Rutte blinked, hard, as sunlight fell on his closed eyes. "Ow," was his first comment of the day, the bright sun making a headache form.

The nurse who had opened the curtains just looked down with a cool glance. "That's what happens when you stay out late fighting demons," she commented curtly. "And I've let you sleep in long enough. It's almost noon."

"Nnngh," Rutte said for his second comment of the day, pulling the blankets over his head. Or at least attempting to, before pain shot up his right arm.

In the carp pond, Koi was pleasantly happy, surrounded by water and the other fish left her alone, knowing she was not what they were was enough to keep them away. Only a day had passed but she did not want to get in the way of things. Rutte would come find her, she was confident of that.

"Eat," the nurse commanded, setting a tray down by his bed. Rutte sat up, discovering that once again he was topless and covered in bandages. He had to learn how to eat soup with his left hand first thing.

"How is everybody?" he asked after a pause, giving up on his soup for now and just chewing on some bread.

"Your friends Father Gwy and Miss Nissa have been up for hours," the nurse replied. "As for Miss Koi, I'd imagine she's where Father Gwy left her: in the pond." The nurse clucked at him, pointing at the soup. "You can see them when you can walk on your own. Until then, you lay down some more."

A tall dark skinned man walked by silently, his hands, neck and shoulders covered in tattoos and his manner of dress exotic with many beads covering his red, orange and brown colored clothing. His dark head was shaved and his light caramel eyes held secrets. Twisting, he watched Rutte for a second before continuing past, a nurse watching him as well, "That's a traveling priest from the far off lands... he is just passing through, or so we hope..." She whispered to Rutte.

"That's nice," Rutte said. "It is good that one travels and spreads the word. I hope we can compare notes; maybe I've been to his homeland." He continues to eat his soup as the nurse gives him an incredulous look.

Right down the hallway, Gwy and Nissa appeared, just thinking about giving Rutte a visit. On their way, they meet the odd priest in the hallway. Gwy inclines his head, smiling slightly at the priest, even though the swarthy man gave him the creeps.

In return, the priest bowed low and even lower to Nissa, saying some words in his own language for his respect was high. Woman in his land were the utmost respected and they were a matriarch society. But, something about his attitude toward Nissa revealed that he knew something about her lineage.

Nissa pressed two fingers to her lips, a sign of mutual respect in his land from either pregnant women or those of higher status. And something in her posture said she knew a little about his background. She continued walking, taking Gwy with her as she passed the priest. "Keep going," she said to the Father. "I'll catch up." She then melted into the floor.

"I hate it when she does that," Gwy mutters, heading into the nurse's office.

Moving onward, the oriental priest's robes swished as he walked, looking over his shoulder, but at the same time, not turning his head to do so. He wasn't exactly human, though, one would never think so.

Nissa melded from the wall beside him. "What brings you to this part of the globe, Priest?" she purrs, her voice like a cat about to pounce.

"I am... searching for someone..." He replied, his accent thick and his words in broken speech. The priest's robes hid a lithe form, built from extreme rituals and sword training. He didn't turn to face her though, but his light brown eyes were wide and his expression unreadable.

"Mmm-hmmm," Nissa murmured, stepping into his personal space. "And who would that be? Not... one of my friends, I'd hope." Under her calm demeanor there was a hint of a threat.

He purred right back, stepping around to face her, his hips inches from hers, "I am Hakim, I am looking for an earth dragon that helped my distant people long ago..." Hakim's shaved head dipped towards her and leaned towards her ear, "It took... me a moment to realize it was you. The Sun maiden is in need of your help once more." He pulled back, his dark face set in a pleasant smile, "I had heard that you... helped in dealing with a demon just last night?"

Nissa placed hands on her hips, her own dark features composing themselves into a smile as she realized their action had not attracted attention of the more deadly kind. Yet. "I had a hand in it, but the one who vanquished it was just human," she replied. Nissa frowned. She wasn't concerned that they were still but inches away from each other, but rather about his statement. "By my help, do you mean something to do with the temple I made?" she said, her voice lowering into a growl.

"Of more on a matter of demons..." He returned her growl whole heartedly, half in a sexual desire and half in anger, "My people are being assaulted, our temples destroyed, the one that you made, is now only dust." His eyes searched hers and his large hands were outstretched hovering over Nissa's on her hips.

Nissa grabs his shoulders in a fluid movement, slamming him into the wall in an act of dominance. Her body presses against his, pinning him, and she snarls, her lips baring into fangs. "Do you know how long it took me to create that temple? How much energy?" she hissed. Her lips were teasingly close but she was no longer playing with him.

"Those demons will pay for the destruction of my artwork... and your land," she said, her voice low. "But I must convince my priest to help, and if he agrees, I must wait until he has recovered."

He snarled back at her, the violence making him more attracted to her and his voice lowered to a growl and his hips nudge hers, "I would be... most grateful if you helped us..."

Nissa suddenly released him and stepped away, massaging her temple like she was annoyed and trying to hide it. "I have to go ask a favor now," Nissa said, making her way to the nurses office. "We'll play later." She stopped, then turned around again. "Oh, and, stay out of the garden," she said.

He bowed to her elegantly and waited there, in the hall, pondering on recent events and future events to come.

Walking into the nurse's office like she owned the place, Nissa interrupted a vivacious theological debate with her mere presence. "Rutte, how long will you take to get better?"

Rutte looked puzzled. "Ah, er, maybe a week or two?" he said. "Why?"

"Well, someone's asking you to perform another exorcism," Nissa said. "Demons are in his land and they destroyed my-I mean, their temple."

"So?" Rutte asked.

Nissa frowned. She had forgotten about the whole 'detachment from material objects' thing. "Erm... they're also... killing people?"

"We have to leave now," Rutte suddenly began insisting.

As Gwy and the nurse expressly forbade him, Nissa walked into the hallway, a cruel smile on her lips as she imagined various torture for the demons. "He'll be ready to go in a week or two," she murmured to the priest, sated.

Hakim tsked softly, his voice low, "Whatever shall we do in... the meantime?" His society worshiped woman, loved woman and all in all, was a woman-dominated society. It didn't help that Hakim had been born with handsome looks and had honed his body into a living sculpture.

Nissa's eyes slowly traveled over Hakim's body. She looked like she was enjoying herself. She had remembered this part well while in his country creating the temple. "I can think of something," Nissa murmured, slowly sinking into the floor. "Meet me in the confessional in ten minutes. There's some desecrating I feel like doing."

Hakim bowed and grinned, turning to go where she had told him to go.

Meanwhile, in the nurse's office, Gwy and the nurse were having a bit of trouble trying to get Rutte to not set off right that moment. "Rutte, you can barely walk," Gwy points out.

"Am I just supposed to sit around while people get hurt? I can heal on the way there!" Rutte retorts.

"You know as well as we do that you can't fully recover while on the road," the nurse snapped, her voice very cold and very stern. "You'd be no use to those people in your condition. I expressively forbid it."

Rutte begins, of course, to pout.

Gwy leaves after a few minutes of tense silence. However, the nurse is used to her patients putting up a fuss, so it's nearly two hours later that she decides to take a break and walk around the church. It is then that Rutte decides to make an escape.

Standing up for a bit made him feel dizzy and for the first time how sore he really was. Taking out a powerful demon like that always made him feel like he had just run for three days straight. However, he could walk. Barely. But the nurse said he could visit Koi when he was able to walk, and he was, technically. Rutte needed to talk to someone who wasn't being so coldly... logical.

Rutte made his way down to the garden as quickly as he could, which wasn't very. It was by pure chance that he avoided the nurse and Gwy and made it to the pond. "Koi?" he whispered into the water, afraid someone might overhear him elsewhere if he talked too loud.

Bubbles rose from the deepest part of the water, a small patch glowing orange approached the surface, rolling over to look up with an eye, blinking and opening and closing it's mouth. In a flurry of fins Koi arose from the pond, knee deep in water with her arms folded, her dress covering her skin up to her neck and folding in a very good impression of a large dress. Koi looked happy to see him and allowed a small, kind smile, "Hello Rutte... healing nicely?"

"Just wishing it would go faster," Rutte replied, also happy to see her and grinning in return. "How are you holding up?" He gestured towards her injury sustained during her midair fight.

Her smile softened, "I tend to heal faster then humanely possible, but, I am not human." Koi lifted her dress and showed him a scab on her leg, "The wound on my arm is gone, no scar," she told him gently, "I'm more worried about you then myself, Rutte."

Rutte rolled one shoulder in a shrug. "I wish I had your healing powers," he admitted. "It would make this a lot easier." He told her what Nissa had told him. "...and here I am, helpless, while these people die," Rutte finished. "It's so frustrating."

"I see." Koi replied softly, "Well, there is always the option of flying-" She mentioned thoughtfully and said it as careful as she could, "If this priest is from where I think he is, its more towards the Evicaar Sea, the desert is most likely where he is from. There are no creatures of the air that would challenge me there."

"I could set off right when I get done healing," Rutte said. "But until then..." He sighed, looking at his feet. "Gwy was right. Unless I get at least a few days of rest I'm of no use to anybody."

"Well, what about Nissa?" Koi shifted her weight in the water, "I'm sure she could create a moving room, that travels underground! Moving at a fast pace, I'm sure it would take a few days to arrive." She cocked her head, "We should ask her..."

"You'd think she would have been the one to suggest that," Rutte said, frowning thoughtfully. "I should go find her." He then attempts to stand from his previous kneeling position beside the water. This attempt is hilarious and ultimately requires a few more attempts before he's wobbling on his feet, as his leg muscles feel like Jello.

Koi quickly rushed forward like lightning, helping to support him, a very faint blush on her cheeks adding to her beauty as she stepped out of the water, "Yes... lets go find Nissa..."

Rutte accepts her help, as he is currently making the floor spin using only the power of his mind. However, once he has his arm around her shoulder, with quite a bit of body contact as he leaned on her for support, he develops a similar blush as Koi.

Together, they walk back into the church to find Nissa. By chance, they pass the confessionals, and Rutte frowns at a sound. "What is that...?" he starts, going closer to the boxes.

A soft moan issued forth from one of them and a soft orange brown edge of cloth was visible from underneath the door. The exotic priest stumbled out a second later, light sweat upon his shaved brow and his pale brown eyes dilated. He was so distracted that he didn't notice them both at all and moved into a different room.

Nissa walked out a moment later, her own pupils dilated, glistening and looking like a predator who has just brought down prey. "Oh, hello," she says of Rutte and Koi. "Weren't you supposed to still be in bed, resting?"

"You weren't doing in there what I think you were doing in there," Rutte said in furious monotone.

"I doubt you have the imagination to think up half the things I was doing in there," Nissa purred. "Did you have something to ask me?"

Koi giggled hesitantly, knowing full well what they had done and her blush increased as her giggling slowly stopped and her face was emotionless as she watched Nissa. "Um, yes, we were talking about how we could move with Rutte healing to the land of that priest, and I had an idea..."

Nissa listened to the idea and sighed. She had hoped to spend the time Rutte was recovering with her new toy... The demons weren't exactly going anywhere. "Yes, that is possible," Nissa answered, a little sullen. "I suppose I could do that. Yes. When would you be ready to leave?"

"Uh, let me get my things!" Rutte exclaimed hurriedly.

"I'll help him," Koi decided then as they were walking away she called back over her shoulder, "Nissa, I'm sure we could use separate... and more... private rooms as well within the whole." Koi winked then set all of her attention to take Rutte to where he needed to go.

Nissa rolled her eyes, frustrated. "Like I'd be able to do anything while transporting a structure like that underground," Nissa muttered. "It's not like I'd get distracted and collapse it on everyone, no..." Suddenly she stopped and raised an eyebrow at the retreating pair. "That brazen wench wants a room for herself and Rutte," she said in amazement. "Just what does she... Oh boy. This could get messy."

Rutte grabbed his bag again. He hadn't even had time to unpack much, having only been in the church two nights, so it wasn't much to repack everything. Gwy showed up and looked aghast at the progress. "And just where...?" he began.

"Nissa's going to take us there in an underground room," Rutte said excitedly. "I can rest on the way. Can I get some refills on exorcism materials?"

Gwy gritted his teeth in response, refusing to move.

"No really Gwy, we're going. Do you want to come?" Koi asked sweetly, but firmly.

"No," Gwy said.

"No to you coming with, or no to us going?" Rutte said wearily, standing up to confront his friend.

"Both," Gwy insisted. "You... Why do you have to do this? You don't have to." He started pacing angrily. "You don't know if you'll come out of this alive. Demons plural. It's probably too much for you to handle, especially for complete strangers." Gwy shook his head. "It's stupid."

"Gwy," Rutte gently said, "If you were in my position, what would you do?"

Gwy and Rutte had a staring contest for a good five minutes of complete silence. Then Gwy broke it off. "I'd hope my friend knew where the larger bottles of holy water were being kept," he muttered. "This is stupid. I hate you all." He left to go collect supplies.

Koi wilted, "He... hates us?" She sat down on a medical bed with a hand on her brow, "So... multiple demons huh? Maybe I can help this time in a more useful way."

"He doesn't really hate us," Rutte said. "I can just be frustrating." He patted his bag, which was full, sitting down next to Koi. "How?" he asked.

"I don't know..." She said quickly, looking away, "But I know I can help, somehow." Koi sighed softly, "Maybe I can prove to myself and the dragon clans that I am not the weakest..."

"You know," Rutte reminded her, "you can search for approval in everybody else all you want, but it's really yourself that you prove things to." He reached out and gently tapped her on the chin. "Just remember that."

Gwy returned with bags, oblivious to anything that had been going on. "Here's supplies for you and your friends, and yes, they will help you," Gwy said. "It's not your problem, it's theirs, so they should at least be taking partial responsibility." He holds up the bags. "You ready?"

"I always am," Rutte said, grabbing his own bag, even though he had a hard time actually, like, carrying it.

"Yeah," Gwy muttered, stepping aside so Rutte could pass him. "You always are."

Koi sat there for a moment, still feeling his finger on her chin before she smiled and skipped through the doorway like a little girl.

Nissa and Hakim were waiting in the main chapel. Nissa looked quite impatient and a little peeved, even. She gave Koi a good long look before saying, "Everybody ready?"

"I am," Rutte said. He looked at his friend again. "You sure you don't want to come with?"

"I can't leave my church," Gwy replied, smiling sadly.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Father Gwy," Koi said softly, holding her hand out to him in her traveling clothes. No one had seen her change as she stood there, smiling.

"And you, Miss Koi," Gwy replied, taking her hand and bowing over it. "Take care of that old fool, would you?" he asked her gently.

He and Rutte then embraced as a goodbye. "I'll be back for a visit soon," Rutte said, holding his friend by the shoulders.

"Let's just hope you don't again go immediately to my nurse," Gwy replies. "She thinks you're developing a crush on her." He steps back, away from the group.

"Farewell, Father," Nissa said. "Until later times."

Without warning, the area around the group rose up in a mound of earth, which formed a hill over them and sank into the ground. The church reformed itself once they were gone, leaving no evidence that they were even there.

The group went underground, perfectly smooth earthen walls surrounding them. "We shall have two rooms," Nissa said. Her voice was distant with concentration. "I would like Hakim to stand watch with me, to make sure I am not disturbed. That leaves a room for you and Rutte to rest in, Koi." Her voice became amused and deadly as she smiled ever so slightly. "I trust you to take the time to rest. I would hate to have Rutte become distracted before he is able to help Hakim's people."

Her mouth opened in shock and horror, a heavy blush on her cheeks, "I... I... we're not... going to do anything..."

"You'd better not," Nissa purred. "However, I don't want you in my sight as of this moment." The floor swiftly carried them away from Nissa and Hakim, and a wall rose up between the two 'couples.'

In Rutte's and Koi's room, two very separate beds formed from the ground. They were made out of soft earth, which, if touched, wouldn't crumble or come apart. Rutte looked at them and started pulling blankets out of his bag. After Nissa's comment, he was stone-cold quiet.

"Rutte...?" Koi sought his eyes before continuing, "I'm... I won't try anything if you don't want me to... I promise." She hugged herself with her arms and sat down on her own rock bed.

"Right now, I really need rest," Rutte replied. He threw his own blankets on his bed, laying them out neatly. With the earth covered, it almost felt like a really nice mattress. "This is rather a lot of excitement that I'm not really used to, if you know what I mean. If you need some, I suggest you take it now." He tossed her a few blankets. "See you in the morning... or whatever," he added, looking around and seeing no windows. In fact, he was wondering how he could even see... but there Koi was. Sitting and looking a little alone.

He sighed. Rutte knew there was some sort of tension between them. Koi was different from all the other women he had been around. She was more... three-dimensional. Sure, so was Nissa, but Nissa always had the air that she would eat him if she could. Koi didn't make him scared in that way. She made him confused. He walked over to her bed. "Stand up," Rutte said. "I'll make the bed."

Standing, Koi watched him set her bed up and kept her arms folded around herself for there was still a slight chill in the earthen air, "Thank you..."

"If you get under the blankets, you should feel better," Rutte said, working on folding. "The earth is soft, and most of the warmth is kept in there anyway." His injured arm screamed for him to stop. It had been bothering him all day with his packing and walking around, along with the bruises on his stomach and the cut on his head that were just now starting to go away. Right about now, it was all the last straw. Rutte's vision got a little blurry, but he only wavered for a moment before finishing his work. "All done," he announced before staggering back to his bed. "Night," he murmured, collapsing on top of it and passing out without even bothering to get between his blankets.

She watched him for a few minutes more before crawling into her own bed and snuggled into the blankets. Her eyelids heavy, Koi's breath softened and she too, fell asleep. However it wasn't long before she jolted awake, the room foreign and her body trembling as she eyes searched the bare walls for something familiar, finally landing on Rutte. She had shed the traveling clothes to change into a tang top and pants and her toes were cold as she slid out of her bed and tip toed to Rutte's bed. Shivering, Koi climbed up beside him awkwardly, sliding the blanket over them both.

Rutte hardly made a movement like he even noticed, he was so far gone. However, he reacted unconsciously to the new source of warmth, rolling over and scooting just a bit closer to Koi, breathing softly as a hand absently fell over her middle in his adjustments.

The sound that escaped her was barely audible but with Rutte behind her sleep it seemed was much more inclined to take her under and she snuggled back into him, her hand settling on his that was around hers. Sighing, once more she fell asleep, though this time she was calm.

Many hours later, Rutte began to drag himself from his slumber. His muscles ached again, but what he noticed before the pain was that his nose was buried in something very soft, that smelled very good. As he became more and more awake, he noticed other oddities: that is, he appeared to be sharing the bed with someone, and was even holding them.

Shocked into total awareness, Rutte fell backwards from the bed, teetering at the edge long enough to see Koi's streaked orange-and-black hair before falling off completely, taking most of the blankets with him with a yell of surprise. He landed heavily on his arm, although he had the good sense to be thankful it wasn't his injured arm.

Koi jerked awake and let out a gasp as she was almost pulled from the bed as well and leapt back off the bed, stumbling into the wall, "Oh my goodness... Rutte! I'm so sorry... This room, this-" She swallowed, "I needed some comfort..." Tears fell from her eyes and she quickly wiped them away and regained control of herself. "I shouldn't have done that."

The only response for a few seconds was silence, and then Rutte groaned. "I don't think I can get up," he gasped, the full force of the fall hitting him in all of his injuries. "Throw me a blanket? Maybe this was just an odd dream. I'll go back to sleep, and when I wake up it'll be over."

Instead of doing that, Koi brought him a blanket and helped him to stand, "You think... I am odd?" She sniffed but helped him back on the bed again, standing stoically beside him, a light blush on her cheeks.

"Nngh," Rutte said, wobbling a little. "...no. It's just... a bit of a shock waking up to a strange person in your bed. Not that you're strange, either!" he added hurriedly. "It's just that a woman in bed... well, anybody in bed. It's not something I would want... I mean, want unexpectedly..." He was trying to talk and get the memory of Koi that close to him out of his head. And she had smelled really good. It was getting harder to talk. He sat down on the bed and just flopped backward, giving up on the talking bit, his legs trailing over the edge. "...I'm sorry," he said. "I might have overreacted."

She swallowed and took a risk, putting on hand on his thigh, "It's alright Rutte, I'm sorry too... It wasn't something I should have done." Koi took a step further and leaned her body against his legs.

Rutte's eyes shot wide-open and his body tensed under her touch. "Uh, Koi," he started, trying to sit up. However, his abdomen muscles, still heavily bruised from Kur'r's attack, refused his commands. He froze, his mind also not working. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't form the words. Not when she was this close, not when his memories right before he woke up were still fresh.

Going even further, Koi nudged his legs apart and hugged him gently around the middle, her torso against his legs... and other things. "I'm sorry." She repeated, her voice soft, "I know what I do to you..." She was not using any power of seduction at all, just the natural reactions that a female can produce in a male.

Now totally ignoring what his muscles were telling him in the way of pain, Rutte scrambled to a sitting position with every intention of running away. However, it backfired, and he involuntarily froze as he got up, his face just inches away from Koi's. His heart was fluttering so wildly in his chest that it felt like it might explode. Rutte tried to tell himself that the rumbling in the ground was why he was leaning forward towards her.

The rumbling in the ground grew louder, however, and suddenly the wall between them crumbled, which caused Rutte to whip his face in that direction. "We're going up!" Nissa proclaimed. "I've been awake for 24 hours and I need..." Nissa stopped, taking in the situation: Koi and Rutte standing very closely together, with Koi's arms around Rutte. "Sleep," she finished, her eyes narrowing.

Standing abruptly, "You should get some sleep then Nissa. We are dependent on you and our lives are in your claws, sister." Her expression was a little peeved but inside she was disappointed and had hoped that this would have gone further.

Nissa sensed that disappointment and got a little more peeved herself. "Do not call me sister," she replied coldly. "We are not related."

They suddenly rose what seemed like a great distance. Their earthen roof was replaced by sunlight as they emerged in an abandoned field. "We are right outside a town," Nissa said in monotone. "Go get some food for today and the rest of the trip. I only need a few hours of rest; come back then."

Rutte rooted through his bag, still a little shaky after what had happened. Nissa glided to Koi on the earth and pulled her harshly away from earshot from either Rutte or Hakim. "Keep your distance from him, little sister," she hissed. "I cannot afford for him to be distracted in the upcoming event. And that's what you're best at, right? ...distraction." Nissa sneered one last time before stepping off and sliding into the earth, where she would sleep until refueled.

"I have my money!" Rutte announced, holding up a small bag.

Koi growled at the earth and turned back, a small smile on her lips, "Hakim your name was? I'm Koi, it's nice to officially meet you..." Her clothing changed instantly into her current traveling clothes and removed several coins from her cleavage. "And I have mine, lets go..." She stalked off, angry at Nissa, angry at herself.

They headed into town. Rutte did not recognize the area, but within minutes he had made a few acquaintances, revealing that he had done this before. "We need to pick up a few supplies for a bit of travel," he said to a group of older ladies clearly enamored with him. "I bet you ladies know the best deals in town, savvy as you seem to be."

They laughed and gave him directions, and Rutte gave out promises to visit them later. A few of the women nodded at Hakim, not knowing him but recognizing his garments and tattoos.

The priest in return nodded to them as they continued onward toward the market, Hakim sneaking in a bottle of select alcohol sold in a wineskin, sneaking the money to the merchant as well. Koi however went straight to the livestock section, buying a few chickens.

Rutte started haggling with the vendor over the prices of their vegetables. It was a friendly gesture, more to get to know the person than lower the price, and it worked. "I hope your daughter gets better," Rutte said, picking up his purchases with his good hand. "Try that cold compress; I'm sure it'll work."

He headed on over to Koi. Rutte stood a respectable distance from her, a little shielded and cautious. His heart still spoke up a little when he was near her. "Are you done?" he asked her, looking around like he was doing something wrong. "Because I was thinking we could rest in the park for an hour or so while we wait for Nissa. The merchant over there assures me it's peaceful..."

She held two dead chickens in her hand and nodded to him, "The park sounds nice. Hakim?" He appeared next to her and bowed respectively, "Yes my lady..." Hakim lead the way to the park, as happy as the dragon to be among nature.

They emerged a few hours later, more at peace for the walk. Rutte had once again relaxed around Koi, even though he still kept his distance. "Think Nissa would be ready for our return?" Rutte asked, eying the darkening skies and heading back in the direction of the abandoned field.

However, when they got there, Nissa was still asleep. They were greeted by silence. "I guess... we'll have to wait," Rutte said, plopping down next to his undisturbed bag to put the purchases away.

Hakim instantly began to gather wood for a fire, still hiding his wineskin and when he was finished he turned to stare at the dead branches. Slowly a glowing red spot appeared and caught flame, growing into a pleasant fire just as the last of the sunlight disappeared. The sun maiden priest sighed in relief and smiled, revealing perfect white teeth among his dark skin as he made himself comfortable in the fire's warmth.

Rutte finished packing his things up and drew a few blankets out for himself and Koi. "Hakim, would you like a blanket?" he asked pleasantly. "It doesn't seem likely the night would get very cold, but still..."

"No thank you..." The priest said softly in his exotic accent, "I will be warm enough... Mistress Koi should have one, to keep herself warm. I have the light on my side."

Koi had already begun shivering.

Rutte goes over and drapes a blanket over her shoulders. "I have more, if this isn't warm enough," he says worriedly, adjusting it around her.

"Thank you," She smiled up at him as her shivers subsided and Koi turned to stare into the fire much like Hakim.

Rutte smiles back at her and sits nearby. "Hakim, what do you know about exorcism?" Rutte asked the priest, seriously. He needed to get a good idea of what the other guy knew if he was going to help. The best case scenario would be that Hakim knew more than Rutte did; however, if not, then Rutte'd have to hope that Hakim could take orders.

"Well my new friend," Hakim began, "Typically we trap the demon and make three slices on the chest to help with the extraction of the spirit... fire is often used to rid of the physical body and the Maiden's light to purify the demon's final form... Though these demons aren't walking around in disguises..."

"Are you speaking of exorcism from a mortal body?" Rutte asked. "Making the first incisions sounds rather difficult otherwise. I usually just trap the demons and exorcise them from outside the containment circle. If they're inside of people..." Rutte trailed off.

"Our people were first being preyed off of for the demons disguises..." His voice grew soft, "We managed to save a few of them using the tricut technique... now the two demons have just been ignoring the use of disguises and walking about..."

"They've already gotten to the final form, huh?" Rutte said, lacing his fingers together and thinking hard. "They've already escaped an exorcism, then... It's going to be twice as hard." Rutte closed his eyes, willing himself to heal faster.

Hakim sighed heavily and took a long drink from the wineskin he had then tossed it to Rutte, "This will heal you faster."

Rutte, expecting some sort of potion or herbal drink, drank heavily. Once the taste settled, however, he nearly choked on the alcohol. He handed it back to Hakim, throat burning. "A little warning next time," he gasped. "I haven't had anything that strong in... Very long."

The foreign priest took another swig and tried to hand it to Koi, who knowingly and politely refused. "Want more Rutte?"

"Give me a few minutes," Rutte replied, smiling a little. He could feel the warmth spreading in his stomach, a little more so since he had not eaten recently. In fact, he was worried. It had seemed very strong, and he had not had anything to drink in a very long time... Rutte knew his tolerance was probably pretty low, and that much might affect him strangely. Or just make him more tired. "Maybe a little more," he said, reaching out for it. Already, his aches were feeling better.

Koi looked over at him and smiled softly as did Hakim, but, for a different reason. His teeth were glaring white against the flame of the fire and it was obvious that the alcohol had affected him worse then Rutte. He had been drinking with a lot more enthusiasm than the other priest was.

Rutte took another swig from the skin, the taste not as strong this time around. He once again relinquished it and coughed a little into his wounded hand, causing it to flex harder than he should have closed his hand. He winced as some of the wounds were pulled open. "Excuse me," he said, turned partially around to root through his bag and grab a few bandaging supplies to rebandage his arm, something he should have done earlier anyway. His coordination was already suffering, however, and he fumbled trying to unbandage his forearm.

Koi rolled her ebony eyes as she saw his attempts and stepped over to him to help. Running her slim hands along his chest, she slid off his bandage and started making a new one, blushing in the dark light at how close they were.

Rutte jerked away like he had been burned. The previous instance ran through his alcohol-confused brain and his heart started racing again as he tried to make eye-contact with Koi but failed.

In response she barely managed to not flinch, "Rutte... stay still... your wounds will just split open further..."

Rutte grit his teeth and glanced down at his arm, the bite marks standing out even in the dark. There was already some fresh blood. "I can..." he started to say, but trailed off, knowing he was lying. He couldn't do it himself. But he didn't want her to do it, not when it meant she was touching him... Or did he? The alcohol was doing its job. All he did in response to his raging thoughts was hold out his arm for Koi to finish bandaging.

She knelt next to him to finish the bandage and gently wrapped it around his arm after wiping the blood away and washing the wounds clean again. "You need to rest Rutte..." Koi said softly, silently cursing alcohol in general.

Rutte rolled a shoulder in a noncommittal response, getting up and walking over to Hakim instead of replying. "So, you know any songs?" he asked, smiling and sitting down. "They're a good way to pass the time..."

Hakim nodded and flashed his teeth again, another drink of the wineskin further energized his mood.

---

Some hour later Hakim had his arm wrapped around the other priest, singing and laughing and obviously very drunk.

The water dragon had watched this with humor but otherwise had been just fine with being ignored.

Rutte was trying to keep up with the song but was failing, only hitting every other word with uncertainty. He finally just broke into laughter and got up to put away his blanket, stumbling and ungracefully sitting next to Koi. "Koi, do you want my blanket or should I put it away?" Rutte said, his voice a little higher than necessary. "I'm very warm right now and do not need it."

Koi glanced at Hakim, who, at the present was snoring loudly with his head plastered to the ground, his well portioned tush high in the air like a toddlers. "No..." She said after a few moments, "The fire is warm enough, though, thank you." Smiling, Koi rearranged the blanket around herself.

"As long as you're sure," Rutte said. He grabbed her hand. "But your hands are cold," he protested. "Is your circulation okay?" He started rubbing her hand, trying to warm it up.

One graceful eyebrow rose at his touch but to her credit she didn't flinch away, "Rutte..." Koi said as controlled as she could, "What are you doing?"

Rutte furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "Your hand is..." he started to say, as if it was obvious, then trailed off. He dropped her hand and looked away, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen, I'm sorry about earlier," he muttered, his voice dropping a few decibels.

Koi kept her gaze on him and sighed, barely audibly. "Rutte, it was my fault, even though I had not extended my powers... I was the female form to my advantage, so it is I who should be apologizing." She sniffed and looked up at the sky, the stars shinning down yet there was no moon, the firelight moving across her beautiful face like candle light.

Rutte glanced over and quickly looked away. "No, it's just..." He sighed. "I... I wasn't always a priest, you know."

That brought both eyebrows up. "Oh?" Came her surprised reply, expecting him to continue.

"No," Rutte said, looking embarrassed. "I became one when I was about 17. It was a hard time in my life, but when I did... Everything became so clear. It was like I knew everything, or at least could figure it out. But... You. You're making everything confused, Koi."

Moving her head over, Koi covered her expression with a wall of naturally highlighted hair and closed her black eyes, "I think... I will leave our group after we deal with the demons in Hakim's country." She looked over at him through the curtain of hair and suppressed a slight shiver. The change in mood brought upon a change in temperature on her part.

Rutte continued like he hadn't heard her--in his present condition, he might not have. "I can't think like I used to. When I pray, your face appears in my head. When I try to focus on the Word, I just think of your smile. Nothing is obvious anymore. Am I a priest like Gwy or like me?" He paused, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know. I need to be certain again, Koi. And that's why I..."

"You..." Continued Koi, sweeping back some hair behind her ear, though some strayed over her face again which currently revealed curiosity.

"That's why I think I need to kiss you," Rutte finished, determined. Before Koi could respond or protest, he rested a hand on her cheek, tilted his head and leaned in, his lips connecting with hers, softly caressing.

Oh... dear. Were the only thoughts Koi could produce before she lost all thought power and simply let herself respond in the most natural way. He was a very, very good kisser and Koi deepened it slightly, inching closer to him and placing a slender hand on his neck.

Rutte's other hand ran down Koi's to the small of her back, resting there as he felt what was left of his rationality get lost in the contact. Rutte opened up the kiss into something more urgent, pressing her closer, wanting to hold her forever. His hand on her cheek slid into her hair and then slid onto the nape of her neck.

Koi shuddered, her eyes opening to stare at him before breaking away from his lips, "Rutte..." She said softly, her hand entangled in his hair as well, "...Rutte." The dragon repeated softly. Never had a man willingly kissed her, sober or not.

"Koi," Rutte whispered, pulling away himself but not going very far. "I don't know what..." Rutte started to trail off, his eyelids suddenly heavy. "This..." He blinked a few times before closing his eyes and slowly deciding that the ground was really, really comfortable.

Letting him slide to the ground, Koi sat, her eyes fixed on where Rutte's eyes had been. Closing her eyes she let her chin set down upon her chest and sighed heavily, "That was a mistake Rutte." She said to herself, knowing he was asleep and so was everyone else.

Only ten minutes later, Nissa emerged from the earth in her dragon form, yawning loudly. She shrank down to human-sized to avoid hitting anybody with her tail. "Oh boy," she muttered, looking at the two unconscious men. "They will be so hungover in the morning." She yawned again. "Besides that, everything ready?" Nissa asked, stretching a little and preparing for another 24-hour trip.

"Yes Nissa, everything is ready." Koi stood up and began to douse the fire, "They will probably not remember anything in the morning either..." She said, though, this was more a mental note then said to Nissa.

Instead of responding, Nissa dismissed it as a useless piece of information. A bit of sand gurgled up from the ground around the fire, further covering it, and once again the group descended into the ground. Rutte and Koi ended up in the same room again, their stuff placed near their beds, Rutte already on top of his bed, fast asleep.

Sighing again, Koi sat upon her bed and watched Rutte sleep, not wanting to approach him in fear of what happened before. One of her hands touched her lips absently before sleep finally claimed her.

---

Rutte groaned himself awake. Normally his vision was perfect, but right now, it was blurry. And painful.

Why do I feel like I was in the midst of a stampede? he thought, too much in pain to speak aloud. And then the image of Hakim handing him a wineskin popped up. Well, Rutte added to himself, trying to roll over. That was stupid.

Opening one eye, Koi saw him and snuggled further into her blankets but didn't say anything. What would be the point? She needed more time to be able to not say what had happened, to not say how she felt. But she knew how he felt. Guilt lay heavy upon her heart.

Rutte sat up, despite his head throbbing. He remembered singing... sort of. He just kept felt like he was forgetting something, like there had been this major realization and he just... couldn't remember it. Rutte rolled a shoulder, unease in his posture, as he groggily leaned down over the side of his bed to rifle through his bag in search of something for a headache.

A hand appeared next to the bag, holding a glass vial filled with small, compressed pills made out of some dried leaf. Soon, Nissa's upper torso rose through the wall, as she had sensed his movement. "Rise and shine," she said wryly.

"Not so loud," groaned Rutte, grimacing.

"Here, swallow two of these with water," Nissa said, uncapping the bottle and pressing two of the pills into his hand, then finding his water container for him and putting that into his other hand. "That should help. You also need to eat."

"Nissa how far are we?" Koi asked softly, still laying down as she ran a hand through her long hair.

"A few more days," Nissa said, rooting through the bags and looking at the food they had bought in market. "Koi, could you help me cook this stuff? I don't usually eat it, and the other man is likewise lacking the ability to do it for me. They both need something in their stomachs, though."

"Sure." Koi stepped off the bed and tip toed over, though she could only help her as a human, for water did not work well while trying to birth a flame.

Nissa looked off for a second, distant, and from the floor rose some bone-dry wood and flint, collected in a second. She reached into the bag and brought out one of the chickens that Koi had bought. "We'd better cook this before it spoils," she mutters, setting down to try and start the fire, also collecting some dry grass to help start it. Nissa began trying to figure out how to cook the thing. "Start plucking the feathers, would you? I don't think those are edible."

Koi chuckled, "No, they aren't." She set about her task without complaint. The feathers in one neat pile, Koi proceeded to remove all the feather dust with a little water and held it out to Nissa to spear on some rock to cook over the fire.

After starting the fire, Nissa took the chicken, holding it near the ground, where a thin band of metal shot up through the meat. She turned to roast it, piles of earth building to hold the spear and even turn it slowly. Nissa leaned back, frowning at the meat apprehensively.

"Burn off the bristles," Rutte muttered from his bed. He pointed at the chicken. "There are bristles left from the feathers, and you have to burn them off."

Nissa shrugged and the bar lowered a few feet until the chicken was directly in the fire, quickly spinning it and squinting at the surface. "Looks good," she announced, raising it back up. "Eh, the boy can cook," she mentioned to Koi with a grin. "One point for him."

The dragon smiled lightly in reply, sprinkling on some herbs mixed with water over the cooking chicken, using the steam to lock in the flavor. Koi knew a few things about cooking too, but Rutte was a traveling priest, and had to know these things to survive out by himself.

Nissa sat back and let Koi do her thing, knowing next-to-nothing about cooking herself. "I'm going to go check on Hakim, maybe bring him here," Nissa said, sinking into the earth. "Shout if you need anything."

Rutte waited until she was gone and then rolled over to face Koi. "I'm sorry about last night," Rutte said, squinting against the bright light of the fire, which hurt his eyes. "I should not have drunk that much... So if I acted strangely, I apologize." He was dying to know what, if anything, had happened... But at the same time, he was hesitant.

Koi chuckled, "Not strange, just, well you knew exactly what you wanted last night..." The water dragon shrugged and looked up at him, determined to keep her small smile unwavering, "Don't... Don't worry about it, Rutte."

What I... wanted? Rutte thought, brow furrowing. He searched her face, trying to get some clue. Something sparked in his brain and his eyes widened as he got a slight idea of what might have gone down. "What do you--"

"Do you know how hard it is to carry this guy by hand?" Nissa demanded, the wall between the two rooms disintegrating. "Like a limp cat. I've got the strength, it's just hard to get a handle on him." Now that the wall was down, she was able to pick up the earth and move Hakim closer to the fire. "How's the chicken coming along?" Nissa asked Koi.

"Fine, its almost done. Will you want some?" Koi had to admit, it was smelling good. Turning to glance worriedly at Hakim, "Did you force feed him those same pills?"

"Yeah," Nissa said, nudging him with her foot. "They're your basic painkillers. I'd swear on them for hangovers. We can get him to eat later... I don't think they cause humans to fall asleep." She squinted at Rutte. "You okay?"

"Er, I think so," Rutte replied. "I mean... I don't feel sleepy yet." He looked at the chicken, his stomach rumbling a little. "Just hungry."

"Well lets get this off the flame and cooling shall we?" Koi hinted softly, not wanting to soak the chicken in water to cool down enough for the humans to eat. Hakim groaned from the floor yet did not stir.

Nissa nodded, and the pole moved out from over the fire. She glanced at Hakim. "Methinks he drank more than you," she commented, raising an eyebrow.

"Poor guy," Rutte said, nodding at Nissa. He was uncomfortable, though, and kept glancing over at Koi. Did I do anything inappropriate? he kept asking. What if I... But that couldn't...

She chuckled to herself as she could guess what he was thinking right now but at the same time, she was feeling more sympathetic for Rutte than Hakim at the moment. Koi smiled sweetly at Rutte before looking over the chicken to make sure it hadn't burned.

"Alright, time to eat," Nissa stated, finding bread in Rutte's bag and pulling out a wicked-looking, long knife. She began to cut the bread into slices. "Are you going to have any?" she asked Koi, ready to cut the meat onto the bread.

"Yes please," Koi said, holding out her hands in a humble manner, almost prayer-like since she was kneeling on the ground of the stone room. "How are you holding up Nissa?" The dragon asked her kin, worried for her behalf.

Nissa rolled a shoulder. "This is an... interesting way to travel," she admitted, handing Koi her portion and Rutte another portion. She herself just had a slice of bread; her system could not handle much meat. "A little more difficult, but I don't need too much rest." She set aside her portion to try and wake up Hakim, to feed him.

Rutte looked at his, totally unwilling to eat until Nissa shot him a glare. He started chewing, smiling a little. "It's... good," he said, not sounding surprised, just a little nauseous.

"Hangovers are never good for appetites, but you'll feel better for this, I promise," Nissa said.

Hakim groaned again but sat up, leaning against Nissa's leg to nimble on the food. He was used to such hangovers and would make himself eat, even with his eyes closed and his head hanging. Koi however had a favorable appetite and finished off her sandwich within minutes.

Nissa adjusted him, so she was behind him, holding him between her legs and supporting him into a sitting position. She gave a wicked grin, allowing him to rest his head back on her chest as he ate. She started in on her bread, as hungry as Koi, although she was also drawing on nutrients from the soil as well.

Rutte rolled over away from the PDA and chewed another bite, forcing it down. He grimaced: this was not pleasant.

Looking thoughtful for a moment, Koi rummaged around her her pack and withdrew two wooden bowls. She filled one with crystal clear water and stood, holding it out to Rutte, "Here... Drink. This water is the purest possible, you will find it quite enjoyable."

Rutte licked his lips and grabbed the bowl; he was quite dehydrated after last night. "Thank you," he managed to say before taking a huge gulp.

"Slow down," Nissa growled after the first gulp. Rutte froze and followed her instructions. The water slid down his throat smoothly with each sip, and he couldn't help but smile at Koi thankfully.

She grinned back and sliced off another piece of chicken to eat. Careful, so to not burn her fingers on the hot meat.

Rutte looked over at Nissa and Hakim; Nissa was focusing attention on the man between her legs, and Hakim wasn't paying attention to much of anything. Them thus distracted, but not leaving, Rutte leaned over to Koi. "Psst," he hissed, trying to get her attention.

"Hmmm?" Koi answered, discreetly leaning closer to Rutte while keeping an unfocused gaze on the other dragon and priest.

Rutte mouthed, 'What happened?' He paused, then added, 'last night.'

"Oh well... let me just say... it's not that serious to be honest Rutte..." Koi blushed and looked at her hands, "You... admitted some things to me... And, you touched me..."

"Touched?" Rutte squeaked. Nissa looked up sharply, eyed the two of them, then Hakim distracted her and she looked down, laughing a little. Rutte leaned further out of the bed, his whispering getting way too frantic, "Oh by the Word Koi I am so sorry you can hit me if you want I promise to not be inappropriate again I can't believe I was like that it's not like me oh by the Word..."

Koi giggled, "Rutte... no no, not like that, you touched my hand," She smiled but said no more, her eyes pleasant as she remembered that last night and a blush rose to her cheeks. "Well, we also... um... we kissed. Well, you actually kissed me first." Koi looked away as her blush deepened.

Rutte's mouth fell open a little, then he shut it, looking off to the side. "R-really," he said, his voice low but no longer a whisper. "I... I see..." He paused for a while. "Er, how was--no, I mean... I..." Rutte looked up at the ceiling, his face turning bright red. "Er, what did I... say?"

"Just... things. I have decided to leave you all to look for my father after we deal with the demons in Hakim's land, I told you last night, but I... don't think you remember that." Koi frowned and closed her eyes.

Rutte bit his lip, again worried. "I obviously don't remember a lot of things from that night," he said, fiddling with his thumbs. "Are you sure? Going off on your own is dangerous. I know; I do it all the time."

"I don't have a very good influence on you, I know this for certain... after that. It isn't what you want." Koi shook her head, causing her hair to shimmer in the odd light of the room. "You said that I confuse you. I don't want that for you Rutte."

Rutte opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. As a priest, he would have liked nothing more than for things to go back to the way they were. At the same time, however, he knew that wasn't right. "It's not going to go back to the way it was," he muttered, half-talking to her, half to himself. "It's not going to get any less confusing just--"

"Alright, kiddo's, break it up," Nissa said, finally paying attention. "Have you eaten anything, Rutte? Cos I'm not going to stop glaring at you until it's totally gone." She begins to shoot daggers.

Rutte rolls his eyes, the closest thing to anger that's happened to him recently. He sits up, feeling a little better now, and starts in on his sandwich, pensive.

Koi however handed a bowl of water to Hakim, who drank greedily and continued to eat her sliver of chicken. When the priest was done he started to close his eyes and was peacefully asleep.

Rutte swallowed, over halfway done with the sandwich, when he started to feel really drowsy. He blinked a few times, then rested his head on his bed again, falling asleep.

"Huh," Nissa said, looking at the two men and frowning. "Guess they really do cause drowsiness." She gave a cocky smile. "Well, they'll sleep it off and be better in no time," she said. "Good thing, too; we're about a day and a half away at this point." She began moving Hakim back into the other room, letting him go and standing up to brush crumbs off of her.

Then Nissa looked at Koi. "You alright?" she asked.

"Yes, yes I am," The other dragon smiled sadly at Nissa, "I will be leaving to seek for my father when the demons are killed..." Koi's slender hand brushed across her forehead and under her breath, "I've said this three times now-" Then to Nissa, "Its the best thing for me I think."

Nissa looked as shocked as Rutte. "Er," she started. "Huh. Thought it was something different. Before you make up your mind, there's something..." Nissa hesitated. "Nah," she said. "I'll tell you later. You might change your mind anyway."

"Ah..." Koi looked confused, "Okay..." She climbed back onto her bed after putting out the fire, "Goodnight Nissa, see you when we get there..."

Nissa nodded, once. "Night." The wall rose up between the two again and the light dimmed in the room to facilitate sleep.

On the other side, Nissa looked at the sleeping Hakim and settled herself down for another long night. She wasn't stupid; she was pretty sure something had happened while she was asleep. There was enough tension to cut it with a knife. More than angry, Nissa was worried.

More than a few hours later, Rutte lay awake. He felt rested, and his headache has mostly subsided, but he just lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He had never liked to lie to himself, but there was something going on that he was keeping secret. Because... why?

Koi on the other hand was sleeping soundly, curled into a loose ball with one arm wrapped around her shoulders and the other hand beside her face, gently breathing. She murmured in her sleep and moved slightly, repositioning herself in the exact same position but had rolled over, facing Rutte.

Rutte put his hands behind his head, happening to glance over at Koi. He froze and held his breath, thinking for a moment that she had woken up. When she didn't move or open her eyes, he let his breath out. Then he breathed in. And he breathed out. And he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Finally, he leaned over. "Koi?" he whispered softly, trying to see if she was awake.

There was no response. However, after a few minutes she sighed in her sleep and moved her hand to brush her hair away from her face then replaced it to where it had been.

"Koi..." Rutte started, keeping his voice low. "I..." He swallowed. "You do confuse me," he whispered. "You turn everything upside down. The last time I felt this way about someone... Well, I became a priest." He laughed, softly. "It was different from this. I needed something to guide me, and I found it. And it led me away from her. But it led me to you."

Rutte went back to lying down, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't believe in coincidences," he whispered. "Never have. It wasn't a coincidence I found you, it wasn't a coincidence that I... you know." He became more subdued. "Nothing is a coincidence, but figuring out what I need to do is going to take me some time. I'd like you to be there when I'm able to say it."

Rutte paused again. Then he looked over at Koi once more. "But I can't stop you from leaving, that's not me," he whispered. "So if somewhere in your dreams you can hear this... please change your mind. Stay."

Suddenly more than shy, Rutte rolled away from Koi, his thoughts racing and blood rushing to his face. He closed his eyes and began to force himself to go to sleep.

Koi continued to breath slow and deep, slightly squirming against the sheets, perhaps fighting an unknown foe in her dreams...

_Koi...

Her figeting slowed then ceased.

My daughter... Please listen and watch. Our clan depends on this.

She nodded in her sleep and stretched out and lay still, barely breathing, "I am listening father-" Came her soft reply, mumbled and just audible. Cliu'rar Sarra wrapped her in the loving aura of a devoted father, cushioning her mind in his own and a tear fell from Koi's cheek.

I've missed you greatly father, so much has happened since we last spoke. What happened? Where are you?

Cliu'rar Sarra smiled ever so softly, a very human action, and his mental voice sighed.

Koi... the demons of this world have been herded and grouped together by their accursed mother, Lilitha. The mother of all demons cannot force her power in the world by herself and calls upon of her sons and daughters. They want to destroy this world as we know it. As a symbolic and smart move, she is trying to take out the dragon clans first. Koi gasped and her father cooed and comforted her.

She tried to take me first. I managed to protect myself within the great oceans, but I am trapped. I cannot leave. Only my mind is free. She has sent assassins after you, my beautiful daughter and I have someone that will protect you. Others who I have contacted will find you, others fate will. How have you fared?

Koi told him all that had happened, about Rutte, Nissa and now Hakim. Her father nodded, A priest that specializes in demons, fate has treated you well. Nissa... she will protect and guide you, and Hakim is a fortunate addition, for the sea in which I am trapped in is by his land. This... has tired me. When I have regained my strength we will talk again.

She stiffened and sobbed, Father... I love you, I will save you!

I know Koi, I love you, I trust you... till we talk again. Have hope. With that, his mental presence left her and she cried, curling into a ball again and racking with sobs.

Rutte was out of his bed in a flash, not having quite fallen asleep. "Koi? Koi!" he exclaimed, placing a strong hand on her shoulder. "Wake up!"

She scrunched her eyes up then opened them, "Rutte...?" The tears began to flow again as she cried hard, "My father... oh Rutte!" Koi literally grabbed him and wrapped her arms around him tight.

"What happened, Koi?" Rutte asked, noticing that his bruises were mostly gone, and this didn't hurt as much as it could. "What about your father? Did you have a bad dream?"

After she calmed down a bit and told him what happened, during the whole thing refusing to let go of him, however she lessoned the pressure a bit. "-so I have to save my father..." Koi murmured, sniffling into his chest.

Rutte hesitantly put his arms around her to comfort her. "Alright," he said. "Lilitha. I... I see." His enjoyment at her proximity had flown out the window at the mention of this name. "You're not thinking about going alone, right?"

"What's going on?" Nissa asked, a portion of the wall between the two rooms coming down, herself sliding into the room.

Hakim was seen, still sleeping with half his clothing missing but Koi wasn't looking at him. She had eyes for Rutte's chest and it only.

She proceeded to tell Nissa all that she had learned. Nissa would understand, Koi knew she would.

When Koi finished, Nissa rubbed her short hair, looking exasperated. "Erg. Alright. So this Lilitha is... who again?"

"The mother of all demons," Rutte said. "Older than any dragon, and too powerful to take on head-on."

"Which is exactly what the kid here is planning, huh," Nissa said, looking directly at Koi, as if to force her to make eye contact. She could understand why Rutte was still holding Koi--the kid had a bad dream. But Koi was probably over it by now, at least enough to let go. She sighed.

"Thats not what I'm planning! I'm going to save my father! I talked to him... you don't believe me do you...? It wasn't just a bad dream." Koi sighed and loosened her grip on the priest, enough for him to move away if he wanted.

Rutte didn't want to.

Nissa raised an eyebrow at both Koi's response and Rutte's action. "Sure, I believe you," Nissa said. "He's not the only dragon to communicate over large distances using his mind. What I don't believe is that you'd be able to." She held up a hand to stave off the outburst. "I am talking about Lilitha. Her son took your dad into a standstill and survived. You'd be dead before you could say 'Lilith, come out and face me.'"

Koi frowned and closed her eyes, leaning back against Rutte to hide the new tears from Nissa, "Will you help me then?" Came the soft reply, "Will you both help me?"

Nissa gritted her teeth but forced a smile. "I couldn't do it any other way," she said. "Besides, the bitch is threatening all dragons, remember? That kind of includes me." She massaged her temple. "However, I've already promised to go to Hakim's temple. This can wait a few more days." Nissa looked at the earth, her expression serious. "We're almost there."

Finally moving away from Rutte once he made no reaction, Koi held her knees to her chest on the bed, her face gaining a likeness to a calm mask, "How far exactly are we?" She didn't like waiting, but Nissa was right. But something between Nissa and her father felt wrong, she felt as if she was missing a link in the puzzle, "You know my father, don't you Nissa?"

"We've met," Nissa said vaguely, looking off with blank eyes. "And I would say we're less than a day away from the temple. I was going to bring us up near the outskirts to avoid the demons immediately."

"Sounds like a good idea," Koi replied, looking at Rutte for a moment before craning her head as Hakim walked in, yawning and showing off his seemingly bleached teeth. Nuzzling Nissa from behind, "A day... you said?"

"Less than," Nissa replied, lazily leaning her head back to curve more into Hakim. "I might need an hour or so there to rest up. We earth dragons are a more... sedentary lot." Turning so swiftly she almost knocked Hakim over, she headed back to the opposite room, barely waiting for Hakim to follow before sealing up the divider once more.

"I swear, if that girl does anything to mess up my plans, I'm going to have to bury her in a wine cellar and come back when she's aged properly," Nissa growled, baring sharpened canines. "Then again... Lilitha sounds like an interesting fight."

Hakim growled low at her, "The mother of all demons... that is a dangerous prey to go after. At any given moment the hunter could turn to prey..." He flopped down on a bed and ate a piece of bread, slowly chewing in thought.

Nissa purred, taking her usual seat on the floor so she could concentrate. "That's what makes it so fun..."

Rutte went and sat in his own bed. "You alright now?" he asked Koi, drawing one knee up under his chin.

She looked at him, her black eyes hooded, "Yes... I think so... it's been months since I have spoken to my father, my emotions managed to get out of control..." Koi sighed, "I'm sorry."

"You just learned your father is being held captive by a Demon Queen who is out to take over the world," Rutte said. "Why are you apologizing to me again?" He went over to her and ruffled her hair, trying to cheer her up a little. "Besides, now you know what's going on... You're not in the dark anymore. Knowledge is power, y'know..."

"Yes... I know." She brushed back a last tear as a light blush covered her cheeks. He was so close... yet, the guilt from things caused her to inch away. Not that far, but putting a small gap between them.

"What's the matter?" Rutte asked, feeling her inch away. He also took a step back, giving her space.

"Just..." Koi decided to attack the problem head on, "-what are we Rutte?" She looked up into his eyes, her expression pained but focused.

"I... I don't know," Rutte admits. "I mean, we've known each other less than a week, but this past week has been pretty crazy. And it looks like it's not going to ease up, so... I guess I'll be able to answer that when things calm down. Maybe we'll both be able to answer it."

Taking a risk Koi took his hand in hers, his darker and less smooth then hers and she lifted it, touching it to her cheek. She leaned forward, causing her cascade of hair to hide her face with his hand. Then she told him something that had been a passing thought from earlier, "When you were drunk, you kissed me. It was willingly... no man has ever done that before..."

Rutte once again felt himself go a little lightheaded, his heart racing as though he was running a marathon. "Well, how many other men have you gotten honestly close to?" he said. "Koi, we haven't known each other very long, and we've already been through a lot... But I have got to step back and think rationally. I wouldn't forgive myself if I hurt you."

"I have... gotten close to a few through my powers..." She dropped his hand like it was burning. "I haven't gotten someone to like me without a hand from them."

"Then that isn't honestly close to someone," Rutte said. "I just..." He sighed. "Listen, Koi. What is this really about? It feels like you're dancing around something."

She looked up at him, tears brimming, "I want our relationship, whatever it is, to stop being so awkward! Either we are just friends or... something else." Koi wanted to at the moment hide, but the only place she could go to get away from him would be to fill a bowl of water and turn into a carp.

Rutte sat beside her, his face thoughtful. "You're right," he said. "We can't talk to each other like this. And, well..." He turned to her. "Listen, you've been a great person to know. I like your company and I don't want to lose that, so..." He held out a hand to her, looking pleased with his decision. "Friends?"

Koi stared at it, her eyes unreadable before she gritted her teeth. "Fine. Friends." Flinging herself almost violently around, Koi threw the covers over herself and resigned herself to frustrated and angry sleep.

Rutte stood up quickly to avoid getting kicked, looking as though he had been slapped. He also had a confused look, like a puppy who had been scolded for no reason. She wanted me to pick, I did--the problem was the uncertainty, right?! Rutte thought to himself, retreating to his own bed. He was used to being the smart one, the one who had all the answers. He never felt so stupid and out of the loop as of right now. Rutte bit his lip and lay down on his bed, well-rested, taking out a book and thumbing through the pages absently.

Inwardly cursing, Koi lay there, fighting back the tears. She had hoped that he would choose what she had wanted, what she thought he had wanted as well. But she was wrong.

More than a few hours later, Nissa opened the divider. "Alright, we're practically under the city," she said. "We're going to the outskirts and to the surface to think of a plan." Without any more talking, and without waiting for responses, Nissa shot the group up to the surface, the sun exploding overhead in a bright flash of light.

Rutte covered his eyes with a hand, squinting at his surroundings.

The city was large, built to look like a large oval with an 'X' through it to lead to the center of the city, what once had been the temple Nissa had made. Hakim sighed softly, for the sight would have been breathtaking, had there not been half rotted bodies lying everywhere. Koi fell to her knees retching.

Rutte recoiled from the sight, almost immediately enraged. Nissa sneered at the waste, then went over to Koi to help her to her feet, so as to not disgrace her clan. "So what can you do with this?" she said.

Rutte tore his gaze from the bodies and studied the city, full of focus now. "Well, the city is perfect for a containment circle," Rutte said. "We don't really have enough time to set it up exactly right, but..." Rutte dug through his pack. "Nissa, if you could set pieces of this up at even intervals around the outside, it would serve as a connection between the points. Pieces of the whole." He held a ball of clay in his hand, and pinched off a piece before handing it to Nissa. She dropped it on the ground, where it sank. Small movement could be seen in the area immediately near them of small pieces of clay emerging around the circle.

"What sort of help can I rely on from you guys?" Rutte asked, taking his book and holy symbol, then trying to find the jars of holy water, preparing himself with tools.

Once Koi got a hold of herself, pale, but otherwise fine looked thoughtful for a moment at the water before mentioning softly, "I can duplicate that water... It might not be as strong spiritually, but I am sure it would help..."

"Duplicate it if we have any available containers," Rutte said, taking out his own water casket and swigging its contents. "I can bless it." He looked at Hakim. "You know the area better than any of us. Would you be able to help me navigate? Maybe cut off the demons, or force them into a corner? It's still a rather large city."

"I can make a corner for you to force them into," Nissa said, grimly.

Hakim closed his eyes, his sight increased by 360 degrees due to the Sun Maiden's aid, "They are in the north-east section of the city... They must have found some citizens that are trapped..."

Rutte handed the casket to Koi. "Then you'd better hurry," he said gently. He looked at the other two. "You ready? Once we get inside the circle, it's best to not leave it... it weakens when non-demonic things cross the threshold."

Nissa leaned her head, cracking her neck. "Ready when you are," she purred.

Koi held the container against her slim stomach and leaned her head back, her eyes shut and her hair began to move as if she were under water herself. A huge sphere of water, almost invisible in the sky began to appear above her.

The other priest however focused on incantations, drawing signs in the air and muttering to himself.

Rutte bowed his head and also muttered a few words, doing much the same as Hakim, drawing two fingers through the air in a simple symbol. The water above Koi glowed for a brief second and then stopped. Rutte opened his eyes and gave a grim nod. "Is... Hakim coming?" he asked, looking at the preoccupied priest.

"I have an idea..." Koi said softly, still concentrating on the water she held, its size still growing, "What if I make it rain... with this water? I could always keep a good amount with us and the should the demons have the common sense to find cover I could always create a river in the streets."

Rutte nods. "Everybody within the circle, now," he said, stepping in the city limits. "Koi, you keep growing that until you can flood the whole city... Well, make it rain everywhere at once. Don't give them chance to find cover. We need to save those people they're attacking right now, though." He took out a knife and pricked his thumb, waiting for the others to follow as he prepared to close the circle.

"Leave a hole in the clouds for me..." Muttered Hakim before stepping over the circle limit, Koi following with her eyes still closed.

Nissa followed just before Rutte placed his piece of clay to complete the circle, staining it with his blood and closing his eyes again. A little slower than in the church, a glow appeared like a glass dome covering the city, disappearing before Rutte opened his eyes again. "Let's hurry," he said. "Koi, you stay out of danger. Only act when you have the best chance of total drenching the city. Only. It's our best chance of total closure." He set off running towards where Hakim had said the demons were.

Koi suddenly turned dragonic and leaped into the sky, her bulk and large wings staining the light orange and black and with a soft splash dove into the water sphere. Slowly clouds began to form in the very air, dark with water and as asked, Hakim was given a good sized hole. With a few more muttered words from the priest caused the light it let down to focus on Hakim.

Nissa caught up to Rutte and stopped him. "You'll take way too long to get there," she scoffed. Boulders appeared beneath their feet and started moving, almost knocking Rutte off his feet. "We can't go underground because your barrier is there, but we'll make good time like this." Nissa closed her eyes, sending out her senses to find vibrations corresponding to a fight as the three sped along.

Rutte jumped off of his boulder, seeing movement in what looked like the front yard of what used to be a very expensive-looking house. He ran in through the gate into the courtyard and drew up short, whipping out his holy book, Nissa right behind him.

The light kept up with the boulders and Hakim ran to follow, a slim sword in one hand and the other held in a complicated symbol.

What they came upon had its back to them, its form very close to human, hunched over a body that was now just a mess of blood and bones. Out of its tail bone was a short, hairless tail, much like a rats and huge claws adorned its toes, long and cleaver-like. Atop its shoulder sat a smaller version, without the tail and much smaller claws. It cackled, not noticing them yet.

Rutte took a water casket in one hand with a bit of holy water inside, biting off the top and spitting it out to one side. His book fell open in his hand and he advanced on the demons at a fast trot. "Commodo O Dios," he began, taking the water and splashing it out towards the two demons, mimicking the hand motions he had made when blessing the water.

Shrieking as the water touched its body, the huge one whirled around, facing them. Though, the curious thing was, it had no face, just a mouth full of razor sharp, and now bloody teeth. The creature on its shoulder growled at them as some of the water splashed him. With one bark, the huge beast ran at them, it's heavy steps causing an earthquake with each step.

Rutte stood his ground unsteadily, holding out the flask of holy water and letting his symbol dangle in front of him, which slowly began glowing light blue. Nissa narrowed her eyes at the advance and flicked a hand at them, a stone emerging from the ground at a rapid pace at the bottom of the large demon's jaw.

The blow cause the demon to stumble, but not fall and the smaller demon's bright yellow eyes narrowed before barking another command. The huge demon responded by bee-lining in towards Rutte first.

It was Hakim's turn to react and he pointed a finger at the demon, moving with it as a tiny beam of light focused right in the center of its head. The spot smoked and obviously irritated it, but did not further damage. Hakim cursed in his own language and was prepared to grab Rutte out of harms way.

He needn't bother; Rutte expertly rolled from the advancing demon's path, striking out with more holy water, standing up and waving his symbol in the air and shouting his words. "Fio lux lucis ut profugus es obscurum. Quod es eram perfectus..." The same sort of blue light that was emanating from his symbol magnified and seemed to encompass himself. Rutte fixed his gaze with the smaller demon. "...Pro obscurum eram pallens, quod lux lucis victum totus. Pro infinitio amen."

As the large demon thundered past them on all four feet, the smaller one with eyes watched Rutte, its eyes narrowing as it mentally fought the powerful words and turned his counterpart around and pointed its hands to him, growling its own words, a magical trap.

Rutte never took his eyes of the demons, seeing it begin. "Diox ver furta de obscurum, quod iacio lemma en umbra," Rutte insisted. "Quod furta de obscurum cado silens sobre suum labiae."

Instead of fighting Rutte, the demon had its giant swing around at Hakim, who managed to dodge once, then not again, having received a good smack from its claws. The native hit a wall and slumped forward but looked up, still alive and uncut.

"NNggh!" Rutte said out of surprise, a word that was very obviously not supposed to be spiritual. He ran over to Hakim.

Nissa came between the priests and the demons, her body morphing into that of her dragon form. A low growl formed in her throat, still loud enough to rattle pebbles, as she crouched in a well-practiced battle stance. Rocky spikes began shooting out of the ground, coming from her towards the demons.

With a word from it's master, the big demon sheared right in front of itself, protecting itself from most of the sharp rocks and continued running till it ran and slammed into Nissa fearlessly.

Nissa's body flipped over itself in an effort to land right-side-up, displaying surprising agility. When she landed, she sported a new gash up her side that would probably form another scar, but a toothy-smile adorned her mouth as she launched herself at the demon, all claws and teeth, the ground underneath it shaking wildly.

They were very close in size, the smaller of the demons seemingly able to stay out of harms way as the two larger beings faced off, connecting again to wrestle and try to get the advantage of each other.

Hakim finally recovered and limped to Rutte's side, watching this battle with a grim expression on his face.

As Nissa darted in with claws and teeth to bite and tear, the ground was unsteady under her opponent's feet, and various obstacles were popping up. Her eyes were almost glazed in happiness; this was the best battle she'd undergone in a while.

Rutte didn't stand idly by. He closed his eyes and focused all his will into his symbol and the demons, praying fervently under his breath in the strange language he was speaking earlier.

It seemed its flesh was hard and did not tear easily, only on the most successful attacks left any imprint on the demon. Even with the obstacles it seemed the demon was slowly getting the upper hand.

"Por nomen de Diox nos precor!" Rutte shouts, his will shooting towards the demon.

The smaller demon however took the blow, mostly blocking it with its own attack while the larger demon took a good swipe at Nissa with its huge claws.

Nissa yanks herself away to avoid the attack, and in the process, gets too far away from the priests, having failed to notice how close the fight was getting to the two.

With Nissa out of the way the demon saw the priests, unprotected and vulnerable and closed the space between them, on them in an instant.

A feminine roar sounded from above and the force of a waterfall dropped on the demons, breaking like ice hit by a hammer. The left over water miraculously missed everyone but the target, the two demons steaming as they turned their attention to Koi, who roared again. Receiving more orders, the demons advanced again and Koi lifted her wings and spread them, trembling in anger and she let out a threatening hiss of anger. Water gathered before her, shooting out like a pressurized geyser to hit the demons before her. Again and again, she fired the holy water, further burning them, further weakening them till the protective skin was gone and the glint of muscle and bone shone in the dim light. Koi was near spent, just a few more gallons of the water left. However, she had given Rutte the opportunity he needed, for she had stripped down most of their defenses.

Rutte shouts something unintelligible at the demons, another burst of energy surging forth, flowing through Rutte and sweeping the demons off of their feet into a wall Nissa raised, where they continued to be bombarded with the energy like a wave until it finally subsided. In its place was mere shells, blowing into the breeze as it disintegrated into dust.

Rutte falls backwards, his legs suddenly weak. "Well, that was easy," he commented.

The clouds above them instantly dissapated, Koi sagging to the ground, still in her natural form. Her black eyes glanced over at everyone, making sure that they weren't hurt.

Nissa looked at the gash on her side, her long tongue snaking out to clean it. She morphed into her human form and winced. "Ooh, I forgot how much more it stings in this state," she hissed, pressing her hands on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Bleeds more, too. But heals faster."

Hakim fingered a large bump on the back of his head and pulled out some linen clothes and handed them to Nissa meekly.

"Thanks, love," Nissa said, her top morphing up higher and bandaging her own wound expertly, like she's done it many times before. "You alright? You took quite a tumble."

He nuzzled her gently before stepping away, "I'll be alright," Hakim told her in his heavy accent, though he looked around himself, at his home and sighed.

Rutte also looked around, his eyes clouding over in anger. "How many people do you think..." he started, then trailed off.

"Too many to count." Hakim replied, "We should look for survivors..."

"Yes," Rutte agrees, stumbling to his feet. He looked around. "This could take a while."

"I'll help," Nissa said. She closed her eyes, the path beneath them rumbling just a little as she sent out her senses into the ground.

Changing back, Koi caught her breath and looked around, almost repeating Hakim's action of sighing as they waited for Nissa's report.

Nissa's eyes snapped open. "Shit," she swore. "There are things coming towards us. They're far too light and fast to be humans and they--"

Suddenly, smaller versions of the two demons were popping up around the group, as if seeping from the ground and shadows. They were crowding Koi in towards the others. Too many were on the rooftops and trees around them in order for Koi to make an escape. Nissa growled and Rutte backed away, his eyes hard with fear and determination.

Hakim lashed out with a sword at one then back away. They were all facing outwards with their backs together as the demons hissed and growled at the group, but did not attack; yet.

Rutte glanced over his shoulder, his eyes settling on Koi for a few seconds more than the others, a strange look on his face. He turned back to face the demons. "Nissa, get Hakim and Koi out of here," he said. "If you go into the earth, you'll cross the barrier, but it'll just loosen it. I'll still have enough to contain the demons."

Realizing, "Rutte you can't hope to kill them all! Why can't you come with us!" Koi argued, her voice a little higher in pitch then before.

"If I cross the barrier, it'll disappear, and they'll be able to follow you guys," Rutte said. "If I die, same thing, but I'm pretty sure that will take a while." He looked back at Koi, a smile on his face as, in his calmness, he began to glow. "I'm not planning on dying, anyway."

"Right then," Nissa said. "We'll be seeing you later." She grabbed Hakim and Koi and bodily shoved them into the earth, which took hold like a vice and dragged them down. She looked back at Rutte, her own eyes cold as well. "You'd better come out of this."

The rock took them down much like water but Koi managed to scream, "RUTTE-" Before she was taken under.

In a few seconds time the three were outside the city, coming up to the surface right outside of the barrier. Nissa was gasping-she hadn't slept much since the last time, and it was far over her usual limit of staying awake. However, she didn't move. "Look," she said, her voice low. "You can see the fight."

The light from Rutte was bright enough for the group to see reflecting off the invisible barrier of the city, in short bursts.

Instantly the priest had sheathed his blade and wrapped a supporting arm around Nissa as he watched, silent.

"Rutte..." Koi whispered, repeating, barely audible as she clutched at her hair and tears ran down her face, "Can we not help him?!" She whirled around to face the pair, desperation in her eyes.

"We are helping him," Nissa said. "We would only be a concern for him, a distraction." Her eyes followed the movement. It looked like Rutte was running now, although his attacks did not waver. "If he dies, we will be left to pick off the leftovers," she said. "We cannot let it be taken further than--"

A larger glow emanated from the center of the city and continued to grow outwards like a bright mist, hitting the barrier with a slight disruption and seeping out. Nissa had to shield her eyes from the glow, startled into silence, but wherever the mist brushed against her skin, she felt a deep sense of calm. "What the hell," she muttered, still unable to look as the city became a bubble of light.

Koi gasped and covered her eyes with her hands, the tears gone but her face slack and still in shock, her hands running nervously across her thighs.

The blue light flickered like a light bulb, on and off before fading out.

Nissa looked from the city to Koi, quickly thinking. A lot of dust had been kicked up from that explosion of light, like a wild wind had been blowing around, and it was too hard to see any signs of life. "If he's died, Koi, you need to fly away from here," Nissa said, looking as though she was ready to go into battle stance. "Try to warn nearby cities, but mainly, get out. I will stay and attempt to pick off whatever Rutte didn't get, but if it's too much, I'll ditch. Hakim, you can go with Koi and--"

Movement occurred from the dust. A figure began limping from the dust. Rutte slowly became visible, a gash in his shoulder but not many other external, serious injuries.

"Oh Rutte..." Koi breathed, running forward to help him, support him, washing his wound with pure water. She was fussing over him so badly that finally she just stood back, and slapped him. "How could you DO that to me???" Then she grabbed him and fully kissed him passionately on the mouth.

Rutte was still reeling a little from the battle and the slap to initially resist the kiss. This gave his mind just enough time to totally shut down. He leaned into the kiss, his mouth parting and his hands resting on Koi's neck and lower back, pushing her closer to him.

Nissa watched the two incredulously for a moment, then looked back to the city. There was nothing she could do about the two at this point. She closed her eyes, once again looking for movement. "No demons left," Nissa announced. "At least, none that I could sense. The blast must have taken them out. About thirty humans still alive, some just barely."

She didn't care if he was bloody and filthy, it was Rutte, and Koi wouldn't have it any other way. Finally breaking free, but not from his arms, "Can we save them?"

"Probably," Nissa said. "I can transport them to the nearest city pretty quickly after we bandage up any wounds or anything." She looked at the others, particularly at Rutte. "But we'd need to get going now."

Rutte looked over at Nissa, embarrassed, but unwilling to let Koi go. For the moment, his arms wouldn't obey him. He just kept remembering the fear that had started in his stomach from the time the smaller demons arrived. He had been completely and utterly terrified of losing her, and it was a feeling that had yet to go away.

Rutte blinked once, hard, and released Koi. "Yes," he said. "Take us to them. We have to hurry." He looked around and grabbed his bag, the ground beneath him rising up soon after, like that below Koi and Hakim, speeding through the city.

While they moved Koi swung her small pack around, pulling out some bandages and salves, preparing for the worst.

The first stop had three people in it, a mother and two children. They had a few cuts on their bodies, but overall, they looked more starved than anything. Rutte took from his back what was left of his water and some of his food, which they consumed eagerly. "You're going to have to make more water," Rutte said, looking at Koi. "I think they have been hiding a while, and that's probably the state of most of the people here."

They bandaged them up as best they could, and Nissa closed her eyes and sent them off to the city. "They should be there in a few minutes," Nissa murmured, her eyes still closed. "The others are nearby."

A lot of the people they found from then on were in similar conditions: they had found someplace the demons overlooked and had been hiding there, slowly picked off, and cut off from food and water. Everybody else, the group learned, had evacuated the city.

Making more water, Koi produced several water skins and filled them, handing them to survivors whenever possible, sticking close to Rutte at all times. She was worried about that cut on his shoulder, but he proved to be fine enough as they continued to help more people.

Rutte did look exhausted, but he didn't slow down until Nissa announced that she couldn't feel any more people. Then he collapsed heavily onto a chair, his legs numb, closing his eyes and breathing hard.

Nissa also looked weary. "I need to get some sleep," she said. "We shall stay here until I am rested. I shall then attempt to do what I can for this city and my temple." Nissa said all this in her usual bossy tone.

"I will watch over you," Hakim responded, standing from his earlier position on the floor while Koi walked slowly to Rutte, standing behind him while she tugged some bandages around his shoulder wound. "Hold still." She said, tightening the bands.

"Nnngh," Rutte groaned, pain lancing across his shoulder and down his side. He gritted his teeth. "C-careful. Stings a little."

Nissa ran one hand down Hakim's cheek, glad he was alive, then walked outside where she could be more connected with the earth. Her body shifted into her natural form and she immediately settled down, sinking a little into the rock and looking more like a natural statue than anything.

Hakim duely took his post, occasionally circled her to make sure she wouldn't be attacked by anything.

"I know it stings..." Koi said softly, cleaning the wound again before tying the knot and surveying her handiwork before she sat in a chair across from him, "Um... about earlier..."

"Yeah?" Rutte asked, cracking open one eye and gazing at Koi.

"...Nevermind, get some sleep Rutte. Rest. Heal." The water dragon stood from the chair and started to walk past him.

Rutte reached out and grabbed Koi's wrist, pulling her down towards him so she was sitting in his lap, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight, ignoring the mind-numbing pain in his arm. "I was so scared you would die," Rutte said, his hands shaking as he buried his face in her hair. "It scared me so much I could barely breath."

"Rutte..." Koi whispered, her eyes closing. "I don't want you to be scared on my behalf, this... this was why I wanted to leave. You just want our friendship... I feel as if my presence is causing you to rethink your decision..." She swallowed hard, whispering quietly, so softly that Rutte probably couldn't hear her, "It's wrong for a dragon to love a human..."

"If I just wanted friendship, then why did I feel like I could die for you, Koi?" Rutte asked. "I just..." He breathed out, his breath tickling the back of her neck. "Koi, part of that fear made me realize how important you were to me. Past what I had been hoping was just friendship, because I didn't know if I was ready for a deeper relationship with... anybody. And to say otherwise to myself would be lying to me and to you and I can't do that, not now."

Let him take you, let him pull you in... whispered a voice in the back of her mind. Was that her guilt speaking? Or her love for Rutte? "You became a priest because of a relationship Rutte, don't you think there was a reason for that? I know that... not all priests are celibate, I mean... look at Hakim for an example... but do you really want this? I can leave, you can forget about me..." Koi's voice trembled. She needed to know if he wanted her, like she wanted him.

Rutte started. He wasn't aware he had told her of that, his reason for becoming a priest. His heart jumped into his throat and his grip on Koi loosened. "That relationship was... Well, I had reason to turn away from that into the Word." Rutte breathed out, hard, like he was pushing that memory away, getting his heart rate under control again. "Gwy's married with kids, you know... Priests of my religion aren't celibate, either. But it's too late to forget about you, Koi. And if I don't do this now I'll spend the rest of my life regretting the decision, wondering 'what if.' I'm not going to let you get away just like that."

"But I'll outlive you Rutte," Came her whispered reply. Dragons were not immortal, but they could survive for hundreds, even thousands of years. There was only one way they would be subject to the lifespan of a human, but Koi wasn't sure Rutte was ready to hear that.

"I'm not ready to think about the pain just yet," Rutte said. He let Koi get up from sitting on him and turned her around to face him, their faces really close. "But I understand if you need time to think about it." It does sound like she'd have some reservations, if that's the case, Rutte thought, releasing Koi's shoulders. "I need to get some sleep, anyway." Rutte looks around for a door, seeking a room with a bed he could sleep in.

She stood there, a chill rising goosebumps on her arms as he stepped away from her. "Wait." Koi finally said, her voice soft and low as she took his hand in hers, leading him up the stairs and into a room, changing her clothes as they walked. When she was done, she wore a short sleeveless shift made of her own scales, showing off her shapely legs and toned arms. The bed she knew was there because of a native saying that her room was upstairs and the bed was a little dusty, but roomy and soft.

Rutte gets a little hesitant from the clothes-change and her leading him to the room. However, he tries to push those thoughts away. Of course she was just showing him where a bed was. Right?

Stopping, Koi turned, pressing her body against his and her arms around his neck and shoulders. One of her legs wrapped around his own and her lips were inches from his. Placing him in the most intimate position while still having clothes on and standing was the best choice in her eyes. She did not want to scare him off.

Hesitating, Rutte paused. He hadn't been put into situations like this very often, and he had to take time to think. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, his lips softly connecting with Koi's, his arms coming around to envelope her waist, fingers trailing along her spine to the small of her back.

Her black eyes slid shut as a shiver racked her body and her scales shimmered as her emotions changed. Her body yearned for him, their combined heat radiating from them and Koi slid her lips free and looked at him, her eyes full of pent-up passion, "Are you tired?"

"Not terribly," Rutte said, his voice breathless. He was trying very hard to repeat phrases from his book through his mind to control his passion, just small sections he had memorized. It wasn't really working.

Koi smiled gently when she felt his response from her and sat down on the bed, her legs between his and her hands on the back of his knees. With a touch of her fingers on his nerves he was forced over her on the bed, his knees on the edge and his arms keeping him from laying on top of her. Koi blinked innocently, her black eyes wide and mischievous.

If Rutte had been thinking about it, he would have realized what a compromised position he was in. As it was, no thinking was being made possible by the same position. Rutte leaned down to kiss her, fervent on continuing what they had been doing before, his body brushing against hers as he supported himself with one arm and played the other across her stomach and the outside of her leg. He wanted even the most minimal distance between them to close, but at the same time was hesitant to move that quickly.

Even though the scales were obviously her own, they moved just like fabric, not connected to her skin at all as was obvious when one of her straps slid to the side of her shoulder. Her thigh rose to Rutte's hip to take its earlier position and her hands had slid down his back, one settled on the hem of his pants while the other stopped on his tail bone. His touch on Koi's leg produced a soft sigh from her and she wanted more of his skin to touch.

Rutte almost drew in a breath at even that simplest touch from her, the feel of her leg and hand on him. His mind rationalized that as chaste enough, and his hand trailed along her leg, pushing the shift a little ways up, his hand resting on her upper leg, moving every so slightly in a circle as he felt her silky skin. Ruttes lips left Koi's mouth to travel down her neck, tasting the skin just below her ear, the inside of her neck, along her collarbone, on her shoulder, then following its path in a lazy circle, starting to go back to her mouth.

Koi slipped her fingers into his hair, opening her neck to him further as he made a trail of kisses across her skin and in response her hand still on his back trailed up his spine, leaving smeared drops of water that evaporated almost immediately. She carefully avoided his wound, and the bandages, running light hands over the skin where a bandage was. It was Koi's turn to nimble his collarbone, dragging her lips across his chest as she turned and pushed him on his side so she had more leverage.

Rutte let out a breath as a chill developed along his spine and he fell onto his side, his hand involuntarily pushing Koi's shift up higher, his hand coming to rest on her upper hip. Rutte turned a bright red at the thought of what was probably exposed, focusing his attention on Koi's touch. His other hand came out from under his side and slid along Koi, going slowly towards her breasts, as if it had a will of its own.

Her kisses led her down his sternum then returned to his lips, ignoring the blush for she wore one similar. But Koi had been waiting for this to happen, and had more of an idea of what she wanted. Koi tasted the skin of his neck, her teeth nibbling and exploring as one hand supported herself while the other slid from his shoulder, down his chest, feeling the definition of his muscles.

Rutte groaned a little at the strain against the front of his pants at this point, trying to ignore it, feeling more than embarrassed at his very obvious reaction to Koi. His mind finally suffered a severe meltdown, aided by his exhaustion and his hand connecting with Koi's breast. He was unable to do much with her clothes in the way, but just that light brush of contact shut him down.

Carefully, Koi placed a thigh in between his legs, settling herself on top of him as she kissed him, her passion apparent through her lips and she deepened and opened the kiss, her tongue touching his meekly.

Opening up to the kiss like a fish back in water, Rutte leaned into it hungrily. He barely noticed when his hands began trying to undress Koi, feeling for buttons to undo in the back or the front; they were definitely acting as a separate entity at this point.

There was a complex system of scales in the back that separated into buttons and Koi smiled when she felt Rutte reach for them, letting him undo some and others just fell open without him touching them. Sitting up, Koi straddled Rutte's hips with her own, raising her arms to move her hair out of the way as she took a strap in each hand, pulling them down. The shift came off in one piece, the only clothing left was a plain pair of cotton undies. Koi tossed the scale shift to the side, her black eyes locked on Rutte's.

Rutte blinked, once, hard, trying to make his mind focus. Now this was almost entirely new. He felt like he couldn't move other than to trail his hands along her hips, his fingertips catching in her underwear for just a second, traveling upwards, physically admiring how... perfect Koi looked. It was almost unreal.

Koi leaned down, resting her slight weight against his bare chest and hiding what she had revealed and glanced worriedly at his wound which, had bled slightly through the bandage. Closing her eyes, Koi held him tight, just holding him and almost thinking this to be a dream. "Rutte..." She whispered softly, looking up, "I think I... love you."

Rutte wrapped his own arms around Koi, holding her just as tightly to him, the pain in his shoulder practically gone in favor of his other feelings. An amazed look came over him as he considered her statement. "I think... I love you too," he murmured, his own voice low.

Moving slightly, Koi now lay beside him, one hand daring to play with the hem of his pants, "Do you want to sleep...? I can leave you alone so you can..."

Rutte stifled a groan at a sudden rush of conflicting emotions. Without the constant physical contact, Rutte's mind wasn't in total lock-down mode, but Koi's light touch right below his belly-button wasn't keeping it that way very well. Additionally, the thought of falling asleep in his condition was too much to bear. But the first emotion, that of withholding, stopped him from opening his mouth past the first sound.

When a certain time frame went by without him answering, Koi decided to slip her fingers under the band, unbuttoning the top button.

It really had been far too long. Taking a steep dive into his feelings, Rutte rolled over to be on top of Koi, between her legs, kissing her fervently and undoing his own pants with a sudden burst of initiative. He stopped, his pants loosened, to hook his fingers into the only bit of clothing Koi had left, feeling the intense need to have her bare before him. He took his time sliding the small cotton piece from her hips, kissing along the inside of her legs as he slid them off. Rutte dropped them to the floor, clumsily taking off his own pants with his weak hand as he kissed the sensitive area just below her bellybutton and worked his way up to her lips once more, tasting her fully. "Are you alright?" he murmured against her lips, his hands moving to her hips.

Koi's face was bright with happiness, a few tears rolling down her cheeks as she kissed him just diligently, her mouth opening slightly as a gasp escaped her throat when his mouth had explored further. "I have never been better," She whispered sincerely, for her tears were of joy, not sorrow. His bare skin against her own aroused her, as was apparent by the dampness between her legs. Koi truly loved him; no dragon or human had ever sparked such a fire within her, and no one but him ever would from this point on. Her lust was obvious when her hands ran from his shoulders down to the back of his thighs, pressing his hips against hers.

"Good," Rutte whispered, feeling Koi on his skin, along him, inside of his head, pushing away the tiniest last bit of apprehension he might have had. "I'm glad." So much. He moved forward, biting her lip gently, losing himself in her...

a chance encounter part 3

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A chance encounter