To Catch a Thief

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"Lemme out you fucker!" Krissin shouted, tearing at the collar around her neck with a hateful look upon her face, "This is abuse of the code you claim to abide by, I am an innocent victim here! Lemme out!" With one final shake of the metal bars she slumped to the ground in an unhappy pout. Stupid collars. Made by borne to enslave other borne. What a cruel twist of fate.

"I said FUCKING LEMME OUT!" She knew he was out there, just down the hall. A few other cellmates yelled at her to shut up, but a glare from her caused them to quiet. They could see the barely contained lightning dancing in her eyes.

---

Eltus walked over to the guard on duty and the man snapped a salute. "Hasn't shut hell up since you dragged her sorry ass in here sir," the man said.

"I see," he said opening the door that lead down the hall to the cells. He walked down to the cell in which the unruly borne was being kept and stopped in front of it. "I see you still haven't curbed your tongue since I brought you in. Are you always this venomous or are you just angry that I caught you breaking into someone's house," he asked leaning in a little but still out of arms reach.

The borne grinned haughtily but didn't respond immediately, instead she sauntered over, cleverly showing off the slight cleavage of the lightning bolt designed shirt. Pouting when he ignored it, Krissin scoffed, "I am innocent. INNOCENT." She set her slight weight against the bars and successfully managed to make the collar sizzle. It would prevent attacks yes, but she proved she could still access her gift. "I shouldn't be kept in this shithole, this is for fuckers who fucked up, I am rightfully innocent!"

"That's what they all say when I drag them in here. Don't try using your power, draw too much and that collar's gonna make you regret it miss," he said feeling the hair on his arms stand up and hearing the sizzle from the collar. "Why don't you tell me why you were trying to break into that house. That'll clear everything up, all you have to do is tell me why," he said getting impatient with the short tempered woman.

"I've had a collar on before." Krissin snapped then realized her error. Her face lost her anger and a slight tremble of fear rippled through her small form. "The darks aren't so hospitable." The borne admitted, blinking and looking away for the first time since the man came within view.

"Darks eh, I've had my run in with them before. Not many mind you. Why would you be tangled up with darks," he asked looking down the hall toward the door and then behind Krissin at the other cell mates. Out of habit Eltus checked his sword to make sure it was clear to be drawn. "Not many people talk about darks out in the open. Mind you keep your voice down a bit," he said to her.

"Keep your voice down a bit-" She drawled in a whiny imitation of him, clearly she was scared and the only way she was keeping it in check was to be more bitchy. "They're coming... they're coming," Krissin whispered to herself, wringing her hands over and over. It was clear she had gone without sleep for at least a day, some people just don't react right without a good night's rest.

"Well if they are coming then you'd be safer in here," he said seeing her obvious distress. He turned to leave then stopped. "Look I can tell you're scared. If there is anything else you can give me that would help your case and get you out of here faster," he said waiting for her reply.

Her eyes went all huge like and their sage color glistened, "Let me out? Please? I will die if I remain here, they will kill me they will kill me..." Krissin murmured, turning away from him. She stilled as if listening for something, then the ground shook and a loud BOOM wracked the air. "They're here." The borne whispered, turning to look at Eltus with one eye, now savagely opened into a thin slit.

Eltus whirled around towards the door and drew his sword tensing ready for whatever that was to come through the door. Slowly his eyes took on an earthy tone and fissures could be seen breaking through the color then emending to break again as if in a constant earthquake. The guard burst through the door with his sword drawn and charged Eltus intent on killing him. Before the man could get close enough the earth heaved and threw him barreling toward Eltus. Eltus smoothly sidestepped and his sword came down severing the man's head at the neck spewing blood into the cells nearby as the body slammed into the cell Krissin was locked in. "What in the abyss is going on out there," he snarled running through the door into the adjoining room.

Krissin frog leapt to the bars, catching the body to keep it from falling to the floor and snatched the keys from it. Unlocking her cell swiftly, she dropped the body and threw the keys just out of reach from the other prisoners. Taking up the sword the dead man dropped, she followed Eltus with murder in her eyes and the collar sizzling again.

Eltus turned around quickly and saw Krissin with the guard's sword in hand and outside of her cell. "What are you doing, get back in your cell," he yelled leveling his sword toward her. "I don't have time for this." he mumbled to himself in anger.

She stopped in her tracks and glared at him with her cold eyes. In a flash of movement she threw the sword past him to land deep within a stealthy borne behind the man, "I would die an untimely death if I stayed." Krissin replied in a toneless voice, "I would rather die fighting if anything."

"Damn it all to hell! Fine, but the collar stays on," he said turning around running into the other room. A guard lay dead with his sword inches from his hand no doubt slain by the borne that had almost killed him. "Why would darks attack the jail," he asked half to himself. "Looks like they are coming for you after all. Stay behind me and keep moving," he yelled to Krissin before taking off down the hallway towards the courtyard and outer gate.

"As if I have a fucking choice..." Krissin growled and tugged at the collar, "I'd be a lot more useful without it on yah' know." She followed him anyway, grabbing her swords which he unjustly confiscated from her on their way out. Clipping the belt over her other belt as they ran, Krissin cringed as the collar sent a warning through her spine. The swords were connected with her gift, so of course it would trigger the collar. Still in pain, she followed her would be jailer.

Eltus stopped abruptly at the door and slowly pushed it open a bit to look into the courtyard. Guards were fighting each other and a few he could place as darks were in the fray as well. A gust of wind took a few of the guards up into the air before letting them fall beyond the walls of the jail to their doom. "Damn, ok, we'll have to make a break for the gate. Try not to get tangled up in the fight. The longer we stay the worse our chances of escape are," he told Krissin before bolting out the door.

Groaning, she followed him, trying to ignore her urge to join in. The collar sent another shockwave of pain through her, warning that she was trying to access her power intentionally. Gritting her teeth, Krissin slipped out a small dart from her bracelet and prepared herself to use it rather then her elementally attuned swords. They made it to the next gate without attracting the windborne that was closest.

As they neared the gate Eltus saw that it was down. With an upward motion of his hand a rock spire erupted underneath the gate pushing it up for them to exit. "Come on," he yelled felling a guard that had noticed their passage before running beyond into the city.

While the injured man flailed on the ground from the wound Krissin stabbed him in the eye with her dart while she passed to release some of her anger. "Where are we going my captor?" She asked, purposefully adding sarcasm to her words.

"My house, we have to get off the streets so I can get that collar off of you. Its not far from here," he said ducking into an alley and continuing on. "You're no good without your swords which I noticed you can't use because of that collar," he said looking back at her briefly before moving further down the alley. He turned the corner and stopped in front of a door. He pulled a key from a pouch and unlocked it and went inside. "Here we are."

She followed him quickly, shutting it behind her with a slight sigh of relief. Although the thin door didn't provide much protection, being out in the open was worse. Looking around for a second, she sort of had an insight into her jailor's life. The home was small, but well kept with the bare essentials but nothing more, obvious to anyone that paid attention to details that he took his job very seriously. "So..." Krissin asked surprisingly gentle, "This must come kind of shocking to you that people you thought were... good turned out to be darks, eh?"

Eltus shrugged in indifference and grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her down in a sturdy wooden chair. He grabbed the collar on both sides and his eyes turned again showing that he was using his gift. A second later the collar came apart in two. "There you go. Now, as far as the guards go. Well, it doesn't really matter. Either you are on the side of the law or you're not. None of them were my friends so I could care less," he said coldly. "We can't stay here long, no doubt the darks will send out spies and the like to find you," he said to her.

His firm touch aggravated her but she relented if it meant being released. The collar had left an angry ring around her neck and she tsked at herself then nodded, "They would do that sort of thing." Staying on the chair, she crossed her legs and studied him for a moment. "My name is Krissin. Since it seems you are to be helping me it would be deemed polite for me to tell you my name." Her sage eyes were trained on his much larger form, expecting a return answer.

"Eltus, if you must know," he said curtly over his shoulder as he busied himself with grabbing rations for the road ahead. He headed over to a chest and pulled out saddlebags bearing the crest of the Road Wardens and began stuffing the food and provisions inside of it. "The only reason I helped you was because if I didn't you'd be dead and I wouldn't get any answers from you," he said as he crossed the small house to her. He dropped the bags in front of her and went to the window to look out. "Either way we have to get to the Road Warden's headquarters. We'll be a lot safer there at least. I don't know how many darks are out there but I doubt many have infiltrated the Road Wardens," he said. "Plus there are other borne in the Road Wardens, they would have a better time against the darks than those guards did."

"Pfft." Such a sound should never come out of a woman's mouth, "If you say so, now that the collar is gone I could leave you here if I wished." Krissin leaned back in the chair, obviously having no intention of leaving. She yawned and blinked her eyes a few times and glanced to the window. Storm clouds were raging in the distance and their unnatural ferocity made her scowl. Kroescolo hadn't lied when he said he would find her if it cost him all his followers.

"Well, you're free to leave when you want. But with the luck that you have you won't reach the city gates before someone catches you again," he said turning to her and smiling while crossing his arms. "Do you even have a horse," he asked still with the smirk on his face.

"Unlike you earthborne I don't need one." Krissin snarled, agitated that he would ask such a thing, "However." She paused and forced herself to relax and her voice lost some of its venom, "You are partly right, flying out of here isn't the smartest thing to do." The borne even managed a small smile. He was just teasing after all. She chuckled, I must be growing on him. Heh..

"Alright, I say we get a move on. That storm rolling in doesn't look natural and it might be bad if we're still within the city limits when that thing reaches here," he said grabbing a green cloak from a peg in the wall. "Here, wear this, it'll cover you up. You stand out too much in that outfit," he said dropping it in her lap and grabbing the saddle bag.

She took in the color, wondering why he had given her this one and not the other one which was brown, or the black one. Shrugging, she slipped it on and tried to ignore the fact it went well with her eye color. Only a week female would be thinking about that. Krissin stood and grimaced when the cloak trailed behind her. Obviously a cloak meant for a big hulk of a man.

"Try to act as natural as you can. I know that's a bit hard with a gang of darks out for your blood and all but do try," he said opening the door and walking out as if taking a midday stroll.

Krissin pulled her hood up and followed after him, trying to remain as mellow as possible body language wise. After a few minutes surprisingly no one noticed them and they reached the local stables without error.

Eltus walked over and gave some gold to the stable boy and the young man bolted into the stable and returned with a large brown warhorse that made Eltus look small. Eltus gave the horse's nose a fond rub and placed the high pommel military saddle onto its back fastening it. "This is Amethyst, we've been through quite a bit," he said patting the horse. Eltus picked up Krissin and placed her into the saddle before mounting himself with her in the front. "Alright Amethyst, take us home boy," he said gently kicking the horse. It began to trod along and the powerful rhythmic movements of the horse felt good underneath Eltus. "Now this is much better. I prefer the road to being in a city," he said to Krissin and a little to himself.

Fuck you and your strength and your fuckin' huge horse. "Next time ASK me before you touch me." Krissin said coldly, though, happy that they were leaving the city but she was careful not to show it. With Eltus behind her moving with the horse and her own body, Krissin couldn't help a blush as her thoughts ran ahead of her and she remained silent.

"Sorry, no point though, you would have needed my help either way," he said smiling a bit trying to keep from laughing at her indignation. "It's a good week travel to the Road Warden head quarters. Thankfully since we bear the crest we shouldn't have any trouble on the road. Most people steer clear of us and for good reason," he said eyeing the road and their surroundings. As they rode Eltus became more and more aware of Krissin in front of him and continually found his mind wandering from the task at hand.

"A week huh?" Krissin repeated, trying to sound neutral. A week in saddle with a large, and not so bad looking (the last thing Krissin would do would be to admit she thought he was handsome) man. Either it would be a lonely, quiet week, or the exact opposite. "So..." Krissin started, getting more then slightly uncomfortable, "Do you have family?"

Eltus shifted slightly also feeling a bit awkward in the present situation. "No, I don't. Work is pretty much all I do. Mother and father died a while back. Plague took my mother and my father slowly wasted away," he said shifting a bit more to try and give some room for her though all that he found he was doing with the effort was rubbing up against her. Oh dear, that was a bit too pleasant. Stop moving around! "What about you," he said somewhat strained. Eltus began to blush so to cover it up he pulled his helmet on and pulled the visor down.

Her face looked as if she bit into a sour apple while glancing at something in disbelief. Clearing her throat, "Uh... I have a whole family in a small village to the north of Yule, near the border of the warning wall of the Nagei." She closed her sage eyes and let herself get lost in the rhythm before continuing, "We try to stay out of the rest of Tnemele Elder's way."

"I've never been up that way myself. I normally stick to the more heavily used roads. More action along them. Which reminds me," he said clearing his throat as well and pulling on the reins to cause Amethyst to take a smaller road. "We don't want ANY kind of action," he said glancing at Krissin's cloaked form. Any!

You sure about that? Krissin silently asked him, getting the hint of the underlying message, "...only myself and... my uncle have ever left the village." She went silent on that, gritting her teeth with the thought of him.

"Wow, I would have thought many of the young men would have ran off to join up in the army or the like. That's what I did and some of my old friends as well. It must be a really nice village," he said trying to picture it. But instead other images continually violated his mind breaking any form of concentration. Damn it all to hell! How am I supposed to get anything done with my mind in this state!? Eltus tensed up and held the position concentrating on the constant strain on his muscles. That's a little better...

She felt something poke into her back and she glanced behind her sharply, instantly suspicious, "What are you doing back there?"

"Nothing, just uh, trying to keep a wary eye on the road and all," he said thanking the gods she could not see his scarlet face. "What's your village like," he asked trying desperately to change the subject. He finally relaxed his body finding that it wasn't helping in the least.

"Remael... is full of secrets. Many things kept hushed there, but we are all family, connected through bloodline. Connected through our unique eye color." And unique abilities. Krissin slumped back against him as she remembered that fateful day she first laid eyes on that life changing inscription. She made sure to teach it to her young siblings before she left, so that her extended family wouldn't be able to hide from the truth forever.

Eltus felt her weight press against him. "I see, sorry if I brought up any unpleasant memories," he said. "So you all have green eyes," he asked sitting a bit straighter in the saddle.

"Sage colored to be exact," Krissin replied, a little of her familiar sting back in her voice, though, she did not make an attempt so sit up straight again like she had been up to this point. His warmth was comforting.

Eltus heard the inflection in her voice and decided to pry a bit more. "Green in other words," he said with a slight hint of play in his voice smiling behind his visor. Eltus concentrated and the armor covering his body receded into him almost like it was melting into his body leaving the tunic and trousers and boots on him. I'm just hot that's all.

She turned in the saddle to look at him square in the face, "Do these look green to you?" It was obvious her eyes were a lighter, more gray then green. "This color is only true to my bloodline, you will find none like it in this land."

"They look green to me," he said putting on the most serious face he could with a shrug for emphasis at the end. Inside he was beside himself with laughter. "You sure, I thought I saw the same eye color on this lass back in Urupe Village."

Lightning began to crackle in her eyes as she searched his face, then, realized he was toying with her, and visibly forced herself to calm down. Krissin remained silent as she turned back around, thinking about the past again, this time, sitting up straight in the saddle. The borne sighed softly, missing the little twins, turning eight this year.

"I think its time I let Amethyst take a rest, I'm not exactly the lightest load to carry around and he's not small by any means but he still needs his rest," he said leaning in to pat the sturdy warhorse's neck. "I know of a spring near here. It’s a favorite resting spot of ours," he added guiding the horse off of the path into the tall grass and sparse trees. After a few minutes a small pond came into view with a low bank and high reeds. A worn circle in the grass gave the sign of a camp being set here often. Eltus dismounted and held his hand out to Krissin to dismount. "Can I touch you?" he asked.

A mix of different emotions filtered across her face before she answered in a low voice, "Yes, you may." Krissin took his hand and gracefully met the ground again, her legs a little sore from riding the horse. She went to the spring, watching a few bugs skitter across the surface before wetting her finger tips. Using it to her advantage, Krissin hid the tear of loneliness with it and stood up refreshed after. "It's beautiful here."

Eltus removed the saddle from Amethyst and led the horse to the pond edge and let the reins go placing the saddle down on the ground. "Yeah, like I said its one of our favorite spots to make camp. Unfortunately it’s not dark enough yet so we don't get to see the lantern bugs tonight. We still have plenty of daylight left to travel with today," Eltus said placing his hand on the ground and two small rounded stones rose up near the worn circle.

Krissin took the seat without question and relaxed, closing her eyes and kneading her temples, "All this stress has given me a nasty headache... and you know I was sneaking into my own house when you caught me." She opened an eye to glare at Eltus as if he caused her migraine.

Eltus crossed his arms and glared right back at her. "Well that would have made things a lot easier if you had told me," he said tossing his arms in the air. "Here, let me, I'm actually good at this," he said placing his hands at the base of her neck and messaging in smooth rhythmic circles kneading the area where her long neck met her shoulders. "You certainly are tense," he said off hand as he concentrated on messaging her neck.

"Yeah that's my life." Krissin grumbled back, not just tense from things with the darks, but tense from his closeness to her as well, "-And I was trying to keep my presence hidden from the darks! They were watching my house! I didn't get much sleep.... then you snapped that collar... around my..." Her eyes drooped then fully closed and almost instantly she was asleep. The day and a half she had been kept awake finally caught up with her and she slumped backward.

Eltus caught her quite easily and took her up in his arms laying her down on the grass. "Well Amethyst, I guess we'll be staying for the lantern bugs after all," he said to the animal with a smile. Amethyst whinnied and tossed his head in approval. Eltus walked over to the saddle bags on the ground and removed the bedroll. He laid it out and gently placed Krissin into it. He then went about gathering wood for the fire. "I guess I'm on watch first eh," he said to the horse. "You're next," he added pointing to the horse.

Krissin's still form on the bedroll began to moan, and then weep in her sleep. At first it wasn't audible, but then slowly, her cries gained volume. Nightmares ravaged her mind.

Eltus sat nearby on one of the raised rocks staring at her and when the nightmares began he at first did not know what to do. After a few moments of indecision he came to her side and gently shook her trying to wake her from her fitful sleep. "Hey wake up, it doesn't sound like you're having a good time in dream land," he said still shaking her.

She came awake, startled by his touch and began to sob, clutching at his arm. Krissin's uncle, the feared Kroescolo that led the darks had cursed her two days earlier. As long as she resisted him, he would plague her with nightmares till crazed with lack of sleep she would submit to him.

"Hey there, you're okay, nothing to worry about here alright," he said softly cradling her head in his arms. "What was that all about," he asked genuine concerned etched into his face.

Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him, sniffling with tears running down her cheeks, "Kroescolo is my uncle." Krissin managed to get out before another fit of crying began. It took a while for her to calm down, but she told him how her uncle wanted her abilities for his own uses and he would stop at nothing and wouldn't settle for anything below what he wanted. She curled up in his lap, sniffling as the occasional tear dropped and the news of what she was set in.

Eltus froze for a moment; he wasn't stupid. In fact he was well informed even for a Road Warden and he knew what this meant. "Kroescolo? Oh dear spirits protect you," he said holding her to him. He began to slowly rock back and forth as if you would with a child. "You're safe, no worries there," he said trying to reassure her.

"He'll find me... He will..." Her sobs subsided into hiccups but she looked up at him again with a deep fear in her eyes, "Take me away from here... please...The nightmares, I need to get away," Krissin struggled against his large arms briefly before stopping and panting from the effort. She was so tired.

"You won't have to worry about those, just go back to sleep there. You'll be fine, you'll be fine," he said petting her head in a soothing manner. "He's not going to find you here. Not tonight," he said continuing to pet her head. With a bit of reluctance Eltus pulled the bedroll back and climbed in holding her to him. "He's not going to find you tonight Krissin."

"He will... He..." She moaned softly, her body trembling before she slowly slipped off to sleep again, this time no nightmares plagued her. Krissin eventually uncurled and was able to sleep with startling ease.

Eltus gave a heavy sigh of relief and looked toward the sky. Above the entire campsite lantern bugs flew lighting the area in an eerie fluorescent glow. He stared in wonder for a moment before slowly falling asleep himself next to Krissin in the bedroll.

---

With a slight jerk Krissin awoke in the dawn's soft glow, yawning toothily. Managing to get out of the bedroll without waking Eltus proved a slight challenge, but she succeeded and went to the pond to freshen up. She could feel small puffy bags under her eyes and sigh unhappily. The pond water did the trick though and her reflection looked normal, thank goodness. When her gaze wandered over to the earthborne she sighed again.

Eltus awoke slowly stretching out yawning himself and looked around spotting Krissin over by the pond looking at him. Remembering what happened the night before he blushed a little and got up. He too went over to the pond and splashed some water on to his face. Amethyst sat over next to a nearby tree snorted and shook his head eager to be on their way. "Did you sleep well," he asked Krissin as he tried in vain to unwrinkle his shirt.

"Yes... thank you," She also blushed and ducked her head, "I'm... I'm sorry about the way I have been treating you, it was unfair of me. I also want to thank you... for last night." Krissin brushed back some short strands of light brown hair and actually smiled. Not the same as the smirk from yesterday, or the battle hardened one, but a true heartfelt smile.

"Don't worry about it. That's the type of person that you are," he said stretching a bit more and giving her a smile back. "And last night, it was my pleasure. Now if I ever have trouble sleeping you'll have to rock me to sleep," he said with a big toothy smile. With that he went back over to the camp and began to roll up the bedroll blushing once more as the scent of Krissin still lingered on it.

"No. It's not," She replied bluntly, but held none of the potency from the day before, "Remember, you took me prisoner, I merely took on a persona to protect myself." Krissin patted the horse's nose and watched Eltus with her sage eyes.

"Well, I could see that then. You still were a handful you know," he said smiling a bit. "I'll bet the lack of sleep wasn't doing anything to improve your mood either. And the collars can be very... uncomfortable to say the least. Before I became a Road Warden they made me wear one for a day so that I would know what it was like to do it to someone else," he said sending a slight shiver down his spine. "Needless to say I don't like using them unless I think the borne is going to be a problem. You, looked like you were a handful, and sure enough you are. A handful that I wouldn't mind... uh," Eltus nearly tripped over his words and bit his own tongue off to stop what he was about to say blushing horrendously. "We should really get a move on."

Krissin stared at him for a second before a roar of laughter erupted from her lips and she grabbed her belly, gasping for air before continuing to giggle with a hand in front of her mouth. When she finally gained control she asked, "You wouldn't mind what?" Chuckling some more, "No tell me, please..." Krissin walked over as she asked and opened her eyes wide to appear as a puppy begging with a cute smile on her face.

Ah dammit!! Open mouth insert Amethyst's hoof so I can't say anything ANYMORE! "Nothing," he grumbled still turning even a deeper shade of red as he turned away from her. "Are you going to help me with packing up the camp or not," he said in a very embarrassed tone. Do you ever think before opening your trap!? I'm going to hang myself! With that thought he looked longingly at a sturdy branch in the nearby tree and continued to pack the camp up sighing.

"Seems it was only the bed roll and my cape." Krissin replied, a little disappointed that he didn't finish what he started. "And, the saddle." She went back to the horse and rubbed his forehead. She dragged the saddle to the horse's side, but was too short to actually put it on, so instead, the borne brushed his coat as much as she could for Eltus.

Eltus finished rolling up the bedroll and grabbed the few other things around the camp and scattered the ashes in the circle. He then came over to Amethyst and picked up the saddle putting it on the large horse. "May I touch you," he said blushing again at how it sounded. "Do I have to ask that every time we need to get in the saddle," he asked then shut his mouth tight grimacing.

She chuckled, "No, you don't have to anymore." Krissin grabbed onto the saddle and waited for a leg up before getting comfortable. A soreness in her legs let her know this would not be a fun day.

"You'll get used to it. It just takes some time to get used to. After a bit it won't even hurt anymore," he said as he saw her obvious discomfort as she settled into the saddle. Eltus then bolted into the saddle and gave her a proud grin. "Let’s go!" And Amethyst bolted into a gallop through the underbrush back to the path they had taken the other day.

---

A week of awkward friendship sets in.... and it is the last night before they get to wherever it is they are going...

---

Krissin slid from the horse with ease, completely used to the creature by now and held the reigns while Eltus came down as well.

"You've adapted to the saddle like a natural I'll admit. You don't look that sore at all," he said with a broad smile on his face. "Now remember what I said before, don't squeeze with your thighs to control the sway, if you just go with it won't hurt you so much. After all, he's a lot bigger than you are and it doesn't matter how much you want to control him you just kind of have go with the rhythm," he said with a smile completely oblivious to what he had said. "I'll get the fire going," he said moving into the forest to find wood.

Krissin's eyebrows rose at that but she chuckled and took the advice to heart. After taking the horse's bridle and saddle off, she rubbed him down thanks to a stool Eltus created for her. When she was finished the borne took out some rations of jerky with dried berries pounded into it and split in two, giving half to Eltus and keeping half for herself. When their fingers touched she blushed, thankfully by the fire he made one could not tell.

Eltus took the ration thanking Krissin and ate it quickly staring into the fire. "Well, tomorrow we arrive at the Road Warden headquarters. We should be safe there until we can figure out what to do next," he said turning to face Krissin. "It certainly won't be easy. They'll give us asylum and secrecy but who knows which of them will be darks. Don't worry though, I'll be able to arrange that we share a room, with separate beds... or not," he said clearing his throat. "After all that is how you sleep so well. I think," he said scratching the back of his head in thought.

"Yes, I do believe you're right... something about the curse he messed up and it applies to all men, not just him." Krissin shuddered at the thought of sleeping right next to her uncle... then her thoughts went to Eltus sleeping next to her and her stomach felt a sudden warmth spread through out it. Her gaze sought his out across the fire.

Eltus could feel Krissin's gaze on him and he looked up into her eyes. "You know, when I first set eyes on you in that alley and we had that scuffle and I collared you I never thought that I would be leagues away from Certlin's Cove with you. But here I am, and, well, I'm about to take on the Dark's own leader with you and we've been sharing a bedroll all the way here! Strange how things work out eh," he said smiling.

"Yeah... funny how that worked out." She replied, feeling the warmth head south while she tried not to think about it.

Eltus nodded as if trying to wrap his mind around something he didn't understand. Eltus felt a stirring within himself that had become all too familiar in the past week that he had been traveling with Krissin and he tried desperately to keep it down right now. "You know, I've, always been wrapped up in work, and now this isn't work, its something else. I uh... don't want to see you hurt, not out of duty but something else."

Krissin giggled softly and smiled, but finally gave up on what she was fighting and stood up and casually stretched. After she popped her back the borne took a few steps around the fire to him, sitting down next to him. Swallowing, she took a shallow breath, and then leaned her head against his arm.

Eltus reached around with his other hand but froze in place, not sure what to do. It had happened for the entire week just like this, so awkward yet pleasant at the same time. Then his hand began to move on its own accord or possibly it was him finally giving in to that hidden feeling he had had all this time. He gently ran his hand down her chin and lifted her head to stare into her eyes before leaning in to kiss her gently.

She had been prepared for the embrace, but not the kiss and she froze. Soon after Krissin practically melted into Eltus' arms from that single kiss.

Eltus felt as if he were burning with fever and having tasted Krissin's lips he desired nothing more than to have another. Embracing her to himself tightly his kiss became more hungry and wanting as his hand gently held her head to his. Then he broke away for a second gasping for air and reason but all reason had since fled his mind. Only Krissin filled his thoughts now.

A similar, silent emotion had taken Krissin by force as well as she angled her kisses heading for Eltus' ear, nibbling then heading downwards, her fingers slipping the buttons from their loops in his shirt. For each button three kisses were given till the shirt lay open, exposing his muscled torso. Krissin's slender fingers found every curve of his flesh, teasing him with wet kisses and soft licks.

Eltus' heart felt as if it would burst from his chest as his pulse quickened until his head was dizzy with desire. Without meaning to Eltus grabbed Krissin's own shirt and ripped it from her in a frenzy to reach the flesh beneath. With her shirt gone Eltus wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her up to him his own lips and tongue now tracing lines around her body. He could hardly contain his lust for her now and each action by him was purely from instinct.

Gasping in surprise, then in pleasure the shock from having her shirt ripped from her was quickly dismissed and it caused her to become more wet then before. Nudging her hips against his chest, she smirked and took one of his hands and pressed it between her legs, where the wetness had strayed beyond her underclothes. Warm and moist, Krissin let Eltus do what he wanted to do with it.

Feeling the cloth between him and her Eltus quickly removed the obstacle rather forcefully without thinking. Nothing mattered at this point to him. Krissin now held no clothing to her body and Eltus only bore his pants which he quickly and quite savagely ripped from himself. Once again he bore Krissin up towards him and as he did so he lay back as a slab of granite rose to meet their descending bodies. Settling Krissin upon his pelvis he finally thrusted up into her. A wave of sensation rose through his spine like a lightning bolt and he gasped at the feeling of being inside of her at last. Nothing he had ever experienced in his life amounted to this one moment. He groaned as the sensation subsided slightly and thrusted again renewing the experience. He wanted more!

Krissin was caught up in the moment as well, but that didn't stop her from wincing at which the force he was using. True... it had been a while for her since her last time but Eltus was overpowering her at every turn. She was a small woman, and he a large man. While he was feeling pleasure, she was in pain. "Eltus, stop." Krissin growled, "You're hurting me."

Eltus snapped too and immediately stopped. "I'm sorry," he said blushing deeply. "I don't really know what I am doing," he said turning his head to the side to avert her gaze from his. "I don't know what came over me," he admitted leaning up to rest on his elbows. Eltus knew what he had done and wasn't proud of it to say the least. Well, great going Eltus you hurt her! First time and the last.

She reached towards his face and took it in her finger tips to bring his eyes to hers. When she stopped Eltus was looking forward again and Krissin lowered her hands to his shoulders, pushing him back down while at the same time, lowering her torso as well so they were both parallel. Starring into his eyes, Krissin squeezed him slightly with a small smirk on her face and thrusted slowly down on him.

Eltus relaxed slightly seeing that he had not hurt Krissin badly. He didn't even know that he could hurt her. Try to keep it under control this time Eltus! He held Krissin's gaze and gave an embarrassed smile before wrapping his arms around her gently. No longer filled with the animalistic drive he had before he was glad that Krissin had said something. He groaned in pleasure as Krissin squeezed him inside her and slightly tightened his grip around her but relaxed it and smiled to let her know he wasn't going to lose control again.

The borne squeezed him again, this time moving her hips in a small circle while her tongue slid down from his ear to his collarbone. Krissin nibbled the skin gently, her hands tracing the veins running along his arms and was satisfied when she felt his dark skin ripple and goose bump. Wonder how he'll react to this? She lifted herself off of him, letting him slide nearly out of her, then coming back down harder then before.

Eltus gasped as she came down on him and his back arched slightly before settling back down upon the granite bed. He felt himself shiver with the ecstasy of what was happening to him. He was still unsure as what to do and all that he could do was trust that Krissin knew what she was doing. Eltus brought Krissin back up against him and leaned in for an impassioned kiss running his fingertips down the curve of her spine. She felt so good, so soft, and fragile.

Her skin had a thin layer of perspiration, for their combined heat was rising. It was her turn to let out small sound of pleasure as she came down on him again, her sage eyes closing, then opening with renewed desire. This time, she grazed his neck with her teeth, letting out a small deep growl of lust and dragged her nails along his shoulders. Not with the intent to hurt of course.

Eltus' body reflexively tensed to her teeth and nails even though the actions brought a great sensation and he relaxed; his eyes closing as he took in the feelings. The growl from Krissin heightened his drive and he began to thrust in a slow rhythmic pace. "Oh gods," he moaned as the action sent fire coursing through his veins.

Squiming above him in pleasure, Krissin instinctively tightened on him now, her muscles taunt and shaking. She kissed him fiercly, releasing pent up passion as her fingers interlaced themselves in his hair, slightly pulling.