, and he knew it. She didn't have his finesse about it though. The Crimson took great pleasure in divebombing the small herd, making them scream in terror before she singled one out. The dragon used her body weight to knock one of the large bucks to the ground, breaking its forelegs with the impact. Teeth and talons dug in, eating the animal even though it wasn't quite ... dead yet.
"Well done, love...but now we'll have to hunt for the rest of the herd if these two aren't enough...you take quite a lot out of me with your...demands." Callan put extra emphasis on that last word and chuckled around a mouthful of moose-critter haunch. "You do realize, that while you can fend for yourself, I'd give you all I have and expect nothing in return?" Callan asked the last part quietly, there was one thing more he wanted from Agaru, but didn't know if she'd quite go along with it. Callan's race of Dragon bonded in a way different from elves and others of the Blood, and the breaking of his last bond had caused him massive grief.
But Agaru...in her there had been hope, in her he had found the will to be free from the prison of his own making, but telling her his feelings for her this morning had been a huge step, and he wasn't sure she was ready for more...hells, he wasn't sure he'd have the courage to ask.
How odd, Callan not finding courage for something so simple and he found himself laughing quietly around his meal.
Agaru's head snaked around to regard the Black with an oddly tender look in her emerald eyes. It was rather ruined by the blood and entrails hanging from her jaws, but she had never claimed to be a delicate diner. And I you ... she told him, frank as usual.
The Crimson didn't see any point in beating around the bush. She loved Callan, he was the only male she would ever give herself to from here on in, and she would accept no other female in his life. Agaru was quite capable of killing anything and anyone that dared to step between them.
Turning back to her meal she pinned the carcass down with one massive hand and dug in. An'Thaya was starting to stir within her ... time was growing short.
"Then, I have a question, or a suggestion perhaps." Callan finished off his meal and waited for Agaru to finish as well. There was no sense not asking, after all, what could be the worse thing to happen? Gods...Callan was nervous.
"Agaru, you have become the half that makes me whole, I am complete again. Would you...consider...being my bondmate?"
For the second time that morning Agaru's pupils dilated in surprise. The Crimson paused in the process of licking her muzzle clean to regard the Black with a softened expression.
You are serious? She couldn't quite believe it, that he would want to take that step with her ... but looking in his beautiful blue eyes she saw the truth of it there.
The incline of Agaru's head was almost shy. Yes, I would very much like to be your bondmate.
"You would?" Callan breathed out a whoosh of air. "Really?" Callan nudged his nose under her snout, tilting her head up. "It means a lifetime together, through battle and blood, life and joy, sorrow and pain...my soul would be bonded to yours, and the loss of you would be the end of me. But that is a chance I take willingly, and I offer you my heart and soul, Agaruloki, to have for eternity..." Callan nuzzled his cheek against her neck, just below the jaw, "Will you have me?"
It was a heck of a decision to make, and not one Agaru made lightly. The answer came easily though, for she had known it before he had asked. Eternity. I wouldn't have it any other way. Yes, Callan Blackthorn, I will. The Crimson leaned her head into his neck, wuffling his warm black scales.
Callan was completely overjoyed, which surprised him. He hadn't realized how much this had meant to him until she'd said yes. Until then, he'd told himself it wouldn't matter, should she say no, that he would still have her company and it would have to be enough.
But it would not have been enough and he knew that now...
Rumbling with pleasure and joy, Callan stroked his head along her sinuous neck, then gently closed his massive jaws around Agaru's throat, tight enough to feel the the throbbing, rushing blood beneath the crimson scales and skin. In a movement more instinct than conscious though, Callan's wings went around her body, his tail threading around hers. It took little effort for him to open the gates of his soul, to reveal himself to her, all his pleasures, all his kills, every encounter both honorable and shameful. He offered all of himself, holding nothing back, his soul a whirlpool of shimmering black and silver threads within which could be seen the faintest threads of jade...Task had forever left a part of her in him, and now that jade would be overshadowed by Crimson.
There was a moments hesitation, fear of revealing the first days of her existence ... but trust won out, and Agaru opened the crimson depths of her soul to him. Small threads of emerald whipped about in the ruddy abyss, the link to her Skinwalker. Crimson and black threaded together like a pattern on a tapestry, imprinting memories, emotions, linking them inextricably ... forever.
Time seemed to be suspended for Callan and Agaru and as difficult for him to understand the Skinwalker relationship, Agaru's birth was even more difficult. She had no parents, was born entirely of D'Riel magic. She was an amazing and wondrous thing...
In the midst of exploring his new mate, and caught up in the wonder and sensuality that was Agaru, Callan smiled within, "You are astonishing...simply astonishing." His grip on her neck lessened and allowed her blood to flow freely again, yet their souls would forever be entangled.
"Doste' i'man, I am now yours to do with as you please." Callan released her gently and snaked his neck against her, grumbling and growling as he nudged and snuffled her body.
"To do with as I please ... I like the sounds of that, Agaru told him, coiling her neck with his in loving affection. "As I am yours." she said in a slightly more serious tone. For a little while they simply basked in one anothers company, the Crimson would have been content to stay right there forever.
Unfortunately An'Thaya had other plans, and the Amazon's soul began to stir restlessly, emerald green leaking through the crimson and black. Agaru sighed explosively and licked at Callan's muzzle for a moment. It is time my love ... race me home? She butted at him playfully with her head, then launched herself skywards, inviting the Black to chase her through the startling blue skies of Ciwnac.
~~~~~~~~
Darme' vran - Black dragon for dear one
Dostei i'man - I love you
|
|
|
